The Tennessee Titans wasted no time getting their offseason began they usually’ve already begun to scrub home by parting methods with head coach Mike Vrabel. We already knew the group was leaning towards a rebuild with Derrick Henry’s future up within the air seemingly all season. However saying goodbye to Vrabel so abruptly pretty much seals Henry’s fate and indicators the Titans stepping into a totally totally different course.
You gained’t discover too many individuals who suppose Tennessee made the appropriate transfer in firing Vrabel. For Vrabel’s a part of the equation, he’ll seemingly have a brand new gig lined up earlier than the Tremendous Bowl. Whether or not Vrabel’s next destination is New England or elsewhere, he gained’t be unemployed for lengthy. The place the Titans are involved this implies they’re beginning over. There’s no different method to view this particularly whenever you account for the seemingly departure of Henry this offseason. No Vrabel, no Henry, and the workforce simply drafted one other rookie quarterback final spring.
From the surface trying in, it sounds just like the group desires a brand new id. To get away from the defensive-minded, ground-and-pound philosophy though Tennessee was profitable throughout Vrabel’s six years in cost. The Titans gained at the least 9 video games in every of Vrabel’s first 4 years on the job. They made it to the AFC title recreation in his second season as a nine-win wild card workforce.
Throughout former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher’s reign — relationship again to the Houston Oilers days — the workforce by no means put collectively greater than two successful seasons in a row. Fisher was allowed to float and languish in mediocrity for a lot too lengthy. Positive, Tennessee hasn’t been good the previous two years however when your QB scenario is up and down it’s exhausting to get every part else on observe. A bit shuffling and Vrabel seemingly would’ve been in a position to get that ship headed again in the appropriate course.
Right here’s a enjoyable reality. Three of the Titans’ final 4 coaches (since 2011) had been named Mike. Vrabel, Mike Mularkey, and Mike Munchak. Whoever Tennessee brings on this time, whether or not it’s one other Mike or not, will in all probability be an offensive-minded coach. We all know how this works when a company desires to make large modifications, they normally go from one finish (or excessive) to the opposite. They’d be loopy in the event that they didn’t at the least attain out and speak with Jim Harbaugh, particularly after Michigan’s Nationwide Championship victory. Irrespective of the possibilities of him taking the job in case you’re Tennessee you’ve received to make a pitch.
Tennessee’s normal supervisor Ran Carthon can’t miss on this hire. Whereas the notion of transferring on from Vrabel now could be considerably puzzling, desirous to get a extra offensive-focused mindset within the constructing to work along with your younger franchise QB is comprehensible. A coordinator like Ben Johnson in Detroit goes to be a scorching commodity on the offensive facet. Whoever Tennessee lands on they’ve received to hit out of the ballpark to justify Vrabel’s dismissal.
