**UPDATE 1/15/18**
Jim Wyatt is reporting that Mike Mularkey and the Tennessee Titans have mutually agreed to part ways over a disagreement about the future of the franchise. In a statement, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk cited that the two parties saw different paths to taking the next step as a franchise.
My thoughts on the matter – this is probably the best, most amicable way this relationship was going to end. I still wonder how the locker room will respond. Whoever Jon Robinson hires will have their hands full winning them over.
But, I agree that this was probably the best move to make. The exact reasons why are all speculation at this point, but I’d imagine a condition of the extension Mularkey was offered was to get new assistants, and he refused to do it. We’ll see what happens, but suddenly, this franchise finds itself searching for a new head coach and staff. Wow.
**Original article from 1/14/18**
Big weekend of football, albeit a heartbreaking one for fans of the Tennessee Titans. The team was run out of New England last night, to the tune of 35-14 in a clear demonstration of how far this team is away from legitimately competing for Super Bowls. The city is calling for Terry Robiskie’s head, and head coach Mike Mularkey isn’t much safer in the eyes of Titans fans. Ian Rapoport is now reporting that the Titans have offered an extension to Mularkey:
Sources: The #Titans have offered coach Mike Mularkey an extension in the wake of their playoff run. He’s staying.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2018
No further details at the moment. But, if you take the man at his word, he won’t be hiring new assistants. He said today that he thought Robiskie did a fine job, which, to me, shows how completely detached he is from today’s NFL. It was clear that quarterback Marcus Mariota took a step back this season, and Mularkey and Robiskie’s system is at least partially to blame. They were critically inflexible and it cost this offense.
Sure, the players love the guy, but that doesn’t win championships. This team has the talent to be real contenders in the AFC, but I’m afraid that last night was a demonstration of just how far Mularkey can take a NFL team. I hope they prove me wrong.
As Herbie Brooks pointed out in the SoBros Slack, I hope there was some sort of stipulation where he had to hire a new OC, but I just don’t think it was the case. I’m surprised that Jon Robinson can look at this team, how it succeeded almost in spite of its coaching staff, and not think any sort of change is warranted.
This team is still lightyears away from beating the Patriots, but they’re only a few players away from having the talent to. There’s something to say for Mularkey’s ability to get players to buy in. I don’t have as much of a problem with him remaining coach, as he clearly knows how to unify a team. But, to say they don’t need changes….that’s absurd. They clearly need an upgrade at offensive coordinator. That much is not debatable, and the fact that it doesn’t seem a change is likely is baffling.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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