Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson are PFFs—Patriots Friends Forever.
Was there any other reason that Vrabel was hired outside of their links with that organization? It’s hard to believe that former head coach Mike Mularkey was fired after two seasons—for this. Mularkey needed two years to turn a 2-14, 3-13 cellar dweller into a playoff contender. Vrabel needed one-and-a-half years to destroy it.
It was a questionable hire from the outset. The Titans replaced Mularkey because he wouldn’t replace offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. Management insisted that the offense didn’t have enough upside to allow them to compete against the AFC juggernauts. It’s a reasonable summation when one considers how the NFL favors offensive firepower. Supposedly, the Titans wanted someone who’d get the most out of 2015 No. 2 pick Marcus Mariota.
Who better to develop a quarterback than a former NFL linebacker with an extremely brief coaching resume? Sarcasm intended. Mike Vrabel arrived after serving one season as Houston Texans defensive coordinator. That 2017-18 defense finished dead last in points allowed. His New England Patriots linkage was enough for him to win a promotion to become Tennessee’s head coach.
Not everything has been bad. Mike Vrabel managed to lure defensive coordinator Dean Pees out of retirement. The defense has evolved into an elite unit. I’m a bit concerned what happens if Pees retires. Don’t forget how bad the defense looked when Pees had to leave during that 2018 Indianapolis Colts.
I’ve always been more of a Mariota skeptic. I’ve always doubted whether he was enough of a complete package to develop into a franchise quarterback. Mostly his downfield ability. Even I couldn’t imagine what would occur these last two seasons. Last season was the breaking of the body. This season has been the breaking of the spirit. Under Vrabel’s supervision, Mariota has regressed to the point where he can’t consistently complete screen passes or simple out routes. The fire and passion that once made him fun to watch? No more.
Mariota is a broken man. This coaching staff doesn’t feature a single offensive mind who can help him break out of this funk. He needs to sit back and watch from afar. If he never gets another chance to start with Tennessee, then so be it. He probably needs to go to another organization. While there’s plenty of blame to go around, the reality is that he’d still trot out with the same offensive lineman and skill players that are generating 0-7 points per game. Something must change.
Benching Mariota was the correct decision. The problem is that incompetent coaching played a major role in this ever becoming an option. Mariota has been David Carr-ed to the point where he’s quite possibly beyond repair. That coaching staff better pray that Ryan Tannehill improves the offensive output. One of the reasons that Tannehill was ousted in Miami was because he took far too many sacks. That probably won’t change. Outside of pass blocking, Tannehill will have a much better supporting cast around him now. We’ll see.
It’s amazing to realize how one bad decision creates such an avalanche effect. Robinson has done a solid job putting together a competitive roster. What good does it do without proper coaching? Look what happened to the offensive line. Jack Conklin went from All Pro to no show. Rodger Saffold went from one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking guards to the worst. Even Taylor Lewan is a shell of his self. What was once the heart of Mularkey’s playoff units has regressed into one of the NFL’s all-time worst. The sad thing is that it still features players who were dominant under Mularkey’s regime. Suddenly they’re inept?
These players aren’t bad. They’ve showcased themselves as great talents both inside and outside of this organization. The offensive line is most indicative of that. Then one must factor in that Mariota has regressed, the wide receivers aren’t developing or even targeted, vanilla play-calling, how Vrabel wasted 11 games playing Dion Lewis over Derrick Henry, what seems like major game mismanagement errors on a weekly basis, etc.
How long will Robinson remain loyal to Mike Vrabel? Mularkey was fired after two years for helping this team go from trash to good. Vrabel was supposed to take this team from good to great. How can anyone justify keeping Vrabel if his two years has them going from good to trash? Mularkey fired after taking 5-27 to 19-15 with a playoff win but Vrabel kept after taking divisional playoff team to nothing? It would make no sense.
Here’s something very important to consider: if the Titans are finished with Mariota as a franchise quarterback, then are they going to draft a new franchise quarterback with Vrabel getting a third season? Then when Vrabel gets fired after that third season, that franchise quarterback enters his second season with a brand new coaching staff and a brand new offense…don’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again!
Please don’t allow blind loyalty to limit this franchise. I’m saying that from experience of watching my other favorite NFL team—the Green Bay Packers—stick with former defensive coordinator Dom Capers for as long as they did. Had Green Bay given Aaron Rodgers a somewhat better defense over the past decade, then there would almost certainly have been at least one Super Bowl rendition featuring Tom Brady vs Rodgers. Championships over friendships.
Good to great? Alright then. Fans should hold Robinson to his words. Demand greatness. Nothing less than seven wins in these last 10 games. That still leaves them at a minimum 9-7 record. That’s way too generous. I’m just asking Vrabel to coach them out of the hole he got them into. Everyone is tired of watching a potential franchise quarterback ruined and a championship defense getting wasted.
Mixing letdown performances with a bland brand of football won’t help the dwindling attendance and overall fan base. If Mike Vrabel isn’t capable of a quick fix, then there are offensive minds out there who will at least put a more entertaining and watchable product at Nissan Stadium.
Considering Robinson is a PFF, do I dare suggest someone from the established…gasp…Andy Reid coaching tree (Eric Bieniemy)?
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Joshua Huffman was born in Middle Tennessee. He has published content for Yahoo! Sports (via Contributor Network) and Titan Sized, among other venues. At SoBros, he’ll provide Daily Fantasy Sports suggestions and broad sports coverage. Contact him via email .
