The quickest way to spot a Tennessee Titans fan that has no idea what he or she is talking about is when you see that take scroll across the Twitter feed: “fire Mike Vrabel.” Seeing it on Sunday right after the game is one thing. I get it – emotions are high. We’re all expecting a Super Bowl caliber season out of this Titans squad. A lot of people were thinking the Arizona Cardinals weren’t going to be that good. So, it’s not only disappointing to see them lose that game – it’s pretty jarring. That’s not what any of us at all expected out of this opening game. So, yeah – people take to Twitter after a few crispy bois and decide to fire off a take that is heavily influenced by alcohol and rage. I’ve done it. Hell, I still do it (and for some reason, y’all just haven’t called me on it yet). But, to give this game time to sink in and STILL hear people calling into 104.5 The Zone with this take? Come on, y’all.
Let’s take a look at the job this man has done so far with the Titans – he takes over in 2018 and gets the Titans to 9-6. In the final game of his rookie year as NFL head coach, his team is competing for a playoff spot in the final week of the season. It just so happened that Marcus Mariota was hurt, and the team had to rely on Blaine Gabbert to get ’em into the postseason. Not ideal, and the Titans lost, falling to 9-7 and missing the postseason. But, they were that close. Maybe if Mariota is healthy, we’re talking about 2018 much differently.
In 2019, he had the resolve to bench Mariota in favor or Ryan Tannehill, and the Titans went on a tear that didn’t end until the Kansas City Chiefs beat ’em in the AFC Championship…just one game away from the Super Bowl. That was the team’s first AFC Championship since 2002. In 2020, the Titans won the AFC South and hosted a home playoff game for the first time since 2008. I understand that getting so close to a Super Bowl left the fan base thirstier than ever for a championship. I understand that playoff game against the Ravens left a sour taste in all of our mouths. And, Vrabel has made some pretty egregious mistakes – don’t get me wrong (London…ugh…and this kicking situation to name a couple off the top of my head). But damn, y’all – this man has helped usher in a new era of Titans football in which the team has been competitive EVERY YEAR with him at the helm. What else does he have to do to win some of y’all’s trust?
Vrabel is the quintessential ‘leader of men’ type and his players respect him for it. But, it’s also his understanding of the rules, clock manipulation, and learning from his mistakes and making better decisions moving forward that have impressed me. Remember when he was a genius for exploiting a rule that allowed him to run clock in New England? The Titans effectively ended the great Patriots dynasty because of that and it fired up Bill Belichick so much that they got the damn rule changed in the following offseason. Remember when we were critical of his over aggressiveness in going for it on 4th downs and lo and behold, he reined his self in a little bit after that? He’s shown the capacity to improve upon his mistakes and he’s helped build the Titans into a team that has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. You got me fucked up if you think I don’t appreciate that as a fan. Did y’all forget about Kerry Collins, Chris Palmer, Ken Whisenhunt, and Terry Robiskie?
For fucking fuck’s sake – C H I L L.
I’m not saying Vrabel shouldn’t be held accountable for his mistakes because he has done such a fantastic job and we should pretend everything is always sunshine and rainbows. He’s open to criticism when he fucks up the same way anyone who fucks up should be held accountable for that. But, to look at the job he’s done with this franchise and think he should be canned after a bad game against a good team? That’s insane. Anyone whose opinion I greatly respect is scoffing at this idea. Hell, I even feel like I’m being a bit tabloidy and clickbaity just by addressing these awful takes and giving them legs. But, people who actually know football and actually know the Titans understand what an asinine idea firing Mike Vrabel is. Yet, the overreaction of fans strikes once again and of course, remains undefeated.
How much more writing needs to be on the wall for some of y’all to realize that? As Mickey Ryan put it on 104.5 The Zone yesterday – “Vrabel is sitting on a block of ice.” That seat ain’t warmin’ up any time soon. And, for good fucking reason. When did we lose sight of that? The worst part is that I’m not sure any of what I’ve said here today matters – actually, I know it doesn’t, because the same people tweeting that Vrabel’s job should be in jeopardy will be calling him the savior if he gets this team to the Super Bowl. I just needed to vent a bit. *sigh*
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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