The Tennessee Titans wasted no time getting their offseason began and so they’ve already begun to wash 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 just about seals Henry’s destiny and alerts the Titans getting in a totally totally different route.
You received’t discover too many individuals who assume Tennessee made the fitting transfer in firing Vrabel. For Vrabel’s a part of the equation, he’ll probably have a brand new gig lined up earlier than the Tremendous Bowl. Whether or not Vrabel’s subsequent vacation spot is New England or elsewhere, he received’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 if you account for the probably departure of Henry this offseason. No Vrabel, no Henry, and the crew simply drafted one other rookie quarterback final spring.
From the skin trying in, it sounds just like the group needs a brand new identification. To get away from the defensive-minded, ground-and-pound philosophy though Tennessee was profitable throughout Vrabel’s six years in cost. The Titans received not less than 9 video games in every of Vrabel’s first 4 years on the job. They made it to the AFC title sport in his second season as a nine-win wild card crew.
Throughout former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher’s reign — relationship again to the Houston Oilers days — the crew by no means put collectively greater than two profitable seasons in a row. Fisher was allowed to float and languish in mediocrity for a lot too lengthy. Certain, Tennessee hasn’t been good the previous two years however when your QB state of affairs is up and down it’s laborious to get every little thing else on monitor. Slightly shuffling and Vrabel probably would’ve been capable of get that ship headed again in the fitting route.
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 most likely be an offensive-minded coach. We all know how this works when a company needs to make massive modifications, they normally go from one finish (or excessive) to the opposite. They’d be loopy in the event that they didn’t not less than attain out and discuss with Jim Harbaugh, particularly after Michigan’s Nationwide Championship victory. Irrespective of the possibilities of him taking the job when you’re Tennessee you’ve acquired to make a pitch.
Tennessee’s common supervisor Ran Carthon can’t miss on this rent. Whereas the notion of shifting on from Vrabel now’s 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 acquired to hit out of the ballpark to justify Vrabel’s dismissal.