Former Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt on Facing the Tennessee Titans
As most everyone knows, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt was the head coach for the Tennessee Titans for a season and a half before being let go mideseason in 2015. This Sunday, the Titans travel to San Diego to face their former head coach, which makes for an interesting story line in a nondivisional game. Recently, Whisenhunt took some questions about facing his former team, and I’m here to summarize what he had to say.
When asked if he sees this game as a grudge match or a chance for revenge, he answered no. He went on the explain that if you’ve been in the league long enough that these things happen, and you learn to take it like any other game.
Later, he was asked what he thought about Marcus Mariota. His answer was the same as almost anybody’s would be, saying he thought Marcus was a very talented young quarterback who could beat you with his arm or his legs, but admitted he really hasn’t watched him much this year, and he was more worried about Coach LeBeau. He jokingly said he was still mad about LeBeau beating him in the Super Bowl back in 2008.
Lastly, he was asked if he and Coach Mularkey felt awkward around each other given they were practically neighbors during the offseason. He said no, that they were still good friends (which I like to hear) and that the situation was out of his control, and he couldn’t fault Coach Mularkey for stepping up and doing what was best for his team.
One last thing I’d like to mention. During Coach Mularkey’s press conference, he was asked if Whisenhunt had an advantage because he was recently the team’s head coach. Mularkey said yes, and explained how Whisenhunt knows the personnel pretty well, and he knows their strengths and weaknesses, but it’s something that happens in this league.
Example: Whisenhunt knows what routes most of our DBs have trouble covering. He knows what angles our linebackers have trouble making tackles on, and he where most of the defensive line play best at.