Tennessee Titans: Who benefits most from coaching change?
By P. L. Colter
Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike Mularkey met with the team this morning, then it was business as usual as the team prepares to face the resurgent Saints in New Orleans this Sunday.
Mularkey fielded plenty of questions at his first post-practice press conference, and provided some insight on who may benefit most with him running the show.
Marcus Mariota / Zach Mettenberger
Yesterday we learned that controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk was concerned about the health of Marcus Mariota. She was apparently well aware of the fact that he was one of the most sacked qb’s in the league prior to his injury.
Coach Mularkey confirmed that he spoke with ownership, so it’s reasonable to assume that those concerns were relayed to him. If he has any chance of removing that interim tag, them he must find a way to keep Mariota (Mettenberger) upright for the remainder of the season. Advantage quarterbacks.
Rookie right tackle Jeremiah Poutasi has struggled mightily lately, so bad that he was yanked from the game Sunday. He was also pulled in the Miami game. Even while struggling, Poutasi continued to be left on a island to fend for himself.
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Today coach Mularkey moved Poutasi inside to play left guard, and moved Byron Bell out to right tackle. This gives Poutasi some much needed help on either side, and a chance to regain his confidence. He should also benefit from playing alongside left tackle, and team captain Taylor Lewan.
At today’s post-practice press conference, coach Mularkey stated that Antonio Andrews would be the team’s workhorse back. Dexter McCluster will remain a complementary piece, but it appears that the running back by committee days are over. With Tennessee now shifting to a qb protection-friendly approach, look for the run game to take center stage. Advantage Andrews.
Young Players
At the conclusion of today’s practice, coach Mularkey said that he called the first and second year players into a group. He told the players that they all had a clean slate with him, a fresh start. With so many of those players already contributing, it will be interesting to see if he’s talking about playing time.
We’ll find out this Sunday in Louisiana.