Why Chris Ballard is the best solution for the Titans

Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub reacts against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub reacts against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Ballard is interviewing for the Tennessee Titans GM job today which is a great thing for Titans fans. There is a consensus in the media that among the GM candidates that could leave their current jobs, Ballard is the gem of the group.

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Now, it is hard to say because how can you know just exactly what someone behind the scenes like Ballard actually contributes. However, after looking at the roster in Kansas City and their record since he took his current job, it is hard to argue with the correlation.

I believe that if Ballard is hired, he will bring a surprise candidate but more on that later. I expect an intelligent GM to bring in the big name candidates as soon as possible. Hue Jackson, Josh McDaniels and Doug Marrone are all the big names still left on the table, and maybe someone like Darrell Bevell could also be a popular name as jobs fill up.

However, the name I really want to talk about is Chris Ballard’s favorite (rumored) candidate, Dave Toub.

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  • Toub for those of you who don’t know, is the special teams coach for Kansas City and is one of the rare special teams guys that people feel has all the qualities to make the jump, like John Harbaugh did.

    I have thought about this a few times, and I think that someone who knows how to dominate one phase of the game should be considered. Think about his accomplishments as a special teams coach, he is the guy who made Devin Hester as great as he was and he made Dexter McCluster the best punt return man in the NFL by the end of their time together. The same McCluster who couldn’t consistently gain a yard in 2015.

    Not only that, but his aura is impressive too. I noticed it on the sideline of last week’s game against the Houston Texans when players and coaches alike kept making their way over to congratulate him as soon as they had congratulated head coach Andy Reid.

    This was backed up by a report by Paul Kuharsky today in a post when he quoted Chicago Tribune reporter David Haugh calling him, “a tough-minded coach who embraces defense and special teams with the personality that commands respect in the locker room.”

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    While that isn’t the offensive answer that many were hoping, I don’t think you need an offensive coach as much as I had originally thought. Coaches like the aforementioned Harbaugh, Jeff Fisher, Todd Bowles, and Tom Coughlin were all in the top four in terms of sacks allowed in 2015 and they are all defensive minded head coaches.

    All the head coach needs to do, is have a plan on how to protect Marcus Mariota while the GM surrounds him with weapons. If he can scheme up a great offense then sure, that is even better. However, if you could tell me that he is going to bring a disruptive defense to Tennessee that will help compliment a better protected Marcus Mariota, you can sign me up for that too. Especially if you can throw a special teams that is getting Mariota to the 25 yard line or better every series, then that is even better.

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