Arthur Smith
I was one of many people who were calling for the head of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith with the Titans looking like a dumpster fire on offense for much of the first half of the season. But it wasn’t just because of the raw numbers; Smith’s play-calling, route designs and personnel decisions that didn’t make sense certainly added fuel to the fire.
Fast forward to the last three weeks and the Titans look like a different offense. Tennessee has scored 30 points or more in three straight games for the first time since 2016, and Smith’s play call that dialed-up a play action deep ball to Kalif Raymond late in the fourth quarter resulting in a game-sealing touchdown in Week 13 was a thing of beauty.
The best part about Smith’s decision-making of late is his willingness to feed King Henry. After Titans fans were screaming to let Henry loose, Smith has answered the call.
After the Week 9 debacle that saw Henry get just 13 carries against a bad Panthers run defense, the Alabama product has averaged 22.7 carries per game over the last three contests, and it’s no surprise Henry has turned those into his three best games of the 2019 season.
While I personally still have reservations about saying Smith is good to go as the Titans’ OC for the future, he’s definitely gotten himself back on track and the calls for his firing have grown more and more quiet.