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How will the Titans fare without a defensive coordinator

By Brady Akins

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Head coach Mike Vrabel hugs Rashaan Evans #54 of the Tennessee Titans during the closing moments of AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Head coach Mike Vrabel hugs Rashaan Evans #54 of the Tennessee Titans during the closing moments of AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Titans 2020 Defensive Outlook

There’s reason to believe Tennessee can make this work– but not to the heights of Belichick’s Patriots team’s. And if anything, the Titans are probably set to take a step back on defense in 2020.

Mike Vrabel’s experience, both as a player and as a coach, is sure to have him prepared to some extent. But there’s a difference between being prepared and being Bill Belichick. The Patriots legend has been a dedicated defensive coordinator for nine seasons, a general manager for 24 seasons, and a head coach for 25. He’s used to managing multiple roles and used to know what it takes to win in the NFL at multiple levels. He’s also the greatest coach in football history, which doesn’t hurt.

Vrabel, on the other hand, is new to all of this. He has just one season as an NFL defensive coordinator under his belt and just two seasons as a head coach. And Vrabel is good, don’t get me wrong, but the added responsibility of leading the team as its head coach and leading the defense as its de facto coordinator might be too much for the young coach to handle.

Even with Haslett on his side, Vrabel might struggle to have the defense running at a top-tier level. Haslett does make up for the lack of experience on Vrabel’s end, but neither coach has many recent years of high-end defensive seasons on their side. Experience or not, the defense might be due for some regression.

Luckily, regressing as a defense doesn’t mean going from good to terrible. Dean Pees helped a great deal with Tennessee’s defensive success last year, but his job was made easier with the talent that the Titans have at every position. With an up-and-coming defensive line, a great linebacker group and one of the best secondaries in the NFL, Tennessee’s talent might transcend any deficiencies Vrabel might have as a defensive coordinator.

A step back from 2019? Maybe. But the Titans have enough playmakers to at least stay solid on defense. And if Vrabel is able to prove that his one underwhelming season as defensive coordinator was an anomaly, the team might be one of the best in the NFL.

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