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Titans “promoted” the wrong position coach to Defensive Coordinator

By Will Lomas

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 01: Inside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie of the Tennessee Titans watches game action during the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tennessee defeats Indianapolis 31-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 01: Inside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie of the Tennessee Titans watches game action during the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tennessee defeats Indianapolis 31-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen watches his players during a training camp practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 Nashville, Tenn.Nas Titans Camp 0824 008
Tennessee Titans outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen watches his players during a training camp practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 Nashville, Tenn.Nas Titans Camp 0824 008 /

Shane Bowen, OLB coach

Shane Bowen may turn out to be a great coach someday, but there is absolutely nothing in his resume that gives you any hope. Even Matt LaFleur had a nice career as the “Offensive Coordinator” with the L.A. Rams, despite not actually calling plays.

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Maybe it was the combination of Matt LaFleur’s success in Green Bay proving that Mike Vrabel made the right decision hiring him as the OC, and Sean McVay’s ability to maintain both the HC and OC job and the power that comes with that, that ultimately made Shane Bowen the choice to be the Titans next DC.

Now, people say that Shane Bowen is calling the plays in Tennessee and maybe he is right. But Mike Vrabel is a driving factor in the planning of the defense and you have to consider the circumstance.

Imagine what it must be like for Bowen who spends his week with his boss hovering over his shoulder telling him what he should or shouldn’t add to a gameplan. Then imagine that it is your first year in your new job and every 30 seconds you have your boss in your ear saying, “Hey, do that thing that we talked about all week. Can you hear me? Hey, hey, just do that thing.”

Even if Bowen is calling the plays, there isn’t a second during drives where the Titans on defense where Mike Vrabel is looking anywhere but on the field. He wouldn’t even know where the offense meets on the sideline if he did want to go over there.

Now, the pairing of Shane Bowen and Mike Vrabel is going exactly as many expected when you remember that Shane Bowen has never called plays at any level and the one year where Mike Vrabel called plays, his defense allowed more points than anyone else in the NFL.

What were the other options?

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