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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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Dec 3, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams special teams coach Tyrone McKenzie against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams special teams coach Tyrone McKenzie against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Tyrone McKenzie, LB coach

You could make a case that no position coach on the roster has left a bigger impression on this team than McKenzie.

When he was coaching the Titans linebackers, we were writing articles about how Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown should be considered the best LB tandem in the NFL. At the very least he was getting them to play with great chemistry and they rarely looked out of position.

Now, you are lucky if Evans and Brown aren’t running in the wrong direction on any given play and that is if they aren’t flat-footed just staring at the running back run right past them. That isn’t hyperbole, there are several plays this season where the Titans linebackers just don’t move despite a clear handoff that they are staring right at.

Maybe McKenzie was harder to work with than Bowen or maybe Bowen was more impressive in meetings or something, but even at the time, everyone thought that McKenzie should be on the shortlist to replace Pees.

Whatever happened in this time pushed McKenzie out the door as conflicting rumors came out on whether McKenzie chose to leave or if he was fired by the Titans. Either way, he is making an undermanned group of LBs in Detroit look pretty solid this season…must be nice.

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