The Tennessee Titans were embarrassed on Sunday again, losing 25-3 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13. The offense was completely ineffective, having gained less than 200 yards. It marked the third contest this season the Titans failed to score a touchdown.
Interim head coach Mike McCoy has often been criticized for taking an overly cautious approach since replacing Brian Callahan. Despite the 1-11 Titans literally having nothing to lose, McCoy routinely punts and kicks field goals in situations that call for more aggressiveness. That coaching cowardice was on full display Sunday against the Jags.
The Titans went conservative in several questionable spots. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward expressed his frustration with reporters following the game. Ward wants to see the Titans be more aggressive, and he's absolutely right to call out McCoy.
Titans QB Cam Ward calls out Mike McCoy's coaching cowardice
"Yeah, we need to go for it I believe," Ward responded to a question about kicking a field goal on 4th-and-3. "What do we have to lose? We talk about it all the time. He [McCoy] knows my mindset. I want to go for it."
The Titans are the only offense in the NFL without an opening possession touchdown this season. Despite that, McCoy decided to kick a field goal on 4th-and-3 from the Jaguars' 10-yard line. Jacksonville responded with a touchdown on the ensuing possession, and then recovered a fumble on the kickoff, swiftly scoring another TD and two-point conversion to take a 15-3 lead before the Titans touched the football again. So much for those three points.
The Titans punted on 4th-and-3 from their own 35-yard line on the next offensive possession. Towards the conclusion of the second quarter, McCoy finally chose aggressiveness on 4th-and-2 on the cusp of the red zone. A Ward pass was dropped by Tony Pollard. Perhaps most cowardly of all, McCoy punted on a 4th-and-1 on the opening possession of the third quarter despite trailing 18-3.
After the game, Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons discussed how the next head coach needs to change the culture. Whoever replaces McCoy must possess a far stronger personality. He also needs to be considerably more aggressive on fourth down.