For better or for worse, a new leaf has been turned for the Tennessee Titans. Head coach Brian Callahan is out, and Mike McCoy has been promoted to take his place.
While the mess in front of McCoy is probably too much to fix before the end of the season, there is some optimism that this team could improve under new leadership. If he wants to make a positive impact on the Titans, he has a clear choice to make as his first move in charge.
Running back Tyjae Spears has thrived in his limited role this season, and he deserves to play a bigger part in the offense moving forward.
Mike McCoy must work Tyjae Spears into Titans' offense
The Titans have fallen into the same trap as multiple other franchises with highly-drafted quarterbacks. They didn't put enough support around their rookie passer, and he struggled as a result. Cam Ward has shown signs of promise in Tennessee, but the offense is too dysfunctional for him to live up to his pre-draft hype. Without dynamic pass catchers or an effective rushing attack, it's hard to expect much out of the former number one pick.
A major part of the problem is the inefficiency of starting running back Tony Pollard this year. He's averaging less than four yards per carry and has just one run of more than 20 yards. He still brings value to the Titans' offense, but it's clear that he isn't the explosive runner that he used to be.
Since returning from his ankle injury, Spears has looked like the more explosive back. He's averaging five yards per carry, including an extremely efficient performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. The young running back has been gaining momentum as a future starter in Tennessee's backfield since Derrick Henry left, and he already seems to be closing in on Pollard as the lead back for the rest of the season.
Both of these running backs will likely see plenty of the field in the coming weeks, but it will be telling which of the two gets the majority of the touches now that McCoy is in charge. McCoy was a senior offensive assistant before becoming the interim head coach, so he has likely had some input on the playing time of these running backs. Still, Titans fans might see a change now that he is in charge.