Mike McCoy might not be the man to turn the Tennessee Titans around in the long run, but he's made a positive impact in a few areas since he took over for Brian Callahan.
While it's flown under the radar, running back Tyjae Spears has been getting more work under McCoy than he did under Callahan. The young back is making the most of it, turning in explosive performances when he gets his chances.
Titans fans have been asking to see more of Spears, and McCoy is granting their wish.
Mike McCoy is giving Tyjae Spears the workload Titans fans knew he should get
The Titans went all-in on a mediocre roster before the 2024 season, adding aging veterans in an attempt to kick-start the franchise into contention. It didn't work out, and now they're stuck with the results.
One of those free-agent swings was running back Tony Pollard, who assumed the starting role upon arrival. Unfortunately for Spears, he's been relegated to a backup role. Spending his career as a backup, first to Derrick Henry and now to Pollard, the young running back has never had the chance to truly thrive.
But that may be changing under McCoy. Since the interim head coach took over, Spears has averaged 10 touches per game. In his previous appearances this season, he had averaged just 6.5 touches per game. It's a small sample size, but his workload is trending in the right direction.
The running back isn't making his new coach regret the decision. He was one of the only bright spots in the Titans' Week 8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, turning his nine carries into 59 yards and a touchdown. His 41-yard run was the longest offensive play of the day for Tennessee, showcasing his explosive ability. The young back was worked into the passing game too, with three catches for 23 yards.
This season, Spears is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, compared to Pollard's 3.9. He's been more efficient and more explosive than the starting back.
Pollard's workload hasn't decreased under McCoy. Instead, the Titans are leaning more heavily on the run, taking some of the pressure off rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
There's still almost no chance McCoy ends up winning the head coaching job long-term, but the decision to give Spears more opportunities to shine is already becoming one of the most positive impacts the interim coach has made for the Titans.