One massive question is set to determine the future of the Tennessee Titans: Who will be the head coach to pull this franchise up from the pits of the league, leading the Titans back into playoff contention and setting the young career of Cam Ward back on track?
Since Tennessee fired Brian Callahan earlier this season, plenty of potential candidates have been named. The decision won't be made until the offseason, but it's crucial enough to monitor going forward.
One of the top names mentioned in rumors has been current Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Minter has been an elite defensive play caller, leading a Chargers defense that consistently outperforms expectations.But hiring Minter could be a terrible mistake for the Titans.
Jesse Minter just showed Titans why they shouldn't hire him
When the coaching carousel fully gets going in January, Minter is expected to be a popular candidate.
As he showed in Week 11 though, the Chargers' coach has no way of stopping one of Tennessee's division rivals,
Division rivalries are an underrated aspect of coaching performance. If one play caller has a consistent advantage over another, it can decide playoff spots. Of course, the ability to win with Cam Ward is the most important factor in the Titans’ decision on their next head coach. But the way candidates have fared against other AFC South teams should certainly come into play.
In Week 11, Minter gave the Titans a clear reason to pass him by. His Chargers allowed 35 points and nearly 350 yards to a Jacksonville Jaguars offense that has been struggling to get rolling this season. Jaguars’ head coach and offensive mastermind Liam Coen seemed to be one step ahead of Minter the whole game, consistently setting his players up to find open space. Justin Herbert’s injury played a big part in the 35-6 final score, but Coen’s advantage over Minter was clear throughout the game.
This isn’t the first time Coen has dominated Minter, either. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Coen’s former team) played the Chargers last season, Minter’s defense allowed 40 points and over 500 yards. The Buccaneers ran the ball with ease in that game, totaling well over 200 yards on the ground.
Again, one matchup shouldn’t decide the candidacy of a coach. But no Titans fan wants to watch a division rival score 40 points on their defense. With that in mind, it might be best for Tennessee to find its head coach elsewhere.