In a season filled with low points, it feels as though the Tennessee Titans hit rock bottom on Sunday, as the man they fired two years prior walked off the field with a convincing win... And heard the crowd loudly chanting his name... In his opponent's stadium.
It doesn't get any worse than that for a 1-6 team that has been defined by organizational dysfunction and mistakes over the past few years. The good news is: once your team has hit rock bottom, there's only one direction for it to go. It can only get better from here, right?
Moving past the Coaches of the Past
It became apparent a few games into the season that things were not heading in the right direction under Brian Callahan. His failures have been thoroughly covered by now, so we will not waste time recounting them. Following a 20-10 loss to one of the worst teams in the league in Las Vegas, Callahan was relieved of his duties to the relief of fans, media, and probably even Callahan, himself.
Following a slow start, it became similarly apparent that Vrabel had quickly changed the culture and expectations in New England. The day the Patriots came to town seemed destined to be a bad one for the Titans, but the first half showed a Tennessee team playing with effort and execution. In fact, the offense looked the best it had all year for those two quarters, and the defense did well keeping New England out of the endzone. Of course the second half brought the catastrophe we feared, but it is over now, and it is time to move on from both Callahan and Vrabel.
Where We Go From Here
Just because things can't get much worse does not mean they will immediately be significantly better. We should not be expecting extended winning streaks and an unlikely playoff run. Mike McCoy is not a magician or an exciting offensive genius, but he is an experienced coach who could bring stability to the team. As of now, that is exactly what fans should be hoping for.
The rest of this year will be primarily about one thing: the continued development of quarterback Cam Ward. With a more stable environment, an offensive line that is finally intact and healthy, some talented young skill position players, and relatively no pressure to succeed immediately, Ward should be able to find his footing in the NFL.
The Future Could Be Bright
As for the future, there are reasons to be optimistic. Borgonzi and Brinker did a great job in their first draft, and the Titans are likely to earn another top-5 pick this season. That one pick could become an elite edge rusher, a top-tier weapon on offense, or the best defensive back in the draft. Or even better, it could be used to fill multiple needs if productively traded. And that's just the first round. The Titans are also set to be among the top teams this off-season in cap space, and this can be used to properly supplement a rebuilding roster under a new head coach.
Speaking of a new head coach, it is far too early to take any of the rumors seriously or get your hopes up about a certain candidate. As we go on through the season, more guys will emerge as serious contenders, and others will fall by the wayside. Yes, ownership and management must get this hire right, but it is hard to imagine they could do worse than the last choice.
The good news is: the Titans job is much more attractive than it was the last time around. Cam Ward is one of the most promising young players at the most important position in the sport. There are several talented young players around him, including Elic Ayomanor, Gunnar Helm, Chimere Dike, J.C. Latham, and Peter Skoronski. Not to mention T'Vondre Sweat and a still-in-his-prime Jeffery Simmons.
A team with a young franchise quarterback, a ton of cap space, a high draft pick, and a roster that is better than it has performed should be enough to entice an actual top head coach candidate. As long as the weird Machiavellian politics that have plagued the front office don't get in the way, things can only get better from here.