Behind all of the Cam Ward magic and rookie wide receiver breakouts, there’s one major question looming over the Tennessee Titans: Who will be the team’s head coach moving forward?
Since the midseason firing of Brian Callahan, rumors have swirled about potential candidates. While most of the options this offseason are defensive specialists, the Titans’ situation lends itself to an offensive guru.
Unfortunately, one of the top candidates on the offensive side of the ball may have just taken himself out of the running. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady just showcased his biggest weakness, which may be enough to force Tennessee to look elsewhere.
Joe Brady just showed Titans why they shouldn’t hire him
Brady has been one of the top offensive coordinators over the past few years, constructing an offense in which Josh Allen has been able to thrive. His physical running game and diverse passing attack have helped give the Bills one of the most dynamic units in football.
But this season, the production has dipped a bit. Allen isn’t quite producing at an MVP level, and the rushing attack has slowed ever so slightly. Brady has struggled to get the offense going at times, leading to a few key losses.
None of the unit’s missteps have been as glaring as its performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, though. In one of the biggest games of the season, Brady’s offense put up just 12 points. Despite dominating the possession battle, they were unable to convert their opportunities into touchdowns. Brady shied away from the downhill running style that has become a calling card of his scheme, leaving his offense without a clear identity throughout the game.
Without a strong running game, Brady seemed to rely on Allen making a few superhuman plays to earn the victory. Allen, like Ward, is certainly capable of putting his team on his back, but it's not something to rely on consistently.
While it's just one game, the Titans need to take notice of this performance before considering Brady as their next head coach. It's becoming painfully clear that, in the biggest moments of the season, the offensive coordinator is unable to pivot to overcome top-notch defenses. As Ward continues to develop, he'll need an offensive play-caller who is ready to support him against different defensive looks. After the Bills' Week 17 showing, it's looking like Brady won't be the right man for the job.