Mike Vrabel is by no means a perfect football coach, but he could do worse. This may be a lesson the Titans learn sooner rather than later, after Vrabel was seemingly safe and fired by the organization on Tuesday without any announcement on the NFL's “Black Monday.” .
The core of the problem appears to be an executive-level power struggle between Vrabel and general manager Ran Carson over the direction of the team. Carson was hired in 2023 to modernize the Titans organization in the mold of his previous employer, the Titans. san francisco 49ersAnd this, of course, would cause friction between Vrabel and his traditional sensibilities. You don't have to read between the lines of the statement released by Titans owner Amy Adams Slank to see that the disconnect between Vrabel and Carson was at the heart of her concerns.
“I believe that the teams best positioned for sustained success are those that can strengthen collaborative and collaborative teams across all functions of football. We have begun a shift in approach and have made several personnel changes to further that plan. As we continue to evaluate the state of our team, we believe the team will also benefit from the fresh approach and perspective of our new coaching staff. I have come to the conclusion that it will be accepted.”
The problem with Vrabel's firing is less that he wants a unified front office approach and more that he wonders where it will be in 2024. Many teams across the NFL are currently in the midst of a coaching search, and the Titans are giving up on their coaching. It's not an ideal time to get in the ring now.
If we take the owner's words to heart, there is a very clear path forward for the Titans. Rather than an established coach, they would want someone with a new mindset in the NFL that would eliminate guys like Jim Harbaugh and Bill Belichick (even if he ends up being fired). One could also speculate that this “adjusted” vision probably starts with observing people from Kyle Shanahan's coaching tree.
This narrows down your search to two very specific people.
Both are considered Shanahan's next protégés, but recruiting either of them is a very difficult proposition, even though they have had success with their respective teams. Both are incredibly eco-friendly when it comes to taking on a larger role within an organization.
Slowik did an amazing job with CJ Stroud in Houston, which led to him having conversations with the head coach — but it's unclear if he's even close to being ready to take over the team. Slowik had never held a major decision-making role within the organization before this season, but hiring him into a coaching position so soon is a big leap.
Smith may be even riskier as a potential hire. It says a lot that Mike McDaniel vouched for him and named Smith the offensive coordinator in Miami, but the truth is, McDaniel is the genius behind this operation. . Smith doesn't call plays for the Dolphins. That means his obligation is to execute McDaniels' vision from a support standpoint, rather than having a true vision of his own.
The problem is that it all feels too fast. It's too sudden. Sure, there may have been some clashes behind closed doors about how to evolve the Titans, but rather than just firing Vrabel to find someone who can keep pace with the GM, it's likely they'll work together to find common ground. Maybe a little headbutt was needed. When it comes to once-a-week, twice-a-week NFL coaches, we know Mike Vrabel can win. It's not his fault that former GM Jon Robinson signed Ryan Tannehill to a big contract or decided to trade AJ Brown.
Brass tackle Vrabel has done a lot with a little this season, even if the results were disappointing. Seven of the Titans' 11 losses in 2023 were by one point or less, and if Will Levis could stay healthy, the team would continue to trend upward in 2024 and beyond.
As a GM, even if you didn't believe Vrabel was the long-term solution, the least you could do was convince the owners to keep this going for another year or two. Not to see if Vrabel can become an elite coach, but to allow some future position picks to prove themselves a little more outside of the organization before taking a big risk.
Instead, the Titans are now under pressure to pull the trigger on their coach. a lot teams are looking for a coach. They are, chargerhave a quality roster with an established franchise quarterback on one end of the spectrum. carolina panthers On the other side are teams with owners who have very little talent but will do whatever it takes to get the players they want.
When the dust settles, the grass isn't always greener. While Vrabel may have had his own issues and may not have fully embraced the Titans' modernization, he is still a very good coach and the Titans believe he could have been successful with this team. I'm worried that he might find out.
Now they roll the dice, and who knows what the Titans will end up with.
