By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Titans decided to make internal promotions rather than bring in new faces to their coaching staff. So the group that will lead the team into the 2021 season won’t be much different from the 2020 year except there will be old faces in new, key positions, most notably offensive and defensive coordinators.
The biggest news is the Titans WILL officially have a defensive coordinator next season. Among the several announced changes last Friday, Shane Bowen moves over from the outside linebacker coaching role to formally take over as defensive coordinator. Bowen was calling defensive plays last year, but didn’t have the title and there were questions all season long regarding exactly who was in charge. The Titans finished 28th in total defense and 24th in scoring defense, the worse marks of any playoff team. Former Vanderbilt linebackers coach Kenechi Udeze is the new assistant defensive line coach, one of the few new staff faces.
Todd Downing, the former right ends coach, becomes the new offensive coordinator. He replaces Arthur Smith, now head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Luke Steckel is now tight ends coach. Ryan Crow has become the outside linebackers coach and Matt Edwards assistant special teams coach.
The Titans also must decide the fate of four free agents. They are defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, inside linebackers Jayon Brown and Will Compton, and cornerback Desmond King. But it’s the performances of Bowen and Downing that will be most closely watched as the defending AFC South Titans hope to finally return to the Super Bowl next year.
