By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — The Titans are in the market for at least one and maybe two new coordinators. After a record breaking offensive performance propelled them to an 11–5 regular season record and their first AFC South title since 2008, Arthur Smith became the team’s second offensive coordinator in three seasons to get a head coaching position. Smith accepted the Atlanta Falcons head job last Saturday. The Titans’ offense averaged almost 32 points per game, with Ryan Tannehill setting a team mark for passing yardage, Derrick Henry exceeding 2,000 yards and breaking Chris Johnson’s team record, and both Henry and A.J. Brown making the AFC Pro Bowl team.
So now the Titans are looking again for an offensive coordinator. Among possible candidates a very intriguing one used to have that same position for a division rival. Pep Hamilton was the offensive coordinator at Indianapolis from 2013-15, and spent the past season with the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s also held coaching positions in college and for other pro teams, including being a head coach in the XFL.
Considering his success with Andrew Luck, he might be the ideal person to ensure that Tannehill and company repeat their offensive prowess. But the question that remains unanswered regarding the Titans and coaching positions is will head coach Mike Vrabel hire a defensive coordinator? After a season when the Titans’ defense was at or near the bottom of the NFL in every significant category and particularly bad on rushing the passer and preventing third down conversions, there is a lot of clamor for Vrabel to officially designate someone to be in charge of the defense..
He has not publicly committed to hiring one, and it remains a mystery as to whether they will. The Titans also may wait until after the Super Bowl to fill the vacancies because no assistant coach for a team still in the playoffs can take a job until that team is eliminated. Whatever they decide, the hope is whoever they hire can help them not only repeat as AFC South champions, but reach and win the Super Bowl.
