The Tennessee Titans have finally made the move fans were hoping for: the team has fired offensive coordinator Todd Downing, along with three other coaches.
The team made the announcement on Monday evening, also revealing that offensive line coach Keith Carter, secondary coach Anthony Midget and offensive skill assistant Erik Frazier were given pink slips.
“I want to thank Todd, Keith, Anthony and Erik for their service and commitment to our team over their time here in Tennessee,” head coach Vrabel said in a statement. “Each of them made an impact on our organization, were dedicated to the process and loyal members of our coaching staff.”
Downing took over from wildly-successful former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who left to take the Atlanta Falcons’ head-coaching job following two successful seasons.
Since then, Tennessee’s offense has fallen off big time. Under Downing, the Titans went from elite offenses in 2019 and 2020, to around average in 2021 to one of the worst in the NFL in 2022.
Granted, injuries and a ton of personnel changes in those two years no doubt played a part, but Downing also wasn’t good at his job and there was never a time we could say his play-calling elevated this offense in either year.
The embattled former offensive coordinator also ran into trouble off the field, when he was arrested for a DUI back in November following the Titans’ last win of the season in Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers.
Carter served as the offensive line coach from 2018-22. During that time, the Titans saw some absolutely putrid offensive line play in pass protection. It wasn’t all Carter’s fault, though, as injuries and bad personnel decisions upfront also contributed.
Whatever the case may be, the Titans definitely needed some new blood on the offensive coaching staff, so this is definitely the right start.
