Onus is on Fisher to lead Titans deeper into playoffs

By Marc Hudgens  |   Monday, May 26, 2008  |  Comments( 4 )

Tennessee Titans
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One of the big hooplas in Nashville is the fact that Tennessee's Jeff Fisher is embarking on his 14th consecutive season as head coach of the Titans. No current NFL coach is more tenured than the former USC safety. In today’s environment where a coach is here today, gone tomorrow -- whether in the NFL or college -- Fisher's mainstay status in Tennessee is truly unique and impressive.

Reviewing his term of office and where the team is now, the question becomes: Can the longtime coach, who obviously heads a fairly talented bunch, get Tennessee deep into the playoffs?

Since the team's magical 1999 season that ended with a Super Bowl berth, the Titans have recorded four playoff appearances, which is OK on the surface. However, in only one of those seasons, 2002, did the club get past the divisional round.

Last season Tennessee made it to the playoffs, compiling a 10-win regular season. However, before the season’s final game, the Titans were sitting on a rickety bubble: A loss to Indianapolis would have done the Titans in. But after the Colts secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye weeks earlier, head coach Tony Dungy pulled all of his starters after the first quarter to save them for the playoffs. That was the catalyst which allowed the Titans to capitalize (barely) by playing the Colts’ backups and get the win. In other words, the only reason Tennessee won was because it was not playing the Peyton Manning-led Colts. Had Dungy left Manning and the rest of his starters in the entire game, chances are Tennessee would have lost.

The Titans proved their inferiority during the first week of the playoffs, turning in a dismal performance en route to a 17-6 loss in San Diego.

With that said, the Titans’ record has consistently improved over the past three seasons. Tennessee’s 4-12 mark in 2005 went to 8-8 in ’06, then, as mentioned, 10-6 last season. Under Fisher, then, the club has experienced regular-season progress. But to take the next step, Fisher and new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger must figure out how to make the 'O' score more touchdowns. The Titans averaged 19.4 points per game over the past two seasons; that number obviously has go up. And for that to happen in today’s NFL, you must have a serious passing game. And that’s where Tennessee’s lacking.

Unfortunately for the Titans, it doesn't appear their Vince Young-guided aerial attack will be a whole lot better this year: The club squandered opportunities to land a No. 1 receiver during free agency and during the draft. Tennessee's major offseason’s acquisitions came in the form of tight end Alge Crumpler and first-round running back Chris Johnson, which indicates it still plans on being a short-yardage team.

After an offseason in which the Titans didn't seem to address their biggest need, a 2008 campaign lacking progress might be time for fans to begin calling into question the job Fisher is doing; the bottom line is that Tennessee can't be one-dimensional for the second straight season.

Though the head coach isn't necessarily the one many look to as the individual making major personnel decisions, as executive vice president and head coach, the buck largely starts and stops with Fisher.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He ...
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