Tennessee Titans 2017 Season Recap
The Buffalo Bills were not the only team in the AFC that snapped a long postseason absence. But unlike the Rust Belt squad in the Empire State, our next subject acted as if they endured a disappointing losing campaign.
Tennessee Titans
2017 Record: 9-7
2016 Record: 9-7
Win Differential: 0
What Happened: The Titans were an interesting study as they looked to improve upon their first winning season in about 4 years. On one hand, they have the future of the franchise, Marcus Mariota, a prolific college passer that was picked #2 overall in the 2016 draft under the premise that he would be developed into a top shelf field general and passing leader. On the other, head coach Mike Mularkey installing what he referred to as "exotic smashmouth", a hybrid of the modernized contemporary passing offense blended with a strong running game and stout defense. What would come of it was a team that didn't scare anyone on paper, with only an average defense, an inconsistent run game, and Mariota showing regression in his on field development. Had this team resided in the NFC, their 2017 season would have concluded in the regular season. Instead, they would earn a wild card berth in the weaker AFC. Not only would they parlay that into a Wild Card Weekend victory, they would make an 18 point comeback to stun both the Kansas City Chiefs in particular and the football world in general. They would be humiliated by the New England Patriots in the divisional playoffs, serving as a reminder that the Titans aren't to that level yet. What made their playoff run even more peculiar was rumors that Mularkey was going to be fired once Tennessee's season concluded. This was largely viewed as hogwash. Who cans their head coach after getting two steps away from the Super Bowl, the closest they've been in 15 years?
What To Expect: Oh. Well then... Yes, Mularkey was shown the door shortly after that loss. Dismissals that late into the off-season (in relation to the 20 other ballclubs whose season ended 2 weeks prior) are a rarity. And as such, any highly touted assistants are almost always never available due to that time constraint. Enter Mike Vrabel, former Patriots linebacker and most recently, Houston's defensive coordinator. Vrabel did draw an interview or two, but the horse track assessment on him was he was at least a couple years away from being ready for this position. Obviously, Titans management thought otherwise. And the incorporation of ex-Patriots did not stop there, as RB Dion Lewis and CB Malcolm Butler (of Super Bowl benching infamy) were signed to ostensibly not only contribute on the field, but to introduce that dynastic culture to a team on the rise. Tennessee's placement in the AFC South makes them susceptible to high volatility due to unknown factors surrounding their rivals. Houston and Indianapolis have their starting quarterbacks returning from injury, with the Texans looking vastly different from 2017 due to the return of so many lost players due to injury, while the Colts are still rebuilding around Andrew Luck. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars partied like it was 1996 this past January. While they didn't see radical personnel turnover, the weight of heightened expectations could be a factor in having a cool down campaign. So for the Titans, the sky and the basement are the limits in play. More than likely, they will just be stuck in neutral until Vrabel can figure what he has on his hands. But teams have been known to surprise. Only the trials and tribulations of an NFL will dictate what is next.
