NFL
By: Edwin Duodu
Since the Tennessee Titans lost Derrick Henry to an injury, winning football games hasn’t been pretty. Nevertheless, the Titans are 5-3 since then and are tied for first place in the AFC conference, holding the tiebreaker over the Kansas City Chiefs. They have a chance to clinch the first seed with a win in the final week against the Houston Texans. This team has found ways to win each game, whether relying on dominant defensive performances, leaning on the run game, or individual impacts. Regardless, Mike Vrabel has held this team together throughout the many obstacles that have arisen during this eight-game span. For that, he deserves to be named the coach of the year, and it’s not even close.
For Vrabel to still win games is remarkable. It proves that his philosophy and coaching have been impressive. Coming into the home game against the Miami Dolphins, the Titans used a league-high 88 players, the most ever in a non-strike season for the NFL. He has gotten similar, if not the same, production from players who were not supposed to be a part of the rotation this season. That includes starters and rotational players.
It’s also a difficult task for players to immediately come into a lineup and be expected to produce. It’s a harsh reality that NFL teams ask players to rise to the occasion under immense circumstances, but it doesn’t make the job any easier. Still, Vrabel has been able to get the most out of the players he has been forced to use, which says a lot about the culture he has built-in Tennessee.
The Titans seem to be getting healthy at the right time finally. Julio Jones and A. J. Brown have been in and out of the lineup this year but appear to be getting stronger every week. Whether Tennessee leans on the passing game or not, they now can warrant stress from defensive coordinators. We also can’t neglect the players who have already played through injuries this year, including Taylor Lewan, Harold Landry, Janoris Jenkins, and more.
Then there are the multiple rumors circulating the team’s camp regarding Derrick Henry’s return. Vrabel lost his star running back midway through the season and may finally be getting him back sooner than expected. There is a discussion on whether or not to designate Henry from the IR, and if this happens, it would be a big boost.
The Titans have battled through adversity enough but still may not be able to push for a deep playoff run without its best player. Henry commands the amount of attention and game planning that isn’t replaceable, despite how well the offense has fared in the running game in his absence. Nevertheless, I applaud Vrabel for staying true to his game plan and not scrambling to change the offense.
This team is constructed to run the football, with or without Derrick Henry. The rushing game has eclipsed 200 yards twice, and D’Onta Foreman has done a fine job stepping in as the lead running back. Dontrell Hilliard and Jeremy McNichols have also made impacts with limited carries. Give credit to offensive coordinator Todd Downing for devising offensive blocking schemes to have an effective running game and help his quarterback, Ryan Tannehill. However, give Vrabel credit for not jumping ship from his game plan when Derrick Henry went down.
The defense has also found an identity to dominate teams and keep their offenses in check during games. Currently, the Titans rank 2nd in the league with rushing yards per game. They also rank fifth in opponent touchdowns per game. Vrabel has instilled this “bend, don’t break” mentality within his defense and has found a way to remove one part of opposing offensive game plans. The defense has also been opportunistic regarding takeaways during this eight-game span, forcing 11. If the team can still find a way to keep up this standard of play, no team would want to face Tennessee in the playoffs.
Mike Vrabel has been outstanding. Although he’s dealt with the number of injuries and rotating players in the lineup, he still managed to win, which is most important. No other team in the league has faced more adversity than Vrabel. No group has done a better job at overcoming its trials than the Titans have. That is all because of Vrabel and his philosophy, which is why he deserves to be named coach of the year. If not, it would be a slap in the face to his efforts this season.
