Turron Davenport
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans coach Brian Callahan stated Tuesday that he is relinquishing his offensive playcalling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree, whereas Nick Holz will proceed to be the offensive coordinator and preserve the identical duties serving to construct the sport plan.
“They employed me to be the top coach — and a part of that course of was being concerned within the offense — however my job is to be the top coach of the soccer group, and I feel that this [change] permits me to try this job a bit bit higher, pay extra consideration to some issues which may require my consideration and be extra current.
“We're 0-3. We're attempting to get higher.”
Callahan stated he selected Hardegree to name performs over Holz due to his expertise as interim OC for 9 video games with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 after head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. The Raiders completed with a 5-4 file over that point with then-rookie Aidan O'Connell at quarterback.
“That was clearly an excellent expertise for me,” Hardegree stated. “Having the ability to additionally take over an offense, work with a rookie quarterback, I will draw from these experiences.”
Hardegree talked about former Duke coach David Cutcliffe and former Miami Dolphins and New York Jets coach Adam Gase as heavy influences on his playcalling philosophy.
The Titans have been outscored 94-51 this season, with followers booing and chanting “fireplace Callahan” throughout Sunday's 41-20 loss to the Colts. Tennessee is averaging 17 factors per sport (twenty eighth within the NFL) and has solely scored three touchdowns in three video games. Regardless of drafting quarterback Cam Ward No. 1 general, the offense is scoring lower than final season's 18.3 factors per sport.
“Defend the ball and rating factors. That is it,” Hardegree stated.
Callahan, who has a 3-17 file with the Titans, stated he handed off playcalling to have the ability to higher deal with his head teaching duties and be extra concerned in all sides of the operations course of. Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson stated Callahan was within the protection's sport plan assembly Tuesday morning.
The transfer is sensible given Callahan's operational struggles in two of the three video games this season. Callahan didn't problem a catch by Elic Ayomanor that was dominated incomplete towards the Denver Broncos within the season opener. The decision ought to have been dominated a catch since Ayomanor's elbow landed in bounds. Callahan stated after the sport that he did not problem the decision as a result of he thought Ayomanor wanted to have a foot in bounds as properly.
Sunday's mishap was worse. Callahan's indecisiveness on a fourth down led to a delay of sport penalty that pushed kicker Joey Slye's 57-yard area aim try to 62 yards. The try was tipped and was no good. The Colts kicked a area aim of their very own 5 performs later making the sport 20-6 at halftime.
Callahan stated there is no such thing as a disruption to how the method labored earlier than. Callahan, Hardegree and Holtz will nonetheless be those in game-plan conferences with Ward, who has lobbied for stability after the Titans have fired a head coach or normal supervisor in three consecutive seasons.
Holz will deal with base downs. Senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy and huge receivers coach Tyke Tolbert will proceed to be in command of placing collectively the purple zone sport plan, whereas Randy Jordan will proceed to deal with the display sport.
“Our offensive employees and our game-planning course of and system are going to stay in place,” Callahan stated. “It is nonetheless a collaborative course of. It does not change that course of. It is simply the performs are on the finish of the day on Sunday, popping out of anyone else's mouth. I will nonetheless be very current within the course of.”
The Titans have three consecutive away video games beginning with the Houston Texans this week, adopted by West Coast journeys to face the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders.
