NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans are finalizing a deal to make Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan their subsequent head coach, changing Mike Vrabel.
Callahan gave the impression to be Tennessee’s alternative from the begin to develop into its sixth coach. After spending 5 seasons in Cincinnati, Callahan was the primary candidate Tennessee submitted a request to interview and the primary the Titans met with just about and in individual.
Taking a better look, Titans reporter Turron Davenport solutions among the huge questions surrounding the rent, nationwide reporter Dan Graziano dishes on what he is listening to about Callahan and draft analyst Matt Miller spins it ahead to the draft. Lastly, entrance workplace analyst Mike Tannenbaum grades the Titans’ rent.
Why did the Titans go along with Callahan?
Davenport: Callahan’s observe document of success dates again to his time with the Denver Broncos as an offensive assistant below Gary Kubiak which included the Tremendous Bowl 50 victory with quarterback Peyton Manning. Though he did not name performs for the Bengals because the offensive coordinator, Callahan was answerable for orchestrating the sport plan and implementing the offense, in keeping with Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor. Callahan’s potential to search out success regardless of having points alongside the offensive line ought to bode effectively for the Titans, who’ve shortcomings there as effectively. After having 4 offensive coordinators in six seasons below Mike Vrabel, the Titans had been desperately in want of stability, so bringing in Callahan ensures they will have the identical scheme over the time he is in Tennessee.
How does this influence quarterback Will Levis?
Davenport: Levis would be the subsequent in a protracted line of quarterbacks seeking to be coached up by Callahan. Former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had back-to-back 4,000-plus-yard passing seasons in 2016 and 2017 with Callahan as his place coach. Callahan’s subsequent cease with the Raiders helped Derek Carr attain his first profession 4,000-yard passing season. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for at the least 4,400 yards in his two full seasons with Callahan because the offensive coordinator.
Callahan will present stability for Levis, who can be studying his fourth offense in 4 seasons, heading into 12 months 2 after he was taken within the second spherical of the 2023 draft. There can be some crossover for Levis since Callahan’s offense can be just like what Taylor ran with the Bengals. Taylor and Levis’ offensive coordinator Liam Coen labored collectively for one season with the Rams. It could be sensible for Callahan to think about Coen because the offensive coordinator and to retain present Titans quarterbacks coach/cross recreation coordinator Charles London to supply continuity for Levis in his second season.
Does this sign a brand new path for the Titans with an offensive head coach?
Davenport: The Titans are getting one of many brilliant younger offensive minds within the NFL. The Bengals’ offense was seventh in factors per recreation (26.1), eighth in yards per recreation (360.5) and fifth in passing yards per recreation (265) with Callahan because the coordinator. Exterior of 2020, Tennessee surpassed that scoring common solely as soon as in six seasons below the earlier regime. Callahan’s offense will embrace a extra pass-reliant scheme, which is a change for the Titans’ run-heavy offenses that revolved round pending free agent operating again Derrick Henry.
What are you listening to across the league on the rent?
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Graziano: Callahan wasn’t the playcaller in Cincinnati, however as has been identified to me a number of instances, Taylor wasn’t the playcaller in Los Angeles earlier than the Bengals employed him — and issues appear to have labored out fairly effectively for him as a head coach. Callahan has been with Taylor since he acquired the Bengals job in 2019, and folks in Cincinnati say Callahan has had quite a lot of duty for game-planning and administrative components of the offense. He will get loads of credit score for his work with Jake Browning, who has been a Bengals backup quarterback for 3 years and carried out effectively following Joe Burrow’s season-ending wrist damage.
There can be loads of hypothesis about whether or not Callahan’s father, former Raiders coach Invoice Callahan, will be a part of him in Tennessee. The elder Callahan is seen as one of many prime offensive line coaches within the league and at present occupies that place with the Browns.
Callahan had two elite receivers in Cincinnati. Which pass-catcher would match greatest with Tennessee in Spherical 1 of the draft?
Miller: At No. 7 general, the Titans may not have their alternative of the highest three wideouts, with a number of groups needing pass-catching assist forward of them within the draft order. However they do have a fantastic likelihood to land both LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze, with Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. doubtless off the board within the prime 5.
If out there, Nabers might be the perfect match, because of his game-changing yards-after-catch potential that allowed him to common 17.6 yards per catch and get 14 scores in 2023. He jogs my memory of Stefon Diggs. Contemplating DeAndre Hopkins can be 32 years previous subsequent season, the Titans’ broad receiver room wants work, and both Nabers or Odunze could be a fantastic addition. However the pace and agility of Nabers mixed with Levis’ arm power might flip the Tennessee offense round in 2024.
If Tennessee does not go WR within the first spherical, it’d take into account filling wants on the offensive line or at cornerback.
How would you grade this rent?
Tannenbaum: B+. It is a robust rent while you look by way of the lens of quarterback growth and the excellent play of Burrow in Cincinnati. Titans followers must be excited Levis will now profit from studying below Callahan, who will emphasize approach and fundamentals. Along with Burrow, Stafford and Manning, Callahan has labored with many different quarterbacks as effectively.
