Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing is in the same place in 2022 as defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was going into the 2021 marketing campaign.
Downing oversaw what was the weakest hyperlink for Tennessee in 2021. The offense carried out effectively beneath expectations final season because of a mix of accidents, poor play, and poor play-calling.
One of many greater points the Titans’ offense had in 2021 was its sluggish begins, one thing that has change into routine even when Tennessee was at its greatest offensively the previous two seasons.
Downing acknowledged that was a problem final season when talking to the media on Wednesday earlier than organized workforce actions (OTAs), however didn’t go into element about how he plans on fixing the issue.
Downing: We didn’t begin quick sufficient final yr (as an offense.) I am not hiding from that #Titans
— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) June 1, 2022
Talking of the aforementioned accidents, Downing mentioned he discovered to not fall in love an excessive amount of with one sort of formation as a result of there’s no telling who will probably be obtainable on a weekly foundation.
#Titans‘ Todd Downing: Undoubtedly discovered final yr that you do not need to financial institution an excessive amount of on one formation since you by no means know who will probably be obtainable week to week.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) June 1, 2022
Regardless of the offense’s struggles, Downing was in a position to hold his job for a minimum of one other season, a lot to the chagrin of Titans followers who need him gone.
Nonetheless, the Titans didn’t simply sit pat altogether. Tennessee introduced in former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, who will function the passing-game coordinator in 2022.
Downing believes having Kelly, who can also be anticipated to have a minimum of some enter into the offense, will probably be worthwhile for him.
“It’s been nice so as to add [Tim Kelly],” Downing mentioned. “He’s a fantastic soccer thoughts and clearly a improbable particular person, anyone that has some relationships on this constructing. That helps type of combine him a bit bit faster.
“For me, it’s been spectacular simply to have one other sounding board, anyone to speak by way of concepts with, be capable to take a look at issues a special means if one thing isn’t clear how we need to land the airplane, so to talk, on an thought,” Downing added. “So, it’s been actually worthwhile and look ahead to working with him.”
Downing is sort of accustomed to the position Kelly is enjoying, as he had the same position whereas on the teaching employees of the Minnesota Vikings. Downing went into element about what Kelly’s position will probably be.
“I had the same position after I first went to the Vikings in 2018,” Downing mentioned. “I had simply come off being a coordinator and I used to be attempting to assist [offensive coordinator] John DeFilippo in that position earlier than some tragedy type of shuffled my tasks.
“However I had some familiarity with what that may seem like and what I used to be in a position to assist coach DeFilippo with, and in order that type of helped that transition,” Downing continued. “I believe, once more, simply with the ability to take a look at issues from a special perspective, perhaps convey some recent concepts, some issues perhaps we didn’t incorporate earlier than.”
The fascinating dynamic between Downing and Kelly is that the previous could possibly be changed by the latter in some unspecified time in the future, and perhaps sooner relatively than later if Tennessee’s offense struggles out of the gate in 2022.