Tag: Ran Carthon

Titans’ Brian Callahan needs to be fired after 2024 season

We examine why the Tennessee Titans should move on from head coach Brian Callahan after just one season.

Brian Callahan took over as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans just over 9 months ago. At the time of his hiring, it was easy to buy into the hype and get excited about an offensive-minded, young head coach.

With that being said, Callahan’s first nine months have gone as bad as humanly possible. Callahan’s tenure has begun so horribly that it’s already time to consider whether the team should cut bait after this season.

Callahan’s Titans are 1-6 heading into Week 9, and it’s hard to identify any positives. First-year HCs often struggle, but they typically show signs of improvement and growth as the year goes on.

In Callahan’s case, however, the team looks worse and worse with every passing week. The Titans are not just rebuilding; they are losing in embarrassing and ugly fashion each week. Every game this team plays looks like it’s the first time they’ve met each other.

Brian Callahan’s offense is worse than his predecessors

Before this season, Callahan was billed as an offensive guru. The coach was credited with helping the development of Joe Burrow and helping design a high-powered Bengals offense.

How has that translated to Tennessee? Well, the Titans are currently 28th in points per game, 31st in passing yards per game, and 30th in yards per game. Offensive guru? The “exotic smashmouth” offenses of Mike Mularkey were much more impressive than those of this unit, as were Mike Vrabel’s units.

Callahan also brought in his father, legendary offensive line coach Bill Callahan. The elder Callahan is billed as one of the greatest OL coaches in the NFL. Surely, Bill has at least had success, right?

Nope. The Titans still have a revolving door at right tackle, and the team is 25th in the number of sacks allowed per game. Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jaelyn Duncan have been atrocious when asked to play, somehow even worse than last year. Leroy Watson IV was brought to Tennessee from Cleveland with the elder Callahan, and he’s also been horrendous.

Not one thing the Callahan regime has tried to do thus far has worked. And no, this can’t be blamed on a bad roster.

This is not JUST a roster problem

The Titans spent more money than any other team in free agency this offseason, so the “bad roster” excuse doesn’t fly either. Is this roster perfect? Absolutely not. However, it’s not bad enough to get blown out by 40 points. Callahan has shown an inability to manage games, hold players and coaches accountable, or prepare his team.

The Titans weren’t going to be a Super Bowl contender, no matter who the coach was in 2024. That doesn’t mean they had to be a cellar-dweller, though, but that’s where we are.

Continuity is meaningless if the wrong people are in place

Barring a miracle turnaround, the Titans need to cut bait. This front office already showed they don’t buy into the sunk-cost fallacy as they traded Hopkins away mere months after investing a boatload of money into this team.

That same mindset needs to be in place with Callahan. Continuity is no good if you have the wrong people in place. If Amy Adams Strunk wants Titans fans in seats when the new stadium opens, changes need to be made — and made fast.

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Titans vs. Lions: 3 causes for concern in Week 8

The Tennessee Titans head to Michigan to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday and here are three causes for concern heading into Week 8.

This Sunday, the Tennessee Titans head to Michigan to face the Detroit Lions. The Titans are 1-5 after six games, while the Lions are 5-1 and lead the NFC North division.

As much as the Buffalo Bills and Titans were polar opposites in Week 7, the Lions and Titans are equally as opposite. Jared Goff has exploded onto the scene as a reliable and consistent leader on the field. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are sharing time and making the most of it. Even with the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions’ defense still presents a problem for the Titans.

The Titans have their work cut out for them on the road and there are three major causes for concern in Week 8.

Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

Offensive woes are a persistent problem

Titans head coach Brian Callahan admits there’s a problem at right tackle. Leroy Watson played well against Indianapolis and didn’t allow a single sack but was penalized twice which resulted in Nicholas Petit-Frere getting back on the field against Buffalo. And we all know how that went.

On top of the offensive line issues, the Titans just traded away their top receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs. This still leaves them with Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. And with Treylon Burks on injured reserve (IR), rookie Jha’Quan Jackson will likely see some playing time.

The thing is, if the quarterback, which looks to be Mason Rudolph as of right now, can’t get the ball to the receivers, then it doesn’t matter which receivers are on the field. Rudolph struggled against Buffalo in Week 7, and Week 8 against the Lions isn’t going to be any different.

Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

Defensive changes will impact on-field play

The Titans traded away Ernest Jones IV on Wednesday. It was the second trade of the day, and this one had a bigger impact than the Hopkins trade. Jones was a leader among the defense, he is second in tackles behind Kenneth Murray Jr., and while he hasn’t recorded any sacks this season, his presence on the field will be missed.

On top of that trade, the Titans made it known that Harold Landry III is on the trading block and the team is open to offers. Landry will still go out there and play and he will do his job to the best of his ability, but that has to be in the back of his head and could affect how well he plays on Sunday.

The Titans’ defense is riddled with injuries, and with how this season started, it’s clear that Ran Carthon is looking forward and brushing this season off as a loss. Whether that’s his intention or not, that’s the perception, and you better believe it impacts how every player on the team performs.

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

The locker room is frustrated, morale is down

Losing games. Trading key players. The same problems happening week after week. The Titans’ locker room is frustrated, and it’s not just the receivers. No one likes losing, and the people who are most impacted by the losses are the players trying their hardest on the field. There is nothing more frustrating as an athlete than doing your own part and doing everything in your power to win a game, only to lose it because of coaching or front office issues.

That’s where the Titans are this week. Brian Callahan’s inability to make in-game adjustments has cost them at least three of their six games. Ran Carthon’s decision to trade both Hopkins and Jones feels like a gut punch,and is a clear indication that the Titans are going to rebuild, and they’re starting now.

When players are frustrated, they don’t play well. When they don’t play well, their mood comes down and turns to anger. Continuing to lose amplifies those feelings. Carthon just dropped a match on a tinder box filled to the brim, and it’s going to explode. Probably on Sunday if (when) they lose.

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For better or worse, Titans’ Will Levis is the quarterback in 2024

During his press availability, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan stressed patience in evaluating QB Will Levis.

The Tennessee Titans are off to a 1-5 start after falling to the Buffalo Bills, 34-10, on Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, and things will not get any easier moving forward.

It’s not the start that fans or the team hoped for after an active offseason in free agency and a young roster that was fortified with veterans. Quarterback Will Levis has been disappointing and the offense has been a bust. The defense has played well, but the lack of support from the offense and special teams has been an issue.

Unfortunately, things don’t seem to be changing anytime soon, but head coach Brian Callahan is determined to find out what they have in Levis and owner Amy Adams Strunk appears behind the plan.

In his press availability, Callahan reinforced his commitment to Levis, stating he will return as the starter when healthy and that they will have patience with the evaluation of his development moving forward in 2024.

This may not be what fans want to hear as the team moves forward, but that is the reality of the moment. For better or worse, Levis will be the quarterback for the rest of 2024 and Callahan has the support of general manager Ran Carthon and Strunk behind him.

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On paper, Titans’ offseason ‘spending spree’ pays off

The Tennessee Titans made a rash of moves during the offseason. Now it is time to see how this $228.2 Million spending spree pays off.

After the Tennessee Titans’ 2024 offseason began, general manager Ran Carthon set out with a vision to improve the team after a dismal 6-11 performance in 2023. Now, after a complete overhaul of the coaching staff and spending a reported $228.2 million to retool the roster, it’s time to see the results. 

https://twitter.com/tdavenport_nfl/status/1830586600247722071?s=46&t=SeOZebZdMRZIJ99t7aMgTQ

On paper, the Titans appear to be in a good place. Offensively, they built around second-year quarterback Will Levis, using both free agency and the draft to bolster the unit. 

After signing center Lloyd Cushenberry III to a four-year, $50 million contract, the team selected offensive tackle JC Latham with the No. 7 selection in the NFL draft. Infusing talent into a unit that struggled mightily in 2023. 

With Levis being the key to the offense, the Titans added to their skill positions with moves that added talented playmakers to the roster. Running back Tony Pollard, wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd came aboard to assist Levis, hold-overs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Tyjae Spears to potentially create one of the most dynamic Titans’ offenses in recent memory.  

Carthon didn’t stop there. Turning to the defensive side of the ball, they added an array of veterans to bolster the aggressive style that the Titans want to employ.  Free agent cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, and inside linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. were brought in. He also hit the trade market, securing cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and, most recently, linebacker Ernest Jones IV in different transactions. 

With pre-season in the books, there is good reason to be optimistic about the Titans’ potential. In less than a week, fans will see how well this spending spree translates into the regular season when the Titans open up against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 7. 

Watch: Titans’ Ran Carthon delivers life-changing news to five underdogs

Watch Tennessee Titans general manager break the news to five players that they embarking on a new challenge. Making the 53-man roster.

It has been no secret that the Tennessee Titans have had a changing of the guard over the past two years. First, the team hired Ran Carthon as general manager in 2023 to replace Jon Robinson. This was followed by a shocking move, firing head coach Mike Vrabel and transitioning to Brian Callahan. 

Carthon and Callahan have overhauled the roster almost totally in a very short period of time. They have also become more transparent with some of their behind-the-scenes moments. This includes the moment that five underdogs discovered their fate on cut day.

None of Andrew Rupcich, David Martin-Robinson, Thomas Odukoya, John Ojukwu, and James Williams knew what was about to transpire when they were summoned to the front office, and their emotions were all over the map. The sincerity of this life-altering moment for these players is apparent, and now they have a video to remind them of their journey. 

 

Titans GM Ran Carthon staying cautious with excess cap space

The Tennessee Titans have more than $11 million in salary cap space but general manager Ran Carthon intends to be cautious with it.

The Tennessee Titans have the 15th-most free cap space in the NFL with just over $11.16 million, based on the numbers from Over the Cap.

But that doesn’t mean general manager Ran Carthon is going crazy trying to fill in pieces immediately. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Carthon remains cautious with the amount of cap space the Titans have, saying that he’s not going to “spend just to spend.”

Carthon came to the Titans in 2023 as general manager and in 2024 he will also serve as the organization’s executive vice president. A former NFL running back, Carthon has been an NFL executive since 2008 and his experience shows with this decision.

He’s not running out to sign players all willy-nilly; he’s making sure that the pieces they bring into the organization are effective decisions and will benefit the team. He also reminded everyone that this is “just the first iteration of the 53 (man roster),” and that it’s “not going to be concrete and set.”

The Titans have over $45 million in dead cap space, which is 10th-most in the NFL, mostly occupied by Kevin Byard and Ryan Tannehill, who account for about half of that amount.

There are currently only 12 players on the practice squad, so it’s safe to assume that some additions will be made there. It’s also possible we see trades or players added from waivers, plus players get injured.

No NFL team is ever truly 100 percent complete. There are moves throughout the season for a lot of reasons. The Titans should count themselves lucky to have cap space to work with this year.

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7 players the Titans should sign following cut day

We look at seven players the Titans should pursue.

Tuesday marked the deadline for each NFL team to cut their roster down to 53 players.

That means every team had difficult decisions to make, including the Tennessee Titans. The Titans’ final roster includes surprises and omits a few players that many fans and analysts have predicted to be on it.

For example, the team’s initial 53-man roster includes five tight ends, a whopping seven inside linebackers, and just four corners and three running backs.

Of course, this roster will change again before the regular season kicks off. With every team cutting 30+ players, the Titans will see if any of those players fit on their roster.

Now, let’s identify seven players who were released or waived who could fit on this Titans’ roster.

Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

D’Onta Foreman, RB

D”Onta Foreman was released by the Cleveland Browns, and the veteran should interest the Titans. Foreman impressed as a member of the Titans in 2021, taking 133 carries for 566 yards.

Since that time, Foreman has spent a season with the Carolina Panthers and a season with the Chicago Bears. The veteran had hoped to latch on with the Browns but was unable to secure a spot on the final roster.

The Titans only kept three RBs on the roster after Hassan Haskins and Jabari Small failed to impress. With Julius Chestnut as the lone backup option, the team should consider bringing in Foreman to bolster the depth.

Carl Lawson #58 of the New York Jets. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Carl Lawson, EDGE

Carl Lawson could not crack the Dallas Cowboys’ roster, and the veteran will once again hit the open market. Lawson once signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the New York Jets, but injuries have prevented the defender from being consistent.

In 2023, Lawson was limited to six games and accumulated just five tackles. However, he had a productive pass-rushing season as recently as 2022, when he racked up seven sacks.

The Titans only kept four edge rushers on the final roster, so Lawson would provide a solid depth addition. Shane Ray was not one of the edge rushers kept around, so a veteran presence would be nice.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (10). Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

CJ Henderson, CB

The Titans gave up on one former first-round cornerback, so why not take a gamble on another? The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted CJ Henderson in the top ten of the 2020 NFL draft, and his career has not gone according to plan thus far.

Henderson was traded to the Carolina Panthers after just one season in Jacksonville, and the corner’s play never lived up to his draft pedigree. However, the Titans only kept four corners, and a young corner like Henderson may fit in perfectly behind L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie.

Cincinnati Bengals guard Jackson Carman (79). Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson Carman, OL

Jackson Carman is another highly-drafted player who has disappointed to this point in the NFL. Carman was a second-round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft but has only started in six games.

The Bengals cut bait on Carman, but the Titans could be interested. On the initial roster, the team kept John Ojukwu and Jaelyn Duncan as backup tackles, which shouldn’t inspire much confidence.

Perhaps Brian Callahan saw enough during his time with Carman to take a chance.

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Travis Bell (73). Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Bell, DT

Travis Bell is another former Bengal who should interest the Titans. The defensive lineman was a seventh-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears last year but has already played on three different rosters.

However, Bell is still an intriguing prospect. The 6’0″, 310-pound DT was the first player to be drafted out of Kennesaw State and flashed preseason ability as a run-stuffer and pass-rusher.

The Titans do not have much depth on the defensive line. Keondre Coburn is the only reserve on the roster right now, so high-upside additions would be smart.

Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Royce Newman (70). Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Royce Newman, G

As mentioned above, the Titans’ backup offensive linemen don’t inspire much confidence. The team kept Daniel Brunskill and Andrew Rupcich to back up on the interior after Saahdiq Charles’s retirement threw a wrench in the team’s plans.

Currently, Dillon Radunz is slated to start at right guard, with Brunskill and Rupcich as backup options. Adding Royce Newman would give the team a capable option who could fill in at a moment’s notice.

Newman has delivered acceptable results in 24 career starts. The lineman would greatly improve the Titans’ depth.

Los Angeles Rams running back Zach Evans (21). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Evans, RB

Zach Evans was a surprise cut by the Los Angeles Rams. The 2023 sixth-round pick impressed in the preseason, scoring two TDs in the finale.

Evans will now hit the waiver wire after just one season in LA. As mentioned previously, the Titans could use reinforcements at RB. Even though Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears will get the bulk of the carries, having just one depth option probably isn’t wise.

Evans would be a high-upside claim by the Titans, providing insurance in case Pollard or Spears get injured.

Should Titans address DeAndre Hopkins’ contract before Week 1?

Should the Tennessee Titans extend WR DeAndre Hopkins’ contract before the start of the 2024 regular season?

The 2024 regular season is rapidly approaching and the Tennessee Titans have most personnel issues in order. However, there is the lingering reality that superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is in a contract year.

Is that something Titans general manager Ran Carthon should address?

Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder certainly believes so, naming Hopkins the “most important contract decision” facing the team ahead of Week 1.

Hopkins had a solid first season in Tennessee, making 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. But his contract is about to expire and he’ll be 33 years old in 2025, forcing the Titans to make a tough decision in the offseason, especially since the front office will have to consider how much the wideout’s absence could hinder Will Levis’ development.

Hopkins may be on the older side for a receiver, but his production is still more than viable. After two down years in Arizona, Hopkins returned to his 1,000-yard ways in 2023. Plus, he’s happier than he’s ever been in Tennessee.

“I love Tennessee. I love what Miss Amy (Adams Strunk, the Titans owner) is doing,” Hopkins said in July. “I think this is the happiest I’ve been in any organization, so I’ll just let that speak for itself.”

Although Carthon wouldn’t admit it outright, he seemed to imply Hopkins was also part of the team’s long-term plans.

“We’ve identified a number of guys that we’d like to continue to move forward with and eventually take care (of),” Carthon said, via Paul Kuharsky. “But you guys have heard me; we’re going to keep family business in terms of talking about their contracts and what’s next for them. But we, as a staff, have identified some guys that we’d like to have here long-term.”

A happy receiver is a productive receiver. Hopkins wants to stay and the Titans want to keep him, so maybe they should get a deal done ahead of Week 1.

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Titans believe LB Kenneth Murray Jr. can take defense to another level

Kenneth Murray Jr. is fired up and ready to “wreck s–t” with the Titans in 2024.

Kenneth Murray Jr. looked like a future star after his rookie season for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020. The first-round pick started all 16 games and recorded 107 tackles, and looked like a potential franchise cornerstone.

Things began to trend downward in 2021, with Murray suffering an ankle injury that ruined his season. Over the next two seasons, Murray only missed two games but was far from a dominant presence on the Chargers defense.

Los Angeles declined Murray’s fifth-year option in 2023, and he’d have arguably his best NFL season. Murray tied a career-high with 107 tackles and also had three sacks and an interception. However, with the Chargers hiring a new coach, Murray would headed elsewhere.

Tennessee signed Murray to a two year deal worth $15.5 million contract in the offseason. If Murray becomes the player Tennessee believes he can be, that could prove to be a bargain.

What does Titans inside linebackers coach Frank Bush think Murray will bring to the defense?

“What we’re going to allow him to do is just turn himself loose within the system,” Frank Bush said via John Glennon of Nashville Post. “I mean, there are guys all around him, so that he doesn’t have to be a hero. You got Jeffery Simmons in front of you; you’re going to be okay. You can just be free to flow and do some of the things we do.”

Murray never played behind someone like Jeffery Simmons. When you add in massive rookie T’Vondre Sweat, Murray could have a career year. Remember, Murray is only 25 years old.

Murray is excited about his role with the Titans.

“Honestly, when you just know they’re putting you in a position to go down and just wreck stuff and wreck s–t, that’s what I love,” said Murray. “I definitely felt they put me in that position, and I’m definitely coming in with the mindset of trying to prove s–t. I’m trying to get s–t done. I love it. Love the way they’re calling it so far and look forward to getting better every day.”

The Titans made a lot of offseason changes, but Murray could prove to be one of GM Ran Carthon’s more shrewd additions.

 

Titans’ Ran Carthon denies Derrick Henry trade report

After reports surfaced that the Titans were close to trading Derrick Henry last year, Ran Cathon is denying that it is true.

Former Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry left the team during free agency after signing with the Baltimore Ravens. Like many teams, the Ravens called the Titans in 2023 to discuss a potential trade for the star running back. No trades ever happened, but in a recent article by The Athletic, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta thought they were close.

“DeCosta agreed to the framework of a trade with Tennessee general manager Ran Carthon — a fourth-round pick that could have become a third had Henry reached certain production levels. However, others in the Titans hierarchy apparently were not on board with the deal, so Henry played out the season in Nashville.”

The article implies that Carthon was on board with trading Henry for a fourth-round pick, something he is vehemently denying. “We had multiple teams call about Derrick, offer something that wasn’t worth even considering. I communicated that with Derrick during that time.”

Over his eight seasons with the Titans, Henry had 2,030 carries for 9,502 yards, 90 touchdowns and 14 fumbles, plus three receiving touchdowns. He ranks second in rushing yards for the Titans, behind only Eddie George.

Henry was never going to be traded for a draft pick. The Ravens may have gotten their wish when they signed him as a free agent this spring, but the Titans were never going to let him go for so little.