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Tennessee Titans running back Darrynton Evans is the latest offensive player to express confidence in new offensive coordinator, Todd Downing.
Downing, who is a former tight ends coach and has been an offensive coordinator one other time during his coaching career (Oakland Raiders, 2017), is stepping into big shoes in 2021.
He’ll be replacing former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was wildly successful in Nashville the past two seasons, leading to his getting a head-coaching gig with the Atlanta Falcons this year.
One player on Tennessee’s roster who makes no bones about his confidence in Downing is Evans. The 2020 third-round pick believes Downing will do “a really good job” as the Titans’ offensive coordinator, per Luke Worsham of AtoZ Sports Nashville:
“Todd, man, he’s a great dude,” Evans told Worsham. “Every time we were in the building, he was always positive. He actually helped me out a lot when I was going through my injury. He would come talk to me, check up on me, pull me off to the side to make sure everything was okay with me. I definitely appreciate him for that. I feel like he’s going to do a really good job. (Mike) Vrabel, Jon (Robinson), and everyone else — they put the right people in place to help us out.”
Another player who has given Downing the thumbs up is tight end Jonnu Smith; although he may not get to play under his former tight ends coach should the former third-round pick leave in free agency.
“One of the best offensive minds I’ve been around… He just knows ball so well. We’re putting the piece in places that we need, I think we’ve got a lot of room for success,” Smith said.
Downing enters into a situation in which there is already an offensive identity in place. All he has to do is expand on it by adding some new wrinkles into Tennessee’s game plan. Working Evans into the offense is one way to do it.
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