Even Jeff Fisher would have to admit this has been one of his worst coaching jobs.
His once-promising team has lost six straight games. It’s the fifth time in seven seasons the Titans have suffered a five-game losing streak. This is the same Titans team that beat the Giants by 19, the Raiders by 25, the Jaguars by 27, and the Eagles by 18. Now the Titans are one of the worst teams in football.
Every decision Fisher seems to make lately turns out poorly. A few examples:
1. With Tennessee’s season on the line, Fisher decided to punt to Indianapolis Thursday instead of go for a fourth-and-one on their own 34-yard line. Just over four minutes remained. Before that decision the Colts had only punted three times, with five long scoring drives. Fisher didn’t trust his offensive line and Chris Johnson to pick up one yard.
It was a timid decision. Brian Burke of NFL Advanced Statistics notes Tennessee’s chances of winning decreased rapidly when they punted. (Converting a fourth-and-one in that situation happens 74% of the time.
Even Johnson had his say.
“Me, myself, I feel like, playing against a team like Indy, that’s something you kind of have to go for,” Johnson said via the Tennessean. “But in the end, it was his call and he’s the coach.”
2. Fisher is taking a lot of heat for his misuse of Randy Moss. Moss barely played Thursday because he and Kenny Britt play the same position. “I believe this is the biggest example of Fisher’s stubbornness I’ve seen in some time, perhaps ever,” ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky writes.
We don’t totally agree here. Moss had five catches in the four weeks leading up to Thursday’s game. He’s failed on three teams in one season.
When are people going to accept Moss is just not much of a factor this year? With that said, there’s not much point in keeping Moss on the roster unless they are going to play him.
3. Fisher says his team supports his actions concerning Vince Young. Even if that was true, football is a bottom line business. The Titans have fallen apart since Young fell apart. Fisher made a difficult decision and the team has collapsed since.
We don’t know if Young should have a future in Tennessee. But the Titans’ play without him certainly shows how Young was to this team.
