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By Rafael Garcia -Sr. Contributing Writer Southeast Region-Football Reporters Online
The weeks have passed and changes continue at Baptist Sports Park. Mike Munchak has been head coach for just a moment, but he is trying his best to make this a team in his own image. He hired his old teammate and friend Bruce Matthews as offensive line coach. Matthews comes from the Texans where he was an offensive assistant. He will get a chance to coach his son Kevin. These factors made it too hard to turn the offer down. He got a two year deal to replace Munchak and will try to solidify an offensive line with lots of potential. His legacy is well known within this organization. He played 19 years and tied a league record with 14 consecutive Pro Bowls. He made the All-Decade team of the 90′s when he started every game during that span. Munchak and Matthews played together for 12 years, so they know each other very well. Matthews has that commitment to the craft that the Titans have been so sorely lacking. It was a huge coup for Munch to get his old friend out of Houston.
He followed that up with the hiring of Jerry Gray as defensive coordinator. This will be Gray’s second stint with the team. Munchak appeared to have wanted Gray all along and wants his input on the rest of the defensive staff. Gray spent 14 seasons in the NFL. He was the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills defense that ranked second in 2003 and 2004. When he was DB coach for the Titans his squad finished number one in pass ranked defense in 2000. His stint with Seattle as DB coach did not go as well as the team ranked 27th in pass defense last year. Gray brings change and diversity to the team. He likes to adapt his scheme to the game as opposed to sticking to just one style. He talked about discipline and accountability. He said he likes to put players in a position to win. When you do that he believes it brings out the best in his players. He will be a stickler on the finer points of defense. Players will have to pay attention to detail and he will expect leaders to be born.
Now all that needed was an offensive coordinator to do the same on the offensive side of the ball. After much consideration and speculation Munchak chose Chris Palmer and now the work begins. In 1983, after years in college football, he made the jump to the Montreal Concordes of the CFL where he was the offensive line coach. The following year he moved on to the USFL as the wide receivers coach. He became the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the next two years. In those years he coached the likes of Doug Flutie, Brian Sipe and Hershel Walker.
In 1986 he got his chance to be a head coach at the University of New Haven. He would go 8-2 in both of his seasons there showing promise as a head man in the game. His last stop before going to the next level was as the head coach at Boston University from 1988-1989.
He had become a successful coach because he believed in the concept of team. He believed that a team works as a unit to get the job done. With all that he learned he needed more. So, in 1990 he took the job as the receivers coach for the Houston Oilers. There, he would meet the man he now works for. It will be a huge task for Palmer as he must rebuild this offense. This is an offense that has ranked near the bottom of the league in all kinds of categories. He must establish a new frame of mind and try to get this franchise back to the days when they punished you at the line of scrimmage. The days where third and one didn’t end up looking like it was third and long. His experience in developing quarterbacks will come in handy for a team that does not even know who their starter is going to be next season, if they play football. He may look to speed up the tempo of this offense to help Chris Johnson some more. The task is hard but the road is long too.
The next hire was a surprise too many, but may turn out to be a gem of a pick. Tracy Rocker had just finished up his second season as defensive line coach of the Auburn Tigers. It was learned that Jeff Fisher wanted Rocker to replace Jim Washburn. When Munchak took over he went right with the plan and asked Rocker to come for an interview. When Rocker was offered the job he was as shocked as anyone. He said that he is not the politicking type for a job. His accomplishments started at Auburn, where he was a two-time All-American, as well as the Outland and Lombardi award winner for the 1988 season. He appears to have that gift of teaching and developing players. His list includes the likes of Jamaal Anderson from Arkansas, DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora at Troy State. Rocker is a student of the game and he will require that of his players. He wants to keep the aggressive style of play but must work with a unit that has given up too many big plays in recent years. He likes his players to play with a chip on their shoulder so they never get complacent. He just may have that missing ingredient to get this defensive unit to where it needs to get.
The new hires just kept on coming and next up was Frank Bush. He comes from the Texans where he has been the defensive coordinator the last two years. His defense there has not fared too well so he was fired by Houston. He will serve as linebackers coach in Tennessee. He will be in charge of a unit that has lost its identity the last few years. They have become a bit soft over the middle and lack leadership, depth and experience. There are young players that did not develop last year as the team hoped so he will have his work cut out to get these players up to speed. Bush was another teammate of Munchak during the 1985-86 season and worked as a scout and LB coach while Munchak played.
The only question at the moment was what would happen to Dave McGinnis. The answer came in the form of a title change. He will remain with the team as a senior assistant coach. Munchak said he knows how valuable McGinnis is and needs to utilize him in all facets of the defense. The team said he will also have personnel and administrative duties. He will be very instrumental in the development of Munchak as a head coach. He, along with Palmer bring a vast amount of experience to a young staff.
It has been a whirlwind here the last few weeks since Munchak took over. His staff is coming together and it looks like he took the time to pick the guys that fit his plan and mindset. He has also assembled a staff that really does not have to build on the trust factor. Some have played or worked together before. They already know each other and have a sort of camaraderie you need to build on your staff. One thing is for sure, the Titans have the fans and the media on the edge of their seats. Some of the moves have been questioned and some praised. It is a staff that will be expected to make the changes that have been needed around here for quite some time. It will be a hard road to travel with plenty of bumps along the way. This staff has played in the trenches before and come out winners. They will count on their past successes and hope it translates to wins soon. If not a lot of heads will roll. I mean a lot of heads.
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