The Tennessee Titans and Vanderbilt University both announced the hiring of new head football coaches last week, signaling fresh starts for both programs. The Titans, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2008 and haven’t won a playoff game since 2003, hope that Ken Whisenhunt will be the person who ends their long streak of futility. Vanderbilt wants Derek Mason to help it take the next step forward, moving from the ranks of making the Top 25 to being an SEC title contender.
Whisenhunt replaces Mike Munchak, who was fired after three years and a 22-26 record in large part because he refused to make suggested changes in his coaching staff. But Whisenhunt, former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for six years as well as offensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers, is primarily known for his success with quarterbacks.
He’s been credited with helping revive Phillip Rivers’ career this past season and getting the Chargers back into the playoffs. With Jake Locker coming into the final year on his contract (though the Titans hold an option for another season) and Chris Johnson widely rumored to be departing due to his refusal to take a pay cut, the Titans’ offense definitely needs attention.
Although he had an overall losing record with the Cardinals, Whisenhunt led them to their only Super Bowl appearance. The fact he also interviewed at Cleveland and Detroit, and essentially had his choice of jobs, indicates his desire to be in Nashville, and his feeling the Titans are close to achieving consistent success.
Derek Mason has been defensive coordinator at Stanford the past three seasons, and is best known for being the strategist responsible for shutting down Oregon’s high-powered offense two straight seasons. Stanford was 23-4 during his tenure as defensive coordinator, and Mason’s expertise was even sought by NFL clubs anxious to find ways of combating new offenses such as the read option. He utilized a 3-4 defense, and it’s expected that’s what he will deploy at Vanderbilt as well.
Unlike his predecessor James Franklin,whose specialty was offense, Mason worked on the other side of the ball. But Mason spoke in his opening press conference about balance, wanting to avoid getting into pressure situations, and being a tough, physical team that didn’t have to score tons of points to win games. Franklin helped make Vanderbilt relevant on a national level, posting a 24-15 record in his three seasons and finishing in the Top 25 the past two years. The Commodores also went to three straight bowl games, posted back-to-back nine win seasons, and last year defeated both Florida and Georgia in the same season for the first time since the ‘20s.
Mason stressed that he’s not going to try and be another Franklin, but instead would just be himself. He’ll have to replace a prolific receiver in Jordan Matthews, as well as another productive one in Jonathan Krause, but Vanderbilt’s top two running backs and four of five starting offensive linemen return.
Wishenhunt has named former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton to fill the same position for the Titans, and former Charger tight ends coach Jason Michael as offensive coordinator. Lou Spanos is the new linebackers coach. Both running backs coach Sylvester Croom and receivers coach Shawn Jefferson were retained from the Munchak staff. Former Stanford assistant Vavae Tata (defensive line), and former Ohio University assistants Gerry Gdowski (quarterbacks), Keven Lightner (offensive line) and Jason Grooms have thus far been named to Mason’s Vanderbilt staff.