The Titans (3-7) are stuck in a funk having lost 14 of their last 17 games. A once proud organization is now in unfamiliar territory under Vrabel who has had the team in playoff contention every season, but that looks to be in jeopardy.
Henry said there are a lot of self-inflicted wounds and poor execution. He feels Vrabel has done a great job establishing a culture and standard for the Titans, but the team currently is not playing up to it and it’s costing them.
With all of the losses wearing on the organization, Vrabel’s ability to find a way to maintain the locker room and not let things spiral out of control could loom large. Vrabel, who’s led the franchise since 2018, said he’s going to continue to come to the building with energy and passion regardless of the previous week’s outcome.
“I don’t know how to do it any other way,” Vrabel said of leading the team. “But, I don’t think that [job security] is an issue. I’m not going to compromise the things that I believe are going to help us win. The little things, not letting those slide, and doing my best to hold everyone accountable, including myself, as we go through this.”
Last season, Tennessee lost the final seven games — including a Week 18 loss to the Jaguars with the AFC South title and a trip to the playoffs on the line. The Titans have found a way to win at Nissan Stadium this season (3-0) but have yet to win any games on the road.
They’ve gone from back-to-back division champs in 2020 and 2021 to sitting four games behind the Jaguars and in last place in the division race with seven games left, and for the first time, Vrabel’s job security is in question.
But Vrabel doesn’t seem to be bothered by it.
“I don’t try to concern myself with that,” Vrabel said Sunday. “I really am focused on these players. I hurt for them. I played for 14 years, won some games, and won some championships. I am frustrated for the players. I’m disappointed for the players. I want them to have some success. I know how hard they work and what they put into it.”
Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said he’s tired of losing and having to stand in front of the media trying to explain what happened when he doesn’t have the answers. Simmons, who played 83% of the defensive snaps, vowed to give his all on each play and never quit on the team.
Like Simmons, inside linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is fed up with losing and feels something has to change.
“Every week it’s different things, but it all comes down to the same thing,” said Al-Shaair, who leads the Titans in defensive snap percentage (94.8). “It might be a different play, but it might be on the same down. We’ve got to correct it.”
It looked like the team might have found an infusion of life when rookie Will Levis debuted to the tune of four touchdown passes in a Week 8 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but that was short-lived four days later when a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Thursday Night Football” began their current three-game skid.
One of the changes that won’t happen is within the coaching staff. Vrabel said he’s had the luxury of playing in the league so he knows what it takes to win and what is being coached and taught in meetings and in practice.
Vrabel plans to maintain the locker room by celebrating small wins. He gave the example of inside linebacker Monty Rice being challenged to do well on special teams which has in turn led to him playing more reps on defense.
When asked about continuing to have a handle on the locker room, Vrabel said he’s confident things will remain in order through the tough times.
“I believe in our staff, and I believe in our players,” Vrabel said. “We’re going to get back to work and make sure our guys are confident when we go out there.”
The Titans will put their home streak on the line Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox) when they host the Carolina Panthers (1-9) and No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Bryce Young
Jameson Williams feeling ‘part of the herd’ in Detroit
Daniel Dopp says that Jameson Williams needs to be on fantasy rosters due to his role in the Lions’ high-octane offense. (1:06)
DETROIT — Trailing the Chicago Bears 26-14 with less than 4 minutes remaining, the confidence of Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams never wavered.
“Touchdown” was Williams’ first thought before Jared Goff dropped back to find him in the end zone for a 32-yard score.
“It’s just something I’ve been waiting on for a little minute. You know how it go,” Williams told ESPN. “The patience, it was there, but it’s just a big play for the team that needed to be made, and I just stepped up when my number was called.”
Detroit marched up the field on their next series in which running back David Montgomery completed the comeback with a touchdown from the goal line to secure a 31-26 victory.
Now, as the Lions prepare to host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Williams has earned the trust of his teammates and the coaching staff, which could mean an increased role in the offense.
“He’s part of the herd. He’s been accepted, and the way he works and the way he goes and he blocks and he’s starting to run some pretty good routes and he’s making some catches and there’s a lot of guys that are beginning to trust him, and that’s been earned,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “No different than anybody else had to earn it, whoever you are — offensive lineman, receiver, back — man, you got to earn your right.
“And, man, he’s putting in the work, so that was good to see. It was a huge moment, it was a huge play, and he just keeps getting better and better and better.”
Williams’ three career touchdowns have come on passes of 30 or more yards. He also has had two touchdowns nullified by penalties.
One last season, when a holding call voided what would have been a 66-yard touchdown catch in the season finale at Green Bay. Williams had a 10-yard touchdown wiped out against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10 as well, but he continues to keep a positive attitude through the highs and lows.
“Yeah, the last couple of weeks for him have been so good. He’s practiced so well,” Goff said. “We do trust him now. We trust him a lot, and I do trust him to make that throw in that situation.
“He’s doing a hell of a job blocking, he’s doing all of his assignments correctly, and he’s doing a really, really good job. It’s starting to come on really nicely for us. The level to which our offense could possibly go with him continuing to progress is pretty exciting.”
Goff has made it a point to try and build an on-field connection with Williams.
Williams, the No. 12 pick of the 2022 NFL draft, has not had an ideal start to his NFL career. He missed the first 11 games of his rookie season as he recovered from a left ACL tear suffered in college. He also sat out the first four games of this season while serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
He told ESPN that he’s more appreciative of his recent success because of his bumpy path. And he said he is focused on the team and his developing relationship with Goff.
“I feel like our trust level been up there, it’s just like things happen and the ball goes the other way. It’s not his fault, it’s not my fault. It’s nobody’s fault. It’s just how the play turns out,” Williams said. “As things keep going, and the ball is spread around a lot, I think we can just show as many playmakers as we’ve got on our team. That’s probably the thing with that. I feel like our trust level has always been there with me and him since we first started. It’s like the quarterback throws the receiver the ball, it’s easy.
“I don’t really be tripping off that. It’s coming from a lot of people who, at first, never put on cleats, or have never been on the field for real and it’s just like, them observing. It’s nothing to really trip off of. You just do your thing, and you shake back, and you do what you do.”
