NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Arthur Smith paid his dues with the Titans organization.
Now, the Titans are hoping his promotion to offensive coordinator will pay off for everyone moving forward, starting with the 2019 season.
On Tuesday, Smith spoke publicly for the first time since head coach Mike Vrabel promoted him from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator. Smith replaced Matt LaFleur, who was named head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
Smith gave some hints on what things might look like under his controls, but knows a lot of factors aren't yet decided. The NFL Draft and free agency are on the horizon, and the season is still over six months away.
Not to mention he needs time in his laboratory.
"I like this system a lot," Smith said. "This offense, there's a lot of different variations, but at its core I'm a big fan of it. … The first offense I ever coached in was similar to this. I'm a big fan of this offense, and it's kind of the third time I've been in it."
Smith said the language will remain the same, something Vrabel said from the Senior Bowl last month. But Smith said there will be some changes made along the way.
Asked the key to maximizing quarterback Marcus Mariota, Smith said it will depend on everyone. Smith said Mariota should benefit from the familiarity, and carry-over from last season. Smith said the Titans will work on ways to help Mariota, including his health and his effectiveness. Running the ball and effective play-calling should help him.
"What will help him is the whole offense improving," Smith said of Mariota. "When he comes in here, he'll know exactly how we are reading plays, he'll know exactly how we are calling plays, and that just allows him to take another step. … As the whole offense improves in Year 2, it will help the quarterback."
Smith said he's a big fan of running back Derrick Henry, who finished with 1,059 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018.
"Derrick is going to be a big part of our offense," Smith said. "Derrick has a rare skill set – he's a home run hitter. And we're taking another step hopefully with him. What he did the last five weeks will open up a lot of things. … Derrick will be a big part of our offense."
Smith said he wants a balanced attack on offense, but emphasized running the football will be a big part of what they do.
The Titans finished 25th in total offense in 2018 – 7th rushing, 29th passing. The Titans finished 27th in the NFL in scoring last season.
"If you can look aesthetically pleasing, people like that in the short term," he said. "But at the end of the day, we have to win games, and it will always come down to that. You can lead the league in points, and certainly we're going to try and score as many points as we can, but at the end of the day we are going to try and win as a team in all three phases. Coach Vrabel does an excellent job of mapping that out, and we'll take advantage of that. Certainly we want to improve in the red zone, which will help. Just to be aesthetically pleasing, that is not the end goal. The end goal is to be the best offense we can be, and to win that game.
"… We are certainly going to try and get explosive, and I think that is always your goal, to get explosive plays."
Smith just wrapped up his eighth season on the Titans coaching staff, and his third full season in charge of tight ends after taking over the group for the final nine games of the 2015 season.
During his time in Tennessee, Smith has worked under four different head coaches. Smith began under head coach Mike Munchak, and he was also hired by Ken Whisenhunt before Mike Mularkey promoted him when he took over. When stepping in last January, Vrabel kept Smith, and he thought enough of him to promote him.
Smith said the Titans want to be physical, and knock defenders back on offense.
He wants the physical play to be evident in the run game, and the passing game.
Smith said he'll lean on others as he prepares to call games for the first time in 2019.
He made it clear he's not nervous.
"I don't' consider it daunting," Smith said. "Any time you take a new job, there is the unknown. So I haven't called a play in the National Football League yet, so I have to get those reps in. Coach Vrabel did a great job with Matt last year – Matt hadn't called a play until he got here. The way we go through practices in the spring (we'll) put myself in situations to call it, with the play clock, and the four preseason games certainly help."
But Smith is excited.
"You go back, and you have goals for yourself when you get in this profession," Smith said. "You hope to have a chance to do this, in a place you want to be, with the players you've been around and you really want to coach.
"So it is an unbelievable opportunity. But I understand that this thing is not like an earned right, or whatever. These things can be fleeting and you just hope to do a good enough job so you can continue to have success, and to be a very good coordinator. I am ecstatic about the opportunity."
TitansOnline looks back at the coaching career of the team's new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
Tennessee Titans tight end Tevin Westbrook (87) hits a blocking pad held by offensive assistant coach for tight ends Arthur Smith during NFL football minicamp on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans running backs coach, Arthur Smith, watches from the sidelines in an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Tennessee Titans offensive assistant/tight ends coach Arthur Smith instructs players during NFL football training camp Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (87) talks with tight ends coach Arthur Smith during NFL football minicamp Thursday, June 15, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans offensive assistant/tight ends coach Arthur Smith watches his players during NFL football training camp Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans offensive line and tight end assistant coach Arthur Smith talks to players during NFL football training camp on Thursday, July 25, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans offensive line assistant coach Arthur Smith, right, watches during NFL football training camp Sunday, July 27, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tight ends coach Arthur Smith, right, demonstrates a play with tight end Phillip Supernaw during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans tight ends coach Arthur Smith, right, helps tight end Delanie Walker (82) warm up before a preseason NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (87) talks with tight ends coach Arthur Smith during NFL football minicamp Thursday, June 15, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates with tight ends coach Arthur Smith after the Titans beat the Washington Redskins in an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 25-16.(AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans offensive assistant coach Arthur Smith holds up a play during NFL football training camp Sunday, July 27, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texns on December 2, 2012. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings at LP Field on Aug. 28, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings at LP Field on Aug. 28, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings on October 7, 2012. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburg Steelers in Pittsburg, PA on September 8, 2013. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars on November 25, 2012. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings at LP Field on Aug. 28, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams in a preseason game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on August 23, 2015. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Dallas Cowboys at LP Field on September 14, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns on October 5, 2014 at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. Photos by Donn Jones Photography. (www.donnjonesphoto.photoshelter.com)
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on October 26, 2014 at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. Photos by Donn Jones Photography. (www.donnjonesphoto.photoshelter.com)
Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams in a preseason game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on August 23, 2015. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on October 11, 2015 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. (Photos by Donn Jones Photography)
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on October 11, 2015 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. (Photos by Donn Jones Photography)
Tennessee Titans vs. Carolina Panthers on Sunday November 15, 2015 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Carolina Panthers on Sunday November 15, 2015 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL on November 19, 2015. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Dec.20, 2015. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland in Nashville, TN on November 29, 2015 at Nissan Stadium. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec.13, 2015. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland in Nashville, TN on November 29, 2015 at Nissan Stadium. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. San Diego Chargers at Nissan Stadium on Saturday August 13, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland in Nashville, TN on November 29, 2015 at Nissan Stadium. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on September 18, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland Raiders on Saturday August 27, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland Raiders in at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn on September 25, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on September 18, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland Raiders on Saturday August 27, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on October 2, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on October 2, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on October 2, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on October 2, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins on October 9, 2016 in Miami, Florida. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on October 2, 2016. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on October 1, 2017. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins on October 9, 2016 in Miami, Florida. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals on November 12, 2017. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Field on November 20, 2016 in Indianapolis, IN. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Denver Broncos on December 11, 2016 in Nashville, TN. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals on November 12, 2017. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on December 3, 2017. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins on October 9, 2016 in Miami, Florida. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots on January 13, 2018. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
