NASHVILLE – Well, the Titans ended November with a whimper.
Sunday's loss to the Jaguars goes down as one of the most discouraging losses of the season to me, since there was pretty much nothing to feel good about.
Now we're into December, and set to travel to Cleveland to face the Browns.
Let's see how everyone is doing during this holiday season…
Here's the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE.
Horace Puth from Nashville, Tennessee
Question: Hi Jim: I am not mad. I am just sad. How did this happen? In 2019, the Titans were one of the best teams in the NFL. Now they are the worst two years running. And bad for the two or three years before that. Yes, the beginning of the downfall can be traced back to the trade of A.J. Brown. And also horrid first round draft picks. But there is something more afoot here. Nobody becomes this putrid for so long in such a short time period without something being very wrong from a cultural perspective. Is it the owner? Did she let a personality conflict drive her decision to fire Vrabel? Yes, he lost a lot of games his final two years but he also had 2 terrible GM's hired by the owner make the worst trade in perhaps NFL history and completely deplete the team of talent. She ignored that or was not smart enough to see it, or did not care. I know you will say that is ancient history, but studying history helps inform the future. And I know you will say we have a good GM now, but that remains to be seen. There is something very wrong behind the scenes and until it is fixed we will not be good, and pinpointing it is key. You work for the Titans so I don't expect you to blame the owner or you will likely lose your job, but she is the constant and simplest answer. Occam's Razor. But I do love Cam and hope he gets the 'tools around him to be successful and I am heartbroken to see Xavier go down -at the end when the game was over. I would love your opinion. I love your mailbag, Jim! You are the one enjoyable part of, this team we fans can look forward to each week to express our dismay. You should get extra pay for this professional therapy!
Jim: I hear ya, Horace. This reminds me of when my parents used to tell me they weren't mad at me, just disappointed. No doubt the franchise has sunk to a depressing place for fans. There are a lot of reasons the Titans are in the position they're in, and it's not one bad decision, one bad hire, one bad signing, one bad trade, one bad draft class, etc. A lot of people have to own this, and things have snowballed downhill. I do think the team has a good GM. I also think he inherited a mess. The culture can't change until a new head coach is in place, because everyone on this team knows Mike McCoy's days are numbered. What happened on Sunday was very deflating, and with five games left, I'm hoping it's not the start of a long, ugly march to the finish line. Before Sunday, I saw more reasons to be optimistic. I'm not saying all those are out the window now, because I think Cam is better than what he showed Sunday, and I think this team has some good pieces. But it's going to take more time, and I know fans have already shown a lot of patience.
Joe Arcudi from Merrimack, New Hampshire
Question: Jim......Two questions for you. What is worst then embarrassing? I need some help. Having trouble finding the right word. Question number 2. Who is worse: Dan Moore or Latham? I'm watching the game, and I am still waiting for Latham to block anybody....especially in pass pro. We all know there will be a ton of changes next year, but I just wonder what the changes will be on the oline besides right guard. Neither tackle has played well at all -- yet Moore has a big contract, and Latham was a top ten pick. Sorry Jim I have to go now. I need to lay down.
Jim: Embarrassing works, Joe, we don't have to search further. And while neither of those guys has lived up to expectations, I have to give the nod to Latham, because I was expecting him to be coming into his own about now. And that clearly isn't unfolding. He's too talented to have so many lapses, but I still think he has what it takes to be a solid player. But he's going to have to lock in and prove it, next week, and next year. As for the 0-line group next year, I suspect three of the five will be back.
Cosme Belmonte from Mexico City, Mexico
Question: Hi Jim, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving day. An aunt of mine has lived in Las Vegas for 40 years, and her traditions have become part of my life here in Mexico.
I didn't watch the game Sunday, but I followed it live on ESPN, and later I watched the highlights. Wow! The game was lost on that 4th and 3 by not going for it. Here's my question: What on earth do they have to lose at this point in the season, with the score tied 0-0 in the first quarter?
Those guys calling the plays are conservative, cowardly, and incredibly mediocre! What was the difference with that 4th and 3 in the second quarter?
And they still scored 3 points! I've read the opinions week after week, and I have a lot of respect for the fans who have seen hope in the last two weeks. I even started to wonder if we were watching the same game?
I was hoping to win three more games against these Jaguars, the Saints, and Cleveland. Kansas and San Francisco are going to destroy us! These decisions are killing our players! Who's calling them?
Jim: Hi Cosme. It was a different Thanksgiving for me, I'll say that, the first without either of my parents. Make no mistake, McCoy is the one making the decision on whether to go for it or not. I realize he's made some unpopular decisions.
Rick Foltz from Harrisburg, North Carolina
Question: Happy Holidays to you and yours Jim.
All I can say is this is a bad football team. Undisciplined, not coached well and unprepared. This is the first year in many that I watch and expecting a bad loss. I enjoy watching the rookies on offense trying to gel. But overall if I wasn't a fan I wouldn't waste the three hours every week to watch. The Vrabel firing is just another awful black eye on this franchise. For what ever reason we fired a franchise coach and us fans who follow know this was the Boss just letting the employee know who is the Boss. It's going to take a while for this to turn around
Jim: Happy holidays, Rick. Just because Brian Callahan proved to be a bad hire, doesn't mean the Vrabel firing was the wrong move. Folks forget how bad things were with Vrabel at the end. If you need a reminder, go back and check out the mailbags from December 2023, when fans were writing in for Vrabel to be fired. If the Titans had hired Mike Macdonald and he had the Titans sitting at 9-3, would firing Vrabel be considered a bad move? Probably not. The Titans whiffed when hiring Vrabel's replacement, and it's one of the reasons we're here today.
Donna Budnick from Winchester, Tennessee
Question: Somebody must tell whomever picked the Titans baby blue color that baby blue is NOT a power color. They'd play better in Red or Orange.
Jim: Hi Donna. I was in Knoxville on Saturday. Orange sure didn't look like a power color to me. I'll propose black and gold. 😊
Grant Teckmeyer from Omaha, Nebraska
Question: Jim. Hope you're doing well my friend! I've patiently refrained and endured from writing in over the last couple years, but what I watched today on TV from the Titans was the final straw. Here are some thoughts. What I saw was a pathetically run football team that looked like a bunch of grown toddlers with no discipline. A 1-10 football team has no business running their mouth, and many players need to learn how to shut up and get ready for the next play. Everyone associated with the Titans franchise should be thoroughly embarrassed by what transpired Sunday. I was embarrassed and I'm only a fan.
The CBS cameras also showed Amy Adams Strunk during the game laughing and having a good time while talking with somebody and getting cozy with a blanket. Are you serious, right now, AAS? How fitting that one of my all-time favorite movie quotes comes from Remember the Titans. "Attitude reflects leadership, captain." The current state of the Titans is no laughing matter.
Amy would benefit from reading the book "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink. It's a fantastic book about leadership and taking ownership for every one of your actions and failures. Here's to hoping the Titans learn how to play disciplined football and are competitive again in the not-too-distant future. Thanks again Jim and I trust you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season!
Jim: Hey Grant. Hope all is well. I'm hoping to see you in Omaha again soon. Let's shoot for June 2026. I'm with you on the lack of discipline. Just frustrating to watch. I don't necessarily subscribe to the theory that the Titans mailed it in or quit on Sunday, I just think it's a bad team that lost it's composure, and like you said, lacked discipline against a team that was thoroughly enjoying sticking it to them. And while I know everyone is fair game, and an easy target, based on where we are, I don't necessarily think it's fair to draw conclusions on how the owner feels based on a TV clip of her in her suite. I feel pretty safe in saying she's not happy with the current state of the team, but there's only so much you can do about it in season, with an interim HC leading the way. Unless you want to fire the interim coach, too, and I don't think that makes a lot of sense. Amy wants to win – it's why she's fired so many people over the years in an effort to get it right. Now have the right folks been hired? Obviously not, because if they had been we wouldn't be stuck playing this seemingly endless game of Whack-a-Mole. Let's just hope the next hire at head coach is the right one, that the guy can get on the same page with Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker, and the team can return to relevance again. Best to you, Grant. I still remember our chat at the College World Series when I was last there. Hope you and your family are doing well.
Mike Knecht from Highland, New York
Question: Hi Jim. Hope everything is good with you. Thank you for all you do for Titans Nation. We'll looks like we are going to get the first pick in the draft again. Don't have a question just a quick thought. Instead of trading the pick, we should draft Jeremiah Love from Notre Dame. He is an unbelievable running back. He can block, catch, and break ankles when he runs. I know we have a lot of holes, but he is too good to pass up. If I don't write back in enjoy your holidays. Hope they are merry, and bright.
Jim: Appreciate it, Mike. In my opinion, if the Titans have the first pick, the team needs to trade it to acquire as many picks as possible. This team has a lot of holes to fill, and positions to upgrade.
Jeff Martin from Friendswood, Texas
Question: Howdy Jim. What is it about our titans that makes it so difficult to succeed here but elsewhere it is like plug and play. Treylon Burks is making highlight reels and one handed at that? Looking at our WR performances all the sudden we could use him. Bill Callahan has been good everywhere but here. Ernest Jones looks like a pro bowler and leader in Seattle. Coach Vrabel is 10-2. Those drafted before and after JC Latham hit but he doesn't look like anywhere near a top 10 pick. Awuzie is making plays in Baltimore. We could use a CB. Sneed was a gem in KC got here and not the same guy. McDonald, Harbaugh, Canales, Quinn all were available when we hired Callahan. Elijah Molden even got good on the chargers.
Honestly this isn't even the full list, I know this sounds negative but it's not only become hard to see how far downhill and far off winning we are, but when others leave our culture they seem to excel. Why is this?
Jim: I knew someone would write in about the Treylon Burks catch. Yes, it was a great catch. That doesn't make him a WR1. He didn't pan out here because he couldn't stay healthy. Everyone knew Ernest Jones was a stud when he was here. Again, move on from Vrabel. This is a tiring game of remember-these-Titans some folks like to play. I get the A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry emails, but some of these other former Titan remembrances are a stretch.
Mark Nevar from Port Colborne, Ontario
Question: Hello Jim. i have been a franchise fan since '78 and have attended several games in Nashville and when they play in Buffalo. i haven't written in two years being patient knowing that we were rebuilding.
This team is far more than another first round pick away from being good. It lacks leadership from the ownership down to the locker room. We lost the locker room and team culture after the Vrabes firing debacle. But lets face it, as I wrote two years he was going to end up in NE anyway .
I will cut Mike Borzonzi some slack as he has taken over a mess created by those above him. We need to give him time and the leeway to rebuild.
On the bright side, I do believe that Cam Ward will be be a ligit NFL QB. He needs a team !!!!
Cheers
Jim: Hey Mark. Borgonzi needs time. So does Cam.
Sam Bingham from Tuscon, Arizona
Question: Hi Jim. Does the coaching staff ever listen to commentators and what their comments are being said it's like they know what's wrong with the team and watching the Coach just standing there no emotion not like the Eagle Coach who's all over the place . Maybe they should bench Cam like they did Levis last year so he can see what it takes to be a Quarterback for a professional team. He was given to0 much for his plate and not getting it yet . Plus his line SUCKS, another year watching the playoffs from home
Jim: With all due respect to the commentators, no, I don't think the coaching staff cares about their opinions of the team.
John Fayko from Lake Charles, Louisiana
Question: Good afternoon Jim. As always, thank you for what you do.
Please help me understand the horrible OLine play . I would like to specifically ask about #55 , his effort and lack of intensity was extremely concerning today. I guess my question is does the offensive line coach watch the game at all , because the right tackle should have been benched today. I get he's young and learning but effort and desire come from within and he showed little to none .
The Titans have had terrible luck at drafting O lineman for sometime now and 55 seems to be another example. I know he has the talent but does he have the fight, I sure didn't see it against the Jags.
What really makes matters worse is, we are all looking to the future and a winning team, but with a "building block" looking so uninterested, it really is depressing.
Thank you, and I appreciate all the Titans fans out there .
Jim: Hey John. I wish I could explain why things haven't been better. I actually thought they would be. But if you bench Latham, Oli Udoh is who would replace him. There's a reason Latham is starting, and he needs to play better to earn it. But, yeah, I admit, I'd like to see him play with a little more fire myself.
EM McFarland from San Diego, California
Question: I am pretty sure your Mailbox will explode after this stinker.
Sunday's performance was nearly unwatchable.
Titans probably have the worst special teams play in the league. Terrible performance by O Line.
Terrible pass Defense.
Bad coaching and play calling.
Poor QB play by Cam.
Poor Receiver play.
There will definitely be turnover on this team at the end of the year.
What are the players AND coaches putting on film to make sure they stand out in a positive way?
Not to pile on but Bill Callahan did not impress when he was still with the team and Bones Fassel has not either. Their expertise was supposed to make a difference.
Only Titan unit that held their own Sunday was the Defensive pass rush and they would get only a passing grade.
Hopefully Restrepo is OK. All he does when he is featured is make plays.
I love this team but it is hard to watch this.
Jim: It's been hopping for sure, EM. You should enjoy the San Diego weather. But one thing: John Fassel has been great as special teams coach, so you're reaching there.
Donley Canary from Raymore, Missouri
Hi Jim: Quick question. As a former 26-year season ticket holder and former Titan supporter, I am interested in LaJarius Sneed's association with his team or teammates. He is supposedly hurt, but seems to be able to go to Dallas, shoot at people and wreak havoc in their city. Seems strange to be paying him $50 million dollars to not play, rehab or even be in the same city as his current team. But, that is the Titans way. The worst managed team in the NFL. Good luck Ms. Amy. You have single handedly destroyed an NFL franchise. Not many people can make that claim!!!
Jim: Hey Donley. This answer is a lot more clear-cut that you think. L'Jarius Sneed was placed on Injured Reserve, and he's rehabbing the injury. Just like all of the other players who are injured. At this point, I think everyone agrees the trade for Sneed was a bad one. Put that one on Ran Carthon, since he was the GM at the time. He's since been fired. Sure, you can blame the owner since she's the one who runs the team, but that would be letting Ran off the hook. He was hired to make important decisions, and he obviously whiffed on that one.
Dan Lorenz from Ringwood, New Jersey
Question: This game hit rock bottom - your "Fans Need a Reason to Believe" from 6 things that stood out was on point. Agree that everyone puts in effort, but execution is consistently missed in all three phases of the game. You can't build anything when you don't have discipline first, and we had none in this game. Even when we had a chance to stop JAX a penalty on us would gift them a first down. Except for the first drive, constant 3 and outs are killing our defense, we can't get consistent QB pressure, and our backs play cover no-one zone where WRs just go the gaps for a pass. It's painful to watch the lack of improvement - I would even say we are somewhat regressing. As an original Oilers fan growing up in Houston, this is the worst I have ever seen the team play. The draft can't get here fast enough. To make a question out of it, how did it get this bad?
Jim: Appreciate it, Dan. And thanks for reading. Judging from the crowd on Sunday, and from the submissions to the mailbag this week (30ish compared to 100s some weeks), I know some fans have lost interest in this team. As I mentioned previously, a lot of things have contributed to the downfall. And, a lot of things are going to need to transpire in the coming months (and years) in positive fashion to get this franchise back on track.
Have a great week everyone!
