Time For The Titans To Fire Jeff Fisher

This past season is one that I know has Titan's fans nationwide fuming to have endured. After beginning this season with serious Super Bowl aspirations coming out of training camp, the Titans once again limped to an 8-8 finish. This is something which has become far too common, and frankly acceptable under Jeff Fisher's tenure as head coach. 

In fact, during Jeff Fisher's fourteen full seasons as head coach (not counting his interim period during 1994) the Titan's have finished 8-8 five times (96, 97, 98, 06, 09). This in itself is not terrible considering Jeff Fisher’s overall record of 136-110 or .553%, but his record in the playoffs is far less appealing. Consider this, Jeff Fisher in 11 career playoff games is 5-6. Four of these wins came in 1999, when the first year Titans had a storybook run to the Super Bowl, built on the momentum of the Music City Miracle. Take away those four playoff wins, and Jeff Fisher’s playoff record is only 1-6. 

Hopefully now I have your attention. Let’s face it Titan’s fan, Jeff Fisher has been an unbelievable asset for the Titan’s/Oiler’s organization for the last fifteen years, but his time as head coach of the Tennessee Titan’s should come to an end if playoff success is not found in 2010. The man has not had a post season win since 2003, and watched his team collapse in the playoffs in 2008. This, despite going 13-3 and securing a first round bye that season. 

There is no doubt Titan’s fans that Fisher has been positive for the Titan's organization, but I do not feel he is the elite coach which so many in NFL nation paint him to be. Sure, if owner Bud Adams were to fire him tomorrow he would garner attention for a new head coaching job, but looking at his resume I cannot say he deserves near the credit which he is given. Fisher is riding off the triumphs of the early 2000’s, and since has seen a very limited amount of post season success. Many will point to his turnaround of the Titans from 0-6 this season to finishing 8-8, but this was thanks to Vince Young not Fisher. This was probably the second time where Young has saved Fisher’s job. In Young’s rookie year in 2006 Young came in after an 0-3 start and led the Titans to an 8-5 finish. Fisher received a contract extension after the 2006 season, no doubt because of Young’s success. Similarly this season, despite having a 2,000 yard rusher in Chris Johnson, the Titans were still unable to make the playoffs finishing 8-8 after an 0-6 start. Ironically Young guided the team to an 8-2 finish after an 0-6 start, replacing the benched Kerry Collins who Fisher still felt gave him the best chance to win after six losses in a row. 

Bottom line, if the Titans cannot make a significant splash in the 2010 post season with Vince Young  at quarterback(26-13 as a starter), and 2,000 yard rusher Chris Johnson leading the offense, Fisher and the Titans should more than certainly end their union.