Titans Name TE Coach Arthur Smith Offensive Coordinator to Replace Matt LaFleur

The Tennessee Titans have found their newest offensive coordinator from within, promoting Arthur Smith to the role Monday, per Jim Wyatt of the team's official site.

He replaces Matt LaFleur, who left after one season with the Titans to become head coach of the Green Bay Packers.

Smith has been with the Titans for the past eight seasons, including three full seasons as tight ends coach. He has also been an assistant tight ends coach and has served as both an offensive and defensive assistant in his coaching career.

He also played offensive line at North Carolina before joining the coaching staff and worked on the defensive side of the ball during short stints with the Washington Redskins and Ole Miss.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel had high praise for the newly promoted coach:

"I am excited for Arthur and for our team to be able to elevate a deserving coach. I was impressed throughout the season in gameplan meetings with his ideas, in-game with his understanding of situations and the ability to get the most out of his position group. We spent a good bit of time last week talking about this opportunity. He has a great deal of familiarity with our players and the continuity of the offense will allow our players to continue to develop and improve."

Continuity could be important for an offense that has seen a revolving door of coaches over the past few seasons.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota was drafted in 2015 and has already had three different coordinators and three head coaches in four seasons. Smith will be his fourth offensive coordinator in five years, although there could at least be some similarities from past systems instead of having to learn an entirely new offense.

Meanwhile, tight ends have thrived under Smith's tutelage, with Delanie Walker leading the team in receiving in three of the past five years. Jonnu Smith then made strides in 2018 with Walker missing most of the season due to injury.

The coach will now try to get the most out of the entire offense after the unit finished last season 27th in the NFL in scoring.