Titans Head Coach Mike Munchak Already Shaking Things Up

Consider Mike Munchak among the head coaches who aren’t too concerned about the public relations side of the job.

Munchak and the Tennessee Titans announced Tuesday that offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger would not be retained as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Defensive assistant Rayna Stewart and offensive assistant Richie Wessman were also shown the door.

But in Heimerdinger’s case, the Titans and Munchak could face a public relations nightmare. Heimerdinger had a well-publicized fight with cancer in the middle of the season, but stayed on the job when he could have done what any normal person would do — go home and make sure the cancer is taken care of before next week’s gameplan.

According to Munchak, this is just a part of his change in direction with the team.

“I met with Mike, Rayna and Richie today and informed them that they would not be retained as a part of the new staff,” Munchak said in a statement released by the team. “These are not easy decisions, but I have a responsibility to move things in the direction that I have laid out for this team. We will continue to evaluate the rest of the staff moving forward.

As it relates to Mike, I have a great deal of respect for him as a person and admiration for the way he is fighting against cancer. He is an innovative offensive mind and we have worked well through the years, but I believe we need to go in a different direction at offensive coordinator. This wasn’t about his health — he is feeling good, it is a change of direction for us. This is not something that I take lightly and I wish him and his family the best.”

We already know this is going to be unpopular with some, but overall it looks like a good thing for the team. I don’t know if the next offensive coordinator will be better than Heimerdinger, but the Titans have a guy who’s not afraid to make that tough call in Munchak, and that’s a very good thing for them moving forward.

The team will have a new quarterback next year, so he’s going to be faced with another tough call and the team must have the confidence that he’ll be able to make that decision and stick with it. And make no mistake, sticking with the decision is almost just as important. Flip-flopping on his quarterback was likely the downfall of Mike Singletary in San Francisco.

Munchak is also making a move I love in bringing in Bruce Matthews to interview for the position of offensive line coach. Matthews is one of the best offensive linemen to ever play, and his experience would be invaluable for any current lineman the Titans have.

The good news for Titans fans is Munchak, unlike Jeff Fisher, seems to have a real plan going forward and isn’t afraid to execute it.