Sunday was another low point for special teams coordinator Colt Anderson, as his unit repeatedly beguiled the unwitting Detroit Lions into short fields. The 2024 season has been an utter disaster for the embattled coordinator, resulting in numerous errors and misfires. Tennessee allowed Detroit to gain the upper hand in a fight that quickly got out of hand. What can be done for the remainder of the season?
Tennessee Titans Special Teams: A Titanic Disaster
How historically bad have Anderson’s charges been in 2024 and Sunday afternoon?
Former Titans returner/receiver Kalif Raymond had this 90-yard punt return touchdown and a couple of other extended returns to set up the Lions in plus territory. He had just 125 yards on 14 attempts before the 190-yard outburst against Tennessee.
KALIF RAYMOND 90-YARD PUNT RETURN TD.
📺: #TENvsDET on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/sMcRUfaDCX— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
After Sunday’s incompetent and outrageously contemptible showing by the Titans’ special teams, Tennessee is the league’s worst punt coverage unit. They have given up a disastrous 454 yards on punts, significantly more than the next worst team, the Patriots. The kick-return coverages did not spare themselves on Sunday, either. They allowed a 72-yard return to Khalil Dorsey, which set up an easy touchdown when the game’s fate hung in the balance. Overall, it continued the malaise that is the Titans’ ST units.
What’s next?
Coach Anderson had the ostentatious gall to contribute to the blowout defeat in front of the Titans’ power brokers. Principal owner Amy Adams Strunk is one to be wary of. She ordered the immediate termination of Anderson’s predecessor after that coach was in charge of two consecutive blocked punts last season. One of which resulted in a devastating knee injury to punter Ryan Stonehouse. Yet, head coach Brian Callahan defended this monstrosity of a failure in his Monday press conference.
Nothing to report from #Titans Brian Callahan.
He has had conversations with ST Coordinator Colt Anderson about how to fix the issues. Doesn’t sound like there will be a change made. pic.twitter.com/xvbLvkK8bw
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) October 28, 2024
To be somewhat fair to Anderson, Sunday’s loss wasn’t entirely on his unit’s meltdowns. It was a total team loss, and the Lions took full advantage. Quarterback Mason Rudolph was a big contributor to the events with two ghastly Will Levis-type interceptions. The New England Patriots loom next on the docket with an impressively bad two wins. This game will likely determine the top five in the 2025 NFL Draft order. This was a titanic disaster in the making with little depth given to those primary special teams positions like running back and linebacker.
What Should Happen?
If the owner has shown the willingness to demand the cessation of one assistant’s duties, they will not hesitate to order another one to stop their duties with the team. Anderson isn’t totally at fault, given the lack of great special team players but it is his responsibility to produce something better. There has to be a tough decision to be made on his future, given his ties to Brian Callahan. Termination for overseeing a historically bad unit is the only option left for Callahan to make. Otherwise, his own job will be precariously hanging in the balance as the losses mount in a fruitless campaign.
Main Image: Junfu Han – USA Today Sports
