Curious Case of Mike Mularkey

[KingTitan]

It all began as a dream of a young man drafted in the 9th round by the 49ers.  He was the equivalent of an undrafted free agent. He finished a 9 year career with the Steelers, then went directly into coaching. He coached the offensive and defensive lines at Concordia University.  From there he was hired as a Offensive Consultant by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then quickly moved up to Tight Ends coach the following season.

He returned back to Pittsburgh the next season to be their TE coach and after 4 years moved to be the OC after Kevin Gilbride left to go to Buffalo. 

Taking over as OC for the Steelers in 2001, he inherited a QB named Kordell Stewart. In the previous season Stewart passed for 6 TDs and 10 INTs,  1860 yards.
After Murlakey took over as OC, Stewart passed for 3,109 yards, 14 TDs and 11 INTs. Rushed for 537 yards and 5 TDs. (Sidenote: Tom Clements was his QB Coach).Stewart was named team MVP.
 From 2001-2003 Murlakey served as the team OC:
Scoring offense in those years 2001-7th,  2002- 8th, 2003-19th

Celebrated for his work with QBs said to be on the garbage pile (Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox). He landed a job with the Buffalo Bills as the Head Coach. Team started out 0-4 then went on to go 9-7. That year, the Bills went on a scoring tear that set franchise records. Beating notable Super Bowl participant Seattle Seahawks 38-9. Also scoring points of 37, 42, 37, 33, and 41 in a 6 game winning streak. That year the Bills were in a "Win and In" scenario.  They lost to eventual Super Bowl Champion, Pittsburgh Steelers 29-24. 

 In a battle with the front office, Drew Bledsoe was released to give 1st round pick, JP Lossman a chance to shine. Mike Murlakey disagreed with the direction of the team an started Kelly Holcomb half the season, with Holcomb leading them to 4 of the teams 5 wins.  The teams offense went from the 7th ranked offense to the 24th.  Mularkey resigned and said reasons were disagreements with the direction of the team and changes in the front office. 

Murlakey went to Miami as OC for one year under Nick Saban.  Saban picked an injured Culpepper over Drew Brees.  The team relied on Joey Harrington majority of the year. Harrington threw for 12 TDs, 15 INTs and 2,236 yards. Saban left after the year to go to Alabama. Dolphins hired Cam Cameron as HC and Murlakey was made TE Coach. 

 

Two years in Miami, Murlakey went to Atlanta as the Offensive Coordinator, 2008. It was there Murlakey the greatest amount of respect in the league. The Falcons finished the year 10th in scoring offense up from 29th the previous year. As OC, he earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors, along with Offensive Coordinator of the year. He interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs in 2011. One being the Tennessee Titans.

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2011/02/03/falcons-offensive-coordinator-mike-mularkey-to-interview-for-titans-head-coach-on-friday/

Quote

 

The Titans find themselves at a disadvantage from the rest of the teams that were in need of a head coach. While most teams found their replacement weeks ago, it was just last week that the Titans announced that Jeff Fisher would not be back for his 17th full season as head coach–meaning most of the top candidates already found jobs with other teams. However, any team would be lucky to have a guy like Mularkey–who has found plenty of success the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator in Atlanta.

Mularkey has received plenty of praise for the development of quarterback Matt Ryan over his first three seasons in the league. With the help of Mularkey, the Falcons ranked fifth in the NFL this season by averaging 25.6 points per game and finished 13-3–earning them the top seed in the NFC.

 

In 2012 Murlakey took the Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach position after a Conference Championship lost with the Falcons. He inherited one of the most depleted rosters in the NFL. Quaterback Blaine Gabbert entered his 2nd year. Murlakey benched him for Chad Henne and went 4-12 that year. He was fired after new ownership came in a cleaned house. Firing failed GM Gene Smith and HC Murlakey. 

2014 Murlakey joined the Titans as TE coach. Delaine Walker had 63 rec for 890 yards and 4 Tds, leading the team in catches and yards. 

2015 Murlakey took over for fired HC Ken Whisenhunt. Following year he was named HC, removing the interim tag.

Why should Murlakey remain as HC of the Titans?

1. Since Jeff Fisher was fired in 2011, there has been 2 HC in 6 years. Since 2011 the team has won 27 games. In Murlakey's  2 years as HC, he as won 17 games.  17 games in 2 years vs. 27 wins in 6 years. 
2. Since 2011 (After Fisher), the team ranked no higher than 19th in scoring offense. (21st, 23rd, 19th, 30th and 28th). Since Murlakey was hired we went from 28th to 14th last year and 18th this year). 
3.  Sacks: Munchak's 3 seasons: 24, 39 and 37 sacks.  Whiz: 50 and 54. Murlakey: 23 and 32.  The QB has been greatly protected compared to Whiz and is in line with Munchak's team (HOF offensive line coach). 
4. Team has not made the playoffs since 2008. Team is in line to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. 
5. Discipline:  2012- 106 penalties, 2013- 101, 2014-111, 2015-93, 2016-110, 2017- 83.  The team is the 2nd least penalized team in the league. Only Carolina has fewer penalties against them with 78. The team is a very disciplined team.

 

Why should he be fired?

1. Marcus Mariota.  Marcus is experiencing a horrible year statisically. 15 INTs, 12 TDs, 3,098 yards. The fear is that Marcus is regressing with the offensive approach and scheme Murlakey is using.  Previous year, Mariota had 3, 426 yards, 28 TDs and 9 INTs. 
2. Offensive Scheme: Titans are 2nd worst in the league with RAC yads. Titans use 12 personnel (2 TE, 2 WR, 1RB) 7th most in the league. Fans have been critical on the amount of bunch and tight formations he has used, with the dependency on the TE. 
3. Playcalling.  Failed 3rd down conversions on 3rd and short has been a problem this year. We have seen failed bubble screens, TE sweeps, WR sweeps, draw plays and bad run calls.  We have seen a predictable run, run, pass sequence countless times.    
4. Redzone offense: Last year, it was almost a given. We get in the redzone we score a TD. Last year we scored 72% of the time (1st in the league). This year we are 14th, with a 55% avg. 
5. Scoring.  Last year we 11th in scoring TDs. Avg. a shade under 3 per game (2.9). This year we are 22nd averaging 2.1 per game. 

When looking at Murlakey as Titans coach, it is important to consider where the team was when he got it compared to where they are now. Then it is imperative to think about where they are projected to go. 

Key Factors to consider with the team and Murlakey:

1. The team was very impressed with Murlakey when he interviewed in 2011.  Bud Adams was going to hire Mike Munchak. However, they went through the process (errily similar to when Murlakey was hired) knowing good and well who they wanted. Gregg Williams even declined to interview knowing this. They love Mike Murlakey.
2. Murlakey is a key piece to the culture change of the team. The team went through a literal physical transformation once Amy Adams-Strunk took over as Owner. Made numerous changes to the facilities. The PR, Social Media, Interactive  and overall way content is presented to fans has dramatically been improved and updated. "Storm the South" and the physical mindset the team has adopted is a result of Murlakey and Robinson. 
3. Munchak received 3 seasons under fairly similar circumstances.  Team went 9-7 Munch's 1st year. Saw improvement.  Stepped back 2nd year.  Will changes be asked of Murlakey they way they were of Munchak.
4. 5 year contract of Ken Whisenhunt. Whiz signed the deal in 2014. If my calculations are correct, they still have one more year to pay Whiz. Murlakey signed a 3 year deal, with next year being the last year of the deal.  Could it be they wait until next year to start with another head coach when Murlakey and Whiz's deals off the books?  Give Murlakey a faux-extension?  Similar to Jim Caldwell.  Say an 1 year (team option)extension?

Murlakey is cared for and loved by his team. Frustrations are clear with the offensive players. Could that be fixed by hiring a new OC? Do the players believe in him as a HC? Do they still believe in his message?

In a post by Kuharsky, Murlarkey claims to be flexible. 

Haven't read the article, but the heading is clear enough. They were asked about their flexibility, based on the comments to the tweet. It wasn't a statement they just made out the blue.  However, it is very telling that they have to defend their flexibility.  
Murlakey is an accomplished OC. Like many before him, he was touted as a must hire and hot name to be an OC.  He has a proven track record of being able to turn around an offense.  However, it looks like it is possible that the game has passed him by. Are his offensive philosophies of running first, old and done?

 

 

[KingTitan]

There are plenty other reasons why shouldn't and should be fired, but I honestly just got tired. I thought 5 a piece was sufficient. lol

[TitanSS]

Fire Mularkey.

[renndawg37]

Tl;dr

Kidding. But fire Mularkey

[TwoToneBlue]

Just don't think we will ever reach our full potential with the combo of Mularkey/Mariota. One has to go. Fire Mularkey.

[KingTitan]

If current news is any indicator. We aren't firing him. 
Tampa Bay, NY Jets all keeping their guys. 

Owners are going to give guys "a chance" especially with it only being 2 years and winning seasons.

[deeluxx3]

He has to be willing to adapt and enter the 21st century offensively. That's really what it comes down to for me 

[TitanSlim]

3 hours ago, deeluxx3 said:

He has to be willing to adapt and enter the 21st century offensively. That's really what it comes down to for me 

Pretty much this.

Todd Bowles was in a similar spot to Mularkey. Great year 1, struggled year 2, and entered year 3 in a "lame duck" situation. Bowles hired an up and coming coach in John Morton to be his OC. Bowles allowed Morton to run the offense and play to strengths of the team, which led to a surprisingly good year for the Jets and a sneakily explosive offense. In return, Bowles was rewarded with a contract extension.

It's vital for the future of this team, Mariota, and Mularkey that we find our John Morton. And hopefully Mularkey sets his pride to the side to allow that person to run the offense, as that person see fits, to the strengths of the team.

[TitanSS]

14 hours ago, KingTitan said:

If current news is any indicator. We aren't firing him. 
Tampa Bay, NY Jets all keeping their guys. 

Owners are going to give guys "a chance" especially with it only being 2 years and winning seasons.

In normal circumstances I would absolutely say not to fire him, but he never should have been hired in the first place, and that's why he should be fired now.

The fact he was hired, and the mockery that was our "head coach search" was the biggest joke in the NFL. 

In poker if you bluff and you're called twice in a row, you don't have to continue bluffing and lose more chips. Cut your losses ahead of time. 

Mariota is being wasted. None of those other teams have a potential superstar at QB that should make them act fast. The Bucs have Winston, but I never thought hed pan out. Throws far too many INTs and he was the same way in college.

[KingTitan]

6 hours ago, TitanSS said:

In normal circumstances I would absolutely say not to fire him, but he never should have been hired in the first place, and that's why he should be fired now.

The fact he was hired, and the mockery that was our "head coach search" was the biggest joke in the NFL. 

In poker if you bluff and you're called twice in a row, you don't have to continue bluffing and lose more chips. Cut your losses ahead of time. 

Mariota is being wasted. None of those other teams have a potential superstar at QB that should make them act fast. The Bucs have Winston, but I never thought hed pan out. Throws far too many INTs and he was the same way in college.

He shouldn't have been hired based on public opinion and of course previous lack of success. However, what he has done with the team, all the things we can see and the things we can't, looks to mean more than those previous stops and what we think. 

My instincts say he will be here another year.  I think what will end up being important is, 2 "winning" seasons, maybe a playoff berth and a reason to believe things will get better (Mariota with a full off-season without a major surgery to work on technique) and possible changes to the offensive staff. Also the team has never quit. All year, they have played hard (not well but hard).  They compete.  The main reason to get rid of him would be to satisfy the public outcry. Organization loves him and despite the obvious struggles, they believe in him, hence why they hired him without even looking. 
I don't think their belief in him has weakened, especially if he is willing to make a change at OC.  

[TitanSlim]

Meh, this is from Ian Rapoport fwiw. Not really anything new but it's out there.

"Tennessee Titans: For the first time in years and years, the Titans have a chance to win a home game to make the playoffs. That is their sole focus heading into Sunday. If they lose -- or perhaps even if they go one-and-done in the playoffs -- coach Mike Mularkey is in danger of losing his job. Sources say there has been serious frustration about the development of quarterback Marcus Mariota, and hiring a quarterback guru as a head coach (Patriotsoffensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would be a possibility) could be the play here."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000900056/article/whos-safe-whos-out-afc-coaches-on-hot-seat

Edited December 31, 2017 by TitanSlim

[KingTitan]

51 minutes ago, TitanSlim said:

Meh, this is from Ian Rapoport fwiw. Not really anything new but it's out there.

"Tennessee Titans: For the first time in years and years, the Titans have a chance to win a home game to make the playoffs. That is their sole focus heading into Sunday. If they lose -- or perhaps even if they go one-and-done in the playoffs -- coach Mike Mularkey is in danger of losing his job. Sources say there has been serious frustration about the development of quarterback Marcus Mariota, and hiring a quarterback guru as a head coach (Patriotsoffensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would be a possibility) could be the play here."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000900056/article/whos-safe-whos-out-afc-coaches-on-hot-seat

Was just reading that. It isn't new but also kind of new in claiming "sources" are behind it. 

A lot of dot connecting. Will be interesting. I'm weird in thinking the off-season is sometime more entertaining lol. 

I'm excited to see what happens or doesn't happen. 

[TitanLegend]

Just now, KingTitan said:

Was just reading that. It isn't new but also kind of new in claiming "sources" are behind it. 

A lot of dot connecting. Will be interesting. I'm weird in thinking the off-season is sometime more entertaining lol. 

I'm excited to see what happens or doesn't happen. 

No national media member has any sources inside the Titans organization so I take it as just him guessing.

[TitanSlim]

I'm legitimately curious if there's any truth to McDaniels being interested in being HC here(or vice versa with us interested in McDaniels) or if it's just a lazy narrative made by the media because the Robinson/McDaniels connection.

[KingTitan]

2 minutes ago, TitanSlim said:

I'm legitimately curious if there's any truth to McDaniels being interested in being HC here(or vice versa with us interested in McDaniels) or if it's just a lazy narrative made by the media because the Robinson/McDaniels connection.

I think it's lazy guessing journalism. Because he was a strong candidate last time when Robinson was hired. 

It's a Patriot connection, guessing.