The Tennessee Titans are as likely to fire Ken Whisenhunt midseason as they are to retire Pacman Jones’ jersey.
Whisenhunt — despite a 3-18 record as the Titans’ head coach — is safer than a tight end facing the Titans defense, inevitably wide-open in the end zone, with the nearest defender standing at the corner of Fatherland and Prospect.
The coach has the advantage of low expectations — even a four-win season would be a 100 percent improvement. He’s also saddled with a rookie quarterback and an atrocious offensive line. The former isn’t a bad problem to have, particularly, especially since that rookie has by and large outplayed his inexperience, only looking especially overwhelmed in one game: Sunday’s 38-10 loss to the Dolphins. The Titans continue to be more embarrassing at home than your Alex Jones-devotee great-uncle at Thanksgiving.
The offensive line isn’t really Whisenhunt’s fault either. That blame — and the blame for the construction of the rest of the roster — belongs to general manager Ruston Webster, a man who is still employed. Like the fool in the parable, Webster built the Titans on sand and, for some reason, Jeremiah Poutasi.
And neither is Whisenhunt responsible for the injuries that have beset an already leaky offensive line. Nevertheless, on Sunday Titans fans learned that, at least, Poutasi (who was hurt) was actually the best option at right tackle, since his replacement was more accommodating than King Leopold in 1940.
All that has combined to buy Whisenhunt and Webster some time to save their jobs (continue at NashvilleScene)