2012 NFL season: Coach Mike Munchak determined to take Tennessee Titans forward – NFL Feature
No man can claim to be as committed to a team as Mike Munchak can do about the Tennessee Titans – formerly known as Houston Oilers.
He has spent his entire pro league stint, whether as a coach or as a player before that with the team, and the association, which had started right back at the time of his selection as a first-round draft offensive lineman at 8th overall
position off the National Football League (NFL) draft in 1982, is not over yet.
He retired from the pro league as an Oiler at the end of the 1993 season, and waited only a year before being landed a job of an offensive assistant and quality control coach in 1994.
Mike got the offensive line coaching job exactly three years later, and spent the next 14 at the same position. His patience finally paid him off when he was named their head coach in 2011.
The past season was his first one as the head coach, and he ended up performing remarkably well. He helped the side to progress from the dismal record of 6-10 under the former coach Jeff Fisher to finish second in the American Football
Conference (AFC) South division, just behind the newly emerged division champions, the Houston Texans.
It was down on the bad luck that development of an unfavourable position on the league’s table took away the last wildcard opportunity from the Titans to qualify for the playoffs.
Nevertheless, it was a job well done by the first year head coach, and the owner Bud Adams duly praised his efforts.
The improvement of the record to 9-7, from 6-10, in a year is no doubt a great achievement for the coach, but Mike insists he is not done yet. Although, he has not said in clear terms, he sees the Super Bowl title as the final target in
front of him. This should certainly satisfy the level of commitment and services he has shown for the Titans for last three decades.
For the 2012 season, the clear target the coach is aiming for is the playoffs. It is rather unfortunate that the Titans could not make it to the second round last year, but the coach is determined to make it happen this season.
Last year, the team had a better chance in front of struggling Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars.
This year the Indianapolis Colts are on the rebound, and have transformed the unit accordingly. The Texans are coming back on the field as Super Bowl contenders. The Jaguars have changed the ownership hands, and the new owner Shahid Khan
has vowed to make the team consistent winners on the field. They, just like Colts, have new coach, new front office officials and some key players. Colts are led by a new quarterback as well.
So it will be very challenging for Munchak’s Titans to get past these teams. Still, the Titans remain a competitive outfit, and in presence of Munchak who has nearly 30 years of experience of football with the team, they can beat any team
in the league, anytime, anywhere. Mike Munchak is at least more determined to see it happening this season than ever before.
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