The Tennessee Titans have taken a big step to improve their offensive coaching direction by hiring Bo Hardegree to take control of playcalling responsibilities. In his second year as head coach, Brian Callahan is pulling back to look at the bigger picture. With this move, he’ll be able to keep his hands in the special teams and learning the defensive side of play.
Hardegree, the one-time interim offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders, brings sought-after experience. He had assumed that position after the firing of Josh McDaniels. In Hardegree’s time with the Raiders, he accomplished some remarkable feats. He guided the team to 22 ppg on offense, with a legit 5-4 record while getting the most out of rookie QB Aidan O’Connell. He’s done a remarkable job protecting a rookie quarterback. Now, he’s poised to be the one calling plays for Titans’ QB Cam Ward when they take on the Houston Texans in Week 1.
Though Hardegree will assume playcalling responsibilities, the full scope of his game day duties are still being determined among the Titans’ coaching staff. He continues to stay deeply connected with Ward, who values Hardegree’s perspective and experience as a sounding board. The two talk often, sending each other messages in the nighttime hours and talking daily about mechanics and shifting defensive strategies.
Hardegree’s plan for in-game feedback will be a quick correction Ward’s first stop on learning how to react quickly. “I’m going to talk to him on the headset after every drive,” Ward stated, highlighting the collaborative nature of their relationship. This back-and-forth play-caller/field-general discourse is designed to get the best out of Ward and establish a trust-fund level rapport between signal-caller and mentor.
Both coaches understand that clear communication is key. Hardegree emphasized his goal to earn Ward’s trust, stating, “I really just try to earn his trust to where I coach him hard.” At the same time, Ward admitted that their talks go a long way in developing his understanding of the game. “He understands where my head is at, just what I see on the field,” he remarked.
With Hardegree’s leadership, Titans planning to make the most of their third-down game plan. As for his time working directly with quarterbacks, that’s shown to be a huge asset so far. And on game days, he will be the one standing on the sideline, ready to make a difference. On the surface, Dunn will assist Ward in identifying plays and adjusting accordingly.
Tigers’ quarterback coach Brian Callahan had high praise for Hardegree’s ability. He stressed that by empowering Hardegree to call plays, he can have a far greater effect on all three phases of the game. “I’ve spent most of my time in special teams, in the defensive meetings and making sure I got a good pulse of what’s happening there,” Callahan noted. He has found this artistic pivot fruitful, even opening up new avenues for him to explore deeper and understand players and their viewpoints better.
The Tennessee Titans continue to prepare for their important match up vs. the Houston Texans on Sunday. Hardegree and Ward continue to focus on developing their connection. The Titans, as an organization, are out to establish better results and a more cooperative culture. They’re hoping that this new coaching dynamic will translate to success on the field.
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