Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL right now.
His defenses are consistently near the top of the league, whether he is coordinating the unit or leading the entire team as the head coach.
While Tennessee’s defense is middle of the pack — currently fielding a unit that is 13th in points per game and 19th in yards per game — Saleh’s track record says that it should improve as time goes on. However, the one thing that’s nagged him as a coach has been the lack of a capable quarterback to lead the offense.
The New York Jets drafted Zach Wilson to quarterback the team the year that Saleh joined, but he was a bust and was replaced by Aaron Rodgers after just two seasons. Saleh was subsequently fired in 2024, and after spending time as an offensive consultant with the Green Bay Packers and a defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, he got another head coaching gig with the Titans.
But it’s looking like a bad choice just five games into his tenure, as Tennessee has yet to win a game, and quarterback Cam Ward is showing shades of Wilson.
Cam Ward could control Robert Saleh’s destiny with Titans
The second-year signal-caller is averaging 179 yards per game with three touchdowns and three interceptions through five games.
Ward is supposed to be a dynamic player, but rushing just hasn’t been part of his repertoire in the NFL. He is barely over 200 yards rushing in 22 career games, which is problematic for a player who hasn’t shown much improvement as a passer.
Apart from his anemic counting stats, Ward is 20th in the league in completion percentage at 63.2%, and 28th in the league with a 77.2 passer rating. Tennessee has the worst scoring offense in the league by far, and it is severely hindering the team’s chances of winning games.
If last year’s No. 1 pick doesn’t improve soon, then it could be a disaster for Saleh. He has a 20-41 record as a head coach, and while it may not necessarily be his fault as a defensive coach, there aren’t many guys who get three shots at being a coach with no prior success.
Ward must develop much quicker if Saleh is going to stay in Tennessee for the long haul. They had a quick trigger with former head coach Brian Callahan, firing him shortly into his second season, so there’s no telling how long Saleh’s leash is. It has to feel like déjà vu for one of the best leaders and defensive minds in the sport.
This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL
