By Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Titans coach Mike Munchak has fired offensive coordinator Chris Palmer and replaced the veteran with quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains.
The Titans said Munchak told Palmer of his decision Monday night.
Munchak said in a statement he respects Palmer as a coach, which is why they brought him to Tennessee.
“As an offense I didn’t feel like we were progressing the way that I had hoped,” Munchak said. “I believe we needed a change in direction and I hope to see that progress in our remaining games. Dowell has worked here for a number of years under some very successful coordinators and he is ready for this challenge.”
Owner Bud Adams put everyone in the franchise on notice after a 51-20 loss to Chicago on Nov. 4. Jake Locker
returned to the starting lineup Nov. 11, and Tennessee beat Miami 37-3. But the Titans (4-7) became the first team to lose in Jacksonville 24-19 on Sunday when the offense sputtered after getting to the Jacksonville 24 and had to settle for five field goal attempts.
The Titans are 24th averaging 327.7 yards per game and only 20th in passing with an average of 220.8 yards per game. Tennessee is 30th with an average time of possession of 27 minutes, 11 seconds per game, and 29th with 17.5 first downs per game.
Palmer helped the New York Giants win the 2008 Super Bowl as quarterbacks coach with Eli Manning. But he was working in the UFL as head coach of the Hartford Colonials when Munchak hired him in February 2011 knowing Tennessee would be drafting a quarterback that April with the eighth pick overall.
The Titans used that selection on Jake Locker. He was chosen the starter this August, and the loss to Jacksonville was his sixth start due to injury. Munchak said earlier Monday that Locker threw too early on a pass intercepted late when Tennessee had the ball and a chance to take the lead.
“If you want to be in the playoffs, those are the drives you have to finish,” Munchak said before firing Palmer.
Loggains, 32, has been with the Titans since 2006 when he was hired as a coaching administrative assistant. He became quality control coach for the offense in 2008 and 2009 when the late Mike Heimerdinger was the team’s offensive coordinator.
A quarterback in college at Arkansas, Loggains was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2010. He helped Kerry Collins post an 82.2 passer rating that was the third-best of his career, while Vince Young had a 98.6 passer rating that was the best of his career to that point.
Veteran Matt Hasselbeck had the third best season of his career last year with the Titans, throwing for 3,571 yards.
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