Six external candidates interviewed for general manager before the Titans named Robinson, a Union City, Tenn., native and former Patriots and Buccaneers executive, as the replacement for Ruston Webster.
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The number of empty seats keeps growing with only one winning record in the past seven seasons and the last playoff victory in January 2004.
The Titans pick first in the NFL Draft and Robinson was very clear that he was perfectly willing to part with that pick for the right price. The Cowboys watched 35-year-old Tony Romo miss 12 games due to shoulder injuries and new San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly may or may not want to work with Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert.
Instead, Mularkey talked about a “fresh start” with a Titans team that tumbled to a 3-13 record this season, including a 2-7 mark under Mularkey.
“I’m going to surround myself with people that have the same feelings that I do, the same beliefs, the same coaching style and these guys know what they’re getting, the players know”. I learned a lot in these last nine weeks of the season, and I saw a lot.
While fans may view the team’s decision to give Mularkey the full-time job with skepticism, the coach asked for patience.
New Titans coach Mike Mularkey was Atlanta’s offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2011, and Robiskie has been the Falcons’ wide receivers coach since 2008.
The Titans already have their franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, that makes it much easier to move the pick if a quarterback emerges as a “hot” player on draft day. Jason Michael, who held the position last season, will remain on staff as quarterbacks coach.
Continuity with Mariota was one reason cited by the Titans in their hiring of Mularkey, and he said his offense will be “user-friendly” with more streamlined language.
Atlanta Falcons wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie looks on during minicamp at Falcons Training Facility.
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Defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s future with the club has yet to be determined, but assistant head coach/defense Dick LeBeau is expected to return. Underwood also said controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk will be at the National Football League meetings in March.
