The 2010 season was the Tennessee Titans' 41st in the National Football League (NFL), their 51st overall and their 14th season in Tennessee. Despite starting the season 5–2, they lost eight of their last nine games and finished with a 6–10 record, a regression from their 8–8 record in 2009; this was the Titans' first losing season since 2005 and first last place finish in the AFC South since 2004. This was the Titans' final season under head coach Jeff Fisher, who resigned on January 27, 2011, after 17 seasons with the team.
Offseason Personnel changes On January 25, Kennedy Pola, who previously served as the Jacksonville Jaguars' running backs coach for the past five seasons, was hired to the same position with the Titans, replacing Earnest Byner, who was fired the same day. (Ironically, Byner was later named the new Jaguars' running backs coach ten days later.) On May 14, Ruston Webster, who served as the Seattle Seahawks' vice president of player personnel for the past four seasons, was hired to the same position with the Titans.
On July 27, Kennedy Pola left the Titans and accepted the offensive coordinator position at USC. On July 28, the following changes were made to the Titans' coaching staff: Craig Johnson was moved from quarterbacks coach to the running backs coach vacated by Kennedy Pola and will also serve as assistant head coach. Dowell Loggains, who previously served as quality control of offense, was named the new quarterbacks coach, while offensive assistant Richie Hessman will serve as quality control of offense.
Free agents
Position Player Tag Date signed 2010 team Notes & references ILB Colin Allred ERFA February 17 Titans G Eugene Amano UFA February 17 Titans LS/ILB Ken Amato UFA March 5 Titans DE Dave Ball RFA March 16 Titans DT Tony Brown RFA April 22 Titans OLB Keith Bulluck UFA July 25 Giants TE Alge Crumpler UFA March 24 Patriots CB Nick Harper UFA P Craig Hentrich UFA announced his retirement on February 17 CB Rod Hood UFA FS Kevin Kaesviharn UFA DE Jevon Kearse UFA C Kevin Mawae UFA SS Donnie Nickey UFA February 23 Titans T/G Mike Otto ERFA February 17 Titans TE Bo Scaife RFA March 17 Titans ILB Stephen Tulloch RFA June 14 Titans DE Kyle Vanden Bosch UFA March 5 Lions DT Kevin Vickerson RFA April 13 traded to the Seahawks on April 24The Titans traded its original fourth-round selection (#111 overall), RB LenDale White, DT Kevin Vickerson and the team's original sixth-round selection (#185 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks for its fourth round selection (#104 overall) and sixth-round selection (#176 overall). Tennessee Titans News RB LenDale White RFA April 14 traded to the Seahawks on April 24, releasedon May 28, signed with the Broncos on August 4 Player re-signed by the Titans
2010 draft class
Round Selection Player Position College 1 16 Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech 2The Titans traded their second-round selection to the New England Patriots for its 2009 third-round selection – used to select TE Jared Cook. Tennessee Titans News None 3 77 Damian Williams WR USC 97 Rennie Curran LB Georgia 4 104 Alterraun Verner CB UCLA 5 148 Robert Johnson CB Utah 6 176 Rusty Smith QB Florida Atlantic 207 Myron Rolle SS Florida State 7 222 Marc Mariani WR Montana 241 David Howard DT Brown compensatory selection
Coaching staff 2010 Tennessee Titans staff Front office Founder/owner/chairman/president/CEO – Bud Adams Senior executive vice president/general counsel – Steve Underwood Executive vice president/general manager – Mike Reinfeldt Vice president of player personnel – Ruston Webster Senior director of football administration – Vincent Marino Director of pro scouting – Lake Dawson National supervisor of college scouting – C. O. Brocato
Head coaches Head coach/executive vice president – Jeff Fisher Assistant head coach/running backs – Craig Johnson Assistant head coach/linebackers – Dave McGinnis
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Mike Heimerdinger Quarterbacks/pass game – Dowell Loggains Wide receivers – Fred Graves Tight ends – John Zernhelt Offensive line – Mike Munchak Quality control/offense – Richie Wessman Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Chuck Cecil Defensive line – Jim Washburn Secondary – Marcus Robertson Assistant secondary – Tim Hauck Defensive assistant/quality control – Rayna Stewart
Special teams coaches Special teams – Alan Lowry Assistant special teams – Marty Galbraith
Strength and Conditioning Coaches Assistant head coach/strength and conditioning – Steve Watterson
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule
The Titans preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 14 at Seattle Seahawks L 18–20 0–1 Qwest Field Recap 2 August 23 Arizona Cardinals W 24–10 1–1 LP Field Recap 3 August 28 at Carolina Panthers L 7–15 1–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 4 September 2 New Orleans Saints W 27–24 2–2 LP Field Recap
Regular season Schedule The Titans' regular season schedule was announced on April 20, 2010.
Week Date Opponent Score Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 Oakland Raiders W 38–13 1–0 LP Field Recap 2 September 19 Pittsburgh Steelers L 11–19 1–1 LP Field Recap 3 September 26 at New York Giants W 29–10 2–1 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 4 October 3 Denver Broncos L 20–26 2–2 LP Field Recap 5 October 10 at Dallas Cowboys W 34–27 3–2 Cowboys Stadium Recap 6 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 30–3 4–2 EverBank Field Recap 7 October 24 Philadelphia Eagles W 37–19 5–2 LP Field Recap 8 October 31 at San Diego Chargers L 25–33 5–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 9 Bye 10 November 14 at Miami Dolphins L 17–29 5–4 Sun Life Stadium Recap 11 November 21 Washington Redskins L 16–19 (OT) 5–5 LP Field Recap 12 November 28 at Houston Texans L 0–20 5–6 Reliant Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Jacksonville Jaguars L 6–17 5–7 LP Field Recap 14 Indianapolis Colts L 28–30 5–8 LP Field Recap 15 December 19 Houston Texans W 31–17 6–8 LP Field Recap 16 December 26 at Kansas City Chiefs L 14–34 6–9 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at Indianapolis Colts L 20–23 6–10 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders
The Titans began their season at home against the Oakland Raiders. Tennessee trailed early in the first quarter as Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski made a 34-yard field goal. Tennessee answered as quarterback Vince Young hooked up with wide receiver Nate Washington on a 56-yard touchdown pass, followed by kicker Rob Bironas nailing a 43-yard field goal. The Titans added to their lead in the second quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run from running back Javon Ringer, followed by Chris Johnson's 76-yard touchdown run.
Tennessee continued its dominating day in the third quarter as Johnson got a 4-yard touchdown run. In the fourth quarter, the Titans wrapped up their performance with Young finding tight end Bo Scaife on a 1-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, Oakland ended the game with quarterback Jason Campbell completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Darren McFadden.
With the win, Tennessee began its season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Hoping to maintain their winning streak the Titans played on home ground for an AFC duel with the Steelers. In the first quarter the Titans trailed early when WR Antonio Brown returned a kickoff 89 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. The Titans tried to cut the lead with kicker Rob Bironas nailing a 21-yard field goal. In the 2nd quarter the Titans progressively fell further behind with kicker Jeff Reed hitting a 36 and a 34-yard field goal, followed in the fourth quarter by his 25 and 27-yard field goal to go up 19–3. The Titans tried to tie the game when QB Kerry Collins threw a 2-yard TD pass to WR Nate Washington (With the two-point conversion made), but the Steelers defense prevented any more scoring from the Titans, giving Tennessee the loss.
With the loss, Tennessee fell to 1–1.
Week 3: at New York Giants
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Steelers, the Titans flew to New Meadowlands Stadium for an interconference duel with the New York Giants. In the first quarter, Tennessee took the early lead when kicker Rob Bironas nailed a 48-yard field goal, followed in the second quarter by running back Chris Johnson getting a 1-yard touchdown run. The Giants replied with kicker Lawrence Tynes nailing a 50-yard field goal, followed by running back Ahmad Bradshaw getting a 10-yard touchdown run to tie the game.
In the third quarter, near the Giants endzone, a Chop Block penalty was enforced on Bradshaw into the endzone for a safety. The Titans started to pull away with quarterback Vince Young completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kenny Britt, followed in the fourth quarter by Bironas getting a 22-yard field goal. Finally, Johnson closed out the game with an 8-yard touchdown run.
With the win, Tennessee improved to 2–1.
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
The Titans' fourth game was an AFC duel with the Broncos at home ground. The Titans trailed early in the 2nd quarter as QB Kyle Orton got a 2-yard TD pass to WR Eddie Royal. They replied with QB Vince Young getting an 8-yard TD pass to WR Kenny Britt. The Broncos' kicker Matt Prater made a 36-yard field goal to give Denver a three-point lead, but the Titans replied when kicker Rob Bironas nailed an incredible 55-yard field goal. In the 3rd quarter the Titans trailed slightly when Matt Prater made a 36-yard field goal, but after that, WR Marc Mariani returned the kickoff and ran 98 yards to the endzone for a touchdown, giving the Titans the lead. The lead was narrowed when Prater made a 35-yard field goal, but was increased again when Bironas made a 46-yard field goal. In the 4th quarter Tennessee fell behind when QB Kyle Orton completed a 6-yard TD pass to RB Correll Buckhalter, followed by Prater making another 36-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Titans fell to 2–2.
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Broncos, the Titans flew to Cowboys Stadium for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Dallas Cowboys. Tennessee delivered the opening punch in the first quarter as quarterback Vince Young completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington, followed by kicker Rob Bironas making a 52-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Cowboys answered with kicker David Buehler getting a 51-field goal. In the second quarter, the Titans added to their lead as Young connected with wide receiver Kenny Britt on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Dallas came right back with quarterback Tony Romo completing a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roy Williams.
The Cowboys tied the game in the third quarter as Romo threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Miles Austin, yet Tennessee regained the lead as Bironas booted a 40-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Dallas caught up again as Buehler kicked a 26-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Titans struck back as running back Chris Johnson got a 1-yard touchdown run. However, the Cowboys tied the game again as Romo connected with tight end Jason Witten on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Fortunately, Tennessee came right back as Johnson got another 1-yard touchdown run.
With the win, the Titans improved to 3–2.
Week 6: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Coming off their road win over the Cowboys, the Titans flew to EverBank Field for a Week 6 AFC South duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night. Tennessee delivered the opening strike in the first quarter as quarterback Vince Young found wide receiver Kenny Britt on a 24-yard touchdown pass. In the second quarter, the Titans added onto their lead as quarterback Kerry Collins hooked up with tight end Bo Scaife on a 2-yard touchdown pass, followed by kicker Rob Bironas booting a 26-yard field goal.