NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he began evaluating his teams 2007 offense shortly after the season ended, and decided it was time to make a change.
When Fisher decided to fire offensive coordinator Norm Chow after three seasons, he didn’t hesitate to reach back into the Titans past and hire Mike Heimerdinger as his replacement.
Heimerdinger, who served in that capacity for the Titans from 2000-04, was reintroduced as offensive coordinator on a conference call Friday morning. Heimerdinger officially accepted the job Thursday, just 48 hours after Chow was fired.
“It happened quickly for this reason,” Fisher said. “Mike and I are familiar with one another. I spent five years with one another here, and he left on very good terms. We’ve maintained a friendship.
“I just felt it was an opportunity to take advantage of change, but also an opportunity to get to me the best play-caller I’ve ever been around back in the building.”
Heimerdinger, 55, will be asked to repeat much of what he did the first time around when he helped transform Steve McNair into a co-Most Valuable Player in 2003, sharing the honor with Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning.
The Titans are hoping Heimerdinger can do the same thing for Vince Young, who struggled with nine touchdown passes and 17 interceptions this season after being named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2006.
Even Heimerdinger, who worked with Jay Cutler in Denver the past two seasons, admits he will have to show some patience with Tennessee’s young quarterback.
“I think we can go forward from what Norm has done with him and the offensive staff. You’ve got to be patient, and I’m well known for my patience, so we’ll be OK,” Heimerdinger joked.
“A young guy, if he wants to work at it and stay consistent in what you ask him to do, the only thing he can do is get better,” he said.
Fisher indicated that he has not spoken to Young yet about the change from Chow to Heimerdinger, as the quarterback is on vacation.
Heimerdinger’s first mission when he returns to Nashville next week will be to begin evaluating the offensive personnel. He will rely on the offensive coaching staff, which remains intact from his first go-around except for wide receivers coach Fred Graves.
“I’ll get back in there next week and sit down and start watching some film,” Heimerdinger said. “I worked with everybody on the offensive staff before except for the wide receivers coach. Those guys know what the personnel is and see what they’ve done scheme-wise.”
The Titans are expected to explore free agent and draft options as they attempt to upgrade their offensive personnel.
