In Brian Daboll’s return to MetLife Stadium, his offense looked awfully similar to the one he ran as Giants head coach.
Inept.
The Titans nearly went the entire first half without a first down, didn’t score a point until there was 5:35 left in the fourth quarter and fell to the injury-depleted Giants, 12-7, on a rainy and windy day in East Rutherford.
Former No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward struggled most of the afternoon, and threw the game-clinching interception with 17 seconds left as the Titans drove for the potential game-winning score.
A video caught a frustrated Daboll slamming a table in the press box after Jevón Holland’s pick, his third of the season and the first one thrown by Ward in 209 passing attempts.
Daboll is now 0-3 as the Tennessee offensive coordinator, a start that mirrors his year with Big Blue last season before getting fired.
“We had some drops. We had some opportunities to move the ball. We had opportunities to put ourselves in a good position,” Titans coach Robert Saleh said of the slow start offensively. “But from an execution standpoint, whether or not we could have been better with play-calling, we’ll always go back and evaluate, and I’ll have better answers for you guys.”
When Saleh — the former Jets head coach — landed the Titans job, the hiring of Daboll was mostly lauded as a sound choice. Daboll had a strong history as an offensive coordinator with the Bills. But so far, the Titans have managed just 37 points in three games and Ward hasn’t shown much, if any, progress.
“It’s our third game as an offense fully together,” former Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said. “It’s going to take some time. Stay patient. At the end of the day, we’re going to continue to work and continue to get better. I feel like each week we’ve gotten better in whatever aspect it may be.”
Robinson had a productive homecoming. He caught seven passes for 57 yards and the game’s only touchdown. In the offseason, he signed a four-year, $78 million deal with the Titans. He did meet with new Giants coach John Harbaugh.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I felt like I wanted to be there. But at the end of the day, it just didn’t work out and I ended up in Tennessee,” Robinson said. “I love the Giants, I love that organization. They did nothing but treated me right and treated me well. I have nothing but love for all of those guys.”
The Jets and the Giants probably love the Titans, too. Two of their three wins have come against their former coaches, Daboll and Saleh.
