Organization mainstay Munchak looking to give Titans jolt

NASHVILLE -- The Titans turned to one of their own on Monday to lead the franchise out of a stormy patch the past month that saw it part with its coach of the past 16-plus seasons, its quarterback and four assistant coaches.
Mike Munchak, 50, appears to be the kind of calm in the storm this franchise needs. He has spent his entire adult life as part of Bud Adams' organization, first as a Hall of Fame guard from 1982-93 then as an assistant coach for the past 17 seasons.

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"For 30 years of service I was expecting a gold watch or something," Munchak said. "I feel like I hit the jackpot standing here as the next head coach of the Tennessee Titans. It's unbelievable for me."
It might take a while before the franchise knows if it has struck gold with Munchak. With his promotion there are five openings on the staff: defensive coordinator, defensive line, offensive line, running backs and wide receivers. There also is the small matter of finding a quarterback. The Titans have said they will trade or release Vince Young, and Kerry Collins is a free agent. The only quarterback under contract is Rusty Smith, a sixth-round pick last year.
"A lot of people are asking about my philosophy and my vision," Munchak said. "My philosophy is simple: No matter what your job, be a pro. Know what to do and do it. No excuses and no whining, just do it. I stressed that every year with the offensive line [which he coached for the past 14 years].
"My vision is someday presenting the Lombardi Trophy to Mr. Adams and a ring to everybody in this organization."
Munchak was one of four coaches to interview to replace Jeff Fisher, who had been the longest-tenured coach in the NFL. The Titans also talked to offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and two outside candidates, Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
But it appeared to be Munchak's job to lose from day one. He long has been a favorite of Adams.

Mike Munchak has long been a favorite of Titans owner Bud Adams. (US Presswire)

"I can still remember when we drafted him as a player and what a fantastic player he was," Adams said from his office in Houston. "At every level he has been a hard worker and he has only known success and how to achieve success. He made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has the respect of the people he played with and those who played for him. He's a smart football man and leader who will guide us again into the playoffs. I'm very excited to see what he can do."
Munchak said on a couple of occasions during his 45-minute news conference that he didn't believe many people knew him well, even the front office of the Titans.
"They don't know me in this way [as a head coach]," Munchak said. "They've seen me coach, but they were wondering, 'Does he want the job? What's his mindset?' We had a long interview and talked about a lot of things we'd never discussed before."
The Titans come off a 6-10 season in which they stumbled badly in the second half, losing eight of their final nine. Quarterback Vince Young had a falling out with Fisher after a 19-16 overtime loss to the Redskins on Nov. 21, and because of a thumb injury that required surgery never took another snap. His profanity-laced tirade at Fisher in the locker room sealed his fate with the organization, which announced on Jan. 5 that it would seek to trade Young or release him.
At that time Adams said he was reviewing Fisher's status. Two days later the owner announced that Fisher would return in 2011, but without a new contract, making him a lame duck. That led to some coaching defections, including that of defensive line coach Jim Washburn, one of the best position coaches in the league. He took the same position with the Eagles.
Two weeks later Fisher fired defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil, whose contract he had extended during the season. The shocker came on Jan. 28, when the Titans announced they were parting ways with Fisher after all.
Into this morass steps Munchak, who becomes one of only three current NFL head coaches with no previous experience as a head coach or coordinator at any level. The others are Philadelphia's Andy Reid and Baltimore's John Harbaugh, who both led their teams to the playoffs this season.
"I don't think I'm lacking anything," Munchak said. "Experience? I'll learn. The place I'm head coach I know very well. Things won't be the same. There are things I think I can act on immediately that need to be changed.
"I coordinated the run game and the protections. ... I'll learn as I go and I have people out there I can turn to."
Left tackle Michael Roos, a Pro Bowler under Munchak, believes the Titans made the right choice.

Mike Munchak was a Hall-of-Fame guard with the Houston Oilers from 1982-93. (Getty Images)

"He is an intense guy, but he is not a screamer or yeller," Roos said. "He just gets the most out of his players because you want to do well for him. That is the kind of respect that he commands, and he gets it. To be able to bring that to the head coaching position, I think it will trickle down to the entire team and bring focus and hard work. That is the kind of work ethic he demands."
Fisher was among the people Munchak thanked for getting him to this point in his career, but he also is eager to differentiate himself from the only man to lead this franchise since it moved to Tennessee.
"Whenever a team makes a change like this it's difficult for everybody," Munchak said. "There's a lot of uncertainty throughout the organization. We've been spoiled here; it's our first coaching change in 16 years. ... I've been here. I know what we're doing well and what we need to change. I promise I'll do what it takes to get us back on the winning track."
Munchak was asked if he felt discipline or a lack thereof was a problem for the Titans last season. The team ranked fourth in penalties and third in penalty yards last season.
"Players want discipline," Munchak said. "They want consistency. They want parameters. They want to see someone held accountable when they do something wrong.
"I've been here 30 years. I've seen all different kinds of guys and ultimately that's what they want. They may cry about it, they may say a few things about it, but in the back of their mind they're watching. They wanna see what you do about it."
Munchak said he hopes to complete his staff by the time the NFL combine starts on Feb. 23. He wouldn't commit to saying anyone on the current staff was assured of staying on board, only that fans would begin to get a sense of what type of head coach he'll be by the hires he makes.
"I'm gonna be my own man," Munchak said. "I'll be judged on what I do and not what was done before me. I'm not looking to blame anybody for what was left for me. I think it's a great opportunity here with what we have and I think I'm the guy to pick up the pieces and hopefully get us going in the right direction."