One of the biggest positive changes for the Tennessee Titans this year through the first two games has been the improvement on special teams.
That has been directly the result of the Titans’ hiring of John “Bones” Fassel to oversee the special teams units.
It’s no secret that aside from the occasional solid field goal kicker or punter, the Titans special teams units have been non-impactful at best and a major liability at worst.
For instance, this team last blocked a punt when Tim Shaw did it in 2011, and last returned a punt for a touchdown when Darius Reynaud returned two in the same game in 2012. They haven’t found the end zone on a kickoff since Darrius Jennings did in the 2018 season opener.
Special teams disasters of more recent years, such as getting two punts blocked against the Colts in 2023, including one that ended Ryan Stonehouse’s season, and the Keystone Cops approach last year that undermined the entire team are etched in the minds of Titans fans.
But with Fassel at the helm, the Titans’ special teams are suddenly, well, special.
In the season opener against the Denver Broncos, Chimere Dike had a 71-yard kickoff return to set up a Joey Slye field goal. Later, the Titans recovered a muffed punt to give themselves another opportunity in plus territory.
Sunday, the Titans best special teams play – Dike’s 57-yard punt return for a TD – was wiped out by a questionable blindside block penalty. Still, the improvement has been highly noticeable.
Under Fassel, the Titans’ special teams are not only no longer a liability, they have shown a tendency to make game-changing plays in a positive way.
Additionally, Slye already is 8-for-8 on field goal tries in two games, including three from 50 yards and beyond.
So what is the secret to Fassel’s success?
“I try to make them believe that they’re really important to the team, and to honestly provide them certain technical tools to win their one-on-one matchups,” Fassel says. “I think I – and my assistant coach Reyna Stewart, who is fantastic – put a lot of effort into the meetings to keep it interactive. It’s a hard question for me to answer. You might have to ask them that.”
OK, guys what is it?
Punter Johnny Hekker, who is in his second tour of duty under Fassel, having punted for him with the Rams early in his career, offered this explanation.
“I think the special thing about Bones and his system is it’s simple. It’s technique-based,” Hekker says. “Everyone learns the same techniques and you kind of apply them within your skill set of what you need and how you match up with the guy you’re matched up with. It’s all about one-on-one matchups. We don’t do a ton of fancy stuff. You just go out there with the techniques they teach you and try and apply them.
“Guys, when it’s simple, they can play free. We don’t have a big special teams playbook. We have a few things drawn up, but other than that, it’s just line up and play ball.”
Fast and loose as a good thing
Some of the holdovers from last year’s special teams units are seeing a major difference in Fassel’s simplification and streamlining of the playbook.
“I think he’s allowing us to think less. It’s less schematics with him, whereas last year we had way more schemes, things where you have to think a little bit more,” receiver Bryce Oliver says. “Bones just allows us to be football players, just run and hit a little bit. He just has a little more juice and he comes in with energy and makes guys want to play special teams.”
Backup running back Julius Chestnut says Fassel’s energy for the game is also contagious among his players. Fassel often jokes with his players that getting moved up to play on offense or defense after excelling on special teams is a “demotion.”
“He’s just brought a different kind of energy to the team. There was a lot going on, and he brought a different juice to the team. He allows us to be us and allows us to play and just allows us to go out there and compete,” Chestnut says. “You can tell by the energy he brings every day. You just talk to him and you can see his passion for the game and for special teams.”
That passion is what head coach Brian Callahan sees every day on Fassel’s approach.
“He’s one of the most high-energy, positive – he’s the most positive person I’ve ever met. I’m pretty positive, but he’s the most positive human being I’ve every been around. There’s not a bad day that he’s ever had,” Callahan says. “He’s got a great way of relating with the players and putting them in position to help them understand what they need to do to win the rep.
“As far as the hand-to-hand combat, the technique, he does a really, really nice job with the energy of the special teams, in general,” Callahan continues. “Those guys believe in their importance and they understand they can impact games.”
Fassel’s power of positive thinking and teaching has performed an early season miracle with the Titans’ special teams.
Terry McCormick also covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com