Titans Running Backs Coach Earnest Byner Out, Kennedy Pola Hired
The Titans revealed today that running backs coach Earnest Byner is no longer with the team, and he has been replaced Kennedy Pola. Byner was apparently fired over the weekend after two years with the team. This is surprising news, considering that the running game was the one of the only things that could be counted on this year. This probably means that the firing is due to a personality conflict rather than a result of his coaching. “I want to thank Earnest for his time with us and his contributions. I also want to wish him well in his future endeavors,” Jeff Fisher said.
His replacement has spent the last five years as running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the two years prior to that he had a stint with the Cleveland Browns. The Jaguars had the third most rushing yards in the NFL during the time he was coaching in Jacksonville.Pola was a fullback for USC two years after Jeff Fisher left the Trojans. “Kennedy is fine coach and I am very much looking forward to working with him to see the contributions that he can add to our staff,” said Titans head coach Jeff Fisher. “He did a great job with the running backs down in Jacksonville and he had an instrumental role in their run game.”
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coaching doesnt matter, especially a Runningbacks coach when you have CJ. Most useless coaching spot EVER.
T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair
oh yes. ESSENTIAL
T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair
by T--Rac's Posse on Jan 26, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
Sounds like
If we are firing position coaches, what’s up with secondary coaching and wide receiver coaching?
Earnest was like,
“What? Cj ran for 2,000.”
Fish was like, “Yeah, we were kinda hoping to get the record for most yards. Yeah, sorry.”
"And with the 15th pick, the Tennessee Titans select..."
by Drubaru on Jan 25, 2010 5:43 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
sense
this move makes none. the running game was the bright spot if im not mistaken.
http://draftdayencyclopedia.wordpress.com/
spread the word please!
We are doomed....
But Pola said he wanna be an OC somewhere; so I’M a bit frustated about this…
By the way Chris Johnson will be much-much-much better under Pola-that is 100%
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 25, 2010 6:48 PM CST reply actions
CJ can't get 100% better
The universe would explode.
If it pisses off Jaguar fans, though, the move can’t be all bad. Seriously, the jags have a long history of good running backs, so I’m not too concerned about the firing. Just seems like their are other areas of the Titans game that need attention/changes much much much more than the running game…
Can't read too much into this yet
because we have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. maybe this is a personality thing, or maybe it’s indicative of a change in the scheme.
I will say though, how Byner gets released and Fred Graves still has a job is beyond me.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
And Fred Graves still draws a paycheck
Byner must have gone fishin’ and lied about it.
Official MCM Hater!
Retire #9!
Byner had Chris Johnson and Lendale White
Fred Graves best player before this year was Justin Gage. Something tells me coaching isn’t everything here.
His best player was Kenny Britt
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
Guess I should learn to read
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
Coaching is SOMETHING though.
I mean, do you really think Fred Graves would have turned guys like Julian Edelman, Austin Collie, or Pierre Garcon into studs? A good coaching staff can identify a guy that fits their system, and coach them up.
Peyton did that
/Posse
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
it's true though
per Clay Travis:
Putting it another way, Manning has been in the NFL now for 12 complete seasons. How many receivers have left the Colts and gone on to perform better for another quarterback?
Not a single one.
And this isn’t just an NFL phenomenon, Manning’s top two receivers with the University of Tennessee were Marcus Nash and Joey Kent.
Marcus Nash was a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos. In four NFL seasons, before being booted from the league, he had four career catches.
As for Joey Kent, after being drafted 46th overall, in the mid-second round by the Tennessee Titans, Kent also played four NFL seasons. He had 13 career catches.
That pisses me off, but it’s undeniable after this season.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
That's pretty crazy
It makes you wonder if Marvin Harrison would be a HoFer if he had played with the Miami Dolphins this past decade instead of the Colts
T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair
by T--Rac's Posse on Jan 26, 2010 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
While we're on the topic.
I haven’t forgotten about our “Eric Mangini study”, August. Work has been a little busy, and I’m finding this a little more difficult/in depth than anticipated.
Booyah!!
If you would’ve bet, you would’ve lost…sorry dude.
by groovymountain on Jan 28, 2010 5:30 PM CST up reply actions
I DONT UNDERSTAND!
Wide receiver coach must go. Running backs coach did not do a bad job. How about somebody that teaches our team to catch! Or our secondary to cover!
Meh.
Ain't no time for hesitatin'
All you got to do is groove
by BonzosMontreaux on Jan 25, 2010 7:37 PM CST reply actions
Pola's at the Senior Bowl wearing Jaguars gear
Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.
by Aditya T (smashville) on Jan 25, 2010 7:41 PM CST reply actions
they dont have stores in Mobile
Had to wear what he brought
T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair
by T--Rac's Posse on Jan 25, 2010 8:04 PM CST up reply actions
No but i think they have the wheel now, right?
Ain't no time for hesitatin'
All you got to do is groove
by BonzosMontreaux on Jan 25, 2010 8:21 PM CST up reply actions
I wonder if there is a guy that coaches that know as much about defense as Peyton does offense?
Media - "How does it feel to be that fast?"
CJ - "It feels real good."
by nathangouge on Jan 25, 2010 9:20 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Also,
There is nothing we can do to CJ but we can help the other backs like Ringer get better.
Media - "How does it feel to be that fast?"
CJ - "It feels real good."
by nathangouge on Jan 25, 2010 9:22 PM CST via mobile reply actions
CJ is a great back, but he was a great back before he got here.
Meanwhile, LenDale has regressed, Javon Ringer did NOTHING after the preseason, Chris Henry went nowhere, and bottom line, even CJ practically leads the League in negative plays from scrimmage. So yes, there is DEFINITE room for improvement here.
CJ is a talent, for sure, but what about the rest? And what about those times when CJ is out? I mean, the idea that there’s not a better RBs coach out there is ludicrous. Jax’s running game has been very good for a very long time with a variety of backs.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
How has LenDale regressed?
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
Good Point.
I actually thought Lendale showed some flashes of being better this year. CJ was just too good to keep on the bench, even in limited carries.
I'm not gonna quote statistics here,
but anecdotally, I remember multiple times when he was stuffed in short-yardage situations.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
That was also the case last year
LenDale wasn’t as “successful” as we all remember him being last year.
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
Then I think he's never been as successful with Byner as he was with Sherman Smith.
That said, after reading that PK piece, I tend to agree that Fisher just got a guy he liked better, and indeed, I think Pola’s done one Hell of a job with Jax’s running game. I agree that it’s a surprising move, but y’know, I’m not gonna knock it until I see a little bit about how it plays out.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
This is comment #2000 on MCM for me
I thought, why not make it on a post that has to deal with the other guy who got 2000?
Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.
by Aditya T (smashville) on Jan 26, 2010 10:49 PM CST reply actions

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