:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26411669/20121230_kkt_st3_417.0.jpg)
Let's take a quick look at Roman's history in and out of the NFL:
- 1995-2001: Offensive line assistant, Carolina Panthers
- 2002-2005: Tight ends/Quarterbacks coach, Houston Texans
- 2006-2007, Offensive line assistant, Baltimore Ravens
- 2008, Offensive Coordinator, Holy Spirit High School
- 2009-2010, Offensive Coordinator, Stanford
- 2011-2013, Offensive Coordinator, San Fransisco 49ers
Greg Roman followed Jim Harbaugh from Stanford to the NFL in 2011. What he's done with the 49ers offense is more than comendable.
Roman began his tenure with largely the same offensive cast as the previous year with Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree playing the lead roles. In 2010, the team went 6-10, ranking 24th in yards and points alike. Greg Roman's play calling aided by a better defensive effort took the same group to a 13-3 season, moving the team up to 11th in points while staying relatively stagnant (26th) in yards.
We all know what happened mid season in 2012. Alex Smith sat out with a concussion and lost his starting gig to Colin Kaepernick with the team sitting at 6-2. The two quarterbacks are anything but similar, but Greg Roman shifted seamlessly between the two losing only 2 games under each and returning to the playoffs.
The Titans vision for building their team during the last off season was in the mold of the 49ers. A tough team, with a strong defense combined with a powerful run game and creative play calling in the passing game. They even went hard after the 49ers utility man Delanie Walker in free agency. If you want to continue to build around what Ruston Webster and Mike Munchak has started, Roman has shown the ability to take an existing cast to the next level.
The only draw back to Roman is that the 49ers are the most penalized offense in pre-snap penalties. Their motioning and adjustments constantly cause false starts and delays of game. Is that a lack of discipline issue? If so you could say that's not a trait you want in a head coach.
The stage is already set in Nashville for Roman. Jake Locker could easily be an improvement in Kaepernick's role, and the Titans have better receivers as well. Hopefully the offensive line talent has been put in place and is ready to go for the future. After watching what Roman has done with the 49ers, there's no reason to think he couldn't do the same here. The only question is how he would be at the head coaching position beyond coordinator.
