Titans Coach Mike Vrabel Gives Bizarre Press Conference, Doubles Down on Alternating QB Plan

The Tennessee Titans are facing a difficult situation as a team and in the face of that adversity head coach Mike Vrabel has given some bizarre answers to the media this week.

The Tennessee Titans are 2-4 coming out of their bye week after having just traded a franchise legend while preparing both of their inexperienced quarterbacks to play if their starter is out. This season and this era of Titans football hangs by a thread.

Clearly, Mike Vrabel can feel that pressure. With so many questions about this team's direction, the Titans head coach seems to be growing more defiant when asked for transparency.

After trading away two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard this week, a clear sign that a 2-4 team may be looking to the future, Vrabel decided against acknowledging that reality and instead choose to say the Titans' record did not play a part in trading away Byard.

The idea that the Titans would trade away their leader and captain on defense in the middle of an undefeated season seems to render Vrabel's response down to a flat-out lie or an indictment of Byard's impact on the defense. If the Titans would trade Byard if they were undefeated, because their record wasn't a factor, what does that say?

In that same Tuesday press conference, Vrabel also said he didn't know if splitting reps hurts a quarterback's development because he wasn't a quarterback. Maybe he should only be a linebackers coach then? It was another confusing line in a string of them.

Vrabel also spoke about the quarterback situation more in depth. Ryan Tannehill is expected to be out due to an ankle injury, while Vrabel wouldn't confirm Tannehill's status, he did speak on the potential for his young quarterbacks to play in Will Levis and Malik Willis.

Vrabel said that both the quarterbacks would play. That got interpreted by some as meaning the passers would rotate during the game like they did in the first preseason game. 

However, it always made more logical sense that this was either gamesmanship or Vrabel's way of truthfully answering the question, but in a way that doesn't reveal his true intentions. The Titans could start one quarterback and feature a limited package for the other and technically both played.

The answer was strange and could cause a few eye-rolls, but it at least their was some logical reasoning there. You could jump through the mental hoops needed to see why Vrabel said it.

 What happened at Wednesday's press conference though made concern for Monday's comments seem entirely valid.

On Wednesday morning, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Levis would get the start for the Titans and be the primary quarterback. Vrabel appeared to not buy in to that report. Vrabel said this when asked about Levis.

"I never said that Will was going to be the starter," Vrabel answered defiantly. "Both of them will play if Ryan can't. We will see how Ryan feels. He may do a little bit of work later in practice today. But that's where we are right now."

Vrabel went into more detail when asked about the Titans playing both quarterbacks. Again, it would be logical to have a package for Willis as a runner with Levis as the starter, but Vrabel refused to have a normal plan and even had a strange interaction with the reporter asking the question.

Vrabel: "Focus on the Falcons. We're going to talk about the Falcons. Put your, why are you holding your hands like that?"

Reporter: "Trying to get a question."

Vrabel: "Then ask the question."

Reporter: "You want me to put my hands down to ask a question?"

Vrabel: "No, I'm just saying you look ridiculous. Just ask the question."

Vrabel finally decided to give a legitimate answer and speak on the plan at quarterback after cutting off the question he requested to be asked and being reminded the question did have to do with the Falcons.

"Against a really good defense, we're going to have to run the football, whoever plays quarterback. We'll figure out the game plan as we work through the week. We may run the plays in with them, it could be by series, could be every two series, could have certain things that we like. We'll see where Ryan is, but again I'm excited if Ryan can't play, that we get a look at both of those quarterbacks, we'll need both of them to help us win."

Vrabel decided to double down on the alternating quarterback idea. His comments towards the reporter were even more strange. Vrabel was clearly rattled by a valid and poignant question and chose to deflect to something unimportant rather than be honest. Whether gamesmanship or truth, the way Vrabel is handling it is bizarre.

Vrabel is not only getting visibly annoyed by the questions he's receiving, but he is answering them in a way that creates more drama for his organization and players. Lashing out at reporters and giving perplexing answers is making the Titans' situation look more disparate and without direction.

These are typically moments where Vrabel gets his team ready to play and wins a big game. He surely needs it to cool down the pressure he certainly is feeling, because it has shown this week.

Related Titans stories

• LEVIS REPORTED AS STARTER: The Tennessee Titans will be starting rookie Will Levis against the Atlanta Falcons according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. CLICK HERE
• HOOKER REFLECTS ON BYARD: Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker has played alongside Kevin Byard for the past five years, but that all ended when Byard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. CLICK HERE
• VRABEL ON BYARD TRADE: The Tennessee Titans traded long-time safety Kevin Byard on Monday and on Tuesday head coach Mike Vrabel spoke about the move and his relationship with Byard. CLICK HERE
• RANKING TITANS TRADE PIECES: After the trade of Kevin Byard, the Tennessee Titans could be looking to make more moves. If they continue to sell, here are some players who would make sense as viable options. CLICK HERE
• MOLDEN REPLACING BYARD: The Tennessee Titans were smart to trade Kevin Byard for draft picks, but now they have an open hole at safety that will need to be filled by third-year player Elijah Molden. CLICK HERE
• BYARD TRADE TOUGH & SMART: The Tennessee Titans made the first step in their rebuild on Monday, trading popular veteran safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles. It's hard to say goodbye to such a popular player, but rebuilds are hard and personal. CLICK HERE
• BYARD SAYS GOODBYE: The Tennessee Titans parted ways with a franchise legend when they traded Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. Byard took to social media to give a heartfelt goodbye to the organization and the fans. CLICK HERE
• BYARD TRADED TO EAGLES: The Tennessee Titans have made a move ahead of the trade deadline, sending star safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles for multiple draft picks and veteran safety Terrell Edmunds. CLICK HERE