NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans hired Terry Robiskie as the team’s offensive coordinator on Wednesday, and veteran receiver Harry Douglas has already heard from many of his curious teammates.
Douglas, who played seven seasons under Robiskie with the Falcons, has also chatted with many of his former teammates in Atlanta, including receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White, since the veteran coach was first linked to the Titans.
"I've been talking to those guys the last few days, and (Falcons quarterback) Matt (Ryan), too. Trust me, they are going to really, really, really miss coach Robiskie,'' Douglas said. "I've had a lot of people in Atlanta calling me, telling me: You stole him away. I'm like, we didn't steal him, but I'm happy to have him, I'll tell you that."
Robiskie brings 34 years of NFL coaching experience to the Titans, including six seasons as an offensive coordinator. He's spent the last eight seasons as receivers coach for the Falcons. Robiskie worked under Titans head coach Mike Mularkey when he served as offensive coordinator in Atlanta, and he also worked with him in Miami.
Robiskie will call the offensive plays in Tennessee. The Titans finished 30th in the NFL on offense during a 3-13 season in 2015.
"No.1, I know we are going to be a tough football team with these guys,'' Douglas said of Mularkey and Robiskie. "We are going to run the football, we are going to be able to pass the football, but the main thing is we are just going to be efficient, and do things that fit the strengths of the players.
"The way those guys operate, they demand excellence. They are not cool with being mediocre; that doesn't fly with those guys. They know how to push their players to get the best of their players. I think it's a great move, it's the right move."
Jason Michael, who served as offensive coordinator for the Titans the past two seasons, will be the team's quarterbacks coach this fall. Shawn Jefferson, the team's receivers coach the past three seasons, has been hired by the Miami Dolphins.
Douglas, who had a 1,000-yard season under Mularkey and Robiskie in Atlanta in 2013, said the team's young players, including quarterback Marcus Mariota and receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, will benefit from Robiskie's presence.
"He is a great guy and he makes the game of football easy for young guys,'' Douglas said of Robiskie. "When I came in as a rookie, he made the game of football so much more fun for me, and he makes it where you can just play the game. And the same with Julio. And he helped Roddy get on track. He'll be good for (Marcus)."
Overall, Douglas said Robiskie will be good for the entire team.
"First of all, I love him – football-wise, off-the-field wise, everything that has to do with life and the game of football, he is a perfect example,'' Douglas said. "He is so well-connected, and so knowledgeable about football. In Atlanta, he would literally stay at the complex all night to try and get us a tip on DBs, or things we could do to get an advantage. And he was a receivers coach then.
"I know he loves the game of football, and he loves players. Now he loves tough players, and he doesn't take any b.s. But he is a great guy and I think he's going to do a great job.
"He demands so much out of his players, and he's going to help make us better."
