When “exotic smashmouth” became a thing, it was as a joke. The words uttered by new Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey to describe how he wanted his offense to run was taken by media members and turned into a bit of a laughingstock.
Following a year in which the Titans ranked third as a team in total rushing yards, fourth in yards per carry and 10th in rushing touchdowns, the media was no longer laughing at the Titans. They sported arguably the best offensive line in the league, a unit which blocked for two running backs that ripped off chunk gains on the ground often.