Not even in a preseason game https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Muhammad-Wilkerson-Jersey , experience at least his predecessor had a year ago.So the Tennessee Titans' new offensive coordinator tests himself calling plays when watching TV copies of old games and at each step of the offseason program.That's the approach he'll follow through training camp and the preseason all building up to the season opener Sept. 8 in Cleveland."So we'll see how that is after Week 1," Smith said Thursday.Smith replaces Matt LaFleur, hired in January as the Packers' new head coach. That hiring owed more to LaFleur's experience as a coordinator with the Rams and coach Sean McVay than production with the Titans, who were one of the NFL's worst offenses in 2018.Yes, Tennessee ranked seventh in the league running the ball with Derrick Henry piling up 625 of his 1,059 yards in December. But the Titans were 29th throwing the ball, and Mariota managed only 11 touchdown passes with eight interceptions. Only five teams scored fewer points than Tennessee's 310 — an average of just 19.4 points per game.Vrabel promoted Smith from tight ends coach to coordinator, a coach who had been with this franchise the past eight years working for four different head coaches. Smith also spent two years with Washington with first Joe Gibbs, then Jim Zorn. This is his first time as an offensive coordinator for the man who played offensive line at North Carolina.So Smith said he studies TV copies of games for situations, including the end of a half or games for a better feel than a coach's game film showing all 22 personnel on the field. He also hits pause to make his own calls. Yes, he knows there's no pressure watching on a screen or live on the practice field.Vrabel used a similar approach a year ago preparing for his debut as head coach DeShone Kizer Jersey , watching TV copies of games to test what he might do. He's working closely with Smith this offseason, the same way he is with Dean Pees who is 69 and has been to two Super Bowls with two different teams as a defensive coordinator."If I do it with Dean, there's probably a pretty good chance that I would do it with Arthur and every one of our coaches," Vrabel said. "Just try to make sure that we're all on the same page."Easing Smith's transition is Mariota, the quarterback who has been with Smith the past four seasons through coach Ken Whisenhunt, coach Mike Mularkey and his offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and now Vrabel."He makes it easy for us to go in there and to talk and to communicate what we like, what we don't like and I think even out here ... he's done a great job of pushing the envelope with our guys and doing his best to get the most out of everyone," Mariota said of Smith.Henry certainly approves."I love Arthur," Henry said.The Titans are keeping the same offense as last season, meaning formations and the phrases for motions remain unchanged. Smith made it very clear this offense will have some changes as he tweaks or adds plays from other schemes."I'm not above stealing a great idea ...," Smith said. "But you're just sitting here saying Tramon Williams Color Rush Jersey , 'What is somebody doing that is a good idea? Does it fit what we're doing? Does it fit some of our players?' And we're always looking at that as long as they give me the opportunity to be in this role."NOTES: Pees spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since deciding to return for another season. Pees dismissed any worries about his health, saying he was fine. Pees missed a loss at Indianapolis Nov. 18 when taken to a hospital, and Pees said he had an issue with a nerve in the back of his head causing symptoms similar to a stroke. ... The Titans announced after practice that they have agreed to terms with guard Nate Davis, their third-round draft pick out of Charlotte. Receiver A.J. Brown out of Mississippi, taken in the second round, is the lone remaining unsigned draft pick.Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Matt LaFleur is stepping into an interesting situation in his first gig as a head coach.The new Green Bay Packers boss (well, not official as we write this, but soon enough), inherits one of the best quarterbacks in the game (when healthy) in Aaron Rodgers, a Pro Bowl receiver in Davante Adams and a young, up-and-coming defense.More Packers coverage from FOX Sports WisconsinPackers post-Super Bowl 2019 mock draft roundupGreen Bay Packers 2019 impending free agents primerAaron Rodgers' offseason to feature golf https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Marcedes-Lewis-Jersey , not knee surgeryPhotos of the Week: 1/27/19 – 2/2/19Top Tweets: Wisconsin athletes survive 2019 polar vortexBut also a Packers team which has missed the postseason the past two seasons and fan base hungry for a return and not thrilled at the prospect of a third straight year without a rooting interest in the playoffs (that is, beyond rooting against Chicago or Minnesota).To do so, LaFleur will be going against Packers history.No first-year Green Bay head coach has led the team to the playoffs in his initial year at the helm. As in ever. Not Curly Lambeau. Not Vince Lombardi. Not Mike Holmgren. No one.Interestingly, only five had a better record in his first season with the Packers than the previous season, and two of those just meant getting three and four wins that initial year. However, each of the past two Green Bay head coaches did improve the team's record in his first year.PACKERS HEAD COACHES, FIRST YEARCOACHYEARPREV1ST YROVERALLPLAYOFFSCurly Lambeau1921n/a3-2-1209-104-218*Gene Ronzani19502-103-914-31-10Lisle Blackbourn19542-9-14-817-310Ray McLean19584-81-10-11-10-10Vince Lombardi19591-10-17-589-29-46Phil Bengston19689-4-16-7-120-21-10Dan Devine19716-84-8-225-27-41Bart Starr19756-84-1052-76-31Forrest Gregg19848-88-825-37-10Lindy Infante19885-9-14-1224-400Mike Holmgren19929-79-775-376Ray Rhodes199911-58-88-80Mike Sherman20008-89-757-394Mike McCarthy20064-128-8125-77-29* – Includes championships won before there was a playoff systemOf course, none of this means LaFleur can't lead the Packers to the playoffs in 2019. A look around at the current NFL coaches shows that while it's not common for a first-year head coach to lead his team to the postseason, it isn't like it's never happened.Two coaches who were in their first year this season led their team to the playoffs. The same in 2017. Others have led their team to the playoffs in subsequent seasons (probably one reason they are still head coaches in the NFL; we aren't including those fired after the 2018 season).Keep in mind that, of course, circumstances can help or hurt a first-year coach. For example https://www.thepackersfanshop.com , Drew Brees joined the Saints in 2006 and Andrew Luck was healthy in 2018 after missing all of the previous season, while on the flip side Jon Gruden and the Raiders dealt away some key players this year.But — and good news here, Packers fans — generally speaking teams improved in the first year under the active head coaches. OK, not Bill Belichick, but we think things have still turned out pretty well for New England.CURRENT NFL HEAD COACHES, FIRST YEAR WITH TEAMCOACHTEAMYEARPREV1ST YRBill BelichickPatriots20009-7*8-8Sean PaytonSaints20063-1310-6*Mike TomlinSteelers20078-810-6*John HarbaughRavens20085-1111-5*Pete CarrollSeahawks20105-117-9Jason Garrett**Cowboys20116-108-8Ron RiveraPanthers20112-146-10Andy ReidChiefs20132-1411-5*Bll O'BrienTexans20142-149-7Jay GrudenRedskins20143-134-12Mike ZimmerVikings20145-10-17-9Dan QuinnFalcons20156-108-8Doug PedersonEagles20167-97-9Sean McDermottBills20177-99-7*Doug Marrone***Jaguars20173-1310-6*Anthony LynnChargers20175-119-7Sean McVayRams20174-1211-5*Kyle Shanahan49ers20172-146-10Frank ReichColts20184-1210-6*Mike VrabelTitans20189-7*9-7Jon GrudenRaiders20186-104-12Pat ShurmurGiants20183-135-11Matt NagyBears20185-1112-4*Matt PatriciaLions20189-76-10* — Made playoffs** — Garrett took over as interim coach midway through the 2010 season and went 5-3. He had the interim tag taken away after the season.*** — Marrone took over in the final two games of the 2016 season and went 1-1. He had the interim tag taken away after the season.