NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An updated list of coaches I think the Tennessee Titans should examine closely when they begin to sift through the market.

Last time through, I looked at all offensive coordinators, some who have really plummeted since the Titans fired Ken Whisenhunt and installed Mike Mularkey as the interim coach.

The list does not include former Eagles coach Chip Kelly. I remain heavy on offense, as interim CEO and president Steve Underwood said when Whisenhunt was fired that his suggestion to ownership would be an offensive coach for quarterback Marcus Mariota.

But the Titans shouldn’t cut the field in half, so I didn’t.

Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator, New England Patriots: The more people I speak with about him, the more I think he’s got the potential to follow a "Belichickian" course with a much better showing in his second head coaching job. He has a great capacity for finding ways to make things work depending on what’s available to him and this week's opponent. But he can be picky, and is likely to want a good quarterback situation (which the Titans have) and a solid ownership (which the Titans don’t have). There is a risk that he brings more of what failed him in Denver.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels might be ready to leave the Bill Belichick nest again, learning from mistakes made during his two seasons in Denver. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals: He’s worked with a wide variety of quality people in a wide variety of situations, and led the 2011 Raiders to an 8-8 record as head coach. I think he has a knack for relating to players and his energy is appealing. He can be brash and bold, and it's weird that those are largely viewed as great qualities, but some try to tab them as negatives for him. He has said he knows he has to pick his words better than he did in a news conference after his last game with the Raiders that hurt him.

Dirk Koetter, offensive coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs are currently seventh in overall offense. If they hold that spot, Koetter will become the first coordinator to run three different offenses and finish in the NFL’s top 10. He also did it in Jacksonville and Atlanta. He’s had a great influence on Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston. He’s a pretty low-key personality. Has college head-coaching experience at Boise State and Arizona State, but has had 15 years in the NFL to consider how he’s do it at this level.

Adam Gase, offensive coordinator, Chicago Bears: During his time with the Denver Broncos, many wondered how much he was a product of Peyton Manning. But his first season in Chicago has helped eliminate that feeling, as he’s done great work to get Jay Cutler back on a good track. Largely viewed as an up-and-comer and expected to get his first head coaching job in the coming weeks.

Mark Dantonio, head coach, Michigan State: He doesn’t seem like a guy craving a try at the pro level after 36 seasons in college, and he’s 59. But the Titans should make sure he couldn’t be tempted because he’s an excellent motivator and talent evaluator. The Spartans play in a College Football Playoff semifinal on Thursday. He’s the first coach in Big Ten history to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span. At Cincinnati and Michigan State, he’s a combined 63-31. A defensive coach, he’d need a good offensive staff for Mariota.

David Shaw, head coach, Stanford: Runs a pro-style scheme for the Cardinal, which is now a rarity in college. His camp has made it clear in the past that he’s not leaving Stanford. But at some point he could change his mind, and the Titans would be wise to investigate. He’s a laid-back players' coach who can handle people and build relationships. Shaw has NFL experience and connections from nine years spent with the Eagles, the Raiders and the Ravens, which could be key for staff assembly.

Brian Kelly, head coach, Notre Dame: An offensive whiz who likes to get his quarterbacks moving around, but wants them throwing first. That could be great with Mariota. He’s 55-22 with the Fighting Irish. And he could be interested in having Dick LeBeau stick around to run the defense. Kelly has some Nick Saban/Jim Harbaugh personality traits that might not work with millionaires, as opposed to teenagers. He has no NFL experience.

Mike Shula, offensive coordinator, Carolina Panthers: He’s done great work developing Cam Newton for the Panthers, and he did good work in previous stops with much different quarterbacks, such as Jay Fiedler and David Garrard. In four seasons as head coach at Alabama, he was 26-23.

Mike Smith, former Atlanta Falcons head coach: Smith is out of the league this year after he was fired by Atlanta following a really bad ending. But his body of work as a head coach is hard to match among available candidates: a seven-season, 66-46 regular-season record with four playoff appearances. He’s a defensive guy who should be able to assemble a good staff, including a coordinator who could continue Mariota’s development. If Smith resurfaces, he needs to have big answers about time-management issues.

Kyle Shanahan, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator: Shanahan can incorporate a balanced offensive attack, using an outside zone-running scheme to help set up play-action passes. Perhaps that scheme could finally get the Titans running effectively again. He got Kirk Cousins on course in Washington and though he, the Falcons and Ryan have had an up-and-down season, Shanahan is regarded as one of the NFL’s bright young minds for quarterbacks.