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Despite misgivings from his coaches, Titans owner Bud Adam lobbied hard for the Titans to spend the third overall pick in the 2006 Draft on Vince Young, so it should probably not be a huge shock that Adams would like to see Vince Young get another chance to start at some point in this lost season for Tennessee.
Except he would like that chance to come right now.
That's probably more meddling from ownership than most coaches would prefer, and while Jeff Fisher hasn't entirely acquiesced to Adams' demands, he looks to be warming to the idea. Unlike previous weeks, he wasn't decidedly in Kerry Collins' corner when talking with the media, preferring a noncommittal approach.
Obviously at this point, there's not a lot riding on whether or not Vince Young excels, but he might actually work better for the Titans this season. Their defense having taken a huge step back and their receivers still unable to be counted on to make even routine catches, the Titans need to play ball control offense. Collins is easily the better passer of the two, but Young enables them to do more dynamic things with the run game, which plays to the team's remaining strength.
Still, that makes them little more than a ersatz version of what the Dolphins were with Chad Pennington - a team that has to grind out a lead with long drives and never fall behind in a game. Suffer a two-score deficit in the second half and most likely, they're done for. But with Young eating up $14.2 million in salary next year, even in what will likely be an uncapped year, the Titans would probably want to bump up his trade value or get a better idea of his worth before absorbing that hit.
What will it take for Young to justify the Titans keeping him on? Most likely a winning record as a starter and a newfound ability to reduce turnovers. Granted, he went 18-11 as a starter even while throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, but it's clear that for any offensive system to work given his skill set, that cannot continue. Most likely, however, this will probably be the last hurrah before Young joins Matt Leinart on the list of hyped QB busts taken before Jay Cutler in the '06 draft.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
6 comments
Comments
With this season lost and Collins clearly not the quarterback of the future in Tennessee I see starting VY as a no brainer. They have to establish exactly what they have with Young before they can start moving forward again. May be they manage to go 5-5 the rest of the way of they stay with Collins, but 4-6 if they go with Young. But who cares?!? They have to look at the longer term.
by tedchinook on Oct 27, 2009 1:13 PM EDT reply actions
The owners must have all watched "The Bronx is Burning" with Jerry Jones and George Steinbrenner. Next up: Kraft orders Belichick to host a special on the Seven Wonders of London. I don’t think so.
by Radatz on Oct 27, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions
KY, JeMArcus Russel, Jason Campbell, Trent Edwards. All NOT NFL qb’s.
by jeevies on Oct 27, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions
Ya, Its always the QB fault for the D giving up points. I hate this in the NFL. QB takes too much credit for a team when they win and all the heat when this thing happens. This team has not shown any fail in VY so why all of a sudden is everyone jumping on this wagon.. And sorry, all you that bust out all of his college accolades. THEY MEAN NOTHING! Stick with Collins.
by thethreestooges on Oct 27, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions
I can see that this site still has idiots writing articles and idiots commenting. They are paying him a boat load of money they might as well play him. And why does everybody seem to downplay the fact that he has a winning record as a starter? I would take Vince over Jay Cutler the way he is playing right now. This writer is such an idiot.
by doctordemento on Oct 28, 2009 2:11 AM EDT reply actions
It doesn’t matter who starts at QB, as the offense isn’t the real problem in Tennessee. The real problem is the defense cannot stop anyone in both the running and passing game. Until you get a few defensive stops, and quit relying on the offense to score with every possession, you are going to continue to write this article.
As for playing Young, I agree it is time. He will add a dimension to the offense that may open up the passing game with his running ability. The biggest issue is they have needed a "Go To" receiver for the last couple of years, and haven’t drafted or signed anyone to fill that role (although Britt may, he is no where near that now). You can blame injuries and free agency losses ect, but the bottom line is management hasn’t addressed a single need in the last two years.
by bresh36 on Oct 28, 2009 7:32 AM EDT reply actions
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