Unconventional QB has Titans on a late-season playoff push. Matt Bowen
What do we make of Vince Young and the Titans right now?
Are they really going to continue this run, make a late season push and actually find themselves playing on wild-card weekend?
Actually, it isn’t that far of a stretch. Surely not when you have Chris Johnson in the backfield (whom I could make a case for as the league’s best running back), a defense that is getting to the quarterback and stopping the run, and a coach in Jeff Fisher who seems to amaze us every year with his ability to handle adversity when it surrounds his team.
But, where does V.Y. fit in?
The reason I ask is because of the simple fact that I was wrong about him. I was very stern in my opinion this offseason that Kerry Collins was the right choice for this team at the quarterback position, but these last four weeks have changed my mind when it comes to Young—because it goes against everything that is considered conventional football in the NFL.
The problem with quarterbacks at this level when it comes to analysis is that we always want to compare them to the Tom Brady’s, the Peyton Manning’s and the Carson Palmer’s—conventional drop-back NFL quarterbacks who plant on that fifth step and throw the ball into tight windows or down the field.
But, Young just isn’t that. He is a “wild card” of sorts when it comes to the position. Think about it. Last night in the Titans’ 20-17 win over the Texans (with help from Michael Lombardi’s favorite kicker, Kris Brown), Tennessee actually ran the triple option. Yes, the same play you see at your local high school or at the Naval Academy or Georgia Tech.
It is forbidden football at this level because of the quarterback position, but Young changes that. He is an athlete playing QB, and just like we have grown accustomed to when it comes to the Dolphins, there is a place for creative football at the NFL level if you have the personnel and the guts to run it as a coach.
I will agree that the NFL is generic when it comes to offense, and that is why schools such as USC are always thought of first when it comes to QBs. They run a pro-set offense, and the scouts drool over their prospects because they too want the next Carson Palmer—6-5 with a pro arm to throw the deep out and the deep comeback with ease; not a side-arm release like we see with V.Y.
But, as we are seeing, there is a place for the Vince Young’s of the football world. Movement passes, the option, the QB sweep, the QB draw. They work just as they do at the high school and college level when you have that type of QB under center, like the next in line, Florida’s Tim Tebow.
Yes, Vince Young will most likely never be mentioned in the same discussion with Peyton or Brady, and he will most likely never throw for 300-plus yards in back-to-back weeks or have the stats that Pro Bowl voters love to see, but he is the right fit at this moment for the Titans.
Young is also leading the Titans back into the playoff discussion because he doesn’t have to drop back to five yards and throw the ball 65 yards downfield to win.
No, instead, V.Y., Chris Johnson and Fisher are doing it their own way—and there isn’t a team in this league who wants to play them right now.
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Check out the Tennessee Titans team page at the NFP.
I, as a diehard Titans fan, am eating crow as well. And gladly. Last night it wasn't just the plays he made, it was the command of the offense. Twice he made audibles. Both times were 15+ yard completions. It was impressive.
I think he can succeed in the NFL. He will need a good, creative coaching staff, a good running game, and to not turn the ball over. So far, with all 3 of those he is 4-0 since starting again. If he keeps developing his deep ball and the Titans keep finding creative ways for him to work, he can be quite good.
I agree Burtonlive.... Fisher is just going along for the ride and jumping up and down on the sideline like he's had something to do with the turnaround. He was forced to play VY and it is apparent that the team responds to him... Say what you want about VY, the guy wins and at the end of the day, isn't that what its all about?
I loved watching him play last night, but wondering how long it will be until he gets an injury running the option or scrambling around.
That's why Manning, Brady, etc don't do that.
@Men of Troy
Right, that's why. It isn't because they have strong arms but are slow runners. They CHOOSE not to run. And you NEVER get injured as a pocket passer.
/looks up how many games Brady played in 2008
Idiot.
Wait a minute. Even if Jeff Fisher didn't necessarily want to make the switch, he is the one that has integrated the plays that are leading to Young's (and the teams) success. Do you think that Triple Option play just materialized from thin air. Fisher deserves alot of credit for embracing gutsy and creative play design.
Matt, we all appreciate the Mea Culpa on Young. Of course, every no-compromise, black/white position you take in the future will accordingly be taken with a grain of salt.
Really, Fisher is "along for the ride?" Young has been making plays (and not making mistakes), but does anyone really believe that he's just putting this team on his back? The offense is clicking better, Chris Johnson is an unstoppable killing machine and the defense appears to have made the necessary adjustments/gotten the right guys (Finnegan among others) back from injury. The team's success is due in part to Young making plays, but if you don't think the head coach makes a huge difference every single Sunday then I don't think you understand the NFL very well.
Yes, Fisher deserves a ton of credit here. He is the head coach, and although he may have not made the exact move to VY, he still runs the day to day operations of that football team.
Why so many Fisher haters?
@ Scot
No it didn't just materialize, you know where that play came from? Not Jeff Fisher. Mike Heimerdinger used that play with Cutler back in Denver. It was a play he had in his pocket waiting for Vince to take over. Fisher kept saying "Collins give us the best chance to win" until finally Bud Adams forced him to put in Vince.
It's not so much hating on Fisher. I respect what he's done, but how many rings has he won there? How many NFL coaches have kept their job as long as he has without a ring? Or at least more than one super bowl appearance? It's time to move on once his contract is up.
The problem as I see it is that most people think that there is only one way to play QB and if you love true football and is a football purist, you would know that is not true. you can win with any style of football play as long as you have the athletes to execute that style of play. The problem is, everyone is afraid of "change", everyone wants to play conventional football, drop the QB 5-7 steps and let him wing it. An excellent executing run/pass QB can be just as exciting as a convention drop back passer and maybe even more so. The run/pass QB simply wants to be an athlete and not simply a robotic figure who just wings the ball. I am telling you, if you get enough QB's who are run/pass threats, I can guarantee that one day, one of them will win the Superbowl with that style even if the pundits keep saying NO they will not.
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Nov 24, 2009
03:36 PM
Good article, but I have to ask the writer, what exactly has Fisher done this season? If it were up to him Kerry Collins may still be out there and the Titans may have 1 or 2 wins. The only reason this move happened was because Bud Adams forced Fisher's hand. Fisher refused to make moves to improve the special teams (especially kick/punt returns) and seems to be way too loyal to Nick Harper. Let's face it, Harper is a nickel corner at best now. Hood should have been in that game last night and even if he wasn't, Harper should NEVER have been covering Andre Johnson. Finnegan should have shadowed him the entire game. The media needs to stop giving Jeff Fisher a free pass and realize he's not perfect, this team is winning because they've taken to Vince Young's new attitude and Chris Johnson's God given talent, I don't believe the coach has nearly as much to do with this turn around.