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I’m Con”Vince”d Young Will Win a Superbowl With Tennessee
Published: December 14, 2009
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It was just months ago that we were all sitting around talking about what a bust that Vince Young kid had become.
After only two seasons as a starting quarterback, he was already starting to fizzle under the pressure of the big time.
Young’s physical and mental struggles through the 2008 season were well documented, and some reports were so disturbing that many believed his career in the NFL was over.
Kerry Collins was the guy for the Titans. A 13-3 record and a playoff berth had the veteran firmly entrenched as the Titan’s starter, leaving Young to his mopey ways on the bench.
Enter the 2009 season.
The Titans start a miserable 0-6, including a most embarrassing 59-0 loss to New England. Coach Jeff Fisher blames everyone BUT Collins. Owner Bud Adams blames no one BUT Collins and calls for Vince Young to take over the reigns of the offense.
At first, the Vince Young experiment of 2009 was merely a fashion show of sorts. The Titans were hoping he would play well so they could sell him off to the highest bidder at the end of the season, and avoid paying his very expensive bonus.
But after a 5-1 run by the Young-led Titans over the last six games, many are beginning to wonder if Young may be more than an old toy being put up for sale.
Young has played remarkably well in his first starts since being benched in the season opener last year.
The former Texas star has thrown for 1,383 yards (61 percent completion) and seven touchdowns to only three picks. He’s added 219 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Young’s resurgence is his maturity both on and off the field.
On the field he is making smart reads and very accurate throws. He isn’t rushing his progressions and he’s using his athleticism to set up better throws, rather than taking off running every time.
Moreover, his teammates believe in him again. For any normal team, a 0-6 start would be a deal breaker. In the case of the Titans, however, Young’s leadership has lifted them back in to playoff contention, despite the seemingly insurmountable odds (though a guy named Chris Johnson may have helped a bit too).
Young’s 99 yard, game-winning drive against Arizona in Week 12 demonstrated everything that has changed about him: He stood in the pocket and made the quick reads, he didn’t panic when the blitz was on and kept his eyes down field, and most importantly, he never once showed signs that he was afraid.
There was a time when Vince Young had similar swagger. His days at Texas proved that he could handle pressure and lead his team when they needed him most. His teammates could count on him to make the big play.
After a rough patch in his career as a Titan, I’m beginning to see the rebirth of a fine young quarterback and a fine young man, the guy we Longhorn fans loved.
It’s still too early to say he’s all the way back, but the signs are good at the moment.
In fact, the signs are so good that I’m willing to make the bold statement that I believe Vince Young will lead these Titans to a Super Bowl in the next four years.
Don’t mistake this prediction for bias optimism, just look at what Young has got around him.
Chris Johnson is one of the best, if not the best, backs in the NFL. His presence on the field and his home run-hitting ability takes a lot of pressure off of Young to make ALL of the plays.
The defense is finally getting healthy again, and with a solid draft in 2010, this could be one of the better defenses in the league for the next few years.
Jeff Fisher may have been partly responsible for the 0-6 start and not starting Young earlier than he did, but he’s still one of the best in the business. He knows what it takes to get to the big game and I believe he’ll get them back.
Many great quarterbacks dream of Super Bowl victories and many of them fail in their quest to claim the Lombardi trophy (see Dan Marino).
Though Vince Young has a long way to go to become one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, I have no doubt he has what it takes to lead the Titans to the promise land.
His quiet confidence and his unwavering desire to win will serve him well.
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