Young Has Some Improving to Do

Two games into the preseason, it's pretty clear that the Titans running game is in good shape, and there's little reason to worry about the defense. But it's fair to ask when the Titans passing game is going to make its first appearance.

If you were looking for Vince Young to build off of his uneven 2008 opener, you're still waiting. Young looked worse this week, bouncing passes to some receivers and overthrowing others. When it was over, he was a pretty brutal 4-for-13 for 37 yards. Actually that's the good news, as those stats don't fully tell the story--as the game went on, Young got worse and worse. He started out going 3-for-3 with a sack on his first four pass plays, then went 1-for-10 over the remainder of his short stay on the field. On third downs he was 1-for-5 with no first downs.

Now this isn't all Young's fault. As Kerry Collins' 4-for-15 follow-up showed, part of the problem is that the Titans have won of the worst receiving corps in the league. Presumed starters Justin McCareins and Justin Gage combined for one catch for 18 yards, and Brandon Jones was shutout. Tight end Alge Crumpler is supposed to be Vince Young's new security blanket--he has two catches for 12 yards in two games.

But it is fair to ask when Young's accuracy will make the jump from that of an inexperienced young quarterback to what's expected of an NFL starter. If you listen to new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, it doesn't sound like the Titans expect a whole lot of development from Young this year.

"I said all along that we will do a lot of things and give him lot of looks and then we'll condense it down,'' Heimerdinger said. "I think the main thing for him is to manage the game and not turn the ball over, not throw interceptions and put our defense in bad positions.

Heimerdinger is surely saying that in part to reduce the pressure on Young, but what he's saying sounds exactly like what you would expect the Bears to say about Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton, or the Falcons to say about Matt Ryan. You won't hear the Colts say that about Peyton Manning, or even the Jaguars saying that David Garrard just has to make sure he doesn't lose the game. And that's not what you want to hear is the focus for a guy who's supposed to be a franchise quarterback.

The rest of the this Titans team is good enough to battle for a playoff spot if Young's just OK and avoids mistakes, but if Tennessee is going to do something come playoff time, it will need VY to step up and become more than just a guy who doesn't make many mistakes.