In what is clearly a long overdue move, the Tennessee Titans are benching veteran Kerry Collins in favor of 26-year-old Vince Young, The Tennessean reports.Owner Bud Adams reportedly pushed for Young this week. Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher deliberated on the decision, though, before finally agreeing with Adams and choosing Young as his starter against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Fisher announced the change after Tennessee's practice Thursday.
Collins has been the Titans' starter since Week 2 of 2008, but an 0-6 start to the 2009 season, coupled with a lack of explosiveness, necessitated a move under center. Collins, in his 15th year out of Penn State, has completed just 54.8 percent of his passes this year, while throwing more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (five) en route to a 62.0 QB rating.
But is Young the answer?
In the midst of a lost season, there's no harm in seeing whether or not Young can captain the Titans' ship in 2010 and beyond. It's worth noting that while Young's career passing numbers aren't stellar (56.9 percent completion percentage, 67.8 QB rating), he has won 18 of his 29 starts dating back to his rookie season. Most rookies struggle to win games right out of the gate, and while Young doesn't deserve all the credit for those victories, a 62 percent winning percentage from a wet-behind-the-ears quarterback shouldn't just be dismissed.
With Wildcat football being all the rage, maybe people expected Young to be utilized in a form of the popular offense this year, but Fisher has stuck with a one-QB-under-center philosophy. Now that that QB is Young, the offense theoretically should be opened up, thanks to the danger of Young tucking the ball and picking up five or six yards at a time.
At 0-6, Tennessee's playoff hopes are over, and turning to Young at this stage gives Fisher and the front office a nice 10-game evaluation period with Young. If the third-year player out of Texas impresses, expect him under center in 2010. If not, the Titans will be forced to look for a young QB in next April's NFL Draft or in the off-season free agency market.
Young's trials and tribulations have been well-documented, and this is likely his last shot at securing a future as a starting quarterback in the NFL. We all love redemption stories, and I'm rooting for a happy ending to this saga as well.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-29-2009 @ 2:53PM
double trouble said...
dude it take this hillbilly coach 7 weeks without a win to let the francise QB get his job back? And that took an executive order from the owner to make that happen? WTF fire Fisher he is a udercover hater what happen to having faith in your players 7 weeks Collins should have been replaced in the second half of the Jets game.He has been terrible all year last year was a fluke.. Remember Collins earned the job through a injury to Young.Also remember Young as a rookie took his team to the playoffs...Who else has done that ? MF Fisher what you doing out there wearing Peyton Manning Jersey FU!!!
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10-29-2009 @ 4:31PM
randytazma said...
Young is a quitter and a crybaby. His own teammates don't even want him as their quaterback. In case you do not understand the NFL, this is where men go to war every week, the last thing they want to think about is a Quitter
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10-29-2009 @ 10:37PM
TNT said...
Kerry Collins is a quitter. Remember when he played for Carolina?
"At 8 in the morning of Oct. 7, 1998, Collins walked into Panthers Coach Dom Capers's office. When Capers emerged from the meeting, he stunned his players with the announcement that Collins had said he no longer had the heart to lead the team."
Sounds like a quitter to me.
10-29-2009 @ 4:53PM
tendaroni82 said...
Got to try something different, since Collins anit doing jack crap! Doesnt mean the results will be different.
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10-29-2009 @ 5:06PM
jlkozar said...
When I saw the headline, I thought that maybe it was the Browns...sadly it wasn't. Why oh why do we have to suffer so much?
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10-29-2009 @ 5:57PM
dogdaddy4 said...
Young is worth another shot-he's had a lot of personal issues including McNair's murder.Hard to believe the Titan's freefall!
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10-29-2009 @ 6:21PM
Joyce said...
At least Vince can run. That's a good thing since we don't have anyone that can catch the ball. To me this isn't a quarterback problem, it's a receiver problem. Marvin Harrison, anyone?
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10-29-2009 @ 6:37PM
grechero said...
Psychologist for a coach. 2 count 'em 2 psychos at QB. Can't understand why this team is an absolute and utter disgrace. All players and coach got their money. Check out Vince Young's weight. Bet the ranch against Titans for the rest of the year.
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10-29-2009 @ 7:12PM
madhatter said...
The Titans owner has shown his complete lack of understanding--no Kerry is not getting the job done--but he is not the only one on the team. As for VY---If he gets booed, he'll cry and his mama will have to intervene
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10-29-2009 @ 9:24PM
muspray said...
Seriously, VY is by far the best QB. Collins stepped in when the defense kept TN in the game not him. Now when its time to step up and put points on da board they are...yup 0-6, Fisher is stupid to wait until the season is shot to make a change. Maybe he can where Manning's jock and not just his jersey Donald Trump Fisher (your FIRED)
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10-30-2009 @ 4:30PM
Bob said...
You can't convince me that Young is the answer to their problems. He will fold.
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11-01-2009 @ 2:19AM
IMPACTORS said...
WHEN YOU MAKING MILLIONS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO ANYONE..FISHER IS A DRUGSTORE COWBOY, WHO SHOWED HE CAN REBUFF THE OWNER. YOU WIN UGLY OR PRETTY, THE KEY IS TO BE A WINNER. BRADY'S WON UGLY, BALTIMORE WON UGLY, AN THE STEELER'S ARE THE KING OF UGLY, BUT THEY ALL GOT RINGS.