In Layman's Terms: This Young Man

Since I don't do anything other than work and get professional headshots, I've got nothing of import to report... So instead of updating my life, here's another Titans-related BLOG! Sorry Atcho, no mention of Dinger this time, so let's say it as much as we can now. Heimerdinger Heimerdinger Heimerding-aling-aling-er!

In Layman's Terms: This Young Man
Tony King
Sep 18, 2008

You've been doing it all your life. There may be others out there trying to do the same thing, but nobody does it like you do.

When you hit a certain age, you know you're special. You absolutely dominate against everyone else, and though there are people out there trying to tell you to change this or try that, the fact remains that you dominate – you're an unorthodox person, and that suits you just fine.

Once you get to the next level, everyone knows you're special. You hit success on a national stage, and now you're the name on everyone's lips. The same detractors play the same tune, but they're far and few between, because the fact remains; you win, and when in the biggest game of your life you carry your men on your shoulders and overcome a veritable highlight reel of players, you know you're ready.

Then the big league comes. It's faster now, and more intense. But that doesn't matter, you've seen what they can do, they don't realize your power. In your first year, you claim the offensive rookie of the year title. Same unusual style, same niggling complaints, same success. "Can't nobody tell me nothing."

Then… they know you. Who you are, what you can do, but most of all, what you can't do. Running lanes that were once open seem to be locked tightly, throws you once made now drop short of their receivers, and suddenly the world ignores what you've done in the past. Now the detractors are at their loudest, because their numbers are growing. You've been proving people wrong all your life, just doing what you do. But now your own limits seem apparent. Everything's changed on you, it all doesn't seem so clear and the clock's ticking before you're old news. You were once Superman, but the whole field is Kryptonite now. So what in the hell went wrong?

When a man like Vince Young becomes available to an ailing team the way he did back in 2006, it's hard not to become enamored with him. He's an exciting leader with incredible physical ability, and he just plain wins. Questions about his mechanics and intelligence were always there, but these things could be ironed out with enough time.

However, with an 0-3 record and Jeff Fisher's job possibly on the line, changes had to be made. Under a veil of 'preparing him for the future', but with intentions to breathe life and excitement to a stagnant franchise, Vince was thrown to the wolves. With him, the Titans would double last year's win total, and anchored by a strong running attack headed by Travis Henry, VY made some magic at all the right times.

Enough magic to fool us into thinking he had a good season, even.

His late game heroics may have provided the most important results; wins, but what if Mathias Kiwanuka hadn't let go? What if that overtime scramble in Houston fell short? His performance in spurts led to wins, but his overall body of work wasn't pretty; 184/357, 2199 yards and 12 TDs to 13 interceptions. A 66.7 QB rating. Out of all QBs eligible to be ranked (minimum of 14 passes/game), that plants Vince at 30, just a hair above a superstar like Bruce Gradkowski.

I know what you're thinking; this isn't what Vince does. He's not a pocket passer. Stats mean nothing…

Do they really? Vince's QB rating coming out of Texas was 144.9 (by NFL values that translates to 92.8). He could pass then; even if it was his secondary facet it was present and effective, so why should we claim it wasn't important? Wouldn't we like a complete Vince Young, who can do all these things?

Just like pocket passers have to be able to move around in the pocket effectively, a scrambling QB simply can't be unable to throw the ball. If I were a facetious man, I'd point to our two-headed monster in the run game, the steady bruiser in LenDale White and the speedy burner in Chris Johnson, and suggest a 'QB-by-committee' system where Vince comes in on situational downs, demoted to Seneca Wallace status (Seneca's career QB rating is higher, incidentally).

An 8-5 record as a starter and OROY may have really hurt Vince in the long run – he hasn't been pushed because of it. Had he lost those games, he would have likely been shifted in and out (Kerry Collins was miserable in those first three games, but he had only been signed weeks earlier. You can't digest a playbook and get a feel for your teammates in that time), a developing player who's main emphasis is to hone his craft – theoretically, in the 'ideal rookie QB development cycle', Vince would only now be starting his first year as a full-time starter, no doubt having really had a chance to work out the kinks without the pressure of the whole team weighing on him. Instead, we as fans expect him to call up that old magic in crunch time to pull out a win. It's no secret that the team's been bailing him out, nabbing victories in spite of him as opposed to because of him.

But think to yourself, you've revitalized your team, but now it's not working quite the same and you're labeled a bust and ostracised by the people who once loved you? Sounds frustrating to me to just consider it at this moment. Must be downright infuriating when it's following you every day of your life. And, to be brutally honest, what is Vince Young without football? Isn't he just a dumb ol' country boy? Does he really have the emotional depth to suck it in and grow up?

Optimistically speaking, this is karma. Two years ago, success may have blinded Vince Young, and for the first time in his career, he's down and out for a prolonged period of time. He's frustrated, depressed and betrayed. A weak man may give up and run, but that isn't the man we know. Said Mack Brown, "…after he played so poorly against Missouri he never lost another game."

So you will sit, Vince, and you will watch; consider it your late rookie season. If you're the winner and competitor that you're billed as, you'll come back with a fire and willingness to evolve. It's key at this point for you to learn from your mistakes, not get flustered by them. The strongest man isn't measured by the height of his success, but by his triumph over his failures.