Music City Miracles: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Sounder At Heart for Seattle Sounders Fans!

Titans Roster Evaluation: Quarterback

It is time to take a look at all of the positions on the roster to figure out what we have and what we need. Naturally we will start with the quarterback position. I don't think anything has been debated more on this site than the play of Vince Young. Take a look at his stats from the last 2 seasons:

2006 Stat 2007
184 Completions 238
357 Attempts 382
51.5 Completion % 62.3
2,199 Passing Yards 2,546
12 Touchdown Passes 9
13 Interceptions 17
25 Sacked 25
66.7 Passer Rating 71.1
552 Rushing Yards 395

We talk about the huge step back he took in 2007, but he actually was statistically better in completions, completion percentage, yards, and passer rating. The reason he was getting ripped all season is because he threw less touchdowns and more interceptions. A 9:17 touchdown to interception ratio is not going to cut it. I don't think you will find anyone that says it will, but I think we can take the fact that he was better in the other areas of the passing statistics to mean that he is learning some things.

The other big knock on Vince was the fact that his rushing numbers were so far down this season. In my opinion that is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed in the offseason. The reason he wasn't running needs to be figured out and worked out. If he didn't run as much because he was more injured that the team let on then I understand that, but if it was because he was trying to prove he is a pocket passer, or Norm Chow was trying to make him a pocket passer, that is unacceptable. The organization didn't draft him because of his ability to stand in the pocket and make throws. They drafted him because of his ability to make things happen. That is what he did in his rookie season. Maybe Jeff Fisher and Chow wanted a pocket passer, but Bud Adams wanted Vince, and they better figure out how to use him to the best of his ability. If they don't it will haunt this organization for years.

Vince has a lot of work to do this offseason as well. His accuracy has to improve. The windows are small in this league, and if you can't fit the ball in them you aren't going to have success. He also has to hit his receivers in stride and give them a chance to make a play. There were a lot of times this season that the receivers were open and could have run after the catch, but they had to wait on the ball and the defender was able to catch up and make the tackle.

The other thing Vince needs to work on is his study habits. A lot was made of Kevin Mawae's comments about Vince. I still think he was saying that Vince needs to spend more time in the film room. The great quarterbacks in this league see as much in their pre-snap reads as they do after the ball is snapped. They learn that stuff from studying film. Vince needs to do a better job of knowing the opposing defenses inside and out.

The other place that shows is in all the throws where the receiver goes one way and the ball goes the other. On every play the receivers and Vince are reading the defense and adjusting accordingly. We are never sure if it is Vince's fault or the receiver's fault, but when it happens that many times it is on both parties.

At this point it is on Vince. Fisher has proven that Vince is his guy. He is going to stick with him through thick and thin. We all knew that is was going to take some time for him to make the adjustment to this league. We were spoiled by the success he had in his rookie year. I still think he is the right guy going forward for this team, as long as he is willing to put in the work it takes. I think he will come back next season more hungry than he has ever been.

Kerry Collins proved this year that he is a valuable backup. He has one more season left on his contract, and I hope he will be back. He can't be the guy for 16 games anymore, but he is a veteran that knows the game and knows his role. Collins realizes he is here to help Vince learn the game and step in and play when Vince is hurt. He is a valuable asset to this team.

I don't see the Titans making any moves at the quarterback position this offseason. Vince is still their guy, and Collins is the right type of backup.

0 recs  |  Comment 14 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

It was nice to see both Manning and Rivers...
...play well yesterday.  Rivers in particular has started to look like a real, big-time QB.  In fact, I think I like the Chargers' offense better without Antonio Gates, not because Gates isn't valuable but because without Gates it seems like Rivers looks downfield more--and more effectively.  

As for Eli, how good must it feel for him to finally, unquestionably outplay his brother?  He led his team to a ROAD victory over a better team than the one his brother faced.  That must feel awesome.

My point in all of this is that both Rivers and Manning are FOURTH year QBs who are only now just starting to live up to their potential.  And both have A LOT more weapons on offense than did the Titans last season.  Like it or not, all of these guys have struggles with INTs at some point in their development--while occasionally playing very well.  That's not TERRIFIC, but it is better than the alternative a la what's going on in San Francisco and/or Chicago.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 14, 2008 9:12 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

I can't stand
Rivers! He's such a baby.  He can only complete passes to wide open WRs. He cannot make tough throws. He made 1 tough throw in the 2 playoff games, the pass up the sideline.  He has no arm on square outs.  We saw that on the pass that Hayden picked.  

But it was nice to see Manning play well again, and quiet some of the critics.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 14, 2008 12:12 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Rivers
had WIDE open recivers agaainst us. We lost that game because we played zone too much and missed assignments and as a result the chargers recievers ere wide open. Any QB would have been been able to make 90% of those throws.

by titanbt53 on Jan 14, 2008 11:57 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Not Fisher
I can't see how Fisher didn't want or know how to use a pocket passer after having Steve for all those years.

Chow, on the other hand, is a different story. I was sure Leinart was gonna be our man.

No matter, we have what we have. Vince will grow.

by Rustmeister on Jan 14, 2008 9:18 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Coaching
I think a lot of it is on Vince, but more of it is on his coaches.

I think if Vince's stats improved, but he threw for less TD's it sounds like playcalling to me.

Also, a new QB in the league does have to learn how to watch film, but aren't his coaches supposed to teach him how to do that? Now, If his coaches ARE telling him that and he still isn't picking it up then we have a problem.

All the things he's supposed to be doing and learning. Don't we have QB coaches, OC's, and veteran backups that are supposed to help him with that?

Anyway, Vince will be fine. I was just thinking about that.

by theologic on Jan 14, 2008 10:07 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Talking about QBs
How great was it to see Billy Volek beat the Colts and eliminate them from the playoffs???
SWEET!
I still like Volek! Way to go!
Lets now pray he can beat the Pats also...
The biggest Titans fan in Brazil.

by brazilian fan on Jan 14, 2008 11:05 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

For some reason
I find myself hating the Chargers a lot more than the Colts. I don't like Rivers or Ladainian, or Merriman. Matter of fact, I can't stand them.  I wish there was a way both these teams could lose next week.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 14, 2008 12:16 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I agree
with you 100%

by jtc2086 on Jan 14, 2008 1:31 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'd like to see the Giants hoist the trophy.
I doubt it'll happen, but I'd really like to see that.
DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 14, 2008 3:11 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

100% Here as well
The chargers are whiny little B......!  I can't stand them.  Did you see some of the close ups of Rivers and Norv Turner?  Boo F'ing Hoo.  Not to mention Rivers' little argument after the game with the fan that was giving him the finger.  That was great.
Big Bill "You never lose a game if the opponent doesn't score." Darell K. Royal

by Hook em Titans on Jan 14, 2008 3:54 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

vince
   is still learning and has  made some intercetpions.  i dont know about him but i learn from mistakes  and he has to make mistakes to learn.  if i remember right elway young and akman ect ect didnt get off to the best starts their first few years.  look at young i think tampa bay cut him then the niners picked him up and see what happend.    i mean vince went a little backwards this year but when you go to the probowl in your rookie year the only place to go is backwards so its no biggie we made the playoffs on secdule just like fisher said we would.    
you guys dont sweat it, if we get some good super star recievers and a tightend and some offensive linemen the skys the limit. i still think we need some offensive linemen to help protect him though. iam pushing for that after the skill guys get drafted.  
  the one thing i worry about more so then vinces play is everybody comming back in the second half of the games this year.  seems like we cant put a entire game together and screw up towards the end and let teams get back into the game. i think thats a coaching problem that the players are not staying motivated towards the end of the games its happend a few times this year.  
   i think once we get vince comfotable in the offence and get some awasome probowl type of linemen in there to protect him and some recivers who can catch and run after they catch it plus a pacman  whos back we will go deep into the playoffs next year.  
 my reasoning for not scoring any points this year is we got genaric recivers. they dont have any experice of playing with vince also,  gage and moulds are new this year, havent had any time to get on the same page as vince.   jones is hurt constantly but the one who shined most was roydell and  hes had alot more time to work with vince then gage or molds.
  norm chow is my other concern.  him saying vince pouts isnt a good sign in my mind of their relationship.   if vince and him part ways i think vince will have learned alot from chow and will draw off of what chow tought him for his entire carrer. i think it might be a good idea to get somebody in there new that can relate to vince better.  didnt his old college coach say the best way to teach vince is to let him go and do his thing instead of trying to hammer a phlopopy into him which i think norm chow is doing.  
  i hate to say it but on the job training for a offensive cordinator in  the nfl wouldnt be something i would do again. i would like to see somebody with a proven track record and a proven system that works in the nfl. i wouldnt want to see some grand experiment if a college guy can come to the nfl with his system and have success.  again! forever! aman!  
  vince needs to get more accurate on his deep thorws but iam not to worried about it he was doing great there towards the end of the year.  he had a slump there for a few games but i think that happens no matter how great you are.
  what we need is offesive linemen nobody on here is saying it.  i think we got a dimond in the rough with roos in the late rounds of the draft. i dont even know if he was playign football was he when we drafted him? .  but i surley do think if vince didnt worry so much about having to run for his life he would become more accurate  seen it time and again.  qwaterback has all day to throw they will more then likly make the throw.   if they are running for their lives they are more likely to miss  and toss interectpions.  
   so iam all for some receivers a tightend who can block and catch and offensive linemen that dominate the line to protect our goldenboy.  i want a dominate offensive,  a powerhouse with lendale busting up people on his running and our nible fleet footed qwaterback making throws cus he has time to make them.

   

by dentureboy on Jan 14, 2008 9:40 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

TD's are low
because we have a pathetic red zone offense. And that isnt necesarilly Vince's fault. Our reciver's dont get open, and we need a bigger tight end threat in the end zone.

by titanbt53 on Jan 15, 2008 12:00 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

most important aspect of the offseason
Vince has to learn to read the defense AND figure out how that defense meshes with the play call...

it is imperative that vince gets better at this...

in his rookie season it was all about Vince simply understanding the Titans plays....he didn't then, and that led him to a lot of look at the primary option, then run...

now this season he clearly understands our plays better...as Jaws has pointed out, he understands how to progress through his reads and shown the patience in the pocket to go through all the options....it has resulted in Vince running less, but it has also helped improve his accuracy...

however...

now he must learn to be able to understand how the play called matches up against his pre-snap read...

Like Mawea said, there were times that Roos would understand that the play was wrong against the defense and Vince wouldn't...

by zackmann on Jan 15, 2008 12:10 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

My take on Vince...
I was disappointed with his season.  I didn't expect a huge improvement over year one....but I think he regressed.  Here's why:
  1. The obvious---TD/Int ratio...granted he didn't have much to work with, so the lack of TD's doesn't bother me nearly as much as the picks
  2. Lack of faith- I think a lot of Coach Fisher, and it is obvious that he didn't have faith in VY many times during the season.  Whether it be at the end of the half, or even protecting a lead.  He didn't put VY in a position to fail, yet he didn't put him where he could succeed either.
  3. Running- It is obvious that teams put a spy on him with the running....that is why he NEVER broke a long one (disappointing), but if there is a spy, then there should be a receiver open to hit....it just didn't happen.  That is either his fault, or Chow's fault...not sure on that one.
  4. 4th Quarter- I hate when people say just get him the ball and a chance in the 4th quarter...that was true in college, and he did an incredible job at it his rookie year....but not this season.  Take the playoff game.  Down 10-6 at the start of the quarter with the ball in the red zone.  Nothing.  Next two possessions down 17-6...nothing.  Where was the magic?  Now I know it is not a switch that you can turn on and off, but these are NFL players he is playing against, and the magic isn't automatic.
  5. Completion Percentage- yes it is better than last year...but a large majority of his passes were safe throws, 5 yards or less.  He did a good job at that, but I hope to see him open up his game.
Please don't get me wrong, I still like VY and am glad he is a Titan.  I look forward to many years and many victories.  He did help lead this team to the playoffs in only his second year.  I hope he has a bigger jump in year 3 than he did in year 2.

by gotitans27 on Jan 15, 2008 11:38 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

The best Tennessee Titans coverage on the internet 365 days a year.
Start posting about the Titans »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Dave_small
49ers-Titans: Ask 49ers fans from Niners Nation
Alc12_mcnair_small
MCM Play of the Week (Week 8)
Hopetitans_small
You hatas betta be redy. VY gonna rock da HOUSE!!!

Recent FanPosts

Small
Monday night game in houston
Small
In response to the Vince hater haters.
Small
Is Mike Griffin back to form?
Vince_small
Picture Help
Hm2_small
Easterbrook's take on run success for Titans
Titans_gift_1_small
Titans make Playoffs + win Superbowl = Vince 'Hall of Fame' Young?
Small
Running Game Explosion: Yes, VY Deserves Credit Too
Small
Is 10-6 Possible?
Mcnair_small
Tennessee Titans Fan Approval Poll - Week 8

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Behind the Steel Curtain
BTSC Weekly NFL Musings - Week 9 Edition
Blogging The Boys
Understudy Sunday: the Cowboys Outslug the Eagles 20-16
Blogging The Boys
Cowboys First In East, Beat Philly 20-16

General Manager

Mc_small Jimmy

Coaches

F3e0e35d492badc1e5b7a96046063cbd_small August West

Chris-johnson-tennessee-titans_edited-1_small hal41605

Smashville2_small smashville

Official MCM Photographer

Chris_johnson_small Titanfan

Official MCM Hater

Mcnair_small gramsey712