Response to "James"

I was listening to sports talk radio yesterday and someone named James called in. In his spot on the air, he discussed his lack of pleasure with Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.

I want to first go on record that I think I was the only person in America who said Young should have won the Heisman in '05. Unfortunately, I didn't have a blog then so I can't go back and tell you to bring up the page to prove I was right.

When I knew I was moving to Nashville, having to deal with the Titans was going to be an issue. Then, it hit me that they had the chance to draft Vince Young. I have been intrigued by Young ever since he had the article about him in the Sporting News when he was a senior still going by Vincent. I also got in a number of heated discussions with Titan fans who thought the draft's third pick should be used on USC quarterback Matt Leinart as he his more of a "pro-style" quarterback and that his relationship with offensive coordinator Norm Chow fits too well. I think the discussions went on for a while, but the only comeback needed to these people was "Rose Bowl."

Vince Young was the best college football player I have ever seen. I didn't see Archie Griffin or Marcus Allen. I didn't see Eric Dickerson or Bo Jackson. But I saw one man beat a team that was arguably the most dominant dynasty in college football. With the help of his teammates Young pulled off what was an upset to everyone other than me, but it was Young who played in a Jordan-like manner against Bush, Leinart, Jarrett, and his new teammate White.

When James called in yesterday, he wanted to make reference to Young "not knowing the system." At this point in time, I was assuming that James was really an alias for Kerry Collins.

Good coordinators, like Norm Chow, build systems around their best players. There isn't anything complex to what the Titans do on offense, and in fact, most teams don't do many complex things. People in Tennessee are so enamored by Peyton Manning that anyone who doesn't go through 6 checks at the line of scrimmage is seen as inadequate. Favre does a whole bunch of stuff at the line of scrimmage...most of which he admits doesn't mean anything, but he has also been in the same offense for what...15 years? I think he knows what he's doing, and I'd say he's been alright 420 touchdowns later. How often does Carson Palmer check off? Brady?

Young knows his system. His system is not based on brain power, it's based on instinct, vision and skill. He's not going to out think anyone out there, he's going to beat them with his superior athletic ability. Which he does more often than not. Grant, Young fell off a little bit towards the end of last night's game with his passing, but in the beginning, he couldn't have been more on. His poise in the pocket is tremendous in comparison with last year and even at Texas. He has learned that he can't always just run away from linebackers in this league. Always is the key word there. When he needs to and has the opening, he tucks it and runs...and gets out of bounds past the sticks. But he's "playing quarterback first," and it's becoming very, very, dangerous.

Vince Young is the most talented football player I have ever seen. Is he the best? He was in college. How is his game going to translate over a career in the NFL? We will see. But I haven't yet touched on Young's strongest trait: his competitiveness. You can say what you want, but players that get so wound up on the field are doing it because they play the game with a passion. They want to win more than anything, and they hate losing. I believe that Favre and Young hate losing more than anyone other than Michael Jordan and Paul O'Neil. You can see it in their eyes on the field, and with the intensity that they bring. There's a reason that Young is the offensive captain after only one year in the league...his intensity stirs his teammates. Intensity wins ballgames. If you are a Vince Young hater...I don't really know what to say. Get it together.