The Tennessee Titans are on a roll this season. Kerry Collins is the best thing since... Wait a minute. Isn’t this the same Collins that could not win a game in six attempts during the 2006 season? This is the guy that lost his job to Vince Young.
As Adrian Monk would say, from the popular detective series, ”Here’s what happened.” Tennessee had some of the worst receivers in the league for the past two seasons. They dropped passes as routinely as it rains in Seattle. The reason Vince Young won games was because he had the ability to run successfully.
A running quarterback is a defensive nightmare because it pressures the defense to commit to either a pass or a run. The problem is that the quarterback does not have to decide until he reaches the line of scrimmage.
- B/R Ticket Guide
If the defense comes up, he can pass to the abandoned receivers. If the defense maintains coverage, a quick and agile QB can gain dozens of yards on the run.
This season, the Tennessee difference is the receivers. Somewhere, somehow they learned to catch passes. If they had done this in 2006, they would have made the playoffs. If they had caught passes last season, they would have gotten out of the first round of the playoffs.
One could argue that the Titans had more drops per game last season that they have had all of this season.
Vince Young is the future of the Titans, so it is a luxury to get to watch and learn from the sidelines. It takes from two to five years for a QB to develop in the NFL. There are a few exceptions, but I see no reason to frustrate a neophyte QB.
When Vince does return (Collins can’t play forever), he should be better than ever with receivers that can actually catch a ball. This would open up his running lanes again should he need them.
This season, I see Tennessee in the AFC title game.
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about 1 month ago
I would have to say that the concept of a running QB may be a nightmare for Defences at times, but I also think that they are a nightmare for Offencive coordinators as well. Too many times do Scrambling QB's abandon the play before they have a chance to let it develop. Remember atlanta with Micheal Vick (I use him because he defines scrambling QB), he made us forget who Roddy White and Micheal Jenkins are. Vince Young will learn a lot from being on the sidelines, but he won't unlearn to run when he should stay in the pocket longer for a deep route to get open. I think that the best QB's are a combination of both, players like Ben Rothlistberger (sp), Jason Campbell, Jay Cutler, and even David Garrard (who has absolutely no recievers). This are the type of players who are the threat to run, are elusive in the pocket and still throw the ball 80%+ of the time. Vince Young will not do that, and in turn will turn into a Aaron Brooks if he's not careful.
about 1 month ago
FYI the word "scrambling" was coined in the '60's as a derogatory definition of Fran Tarkenton's style of play at Minnesota. I will not disagree with your opinion, it has some merit. However, Roger "the Dodger" was a running QB and won 2 Super Bowls. The aforementioned Tarkenton took his team to 4 Super Bowls. There were a few more that were successful.
What I find today is a prejudice toward black running QB's. I believe this to be cultural. As I grew up under segregation, there was a distinct difference between "White" football and "Black" football. As a linebacker, I loved pocket QB's. Less stress on me and my defensive calls. Unfortunately in "Black" football, that hardly ever happened. And I for one would take a runner over a pocket QB any day.
Watch the media today, White QB's that can run are honored for their mobility, like Romo. Black QB's that can run are controversial. This is a racial prejudice that is applied with subtlety. I would love to be proven wrong, however, I do not think that will be for several more years.
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