Young, Titans look to move past emotional scare

by Jerrod Carr, staff writer

 

Vince Young was an all-star in high school.  He then went on to play for the Texas Longhorns, only losing two games as a starter for three seasons. 

During his junior year of college, Young helped UT to a 13-0 record and won the national championship on a fourth-and-five touchdown run against a dominant USC defense.  He then was drafted in the third round by the Tennessee Titans, named Rookie of the Year in 2006 and led his team into the playoffs in his second season as a pro. 

For those of you who don’t know, Young recently was diagnosed with depression by the Titans’ psychologist after a recent loss in a game, during which he suffered an injury.

Why should Young be depressed?  The reality of it all is that Young shouldn’t be depressed.  Sure, he hasn’t won a Super Bowl or thrown for 3,000 yards in a season.  Who cares? Get over it.  Young has done more in the two years that he has played than most pro football players have done in their careers.  He was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, and he was on the cover of Madden 08.  The list of pro athletes who have accomplished those tasks in two years is very short.

It is true that Young hasn’t become a well-rounded passer in the NFL, and he is having some trouble breaking down defenses.  But that is not going to happen overnight, and you’re not going to become Tom Brady in two years.  But who am I to judge?

Young did get booed by the Titan fans on Sept. 7 during a game against the San Diego Chargers, so maybe he should be depressed.  I’m a huge Longhorn fan, and a Vince Young fan. But get over yourself, Young.  Getting booed by the crowd for throwing an interception or two is part of the job description.  Fans boo the quarterback because he’s the leader of the team.  Fans boo quarterbacks because they are the most prestigious players in pro sports, so great things are expected from them. 

Young is 18-11 as a starter, which is not a bad record at all, especially for a young quarterback.  Young is also surrounded by a less-than-average offense, an offense with no big receivers as targets.  The lack of receivers does not give Young an excuse not to be able to pass effectively though.  If anything, it should give him more motivation to learn to pass effectively. 

During his entire football career, Young has known nothing but success.  But when adversity finally strikes, he chokes.  If you haven’t gotten it yet, life is full of adversity, Vince Young.  Get used to it. 

I believe Young has the mindset that he will always be invincible.  While he was in college, he was.  However, the NFL is a different story.  The NFL is filled with just as many players who were considered “invincible,” and have just as much talent, if not more, than the men next to them.  It’s part of the business.

I believe Young and his family, considered by some to be a major part of the problem, need to sit down with the coaches, and the coaches need to tell it like it is.  Life’s tough, grab your helmet and take it, or go home. 

As for Young’s mother, let your boy grow up, and let him learn that the real world is mean and cruel.  You’re not helping him by calling the coach to check up on him. 

Life is full of trials.  How you deal with those trials is what defines you.  If you can’t take a few boo-birds, and getting injured is getting you down, then maybe Young shouldn’t be playing in the NFL.  Because the last time I checked, that was the NFL. 

I believe that with some support from his coaches and teammates, as well as a little tough love, Young has the potential to be the great quarterback everyone expected him to be. 

It won’t come without hard work and discipline, and it definitely won’t come about by sitting back and not being proactive.  If Young wants to become that great quarterback in the pros, maybe he should consider a little more practice with his receivers and a lot more film study.  Then maybe he’ll grow and become what we expect him to be.