No ‘Madden jinx,’ but still growning pains for Titans’ quarterback
Call it the sophomore slump.
Unlike 2006 when Young won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award with his highlight-worthy comebacks and magical plays, his touchdown numbers are down, his interceptions are up. He has struggled deciding when to throw or run and at times tried too hard to make something happen.
Veteran receiver Eric Moulds said every quarterback has to learn how to play and win games in the NFL.
‘I think Vince is going to come to that scenario. It’s not going to happen overnight,’ Moulds said Wednesday. ‘You have to realize that football is a team sport. Even though he’s a great quarterback, it’s going to take 11 guys to make plays.’
The only stat coach Jeff Fisher is interested in is his Titans’ record. At 9-6, they can clinch their first playoff berth since 2003 with a win Sunday night at Indianapolis (13-2).
‘He’s started all but one game this year. We have to win one to get in the playoffs. So I think that speaks for itself as far as his development,’ Fisher said.
‘He’s had some games where he’s lit it up statistically, and he’s had some other games where we didn’t have to lean on him. He’s managed the game as our starting quarterback, and we’re about to reach our No. 1 goal this year with him as the starter, and that’s to get to the playoffs.’
Young is 224-of-364 for 2,389 yards and nine touchdowns but has 17 interceptions. He also has had trouble holding onto the ball with 10 fumbles. The Titans have lost three of those.
He leads all quarterbacks with 376 yards rushing this season and needs 72 yards to reach 1,000 yards rushing in his career. He missed the Oct. 21 win in Houston with a strained right quadriceps but is 16-11 as a starter ‘ 7-2 in December.
Young said he feels like he’s where he needs to be concluding his second season. He credited teammates like Moulds with giving him confidence and feedback as he works to improve.
‘People still fail to realize I’m in my second year. I’m taking real big steps each week … That means I’m doing something right, so I want to keep doing that so I can continue to take my game to a level where I want it to be at,’ Young said.
Young’s roller-coaster season can be seen in the past two games. He posted his season-high passer rating of 109.6 on Dec. 16 in a win at Kansas City, then struggled in last week’s 10-6 win over the New York Jets, who sacked him three times and forced him into two turnovers.
Fisher has had to defend his quarterback several times this season from questions about Young’s emotional displays. The coach’s answer? He likes Young’s competitiveness.
Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy warned his Colts that this will be the Titans’ first playoff game, and he expects to see Young at his best.
‘I’m sure he is going to rise to the occasion and do everything he can. I told them to expect a Rose Bowl-type performance where he takes it upon himself to will the team to victory,’ Dungy said.
With a playoff berth on the line, that would be a strong finish for the quarterback.