Bleacher Report - Knoxville

Saying It Now: Why the Tennesse Titans' Chris Johnson Should be NFL MVP

David Xaviel is the Real Mr. X — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:46:02 -0500

At this point in the season, NFL fans have certainly started to question who will be the NFL MVP.

The three names heard most often are the usual suspects: Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Drew Brees.

At this point, Manning or Favre winning MVP is redundant. Moreover, I cannot ignore the presence of Adrian Peterson in the same Minnesota backfield as Favre, while Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne have long been underrated in Indianapolis.

The question of who deserves to be MVP is all about which player is doing the most with the least help.

The Saints don't have one player that stands out around Brees, but they do have a large quantity of legitimate starters instead of quality starters around Brees.

In Tennessee, however, we saw running back Chris Johnson's electric play without Vince Young. Johnson thus is clearly not the product of the quarterback.

Johnson could be on his way to a 2,000 yard season for a team that once looked like an afterthought. Collins appears to have been holding back the Titans, when people had questioned whether the Titans were struggling from the loss of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in free agency.

I don't believe that this argument needs to be complex, but it seems quite simple that Johnson has done the most with the least amount of help.

Regardless of quarterback, Johnson's numbers have been above average and potentially great. Johnson looks like the second coming of Bo Jackson.

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Vince Young Wins Despite Critics

Dwight Palmer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:48:18 -0500

Why is it so difficult for sports writers to give Vince Young the credit that he's due. Yes, he has had to learn the game and mature, but so has every other quarterback that has played the game. Eli Manning, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, and even Johnny Unitas all had learning curves. And none of them ever had the same level of success that Vince has achieved in their first two years.

The case against Vince is prejudice and nothing else. It is the same prejudice that Fran Tarkenton faced when he began playing. His style is not the expected norm for an NFL quarterback. This has led people in the media as well as some general managers, (Houston Texans), to draw conclusions and then proceed to “make” the facts fit.

Does anyone else remember the derogatory comments coming from the broadcasters when Tarkenton would embark on one of his tours of the gridiron before completing a pass? The announcers had to search for words to express their disgust.

On one broadcast he was spoken of as “rambling around the backfield.” Then another announcer said he wasn’t running and in his search for a term that might express his disrespect he came up with “scrambling.” At the time, this was used only for Fran Tarkenton and it was understood that it was a demeaning term. Today the word is used without rancor for a quarterback than can extend a play or occasionally gain a first down.

Some of the criticism is racist, but that is a small minority. Yes, even today there are people who do not want to give a man credit who does not look like them.

Remember, Doug Williams had the second best quarterback rating in the USFL behind Jim Kelly. However, that did not lead to an NFL contract. When the USFL folded, the NFL teams took Doug Flutie, Jim Kelley, and Steve Young, (Dallas did exercise their option on Reggie Collier). It took the Redskins to find Doug when they got desperate for a quarterback.

Williams was the quarterback that took a previously inept Tampa Bay to the NFC title game in his second year in the league. He also was behind center when they won their first NFL game in his rookie year. Williams did for Tampa what Steve Young and Vinny Testaverde could not, he won.

Steve McNair was booed when he took the field in his first game. James Harris of the Rams and Joe Gilliam of the Steelers were benched due to pressure from the fans. This may not be the case for VY, but there is some unknown reason that so many experts are ignoring reality.

Now we have Vince Young with a record of 24-11 as a starter and he still cannot get credit for his play. During the same period from 2006-2009, Kerry Collins has a record of 13-12 with the same supporting casts. Collins is generally accepted as a better or more mature quarterback. There is something seriously wrong with the sporting analysis in this country.

Vince has something that can’t be coached and can’t be analyzed through empirical data. Prospective teachers are taught that a person lives up or down to the expectations of those in authority. Sometimes the expectations of authority are in direct conflict with a person’s personal expectations of himself. When this happens, it causes stress in the student or player. My belief is that last season’s so called “meltdown” was a direct result of this stress in VY.

This man has won a high school championship and a college championship. His personal expectations are of success. What occurred last season was external pressure from fans booing, receivers dropping passes, and a coach who had no empathy for a young man still learning. Vince has not learned how to fail at football.

As a player, it is energizing when the quarterback salvages a play. It creates a confidence in the minds of offensive linemen. They play with a different enthusiasm. For the defenders, a quarterback who can run like a running back is at best a mental distraction and at worst a nightmare. It is demoralizing to defenders and helps to create doubt in their minds.

Some writers and football analyst have been writing and speaking of Vince’s lack of productivity in passing. I am anxious to see what their next argument will be now that he has passed for 378 yards against Arizona.

I am sure that someone out there does not like the way he holds his tongue when he passes or the way ties his shoes. Is there anyway that we can just enjoy an unusual talent that succeeds no matter what we think?

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Vince Young: Playoff Pickup or Passable Projections?

Jacob Sloan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:00:23 -0500

Sports Data Hub recently investigated the usefulness of Vince Young for the rest of the season, but that analysis was optimistically given before his come-from-behind fourth-quarter drive for the win against the Cardinals. Those last-second heroics capped off a fantasy day that had him throwing for almost 400 yards.

If you watched VY doin’ work against the Cardinals, you might just be a believer now.

I’ll make no claims to being unbiased about Young. I’m a Longhorn, and thus have a higher level of respect for him and his abilities than the average NFL fan. That said, I’ve done the research and looked into what he might do during the fantasy playoffs thanks to an email from a reader (just like you).

Originally, I was asked to compare the potential of Kyle Orton and Vince Young as a match-up play during the fantasy playoffs , filling in from a more promising fantasy starter during his bad weeks.

I’m not sure what to think of Orton on his way back from an ankle injury, but his schedule comparison side-by-side with Young puts Young's upside in perspective.

Orton fell off the charts last season when an ankle injury struck, which makes me want to avoid him, but he has been a solid backup fantasy quarterback for many teams this year. Against the Giants, the Broncos got it done by leaning on Knowshon Moreno, and that could continue to be the way they win.

Orton’s upcoming schedule looks a little rough at first sight…and again at second sight. The number in parenthesis is the opponent’s rank in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks from FF Today . Obviously, the lower the number, the more points they give to fantasy quarterbacks.

Orton – Week 13: @KC (4), 14: @IND (25), 15: OAK (21), 16: @PHI (17), 17: KC (4).

Young’s schedule is better, but can we count on him to deliver like he did against the Cardinals even in these cupcake match-ups?

Young – Week 13: @IND (25), 14: STL (12), 15: MIA (6), 16: SD (26), 17: SEA (9)

Let’s drop Week 17, assuming that you play your championship game in Week 16, and average those ranks during the fantasy playoffs , Weeks 14-16. In this case, the lower number would indicate be a more favorable schedule.

Orton : 21
VY : 15

That’s enough of a difference for me to project that Young would be the better start through Week 16. You could argue that Orton is a more traditional passer and a safer pick, but I just think the upside is there for Young to succeed.

No, I wouldn’t want to be forced to rely on Young in a pinch. But if your starter has a terrible match-up in the playoffs , or if you just lost Kurt Warner or Ben Roethlisberger for an unknown amount of time, Young wouldn’t be bad playoff insurance. He may even be worth spot-starting in Week 14 against the Rams.

So there you go. Detailed analysis with the Longhorn bias held back. Hook ‘em.

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Chris Johnson vs. Adrian Peterson: Why Is This Even an Issue?

Bryan Hollister — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:18:43 -0500

Quite a bit of talk is bandied about nowadays as to who is the better running back: Is it Adrian Peterson, the Vikings' powerhouse who wows crowds and worries defenders with his ability to hit the hole hard and gain yards after contact?

Or is it Chris Johnson, the fleet-of-foot phenom running for Tennessee who makes otherwise fast defensive backs look like they aren't even trying to catch him?

How does one decide?

We will, of course, have our favorites.

Titans' fans insist that there is no other back like Johnson, and they are justified in holding that opinion. His speed is otherworldly, he hits "gone" in about two steps, and he isn't even beginning to show signs of late-season fatigue.

Peterson, on the other hand, is a bruiser. While he can turn a fair rate of speed, he has the ability to find and hit the seam in the middle, burst through, and gain yardage he has no business gaining. At the goal line, the Vikings hand him the ball with confidence that he can score, evidenced by his 12 rushing touchdowns this year.

Now, I'm no dummy; I know full well that there are statisticians out there with much more ability, time, and access than I have who can refute the argument I am about to make at will. And that's the fun of running the numbers: Someone always shows up with something else to consider just when you think the job is done.

So, without any further ado, and no more gilding of the lily, let's begin, shall we?

Total Rushing Yards

This one is a no-brainer. Johnson leads all backs in the NFL with 1,396 yards on the ground. In fact, Peterson is not even in the top two in rushing yards; Steven Jackson of St. Louis has 36 more yards that Peterson, coming in at 1,120 to Adrian's 1,084.

Edge—Johnson

Average Yards Per Game

I know what you're thinking: "Why didn't you just include this in the last stat?" Because Johnson has started one more game than Peterson, that's why. All things being equal, that should give Peterson an advantage in this category, right?

But all things are not equal. Peterson still played in all 11 games so far, and once again Johnson wins this one running away, so to speak. Averaging 126.9 yards per contest, he far outpaces Peterson's 98.5 yards per effort.

Edge—Johnson

Yards Per Carry

Okay, you might be saying, "What about Adrian Peterson's ability to gain yards after contact? This has got to be one in his favor, doesn't it?"

Alas, you would be wrong. While Peterson is averaging a very respectable 4.7 yards per rush, Johnson bests him with a 6.4 yard average. For those not picking up on it, that means Johnson has done more work with fewer carries than Peterson; 13 fewer carries, to be exact.

Again, all things being equal, if Johnson had those other 13 carries (which he doesn't need, but just for fun lets look at the numbers), and was able to maintain the 6.4 yard average, then he would be sitting on nearly 1,500 yards. If that were so, would there be any doubt of his ability to break Dickerson's record?

Don't think so.

Edge—Johnson

Total Yards from Scrimmage

Both Peterson and Johnson are versatile backs; that is, if need be they can catch a pass and run with it, albeit typically out of a screen, so they are effectively just starting their runs from the flat instead of the backfield. So how do our two superstars fare here?

Peterson has 27 receptions for 233 yards, with his longest one being 44 yards. That's an average of 8.6 yards per catch. Not too shabby for a running back.

But hang on a minute. Johnson has 33 receptions for 294 yards, including a 69-yard completion that went for a touchdown.

In the same game, he had a second rushing touchdown of more than 50 yards.

Is a "Perfect" Super Bowl Wishful Thinking, or Can It Become a Reality?

Bryan Hollister — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:28:26 -0500

With New Orleans' win over the Patriots on Monday night, an interesting scenario is taking shape for the playoffs this year. With two teams at 11-0, and neither having to face the other the remainder of the year, there is potential for a matchup of two undefeateds in the Super Bowl.

Is this a crazy thought, or does it have a significant shot of coming to fruition?

In the AFC, Indianapolis has already clinched a playoff berth. With three more wins, they guarantee themselves the top seed in the playoffs, since no other team in the conference has fewer than three losses.

Garnering a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs, with the associated bye in the first round, is typically a significant advantage.

But does Indy have a shot at winning out?

The remaining opponents for the Colts have a combined record of 27-28. However, of their five remaining opponents, four teams are effectively in a must-win situation if they want to have any hope for a playoff bid.

Tennessee at 5-6 is probably the biggest long shot statistically, but the way they are playing right now, it would be foolish to rule them out completely.

There is also Jacksonville, who at 6-5 is in a virtual dog fight with Tennessee for second place in their division.

The teams split their series this year, so wins are critical; a loss by Jacksonville still gives them the lead in the tiebreaker, but two losses, coupled with Tennessee running the table, puts the Jaguars on the outside looking in.

Denver is safe at the fifth seed right now, but at 7-4 they are one loss away from potentially falling into a tie with three other teams at 6-5.

Also, not only did they split the series with San Diego—the current AFC West leader—but it is relatively safe to say that at least one of the three teams at 6-5 will win next week.

Drop a game, and Denver has to go to the tiebreaker just to have a shot at a wild card berth.

I can't speak for everyone, but I for one have given up trying to figure out how those darned things are figured. It's much simpler just to win outright and eliminate the guesswork.

Finally, the Jets at 5-6 are two games back from their division leaders, but still statistically have a shot. Ten wins might just be enough to make it to the playoffs this year, so tie-breakers are going to be key.

In other words, the road to the Super Bowl may indeed run through Indy this year, but they are going to have to fight to get to the end without a loss.

Over in the NFC are the high-flying New Orleans Saints. Monday night's game was indicative of how their season has gone: They faced a team that in recent years has been a tough opponent, and reduced them to an average squad at best.

And the remainder of their schedule doesn't exactly throw up any major roadblocks.

The Saints' remaining opponents boast a combined record of 22-33, with only one team posing a significant threat.

At 8-3, Dallas is on the road to a division title and cannot afford a single loss, lest they fall victim to the Philadelphia Eagles for NFC East supremacy.

The Redskins, Buccaneers, and Panthers are a mess; none of these teams have a shot, even remotely, at the postseason, and none of the three look to pose any difficulties for the Saints.

And Atlanta, while not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, trails New Orleans in their division and has already lost to the Saints once this year.

In other words, New Orleans' toughest opponent for the remainder of their season will be themselves. If they can stay focused, then 16-0 is a real possibility.

All things considered, it is probably a long shot to think that both Indy and New Orleans will make it to the postseason, much less the Super Bowl, with an unblemished record.

But hey, this has been a season of unprecedented events. Why not wish for one more?

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Dunlap, Robinson, and LSU's Troubles: Where's the Outrage, SEC Fans?

Joel Barker — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:36:32 -0500

My how a month changes things. It was only three short weeks ago that Lane Kiffin and three Tennessee Volunteers were publicly mocked and ridiculed at the thought of the freshmen holding up two men with a pellet gun.

Should there have been outrage? Absolutely!

Should there have been a public crucifixion of a coach who had pretty much nothing to do with it? Absolutely not.

Even I wrote about my discouragement with the apparent lack of rules for a bunch of freshmen at Tennessee. I still stand by the discouragement.

However, some on this and other sites decided to publish lies and edicts declaring that Lane Kiffin was something akin to Satan himself for not being there to hold the three fools' hands so they would not do something incredibly stupid.

Florida fans were absolutely giddy with this news. Georgia fans, oh they loved it. I would venture a guess that even some fans of the Mad Hatter in Baton Rouge were even pleased.

I know many a Bama fan that was enjoying the moment, although most of that fanbase showed restraint because they've been there before.

So I'm sure you can imagine my sheer amazement at the news of Carlos Dunlap's DUI arrest on Tuesday morning.

Carlos Dunlap. He's not a freshman. He's not some immature kid who has just realized his independence. No, he's an integral part of the No. 2 defense on the No. 1 team in the land.

According to some in the media, the quarterback of that team is the "greatest leader in the history of college football." According to some in the media, his coach is one of the best in the land.

And six days before the biggest game of the '09 season this guy is sleeping off a drunk in his car at 2:00 am. Wow. Just wow. Someone should tell the guy not to be behind the wheel while drunk, even if you are sleeping.

On the same day we hear from LSU that their program is under self-investigation for potential violations.

Not 24 hours earlier those same Bulldogs fans learned that one of their own freshmen, Montez Robinson, was arrested for underage possession of alcohol.

Yet, I do not see stories on this website with 10,000 reads and 400 comments proclaiming this to be the most egregious error in the history of the SEC. I do not see Mark Richt, Urban Meyer, or Les Miles burning in written effigy.

I wonder why that is? I wonder why there haven't been lies and innuendo thrown all over cyberspace like it's October of an election year.

I know why the outrage is not there. I understand completely.

I am not here to throw mud, stones, or any other compound object(s). I am here simply to state that those who call out other coaches and programs need to make sure their's is completely clean first.

The bottom line is that no one is completely clean. Not Florida, LSU, Georgia, or even Alabama. Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow can no more control a junior with a thirst for alcohol and good time than the Gainesville Police can.

LSU apparently couldn't control certain situations within it's recruiting circles. (Remember all those petty secondary violations that Tennessee reported?)

And Georgia could not keep a freshman away from partying at an age deemed too young by authorities.

I don't expect outrage now any more than I did when Lane Kiffin experienced his first bit of adversity at Tennessee. I do expect fans to be responsible and realize that this is the real world and things happen.

These things happen at every school in America—whether they be in the SEC, ACC, Big East, SWAC, MEAC, Big Sky, or MAAC.

Maybe next time something happens we can all express our disappointment without slinging more mud all over an already dirty landscape.

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Vols Will Try To Reverse Chick-Fil-A Misfortunes Against Virginia Tech

Ben Garrett — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:57:14 -0500

Although it won't be official for several days, it appears that Tennessee and Virginia Tech will square off in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta on New Year's Eve.

Multiple reports emerged on Tuesday placing the Vols in the bowl—which is played in the Georgia Dome and is televised on ESPN. The Chick-fil-A Bowl was the most logical bowling opportunity for Tennessee after the Vols were apparently snubbed by the Outback Bowl.

The bowl creates a matchup between the Vols and the Hokies that is sure to be highly anticipated. Separated only by a short drive along Interstates 40 and 81, talk of a Tennessee-Virginia Tech matchup has persisted since the Hokies surged onto the national scene under Frank Beamer. Bristol Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith even tried to negotiate a deal that would have seen the two teams square off in the infield of "The World's Fastest Half-Mile."

It's the sort of matchup that will have both Chick-fil-A and ESPN salivating. The Georgia Dome attendance record was set at a Chick-fil-A Bowl: More than 75,000 attended the 2006 edition, which pitted the Hokies against Georgia. The bowl has also produced two of ESPN's highest-rated bowl broadcast ratings. Each of those accomplishments could be repeated this year.

But if the Vols are to ring in the new year in celebration rather than sorrow, they will need to overcome some misfortunes in both the game and the building in which it is played.

Since Tennessee staged a second half comeback against Mississippi State in 1998, winning the SEC championship and sewing up a berth in the first-ever BCS National Championship Game, the Vols have suffered a jinx in the Georgia Dome.

In three appearances in the SEC Championship Game since the back-to-back conference titles in 1997 and '98, Tennessee has come up empty. None were more heartbreaking than the 2001 debacle. Fresh off a stunning upset of Florida, the 2nd-ranked Vols were poised to play for their second BCS title, but were surprised by No. 21 LSU in the SEC Championship Game, 31-20. Losses to Auburn (38-28 in 2004) and again to LSU (21-14 in 2007) followed.

The Vols haven't fared much better on the Georgia Dome hardwood of late. In 2008, Tennessee entered the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Atlanta as the top overall seed after finishing the regular season with a 14-2 mark in conference play. The Vols were upset by Arkansas, 92-91, in the semifinals of the tournament.

In 2007, Tennessee was upset by SEC West cellar dweller LSU, 76-67, in the first round of the tournament at the Georgia Dome.

In five other conference tournaments at the Georgia Dome since 1998, the Vols have never advanced past the second day of play. In both 1999 and 2000, Tennessee entered as the No. 1 seed from the East, only to be upset in the first game.

Then there have been the Chick-fil-A Bowl appearances at the Dome. Tennessee has twice played in the bowl since it moved to the Georgia Dome in 1991. Both performances were forgettable.

But for back-to-back October losses to Georgia and Auburn, Tennessee would have been undefeated in 2003. Led by senior quarterback Casey Clausen, the Vols turned in a memorable season, one that included a win over Florida, a thrilling, five-overtime victory over Alabama, and an upset of Miami at the Orange Bowl. Then came the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Snubbed by the Outback Bowl, No. 6 Tennessee went to the chicken sandwich bowl as the highest-ranked team to ever play in the bowl. Some might argue that the Vols never got off the bus. An unranked Clemson team dominated Tennessee, winning 27-14 in a major upset.

But even that performance was better than the one the year before. In 2002, Tennessee struggled to an 8-4 regular season, and was happy to earn a trip to the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Vols tangled with No. 15 Maryland in a game that was never close. Quarterback Scott McBrien put on a clinic, and the Terrapins defeated the Vols 30-3.

There haven't been many good things happen for the Vols in the Georgia Dome over the past decade. In fact, no one would blame Tennessee for celebrating if the Dome ceased to be a venue for post-season championships, tournaments, bowls and other sporting events.

But Tennessee's 21st Century misfortunes in the Georgia Dome match its misfortunes in the Chick-fil-A Bowl quite well. The Vols have made four appearances in the bowl (tied for 6th-most among all NCAA teams). Their only win came on Jan. 2, 1988—when the bowl was still known as the Peach Bowl and was played at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium.

Tennessee entered that game fresh off a 9-2-1 regular season that included a 20-20 tie of No. 3 Auburn. Ranked No. 17 in the nation, the Vols defeated Indiana 27-22 to wrap up a 10-win season with a Top 15 ranking.

Tennessee's other appearance in the bowl came in 1982, also at Fulton County Stadium. Carrying a 6-4-1 record and unranked, the Vols lost 28-22 to Iowa.

But Virginia Tech hasn't exactly had Chick-fil-A Bowl success to write home about, either. In three appearances in the bowl, the Hokies have only won once: a 25-24 win over North Carolina in 1986. Miami defeated the Hokies, 20-10, in 1981, and Georgia knocked off Beamer's squad in 2006, 31-24.

Tennessee and Virginia Tech may be a combined 2-5 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but that is hardly indicative of each program's success in the modern era of college football. And with that much tradition represented in the Georgia Dome this New Year's Eve, don't be surprised if the Chick-fil-A Bowl continues its recent success as one of the most-anticipated, most-watched non-BCS bowls.

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Tennessee to Play Virginia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl

Joel Barker — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:35:39 -0500

According to a the Knoxville News Sentinel, a source close to the situation has confirmed that Tennessee will play Virginia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta on New Year's Eve Night.

I predicted the Bowl to take Tennessee nearly two weeks ago, although Virginia Tech was not who I expected Tennessee to play.

Tennessee last met Virginia Tech in the 1995 Gator Bowl at the end of Peyton Manning's freshman year. The Vols won 45-23.

The game will be played at the Georgia Dome at 8:30pm on New Year's Eve.

The Chick-Fil-A bowl used to be known as the Peach Bowl.

The Vols last played in that bowl in 2002 and 2003. Both losses to Maryland and Clemson respectively.

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Tennessee's Titanic Turnaround Goes Beyond Vince Young

Dave Stanley — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:22:45 -0500

Let me clear the air, get it out of the way and say this: I am not a Vince Young hater and never have been.

Even during the season and a half where he was the backup quarterback after a dramatic benching, I knew that it would not, indeed, be the strange and bitter denouement to his career.

It was too early for him to be a bust; his talent would prove useful somewhere, if not in Tennessee.

However, as most of us who don't live under rocks or in caves know, his career has been revitalized since he was thrown back into the starting lineup. He's older—but not too much so—and wiser, displaying a maturity that many thought would never surface.

He's beating teams with his legs and arm, as evidenced by his late game heroics and southern-fried version of "The Drive" last Sunday.

And now, the Tennessee Titans, pure laughingstocks who looked up to the Cleveland Browns a mere six weeks ago, are on the fringes of the playoff hunt.

However, before the Vince Young bandwagon gets too full, I think that a point should be made—his resurgence, while a key component—is not the sole reason for the Titans' turnaround.

It was merely the spark. An important spark, yes, but not the be all end all.

Hear me out on this.

Remember the first six weeks of the season, how mystifying and baffling Tennessee's winless start was? With 20 of 22 starters returning, they theoretically should have picked up where they left off, especially with the same solid proven coach.

So, the talent was there. As mentioned, the "better than their record" quotes were beginning to sound like, well, a broken record. This was not a team that lacked key personnel; there wasn't any snarky "one receiver away from the Super Bowl" badinage.

But the game still has to be played and the Titans weren't playing it well. After the week three loss to the New York Jets, it became increasingly obvious that a change of some sort was needed.

Of course, that change wouldn't come for three more games. There was a fine line that coach Jeff Fisher was treading, one that still might come to haunt the Titans as they make their surprising playoff push.

Instead of shaking things up, he opted to stay the course. At the time, he deemed a quarterback change to be a move of desperation. Truth be told, you can't really blame the guy, he had a 50/50 chance and did the best he could.

Of course, in hindsight, it's obvious what he should have—and ultimately did—do, which brings us full circle in my argument.

While happy days are here again in Titan Nation, the fact remains that Young's insertion in the lineup and subsequent stellar play,is not the sole reason the Titans rediscovered their winning ways.

He was simply the right guy with the right style of play to help the offense play to its potential.

And that's not to belittle his accomplishments either. Please hold off on those "how can you say that?" emails. His athleticism, maturity, and improved pocket presence have payed great dividends.

Yet, this is obviously not a team that relies on him the way the Indianapolis Colts rely on Peyton Manning or the New Orleans Saints rely on Drew Brees.

The offense runs through running back Chris Johnson. He simply needed a speedy quarterback to take the burden off of him, even though he still did well with said burden.

And it's a funny thing, winning; it has a ripple effect. In addition to the aforementioned offensive improvement that Young sparked, the defense has begun to play better as well.

Granted, the Titans probably won't produce as many Pro Bowlers as they did last year on that side of the ball, but judging by their renewed gusto, confidence has proven to be contagious.

Bottom line? Young, who should be the runaway winner of the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award, was the catalyst for change in Tennessee, not the sole reason.

Of course, that could change if the Titans increasingly find themselves in positions where he has to use his talents alone and he succeeds.

But at this point, their good fortunes should be more so attributed to everyone playing as well as they are capable.

Giving Young all the credit makes for a good headline, yes.

But his story is still being written.

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Vince Young: Can the Ultimate Winner Help Your Fantasy Team?

PJ Ross — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:28:28 -0500

Fantasy football playoff time is fast approaching and frantic owners nationwide are scrambling in search for that one player who can put them over the top for the stretch run.

Some have turned to Vince Young for help, who is undefeated since taking over the 0-6 Tennessee Titans in Week Eight.

Young's ownership went up five-and-a-half percent in ESPN.com leagues in the past week on the heels of what is now a five-game winning streak and is now at 15 percent overall.

But don't be fooled into an impulse singing after his 19-point output on Sunday.

Consider that nine of his 27 passes on Sunday were completed on the final drive, and in recent weeks leading up to Sunday he hasn't done much in terms of racking up fantasy points (no more than 13 in his previous four starts).

Young's attempts have steadily been on the rise, starting at 18 in Week Eight and catapulting to 43 in Week 12, allowing him to amass 387 yards through the air in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Yet those passes attempted will regress back to around 25 per game, mainly because of the team's reliance on Chris Johnson to carry the workload and eat up turf through the ground game.

Johnson is one of the main drawbacks for acquiring the versatile quarterback because he steals points from Young like a middle school bully steals lunch money.

The young running back has absolutely exploded this season after what already was a breakout 2008 campaign, becoming the head-over-heels fantasy leader amongst non-quarterbacks.

His 220 points for the season are 28 higher than Maurice Jones-Drew, the second ranked non-QB, and puts him 35 points in front of the consensus No. 1 pick Adrian Peterson.

Obviously Johnson's legs take away points from Young, but they also give him the ability to hang in the pocket longer due to the respect a defense must have for the talented running back.

It opens up the field for play-action passes because the threat of handing off to Johnson keeps the linebackers honest, but it also cuts into Young's rushing attempts, which spiked in Week Eight (12 carries for 30 yards) and Week 11 (11 carries for 73 yards).

Based on these trends, I wouldn't expect Young to put up the lofty rushing numbers we were accustomed to seeing from him in the past.

Instead, the Titans now seem comfortable with him in the pocket and Johnson as the runner, and aside from the occasional option play or quarterback-keeper, Young isn't being asked to win games with his legs like he was in his rookie season.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that although Young has thrown only one interception since becoming the starter, he is still yet to throw for more than one touchdown in any given contest and he only has one rushing touchdown this season.

This leaves Young far more likely to hover in the low-teens range for fantasy points and unless you play in a two-quarterback league, he just doesn't put up the type of numbers that translate to fantasy victories.

So while Vince Young can certainly win games on the field, he might not be the best man to turn to as a fantasy savior off the field.

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With Vince Young in the Limelight, Johnson Quietly Closing on Record

Bryan Hollister — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:54:53 -0500

He dodges. He stutter-steps. He fakes left, then darts right.

And before you know it, Chris Johnson has eluded you, passed you like you are standing still, and scored. Sometimes from deep in his own territory.

So why isn't he front-page news?

Because he plays on the same team as Vince Young, that's why.

Young's unbelievable resurgence in leading the Tennessee Titans on an unprecedented comeback from an 0-6 start is certainly newsworthy; not only did doubting football fans not expect him to be able to do it, but no one could have guessed the Titans would be one game back of contending—seriously contending—for a wildcard spot at this point.

Yet here they are, and Vince Young is rightfully basking in the glow of the limelight.

But he hasn't shouldered the burden alone. Chris Johnson deserves at least some of the credit.

While the Titans were losing, he was the lone bright spot in a cloud of controversy. With two noteable exceptions against Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, Johnson rushed for right at or over 100 yards a game, averaging 99.3 yards per game for the first six weeks.

In his last five games, however, he has turned up the wick, picking up better than 130 yards in each contest and averaging—averaging —an astounding 160 yards per contest.

Unprecedented, to say the least. Record-setting at best.

For those of you counting, thats 6.5 yards every time he touches the ball. His closest competitor averages 4.7 yards a carry. Not shabby, but not enough.

Johnson also has three rushing touchdowns of over 85 yards, and six touchdowns overall of 50 yards or more, including a 69-yard reception. In one season.

In total yards, he is ahead of where Eric Dickerson was at this point in the season when the rushing record of 2,105 yards was set in 1984 (for the record, Johnson wasn't even born then). He has also tied Dickerson and former Oiler great Earl Campbell as the only three players in history with six consecutive games with 125 yards or more. I would expect that record to fall next week against Indianapolis.

In fact, let's go ahead and call that a record too; no other running back in the Super Bowl era has had five consecutive games at better than 130 yards per game, at least as far as I can find out.

Want another record? He is the only player in league history to have six consecutive games of 125 yards while averaging five yards or better per carry, besting the great Jim Brown by one. So far.

The only fly in the ointment is that Dickerson averaged 131.6 yards per game in his record-setting season; at the moment, Johnson is sitting at only 126.9 yards per game.

In order to take the title, he will need nearly 142 yards per game over the next five weeks, and that is just to tie the record, not break it.

However, with five games left on the schedule against defenses that rank no better than 12th against the run, this is not an unmanageable task. With defenses having to account for the scrambling abilities of Vince Young, Johnson should have lanes aplenty to run through.

And of course, there is his blazing speed to account for. A 4.2-second 40-yard-dash? Please. The only way you catch him is if he lets you.

All in all, the best thing that could happen to Johnson is for Vince Young to continue his success, at least for the next five weeks. With all the attention elsewhere, he is likely to slip under everyone's radar and make off with Dickerson's mantle.

Then we could have yet another Music City Miracle to go along with the first two, and possibly the one where Tennessee runs the table on the season and makes the playoffs.

Wouldn't that be a season for the ages?

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Tennessee Vols Football: An '09 Retrospective of Ups vs. Downs

Joel Barker — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:53:59 -0500

I personally cannot remember a season that featured more ups and downs than the one that the Tennessee Vols and coach Lane Kiffin just completed.

Some might say '01 compared slightly. That's partially true. From the heartbreak of the last minute loss to Georgia to the ecstasy of defeating Florida in the swamp back down to the depths of despair in losing to LSU in the SEC title game.

As rough a ride as that season was, I have to say that this one has been even more-so. I think having a rookie head coach take over for a living legend has as much to do with that as anything.

The '09 season brought with it anticipation like Vols fans had not seen in nearly a decade. There were other seasons that Tennessee was ranked highly and hyped even higher, but even those pale in comparison to the "Lane Train's" inaugural ride around the SEC.

Many of us knew coming in to this season that the coaching change was not about this season. '09 was to be just the first step in a hopeful championship odyssey.

With eight games at home, I felt that the Vols would finish 8-4. Seven wins would be acceptible and should be considered a step in the right direction.

The Vols finished with seven wins and looked better through much of that process.

And a process it was.

Vols fans were giddy with the season opening win over Western Kentucky. Forget that Western Kentucky is in it's first official season in the FBS. Forget that many of their players would not make it on most FBS rosters.

Scoring 63 points in their first game after last season's miserable offensive showing was something to be proud of.

That was true until UCLA came to Knoxville. "It's time for revenge" I wrote. UCLA never should have won the Labor Day matchup in '08—this time the Lane Train was going to get them. Wrong. The Vols lost 19-15 and Jonathan Crompton looked every bit like the Jonathan Crompton of '08.

Score one for the Up's and one for the Down's.

The next week was the annual grudge match with Florida. This time it was supposed to be a complete and utter dismantling of all that Lane Kiffin and the Vols had worked for. Wrong.

Tennessee kept it close for much of the game and brought it to within 10 in the final minutes. Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer didn't get their wish of putting up 60. I was pleased with the moral victory when compared to the loss to UCLA the week before.

I consider this one a half-point each for team Up and team Down. That's 1.5 to 1.5.

Ohio payed a visit to Neyland stadium the following week and the Vols looked pretty much atrocious throughout the game. There were issues on special teams and the offense struggled to get going all night long. But a win is a win.

Another half-point each for Up and Down.

Auburn came next. The game started quite positively for Tennessee when Nu'Keese Richardson took off on the first play of the game for a 40-yard run out of the Nu'Gun package (A package that wouldn't rear it's ugly head until a few weeks later at a Knoxville gas station).

The Vols would eventually miss a field goal on that drive, the first of many future problems with the kicking game, and Auburn took off.

Crompton again looked terrible in that first half. However, once he was utilized in the hurry up offense late in the third quarter, Crompton actually started to look like a quarterback.

Auburn won 26-22 in a score that was actually closer than the game really was.

Score one for the Down's and a half-point for the Up's based on the Vols fourth quarter performance. Down's lead 3-2.5.

The hated Georgia Bulldogs came to town the following week. The game featured a couple of the up's and down's in the first half as Tennessee allowed a kickoff return. That was all erased, however, when Jonathan Crompton playaction passed his way to Lane Kiffin's first SEC win. Tennessee won 45-19 and Vols fans were giddy again.

Score 1.5 for the Up's. Up's lead 4-3 after five games.

Then came the annual Alabama rivalry. The Tide was ranked No. 1 at the time and Tennessee was a 17-point underdog.

Tennessee held the Tide out of the endzone all day. The Vols would force a late fumble, the first in Mark Ingram's career, and would drive for a last minute touchdown to make the score 12-10.

Then the Vols got the onside kick. Jonathan Crompton would put the Vols into position for the gamewinning field goal with three seconds remaining. A 44-yard attempt was all the seperated the Vols and instant respect for their new coach and the program. Unfortunately Terrance Cody had other plans.

The blocked field goal took this from a definite Up to a resounding Down.

5-4 Down's take the lead.

Sitting at 3-4 after losing to the No. 1 team in the country on a blocked field goal the Vols could have packed it in. With No. 24 South Carolina coming, however, they found more resolve than we fans could have imagined.

Tennessee forced three first half turnovers en route to a 31-13 blowout. The worst beating a Steve Spurrier-coached team had received at the hands of the Vols.

Score two for the Up's. 6-5 Up's lead.

The next week was homecoming versus Memphis. The game was over by halftime. Tennessee won 56-28. Score another for the Up's, 7-5.

At this exact point many, including myself, declared the Vols the hottest team in the SEC. Florida and Alabama were scraping by their opponents. Tennessee had just beaten two respected SEC opponents by a combined 44 points and played No. 1 'Bama to within it's final breath.

Next came the biggest down of the season. Nu'Keese Richardson and Mike Edwards decided to create their own "Nu'gun" experience by holding up three men in a gas station parking lot in Knoxville with a pellet gun.

Janzen Jackson was there, but was apparently oblivious to the attempted armed robbery as he was inside the store at the time.

All three were charged and booked for a night in jail. The charges against Jackson were later dropped, but the other two were kicked off the team.

Score a two-spot for the Down's. 7-7.

Of course that incident happened roughly 50 hours prior to a visit to Ole Miss. The Vols got McClustered to death in Oxford. The team wasn't even close to ready and the issue just days before clearly had it's effect in the 42-17 beatdown.

Two more point for the Down's.

Thankfully time heals most wounds—even the incredibly stupid one's. Vanderbilt came to town and did their annual job of padding the Vols stats and win column.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the season came as the game was winding down. Senior DE Wes Brown intercepted a Vanderbilt pass and rumbled into the endzone on his two weak and hobbled knees for his first and only collegiate touchdown.

Score two for the Up's not only because of the win, but the added bonus that the win brought bowl eligibility. 8-8 tie.

Which brings us to Thanksgiving weekend.

Kentucky, fresh off it's first win over the 'Dawgs in Athens in over 30 years, was primed and ready to stop the Vols 24-year win streak over the Big Blue. The rabid fans and the team was hyped and ready to go.

The Vols survived the first half and dominated the second half. Still as the Vols were trying to salt away the clock, TE Luke Stocker fumbled in Kentucky territory to set up the gametying, overtime forcing field goal.

Tennessee's defense would not be denied and forced a missed field goal on Kentucky's first OT possession. Tennessee would score a touchdown six plays later to continue the streak and improve the Vols final record to 7-5.

Score two big one's for the Up's.

The Up's have it 10-8 for '09.

When changing coaches and forging a new identity for a program having more up's than down's, or more wins than losses, is never a bad thing. If you don't believe me just talk to a Michigan fan for about five minutes. Your opinion will change.

'09 was supposed to be the first step, the foundation, of a building process. After 12 games I'd say mission accomplished.

Still, a 13th game remains. Where it will be played and against whom is anyone's guess at this point. The Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin or Northwestern; the Cotton Bowl vs. Oklahoma State; and the Chick-Fil-A Bowl vs. Virginia Tech are all very real possibilities.

No matter who the final opponent or where the final venue of '09 is the first step will still be complete and it will still be considered a success.

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Tennessee Titans: A Tale of Two Seasons

Dave Stanley — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:24:25 -0500

Don't look now, but the Tennessee Titans are one of the hottest teams in the NFL.

And the darndest thing is, their current winning streak isn't merely about pride and moral victory.

They actually have a shot at the postseason.

Not to get presumptuous or cocky, but if the Titans could pull off such a feat, it would be the stuff movies are made of (apologies, of course, to the Baltimore Ravens' Michael Oher, the inspiration for The Blind Side).

Then again, there's a lot of football left to be played. But Sunday's dramatic victory over the Arizona Cardinals officially cemented the Titans' status as "The Team That No One Wants to Play."

No, their record isn't as flashy as that of the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, or Indianapolis Colts.

But one would be hard pressed to find a team that's playing better football right now—or one that's more confident.

A few short months ago, no one would have predicted that the Titans' rematch with the Colts this week would be, well, "marquee."

Throw in the fact that Indy has less and less to play for—they clinched the AFC South crown Sunday—and Tennessee just might be well on their way to second place in the division.

Then again, much has to happen to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans for that to happen.

Yet the fact that this article is even being written is a testament to one of the most wacky, topsy-turvy seasons ever to be turned in by a franchise.

We've all heard about teams' parity-induced reversals of fortune that happen from one year to the next. But to have such a complete turnaround in the middle of a season, in a sport that plays 16 games, was thus far unheard of.

It's one thing to fight one's way out of a mere slump.

But Tennessee wasn't in a slump; their season was flat out over. The only questions to be answered were who the new quarterback and coach were going to be in 2010.

And now, here they sit, with their name in the annual playoff prediction lists that inevitably pop up every December. Granted, they're on the fringe of said lists, but to even be mentioned after the way they started things off is remarkable in and of itself.

It's a virtual case study in instantly realized potential. In the span of a few games, they all but eliminated the "they're better than their record" clichés.

It's been said innumerable times before, but in the NFL, it's not about who starts the fastest, but who gets hot at the right time (see: last year's 9-7 Cardinals Super Bowl team).

However, six straight losses, regardless of whether they win out, will be hard to overcome. They will need some help from other teams.

But, the months of November and December usually expose fast-starting pretenders. As long as they keep up their winning ways, the Titans might, just might, still be around come mid-January.

In light of Sunday's gutsy, mature victory against Arizona, it's becoming harder and harder to remember the 0-6 Titans.

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Tennessee Titans: A Tale of Two Teams, a Mutiny, or Something Else?

Eddie Garrison — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:01:34 -0500

The Tennessee Titans, after starting the season of with a very disappointing and surprising 0-6, have run off five straight wins to get their record to 5-6 and given themselves some sort of hope to even, dare I say, make the playoffs.

But who is this team?

Where did they come from?

Where did this play come from?

Is this not the same Titans team and players that couldn't catch the ball when Kerry Collins threw it to them?

Is this not the same Titans team that had zero yards passing against New England in that 59-0 blowout earlier this season?

Is this not the same team that said Kerry Collins was their best chance to win games?

Is it because of the quarterback play of Vince Young?

Partly. Is this the same Vince Young that no more than a year ago was hiding from his team mates, coaches, and even owner because his feelings were hurt?

Now we all know Chris Johnson is playing out of his mind right now and is just running all over teams. But that can’t be the total reason. Vince Young is playing good right now, but for how long? No one really knows.

What happens when they do have an off game at home and the "boo birds" come out again in Nashville? Will he run away again, and force people to call 911 to try and find him?

Speculation, of course.

Let’s look at what the Titans are doing better on their 5-0 run than they were doing on their 0-6 run.

It’s very simple to me; there is one stat that tells the story of their turn around—Defense.

When the Titans lost their first six games, they gave up a combined 198 points against, while only scoring 84 total points.

Now, in their current five game winning streak, they have given up only 91 points while scoring 145. That is 107 less points given up in the past five games than they gave up in their first six.

They have also scored 91 more points in their last five games than they did in their first six.

That is a huge turn around on points allowed. Also, during their 0-6 run, they were scoring a dismal 14 points per game while giving up an average of 33 points.

Now, in their current five game winning streak, they are giving up only 18.2 points per game while scoring an average of 29.

That is a staggering statistical turn around and the reason for the Titans turn of good fortune.

Is it all because of Vince Young's play? No.

You can look at it that way, but the simple fact is that the defense is not letting the score get out of control early. This allows Vince Young to run the offense they want, by running the ball and setting up the play action, instead of playing from behind and trying to dig themselves out of a huge hole early on.

Young is playing very good right now, but one has to wonder where these players were earlier this season, when Collins was calling the signals.

Would an NFL player actually drop a ball on purpose in hopes of getting the other quarterback into the game? I would certainly hope and think not. They are all professionals here.

I am NOT saying that is what happened, nor am I pointing a finger at any Titan's player here so please do not take that out of context.

But it seems very strange to me, and I am sure to others as well, that is this the same team Collins had and they went 0-6. Then Vince Young comes in and they have yet to lose a game.

Did the Tennessee receivers finally remember how to catch the ball?

Did the Titans defense finally remember how to tackle?

There are very interesting things happening with this team in Nashville. How can they be so inept on offense and defense when Collins was in, and now be so precise and cunning with Young as the starter?

Was there really a JFK-like conspiracy happening in the locker room against Collins? Obviously Bud Adams and Jeff Fisher through their first six games thought that Collins gave them the best chance to win.

Apparently not true, as their record now shows.

Personally, I believe it to be a combination of a fresh start for the team with Young at quarterback, and the defense shaped up and is playing great ball now.

Titan’s fans, I ask you. What was the turnaround of this team?

Is it Young? Is it coaching? Is it the defense? Was it a mutiny on Collins? What...?

One thing is for sure, conspiracy, bad play to good play, or whatever happened, five straight wins will definitely turn some heads in this league and this is one 6-5 team no one is looking forward to playing right now.

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Con-Vince-ing Performance: Vince Young's Leadership of Titans Cannot Be Denied

Lloyd Vance — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:13:37 -0500

After Vince Young’s breakout career-high 387-yard passing performance in the Tennessee Titans' last-second 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals, including throwing the game-winner with no time left on the clock, everyone needs to a look back in time to a crucial moment earlier this season.

Let’s go back to Week Seven of the 2009 NFL season. The Titans were on their bye week after enduring probably the most humiliating loss in the NFL this season in Week Six, a 59-0 pummeling by the New England Patriots.

In the disastrous loss that took the former 2008 AFC South champs (13-3) to the depths of being called “The Most Disappointing Team in the NFL”—sixth straight loss to open the season—a possible light switch clicked in the head of Titans head coach Jeff Fisher.

After former Titans starting quarterback Kerry Collins had one of the worst performances of any starting quarterback in NFL history (finishing with passing numbers 2-of-12 for minus-seven yards, one INT, and a QB rating of 4.9—probably the lowest ever), late in the game, Fisher decided to insert the 2006 NFL Rookie of the Year, QB Vince Young, into the game.

Young had not played much before that game in the snow because he had lost his “swagger” in 2008 due to some well-documented problems during and after the Titans’ season opener and quickly became a footnote as the Titans rose to the playoffs under Collins. All during the 2008 season, Young had endured arrows that he was too sullen and selfish to be the leader of the Titans again.

But in the cold, ice, and snow of New England that day (Oct. 18), Young clearly started to heat up. He became a team-first player as he swallowed his ego and pride to enter a no-win situation in a blowout game gone awry. He finished with pedestrian numbers: 0-of-2 for zero yards and one INT plus two rushes for minus-one yard.

V.Y.’s numbers in New England that day didn’t even matter after he showed some long-awaited maturity. With questions swirling around the Titans’ sinking ship at the time and Collins underperforming, before the cameras in the locker room after the humiliating loss, Young basically said “I will do anything that the coaching staff and team asks of me.”

Those words sounded very cliché at the time, but Young was very serious that he just wanted the opportunity to show that he was still the same player who led the University of Texas to the 2005 National Championship. The third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft just wanted a chance to show that he was still a playmaker in the NFL and not the perceived malcontent potential bust that many were painting him to be.

While many pointed to his 2008 struggles and poor performance against the Patriots as signs that Young would soon be on another team in 2010, a small contingent, including yours truly, said give the former college football legend a “legitimate” shot to prove he could still lead the Titans once again.

During the Titans' time away to heal during their Week Seven bye, many were wondering when Fisher would give V.Y. a chance to give the team a much-needed spark. To be honest with you, why not, considering that many NFL talking heads had predicted that the Titans’ 2009 campaign was already over.

However, Fisher continued to be coy and still talked about Collins (completed 54.8 percent of his passes with five TDs and eight INTs) as the Titans' man under center.

Then stepped in the one man whose opinion matters more than Fisher’s when it comes to the Tennessee Titans. Owner Bud Adams made it clear he wanted Young to replace Collins.

“I have been wanting (Fisher) to play Vince Young more because Collins has been having his problems out there,” Adams said. “I just think we need to find out how well (Young) can do.”

Fisher finally relented when he saw that the new and improved Young was looking like his former mentor and hero, the late Steve McNair, in practices and in the locker room. Young had his head in the playbook and his feet firmly on the ground as he embraced possibly his last chance to be the Titans' starting quarterback.

Some doubted Young, but I knew the player that I had interviewed way back during the 2005 Heisman presentation—competitive fire burning in his eyes —had the gumption to show the world that he was still a “winner.” Young had won at every level he had ever played in from high school to college to the NFL (18-11 in 29 starts at the time), and now it was time to remind everyone.

Even after the Houston, Texas native led the Titans to a 30-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week Eight for Tennessee’s first victory of the 2009 season, there were no “I told you so” moments from the now humble quarterback. Young stayed grounded and kept marching on from there, and it didn’t matter that he had just endured 22 games without starting.

Fast-forward to Week 12 in Tennessee. The Titans are down by a score of 17-13 late in the fourth quarter to the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals and have 99 yards to cover with only two minutes and 37 seconds left on the clock.

Sure, Young had led the Titans to four straight wins over the past four weeks, including a Monday night thriller over the Houston Texans in Week 11, but this was too much of a daunting task for V.Y....right.

In the final moments, Young answered his critics with not only his legs, but his arm and mind as well. Young (27-of-43, 387 YDS, one TD, and no INTs) capped off an 18-play, 99-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to leaping rookie receiver Kenny Britt in the back of the end zone as time expired.

The impressive part of the game-winning drive was the determination of the Titans’ starter. Young (23-11 as an NFL starter) completed 10 of 16 passes for 94 yards and ran for another five while converting three fourth downs on the drive, including the winning touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the Cardinals’ 10.

It must have been deja vu all over again for Cardinals starter Matt Leinart, who had lost the 2006 Rose Bowl to Young when they were both college hot shots for USC and Texas respectively, as No. 10 left the field with another comeback victory in his hands.

Young had just won his ninth consecutive start going back to 2007, and he is now a perfect 5-0 as the Titans' starter this season. But as the Titans’ new unquestioned leader pointed out after the game, it was a huge “team” win.

“As the Tennessee Titans, I feel we fought to the finish,” Young said. Indeed, it was a miraculous win for a franchise that has seem some great finishes.

An almost stunned Fisher said in his post-game press conference, “You guys don’t mind if I sit down and do this, do you? OK. WOW! What a great finish! We’ve had some finishes around here, but I can’t remember one like that. Just a tremendous finish.”

The Titans are now 5-6 and right in the middle of the AFC’s wild card hunt—remaining games @IND, STL, MIA, SD, and @SEA—after almost no one but themselves thought they were still in the race.

Young, RB Chris Johnson (his performance during the Titans’ five-game winning streak cannot also be forgotten—on a pace for over 2,000 yards rushing), and a rejuvenated defense have led the Titans back into contention, and it will be an interesting finish in Nashville.

However, you won’t hear Young pounding his chest over the last-second win over the Cardinals or any of the other Titans’ four wins during their current winning streak. I will for him...“Ha, ha, ha...told you so.” But you cannot deny the spark and energy that V.Y. has provided a team that was formerly on life support this season.

“I thought Vince played great,” Leinart said after the game. “He made plays in that last series, so hats off to him. I thought our defense played phenomenally; he just made some plays.”

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

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OMG!: Vince Young Drives for 99, Tennessee Titans Win Fifth Straight

Bryan Hollister — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:43:43 -0500

Chris Johnson had another 150-plus yard effort in the matchup Sunday afternoon between the Tennessee Titans and the Arizona Cardinals, including an 85-yard rush for a touchdown in the second half.

But if you watched the same Titans game I did, then you're probably thinking, "Big, fat, hairy deal; did you see that catch?!?!?"

The catch I am referring to, of course, is the game-winning catch reeled in by rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt. After starting on their own one-yard line, the Tennessee Titans, led by resurgent quarterback Vince Young, drove 90 yards to the Arizona nine-yard line. With time running out and a touchdown needed to win, they looked like they were facing their first loss in the last five games.

They had already had to convert on 4th-and-long twice in the drive, both times on laser-accurate passes by a surprisingly efficient "Pocket Vince." In fact, Young had played well in the pocket all day; He really had no choice, as the Cardinals had done a fabulous job of keeping him there the entire game.

Arizona had him there again, 4th-and-goal from the nine-yard line, with four seconds remaining in the game.

Then it happened.

For only the second time in the game, Young escaped the pocket, scrambled out, and then threw a high dart to the middle of the end zone.

Enter Kenny Britt. Elevating high above the five players surrounding him, Britt hauled in the pass, took a hit on the way down, and tucked the ball away securely to score the final touchdown of the game with no ticks left on the clock.

The stadium erupted, as it should have.

Britt's reception to score the game winner was sweet redemption from the previous series. After catching a 53-yard bomb from Young, Britt was blindsided, fumbling the ball and appearing to put a dagger in the heart of the Titans hopes of a come-from-behind win.

But Vince Young and company would have none of it. After the defense gave them one more shot (no thanks to punt returner Kevin Kaesviharn, who seems to have developed an aversion to catching punts), the offense took over at the one-yard line. Playing like a seasoned pro, Young calmly stood in the pocket on the Titans 99-yard final drive and continued to prove to his detractors that he is more than just a scrambler.

He's still young and he will still make mistakes from time to time, but with each passing game, Young learns just a little bit more about what it means to be a professional quarterback.

His decision-making improves with each series. His accuracy is vastly improved. His pocket presence is beginning to take shape. That defensive coordinators find it necessary to contain him there lends credence to his ability to gain yards with his legs.

And it would seem that keeping him inside might not be as detrimental as one might think; Young threw for 387 yards and a touchdown against Arizona Sunday.

With this win, the Titans pull that much closer to pulling off the improbable: a 10-game streak to finish out the season and make the playoffs.

But with Chris Johnson running around like wildfire, and Vince Young continuing to step up his game, the improbable is beginning to look possible.

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Is Vince Young's Resurgence Enough To Keep Him in Tennessee?

Dave Stanley — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:53:32 -0500

If anything, this is a good problem for the Tennessee Titans to have.

A few months ago, the burning question in Nashville was who the Titans would draft in the wake of what was sure to be a disastrous season.

The incumbent, Kerry Collins, was deemed washed up. He was essentially a graybeard that had used up all of his luck and opportunities.

And we all know the story of his then-backup, the much-maligned and embattled Vince Young. Most viewed him as a bust.

The best case scenario for his move to the starting lineup was for him to increase his value in a possible trade.

Now, however, the tide has turned, as Young's inspired play as of late has Tennessee on a four game winning streak. Whether or not he's directly or indirectly affected their reversal of fortune is debatable.

But on thing is true: He's looking more and more like his Texas Longhorn self. Granted, his numbers will never be confused with Peyton Manning's.

But his patience, poise and, of course, speed, have given opposing defenses fits and the Titans new life.

So while one burning question has been answered, another one has been posed: Is all of it enough for Tennessee to go back to 2006's Plan A, and name him the indefinite starter for the future?

Or is he merely on a lucky streak? Most signs point to the former scenario, given his healthy new attitude. Remember, there was another scrambling quarterback for the franchise a few years ago who just so happened to develop into a MVP pocket passer.

His name? Steve McNair. Once his game developed, the "Dare McNair" defenses of the old AFC Central became obsolete.

True, the comparison isn't exactly parallel. McNair never pouted when booed, nor did his exhibit quasi-suicidal behavior in the aftermath. But Young's exhibited a maturity that's rarely been seen from him this season.

Most agree that his time on the bench behind Kerry Collins was good for his maturation, for both his football IQ and himself.

If the season ended today, the aforementioned question about Young's future would be a tough one. However, he is arguably in control of his own destiny. Because the more he wins and the better he plays, the more this becomes a no brainer for the Titans' front office.

Barring any meltdowns, he should be given the keys to the franchise; this is not the same old Vince.

Perhaps this time next year, we'll be discussing how big of a new contract he should be getting.

Time will tell.

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Nashville Predators: One of the Hottest Teams in the NHL

Mark Willoughby — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:06:36 -0500

A team that had once been written off, the Nashville Predators came back to defeat Colorado 4-3 in overtime in the Pepsi Center for their seventh consecutive victory and 12th win in their last 15 games. A team that was dead last in the NHL after a 3-6-1 start is now sixth in the Western Conference on the strength of this run and now are 7-2 in the month of November.

This streak has occurred because the team has bought in to the philosophy of Head Coach Barry Trotz. Being well-prepared to play is a trait that Trotz and his staff have executed well over the years and have emphasized this season. Not having marquee talent means that this team has to be well prepared each night to be competitive.

He has set this team up to play to its strengths—tough defense, solid goal tending, and opportunistic scoring. Shoot the puck, crash the net, create opportunities—nothing fancy, but when played as coached will lead to wins. And this team is winning because they are executing this strategy to perfection.

This team is winning because the power play is starting to click. The Predators are 12-0 when they score a PP goal. After a pathetic start, the power play is getting traffic in front of the net, good movement, and good shots. Last night, J. P. Dumont put the Predators on the board first after driving the net and taking a nice feed from Shea Weber to beat a defenseless Craig Anderson.

This team is winning because players that were counted on to produce are starting to consistently do so. Marcel Goc scored the Predators' second goal when Martin Erat drove the net and drew the defense to him. Anderson was forced to play Erat's drive to the net, and he slid a pass to Goc, who fired it in to an open net.

This team is winning because the big guns on the team are producing. Shea Weber tied the game at three in the third with another blast from the blue line that beat Anderson for his sixth goal of the season.

Weber has a booming shot, and when he puts it on net, he creates havoc for the opponent. Jason Arnott had two assists for the night for his fifth point in four games, and the Captain continues to be a force on the ice for the Predators.

The guys that were expected to produce offensively are producing—consistently—and this is leading to goals and wins.

This team is winning because of heart. David Legwand, he of the invisible start this season, has arrived with a vengeance and scored the game winner last night. Legwand has bounced back from a horrific start to the season and has played like he is capable.

It would have been easy for him to hang his head and call the season a bust, but he didn't. He fought through his slump and has been arguably the best player on the ice over the last five games. His defensive play has been stellar, and now his offensive play has caught up to the rest of his game.

This team is winning because they are resilient. Resiliency is a quality that Trotz and his coaching staff constantly preach. There will be times when what happens on the ice doesn't go your way, but it is imperative to believe in your system, believe in your team mates, and believe you can win the game.

The Predators fell behind the Avalanche 3-2 in the second period after beginning the period up 2-0. They never wavered in their effort and tied the game late in the third. They stormed the Avalanche net in overtime, and the effort resulted in a win. This team believes that whatever happens, they can win the game. That is a great attitude that has translated in to confident play on the ice.

This is not the most talented team in the NHL by any stretch. This is, however, a team that believes in itself as a whole; that believes in each man wearing the Predator sweater that takes the ice; and believes in the coaches that have prepared them for each game.

This team is now coming to the ice confident and ready to play every night, believing they can win against anyone. And that belief is translating in to wins.

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