Vince Young: Titanic Help Needed

Heisman Runner-up. National Champion. Rookie of the Year.

Titans quarterback Vince Young has been one of the most exciting and successful quarterbacks in recent history. During his time at Texas, he set numerous school and NCAA records while leading the Longhorns to a 30-2 record, two BCS bowl appearances, and the school's first national title in 35 years.

At 6'5" and 230 pounds, he is an imposing figure who comes across as a god among mortals, a man among boys. He possesses a rocket for an arm and runs like a gazelle.

His first year with the Titans was unforgettable, as he picked the team up from the depths of the NFL and nearly put them in the playoffs. His knack for big plays in critical situations is what makes him one of the most exciting young players in the NFL today.

In his second season with the Titans, Young struggled a little bit (to put it kindly). He threw a league-low nine touchdown passes, against 17 interceptions. He never seemed quite comfortable in the pocket, and when he took off to run he was hesitant.

Since his entry in to the 2006 draft, Young has been one of the most highly scrutinized players in the league. His side-arm throwing motion and his footwork have garnered him severe criticism.

Some claim Young was never meant to play quarterback, and that he should be moved to wideout. Is this really fair? Is it fair to pin the problems of a franchise on a young quarterback going in to his third full NFL season? An NFL team is made up of more than just the field general. It consists of lineman, linebackers, corners, receivers....receivers....hmm...receivers...come to think of it...Is there is a REAL receiver on the Titans roster? None of any significance anyway.

Here is a list of the "receivers" Vince Young has to work with:

#

Name

Pos

Age

Ht

Wt

Exp

College

17	Chris Davis	WR	24	5-10	181	2	Florida State
82	Biren Ealy	WR	23	6-3	207	2	Houston
12	Justin Gage	WR	27	6-4	212	6	Missouri
--	Lavelle Hawkins	WR	21	5-11	187	R	California
81	Brandon Jones	WR	25	6-1	212	4	Oklahoma
81	Justin McCareins	WR	29	6-2	215	8	Northern Illinois
83	Eric Moulds	WR	34	6-2	225	13	Mississippi State
--	Jason Rivers	WR	--	--	--	R	Hawaii
--	Eddie Williams	WR	--	--	--	R	Idaho
18	Mike Williams	WR	24	6-5	242	4	USC
11	Paul Williams	WR	24	6-1	205	2	Fresno State
86	Roydell Williams

An exciting group, no? Roydell Williams led the bunch with a whopping four touchdowns!

I know it is the job of the quarterback to throw the ball, but receivers usually need to get open, create separation from defenders, etc. I counted numerous dropped first-down opportunities, and numerous dropped touchdown opportunities.

Vince is in dire need of a speedy, stretch-the-field-type of wideout with home run-hitting potential. There were a few big prospects in April's draft, namely Young's old teammate, Limas Sweed, but the Titans didn't select a receiver until the fifth round (Lavelle Hawkins). Instead, Tennessee took scat-back Chris Johnson as their first pick. Another running back....another one...again. Woooww. 

If the Titans are to be successful, they need to arm their passer with the best weapons they can. Young is a maturing quarterback who needs a solid receiver if he is to realize his full potential at the pro level. Make it happen, Titans...

*stats provided by espn.com