I realize that Saturday's game was the preseason opener but there were still a few things of note.
1. Jason Campbell still has a lot to learn. Campbell made some good plays and reads but he also made some mistakes, something that just about every young QB goes through. Hopefully these extra reps with the first team will count though and help him adjust to the role of a starter faster.
2. Mark Brunell is old and still holds the ball too long. Tennessee had five sacks in the game and a majority of them were because Brunell held onto the ball about 6 seconds longer than he needed too and pump-faked about 3 times a pass play. Mark, I've got an idea for you - try throwing the ball.
3. Vince Young is going to be way overexposed. Hey, did you hear that Young was suspended before the game for violating team rules? Yeah, I got that message too by the fourth time it was announced in the first quarter. I think the announcers only mentioned it after every other play.
4. If the season started tomorrow, Todd Collins would be the guy. He completed all 5 of his passes, led the offense to its only TD and got the team its first preseason win since 2005. If that isn't a recipe for jumping to conclusions and putting too much stock into a meaningless game I don't know what is.
5. One request for next week - instead of playing Brunell, let's see what Carson Palmer's kid brother Jordan can do. The Skins entered the week with 5 QB's and Palmer beat out Casey Bramlet for the fourth spot prompting Bramlet's release. But how do we know if Palmer could be better than Brunell and/or Collins if he doesn't play? Put him in coach.
Maybe next week there will be more to talk about other than the QB's.
Showing posts with label Vince Young. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vince Young. Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
2007 Previews: Tennessee Titans
Note: This is a team-by-team look previewing the 2007 season. These are my official thoughts on how I think things will play out.
Last year: 8-8 (second in AFC South)
Best addition: Nick Harper (CB, Colts)
Key personnel loss: Travis Henry (RB, Broncos)
2007 outlook: Vince Young almost single handedly carried this team to the playoffs last year without a ton of help and with the additions the Titans made this offseason they may actually be able to make a playoff run. Young's biggest problem on offense may be finding a steady go-to receiver, but the running game could have some success as long as LenDale White doesn't eat himself out of job, Chris Brown stays healthy and Chris Henry proves to be an NFL-caliber RB after not doing much in college.
The Titans should be solid on defense as the addition of Harper should offset the loss of Pacman Jones. The multitude of defensive players drafted in 2004 are now entering their fourth seasons and should be ready to become the defense the Titans envisioned when they picked all of these players. If they don't it won't matter how much Young does on offense.
Key to success: The playmaking ability of Young will keep the Titans in games no matter how bad the offense is, but if Tennessee is going to take that next step, it will need its defense to stop opposing teams and keep deficits low so Young can work his magic.
Against Washington: Young picked up his first win as an NFL QB by victimizing the Skins last year in Washington 25-22. The two teams do not meet during the regular season but will actually open preseason play against each other in Tennessee next Saturday.
Fantasy sleeper: Chris Henry. Someone will win the starting RB role in Tennessee and with White's weight issues and Brown's injury history, the stage is set for the rookie Henry to excel. And with Young's playmaking ability, he could be the second straight Henry to have a career year in Tennessee (Travis Henry put a lot of concerns of his own with a stellar year last year). Keep Henry in mind as an extra bench player, ready to be used if needed, until he proves what type of rookie season he is going to have.
Last year: 8-8 (second in AFC South)
Best addition: Nick Harper (CB, Colts)
Key personnel loss: Travis Henry (RB, Broncos)
2007 outlook: Vince Young almost single handedly carried this team to the playoffs last year without a ton of help and with the additions the Titans made this offseason they may actually be able to make a playoff run. Young's biggest problem on offense may be finding a steady go-to receiver, but the running game could have some success as long as LenDale White doesn't eat himself out of job, Chris Brown stays healthy and Chris Henry proves to be an NFL-caliber RB after not doing much in college.
The Titans should be solid on defense as the addition of Harper should offset the loss of Pacman Jones. The multitude of defensive players drafted in 2004 are now entering their fourth seasons and should be ready to become the defense the Titans envisioned when they picked all of these players. If they don't it won't matter how much Young does on offense.
Key to success: The playmaking ability of Young will keep the Titans in games no matter how bad the offense is, but if Tennessee is going to take that next step, it will need its defense to stop opposing teams and keep deficits low so Young can work his magic.
Against Washington: Young picked up his first win as an NFL QB by victimizing the Skins last year in Washington 25-22. The two teams do not meet during the regular season but will actually open preseason play against each other in Tennessee next Saturday.
Fantasy sleeper: Chris Henry. Someone will win the starting RB role in Tennessee and with White's weight issues and Brown's injury history, the stage is set for the rookie Henry to excel. And with Young's playmaking ability, he could be the second straight Henry to have a career year in Tennessee (Travis Henry put a lot of concerns of his own with a stellar year last year). Keep Henry in mind as an extra bench player, ready to be used if needed, until he proves what type of rookie season he is going to have.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Repeating sins of the past
Reading the latest issue of ESPN the Magazine, I came across an article that talks about the rise of JaMarcus Russell and fall of Brady Quinn and I immediately thought of Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf.
Manning was the quarterback with the pedigree and the experience while Leaf was the one with the impressive, single, season and great workouts and I can't help but think that the Oakland Raiders are getting ready to make a mistake - and I can't wait.
If there is one thing we have learned, it's that a quarterback that has the type of success like Manning or Quinn had, they will perform at the next level where one year wonders like Russell, Leaf, and Akili Smith - to name a few - are too much of an unknown to guarantee any success in the league. Obviously Vince Young proved this theory wrong last season with his success in Tennessee, but he was the exception and not the rule.
How does this apply to the Redskins? Well, while doing their "due diligence," Russell was brought in and if the Redskins think they're fooling anybody, then they really need some new brains in the front office. If Washington is planning on making any sort of move for Russell, which they adamantly deny, they need to follow what they are telling the media, that they are not going after him.
I wrote yesterday saying mind games and deception are the name of the game from here on in, but even the slightest hint of a trade at this point needs to be nipped in the bud. There is not enough left even in the future to mortgage for the present and if this team is going to turn things around, they need to start by keeping draft picks, not trading more away. The only type of trade that should be considered is one that allows the Skins to move down and acquire more picks.
The current approach the Skins are taking is not and has never worked, so before they go and do another stupid thing, they need to step back and learn not only from their recent history but the history of first round potential as well.
Manning was the quarterback with the pedigree and the experience while Leaf was the one with the impressive, single, season and great workouts and I can't help but think that the Oakland Raiders are getting ready to make a mistake - and I can't wait.
If there is one thing we have learned, it's that a quarterback that has the type of success like Manning or Quinn had, they will perform at the next level where one year wonders like Russell, Leaf, and Akili Smith - to name a few - are too much of an unknown to guarantee any success in the league. Obviously Vince Young proved this theory wrong last season with his success in Tennessee, but he was the exception and not the rule.
How does this apply to the Redskins? Well, while doing their "due diligence," Russell was brought in and if the Redskins think they're fooling anybody, then they really need some new brains in the front office. If Washington is planning on making any sort of move for Russell, which they adamantly deny, they need to follow what they are telling the media, that they are not going after him.
I wrote yesterday saying mind games and deception are the name of the game from here on in, but even the slightest hint of a trade at this point needs to be nipped in the bud. There is not enough left even in the future to mortgage for the present and if this team is going to turn things around, they need to start by keeping draft picks, not trading more away. The only type of trade that should be considered is one that allows the Skins to move down and acquire more picks.
The current approach the Skins are taking is not and has never worked, so before they go and do another stupid thing, they need to step back and learn not only from their recent history but the history of first round potential as well.
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