What is an NFL coach to tell his players when they lose a game 59-0?
"Well, at least they didn't score 60," is one way of looking at it. But I really want to know what Jeff Fisher told my favorite team, the Tennessee Titans, after the blowout delivered by the New England Patriots. Because, well, the Titans took a serious, serious beat-down.
Fortunately for me, there are numerous football fans giving a puzzling sort of respect to the Titans this year, despite being one of only three winless teams in the NFL and the only winless team in the AFC. People understand why the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are each 0-6 - sorry, Virginia alums Chris Long and Ronde Barber. But there is a strange feeling of combined shock and confusion floating in the air that makes it seem as though the Titans really aren't 0-6 because, frankly, nobody saw it coming.
Everyone remembers how the Titans were a league-best 13-3 last year, so nobody believes they could tank so badly this year. Maybe it's just me, but even Patriots fans with whom who I've spoken since Sunday afternoon have been more apologetic than antagonistic. Long story short: I appreciate that I haven't been made fun of that badly for how horribly the Titans are doing.
I would expect to take more of a ribbing from everyone, if not for the fact that because we go to school here in Virginia, everyone almost talks exclusively about the Washington Redskins. Even though they're 2-4, people act as though coach Jim Zorn is a virus destroying the Redskins franchise and hate on Jason Campbell as if he is actually trying to lose games. (Although, after the way he's been treated, I wouldn't blame him.)
The Redskins' front office is so desperate to appeal to their fans calling for Zorn's head that Sherman Lewis is replacing Zorn as the play-caller. Lewis has been with the team for all of two weeks, with a title of "offensive consultant." This sort of absurd decision making lends itself well to Redskins mockery, and is why I have had an easier time being a Titans fan this season.
Here's what I see for the future of my team: Give Vince Young the reins this season and see how he does. Quarterback Kerry Collins served us well last year, starting 15 games after Young was "hurt" in the season opener. But, this year, Collins isn't getting it done. He's 36 years old and is in no way going to be a part of the Titans' future after this season. Thanks for everything, Kerry, but start packing your bags.
It's easy to forget that Young was voted the team captain in his second year after being drafted third overall in 2006. As a rookie, on the heels of winning a national championship at Texas, Young compiled an 8-5 record in 13 starts and won every Rookie of the Year award imaginable (Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, NFL fan vote, etc.). In 2007, just his second season, Young went 9-6 in 15 starts, leading the Titans to the playoffs. Everything was going well, and he looked ready to be the face of the franchise.
Then, last year, everything went downhill fast. He got booed in the season opener, got "hurt," left the game, went through that whole "Vince-Young-is-missing-and-maybe-suicidal" escapade and held a clipboard the rest of the season. This year, he still hasn't seen real game action, and his confidence is likely somewhere below sea level, buried along with the Titans' playoff hopes.
But if you really think about it, he's only in his fourth NFL season - he still can easily put all this drama behind him, given the chance. He has tremendous talent and has shown he can play in the NFL. Remember, folks, that it was less than two years ago when you saw him running around everywhere, winning games you didn't think he could win. Why not let him try to salvage his confidence, and maybe his career, the rest of this season? Continuing to play Collins does nothing for developing the team, whereas giving the team back to Young has tons of upside.
And if the Young experiment fails, you can get rid of him and let him go elsewhere. If he plays just as badly as Collins, the Titans will get a high draft pick and take another franchise quarterback (Hello, Sam Bradford! Get well soon, we need you.) It would be like hitting the "reset" button on the VY decision. But if he plays well, the Titans will have resurrected their best offensive weapon and set the stage for a better season next year.
As for the Redskins, good luck getting that train back on track...
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