Monday, December 11, 2006
Was There Any Doubt?
I know this is my second straight post on the subject, but when's the last time you were watching a football game and 100% certain that a rookie quarterback would a) take his team down the field for the go-ahead score, and b) lead his team to victory in overtime. Maybe it's something that only Texas fans can know or appreciate, but to see Vince be Vince and never get rattled as a rookie in the NFL, where so many thought he would fail, is nothing short of amazing. And he's only going to get better.
The intangibles he brings to the table as a leader and a winner can never be measured, and as I've watched the Titans over the course of the season, it is clear that he has taken that team and put them on his shoulders and he has everyone believing in him from the rookies to the veterans.
The intangibles he brings to the table as a leader and a winner can never be measured, and as I've watched the Titans over the course of the season, it is clear that he has taken that team and put them on his shoulders and he has everyone believing in him from the rookies to the veterans.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Superman
I know I've posted recently on the NFL, but I felt it deserved another visit. This has been one of the more memorable seasons in recent history. First of all, it's nice that the Cowboys are playing at a level that causes excitement. It has been a while. Secondly, while everyone else is crying about parity and complaining about a "watered down" league, I'm enjoying competitive games every week and wondering what they are missing. The wealth of young quarterbacks in the league is incredible and the wild card races are going to be interesting right up until the end.
However, the best thing about this season has been the opportunity to watch the week-by-week growth of my favorite football player. Being able to watch the maturation of Vince Young as he becomes a better and better quarterback has been an absolute joy. Two consecutive fourth quarter comebacks against the Giants and Colts. 5-2 over his last seven starts, including a 1-point heartbreaker to division-leading Baltimore. He's limiting his mistakes, throwing the ball downfield, spreading the ball around (10 different receivers last week), and making plays running with the ball.
The improvement has been amazing, which makes it hard to believe that you still have someone like Merrill Hoge, who wouldn't have taken Vince on the first day and absolutely ripped him in the preseason, trying his hardest to bring him down (the personal vendetta is almost frightening), as if a rookie quarterback should be leading the league in all the major passing categories. All Vince does is put a team on his back and carry them to wins. He did it his whole career at Texas and he's doing it now with the Titans. I'm just glad I get to watch.
However, the best thing about this season has been the opportunity to watch the week-by-week growth of my favorite football player. Being able to watch the maturation of Vince Young as he becomes a better and better quarterback has been an absolute joy. Two consecutive fourth quarter comebacks against the Giants and Colts. 5-2 over his last seven starts, including a 1-point heartbreaker to division-leading Baltimore. He's limiting his mistakes, throwing the ball downfield, spreading the ball around (10 different receivers last week), and making plays running with the ball.
The improvement has been amazing, which makes it hard to believe that you still have someone like Merrill Hoge, who wouldn't have taken Vince on the first day and absolutely ripped him in the preseason, trying his hardest to bring him down (the personal vendetta is almost frightening), as if a rookie quarterback should be leading the league in all the major passing categories. All Vince does is put a team on his back and carry them to wins. He did it his whole career at Texas and he's doing it now with the Titans. I'm just glad I get to watch.
