[NFL Preseason] Vince Young benched for 1st preseason game

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=270824002
Young accounts for two touchdowns in Titans' win


ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Breathe easy Tennessee Titans fans, Vince Young found his shake-and-bake groove Friday. His passing game didn't look bad, either.

Playing only the first half, Young went 13-of-19 for 162 yards passing and a touchdown, and also scored a TD rushing in a 28-17 preseason victory over the Buffalo Bills. It was a much-needed performance from Young and a starting offense that had failed to produce a score, allowing four sacks to the reigning NFL offensive rookie of the year in a 27-24 win in sloppy and wet conditions at New England last week.

Here's what's scary. Young wasn't entirely satisfied.

"He told me during the game that he's still got a lot to improve on,'' Tennessee's Eric Moulds said, the former Bills receiver making his first trip back to Buffalo. "That's a scary thought for this league.''

Coach Jeff Fisher was impressed.

"He was in complete control of the game,'' Fisher said. "It was good to see him take charge.''

The Titans (2-1) close their preseason hosting Green Bay next week. Buffalo (1-2) plays at Detroit.

After being benched for the Titans' preseason opener against Washington, Young is starting to look like the quarterback who sparked an electrifying second-half playoff push last season that fell a win short.

He was sharp under pressure, strong in shedding tackles and had the Bills, for the most part, running after him.

Young's best throw was an 8-yarder -- he completed it with three Bills players having a hand on him -- to Bo Scaife to convert a third down to extend the Titans' first scoring drive. His best run came when he scored on a fourth-and-goal from the 2, scampering around flat-footed linebacker Keith Ellison and muscling through linebacker Paul Posluszny.

"Vince Young is hard to tackle, but we're not alone in that,'' Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "A lot of NFL teams look bad trying to tackle him.''

Maybe not this bad.

The Bills' young defense unraveled, allowing 218 yards in the first half and 393 overall. Buffalo also lost starting cornerback Terrence McGee, who had a concussion in the first quarter.

Jauron said McGee will miss Buffalo's preseason finale.

At least the Bills' offense finally started showing signs of its big-play potential. J.P. Losman shook off an early interception and connected with wide receiver Lee Evans for a 64-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter.

Losman, who also hit wide receiver Peerless Price for a 51-yard reception that set up a field goal, finished 9-of-20 for 180 yards passing, nearly doubling the 98 yards he had in his first two preseason games combined.

"We're trying to be conservative here in the preseason, but it was time to open it up and go deep a little,'' Losman said. "Now it gives us confidence. We know we can execute when we have to and back some teams up on us a little bit.''

Losman, however, didn't get much help from the Bills revamped offensive line.

He was knocked down several times, and sustained a bruised thigh, but he continued playing.

Buffalo's running game also sputtered in the first half, with rookie first-round pick Marshawn Lynch finishing with nine carries for 9 yards and a 3-yard reception.

"We clearly have to run the ball better,'' Jauron said. "We're definitely concerned. You always want to play better. There are clearly things we need to improve on.''

Titans backup quarterback Kerry Collins capped the win, hitting Justin Gage for a 16-yard touchdown pass and Biren Ealy on a 40-yard TD pass on consecutive third-quarter possessions. Fred Jackson rounded out Buffalo's scoring with a 1-yard run in the final minutes.

Down 10-7, Young put the Titans ahead for good with an efficient seven-play, 78-yard march, which he capped with a 5-yard pass to Scaife with 30 seconds left in the half.

Moulds had a 5-yard reception on the Titans' second scoring drive -- his first catch of the preseason since the 11-year veteran signed with the Titans last month.

The drive took only 2:07 off the clock, and was reminiscent of a five-play, 57-yard touchdown drive Young led in the final minute of the first half of a 30-29 win at Orchard Park on Dec. 24.

The Titans also got a strong outing from running back LenDale White, the second-year player making a case to take over the starting job.

Playing the first half, White had 51 yards rushing, and added three catches for 23 yards, in making his first preseason start -- showing no signs of an ankle and knee injury that sidelined him for 10 days. The second-year player is competing with fifth-year veteran Chris Brown and rookie second-round pick Chris Henry.

 

It's preseason.

 

Leaders don't take a break in preseason.

 

LEADERSHIP BREAK

 

Like I said, it's preseason.

 

That doesn't matter to leaders.

 

It doesn't have to matter to leaders because the games don't matter to ANYBODY.

 

Well, that's the difference between Vince Young and everybody else, I guess.

You know, there was probably a little kid watching his first NFL game that day. Or an old man watching his last. To them, it wasn't just another preseason game.

And they can thank Vince for that.

 

After being benched the first game and laying an egg last week, this was a good bounceback for VY in the "most important" preseason game. I wish him well.

 

LOL!

 

Speaking of supsensions, I heard it on good authority that JVG and the Rockets, without publicizing it, suspended Spanoulis last season for breaking a team rule, too.

You know, the team rule for not sucking.

 

You will come out looking foolish if you question Vince Young's leadership. In fact you already look stupid. Leaders, great leaders, eff up just like the rest of us. He effed up.

 

Even Patton slapped a soldier !!!!

DD

 

Wrong.

Vince Young never effs up.

 

The Titans are 2 and 0 since Vince returned from his leadership break.

 

VYOFs suck worse than YOFs.

 

Very possible. But what sucks as much is people who assume others are "VYOFs" when they aren't, and when they go around saying how much they think VY sucks in any thread that pops up.....

In other words, people can be blinded both ways- by inane adoration and hate. Throwing in worthless (and often toothless) "jabs" in each thread about someone you despise doesn't exactly scream of maturity, either. Nor does it help the problem if you want people talking about VY to go away....

 

I don't hate VY. I hate Titans threads in Clutchfans. They don't belong.

 

I agree 100%. I think we should all act like adults about this.








Vance Young is a poo poo face.

 

LOL!