Commentary: Titans still have issues at QB

Last season when the Titans traveled to Houston in Game 6, backup quarterback Kerry Collins led the team down the field in the final moments to set up the winning 29-yard field goal by Rob Bironas.

The key play in the winning drive was a 46-yard pass from Collins to Roydell Williams. It was a big pass play at a big time for an offense that had seen its passing game struggle much of the season with Vince Young at quarterback.

The next day, I was talking to a friend that is a Titans season ticket holder. I said, “Well, Collins looked pretty good throwing the ball. Do you think they should….”

Before I could even finish the sentence, my friend gave me a stern look and said, “No. Don’t go there.”

It’s only one game into the 2008 season and here we are again. This time its Titans coach Jeff Fisher essentially saying, “Don’t go there.”

With just under six minutes left in the Titans’ 17-10 win over Jacksonville on Sunday, the offense prepared to go back onto the field after the Tennessee defense again forced the Jaguars off the field.

Only this time, it appeared that Young wasn’t joining his teammates and that Collins was furiously trying to get warmed up. On the previous possession, Young had thrown an interception, leading to boos from Titans fans.

After an exchange between Young and Fisher, Young entered the game and loped to the huddle with his head down. Four plays later, he injured his knee and was knocked out of the game.

After that, Young sat on the sideline — mostly by himself — while Collins took the team down the field for the clinching touchdown. Included in that drive was a 44-yard pass from Collins to Bo Scaife. Two plays after that, Collins hit Justin Gage for 21 yards to set up LenDale White’s 1-yard touchdown dive.

With less than a minute left in the game, Young was carted off the field with his head down, even though the Titans were on the verge of beating their division archrival.

After the game, Fisher was quick to say that Young hesitated to enter the game on his final drive because of a hamstring injury. Even when pressed about the matter by a number of reporters, Fisher was adamant, even saying, “It’s not a controversy.”

I’m not a lip reader — and I’m certainly not a mind reader — so it’s entirely possible that Young was dealing with a hamstring injury after his second interception.

But it also looked like he was pouting. It looked like he was pouting even when he went back onto the field.

There’s no question Young is a competitive individual who is accustomed to success on the football field. There’s no arguing that he gets disappointed when things don’t go well for him. Hey, who doesn’t?

But being a starting quarterback in the National Football League means being mentally tough and upbeat no matter the situation.

That’s a lesson he’ll have to learn if the Titans’ offense is going to take off with him under center.