Austin, Texas – Vince Young is a Heisman Trophy contender.
That’s indisputable, with the Texas quarterback vaulting into the national chase with his dazzling performance in the Rose Bowl last season. He cemented that status this month when he led the second- ranked Longhorns to a come- from-behind, 25-22 victory at Ohio State.
Given the gaudy praise, it does seem improbable that there ever was a time when Young was fighting for his life as a Texas starter.
Here’s a quick refresher: It has a lot to do with this week’s opponent, the Missouri Tigers.
Remember the Missouri game at Royal-Memorial Stadium last October? Remember how David Richard, a blitzing Tigers linebacker, plowed into Young’s chest? How the ball wobbled into the air, and how cornerback Nino Williams cradled the interception? Before Chance Mock came off the bench and handed off to Cedric Benson, the Longhorns were in danger of losing the game they eventually won 28-20. The offensive line was instructed to take over because of a nonexistent passing threat.
“We just knew we had to line up and bloody some noses,” recalled Texas tackle Justin Blalock.
Aside from the reeling Tigers, it also was Young’s psyche that was bloodied.
It was Young’s ninth and final pass of the game, and it came in the second quarter. Before taking a seat on the Longhorns’ bench, he had completed only three to his teammates, for 19 yards; two others were Missouri interceptions.
After the game, Texas coach Mack Brown was asked whether Young would be the starter for the next game. Brown’s response: “I don’t know.”
It may have been the only time in Young’s career that he ever went through such an on-field funk. It lasted all of two games. The previous Saturday, Young was harassed by Oklahoma’s blitzes, throwing 23 times, with just eight completions for 86 yards.
It has all changed since then, with Young leading the Longhorns to nine consecutive victories since that Mizzou game. In five of those wins, he has led the Longhorns back from a halftime deficit.
“Vince wasn’t proud of his performance. But it changed his career,” Brown said Monday.
Young’s running was starting to rebound against the Tigers that afternoon. He was averaging more than 10 yards a carry as the Longhorns introduced a new stretch, or sweep, play for their quarterback. Young also caught a 48-yard pass from Ramonce Taylor, then the backup tailback.
But in a rebound game the next week, Young was as unbeatable against Texas Tech as he was mediocre against Missouri. Longhorns offensive coordinator Greg Davis introduced the lead option, allowing Young to scissor through the Red Raiders’ defense. He had 25 carries for 158 yards and four touchdowns. His throwing was nearly flawless as well, as he completed 10-of-15 passes for 142 yards.
Mostly, it was Young’s running ability that significantly turned games after Mizzou. In the six games after playing the Tigers, Young rushed for 748 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the six games through Missouri, he ran for 219.
His passing improved as well, mainly because it grew more accurate. Young was completing 54 percent of his passes during the first half of the year, for 748 yards. But that improved to 63 percent over the final six games for 1,091 yards.
