NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Vince Young went out and had the best game passing of his NFL career, then he took a couple minutes to address some of his critics personally.
The Tennessee quarterback singled out Merrill Hoge of ESPN and said after the Titans 34-20 loss to Denver that he didn’t know why Hoge is always saying “this and that about me.” Young said he does hear the criticism, which makes him even more determined to prove his doubters wrong.
Young said not to compare him to veteran quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and that he isn’t in his fifth or sixth season. He threw for 305 yards and ran for 74 yards.
“That’s not my game right now. I have to be very patient and let the game come to me … ,” Young said.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher was asked Tuesday if there is a point where using such criticism as motivation doesn’t work anymore. His answer? No.
“What motivates him first and foremost is winning,” Fisher said. “That’s his passion for winning. That’s first and foremost and playing well. Aside from that, there’s always, I think, in people’s careers whatever you do where people have been critical of you or second-guessed you, and there’s always a point when you want to prove people wrong,” Fisher said.
“There’s nothing wrong with that.
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CHANGE AT RETURNER:@ Chris Davis has fumbled one too many balls on punt returns. Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday he is making a switch from the rookie to Brandon Jones at that position.
“The ball has been on the ground too much for Chris. You know, he needs to take a deep breath, continue to work and continue to work at the receiver position. It’s an important time of the season right now. We have to make sure the ball is secure,” Fisher said.
Davis went into Monday night’s game with four fumbles and had lost three. He fumbled on his only return, a ball recovered by the Titans. But that was enough. Fisher sent Jones in to handle one return.
“I think in that particular case, unfortunately for Chris, it probably would have happened to anybody. The helmet was placed on the ball, and he didn’t see the defender coming. He’ll be fine. He’s going to be a good player. I like his attitude,” Fisher said.
“But it’s time to let him take a deep breath, and I’ll stay with Brandon.”
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STREAKING BIRONAS:@ Rob Bironas kicked two more field goals, giving him 17 consecutive kicks.
He’s now one away from tying Al Del Greco’s 18 straight field goals in 1995 and 1996, and the team record is 20 straight (1998-99).
Bironas had a little help extending that streak. He hooked a 56-yarder just before halftime wide left, but Broncos coach Mike Shanahan had called a timeout—giving Bironas another chance to make it good.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher had been predicting that trying to ice a kicker with a late timeout would come back to haunt the coach making such a move.
“I think it’ll be interesting to see if Mike does it again. You’re going to have to ask him. As you said, that’s what I’ve been saying all along: All it’s going to take is one timeout and a miss and then a make, and I think people will second-guess that strategy,” Fisher said.
“I can’t speak for Mike. Mike’s very aggressive and has been successful to this point.
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REVIEW THAT CATCH:@ Replay officials didn’t stop the game to review Bo Scaife’s catch just before halftime, and it wasn’t a play Titans coach Jeff Fisher could challenge. NFL rules allow only the replay officials to study and review plays in the final 2 minutes at the end of each half.
Fisher thought it was a catch Monday night, and he didn’t change his opinion after studying the film.
“That’s the game. That’s the human element and human error in the game. It was a catch, it was a great effort, and I just didn’t see any reason why it should not have been reviewed. Whatever the reasons are, I’m sure the league will address it,” Fisher said.
If Fisher had his way, the system would have reviewed the play and overturned the ruling of an incomplete pass. The coach would not discuss any conversation he might have with the NFL office about the lack of replay.
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THROW THAT FLAG:@ Mike Shanahan also helped out the Titans when his Broncos called a timeout after Vince Young ran 4 yards for a touchdown that officials ruled came up short. Coach Jeff Fisher was on the sideline talking with his assistants, trying to decide whether to throw the challenge flag.
He said he was talking with his offensive coaches, discussing strategy when the defensive coaches saw a TV replay that convinced them Young had scored.
“They were trying to communicate that information to me while I was discussing strategy with the offense. That happens. They got word to Jim (Schwartz), and then Jim came down to me. But at that point, I didn’t get the information that I needed other than challenge the play,” Fisher said.
“Fortunately, Mike called timeout, so the play was negated and I was able to challenge it.”
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EXTRA POINTS:@ Vince Fuller had the first sack of his career when he got to Jay Cutler in the third quarter. The Titans now have 14 sacks in the past four games, but only one each in the past two games.
