Chow Down on the Titan's Dilemma
No team has affected the action in the top ten of the draft more than the New Orleans Saints. Originally thought to be drafting a quarterback of the future in Matt Leinart, the Saints signed Drew Brees as a free agent. With that move, the Saints managed to take any and all bargaining power away from the Houston Texans. Eliminating any reasonable chance of Houston trading down, the Saints signing Brees locking Reggie Bush in at #1. On April 6th, the Saints made a deal with Atlanta to trade Mike Gandy, their thirteen year veteran left tackle, for Bryan Scott, a free safety. In doing so, the Saints broadcasted to the world just who they are targetting at #2: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia's elite offensive tackle prospect. The Titans are on the clock...
Either Vince Young or Matt Leinart is expected to fall off the board at #3 to the Titans. Both signal callers offer compelling pluses and distinct minuses. Vince Young may have more potential than any quarterback in NFL Draft history. He has size, speed, and a rocket arm. Perhaps Pete Carroll said it best: "Vince Young is a special player." Compared to Michael Jordan, no scout doubts that Vince Young is unable to become of Jordan-esque caliber. On the other hand, Matt Leinart is as polished a collegiate quarterback to ever enter the draft. Having had four years of experience with a Pro-style offense at USC, Matt is simply ready to start in the NFL tomorrow. A two-time national champion, he is a proven winner. What Leinart lacks in upside and arm strength, he makes up for with top-of-the-world intangibles.
The majority opinion among draft gurus is that Matt Leinart will be the Titans selection. The common argument for this decision centers around the reunion of Matt with former offensive coordinator, Norm Chow. From 2002 to 2004, Matt Leinart had the privledge of being groomed by one of the premier offensive football minds in the world. Norm Chow is simply one of the most productive offensive coordinators in NCAA history. At Brigham Young, he coached six consecutive quarterbacks to become top three vote-getters for the Heisman trophy. At USC, Chow coached Matt Leinart into his third Heisman quarterback in 2004. Already being the most polished quarterback to come into the NFL in years, Leinart's transition to the next level would be made even easier being put into an offense that he is already familiar with. Yet, the biggest argument for drafting Matt Leinart is not Titan specific. Leinart wins games: period. Spanning almost three seasons, Leinart had won 34 consecutive games to the tune of two national titles. Winning is everything, and Matt Leinart has all the qualities of a natural-born champion.
Beyond Matt Leinart, Vince Young is the only reasonable candidate to be selected third overall to Tennessee. Young is a rare breed. No quarterback in draft history could draw striking comparison to the Longhorns' elite QB prospect. While Young may lack Michael Vick's speed, he has the lightening acceleration and freakish agility. Young has the size and arm strength of Drew Bledsoe, but Vince is hardly a statue in the pocket. Being a prospect incapable of comparison, Young has many teams uncomfortable with the idea of drafting someone so unfamiliar. Nevertheless, every scout with a pulse will claim that Vince Young has the capacity to become more valuable than any other player in the draft. One only has to recall the 41-38 thriller in the Rose Bowl this year to remember how dominating Vince Young can be. Amassing over 200 yards both through the air and on the ground, Young scored the last two touchdowns of the game, single-handedly dismantling the USC Dynasty. What Matt Leinart brings to the table as security, Vince Young brings in the form a significant risk-reward ratio.
So, whose name will be called by the Titans at #3? Will it be Norm Chow's USC Golden Boy in Matt Leinart? Or, will it be the rare athlete in Vince Young? Examining Norm Chow makes the picture seem much clearer. Chow gained a name for himself at BYU. His first of six consecutive Heisman-candidate quarterbacks was The Mormon Rifle, Gifford Nielsen. Nielson has examined Chow's history and noticed the variety of quarterbacks to have success under Chow: "Norm has the ability to take a look at what you've got and then say, 'Here's how I'm going to implement this offense around you.'" From Jim McMahon to Steve Young to Ty Detmer to Carson Palmer, Norm Chow has proven that his greatest ability as a coordinator is being able to manipulate an offense to accentuate the quarterback's strengths. Chow preaches this theme, "I've always thought that you have to fit your stuff more to the quarterback than the quarterback has to fit you." No matter the breed, every quarterback will have optimum success under Norm Chow. He is simply that good as a coordinator.
Recall that every scout in America is willing to admit Vince Young has a higher ceiling than any other quarterback in the draft. Recall that Norm Chow is better than anyone alive at manipulating his system to bring out the best in a quarterback. The biggest question mark surrounding Vince Young is the difficulty he presents to offensive coordinators that will have to develop a unique scheme to allow him to be successful. Norm Chow eliminates this uncertainty. Under the supervision of Chow, Vince Young will have a higher probability of achieving Jordan-esque superstar status than under anyone else. While the common opinion is that the Chow-Leinart reunion would be perfect, it is in fact the Chow-Young marriage that is ideal. Everytime Norm Chow drops a tape of Vince Young's film into the VCR, you can bet that he is salivating at the opportunity to develop a scheme that will allow Young to use his incredible talents effectively in the NFL. Titan's GM, Floyd Reese, loves Vince Young's upside. Most of all, he loves the fact that his offensive coordinator allows him to draft either Leinart or Young without nervousness.
Steve McNair wants to play out his last years in Tennessee without significant pressure on his job from one of this year's elite quarterback prospects. Vince Young is at least one year away from starting in the NFL. McNair and Young already have an established relationship, as McNair has been mentoring Young for a few years. Norm Chow is licking his chops at the chance to develop an offense for Vince Young. Floyd Reese is enamored with Young's upside. All parties this side of Billy Volek would be happy with the drafting of Vince Young. Vince Young will be a Titan on draft day. Write it down.
The Titans will go with either Young or Leinart at #3
Either Vince Young or Matt Leinart is expected to fall off the board at #3 to the Titans. Both signal callers offer compelling pluses and distinct minuses. Vince Young may have more potential than any quarterback in NFL Draft history. He has size, speed, and a rocket arm. Perhaps Pete Carroll said it best: "Vince Young is a special player." Compared to Michael Jordan, no scout doubts that Vince Young is unable to become of Jordan-esque caliber. On the other hand, Matt Leinart is as polished a collegiate quarterback to ever enter the draft. Having had four years of experience with a Pro-style offense at USC, Matt is simply ready to start in the NFL tomorrow. A two-time national champion, he is a proven winner. What Leinart lacks in upside and arm strength, he makes up for with top-of-the-world intangibles.
The majority opinion among draft gurus is that Matt Leinart will be the Titans selection. The common argument for this decision centers around the reunion of Matt with former offensive coordinator, Norm Chow. From 2002 to 2004, Matt Leinart had the privledge of being groomed by one of the premier offensive football minds in the world. Norm Chow is simply one of the most productive offensive coordinators in NCAA history. At Brigham Young, he coached six consecutive quarterbacks to become top three vote-getters for the Heisman trophy. At USC, Chow coached Matt Leinart into his third Heisman quarterback in 2004. Already being the most polished quarterback to come into the NFL in years, Leinart's transition to the next level would be made even easier being put into an offense that he is already familiar with. Yet, the biggest argument for drafting Matt Leinart is not Titan specific. Leinart wins games: period. Spanning almost three seasons, Leinart had won 34 consecutive games to the tune of two national titles. Winning is everything, and Matt Leinart has all the qualities of a natural-born champion.
A Leinart-Chow reunion in Tennessee seems perfect
Beyond Matt Leinart, Vince Young is the only reasonable candidate to be selected third overall to Tennessee. Young is a rare breed. No quarterback in draft history could draw striking comparison to the Longhorns' elite QB prospect. While Young may lack Michael Vick's speed, he has the lightening acceleration and freakish agility. Young has the size and arm strength of Drew Bledsoe, but Vince is hardly a statue in the pocket. Being a prospect incapable of comparison, Young has many teams uncomfortable with the idea of drafting someone so unfamiliar. Nevertheless, every scout with a pulse will claim that Vince Young has the capacity to become more valuable than any other player in the draft. One only has to recall the 41-38 thriller in the Rose Bowl this year to remember how dominating Vince Young can be. Amassing over 200 yards both through the air and on the ground, Young scored the last two touchdowns of the game, single-handedly dismantling the USC Dynasty. What Matt Leinart brings to the table as security, Vince Young brings in the form a significant risk-reward ratio.
So, whose name will be called by the Titans at #3? Will it be Norm Chow's USC Golden Boy in Matt Leinart? Or, will it be the rare athlete in Vince Young? Examining Norm Chow makes the picture seem much clearer. Chow gained a name for himself at BYU. His first of six consecutive Heisman-candidate quarterbacks was The Mormon Rifle, Gifford Nielsen. Nielson has examined Chow's history and noticed the variety of quarterbacks to have success under Chow: "Norm has the ability to take a look at what you've got and then say, 'Here's how I'm going to implement this offense around you.'" From Jim McMahon to Steve Young to Ty Detmer to Carson Palmer, Norm Chow has proven that his greatest ability as a coordinator is being able to manipulate an offense to accentuate the quarterback's strengths. Chow preaches this theme, "I've always thought that you have to fit your stuff more to the quarterback than the quarterback has to fit you." No matter the breed, every quarterback will have optimum success under Norm Chow. He is simply that good as a coordinator.
Former BYU Heisman candidate and current sportscaster,
Gifford Neilsen has noticed Norm Chow's versatility
Recall that every scout in America is willing to admit Vince Young has a higher ceiling than any other quarterback in the draft. Recall that Norm Chow is better than anyone alive at manipulating his system to bring out the best in a quarterback. The biggest question mark surrounding Vince Young is the difficulty he presents to offensive coordinators that will have to develop a unique scheme to allow him to be successful. Norm Chow eliminates this uncertainty. Under the supervision of Chow, Vince Young will have a higher probability of achieving Jordan-esque superstar status than under anyone else. While the common opinion is that the Chow-Leinart reunion would be perfect, it is in fact the Chow-Young marriage that is ideal. Everytime Norm Chow drops a tape of Vince Young's film into the VCR, you can bet that he is salivating at the opportunity to develop a scheme that will allow Young to use his incredible talents effectively in the NFL. Titan's GM, Floyd Reese, loves Vince Young's upside. Most of all, he loves the fact that his offensive coordinator allows him to draft either Leinart or Young without nervousness.
Vince Young makes sense from every angle
Steve McNair wants to play out his last years in Tennessee without significant pressure on his job from one of this year's elite quarterback prospects. Vince Young is at least one year away from starting in the NFL. McNair and Young already have an established relationship, as McNair has been mentoring Young for a few years. Norm Chow is licking his chops at the chance to develop an offense for Vince Young. Floyd Reese is enamored with Young's upside. All parties this side of Billy Volek would be happy with the drafting of Vince Young. Vince Young will be a Titan on draft day. Write it down.