Perhaps Vince Young was more crucial than you thought.

Why has this not been brought up often (if at all)? Has no one attributed the sudden fall of Chris Johnson to the lack of a running threat under center? Maybe Vince wasn't the best leader, maybe he wasn't the best passer, and I often criticized him for using his legs too seldom. However the threat was always there. Teams had to account for it even when Vince wasn't exercising the right to take off.
The one way to find out would be to look at seasons where CJ had success and take the games when Vince Young didn't play...


In 2009 the Titans started 0-6 with Kerry Collins. This was when we still had Mawae, so the line was better than it's current state of course. CJ's rushing totals in the first 6 weeks are as follows:

1. 57
2. 197
3. 97
4. 83
5. 34
6. 128
Average: 99 yards per game.

Not bad. Let's now look at the games when Vince Young came in.

7. 228
8. 135
9. 132
10. 151
11. 154
12. 113
13. 117
14. 104
15. 142
16. 134

Average: 141 yards per game.

In 2009 that was a difference of 45 yards per game with Vince Young in the backfield.

In 2010 I can't get the difference because the stats I'm finding conflict with each other. Apparently VY and KC started games together...

Chris Johnson was a big advocate of VY returning after the Fisher/VY fallout... could this be why?

If Locker is willing to run around, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to try a few packages with him in.

very good point

Stop making sense Duece. You're going to ruin your reputation.

Interesting point.

Heck, I'd be happy with 99 yards per game.

And Jeff Fisher was crucial too.. He didnt trust VY to throw the ball unless it was an option pitch to CJ.

That or even the 40 yard difference or so haha.

Even that sounds great right now.

Considering we're just burning money on Amano and CJ, why not just bench them and Hasselbeck and start Locker, Velasco and Harper?

It couldn't be as bad as what we put out on the field yesterday.

Playing devil's advocate here; what about CJ's rookie year where Collin's played every game? CJ had over 1200 yards. He'll be lucky to get 700 this year.

The rookie year thing rules out that explanation for me, too. CJ didn't necessarily have the yards or the touchdowns that year, but he looked every bit as dangerous as he did in the 2K season and it was Collins behind center all year long.