Following a spectacular Rose Bowl victory against the USC Trojans, Vince Young entered the 2006 NFL Draft hoping to be taken first overall by his hometown team, the Houston Texans. NFL analysts and fans were convinced that Vince Young had a legitimate shot at being taken first overall. The ideal situation was foiled when the Houston Texans chose Defensive End Mario Williams even though they were still looking for a franchise quarterback.
Vince Young ended up falling to the third overall pick, where he was taken by former Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams. Despite not being drafted by the Houston Texans, Vince Young was excited about the prospect of playing for an owner who had attended many of his games while he was at Madison High School and the University of Texas. Having the owner on your side is a great feeling for a player, but when you're a first-round draft pick, the support you really need is from the head coach.
Understanding, trust, and respect are required for any collaboration to function, but Jeff Fisher and Vince Young lacked these attributes. Vince Young was a rarity in the National Football League at the time, and he didn't look like the other quarterbacks in the league. So, in order for Vince Young to flourish, he needed a special bond with his head coach. However, Titans owner Bud Adams and Head Coach Jeff Fisher did not share the same undying feelings about Vince Young. Regardless of what Jeff Fisher said about Vince Young, Bud Adams had his heart set on picking the talented quarterback out of the University of Texas. Even before the rookie quarterback and head coach could meet, their connection was strained.
NFL analysts recognized Vince Young's potential; all he needed was a head coach to show him the ropes of playing in the NFL and techniques to add to his arsenal to help him become a better player. Jeff Fisher did not devote much time or effort to educating the rookie quarterback on ways to improve. Vince Young's first two seasons were amazing with him oftentimes flashing signs of greatness However, as NFL defenses began to focus on his tendencies, he began to suffer. With little to no assistance from Jeff in Tennessee, Vince's career began to fade swiftly. We all know Vince Young played before his time, but you can't help but wonder how Vince would play in this day and age.
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