NFL

Vince Young took a step he needed to take in the Titans’ 21-18 win over Buffalo on Sunday night.

It was a baby step toward gaining the confidence of coaches and teammates. He was not the Hall of Fame quarterback he desires to become.
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“He did what I wanted him to do,’’ said Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, the one person Young has to please the most. “He got us in and out of the huddle, no delay penalties, and he stood in there against the blitzes. I have no complaints.’’

Young’s highlight was a beautiful touch fade route to Paul Williams in the back corner of the end zone. It was thrown with enough air under it, where Williams was the only one who could make the catch and have just enough room to keep both feet inbounds.

It was a major league throw and catch, something for Young to build on.

The interception thrown by Young was not his fault. Receiver Lavelle Hawkins ran the wrong route, and apologized. It was after Young lost radio communication from Heimerdinger and ran toward the sideline to get instructions verbally.

“That was a broken route,’’ Heimerdinger said. “Everyone got the right play except one person.’’

Those things happen and there is no better place for them to happen than in a preseason game.

Young still struggles with both accuracy and touch on the shorter routes out of the backfield.

“He should have gotten that one to LenDale (White) and there was one time when I thought he should have run the ball, but that will come,’’ Heimerdinger said.

Young completed half of his 10 pass attempts for 39 yards. The interception occurred on his third play. He went three-and-out the next two series then Buffalo muffed a punt, setting up Young’s 37-yard touchdown drive.

It was the first of five preseason report cards for Young. It’s vital for him to show the Titans and others he is capable of being a starting quarterback who can be trusted in this league.

NBC announcers Al Michaels and analyst Cris Collinsworth talked about Young’s future with the Titans. They talked about Young losing the job to Kerry Collins last season and all the ancillary problems that led to some bizarre behavior by Young.

The Titans have a decision to make on Young. He carries a huge salary cap charge next season, when Collins will be in the final season of a two-year contract.

Michaels and Collinsworth agreed if they had to make the choice, they would cut their losses and let Young go. Collinsworth said he thought a fresh start would be good for Young.

Fisher and the Titans’ front office would like to see Young become the quarterback they thought he could be when they made him the third player selected in the 2006 draft.

Collins is clearly the Titans quarterback for the present, however. Unless the veteran goes down to injury, Vince Young has four more preseason games to prove he is the Titans quarterback of the future.