Whether Titans owner Bud Adams had some input on the use of rookie quarterback Vince Young, head coach Jeff Fisher is making a very smart move in making sure Young plays two or three series in the season opener against the New York Jets.

Young and new starter Billy Volek are two totally different quarterbacks. Volek prefers to take a deep drop because he is not that mobile. Young is a freakish talent who can throw on the run and if there’s nothing there, has the strength to possibly run for a first down. He has running back skills. Despite his odd release, Young is a very accurate passer and can pull the trigger quickly. He simply needs to be smarter about sliding and ducking defenders.

Deep down, Fisher knows that Young could be the difference between a winning or losing season in Tennessee. Volek is a five-win quarterback at best. But by playing Young, too, the rookie will be putting tremendous pressure on opposing defenses with the extra preparation time necessary to deal with two entirely different quarterbacks.

Tennessee, regardless of the running back, could have a decent running game. But if Fisher starts losing early, look for him to extend the use of Young until he becomes a starter this season. It makes sense.

If Fisher loses this season, there’s a chance Adams could fire him, which may not be a bad career move for the coach. He is a co-chairman of the NFL Competition Committee and respected league-wide as one of the game’s finest coaches. He will find work easily, and on his terms.

There could be two major openings.

San Diego’s Dean Spanos is unhappy with Marty Schottenheimer and could make a change regardless of how well the Chargers do this season. The other opening could be in Dallas. If the season goes poorly in Big D, Bill Parcells could elect to retire. It’s anybody’s guess what could happen there, considering Parcells reportedly has a good walking-away income - another year’s worth of pay - should he elect to retire. Fisher would be at the top of the list for Jerry Jones.

Not so fast, Raiders

Art Shell and the Oakland Raiders may be 2-0 in the preseason, but that undefeated record is a mirage. The Raiders continue to have trouble on offense. New quarterback Aaron Brooks hasn’t looked good in two consecutive starts, especially against the opposition’s first-team defenses.  

The Raiders have also been disappointed with the progress of second-year quarterback Andrew Walter in training camp. Against the Vikings, Walter connected on a beautifully thrown deep ball to Johnnie Morant, a player who has the ability to supplant Jerry Porter as a starter. If not that, Mora  

But after his great touchdown pass, Walter threw an awful interception and was greeted on the sideline by Shell’s glare. Right now, the Raiders can’t protect the immobile Walter, who may have more upside than Brooks.

Shell, one of the game’s all-time tackles, can’t be pleased with the play of Robert Gallery and Langston Walker, his two starting offensive tackles. It may be time to move Walker back to guard and guard Barry Sims back to tackle. And what’s with Gallery’s hair? If he was a great player it may be interesting, but right now he looks pretty silly with those long, curly locks.

Let's get physical

In my recent training camp column, I overlooked the very physical practices that rookie head coach Brad Childress has been operating in Mankato, Minn. this summer. Some of the veteran players have been upset with the edict to actually tackle and drop players in drills. Of course, this is the style Childress learned under Andy Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“This is the most physical camp I’ve ever been associated with,” said prized cornerback Antoine Winfield, an eight-year veteran. “I’ve been tackling people to the ground. It’s a long season and I’m only 185 pounds. I can only take so many hits. I’m trying to last the entire season.”

To which Childress said: “I don’t know what Antoine Winfield has been through. But I know what it takes to win.”

I’ll say this about the Vikings. They looked good against the Raiders and the left side of their offensive line will do a lot of damage this season.

Running on empty

The Jets returned running back Lee Suggs to Cleveland when he failed his physical. But the Jets will still be looking, considering the potential retirement of Curtis Martin. There’s a good chance that the 49ers could consider trading Kevan Barlow, especially if they name Frank Gore as their starting tailback. Barlow would help the Jets. Another team that could be interested in Barlow is Denver. Coach Mike Shanahan really liked Barlow coming out of Pittsburgh.

Mascot mayhem

 Remember the story of the Titans’ mascot T-Rac running over Saints quarterback Adrian McPherson? Well, guess who owns McPherson’s rights in the Arena League? Well, none other than the Nashville Kats.

 Bet on Bruschi

 The word with the Patriots is that linebacker Tedy Bruschi will definitely play in the season opener against Buffalo. He will simply tape up the cast on his broken wrist. Bruschi broke the scaphoid, a peanut-sized bone under the thumb.