Well, well, well, everyone. Look who reappeared in the NFL news section on ESPN.com? Yes, Mr. Ryan Leaf, in the flesh. And he has a new stint, too. I was wondering what happened to him all these years. Check it out!
Vince Young has decided to enter the 2006 NFL Draft. Most draft boards have him going as the #3 overall pick, to the Tennessee Titans.
The NFL has had their fair share of the "scrambling quarterback". We know that majority of these QB's are of African American descent. Vince Young has the potential to be the next big phenom in the highly preferable class of quarterbacks, preferable in the meaning of mobility and the ability to make plays with his arm and/or legs.
The question that I have is, is Vince Young destined to become the next Michael Vick, who is at a stand still in his career (possibly due to the change in the system. Vick has admitted to being "lost" with the West Coast system), or is Young the next coming of Randall Cunningham or Steve McNair (in their primes, respectively), with a possible Super Bowl ring in the mix? I've decided to pull both player's college numbers for comparison(since Young is not yet in the league).
Vince Young Stats 2003-2005:
Avg QB rating: 140.9
Rushing Avg: 6.9 yards per season
Avg passing att: 239 per season
Avg passing cmp: 148 per season
Avg TDs: 15 per season
Avg completion pct: 61%
Avg INT's: 9 per season
Total offensive yards in Rose Bowl: 467 yards
Michael Vick's stats 1999-2000 (reshirted in 1998):
Avg QB rating: 145.3
Rushing avg: 5.1 per season
Avg passing att: 114 per season
Avg passing cmp: 64 per season
Avg TDs: 7 TDs per season
Avg completion pct: 55%
Avg INTs: 4 per season
Total offensive yards in Sugar Bowl: 322 yards
Keep in mind, I'm well aware that Mike Vick only played two seasons of college football, where as Vince Young played 3 seasons. So, initially, this may seem unfair to most people because Young played a season longer. However, although Vick only played 2 seasons, he was good enough to Dan Reeves and the Atlanta Falcons to be the #1 overall pick in the 2001 draft with these same stats.
Looking at these numbers, a couple of things caught my attention. Young's passing attempts to Vick's. Although Vick excelled over Young in TDs, and Quarterback ratings, Young has a better completion percentage, along with a better rushing avg then Vick's.
Vick's current NFL stats doesn't shout "Hall of Famer" to anyone, but most fans like him for his electrifying spark of energy to the team, as well as his fan base. He was once dubbed to be the Most Exciting Player in the NFL. My question to you is, will Vick continue to be the reigning king as the MEP in the league, or will Young dethrone him, once he becomes a full time starter in the NFL (which may be a couple of years, if he goes to Tenn. There is speculation that the Titans want McNair to restructure his contract as well as start for the team. Possibly to mentor Young? Hmmmm)? You decide. Let me know your opinions.
I just wanted to take a brief moment to give a shout out to Reggie Bush for winning the Heisman Trophy yesterday. I also want to say congrats for having the most first place votes ever. That is a great accomplishment, and I believe he deserved every single vote received.
Whether you like USC or not, no one can take away that #5 is a playmaker. For one player to have a total of 500 yards in one game.....I don't care what team they were playing against, that is something remarkable within itself.
So what now??? He has nothing more to prove on the college level, and his talent shows that he is definitely worthy of being the first round draft pick, if not THE #1 pick overall. Although he could pull a Leinart and stay next year, my question would simply be why? He's proven to everyone, including the NFL, that he is ready to take the next step and go pro.
So again, congratulations go to Reggie Bush. May you make some Houston Texans or New York Jets team proud.
