bigreese82
Footballguy
Thursday, 03/23/06
Young passes test
Former Texas QB solid in Pro Day workouts
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
AUSTIN, Texas — Buoyed by solid preparations and a familiar environment, Texas' Vince Young threw very well yesterday at the Longhorns Pro Day, helping himself in the NFL's polling of the three quarterbacks at the top of the draft.
While Titans General Manager Floyd Reese rated the session as very solid, others who may be better served to see Young's stock rise gushed after he took short drops and deep ones, threw darts and arced long balls and let go of the ball from the pocket and on the move.
He completed 50 of 55 passes (including one clear cut drop of a 55-yard throw that may have been his best toss of the afternoon) at the practice bubble at Frank Denius Fields.
"I love the guy, he's got a big arm, he was very impressive," said new Houston Texans Coach Gary Kubiak, whose team is expected to draft Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush with the No. 1 pick. "He showed accuracy on the move, a very strong arm, he was always in control. He made every throw. He did everything you could possibly ask a quarterback to do in this situation."
The Titans got some alone time with Young last night and will spend most of today with him.
They will likely get a much truer sense of him in that time than they did from the workout organized by former Houston Oilers offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome, who's been coaching Young on things like dropping back from under center rather than playing in the shotgun.
"It was a good workout, just about what we expected I think," Reese said. "I thought they did a nice job putting it on, they showed you a little bit of everything. We've seen great variety and great athleticism, all the goods and pluses."
Added long-time Titans scout C.O. Brocato, who covers the Southwest: "I thought he had a good workout, better than I thought it was going to be. If anything, I thought he threw the ball a little bit downhill some but other than that, he made some nice throws. He's got a good arm, that's the big thing."
Observers included seven Titans representatives — Reese, director of player personnel Rich Snead, offensive coordinator Norm Chow, quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson, receivers coach Ray Sherman and scouts Brocato and Blake Beddingfield.
After the workout, Young said he felt he'd proven something.
"You hear so much that 'Vince is not working out,' 'Vince is not doing this,' so I wanted to go out there and show them that I have been working, that was the biggest key for me," he said. "I'm at home, been working. You know me, I'm always confident and relaxed, so this is Vince."
"I feel like I did a good job, I think I went out there and stayed relaxed, poised, had a good time."
After reports from Indianapolis said he scored a 6 on his first try at the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test, questions about his preparations and advisors popped up everywhere.
"When you're fixing to invest one of the top four, five, six, 10 picks, and you punch and you prod, you end up if you're not careful, you can put a sow's ear on a prom queen," Longhorns offensive coordinator Greg Davis said. "Because it's easier for a guy to say, 'I've got a question' than it is to say 'Dagummit guys, this guy can do it.'"
Young's throws to receivers Brian Carter and Daniel Smith (from Idaho), fullback Ahmard Hall and tight end David Thomas yesterday put a new image in the heads of coaches and executives from around the NFL.
That group included Houston owner Bob McNair and nine others from the Texans, Miami Coach Nick Saban, Baltimore quarterbacks coach Rick Neuheisel and Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson.
Young measured in a half-inch shorter (6-4½) and a pound lighter (228) than he was at the scouting combine.
Initially he did not plan to run a 40-yard dash, but after hearing some grumbling he responded by jumping in.
Four stopwatch readings from different scouts clocked him between 4.58 and 4.61 seconds.
"People want to see my personality, how I interact," Young said afterward.
"They wanted to see me run, so I went out there and ran for them. Whatever it takes. This is my life right here, so if they want me to do something, I'm going to do it."
Young seemed relaxed and comfortable during the throwing session.
A few times he clapped between plays as if to pump himself up as Rhome talked through what was next.
After one rollout put him in range of the one set of bleachers in the bubble, he took time to say hello to his grandmother.
Reese was reluctant to compare Young's work with Jay Cutler's Pro Day performance at Vanderbilt last Friday.
"It's not exactly the same, but they were both good workouts," he said.
But the Titans are doing what they can to give themselves a baseline for comparing Cutler, Young and Matt Leinart, who will work out at USC on April 2.
Three Titans receivers — Courtney Roby, Bobby Wade and Sloan Thomas — were set to be in Austin for Young to throw to today during a private workout with the team.
Reese said the team intends to have both Cutler and Leinart throw to the same group between now and the draft.
"We'll try to standardize everything we're doing as much as possible so that at some point in time we'll be able to evaluate," he said.
Said Young: "I can't say no to any of that, that's their job. If they want their receivers to come down and let me throw to them, I'm fine with it."
Titans Coach Jeff Fisher arrived last night to join the group and begin to get to know Young, who met with Arizona officials Tuesday evening. The Cardinals pick 10th.
Next in line for Young are a trip to Baltimore to spend time with the Ravens, who pick 13th, a meeting with the Jets (fourth) in Houston and a visit with his hometown Texans.
Texas Coach Mack Brown and Davis both said any lingering questions about Young were answered, and that teams will have no qualms after they get to know the quarterback on a personal level.
Thompson, whose team drafted quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the first round last year, was asked if he'd be compelled to take Young at the Packers No. 5 spot.
"I go back to Sam Bowie and Michael Jordan," he said. "You don't pass up Michael Jordan
Young passes test
Former Texas QB solid in Pro Day workouts
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
AUSTIN, Texas — Buoyed by solid preparations and a familiar environment, Texas' Vince Young threw very well yesterday at the Longhorns Pro Day, helping himself in the NFL's polling of the three quarterbacks at the top of the draft.
While Titans General Manager Floyd Reese rated the session as very solid, others who may be better served to see Young's stock rise gushed after he took short drops and deep ones, threw darts and arced long balls and let go of the ball from the pocket and on the move.
He completed 50 of 55 passes (including one clear cut drop of a 55-yard throw that may have been his best toss of the afternoon) at the practice bubble at Frank Denius Fields.
"I love the guy, he's got a big arm, he was very impressive," said new Houston Texans Coach Gary Kubiak, whose team is expected to draft Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush with the No. 1 pick. "He showed accuracy on the move, a very strong arm, he was always in control. He made every throw. He did everything you could possibly ask a quarterback to do in this situation."
The Titans got some alone time with Young last night and will spend most of today with him.
They will likely get a much truer sense of him in that time than they did from the workout organized by former Houston Oilers offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome, who's been coaching Young on things like dropping back from under center rather than playing in the shotgun.
"It was a good workout, just about what we expected I think," Reese said. "I thought they did a nice job putting it on, they showed you a little bit of everything. We've seen great variety and great athleticism, all the goods and pluses."
Added long-time Titans scout C.O. Brocato, who covers the Southwest: "I thought he had a good workout, better than I thought it was going to be. If anything, I thought he threw the ball a little bit downhill some but other than that, he made some nice throws. He's got a good arm, that's the big thing."
Observers included seven Titans representatives — Reese, director of player personnel Rich Snead, offensive coordinator Norm Chow, quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson, receivers coach Ray Sherman and scouts Brocato and Blake Beddingfield.
After the workout, Young said he felt he'd proven something.
"You hear so much that 'Vince is not working out,' 'Vince is not doing this,' so I wanted to go out there and show them that I have been working, that was the biggest key for me," he said. "I'm at home, been working. You know me, I'm always confident and relaxed, so this is Vince."
"I feel like I did a good job, I think I went out there and stayed relaxed, poised, had a good time."
After reports from Indianapolis said he scored a 6 on his first try at the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test, questions about his preparations and advisors popped up everywhere.
"When you're fixing to invest one of the top four, five, six, 10 picks, and you punch and you prod, you end up if you're not careful, you can put a sow's ear on a prom queen," Longhorns offensive coordinator Greg Davis said. "Because it's easier for a guy to say, 'I've got a question' than it is to say 'Dagummit guys, this guy can do it.'"
Young's throws to receivers Brian Carter and Daniel Smith (from Idaho), fullback Ahmard Hall and tight end David Thomas yesterday put a new image in the heads of coaches and executives from around the NFL.
That group included Houston owner Bob McNair and nine others from the Texans, Miami Coach Nick Saban, Baltimore quarterbacks coach Rick Neuheisel and Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson.
Young measured in a half-inch shorter (6-4½) and a pound lighter (228) than he was at the scouting combine.
Initially he did not plan to run a 40-yard dash, but after hearing some grumbling he responded by jumping in.
Four stopwatch readings from different scouts clocked him between 4.58 and 4.61 seconds.
"People want to see my personality, how I interact," Young said afterward.
"They wanted to see me run, so I went out there and ran for them. Whatever it takes. This is my life right here, so if they want me to do something, I'm going to do it."
Young seemed relaxed and comfortable during the throwing session.
A few times he clapped between plays as if to pump himself up as Rhome talked through what was next.
After one rollout put him in range of the one set of bleachers in the bubble, he took time to say hello to his grandmother.
Reese was reluctant to compare Young's work with Jay Cutler's Pro Day performance at Vanderbilt last Friday.
"It's not exactly the same, but they were both good workouts," he said.
But the Titans are doing what they can to give themselves a baseline for comparing Cutler, Young and Matt Leinart, who will work out at USC on April 2.
Three Titans receivers — Courtney Roby, Bobby Wade and Sloan Thomas — were set to be in Austin for Young to throw to today during a private workout with the team.
Reese said the team intends to have both Cutler and Leinart throw to the same group between now and the draft.
"We'll try to standardize everything we're doing as much as possible so that at some point in time we'll be able to evaluate," he said.
Said Young: "I can't say no to any of that, that's their job. If they want their receivers to come down and let me throw to them, I'm fine with it."
Titans Coach Jeff Fisher arrived last night to join the group and begin to get to know Young, who met with Arizona officials Tuesday evening. The Cardinals pick 10th.
Next in line for Young are a trip to Baltimore to spend time with the Ravens, who pick 13th, a meeting with the Jets (fourth) in Houston and a visit with his hometown Texans.
Texas Coach Mack Brown and Davis both said any lingering questions about Young were answered, and that teams will have no qualms after they get to know the quarterback on a personal level.
Thompson, whose team drafted quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the first round last year, was asked if he'd be compelled to take Young at the Packers No. 5 spot.
"I go back to Sam Bowie and Michael Jordan," he said. "You don't pass up Michael Jordan
In addition to that, I am sick of hearing fans of TEXAS hype Vince Young. If he was that great there would be no need for that type of hype/defense. 
