Parker: Big plays led to con-Vince-ing award

The first season's in the books, the writers have spoken and Tennessee Titan quarterback Vince Young was tabbed the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year on Wednesday.

A whirlwind of hype and optimism hasn't surrounded the Midstate's pro football fans like this since coming into the 2004 season.

Some experts ascertain that the young signalcaller was hardly worth the honor, paling in comparison to the likes of Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew, New Orleans running back Reggie Bush or wide receiver Marques Colston.

Truth be told, Young's statistics are hardly staggering. He tossed 12 touchdowns but threw more interceptions (13). He passed for 2,199 yards yet completed only 51.5 percent of his attempts. All told, his quarterback rating was a dismal 66.7.

Young's bringing the hardware to the Music City trophy case is an oddity. Statistics typically sway the writers' votes and bring honors to athletes. His case is an exception.

Although the 6-foot-5 Houston native with a sidearm release used his athleticism to gain 552 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground -- becoming the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to rush for 500 yards as a rookie -- but his most impressive stat was also his most important, an 8-5 record as a starter.

Tennessee's 0-3 start left some calling them the worst franchise in the NFL. To go from that point to knocking on the AFC playoff door, showed that Young was doing something right.

The kid just made plays when his team had to have them.

Exactly one year ago today, he carried his Texas Longhorns to the national championship after scampering into the end zone on a potential game-ending fourth down.

Don't let his job as a passer fool you. There was no way he was putting the ball in the air on that play. Check the game films from his high school days. When it's all on the line, he's keeping the pigskin in his hands.

In the Titans' overtime win over his hometown Texans, teammate and receiver Bobby Wade was coming out of his break and was wide open in the middle of the field. Didn't matter. Young saw a crease and turned it upfield for an in-your-face trip to the end zone to win the game.

That highlight alone shows how far he has to go as a passer but how the sky's the limit as a winner.

In Young's individual workout for NFL scouts prior to the 2006 NFL Draft, Young didn't wow the crowd with a 40-yard dash time around 4.6.

But, put a goal-line within site and the ball in his hands with a chance to show why he should have been to the top pick in the draft and he was off to the races as though being chased by rabid dogs down a steep hill.

Don't go expecting 25 or more touchdown passes each year. His passer rating won't rival Troy Aikman's.

There won't be many, if any, completion percentages over 60. And he might just lead the NFL in picks thrown a few times before clocking out as a pro.

Instead look for a command of the huddle, a will to win and No. 10 jerseys all over the Volunteer State. Hope you got one for Christmas because they won't be on the clearance racks any time soon.