If Marcus Mariota avoids the injury bug and remains the Titans starting quarterback for the better part or all of 2016, he would end a most frustrating streak that has haunted the franchise for nearly a decade.
Call it the Curse of Vince Young.
No Titan has led the team in passing yards (and most other passing categories as well) for consecutive seasons since 2006-2007, Young’s first and second seasons in the league.
VY’s meltdown in the 2008 season opener led to Kerry Collins taking over for the rest of that year and into the following season.
You probably need a scorecard to list all the Titans quarterbacks who have started at least one game in the past decade, but here goes:
- 2006 – Vince Young (13 games started), Kerry Collins (3)
- 2007 – Vince Young (15), Kerry Collins (1)
- 2008 – Kerry Collins (15), Vince Young (1)
- 2009 – Vince Young (10), Kerry Collins (6)
- 2010* – Vince Young (8), Kerry Collins (7), Rusty Smith (1)
- 2011 – Matt Hasselback (16)
- 2012 – Jake Locker (11), Matt Hasselbeck (5)
- 2013 – Ryan Fitzpatrick (9), Jake Locker (7)
- 2014 – Zach Mettenberger (6), Jake Locker (5), Charlie Whitehurst (5)
- 2015 – Marcus Mariota (12), Zach Mettenberger (4)
* Young played in nine games in 2010 with eight starts, while Collins played in 10 games with seven starts. Collins led the Titans in attempts, completions, yards, touchdown passes and interceptions that season, despite one fewer start.
-- Terry McCormick