Aug. 29, 2006

Camp tour: Volek's window shrinks with Collins signing

By Pete Prisco | CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
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Five things: Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- They couldn't just let him enjoy it, could they? Just as Billy Volek was settling in as a first-time starter at quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, with QB of the future Vince Young still light years away from being ready to play, the Titans had to go out and sign veteran Kerry Collins this week.

Billy Volek watches as Vince is the Titans quarterback of the future. (AP)

Volek waited six years for his chance to start, taking a lot of practice snaps as Steve McNair limped around during the week only to play on Sundays, forcing Volek to the bench, and this was to be his chance, a time to show the rest of the league that he could be a quality starter.

Yet even if he does play well, Volek is basically in an audition year. That's pretty cruel, but Volek understands that's the way it is since they drafted Young last April with the third overall pick and paid him $60 million. The future doesn't sit on the bench for long.

"You pay Vince that amount of money, he's going to be the quarterback, regardless of what I do," Volek said after last Saturday's preseason loss to Atlanta Falcons. "I can have three mistakes waiting for me, he can have 300. Vince is the future, and he's going to do a good job."

Neither of the two has lit it up thus far in the preseason, which is why the Titans went out and signed Collins, a move rumored for months. Collins started for the Oakland Raiders last year, but was considering retiring before the Titans reached out again this week. He is a solid deep-ball thrower, but Norm Chow's offense is more of a shorter passing offense.

That would seem to be a perfect fit for Volek, whose game is built more around the cerebral approach to the position, rather than his having a big arm. Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Monday that Volek would be the starter in the opener against the New York Jets Sept. 10, but he also mentioned that Volek now had competition.

That message says two things: One, that the Titans aren't exactly sold on Volek and Young won't be ready to contribute this season, other than an occasional special package.

Watching the Titans play against the Falcons, those two things were quite clear. Volek struggled early on, came on with a solid second quarter and finished the first half 14 of 22 for 141 yards. But the Titans scored just six points and Volek got 74 of those yards on the final two-minute drive.

Young was worse. He finished 6 for 10 for 96 yards, was sacked twice and threw an interception. He was jumpy in the pocket, rarely sitting in to make his reads before moving out on the run. Young ran twice for 14 yards.

"Vince isn't ready yet," said a Titans player.

Young said he would be if he's asked to play.

"I'm not going in there thinking I'm going to fail," Young said. "I'm going to go out there and compete and get them first downs and points and touchdowns."

For now, Volek is the guy. Collins will push him at some point, but if Volek plays well, he'll keep the job. There are some, even in the organization, who wonder if he's truly capable of being anything more than a quality backup.

The way Volek see it, this is his chance to show the rest of the league that he can be much more. He likens it to the situation Drew Brees had with the San Diego Chargers after they drafted Philip Rivers two years ago. At some point, the Chargers would be Rivers' team.

That came this spring when Brees signed a $60 million free-agent deal with the New Orleans Saints.

"From day one, I related it to Drew Brees and Philip Rivers," Volek said. "Drew was a great quarterback for the Chargers, but they had a guy waiting right behind him. He got pushed out the door, and New Orleans got a great quarterback. I need to do that. I know there are a lot of teams out there watching me."

Volek has started 10 games in his career, and he's had his moments. At the tail end of the 2004 season, he threw for 492 yards in a game and 918 in back-to-back games, proof that he could get it done. Most of the time he watched as McNair played, even when he didn't practice.

That's why he was so excited when it became clear that he would be the team's starter in 2006, at least keeping the seat warm until Young was ready.

"I'm OK with it," Volek said. "I know Vince is the future here. I just have to make the most of my chance. I know the organization has done everything they can to push him, to hype him. That's OK. He is the guy for the future."

Some have speculated that since the Titans are probably a year or two away from winning, why not just scrap the whole thing and chalk this up a learning year for Young and the offense?

"I don't buy that," Titans receiver Drew Bennett said. "I'm not standing here thinking we're not going to be good on offense. I have no doubt in Billy. He can make all the throws. He can make all the reads. He has a strong arm and he's been in all the situations. He's done all the things a quarterback with no experience might struggle with."

Volek rolled his eyes when the talk of scrapping it for Young was mentioned.

"They don't want to win if you do that," Volek said. "The organization needs to win right now. I'm not saying Vince isn't ready. It's just that it's so tough on a young quarterback. I've seen some young quarterbacks who weren't prepared, and it scars them."

Maybe the winning now approach is why Collins was signed. Maybe the coaching staff doesn't think Volek is the guy for that for the entire season. Whatever the reason, Volek's shot to show what he can do probably got a little shorter.

First it was Vince Young. Now it's Kerry Collins.

When can a guy get a break?

"Right now, it's my time to shine," Volek said. "I have a great opportunity in front of me."

For how long, who knows? At least he has the chance.