16 Dec 10 Tennessee Titans Struggles: Can We Believe In Rusty Smith?

Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesThe unpredictability of the 2010 season of the Tennessee Titans continued after Vince Young had another emotional breakdown in Sunday's loss to the Redskins. It now be possible that Young will never take a snap for the Titans ever again, but Titans owner Bud Adams is Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
intent on keeping Young on the team. But now it's time to think immediate future, and rookie Rusty Smith is that immediate future for the Titans at quarterback. It may not be an ideal situation, but Jeff Fisher and company have to roll with the punches. Kerry Collins is still dealing with a calf injury and it is unclear when he'll return as the starter. Chris Simms was also signed to be the No.2 quarterback to Smith this week. Smith didn't look sharp in his first NFL action, but who can blame him? He was thrown into the fire and Fisher acknowledged that after the game. His one great throw ended up coming back on an offensive pass interference call on Randy Moss. It was a beautifully thrown ball to the endzone and Fisher needs to build off that in practice this week. Smith seemed to look Moss's way more often and just had trouble getting his timing down. The real test will come in Smith's first career NFL start against the Texans. Lucky for Smith, he'll get the make his debut as a starter against one of the NFL's worst pass defenses in the Texans. Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesColts McCoy would've killed for that, but he got the Steelers. Smith played his college ball at Florida Atlantic and was a surprise pick by the Titans in the sixth round of last year's draft. His last season Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
with Florida Atlantic, Smith finished with 14 touchdown passes and nearly 2,000 yards passing. Despite all of this quarterback shuffling, the Titans still only sit one game back of the division-leading Colts. Titans fans should be counting their blessings because a normal year in the AFC South would have the Titans well out of the playoff picture. All in not lost here with Smith running things for the next couple weeks. Fisher will figure out a way to adapt to the situation, and Chris Johnson seems to be hitting his stride now that Moss is in the mix. Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
What the Titans need Smith to do is manage the game rather than trying to be a savior to the season. Smith just doesn't have the tools yet to be that kind of quarterback in the NFL. Let's give Smith a chance to show what he can do after a week's full of starter reps before we jump ship on this season. What we should really worry about is the foolish penalties, something that led to the demise of the Dallas Cowboys earlier this season.