|
Texas coach Brown says Young still the starter
Oct. 18, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
AUSTIN -- Texas coach Mack Brown is sticking with Vince Young as the team's starting quarterback, despite two consecutive poor passing games.
Advertisement
Brown had suggested after the Longhorns' 28-20 win over Missouri that he'd think about whether to bench Young for backup Chance Mock. But he removed that option at his weekly news conference Monday.
"Vince will start," Brown said.
No. 8 Texas plays at Texas Tech on Saturday.
The coach said he had wanted to see how Young was feeling after he was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a bruised sternum. Although Young was cleared to return in the third quarter against Missouri, Brown stuck with Mock, who played the entire second half.
Brown said Young was fine.
Together, the two quarterbacks threw for 58 yards in an offense that ranks just 103rd nationally in passing. The Longhorns have been able to compensate for that with a rushing attack that ranks No. 2 and averages 293.5 yards per game behind tailback Cedric Benson.
Part of the reason for sticking with Young is his impact on the rushing attack.
"He is such a valuable part of our running game," Brown said. "A big part of Cedric's running success to me comes from (defenses) having to be aware of the ability to make the explosive plays with Vince."
Young ran for 53 yards and one touchdown on five carries against Missouri. He also caught a 48-yard pass from running back Ramonce Taylor.
"I thought he ran Saturday like he ran last year," Brown said. Young rushed for 998 yards and 11 TDs as a freshman but didn't have a scoring run this season until last Saturday.
"We're running the ball well enough, I really feel like the passing will improve," Brown said.
Brown liked some of what he saw from Mock, who completed 4 of 10 passes for 39 yards against Missouri with a key third-down conversion on the Longhorns' final touchdown drive.
Mock injured an ankle in the preseason and has been slow getting back to full strength.
"I do feel like Chance is more ready to play now," Brown said. "We haven't even discussed what that means, but he is available now to play if we need him to help us win."
Last year against Texas Tech, the Longhorns trailed 40-35 when Mock relieved Young and drove Texas 86 yards to the winning touchdown pass with 46 seconds left.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
|
Linear Mode
