Fisher: Too much game plan vs. Steelers

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher reiterated that Vince Young will be his starting quarterback this Sunday against the New York Giants and for the foreseeable future.

In pulling Young at the end of the third quarter in favor of Kerry Collins, Fisher was again quizzed about making the change on Monday.

Interestingly, Fisher admitted that given the situation of trailing by 13 points entering the fourth quarter that Collins' experience against a defense like the Steelers' 3-4 scheme was a contributing factor in his decision. He also indicated that perhaps the Titans had too much packed into the game plan at the start on offense.

Young was 7 of 10 passing for 66 yards, but accounted for three of Tennessee's seven turnovers with a pair of interceptions and a fumble lost. In a game like that, Fisher dismissed letting Young learn by doing against a complex Pittsburgh defense that was dominating the line of scrimmage on Sunday.

“Experience [for Young] had nothing to do with that decision from this standpoint. If I decide to fake a punt or go for it on fourth down, I make a decision and go. It's not carrying over,” Fisher said. “He's our starter this week and beyond. He doesn't need to look over his shoulder. For all intents and purposes, it doesn't happen again. It happened yesterday. We needed to throw it to have a chance to win. Kerry has had a lot more experience with this defense. In time, Vince will be able to do those kinds of things. This was kind of a one-time thing. It's an issue we've put behind us.”

Fisher had hope to move on from the topic, but it was still heavy on the minds of media and fans alike on Monday. Fisher did not inform Young that an in-game change was being made Sunday, and was asked if he had told his quarterback that there is no need to worry about looking over his shoulder after any future mistakes.

“You think I'm going to talk to you about my conversation with my quarterback? We've moved on. The whole entire team had a tough day yesterday, with the exception of the defense,” Fisher said. “I think overall, even as coaches, we probably had too much in the game plan. We probably asked too much of our offense against this defense.”

In asking to explain that what that meant in relation to Young, Fisher added, “I think in retrospect and talking with the offensive staff, we had a little too much going in into the game plan. And what that is, that's kind of a reflection of how far he's come at the position. It was just a bad day offensively.”

Fisher admitted that he doesn't see having to make such a change again, but that he would make the same decision if he had to, based on the situation he was faced with Sunday.

“To do things over again, I'd do it just the way I did it. It was the best decision for us at the time, based on the information that I had and have. Unfortunately, I can't share it all with you. But I made that decision,” Fisher said. “I don't see that happening again. If it does, then I'll make the appropriate decision at that time. Vince is our starter. I said that yesterday. I said yesterday, he's starting next week. It doesn't mean he's starting just this week. He's our starting quarterback. We've moved on.”