Vince Young speaks as a Buffalo Bill
By: John Kucko
Updated: May 15, 2012
(Photo taken by: John Kucko)
QB Vince Young held a news conference today in Orchard Park to talk about joining the Bills. Below is a transcript of his comments:
QB Vince Young held a news conference today in Orchard Park to talk about joining the Bills. Below is a transcript of his comments:
On how he feels about this
opportunity:
It's just being around a great team. I had a chance to
watch the guys play a lot last year on film because pretty much the guys who
they were playing we were right behind when I was in Philly (Philadelphia). As
well as with Coach Gailey and Coach D. Lee, I call him, Coach (David) Lee. I
know he's been trying to recruit me for a long time since I was coming out of
high school to come to Arkansas. To get a chance to come here to study, work
hard and listen to the knowledge that they have to bring to the game, my game,
make my game even better I thought that was a great opportunity for
myself.
On what he took from last season in Philadelphia to
make this season better:
One thing I learned a lot of was a lot of film work.
Last year and all my previous years I've been taught how to be a pocket passer.
A lot of guys asked, "Why aren't you going to run the ball anymore?" My biggest
thing was I was trying to learn how to be a pocket passer and then it would
bring my whole game together with the pocket passing and as well as being
elusive and making plays as well as my legs and standing in place. I'm very
anxious to get in there with Coach Gailey and Coach Lee to learn even more
different things that they have for me to make my game even better. So I'm
pretty happy about that as well.
On if there is anything that he is eager to work on
this season:
I had a chance to work with him (Coach Gailey) today
actually, a couple of throws and just getting the feel for the guys and getting
to fill in learning some different terminology and plays. The biggest thing is
that he was naming off to me, throwing to my left open up my hip a little bit
more and a lot of the time I do feel that, not opening up my left hip a little
bit more to get that throw a little bit more accurate to the sideline. That was
something I was going to be working on a lot as well as just getting used to
some of the drops in a new offense that coming from Philly. We take five and
seven step deep drops and now you've got to shorten it down a little bit more to
get used to our game here. I'm looking forward to that
definitely.
On where he sees himself right now in his
career:
I'm happy. Like I said, I've gotten a chance to work
with some coordinators and great coaches from Coach (Mike) Heimerdinger,
Rest in Peace to him, Norm Chow, I think he's still in UCLA and Kerry Collins.
I've been working with a lot of great guys as well as Marty (Mornhinweig) and
Andy Reid. Just taking all of this knowledge and putting it into my game and now
it makes the game fun because you know what's going on. You can change
protection if you need to, what guys are trying to do scheming wise. So it's all
coming together right now, all the learning process and experience. My whole
thing is to come in here as well and to learn just as much so when everybody
gets the chance to go out and play to showcase the talent the things that I've
been able to learn. It's something I'm looking forward to and I'm very happy
about it.
On if he knows if he'll have any special packages for
him:
Not that I know of. Right now I'm just learning new
terminology and just feeding every day. I'm trying to get a lot of work in with
Coach Lee the most that I can under the new rules that we have. That's the
biggest thing right now is just trying to learn as much as I can right
now.
On how encouraging it is to know that Coach Gailey
tailors the offense around a player's best
abilities:
It shows you the great coach that he is. He understands
his players. You've got to respect that. You want to be one of those guys that
just sits there, learns, pays attention and keeps your mouth close. He knows
what he's doing. Just reading his history, he has a long beautiful history. At
the same time he just missed a little bit short on not winning so I want myself
or Fitz (Ryan Fitzpatrick) and Thig (Tyler Thigpen), that's our whole goal.
That's our goal is to win that championship for him. Whatever it takes, whether
it's studying extra hours or whatever it is, getting the guys doing extra
things, whatever it is, that's what we want to do for him. He's definitely worth
that Super Bowl.
On adapting to the back-up quarterback
role:
I'm pretty much used to it. All you can do is come in
and work. This league is crazy from injury wise, all kind of things. I'm not
wishing that on him (Fitzpatrick). He's our starting quarterback and I'm behind
him 100%. The biggest thing is as a, not just at my position but any position on
a football field, you have to be always ready because you never know what's
going to happen. If it's staying in shape, if it's extra studying, whatever they
have you getting extra throws in on Tuesdays and all during the week, that's the
biggest thing about being a backup quarterback. You've got to stay ready because
your number could get called any minute. That's my biggest thing is and I
learned that last year. I know how adjust to it this year so my whole thing is
sitting in behind the scenes with Coach Lee and trying to learn and try to
filter in as much knowledge as I can get with this new playbook and
terminology.
On what he has learned about himself and the people
talking about him:
My whole thing is that I use it as motivation to silence
my doubters. I have a huge doubter base. I used to feed into that but my biggest
thing is not feeding into that. You can't make everybody happy. The only people
you can make happy is your family members, your coaching staff and your
teammates. The ones you do love. Those are the ones I focus on, everything else
I just put too much focus on. I don't really watch it and I don't get to hear it
until someone texts it to me or someone tells me. I kind of use that as
fuel.
On if he's changed from hearing everything being said
about him:
I used to listen to it. That was the biggest thing. I
used to always pay attention to it. My whole thing is I don't listen to it
anymore. I don't even pay attention to it anymore. My head is so much into the
offense and the book now, other responsibilities that I have my kids and
everything. That's my concentration right now.
On if he feels like he's matured from his years in
the NFL:
It's definitely a learning experience. From RG III to
Andrew Luck, all these guys as new quarterbacks in the league they will as the
years go on you get older like Eli Manning, he's won two Super Bowls now. As the
history goes, you notice guys get more mature in their sixth and seventh year.
That's the biggest thing. I have definitely learned how to handle different
situations now. I just go to work. That's all you can do. That's what you've
been paid for to be a franchise quarterback. That's the biggest thing you have
to do. That's all I do is go to work and be in the community with the kids and
the people.
On if it's difficult to accept another one year
deal:
Somewhat. The biggest thing is it's not about me. It's
not about me at all. It's where I can go in and help. My biggest thing is trying
to (change my) perception and who I am as a person. Buddy (Nix), (David) Lee,
and the coaching staff, and Andy Reid over there, everybody's getting the
perception of who I really am as a person so that's all I care about. The
biggest thing is I just want to go out and play football, help out in any way I
can. That's the biggest thing. I love the game of football. It's a one year
deal. It's an opportunity to play the game that I love. That's my biggest
thing.
On what he meant by his reference "dream team" in
Philadelphia last year:
What I was basically saying is just the respect of the
players. Just like we have here we have a lot of respectable players on this
team as well. From Fitz, from Jax (Fred Jackson), it's a long list of guys. I
definitely won't make that comment again because it was definitely blown out of
proportion. It's just to show you that it's the respect I have for the players
that were around in that locker room and to finally get a chance and sit in the
locker room when you've got guys like we had out there. It's the same thing
here. From Mario (Williams), you've got guys that used to chase me around. It's
a great thing to be on the same sideline with those guys now. It's a great
opportunity to be here.
