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For most of the season, the NFL MVP conversation has looked like a three-man race among Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Brett Favre. But now, in one of the biggest shocks of this 2009 season, two members of the previously 0-6 Tennessee Titans are starting to get some MVP talk.Both quarterback Vince Young, who has led the Titans to a 5-0 record after Kerry Collins led them to that 0-6 start, and running back Chris Johnson, who just completed the most productive rushing month in NFL history, are now legitimate MVP candidates.
The problem is that it's impossible to separate how much of the Titans' 5-0 run is a result of Young, and how much is a result of Johnson. You can't really separate the two, but I think it's become clear over the last five weeks that Young is a better quarterback to take advantage of Johnson's skills than Collins was.
Johnson was certainly having a great year before Young became the starter, with 95 carries for 596 yards (6.3 yards a carry) and 16 catches for 126 yards during the six games with Collins. But he simply exploded in November, with 122 carries for 800 yards (6.6 yards a carry) and 17 catches for 168 yards in five games with Young at quarterback.
As I wrote in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, Young's athleticism allows the Titans to capitalize on Johnson's speed by running options, plays that simply weren't a viable part of the game plan with the plodding Collins at quarterback. And the shotgun, spread offense, short passing attack that the Titans run with Young can better take advantage of Johnson's skills as a receiver, too.
Johnson is a unique athletic talent, a guy who was good enough at track and field in high school that he might have become an Olympian if he had set his mind to it. But while he was simply a good running back with Collins under center, he has been transformed into a great running back playing next to Young.
Johnson and Young are a perfect pairing, and they've turned each other into MVP candidates.
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