NASHVILLE, Tenn.
Tight end Alge Crumpler of the Tennessee Titans knows the importance of a good relationship with a quarterback and thinks he has found something splendid working with Vince Young.
"I'm definitely excited about it, and I know he's excited about it, too, especially when we get in two-minute situations, and he takes command of the offense and is able to move our team down the field so easily. He does such a good job. I'm able to point out a couple things here and there...." Crumpler said.
"It's just been a match made in heaven thus far."
Call it a welcome fresh start for Crumpler, a man looking to escape Atlanta and the mess he endured last year with Coach Bobby Petrino, who abruptly left before his first NFL season ended.
"I love those fans in Atlanta. The situation that was last season, I'm just glad it's over with, and I'm glad I have a fresh start somewhere else. I ... sure don't want to be there right now," said Crumpler, a four-time Pro Bowler and a native of Wilmington native who played at North Carolina. To make sure he didn't make a mistake moving to a new team, Crumpler, a seven-year veteran did his homework and chose Tennessee because he considered the Titans contenders.
"I thought coming in here would be a good situation for me, and it's (done) nothing but met my expectations, above and beyond my expectations thus far," he said.
What makes Crumpler so happy? Being on a team filled with players who push themselves to work harder.
The feeling has been mutual. Crumpler, with 316 career receptions for 4,212 yards and 35 touchdowns, was the Titans' biggest offseason catch. Even in 2007, when he missed two games with a sore knee, he still caught 42 passes for 444 yards. His five touchdown catches would have led the Titans, who had only nine touchdown passes last season.
"Alge fits in very nicely," Coach Jeff Fisher said. "He's been a pro. He's been here, he's working and has a good sense and feel for what we're doing."
The Titans didn't try to keep Ben Troupe, who caught only five passes last season, or Ben Hartsock. Instead, they went after Crumpler and Falcons teammate Dwayne Blakley to give Young help at tight end.
Bo Scaife, the tight end who played at Texas with Young, has welcomed Crumpler. The two played for the same position coach while in college, and Scaife said he thinks the potential of the tight ends is now endless.
Crumpler's connection with Young has been obvious, especially in the minicamps, which will end Friday. Young likes the big target he has in the 6-2 Crumpler.
"I feel he's going to help me out a lot because he's been in the game a long time, and he knows where to be at the right time, especially in certain coverages. If I don't get my receivers, he knows where to be so I can find him and get the ball to him," Young said.
It's easy to assume that Crumpler picked up the kind of relationship with the 6-5 Young that he enjoyed with 6-0 Michael Vick. Crumpler says it's not the same.
"They're two totally different quarterbacks. Everyone has lumped them in the same category," Crumpler said.
"With Vince being so tall and being in the pocket, I can kind of see him more when I'm running my route and get a feel for where he wants me to be."
It also doesn't hurt that Mike Heimerdinger, the Titans offensive coordinator, likes to use his tight ends down field.
"I love getting down the field. When I get going, I get to running, it's kind of hard to bring me down. I just love playing the game," Crumpler said.
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