NASHVILLE -- For his first start in the NFL, Titans quarterback Vince Young was true to his name: He was young, and it showed.
His stats weren't bad. He completed 14-of-29 passes for 155 yards. He threw two interceptions. Twice, Young tried the spread option play he patented at Texas but was stopped for 6- and 5-yard losses.
But the thing that bothered him the most was the score. The Cowboys destroyed the Titans, 45-14. Instead of hiding behind youth, Young took responsibility. He took the blame for the loss. He's the quarterback.
"Terrible. Real bad, real bad," Young said. "I just felt like I let my teammates down. I'm a competitor. That's how I am. I can't stand losing, especially when I got a lot to do with it. I just got to get better each week and try to turn this thing around. I told my teammates today that I take the blame for that one."
It's hard to figure that Young was responsible for giving up 217 rushing yards. Young wasn't beaten for two Terry Glenn touchdown passes. Sure, he can take responsibility for two fumbles and three turnovers, but after all, he's only four games into his NFL career.
Regardless, he sounded like a quarterback prepared to handle this team for the long-term. The Vince Young era has begun, but at 0-4, this season might be similar to what Alex Smith experienced going 4-12 in San Francisco last season.
Jeff Fisher, after watching Young try to move the team for a quarter in Week 2 against Chargers, decided the time was right for Young to start.
"This past week on late Monday afternoon and early Monday evening, we decided to make a change at the quarterback position and go with Vince," Fisher said. "The offensive staff spent the better part of the day Tuesday putting the plan together. We informed Vince of our change last Tuesday. I spoke with Kerry Collins Wednesday morning and Kerry obviously was not pleased with the news but accepted it and was terrific all week with Vince as the support system for him."
The offense is different with Young. He's mobile. With the help of offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Young runs college running plays. He'll use the spread option play and watch the strong side linebacker. He'll go to the running back -- Chris Brown or LenDale White -- and depending on what the SAM (strongside) linebacker does, he'll either run it or let the back take the ball.
There were several pitchout plays that only Wishbone quarterbacks run even though the Titans don't use the normal complement of Wishbone backs.
"I said that one of the most difficult things to do was to deal with the temptation to play him sooner than we should," Fisher said. "That's what I said. We will play him when he's ready. I never put a timetable on it. The perception is that this is the Steve McNair timetable. That was the perception but it is not the case."
Young started out well. Aided by five Chris Brown runs for 25 yards, Young needed only two short completions to get an opening field goal. But as Young has quickly learned, the NFL game is faster than college and things turn quickly. The Cowboys drove for a touchdown. Young had a three-and-out on the next possession and the Cowboys followed with a 55-yard drive.
All of a sudden, he was down 14-3. A solid running attack in the first half kept the score close. It was 14-6 at the half thanks to a Mike Vanderjagt missed field goal before the intermission.
Young threw an interception on the third play of the third quarter and the ball game was over.
"I am sure he would like to have some throws back," Fisher said of Young. "But you see what he is capable of doing. He can run around and make plays and for his first outing, I'm sure he is probably disappointed. There is a lot of room for improvement."
Still, Young got rave reviews for his potential.
"He's a young kid and when you get behind, 34-14, that's a different deal," Dallas head coach Bill Parcells said. "So it's difficult. He's obviously got a good arm and athletic ability. I think he will cause some people trouble. I wish him luck and I wish Jeff Fisher luck, too."
The Titans will need all the luck they can get. Though the season is Young, it's going to be a long season.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.