Young has ‘a lot to learn’ about CFL

Mike Reilly’s advice is simple for quarterback Vince Young, who is looking to resume his football career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“The guys who do the best up here are humble and they realize that they have a lot to learn because it’s a totally different league,” Reilly, the Edmonton Eskimos’ starting quarterback, said during CFL Week.

“Whatever you learned in the States will help you, but you have to learn a lot more.”

All nine CFL teams open their main training camps on Sunday. Because of his background, Young may be under more scrutiny than most quarterbacks when the Riders open camp in Saskatoon.

Young spent nine seasons in the NFL after the Tennessee Titans drafted the former University of Texas Longhorns star third overall in 2006.

He hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since 2011, when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. He retired from professional football in the spring of 2014 after being released by the Cleveland Browns.

Reilly said that Young could have success in the CFL based on what he showed in college and at times in the NFL. Reilly’s expectations are tempered by what has transpired with other college and NFL stars who have tried to make it in the CFL.

“Some guys are huge names and then they do nothing up here because it’s such a different game,” Reilly said.

“Sometimes when you’re very successful down there, you aren’t going to be successful here, because it’s such a different skill set. Other times, guys have come in and they are stars in our league.”

Reilly feels the 34-year-old Young could become one of those stars.

“With the athletic ability that he has shown in the past, he could be a great player,” Reilly said.

The Riders’ coaching staff could also help Young make the transition to the CFL. Reilly is familiar with the staff because they were together during the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.

“If there is one thing that I know about that staff, they won’t leave any stone unturned,” Reilly said.

“They will figure out whatever it takes to be successful and to win. They will give him the tools. I don’t know the man or how coachable he is, but he has a chance to be successful up here.’’