Colin McCarthy impressive in first start

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Even before he stepped on the field for his first NFL start, rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy had impressed his teammates. He did it with his words then with his play in a 30-3 win over the Panthers.

McCarthy started in place of injured middle linebacker Barrett Ruud, and finished with a team-leading eight tackles, including a five-yard stop for a loss.

“He did fantastic,” defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said. “If you are a (middle) linebacker you have to be all over the field. You can’t think of yourself as a rookie. He did a really solid job.”

McCarthy missed the last three games after suffering a hamstring injury on Oct. 9 against the Steelers. But when Ruud suffered a groin injury against the Bengals, the Titans quickly tried to get McCarthy up to speed.

Up until Sunday, McCarthy played primarily on special teams. Prior to kickoff, he gathered his defensive teammates and told them they could count on him. Turns out he was right.

“He was monstrous,” cornerback Cortland Finnegan said.

The fourth-round pick out of Miami made the defensive calls and stayed on the field most of the game.

“I just wanted to tell the guys that I had prepared, and they could count on me,” he said. “So they were confident in me, and we could then just go out there and play football. In the beginning I missed a tackle here and there. But once I started feeling comfortable, I was able to make plays. And as a defense everyone made plays.”

After the game, McCarthy was the last player to leave the locker room. He admitted he was sore.

“Barrett has been playing great. He is great to learn from, I think that is the biggest thing,” McCarthy said. “I’m just glad I was ready when my number was called.”

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(tennessean.com)