Colin McCarthy adapts his game

Trying to live up to expectations is something Titans rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy has gotten used to.

During college, he was even given the number 44 to wear as a freshman because of how much he reminded the University of Miami coaching staff of former Pro Bowler Dan Morgan.

But now the fourth-round pick, overshadowed by the drafting of Akeem Ayers in the second round and the free-agent signing of Barrett Ruud, has the chance to surprise people — a chance he’ll gladly take.

“Everybody comes in here and makes friends. As linebackers we’re a pretty close group, but at the end of the day this is a competition,” McCarthy said. “You may be cheering each other on, but ultimately you’re fighting for a position.”

A three-year starter and two-time All-ACC linebacker at Miami, McCarthy is trying to emerge from a daunting shadow of former Hurricane greats having current NFL success. He considers fellow alumni Jon Beason and Jonathan Vilma to be personal mentors, easing his transition with their knowledge of the lifestyle and work ethic required to be successful in the NFL.

Ayers, the projected starting strongside linebacker, believes the pains of transition for himself and McCarthy have been more muted than most first-year pros. With a new coaching staff in place, the philosophies and terminologies of defensive coordinator Jerry Gray are new to everyone, not just the rookies.

“We’re all learning at the same time, learning the same things, and it would have been more difficult if coming in all these guys already knew it,” Ayers said. “They’d be moving at a totally different speed, but now everybody’s learning from scratch and we’re able to develop as a group.”

That group of three linebackers is still to be determined at this point, though the athleticism of Ayers on the outside and Ruud’s experience at middle would appear to make them frontrunners to start. That leaves Gerald McRath and Will Witherspoon vying for the starting weakside linebacker position.

As for McCarthy, he will likely make most of his impact on special teams this season, though his brief and ongoing tutelage under Ruud and linebackers coach Frank Bush are preparing him for his eventual opportunity with the defense.

“(McCarthy) has still got to improve in almost every area, but the kid is taking heed of what we’re saying and getting better every day,” Bush said. “He’s got a knack in pass coverage and is learning the run game as we go about it, so he’s moving along quite nicely.”

His measurables, while not significantly lacking in any area, will not and may never be the reason McCarthy finds success at the professional level.

But his willingness to learn the position at a higher level, even from the man currently ahead of him on the depth chart, may be more than enough.

“When you have guys like Barrett, who has been in the league for a while, he’s a great guy to learn from,” McCarthy said.



(tennessean.com)