Tennessee Titans receiver Kyle Philips has seen enough of cornerback Roger McCreary in training camp to use veteran words like “technician” and “physical” when asked about him. Heck, he even called him “great.”
“You wouldn’t guess he’s a rookie,” Philips said.
Fellow cornerback Caleb Farley used the “G” word, too, as in McCreary is “a great corner.” Farley marveled at McCreary’s quick feet.
You can tell coach Mike Vrabel respects McCreary, too. He has continued to praise the cornerback’s competitiveness and coachability, two terms of endearment for someone in Vrabel’s shoes.
“They may catch a couple on him,” Vrabel said, “but he’s going to keep competing.”
However the cornerback rotation shakes out for the Titans this season, it’s becoming a safer bet that McCreary is going to be part of it.
During Saturday’s preseason victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, McCreary played multiple positions in the secondary, as has been the case in practices. He was a top-two cornerback opposite Kristian Fulton. Then when the Titans went to three DBs to match the offense, Farley came in to play the boundary and McCreary shifted to the slot.
Thus the Titans are trusting the former Auburn standout to learn two positions in a complicated defense in order to shift between them on a snap-by-snap basis.
Not bad for a rookie who hadn’t experienced NFL game action until Saturday.
“It is a little difficult,” said McCreary, who missed the Titans’ first preseason game with a minor injury. “It’s something different for me, but it’s something that I love. I love that I’m getting challenged. I love that this is new for me. This is great. Whatever position they want me to play, I’m there to help.”
Entering training camp, cornerback was one of the largest question marks on the Titans’ roster. While that is still the case, McCreary’s capable arrival has helped ease concerns – helping change the perception of a position group that is full of young talent.
The Titans worked up to that. They rebuilt their cornerback room the old-fashioned way – through the first two days of the draft. You’ve got a recent first-round pick in Farley, a recent second-rounder in Kristian Fulton and a recent third-rounder in Elijah Molden.
That trio was in place heading into this year’s draft, but general manager Jon Robinson added McCreary, using a high second-round pick that was a byproduct of the A.J. Brown trade. It’s still early, but early reviews … well … you saw them above. They’re great.
McCreary appears to have been a solid decision, even as he was a little bit of a leap of faith at the time.
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For all the kind words about McCreary during an impressive first training camp in the NFL, you won’t hear him described as a prototypical cornerback for pro ball.
That’s because he’s not. He is 5-foot-11.
“‘He’s got short arms,’” said McCreary, repeating a line he has clearly heard before. “I’m sticky, though. I’ll be in situations, and I’ll be tight on my receivers. That’s exactly how I was in college. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do now in the league.”
McCreary hasn’t looked overwhelmed in the NFL. He hasn’t sounded overwhelmed.
And if you ask him, he’ll tell you that he hasn’t been overwhelmed by the transition from Auburn. Because the Tigers play in the SEC.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a huge leap,” McCreary said. “It’s really how the SEC is. It’s just a different mindset in the league now. … In the league, everybody is great. How can you separate yourself? You really have to pay attention to small details in the league, because everybody is talented. It’s crazy.”
“I’m not scared,” he added. “I’m ready for the challenge no matter what.”
As Philips said, you wouldn’t guess he’s a rookie.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.
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