McCarthy Taking His Game to Next Level

Colin McCarthy appears to have taken the next step in 2012.

His second interception of the night went 31 yards for a touchdown, extending Tennessee’s lead to 23-10 early in the third quarter at LP Field.

So far McCarthy has been credited with seven tackles, including two for loss, and two interceptions.

He has been around the ball all night long.

“I think our D-line was getting a lot of pressure up front, causing them to make bad decisions with the football,” McCarthy later said. “We are out there running around, making plays. It’s the D-line. They were doing a great job getting pressure all night.”

McCarthy said Tennessee’s defense is shaping up for the start of the regular season.

“I think we had three or four sacks (tonight),” he said. “That’s the way our defense is. That’s the way we have been building through this preseason. We are excited for Week 1 to come around.”

As a rookie in 2011, McCarthy entered the starting lineup after midseason and made a significant impact on Tennessee’s defense, totaling 76 tackles, a team-high eight tackles for loss, one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Although he started in less than half of the team’s games, his tackle total was the fourth-highest by a Titans rookie since 1999.

The second-year pro doubled his interception total from all of last season in just over two quarters of play tonight.

It’s become apparent throughout training camp and the preseason that McCarthy is ready to take his game to the next level in 2012.

By all indications tonight, he is well on his way.

McCarthy Poised to Move into Starting Role in 2012

The success of Tennessee’s 2011 draft class is well documented, and no rookie shined more last season than fourth-round draft pick Colin McCarthy.

After receiving considerable playing time while filling in for injured starter Barrett Rudd down the stretch, McCarthy appears poised to take over the starting middle linebacker job for the Titans heading into the 2012 season.

“We thought he came on in a big way last year,” head coach Mike Munchak told reporters at last week’s NFL scouting combine.

As a rookie, McCarthy tallied 76 tackles, a team-leading eight tackles for loss, one quarterback pressure, one interception, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in just 13 games (seven starts).

Not bad for a player who was initially projected to primarily help out on special teams his first season.

“When he came in we thought he would be more of a special teamer for sure and maybe help us with some depth at the inside positions — at the “Will” and the “Mike” linebacker — but we had some injuries and he came in and played very well,” Munchak said. “You saw he made plays. He found a way to knock the ball loose, create some fumbles and make some interceptions. He took control and didn’t act like a rookie out there.”

That was never more evident than in Week 13 at Buffalo when McCarthy notched 11 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a pass defensed in a 23-17 victory. He was named both the AFC Defensive Player of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance.

“There’s always room to improve,” McCarthy said. “I tried to take advantage of the opportunities I had to make plays. As a middle linebacker, you’ve got to get everybody lined up, you’ve got to make the calls and I tried to do that this year.”

With Ruud set to become a free agent, Munchak seems confident in the abilities of his second-year linebacker.

“He has some learning to do – he’s a young man – but we’re excited about his progression, the way he finished the season and the energy he brings to the defense,” Munchak said. “Everything is a plus with him. He is the kind of player you love to have on your football team, and we’re excited about what he’s going to be able to do in the future.”

Even Munchak was surprised by how much McCarthy was able to stay on the field. But the more he and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray saw McCarthy produce, the more comfortable they felt having him on the field for all three downs.

“He runs the nickel defense very well and we used him in that role,” Munchak said. “You never know how a young rookie is going to respond, but his first start was in Carolina and he came in and did a great job for us on the road getting us in position. I think it was probably one of the best defensive games we played all year against a very explosive offense, and Colin handled it very well.”

McCarthy said he’s looking forward to building off his rookie campaign, both personally and as a team.

“I just need to continue to work on everything — studying the playbook, studying offenses and defenses,” he said. “I still have a lot to prove. Every week you have to prove yourself.”

And he’ll do so on a team he believes is on the rise under Munchak.

“The attitude coach Munchak brings to the players, you see results. You see guys working, guys pushing each other throughout the locker room it gets exciting,” McCarthy said. “9-7 was a good start for our first year, but we want to improve on that next season.”

Players Active in Community on Titans Tuesday

Players were busy on Titans Tuesday, with defensive tackle Shaun Smith visiting students at Jere Baxter Middle School, along with Titans community relations staffers Tresa Halbrooks and Joshua Love. Meanwhile,  offensive linemen Jake Scott and Kevin Matthews joined rookie linebackers Akeem Ayers and Colin McCarthy visiting patients at Baptist Hospital with Jerry Blessing of the team’s community relations staff.

Here’s a complete slideshow from Smith’s school visit.