Despite having been in the league for just two seasons, Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary is being viewed as a leader by veteran players ahead of his third campaign.
There has been a lot of turnover on the Titans’ roster in 2024, which makes McCreary one of the elder statesmen on the team in terms of how long he’s been in Tennessee.
As a result of that, new Titans cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and others are looking at him as a leader this coming season, and it’s a role he’s embracing.
“That guy moves like he’s been in the league for 10 years,” Awuzie said of McCreary, per Jim Wyatt. “He has great professionalism, obviously great athleticism. Off the field I see a guy who is really focused and who wants to be really great. Also, it matters to him.
“And he is the guy who has the most reps in the secondary currently, as a corner, nickel (in Tennessee). So, obviously he knows how things go in this division, the AFC South, and playing in Tennessee. So, he is definitely one of the leaders in the secondary, and on this team. We’ll definitely be listening to him any time he has something to say. He’s earned that right, and he’s definitely stepped into a leadership role.”
Along with Awuzie, the Titans also added L’Jarius Sneed to completely revamp the cornerbacks room, and new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is looking to take a more aggressive approach to coverage than the previous regime.
McCreary is currently focused on adjusting to the new and welcomed approach that Titans fans have been yearning for.
“In the slot and the outside, that’s one of the main focuses, is I try and focus on being aggressive, talking, being vocal more,” McCreary said. “Just the coaching style and the plays that we have that make us aggressive, that’s what I like.
“(Coach Wilson) puts fear in offenses heart, trying to be aggressive, loud communication, pressing, guys on the outside pressing, being more physical. That’s what he brought over here.”
McCreary is expected to man the slot once again in 2024, a position he played well at in what was his first season there in 2023. One difference from last year is McCreary has added more to his frame, which he says will help him tackle and be more physical overall.
“I have to get them tackles on those big boys coming up on me,” he said. “That’s one of my main focuses, to be more physical.”
McCreary finished 19th in Pro Football Focus’ cornerback rankings for 2023. We could very well see him make a massive leap in 2024.
