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Veterans are the senior classmates; they are the ones that know the plays, know the coaches, and know exactly what is to be expected of them. The veterans have played on the school playground at LP field, often dirtying up their blue and white uniform.
The veterans have an unofficial "big brother" role to the new guys coming in, and so far it sounds like they have been nothing but helpful with the transition and the overall experience.
Gerald McGrath, a rookie linebacker and fourth-round draft pick from Southern Mississippi, stated, "The guys have been there every step of the way and making me feel welcome, making me feel a little bit more secure about being here and as far as building my confidence on the next level." He continued, "The process has been fairly easy when you have a group of guys like that, that are willing to extend their hand out to help you."
Fellow linebacker and veteran Pro Bowler Keith Bulluck singled out who have caught his attention, and McGrath was included. "This year's class is working hard and some guys are definitely sticking out in my mind. Gerald McGrath and Javon Ringer are definitely out there making plays."
Bulluck thinks the rookies have a lot of important things they need to come to grips with. "I think the biggest transition for a rookie is to grasp the NFL game," he said. "The concept, how we prepare for practice, how we prepare for games, the speed of the game, and basically just grasping the whole playbook on offense, defense, and special teams."
The rookies have to take in a wealth of information in a short period of time. Bulluck notes, "As a rookie you have a lot on your shoulders."
McGrath recognizes his role. "You want to pull your weight," he said, "especially when you have a team like this where guys have worked hard in the off season and we're coming in halfway in it. You really feel the urgency to get on board and get to the level that these guys are at. You want to pull your weight and not let anyone down in this organization. You see these guys work hard everyday and lead by example and you really want to follow up behind those guys."
Quarterback Alex Mortensen completed his collegiate career at Arkansas and was picked up as a free agent after this years draft. Mortensen expressed the other three quarterbacks on the roster – veterans Kerry Collins, Vince Young, and Patrick Ramsey – have all aided with his transition to the pro level. "All three of them have been as helpful as I'd expect them to be and even go above and beyond what they'd even have to do anytime I have a question," Mortensen said. "It's not only times when I have questions, but its when they volunteer with advice or about coverages and our scheme."
Mortensen mentioned veteran and two-time Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch as an exceptional person he looks up to despite working on opposite sides of the ball. "He is a relentless worker every day. We see him in the weight room doing something extra or just doing everything he's suppose to do and is asked to do. He's a guy that where maybe I haven't talked to him as much, but in terms of the example he sets, it really says something."
Although Mortensen hasn't shared many conversations with Vanden Bosch, he was taken back by one particular encounter. "Even a guy like Kevin Mawae, who is a 16-year veteran will actually have a conversation with you."
The rookies have the necessary tools around them to reach their desired level of success. Not only do the veterans play an important role on the rookies, so do the coaches. The rookies have Jeff Fisher, who remains the current longest tenured coach in the league, with 15 full seasons under his belt with the Titans. Fisher surrounds himself with a stellar selection of coaches like Jim Washburn.
Jim Washburn is the drill sergeant for the defensive line. He is in charge of an impressive crop of veterans, including three time Pro Bowler Jevon Kearse. Kearse has confidence in Washburn, that with his guidance over rookies like second-round pick Sen'Derrick Marks, they could be suited up by the regular season opener at Pittsburgh.
Kearse commented, "With a coach like Washburn those guys could be on the field as early as the first game of the season. Washburn is a great motivator. He gets all the potential out of his players. They're playing behind guys like Kyle, myself, and Tony (Brown), who are good veterans that come to work every day and work to perfect their skill. They have no choice to sit back and watch that and then go out there and try to do the same thing."
There is definitely a physical change when transitioning from college to the pro level. However, Kearse thinks there is a greater challenge for the rookies. "I say the toughest part is the speed of the game," he said. "Not necessarily the physical speed, but the mental speed. You have to learn things so fast, and they want you to go out there and apply it, not go out there and just think of it. You've got to go out there and apply those things that you just learned from the night before or the morning of – you've got to go out there and do it on the field. It shows that you're progressing in your trade."
