NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tre McBride's mindset for 2016 is pretty simple.
"I want to matter,'' said the Titans receiver. "I really want to matter. I want to help the team win no matter how I can."
Yet McBride, a seventh round pick out of William & Mary in the 2015 NFL Draft, knows nothing will be handed to him. He found that out during his rookie season – McBride spent the first half of the season on the team's practice squad after being released at the end of training camp.
While he played sparingly down the stretch, he showed some positive signs late.
"I definitely had to have some patience, and I had to overcome a lot of adversity,'' McBride said of his rookie season. "I never in a million years thought I wasn't going to make the roster out of training camp. And when that happened it was like, "Oh man, it is time to gear down and take a look at myself."
"I did that, and opportunity came. I got promoted, and when it did I just tried to go in there and do my job."
McBride played in seven games in 2015, primarily on special teams. He returned kicks (10 for 190 yards), and was used as a gunner. He forced a fumble on coverage teams.
In the second-to-last-game of the season, McBride made his first career catch against the Texans. Later in that game, he scored his first career touchdown.
"Tre is an athletic guy that runs well,'' Titans offensive coordinator Jason Michael said. "The biggest thing with all those young guys is getting more reps, getting more experience. … But he has done a good job picking up on things."
McBride caught just two passes for eight yards in 2015, with those two catches coming against the Texans. Injuries to receiver Justin Hunter and receiver Kendall Wright helped get him promoted, and on the field as a rookie.
McBride hopes to make an impact in Year 2.
He said he plans to work for it.
"I am going to train, and be focused. I am going to be in Tennessee. I am going to be here working,'' McBride said. "I am trying to be a playmaker. I am trying to be on the field for the majority of the snaps (in 2016), scoring touchdowns, catching balls, returning kicks, the whole nine (yards)."
