Why CB Roger McCreary's success comes down to usage: Titans Film Breakdown
In this film breakdown, we take a look at Tennessee Titans 2nd-year CB Roger McCreary, who was thrown into the fire, which resulted in an up and down rookie year.
Roger McCreary is a player who has a pretty well-defined skillset at this point, that is limited by his athleticism. That makes his usage become very important, when you can't rely on freakish ability to make up for any shortcomings. McCreary is incredibly talented defender at the catch point, with outstanding hand-eye coordination. His soft press coverage works well for him, as he's able to initiate contact after the receiver has declared his route, which limits his ability to get burned at the line, trying to be physical. In zone and off coverage, he was a liability for the Titans, consistently unable to mirror routes at the break, and keep up with his man. Overall though, he is a good #2 CB, and worth the Titans investment.
Titans CB Roger McCreary Film Breakdown
Strengths:
- Quick, Fluid Hips: His quickness and smooth, fluid hips allow him to easily transition and mirror receivers.
- Man/Press Coverage: McCreary has shown the ability to be left on an island with the opposing team's top receiver, not easily beaten by double moves or complex routes.
- Versatile Scheme Experience: With experience in multiple defensive schemes, McCreary is comfortable playing at all levels of zone coverage. This versatility enables him to adapt to various defensive strategies and game plans.
- Deep Route and Run Defense: McCreary is proficient at tracking receivers on deep routes, adept at running step for step, and timing his looks back perfectly to break up receptions. Additionally, his strong tackling ability and skills in run defense, honed from his experience playing safety, add another dimension to his game.
Weaknesses:
- Physical Limitations – McCreary's height is not ideal for a cornerback, and his arm length is only average. These factors could limit his ability to effectively defend against jump balls in the red zone.
- Zone Coverage Struggles – In zone coverage, McCreary has had difficulties with receivers making comeback routes across the middle. This is an area he will need to improve upon in the NFL.
- Non-Elite Speed While McCreary has good speed, it's not considered elite. His strides are somewhat short, which may impact his ability to keep up with faster wide receivers at the professional level.
- Strength and Athleticism: McCreary needs to improve his strength as he can easily get lost in the mix during physical plays. His athleticism is not sudden, and he exhibits body stiffness when attempting to redirect quickly.
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