White enjoying whirlwind since signing with Titans
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The 2003 Heisman Trophy winner still found himself third in the rotation Tuesday for snaps in drills behind Steve McNair and backup Billy Volek.
“He’ll be fine,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s intelligent, and he’s very, very successful.”
White didn’t get in town until Sunday and found the pace fast in his first workout with the only NFL team willing to sign him to a contract, but he knows everything will slow down as he learns the offense.
It’s a nice change for someone who went undrafted last month. The Kansas City Chiefs brought him in for a workout, but he found himself behind five other quarterbacks.
The Titans have an opening for a third quarterback on the roster and would like to find a talented rookie they can groom to fill that slot instead of spending more money on a veteran.
White had to split work with other rookies like Shane Boyd of Kentucky and Marcus Randall of LSU. Perhaps luckily for him, Gino Guidugli of Cincinnati can’t report until mid-June when school is out.
“For me, I just think it’s an opportunity,” White said. “Whether I fit in the offense will be for the coaches to decide. It’s a great opportunity for me to come in and compete with other quarterbacks.”
The quarterback has some friendly faces to help him try and earn a roster spot. Tennessee drafted Brandon Jones from Oklahoma in April, and former Sooners Andre Woolfolk and Rocky Calmus also are in the locker room.
The strangest twist is running plays called by new offensive coordinator Norm Chow, the same man who beat White and the Sooners in the national championship game in January as coordinator for Southern California. White doesn’t mind.
“The guys he’s coached have been great quarterbacks, and he knows a lot about the position. I know he’s not my coach. (Quarterbacks) coach (Craig) Johnson’s my coach. Coach Chow also speaks up. It’s going to be an awesome experience,” White said.
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HEALING UP: Titans starters lost 136 games to injuries last season, which is why coach Jeff Fisher pushed back the first on-field workout of this offseason until Tuesday to allow them to heal as much as possible.
The strategy worked with linebacker Peter Sirmon (torn ACL), running back Chris Brown (turf toe), offensive guard Zach Piller (left bicep), defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (elbow) and cornerback Andre Woolfolk (wrist) all on the field.
The Titans will be on the field Wednesday and Thursday with three more sessions next week. They return in June for their final minicamps, and Fisher said he expects linebacker Rocky Calmus (back/hamstring) and safety Justin Sandy (broken ankle) back before training camp begins in late July.
Receiver Tyrone Calico, who had his left ACL repaired last October, will be ready for training camp.
But defensive end Travis LaBoy watched because he had a sports hernia repaired surgically last week. Rookie tight end Bo Scaife also had the same surgery, and Fisher said they will be ready for training camp.
“I would say this. Everybody is ahead of schedule,” Fisher said.
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MR. MCNAIR: Steve McNair had one request for many of his new teammates Tuesday: Stop calling him Mr. McNair.
“I feel old today. I told the guys to call me Steve, Mac or anything,” the 10-year veteran said with a laugh.
That might be tough for some of the newest Titans. Receiver Brandon Jones, Tennessee’s third-round pick from Oklahoma, said he is a true fan.
“I call him Mr. McNair. I introduced myself a while ago. I’m still star-struck by him, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s like a dream catching balls out there from that guy,” Jones said. “He’s not much of a talking guy. I’m a rookie. He probably doesn’t talk to (rookies) much.”
Jones might be able to start his own conversation with McNair soon if he keeps performing like he did Tuesday when he easily ran under a long throw from the quarterback. Jones said he had heard what happens to receivers that drop McNair’s passes.
“I heard about him not throwing to the guys, and I don’t want to be that guy,” Jones said.