Let’s use our imagination. You open up your eyes on the morning of a new job.
Your stomach is uneasy and thoughts flood your head. Is it excitement? Nervousness? Perhaps anticipating the uncertain nature of a new atmosphere? Maybe it’s a new city, new coworkers or a whole new system to learn? Nah, its ok, it’s your first day, maybe you’ll be given some leeway…
Now, obviously every first day is different, presenting its’ own challenges and its’ varying magnitude.
When 48 people woke up last Friday morning, they felt many of those same emotions. Except, those specific people were preparing to arrive at Saint Thomas Sports Park and fight to achieve their dreams of being on an NFL roster.
For their new coach during the three-day weekend, no leeway is given, every moment counts.
“Basically what I told them again last night, this is not about there, this is about everywhere. This is about when they walk, first step they walk in the building to when they walk out at night. We are going to be watching everything they do,” said Titans Head Coach Mike Mularkey on Friday afternoon of rookie minicamp.
“It’s how they behave, where they sit, we quiz them through rapid-fire questions at them already in this rookie minicamp.”
Every player arrived at the facility only the day before. But, from the Titans first pick to the last undrafted free agent added to tryouts, the tension was felt across the locker room.
“It’s a lot of different emotions, a lot of excitement, nerves,” said Corey Davis, the Titans fifth pick in the draft. “It feels good to have the first one under my belt. It was a lot of fun.”
Head Coach Mike Mularkey said this rookie class came out of the gates “a little faster than a walk-through.”
The Titans fifth-round pick, former UCLA linebacker Jayon Brown, said he was just eager.
“Nah, I wasn’t nervous, more excited than anything,” said Brown. “The stakes are higher but the same football I’ve been playing since I was a kid.”
While some like Brown shrugged the nerves off, the Titans other first round pick tries to stay “smooth.”
“I just try to stay relaxed and as smooth as possible. I think that’s my motto. Everyone asked me how I am doing, I just say ‘I’m smooth,’ said former USC standout Adoree’ Jackson. “That is just how I like to be. And you know like I said the coaches do a great job of making sure we are relaxed and ready to go.”
Sure, some of the coaches can help calm the jitters by sharing their experience–for instance, Secondary Coach Deshea Townsend with 13 years in the NFL, and of course NFL Hall of Famers Offensive Line Coach Russ Grimm and Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau. But, Coach Mularkey’s own first day in the League was unique… to say the least.
“It is a little different. We didn’t have a rookie camp. I walked right into the huddle with Joe Montana and Dwight Clark, and they had just come off of a Super Bowl win,” said Mularkey, a former nine-year NFL veteran at tight end. “I was with the veterans immediately the very first day I showed up in San Francisco. So it was a little different. I am sure I was as much of a nervous wreck as they were.”
While these rookies are probably thankful they weren’t in Mularkey’s shoes in San Francisco, the stakes are still the same. They are all trying to make an NFL roster, and soon some will be stepping into the huddle with Marcus Mariota and Demarco Murray.
As for how Mularkey thought he did on his first day, he said, “Probably, not good.”
After a nine-year NFL career and a 23-year coaching career in the league, that should be a comfort to any rookie that walks into the Titans locker room.
