Willie Rose is getting more comfortable with the Titans playbook as he goes through mini-camps and OTA's. (Tennessee Titans photo)
Tennessee Rose
Monday Moring Quarterback: Former FAU fullback Willie Rose is getting the chance he wanted with the Tennessee Titans.
Originally published on
5/31/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – On the day of the NFL Draft, former Florida Atlantic fullback Willie Rose found out the Tennessee Titans were interested in him from someone who who was brand new to the organization himself.
It turns out that the newcomer – former Owls quarterback Rusty Smith, who was drafted by Tennessee earlier in the day – knew what he was talking about when he called Rose to tell him he had heard from the Titans and that Rose was on their radar.
“I had just been drafted and was out buying hats and shirts when I got a call from the Titans, who told me they really liked Willie and that I should call him and tell him they were interested,” Smith said. “So I called him and let them know.”
Rose didn’t know if Smith was serious – but it didn’t take long to find out.
“I thought he was pulling my chain, but about 30 minutes later Tennessee called and told me to be ready to talk free agency if I wasn’t drafted,” Rose said. “ It’s crazy to think about, I hadn’t heard a word from Tennessee.”
But indeed the Titans were quite interested in Rose, who signed him as an undrafted free agent.
After Rose posted impressive numbers at FAU’s pro day, all he wanted was a chance to get in a camp and show what he could do.
At Tennessee, he is getting to do just that. Unlike Smith, who is splitting snaps between four players at his position, Rose and Ahmard Hall are the only true fullbacks n the roster and Rose is listed on the Titans’ two-deep depth chart
The result is Rose is getting in plenty of repetitions in mini-camp and OTAs.
“I'm kind of getting in more than I thought I would,” Rose said. “It’s great. I need any kind of exposure I can get in front of the coaches.”
And between the Titans’ rookie mini-camp and last week’s OTA sessions, Rose thinks he is catching on quickly.
“I noticed some improvement from the frst time to last week,” Rose said. “It’s becoming easier. When I hear the coaches say something, It’s now something I am familair with.”
Rose attributes his quick learning curve of the offense not only to playing afullback in a pro-style offense for the Owls, but also plenty of hours of studying the Titans’ playbook.
And unlike when he was at FAU, Rose now can devote his studying time to football.
“It’s a weight of f my chest,” Rose said. “There aren’t projects and tests to get ready fore like in college. Instead of tests it's just football.”
The increased hours of studying football instead of preparing for class is an adjustment that Rose is more than happy to make to ensure he is Titan for a long time.
“The faster I learn it, the faster I can just pin my ears back and go have fun,” Rose said.