Tennessee Titans Fan Poll 4/17: Can Team Trust Colin McCarthy in 2013?

Oct 28, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans linebacker Colin McCarthy (52) reacts to the officials decision on a touchdown play by the Indianapolis Colts during overtime at LP Field. The Colts beat the Titans 19-13 in overtime. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Good news for Tennessee Titans enthusiasts: Jim Wyatt from The Tennessean had a positive update on middle linebacker Colin McCarthy. After undergoing a procedure on the right ankle that he injured in Week 1, McCarthy has already recovered to the point where he’s running again.

In 2012, the 24-year-old linebacker played in just seven games. McCarthy missed four games because of that ankle injury. A concussion forced him to miss the last five games of the season. He finished the season on injured reserve (IR). Even when McCarthy played, he was visibly bothered from his ankle injury.

McCarthy was chosen in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. McCarthy was a fine player when he played at the University of Miami. He increased his draft stock with a strong Senior Bowl. He would’ve been drafted higher had it not been for injuries.

And there we go again with that “injury” word.

Three shoulder surgeries. That’s what McCarthy went through when he was in college. It was the reason that some teams kept him off their draft board. But after playing 25 games in his last two seasons, his medical history didn’t scare the Titans front office.

In 2011, there was a significant difference in the quality of linebacker play when McCarthy took over for Barrett Ruud. And when the Titans drafted Zach Brown in the 2012 NFL Draft, they were hopeful that they had a linebacker trio who would carry them through the rest of the decade—or at least most of it.

How sure are the Titans of that? Are they sure enough to where they’d enter next season with Moise Fokou as his primary backup? How much do they emphasize middle linebacker in this upcoming draft?

Do the Titans search for a new starter (e.g. Arthur Brown)? Do they find a mid-round project who can compete for the starting job (e.g. Jon Bostic)? Or do they just focus on finding depth with one of their last picks, someone who can challenge Fokou for the No. 2 role?

Can the Tennessee Titans trust Colin McCarthy? If so, how much trust? Answer in the poll and expand further in the comments section. Poll closes Apr. 24, 5:00 A.M. CT