FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Jordan McCrary is a fast learner.
The rookie right back got his first taste of the professional game last Wednesday afternoon in the New England Revolution’s preseason opener against the San Jose Earthquakes. McCrary spent much of his 45-minute showing trying to adjust to the speed of play. Head coach Jay Heaps said the 10th overall pick in this year’s SuperDraft was “a little bit naïve defensively.” There was work to be done.
So McCrary got to work.
Just three days later in the Revolution’s third preseason contest against the Vancouver Whitecaps, McCrary was already making the necessary adjustments. He scored a fantastic solo goal, but more importantly he was sharper defensively and more aware in his positioning.
“I really wanted to see a response,” said Heaps. “I thought in his first performance he was learning the ultimate speed of what it’s going to be like. I thought his reaction playing [on Saturday] versus Wednesday was night and day.
“That’s what I’m talking about with progression. The goal was great – you can’t take that away – but his overall performance was excellent.”
Progression is all any coach can ask for from a 22-year-old rookie. The leap from college to the pros is a significant one, particularly as it relates to decision making and speed of thought. The learning curve is steep, and it can only be climbed with hard work and time.
That’s something McCrary understands.
“This is a professional environment. Every day is a grind,” McCrary said as the Revs wrapped up a 12-day stay in Casa Grande, Arizona. “Day in, day out, you’ve got to put in the work. Not everything’s going to come at first. But I’ve seen every day that there’s been progress.”
Critical in that process is an open mind. McCrary is self-aware and knows there are lessons to be learned and adjustments to be made as he transitions into life as a professional.
Luckily for McCrary, he has plenty of willing mentors in Heaps – a defender during his playing days – and veteran teammates on the backline like Jose Goncalves, Chris Tierney, Andrew Farrell and Darrius Barnes.
“Coming from college to the professional game, I know the position, but it’s about being in the right spots at the right time,” McCrary said. “Things are faster paced, higher intensity. I’m just listening to the guys next to me and communicating well.”
McCrary’s progression through his first two weeks in Revolution camp bodes well for his continued development, which resumes on Wednesday when the players will return to training in the Empower Field House at Gillette Stadium. The Revs depart for another two-week stay in Arizona on Sunday.
“New England’s my new home,” McCrary said on Saturday as the Revs prepared to return to Foxborough. “I’m ready to take a few days to let my body recuperate from the past two weeks, but I’m also excited to get going back in Boston.”
