Tennessee Titans

Former coach: Green-Beckham can be a 'nightmare match-up'

Published Jul. 1, 2015 12:24 p.m. ET

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Former University of Oklahoma assistant coach Jay Norvell had a firsthand look at the challenges new Tennessee Titans wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham poses for defenses last season in practices.

Norvell, who is now coaches receivers at the University of Texas and spent five seasons coaching in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders, says Green-Beckham will bring a rare skillset to his new team.

"I was with the Colts with Jim Mora when he had Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne," Norvell said, via John Glennon of the Tennessean. "I was with the Raiders when they had Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Jerry Porter and some other guys on the Super Bowl team. So I've been around some kids and guys on that level.

"But when you go through the history of the draft and look at the guys with size and speed and all that, (Green-Beckham) is just unique. Calvin Johnson is probably one of the closest comparisons physically because of his size. To be almost 6-6 and 237 pounds … that's just a nightmare match-up for any cornerback at any level."

Norvell said the 22-year-old Green-Beckham, who the Titans selected in the second round of the draft, is still raw, but the differences between the college and pro game should work to his advantage.

"He's not a finished product, but most players aren't. So he's going to have to learn the pro game and that's a completely different game from college," Norvell said. "I think he's going about doing that. But he's got some natural gifts that will help him in that game, and in some ways, the NFL is probably a better game for him than college football, just because of the bump rules and (less) contact and all of that. So there are some advantages he has. That's why he's there. That's why they picked him. It will be interesting to see."

Green-Beckham and the Titans report for training camp July 30.

(h/t The Tennessean)

Photo credit: Mark Humphrey/AP