Cam Ward was selected first overall in this year’s NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Naturally, he is having to adjust to the big leagues and last preseason game was a sign of that. After an objectively fruitless game, head coach Brian Callahan spoke about his rookie signal-caller.
Ward played three offensive series. On those, he completed 2/7 passes for 42 yards. He had no touchdowns, no turnovers and received no sacks. The Titans still went on to win the game but it was not thanks to Ward’s time on the field.
Callahan, however, is positive about the rookie. “He’s showing all the things that we need to see from an operations standpoint,” Callahan said. It also needs to be mentioned that Ward did throw a dart to receiver Van Jefferson that got badly dropped. If completed, it would’ve been a touchdown. It was a great pass by Ward.
Callahan needs Ward to work
Callahan is entering his second season as the Titans head coach but his first one left much to be desired. Yes, his quarterback was Will Levis and that didn’t help, but even on situational football, the team looked really bad.
Callahan was supposed to bring new life on the post-Mike Vrabel era. He was an offensive minded coach that was bringing creativity into the playbook. However, that didn’t show. If he fails to impress with Ward under center, his seat might be in jeopardy.
Ward has a lot of pressure as well
Every single quarterback taken first overall is under huge amounts of pressure. However, Ward’s mentality and the fact that he was taken as the first pick on a weak draft class are pressuring the rookie. Ward has an unapologetic attitude which is great, but it’s also a double-edged sword. If he doesn’t deliver, it can come back to hunt him.
He also has some good weapons around him so he doesn’t have to play hero ball to get results. What Ward has to do is go through his progressions and find the best target possible. Among his strengths on his draft profile, Ward is “able to read the front side and get to the back side with his progression.” That is something he will need to do consistently in the NFL to thrive.