NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Months earlier than taking part in his first NFL recreation, Cam Ward has already proven the Titans that he isn’t going to again all the way down to anybody. At obligatory minicamp final week, three-time Professional Bowl deal with Jeffery Simmons, the chief of Tennessee’s protection, barked on the No. 1 total decide between performs. On one other event, after Ward threw an interception, a number of defenders taunted him with the “Zombieland” celebration he made well-known at Miami.
However the rookie gave it proper again to them — even headbutting Simmons for getting too shut.
In crew drills, Ward confidently delivered the play name to his offensive teammates within the huddle like nothing had occurred. How he did so — refocusing after speaking trash to the protection — impressed coach Brian Callahan, who’s not used to calling performs whereas his quarterback remains to be jawing.
The assured Cam Ward is all-business on the sector, as his new teammates discovered at minicamp. (Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Pictures)
“I requested him after follow, ‘Simply assist me out right here: Do you want me to attend until you end?’ And he goes, ‘No, I am listening,'” Callahan mentioned final week. “So he is listening to what I am telling him, and it was fairly exceptional to see all of the issues occurring and the way a lot he is speaking, however like his mind remains to be with me, I assume is the easiest way to place it. Once I’m calling a play, he is doing all he is doing, however he is listening to the whole lot I am telling him. And he enters proper into the huddle, and he calls the play and does not screw up the play name, and I believed that was really sort of exceptional. I do know I could not do this. In order that’s simply sort of who he’s, that is his persona.
“He did not miss a beat when it got here to calling a play and being on prime of it after which executing when it got here time to execute. In order that’s a brand new expertise for me, however it was enjoyable.”
It reveals, concurrently, Ward’s supreme focus and confidence, the largest takeaways from the No. 1 decide in the course of the Titans’ offseason program. We don’t but know what the previous Miami star will appear like come fall, or if he’ll be capable to dwell as much as franchise quarterback-sized expectations. However on the very least, his mindset provides him an opportunity to fulfill them.
All through the spring, Ward arrived on the Titans facility round 5 a.m. — sooner than many coaches — to observe movie with a number of the rookie pass-catchers. He spent a lot time within the constructing that Callahan felt compelled to remind him that the NFL season is a marathon.
Cam Ward went from a zero-star recruit popping out of highschool to the No. 1 total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft. (Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures)
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Ward was constantly one of many final gamers to depart the sector after follow. After the ultimate day of minicamp, whereas lots of his teammates greeted their family and friends in attendance, Ward did sprints.
After miscommunications throughout 7-on-7 and crew intervals, he readily spoke as much as veteran receivers like Calvin Ridley and Van Jefferson. He always chatted with quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree between reps and drills.
“He asks actually good questions,” Callahan mentioned. “He understands when he makes a mistake, which [the rookies] all make lots, and we have now conversations about it. He is acquired a humility about him, so he is aware of when it is time to step again and attempt to get higher and see the place he can do issues in a different way. After which there’s the second, when the second comes, when he is like, ‘I will make this throw,’ and he makes it. So there is a stability, however he understands when it is time to study and when to take a step again from the boldness a part of it and the place can he enhance, and that half’s been good to see.”
Ward confirmed loads of consolation throwing over the center of the sector, however a number of the situational work posed challenges. Of the three interceptions he threw in offseason practices open to the media, two got here in purple zone work on the final day of minicamp (one apiece in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11). However he additionally confirmed a capability to bounce again. After having a would-be landing move damaged up in the long run zone, he related on a decent window throw for a landing.
“On the finish of the day, I’m a gunslinger,” Ward mentioned. “I dwell it. I at all times die by it. Coach Callahan is aware of what sort of man he has within the quarterback room in me.”
What he’s additionally studying is that Ward shouldn’t be afraid to go on the protection verbally.
Watching the No. 1 decide go at Simmons, one of many league’s greatest gamers at his place, offensive coordinator Nick Holz couldn’t assist however suppose how that vitality was lacking on offense final yr.
“We wanted a bit little bit of edge to us, and to date — it’s June — however Cam has a bit little bit of that to him,” Holz mentioned. “And everyone feeds off of that, which is sweet.”
After ending his first NFL offseason, Ward mentioned his confidence is at “10.” His summer time plan is to, merely, “work out, keep within the playbook and throw the f— out the ball.”
When coaching camp begins subsequent month, the trash speak with the protection is anticipated to renew.
“I’m at all times locked in,” Ward mentioned. “Trash speak, it by no means means nothing to me. It gained’t get to me in some sort of method. I’m simply any individual who likes doing it. What’s the purpose of taking part in one thing you like when you can’t have enjoyable with it?
“Any probability I get to let any individual know that they will’t f— with me.”
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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