NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cam Ward jogged onto the field to join his teammates in the huddle, greeted by the ovation of Tennessee Titans fans watching him play a game at Nissan Stadium for the first time. And when his night was done, the No. 1 overall pick had given them a taste of what brighter days could look like for the franchise.
Ward engineered a masterful second drive to conclude his preseason — a 13-play, 90-yard touchdown series that took 8:33 off the clock. The Titans began the possession near the shadow of their own end zone, at the 10. But Ward bailed them out of the predicament. He completed a 17-yard pass to veteran receiver Van Jefferson on the first play, driving the ball beautifully from the hash to the sideline.
“He was efficient,” coach Brian Callahan said of Ward’s showing on the drive. “He was accurate.”
That possession, the highlight of the Titans’ 23-13 victory Friday over the Minnesota Vikings in their preseason finale, is why Tennessee remains bullish on its hopeful franchise quarterback. He flashed promise through exhibition play.
On the surface, his preseason numbers — a 52.6% completion rate (10-of-19) for 145 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in seven drives — are underwhelming. But optimism comes from where his play takes your imagination. He showed a positive sign of what it could look like when the Titans’ full offense is around him (starters like wide receiver Calvin Ridley, running back Tony Pollard, right tackle JC Latham and right guard Kevin Zeitler missed all or parts of the preseason), or when Tennessee surrounds him with more talent over time.
In the preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his connection with Ridley caught fire. Against the Atlanta Falcons, he had the NFL world buzzing over a dime that should’ve been caught. Against the Vikings, he ended his preseason with his best drive in a professional football game to this point. He took just one sack in three preseason games.
“I think his command has been outstanding,” Callahan said. “He doesn’t get rattled. He fights through. We’ve had some long down and distances [in the preseason]. He’s made some performs. He’s made some very nice throws. There’s only a confidence in his demeanor that I’ve when he’s in there that none of it’s too huge for him. He actually operates calmly and finds completions. These are the issues we’ve labored on by way of coaching camp.
“He’s going to have the ability to make the massive performs,” he added. “That’s what he does. He’s going to have the ability to transfer round extra after I don’t have to manipulate him to not take any hits. However I believe all of that stuff has been actually optimistic. He’s achieved properly in his restricted exhibiting and I really feel assured with the place he’s at.”
That doesn’t imply Ward doesn’t nonetheless have an extended strategy to go.
For one, he hasn’t seen something but. The defenses he’s confronted within the preseason have been largely rooted in vanilla ideas. Nobody exhibits their stuff till the common season. The Denver Broncos, a heavy-blitzing workforce beneath defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, shall be an enormous problem for Ward in his regular-season debut.
The No. 1 choose has additionally had his struggles in coaching camp. There have been days when the Titans’ offense has seemed horrible, with Ward deserving a share of the blame. Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has thrown the kitchen sink at Ward at instances in workforce drills, and he wouldn’t have a response. He had a go within the preseason opener in opposition to Tampa that ought to’ve been picked off — a telegraphed throw in site visitors to rookie receiver Elic Ayomanor.
Footwork consistency has been a spotlight for Ward with the Titans, ensuring he’s at all times getting into his throws.
“He’s gotten away with it a bit bit in his profession, particularly in his school profession,” offensive coordinator Nick Holz mentioned earlier this week. “A few of these (throws) the place his toes are off kilter and he can nonetheless make these throws. Within the NFL, these are usually picked or ideas and overthrows and issues like that. You’ll be able to actually inform together with his toes the place it goes. Actually, it’s simply persevering with to construct the muscle reminiscence.
“We’re doing a lot development and timing work,” Holz added, “the place it’s first hitch right here, second hitch right here, third hitch right here. So it retains him on time after which retains the ball in stability.”
Ward has seen regular enchancment, although. He looks like he’s taking part in extra on time, post-snap and getting out and in of the huddle. He strikes at a sooner tempo than the day earlier than.
“You by no means know the way good the D-tackle, the defensive finish is,” Ward mentioned. “You bought to have the ability to be a response participant as a quarterback.”
However not off the sector. The No. 1 choose doesn’t look after exhibiting the NFL world that he can deal with the highlight. The one those that he needs to show something to are himself and his teammates.
Cam Ward confirmed sufficient of promise within the preseason to make the Titans hopeful going into his rookie yr. (Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photographs)
Ward is aware of what he’s able to, and that Callahan is aware of as properly. He’s excited that the ball shall be in his fingers.
“I’m prepared to do no matter it takes to win,” Ward mentioned. “We had been a 3-14 workforce final yr, so we bought nothing to lose and all the things to show to ourselves.”
If that occurs, the hope returning to Tennessee could possibly be greater than a style. It might final.
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’ll be able to observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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