Sementara Titans berbicara tentang kesabaran, tim membutuhkan Cam Ward untuk menjadi pemain dampak untuk bersaing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With the Titans knocking on the end zone, facing a third-and-goal from the Rams’ 9 in their second game of the season, Cam Ward showed his supreme arm talent and confidence. 

The No. 1 overall pick dropped back, surveying the field from right to left looking for an open receiver. Nothing was there. So then, with L.A. defensive end Tyler Davis bearing down on him, Ward rolled quickly to his right. Between the numbers and the sideline, he fired a pass back across his body to the opposite side of the end zone, hitting fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor in stride against tight coverage.

According to Next Gen Stats, the horizontal distance between Ward and Ayomanor from pass to catch (30.4 yards) was the longest on a touchdown pass on the run (eight-plus mph) since at least 2016. 

In other words, the throw was absurd for anyone — let alone a rookie quarterback throwing his first NFL touchdown pass. 

“It was an outstanding play by both Cam and Elic,” coach Brian Callahan said. 

Just two games into the season, it’s looking like those are the kind of heroics that the Titans (0-2) will need from Ward to just be competitive, let alone be a playoff contender. Looking for their first win, the Titans host the division rival Colts (2-0) on Sunday. 

Entering 2025, expectations for the Titans were collectively low across the NFL. Even Chad Brinker, the team’s president of football operations, acknowledged before training camp that the roster lacks star power. But the offensive line that the team believed would be at least competent has been massively disappointing so far. Among the 34 qualified quarterbacks across the league, Ward has faced the third-highest pressure rate (45.3%) and fourth-most pressures (34) through two weeks, per NGS. Since the 1970 merger, only four quarterbacks have been sacked more than Ward (11) through their first two career games, according to FOX Sports research. 

In addition, Tennessee pass-catchers have already been credited with five drops this season, per Pro Football Focus, including two by leading receiver Calvin Ridley. Early on, Callahan’s playcalling and game management have been a constant point of contention. The defense isn’t providing much support, either: The pass rush has been virtually non-existent through two weeks, with just two sacks (T-30th), 20 pressures (T-25th) and a 26.0% pressure rate (27th), according to Next Gen Stats. 

That all means that Ward may have to be great for the Titans to have a chance each week. And that’s exactly what the franchise wants to avoid for the developing rookie. 

“I think Cam understands the magnitude of what he’s stepping into,” Brinker told me days before the season opener. “We wouldn’t have drafted him if we didn’t think he could handle it. But at the same time, we can’t just say, ‘Go do it. Work your magic.’ We have to support him.”

‘He treats triumph and disaster basically the same’ 

Ward’s inexperience has shown through two games. 

His confidence in his ability to extend plays hurt him in the opener against the Broncos, when he took back-to-back sacks early in the fourth quarter that knocked Tennessee out of field-goal range. He has acknowledged that he needs to get through his progression faster.

Of the 34 qualified quarterbacks, Ward ranks last in completion rate (50.8%) and yards per attempt (4.7), per NGS. He sits 32nd in EPA per dropback and passer rating. He’s 30th in completion rate over expected. 

“I really don’t care about completion percentage. I want to score touchdowns,” said Ward, who has thrown for 287 yards and a touchdown with one lost fumble entering Week 3. “I want win football games.”

While the need for improvement is obvious, Ward has flashed as a potential franchise quarterback. 

There’s his ability to make jaw-dropping plays, of course. The touchdown pass to Ayomanor was exhibit A. But he also seems to have a rare command presence. He joined the Titans “like it was his team,” according to Ridley. He was jawing back and forth with the Titans’ best player, three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, on the first day of mandatory minicamp as an unproven rookie. 

“He doesn’t wait for the history of ‘OK, I have to make all these plays and I have to earn all of this clout at this place before I can be assertive.’ Nah, that comes before [for him]”Koordinator ofensif Miami Hurricanes Shannon Dawson memberi tahu saya awal bulan ini.” Tidak selalu terjadi [with players]. Biasanya, tidak pernah masalahnya. Tetapi dengan dia, dia hanya memiliki cara tentang dia.

“Jika Anda seperti itu dan Anda tidak pernah membuat permainan, maka Anda adalah penipuan,” lanjutnya. “Sekarang, apa yang terjadi adalah, ketika mereka meletakkan bola dan menjepitnya, dia a bung. Semuanya bekerja bersama dalam pengertian itu. ”

Dia juga diremehkan. Itu tidak berubah di bawah tekanan.

Meminta momen yang merangkum siapa Ward, Dawson menunjuk ke pertandingan jalan Miami melawan Cal tahun lalu, ketika quarterback membimbing Hurricanes kembali dari defisit 25 poin kuartal ketiga untuk menang.

“[The Titans] Bisa 0-16, dan dia masih akan bermain dengan kepercayaan yang sama setiap minggu, seperti mereka 16-0, “kata Dawson.” Dia memperlakukan kemenangan dan bencana pada dasarnya sama. ”

Sudah didokumentasikan dengan baik bahwa Ward sampai di kantor pusat Titans sekitar jam 5 pagi setiap pagi. Dia mengirim pesan kepada pelatih “sepanjang malam” dengan pertanyaan dan kembali ke fasilitas pada hari berikutnya dengan daftar hal -hal yang ingin dia bahas, menurut koordinator ofensif Nick Holz.

Ward mengatakan selama kamp pelatihan bahwa ia berbicara dengan “lima orang sehari” di luar rekan satu timnya.

“Dia tidak memiliki banyak gangguan yang dimiliki banyak anak muda hari ini,” kata Dawson. “Banyak anak -anak memiliki hal -hal yang menarik mereka menjauh dari permainan atau menarik mereka dari kesuksesan atau menarik mereka dari waktu yang dihabiskan untuk bersiap -siap. Maksudku, dia pria yang cukup sederhana ketika dia meninggalkan gedung, yang menurutku adalah alasan besar untuk keberhasilannya.”

Dawson menambahkan: “Dia tidak akan pernah terganggu oleh lembu jantan —. Dia tidak.”

'Kami hanya perlu kamera untuk menjadi kamera'

Memasuki musim ini, Titans sangat disengaja dalam rencana mereka untuk Ward, quarterback yang mereka “bayangkan,” menurut Brinker.

Sangat sadar bahwa itu akan menjadi proses jangka panjang yang membangun daftar, Titans memusatkan perhatian pada peningkatan garis ofensif offseason masa lalu. Mereka menandatangani Dan Moore Jr. untuk kesepakatan $ 82 juta untuk menjadi tekel kiri mereka. JC Latham, pick keseluruhan ketujuh tahun lalu, dipindahkan dari kiri ke kanan tekel, mempertimbangkan posisi alaminya. Mereka menandatangani penjaga veteran Kevin Zeitler untuk menstabilkan garis ofensif interior. Di pusat veteran Lloyd Cushenberry, kembali musim ini dari Achilles yang robek, para Titans tahu mereka memiliki seseorang yang dapat mengambil tekanan dari lingkungan dengan panggilan perlindungan dan masalah pra-snap lainnya.

Memasuki 2025, pengalaman Callahan membimbing quarterback muda seperti Joe Burrow sangat dihormati secara internal. Pelatih kepala tahun kedua telah mengambil dari pengalaman pembinaannya sebagai pemula. The Titans telah memasukkan konsep -konsep yang nyaman dengan Ward di perguruan tinggi, dan staf ofensif telah mempelajari skema yang telah diletakkan tim lain di sekitar quarterback rookie dalam beberapa tahun terakhir.

Semua itu telah menginformasikan proses Nashville, dengan tujuan membantu Ward bermain secepat mungkin. Menurut Holz, Titans percaya bahwa pelanggaran mereka akan terlihat “banyak” berbeda pada akhir musim. Itu akan datang dengan belajar lebih banyak tentang Ward, dan sisa pelanggaran, sepanjang tahun.

Semua itu berarti, Tennessee sadar meletakkan terlalu banyak terlalu dini di bahu pick No. 1.

“Kami hanya perlu Cam untuk menjadi cam,” kata Brinker.

Namun, sejak awal, tampaknya dia harus jauh lebih banyak.

Ben Arthur adalah reporter NFL untuk Fox Sports. Dia sebelumnya bekerja untuk jaringan Tennessean/USA Today, di mana dia berada Titans Kalahkan penulis selama satu setengah tahun. Dia menutupi Seattle Seahawks Untuk Seattlepi.com selama tiga musim (2018-20) sebelum pindah ke Tennessee. Anda dapat mengikuti Ben di Twitter di @Benyarthur.

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