In his highly anticipated debut with the Tennessee Titans, quarterback Cam Ward showcased remarkable potential, completing 11 of 16 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in the first half of the game. His first outing featured an impressive 38-yard touchdown toss to fellow rookie Chimere Dike, establishing a positive tone right out the gate. The game took a turn as Ward’s execution faltered in the second half, leading to costly turnovers that ultimately hindered the Titans’ chances of victory.
Ward’s first half was cartoonish in its effectiveness, especially on play-action passes. He converted all six of his play-action attempts, going for 92 yards and that aforementioned touchdown. The Titans’ offensive playcaller, Bo Hardegree, along with offensive coordinator Nick Holz, strategically opted for more play-action plays to capitalize on Ward’s strengths.
Even with this incredibly strong start, there were several alarming tendencies in Ward’s performance that reared their ugly heads as the game progressed. Entering Week 7, he had already amassed eight turnovers, which was the third-most in the NFL. This is where the bulk of his turnovers came from, including an alarming five lost fumbles, most in the league. In his last season at Miami, he lost just three fumbles. Over his entire college career he had 13 fumbles.
In the third quarter, a critical fumble occurred when K’Lavon Chaisson returned the ball for a touchdown, significantly shifting momentum away from the Titans. After the team had stormed out of the gate with a blistering first-half performance before collapsing under the weight of critical miscues,
Ward said he was prepared for the odd play that resulted in his touchdown pass.
“We had that play on the sheet for about three, four weeks. So whenever he called it, I got to smiling in the huddle.” – Cam Ward
His enthusiasm and confidence could not overcome the overall struggles that plagued the team in the latter part of the game.
Additionally, he focused on the collaborative accountability his fellow coaches should practice to better serve their players.
“It’s just a matter of we got to find a way to play better,” – Mike McCoy
“As coaches, too, we’ve got to look at ourselves and say how do we help the players? Because it’s all about the players.” – Mike McCoy
Despite the disappointing outcome, Ward’s initial performance suggests that he possesses the skill set necessary to lead the Titans moving forward. Named the team’s No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, the pressure is on. His knack for running play-action passes will prepare him for any game ahead.
“It might not be our time right now, but we just gotta find ways to keep building and stacking,” – Cedric Gray
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