“I think every time I step on the field, I can be a difference maker” – Cam Ward hoping to inspire Titans teammates with his mental approach
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans players, coaches and fans have been traumatized by three consecutive losing seasons. Last year’s 3-14 finish saw the franchise bottom out en route to this year’s No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Cam Ward. One of Ward’s biggest challenges will be to break Tennessee holdovers of their losing mentality. Cam Ward is […]
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans players, coaches and fans have been traumatized by three consecutive losing seasons. Last year’s 3-14 finish saw the franchise bottom out en route to this year’s No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Cam Ward.
One of Ward’s biggest challenges will be to break Tennessee holdovers of their losing mentality.
Cam Ward is the Titans tone-setter
Leadership comes naturally to Ward, no matter what level of football it is.
“I just think it has an effect on knowing that we’re able to win every game,” said Ward of his mindset. “And that’s just how I think as a quarterback. I think every time I step on the field, I can be a difference maker. And so, they surround me with a lot of talent, especially up front. Those five guys up there who are always the standpoint of our offense, the O-line. And then just the running backs and the receiver core. I think those are going to be the guys who help make me do my job, make my job easier, and they also got to make their job easier.”
No touchdown passes in seven preseason drives for Ward and the Titans starters who participated.
The Heisman Trophy-finalist led two touchdown drives in two of the three exhibitions showcasing plenty of reasons why Ward was worthy of his draft pedigree. A heavier lift for Ward will be elevating the talent-bereft around him. New general manager Mike Borgonzi addressed critical needs on the offensive line in free agency and looks to have raised the talent floor in Tennessee, low bar though it may be.
Early returns, however, show plenty of glaring issues that Ward will have to both mask and support.
“There’s certainly more growth to be had,” said coach Brian Callahan of Ward. “I think I’ve said before, he’s not a finished product. He’s going to learn a lot coming up. There’s going to be things he hasn’t seen yet. It’s preseason, so you’re looking at relatively vanilla things. Although he did get a little bit of 0 tonight, which was good to see. Pretty vanilla. Pretty standard looks. For him, he did what we asked him to do. There’s going to be a lot of learning coming up over the next 17 weeks.”
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
