Titans OTAs Notebook: Cam Ward struggles again, notable absences, early sleeper names to watch
Cam Ward’s struggles in OTAs have some interesting context, an injury kept a star on the sideline while veterans choose to remain absent, and a couple interesting names down the depth chart who keep catching my eye.
We saw a second consecutive day of Titans OTAs on Tuesday, and here are three big picture thoughts I took away from watching the session:
Cam Ward struggles for second day in a row
Tuesday was a lot like Monday for Cam Ward, in so far as I would describe it as a day of “struggle”. Tuesday’s session was more up-and-down, in fairness. QB1 finished his practice pretty strong with a handful of nice completions marching down the field. But in the middle of the practice, things were clunky.
A couple of details I’m unmoved by include an interception to Micah Robinson (vindicated from his recent bad luck guarding Carnell Tate!) and a batted ball. Those things happen in June, who cares. But some of his incompletions I find interesting.
I wouldn’t describe today’s practice as inaccurate so much as I would describe it as, again, clunky. It doesn’t read to me like these guys are on the same page as much as you’d like them to be. Ward is throwing balls up field while the receiver is shallowing the route out more. Somebody appears to be wrong there. Ward is lofting to the boundary in man coverage routes up the sideline. Instead of working back to the ball through the defender, the receiver keeps separating up field and it’s batted away. Somebody appears to be wrong there.
This isn’t all that surprising this time of year for a player in a new system with a lot of new teammates. Volatility is the enemy of progress. More on those ideas soon on atozsports.com.
Carnell Tate, Alontae Taylor, Cor’Dale Flott, Jeffery Simmons all missing
Everybody and their mother is going to talk about Carnell Tate’s absence from Tuesday’s practice until we get any word from the team at Thursday’s practice.
His last play of the week was on Monday when he made a great contested snag over Micah Robinson 50 yards downfield from Cam Ward. It seemed like he may have gotten slightly banged up in the process, and his absence from Tuesday’s practice was proof of that.
My understanding is that this is precautionary more than anything. We have more Titans practices on Thursday and then Mandatory Minicamp next week, and I expect to see him out there for most if not all of that.
Some other notable absences are by choice, though. Defensive super star Jeffery Simmons hasn’t been out at voluntary practice yet, and neither have free agent starting CBs Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott. They aren’t required to be at practice until mandatory minicamp next week, but with a new coaching staff (and a new team, for two of them) it’s disingenuous to say it’s not a bad look.
I’m basically never that guy, and I’m really not being that guy here. I’m sure they have a plan with their coaches, and they may very well be in the building already. But as the messenger who I kindly ask you do not shoot: this is the kind of thing with so much newness on a bad team that people will point back to if/when things go wrong down the road.
WR KJ Osborne, CB Keydrain Calligan amongst early standouts
How about a couple of names who continue to catch my eye!
CB Keydrain Calligan is someone who I take mental note of at least once per practice right now. Aside from being on the all-name team, he continues to get his hands near or on the ball in team period. In a CB room with plenty of space for competition, he definitely seems to be helping himself.
Veteran WR KJ Osborne also continues to make plays. He reminds me narratively of how I was feeling/talking about James Proche this time last year. The guy just keeps popping up! He’ll be a fixture of the WR room debate in August.
A third player who I find interesting in terms of usage and versatility is FA tight end Daniel Bellinger. He keeps moving around the formation and making me say “hmm!” It’s safe to say he’ll see the field plenty this fall.