NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans' rookies wrap up their offseason today.
They’ve got a month now to work on things coaches have pointed them toward, ensure they are appropriately fit for the grueling test they will face on July 22 when they return and to clear their heads some from non-stop football from their final collegiate season, combine and pro day prep and the early days of work in the NFL.
For Cam Ward, that last part may be a challenge, as he’s shown himself to be an early riser and a guy who has spent long days at the facility.
Will he take some time off and away?
“A little bit,” he said. “But when you’re like me, it’s hard to get away. I mean, it’s something that you can never take your mind off of. I’ll be in the house and I’ll just think about a play. I’ll probably be in the shower thinking about the pick (from the last day of minicamp).
"It’s just something that will never leave me until I’m probably done playing football. I just try to get better every day, not try to repeat the same mistakes.”
Brian Callahan said he’s looking for the veterans to have set a tone about how long the season is and how necessary it is for everyone to put the right kind of space between themselves and football.
“They do need a chance to step back, but this isn't really a vacation time if you're a player in the league,” he said. “This is a short break, but you're trying to ramp yourself back up to get ready for training camp because it counts now, it matters. And so, the veteran guys know how to take the right break. A week or two, maybe over the 4th of July.
"But I mean, they're really focused on getting back ready to work, and that's the difference between this time of year and let's say, post-season, where the work is quickly approaching for training camp. And we've got to be in great shape. And I told all the guys …let's not take a step back from the progress we've made. That's both physically, that's mentally, that’s 
execution-wise. Let's come back in training camp, where we are now and not lose anything from this time frame. That's always a challenge. But I think the guys that know how to do it do it right and our rookies will be on top of it.”
Players can work out in the weight room and get treatment, but are not allowed to be coached during the downtime. Many young guys complete their moves to Nashville in this window.
Bo Hardigree said there is a plan in place for Ward.
“We’ve talked about it, we’ve got a good plan,” the QB coach said. “He’ll visit his family, he’ll work out and then he’ll just kind of take a deep breath because it is a much longer season than it is in college and he’ll feel that. But we’ll have him prepared.”
