Tampa Test: Cam Ward Stays Cool as Titans Grind Through Joint Practice

TAMPA, Fla. – Outside of a skirmish that cleared the sidelines, the Titans-Bucs joint practice didn’t feature fireworks. I focused on Cam Ward, who had a solid, efficient day.
 
By plan, Tennessee took short stuff and looked to string together methodical drives, and that’s what Brian Callahan and Nick Holz’s offense did.

Cam Ward

“I think as a whole we stuck to that the whole day – ones, twos and threes – just taking what they give us,” Cam Ward said. “(Brandon Allen, Tim Boyle) making plays on their end and then me just sticking the game plan, trying to stay above the chains, not trying to do too much unless I had to, just put the ball in the receivers’ hands.”
 
Teams don’t typically do a great deal of planning for a joint practice like this one, but Tyler Lockett said they did discuss the overall approach to the Buccaneers’ defense.

“Some teams give you better chances to take shots, some teams you’ve got to work it down the field,” he said. “That’s exactly the type of team the Bucas are. When you’re an offense going against their defense, they’re going to spot drop, they’re going to make it tough, you’ve got to be able to find the open zones and the quarterback has to be able to fit it in there.
 
“You’ve got to be able to create drives. Once you start trying to take shots all the time, that’s when that D-line can get to you. Overall, I think we did a great job just being able to maximize our game plan.”
 
The Titans started slow but gradually improved.
 
They struggled during the one-on-one passing period, as Ward and Allen handled all the throwing. An offense should dominate and receivers should regularly catch balls in stride, running away from their defender.

I did not get every play, but in 16 I had six overthrows, four drops (one of which was intercepted) and an underthrow to go with very nice plays from Van Jefferson against Bryce Hall, Bryce Oliver against Zyon McCollum (a starter), Elic Ayomanor vs. Tyrek Funderbunk, Matt Landers against Jamel Dean (a starter) and Calvin Ridley against rookie Roman Parodie. 

The Titans are still not fast at receiver, but they looked slow during this period.
 
Ward had a smart throwaway early in a team period, and Allen followed suit and ran up the middle on his first two plays, fully acknowledging what he did not have.
 
In seven-on-seven, things picked up some and Ward was making pretty quick decisions, hitting Tony Pollard, a wide-open Ridley, watching a ball go off Ayomanor’s hands, finding Chim Dike. That’s when the day’s theme started to come into focus.
 
Back in team, on a play-action, Ward made a really nice delivery up the seam to a reaching Gunnar Helm for a top-flight connection for a good chunk and probably the best Ward play of the practice.
 
On the first play of 2:00 drill, Ward threw his lone interception of the day, aiming for Chig Okonkwo low and short to the left. But edge Haasan Reddick beat the tight end to the ball and scooped it.
 
“I tried to throw it around him, I didn’t throw it far enough inside for Chig to get it,” Ward said.
 
The response was pretty strong, a patient and careful drive with conversions that moved the Titans down the field. I thought it left them in field goal range with :08 left on the clock.
 
In red zone from the 12, Ward looked to adjust things before finding Oliver for a score on his first chance, then hit Dike in the back middle of the end zone over Christian Izien, who’s competing for Tampa’s nickel job. On his final chance Ward ended up throwing the ball at his own feet.

The rookie QB is faring better in the tight quarters close to the end zone. 

"It's starting to click and it's really just coming with more reps that I get and knowing where the ball needs to go versus certain looks," he said. "

The final period ended with two not-great plays. Ward's feet were not great when he threw beyond Oliver on the left, then he missed Jha'Quan Jackson high through the back of the end zone.

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