Cam Ward analysis heading into year two

[OILERMAN]

 Trying to make a judgement on Ward after a disastrous rookie season and a few preseason drives is ridiculous.  People need to slow down trying to determine whether or not Ward is a franchise QB or a bust, there is no way to have a honest opinion on that at this point. 

 

Look around the league at the QBs starting and doing well and their journey and there is one thing that's clear about these #1 picks(or highly drafted) QBs. The teams fail the QBs so often. Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawernce(both #1 picks) and Sam Darnold. They were on dysfunctional teams set up for failure and eventually got into better situations and suddenly could play. The Browns, Jags and Jets were terrible situations. Even guys like Allen and Stafford had serious questions and struggles their first 3 to 4 years. 

 

No QB would have done well last year in the situation Ward was in. Inept coaching staff, terrible pass blocking OL and pitiful weapons. All things like Mayfield and Darnold had against them early in their careers. Last year was not like 2019 with Mariota and the offensive problems were all on the QB. 

 

Ward has the tools, talent and a great work ethic. He has correctable issues and needs experience. All Cam Ward needs is the game to slow down, which comes with more playing time. He also needs a good offensive supporting cast(including coaching/play calling) and especially quality pass protection. He's not going to play like the #1 pick should this season. We're early in the process and it's going to take time, like it did with many of the other QBs mentioned. 

 

[cmrm123]

Hell ya I’m ready to run through a wall after reading this 

[BudsOilers]

It's far too early to determine where he'll land.  All of what you point out is valid.  He was in an awful situation surrounded by poor talent and coaching.  This year, there's no question that on paper the offensive talent is better and Daboll has far more credentials than Callahan ever did.  With more experience, the game should slow down.  It certainly won't happen overnight.

 

Teams do fail QB's and it's almost always because they either overdraft them and/or play them immediately when they aren't ready - because of the things like poor talent around them, being super young, and overwhelmed.  Even the examples provided - none of those guys are considered top tier QB's and are somewhere in the 11-20 range in most evaluations.  Of that bunch - Darnold probably is the most talented of the bunch from a passer standpoint and it took him going to Shanahan for a year to get him squared away and reset.

 

The real issue is whether the issues he does have mechanically (and he does have them) is in fact correctable for a 24-year-old trying to do it at the NFL level at full speed.  It directly ties to the true ceiling he has as a player - cornerstone of the team for the next 10 years, mid starter, move on in 2 or 3 years).  I think it's a bigger challenge than the picture you paint here.  If it was easily correctable, it would have been done already.  Yes he's got a cannon arm but that's truly the only elite trait he has.  He CAN throw with anticipation but it's not at a consistency level that I'd say it warrants being labeled elite.  

 

I fully expect the Titans to rely heavy on a run game and try to make things easier for Ward with pre-snap motion, play action, etc.  and then build from there.  To make that work though, the erratic blips we see a bit too much need to go down in frequency.  If all goes well and the defense can be decent, they can win games that way.

 

The worry is that if Ward and the team struggle, the patience of the fans and local media is tiny.  He will not get the Mariota treatment of excuse making ad naseum.  

[NashvilleNinja]

People get spoiled when they see Jayden Daniels rookie season and think that's how it naturally goes. And no QB is a finished product straight out of college, it doesn't matter how good they do or don't do their rookie year.

[TheChosenTitan]

Let’s just wait and see

[headhunter]

He needs to make throws consistently without having to scramble. I feel like he's really uncomfortable in the pocket 

[smokeater]

Ward definitely is the type of QB you give all the time in the world to develop.  The GM and coaches need to shut out all the outside bs which I believe Borgo and Saleh are capable of doing.  He has the head to be a top 5 or better, which is the opposite of most of the early draft retards since McNair.  His mechanical issues are correctable.

 

As team talent continues to build and the game continues to slow down for him, the success and wow plays will emerge.  He’s no sure thing, of course-no qb is, but the head he has on his shoulders (basically just not being a qb retard) makes him an odds on favorite to at least have a very high floor with a sky’s the limit ceiling. 

[TheChosenTitan]

6 minutes ago, headhunter said:

He needs to make throws consistently without having to scramble. I feel like he's really uncomfortable in the pocket 

After last year he definitely doesn’t trust the pocket he’s given

[Jamalisms]

I'm perfectly happy sitting in the patience and excuse making camp this early for a guy who's driven like him a who flashes brilliance like him.

 

This isn't the case where it's everyone else's fault (though the barriers last year were immense) and he has no flaws but he has enough upside and drive that I have plenty of hope remaining that he'll overcome whatever flaws do exist.

[IsntLifeFunny]

I'll say this, I've learned enough that if he doesn't shine by year 4 then it's his own limitations and not correcting his flaws. Coaching matters for optimization and finding the right scheme fit, but talent at QB always shines through if you can keep him healthy. 

 

From what I've seen with the kid, he has the exact mindset to be great, and he has the talent to make it happen, but he has to clean up the footwork and pocket mechanics, which are linked. 

[SleepingTitan]

3 hours ago, BudsOilers said:

It's far too early to determine where he'll land.  All of what you point out is valid.  He was in an awful situation surrounded by poor talent and coaching.  This year, there's no question that on paper the offensive talent is better and Daboll has far more credentials than Callahan ever did.  With more experience, the game should slow down.  It certainly won't happen overnight.

 

Teams do fail QB's and it's almost always because they either overdraft them and/or play them immediately when they aren't ready - because of the things like poor talent around them, being super young, and overwhelmed.  Even the examples provided - none of those guys are considered top tier QB's and are somewhere in the 11-20 range in most evaluations.  Of that bunch - Darnold probably is the most talented of the bunch from a passer standpoint and it took him going to Shanahan for a year to get him squared away and reset.

 

The real issue is whether the issues he does have mechanically (and he does have them) is in fact correctable for a 24-year-old trying to do it at the NFL level at full speed.  It directly ties to the true ceiling he has as a player - cornerstone of the team for the next 10 years, mid starter, move on in 2 or 3 years).  I think it's a bigger challenge than the picture you paint here.  If it was easily correctable, it would have been done already.  Yes he's got a cannon arm but that's truly the only elite trait he has.  He CAN throw with anticipation but it's not at a consistency level that I'd say it warrants being labeled elite.  

 

I fully expect the Titans to rely heavy on a run game and try to make things easier for Ward with pre-snap motion, play action, etc.  and then build from there.  To make that work though, the erratic blips we see a bit too much need to go down in frequency.  If all goes well and the defense can be decent, they can win games that way.

 

The worry is that if Ward and the team struggle, the patience of the fans and local media is tiny.  He will not get the Mariota treatment of excuse making ad naseum.  

100%

It's not time to throw in the towel, but if you can't see the blemishes, you're kidding yourself like a homer. Saying the team is the reason is lazy copium. Sure last year obviously. But this year, he is missing throws, running from pocket, holding the ball, throwing behind players. "The team around him" is not making him do those things. 

 

Simply put, he's not helping his team.

[Pragidealist]

You guys are funny. If he didnt have blemishes in year 2- it would be a miracle. We'll know by year 4.  Likely he'll be up and down this year. He flashed it last year.  Hopefuly by year 3 he's starting to come into his own consistently.  

[TheChosenTitan]

Just need to see him improving year after year that’s all. No repeat mistakes over and over again 

[Pragidealist]

21 minutes ago, TheChosenTitan said:

Just need to see him improving year after year that’s all. No repeat mistakes over and over again 

Doesnt really owrk like that though.  We just start to see them happen with less frequency.

[rns90]

2 hours ago, TheChosenTitan said:

Just need to see him improving year after year that’s all. No repeat mistakes over and over again 

Right .  so I don’t think the second half of year 2 is too much to ask for in terms of sustained high level play.

 

i expect them to have to work out the kinks of the offense in the first half of the year.