NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cam Ward threw a touchdown pass to Carnell Tate in a red zone drill Wednesday, then ran over to celebrate with the rookie wide receiver.
It’s the type of play the Tennessee Titans hope to see over and over for years to come. Building the connection needed to make those plays in pressure spots takes time, which is why Ward had teammates join him in Miami for three weeks before training camp. They worked out together and also went swimming, shopping, boating - anything to start forming the kind of chemistry needed to win Super Bowl titles.
“We gonna be with each other from now to February, and so our job is to form that bond,” Ward said.
The No. 1 pick overall of the 2025 draft goes into his second NFL season with a new coaching staff and offensive coordinator. The Titans not only hired Brian Daboll to run the offense for head coach Robert Saleh, they made sure to give Ward more help on offense.
Wan’Dale Robinson was Tennessee’s priciest free agent in March. They reworked veteran Calvin Ridley’s contract, then used the fourth overall pick on Tate out of Ohio State. With Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike back after strong rookie seasons, the Titans like the way Ward’s supporting cast is shaping up.
“That’s the goal when you have a young quarterback, you’re trying to build around them,” general manager Mike Borgonzi said.
PHOTOS: Cam Ward brought Titans teammates to Miami to build chemistry before training camp
Ward believes he’s already a better player even with all the changes around him. He likes Daboll’s offensive scheme and feels he better understands why the coordinator is calling a play considering the clock, down and distance, and moment in a game.
“I just think situationally and awareness of everyone else’s position has been my biggest change,” Ward said.
Robinson not only brings his skill as a wide receiver, he’s very familiar with Daboll’s offense from their time together with the New York Giants. Robinson, who has connected with Ward so well he has a key to the quarterback’s house, said the second-year player is very direct with his teammates.
“He’s not gonna sugarcoat anything and wants the best out of everybody and feels like everybody got to come along and bring their best,” Robinson said of Ward. “So we all do that and we feel like we’re gonna be a good football team.”
Ward needs to improve against defensive pressure
He was sacked 55 times as a rookie, tied with Geno Smith for most in the NFL. Ward also lost seven of his 11 fumbles - both team highs.
The Titans hope Ward improves in camp facing a revamped defense playing Saleh’s pressure-heavy scheme.
“That’s like a million dollar question for every quarterback,” Saleh said. “Part of that’s understanding the protection system, understanding where his hot throws are, understanding where his outlets are, understanding where the pressure is coming from and how much time he has.”
No sugar-coating from Ward
The quarterback described the offense’s performance with an expletive at one point last season, a moment included in Netflix’s “Quarterback” series. Ward said Wednesday he’s not afraid to do that again if needed.
How direct is the quarterback? Asked to describe a harsh critique, Robinson said Ward can be very clear telling receivers: “Catch the damn ball.”
Titans moving slowly
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is recovering from a bad stomach bug that hit him the past two days. Saleh said backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky is day-to-day after getting tight during conditioning Tuesday.
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