NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On the Titans’ open OTA apply on Wednesday, Cam Ward set the tone for 7-on-7 motion on his first dropback. The No. 1 total choose threaded a cross to fourth-round rookie tight finish Gunnar Helm between the hashes, by way of a handful of defenders, for the beautiful completion.
Center-of-the-field success in tight home windows was a theme for Ward within the drill, the place he accomplished 8-of-10 passes. His bullet-like throws appeared to have contact. What labored for him is vital to notice due to what occurred at Tennessee’s first OTA on Tuesday.
At that apply, which was closed to the media, Ward tried a tight-window throw that didn’t work.
“I’m certain in school, that ball was open and obtained accomplished,” offensive coordinator Nick Holz stated. “[On Tuesday], completely different consequence. And he’s sort of like, ‘Nicely, I used to do that and that.’ [Then he] sits within the conferences, sees the velocity of the sport, how fast these home windows are. There’s variations.
“It’s the second day in opposition to precise individuals, however immediately was higher than [Tuesday],” Holz added. “Clearly, it was someday, and we’ll take that progress.”
Ward acknowledged that he’s acclimating to variations in discipline spacing and the velocity of defenses on the NFL stage. With Tennessee within the third part of the offseason program, Wednesday marked the primary have a look at the previous Miami star on the sphere together with his veteran teammates and in opposition to a stay protection (albeit with out pads).
Ward stated his greatest transition so far has been adjusting to the hash marks. On the NFL stage, they’re 70 ft and 9 inches from the sidelines, in comparison with simply 60 ft from the boundary within the school recreation. Defenses can higher disguise their coverages.
Passes should be on time “much more” within the execs, Ward stated.
“You come from school and also you simply really feel just like the extensive discipline is thus far on the market,” Holz stated. “You get all these boundary pressures on a regular basis. All the sphere pressures in school, you may sort of see them from a mile away. Within the NFL, the ball is just about in the midst of the sphere.
“We would like him to be aggressive,” Holz added. “You draft a participant like him that has his tape and also you don’t need to coach all these actually optimistic features out of him and make him a robotic. However on the identical time, he’s obtained to be taught the worth of the soccer. too.”
Ward stated he observed the distinction taking part in in opposition to an NFL protection “from day one.”
“Particularly the safeties,” he defined. “They shut down actual laborious on the digs, shallows. They cowl floor. It’s actually nearly being on time with myself and the receivers. On the finish of the day, it’s about making performs. Soccer shouldn’t be going to vary.”
To ease Ward’s transition, the Titans are incorporating ideas he had in school — Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami — into their playbook. Of their two journeys to Miami within the pre-draft course of, the Titans met with the Hurricanes employees about what labored for Ward of their offense. Day-after-day or two, the Titans coaches will “sprinkle” among the acquainted ideas onto Ward’s slate, in response to Holz, so he can play confidently and quick.
“We’re sort of simply seeing what sticks in the long run,” Holz stated.
For now, Ward is simply appreciative to apply in opposition to a protection.
“Going in opposition to air is BS. It’s not actual soccer,” Ward stated. “You lastly get actual recreation velocity, actual timing for what it’s going to be like. And also you see lots of people’s character when the bullets begin flying.”
For the No. 1 choose within the draft, the hope of a franchise’s future, the bullets have already began to fly.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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