Turron Davenport
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The crisp 88-degree Labor Day climate introduced excellent circumstances for the Tennessee Titans' first regular-season sport week follow Monday. Through the season, groups usually do not follow on Mondays, however Titans coach Brian Callahan needed the gamers again on the sector as a result of they have been coming back from a weekend break.
Veteran receiver Calvin Ridley and rookie quarterback Cam Ward remained on the sector for an additional 40 minutes to arrange. The Ward-Ridley relationship is one among many who might want to click on for the rookie to hitch Chicago Bears signal-caller Caleb Williams (2024) as the one two quarterbacks chosen No. 1 to win their NFL debuts since David Carr did so with the Houston Texans in 2002.
Callahan and the Titans employees have been working laborious to verify Ward is prepared when he takes the sector Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox) in opposition to the Denver Broncos at Empower Subject at Mile Excessive — a course of that began earlier than Ward arrived in Nashville.
Earlier than drafting Ward, the Titans had discussions with Miami's offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and North Texas coach Eric Morris, who recruited Ward out of highschool when he was the coach at Incarnate Phrase, about Ward's strengths when he performed for them in school.
It helped construct a consolation stage for Ward and Callahan — who was urged by his rookie quarterback to include his favourite play, “Change Verts,” into the Titans' playbook.
In studio at NFL Stay speaking Cameron Ward and the #Titans. pic.twitter.com/HY2ED2lpuX
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) July 14, 2025
Ward is an aggressive passer who likes to throw the ball downfield to show his arm expertise. “Change verts” matches his ability set as a result of it entails a number of receivers operating vertical routes into the tip zone. The change requires the receivers to criss-cross in the beginning of the path to confuse defenders in man protection.
“It has been like that since Day 1,” Ward mentioned when requested concerning the course of. “They've all the time taken my enter, giving me suggestions. I all the time take their enter, get suggestions from them. I've seen all the things since I bought right here after the draft. I bought higher at it daily. Studying safety, studying the calls to get to and likewise simply adjusted my receivers on routes that I would like them to run.”
Ward's potential and Callahan's creativity should come collectively rapidly to make sure a long-lasting relationship. The Titans have parted methods with a outstanding determine for 3 consecutive seasons — Tennessee fired normal supervisor Jon Robinson in 2022, adopted by coach Mike Vrabel in 2023 after which normal supervisor Ran Carthon in 2024.
Sadly for Callahan, Williams guided the Bears' 2024 season-opening win in opposition to the Titans, ruining his teaching debut in a turbulent season. After ending 3-14 final season, Callahan wants Ward and the Titans to achieve success to keep away from being the fourth straight dismissal.
Week 1 may very well be a stiff check for Callahan and Ward in opposition to Denver, which allowed 18.3 factors per sport final season — the third fewest behind the Los Angeles Chargers (17.7) and the Philadelphia Eagles (17.8). Visiting offenses averaged solely 14.9 factors in opposition to Denver.
“While you've bought a younger quarterback, there's going to be loads of issues that he'll see that perhaps he hasn't seen,” Callahan mentioned. “He is bought to handle these issues. On the finish of the day, you attempt to put him able to play as quick as attainable and as confidently as attainable on the highway.”
THE TITANS HIT the bottom operating when Ward arrived in Nashville quickly after the draft. Ward immediately appreciated Callahan's “quarterback-friendly offense” and prior expertise getting a rookie prepared for sport day.
“You see what he did with Joe Burrow, his rookie 12 months,” Ward mentioned in April. “[Callahan] has the most effective offensive minds on the market.”
As for the Burrow reference, that is one thing you may hear continually.
Burrow, with Callahan as his offensive coordinator and coach Zac Taylor calling the performs, turned the Cincinnati Bengals right into a Tremendous Bowl contender. Just like Burrow, Ward is shouldering the burden of restoring respect to the franchise, with Callahan enjoying a significant function within the onboarding course of.
“I wish to be a purpose why Brian Callahan is considered as the most effective coaches within the NFL.”
Cam Ward
Having skilled it earlier than, Callahan is assured that he has the components to get Ward up to the mark in opposition to a Broncos protection that led the NFL with 63 sacks final season and has the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr in cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
“I feel we had a fairly good plan for Joe there in Cincinnati,” Callahan mentioned Monday. “You wish to do issues that they are comfy with, and also you wish to play quick. You strive to not reinvent the wheel, preparing for Week 1, or any sport for that matter. However you attempt to do all of the issues, you financial institution reps on in practices, in conferences, so there's not a variety of newness.”
Titans backup quarterback Brandon Allen was additionally with Cincinnati for Burrow's rookie season. Allen noticed how the Bengals built-in a few of Burrow's favourite passing ideas from LSU. However he additionally noticed how they discovered what Burrow appreciated from their current playbook.
“He desires to tailor his playcalling to the success and what the quarterback is most comfy doing,” Allen mentioned of Callahan. “He does an excellent job calling all kinds of performs all through OTAs and camps, and saying like, ‘Hey, he is actually good at these performs. He sees these sure performs. Properly, he wants a bit of bit extra work on these performs.' He does an amazing job with that.”
TENNESSEE'S COACHES ENCOURAGED Ward to speak with them about what performs and ideas he likes. Though they labored totally on base performs, the coaches allowed Ward to assist construct the decision sheet they'd have up for sport week throughout the preseason.
Ward mentioned he seemed ahead to the beginning of regular-season preparation as a result of he likes to get dialed into all the things from scheming safety to route changes and post-snap priorities.
Broncos coach Sean Payton needed to get second-year quarterback Bo Nix prepared for his NFL debut final 12 months, so he is nicely conscious of find out how to put together for a rookie quarterback. Denver's coaches will do an in-depth research of Ward's school tape. They will wish to see how Ward handles strain, so anticipate blitzes and coverages that shift post-snap.
“You'll return and have a look at his school tape at Miami simply to get a really feel for not solely arm energy, however how he handles strain,” Payton mentioned Tuesday.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph blitzed on 31% of dropbacks by opposing quarterbacks final season — the Tenth-highest charge within the NFL. Denver performed one sport in opposition to a beginning rookie quarterback final season (Spencer Rattler). Rattler was blitzed on 29% of his dropbacks, because the Broncos dominated the New Orleans Saints 33-10.
Callahan expects the Broncos to strain Ward. However that does not imply he will not let Ward combat again.
“The outdated adage for many quarterbacks is defenses will check you and strain you,” Callahan mentioned. “However you simply do not ever wish to take away the stinger, and Cam's bought one. He will take some probabilities and take some dangers and put the ball in some tight home windows, and that is a part of what makes him who he's.”
Amongst 129 QBR-qualified FBS passers final season, Ward's 88.5 QBR ranked twelfth. Ward accomplished 88 of 132 passes (third) in opposition to the blitz and completed second in passing yards (1,183), passing touchdowns (16) and dashing touchdowns (2) whereas going through strain.
“Know your safety, get the ball out, do not allow them to kill you,” Ward mentioned. “That is all you are able to do to deal with strain. It doesn't matter what is named, the blitz nonetheless bought to get there.”
TITANS GENERAL MANAGER Mike Borgonzi believes Callahan and the Titans employees have accomplished an excellent job getting ready Ward to deal with strain in practices. Callahan, offensive coordinator Nick Holz and quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree meticulously work by way of errors at any time when they happen. They've made a concerted effort to get Ward real-time reps in opposition to strain.
Callahan scheduled joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons and a preseason sport with the Minnesota Vikings to get him reps in opposition to aggressive defenses. He additionally pressed defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson to throw quite a few defensive appears to be like at Ward nearly daily of camp. Ward had his ups and downs, however the profit is banking reps and being uncovered to quite a lot of strain packages.
“The hardest factor for these rookie quarterbacks is dealing with protections and seeing all that,” Borgonzi mentioned. “It was good seeing him going up in opposition to Dennard's protection throughout coaching camp, having the chance to go on the highway for 10 days and go in opposition to [Todd Bowles'] protection in Tampa and [Raheem Morris'] protection in Atlanta.”
Titans heart Lloyd Cushenberry III's veteran presence ought to assist Ward put together for the strain as nicely. Cushenberry mentioned the communication has been nice. He and Ward have detailed discussions relating to safety. Cushenberry likened his rising relationship with Ward to 1 between a quarterback and receiver.
“It is the identical factor,” Cushenberry mentioned. “They're in tune with all of the coverages, identical to we're up entrance with the protections. We all the time wish to be on the identical web page.”
The offense could have its weekly third-down assembly Thursday morning to undergo its calls and changes earlier than afternoon follow. Gamers construct confidence from preparation and reps. Ward is not any totally different.
“I really feel ready, particularly from a safety in opposition to the blitz standpoint,” Ward mentioned.
Ward and the Titans are taking a day-by-day method to embarking on what they hope might be a profitable debut Sunday. If it is as much as Ward, Sunday will mark the beginning of a protracted journey for him and the present employees.
“I am attempting to play so long as I can for Tennessee with these three guys on the helm,” Ward mentioned of Callahan, Hardegree and Holz. “They push me to be nice. I wish to be the most effective quarterbacks within the NFL. I wish to be a purpose why Brian Callahan is considered as the most effective coaches within the NFL.”
