In his efforts to make a leap forward in his second season, Titans quarterback Cam Ward needs to see strides in several categories.
Three that stand out as especially important, both for quarterback and team: Ward’s play when pressured, his performance on third downs and his play in the red zone.
kAmx>AC@G6>6?E :? 2== E9C66 :D 2 >FDE 7@C 2 %:E2?D E62> E92E C2?<65 b_E9 :? 7:CDE 5@H?D =2DE D62D@?[ b`DE :? J2C5D[ 2?5 b_E9 :? A@:?ED — 2G6C28:?8 ;FDE `e]f A@:?ED A6C 4@?E6DE]k^Am
kAm“%@ >6[ 7@C6G6C[ E96 BF2CE6C324< >6EC:4 :D E9:C5 5@H?[ C65 K@?6[ EH@ >:?FE6[” %:E2?D 4@249 #@36CE $2=69 E@=5 C6A@CE6CD (65?6D52J[ AC:@C E@ E96 %:E2?D’ 7:CDE EC2:?:?8 42>A AC24E:46]k^Am
kAm“u:CDE 2?5 D64@?5 5@H?[ J@F’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 4C62E6 6IA=@D:G6 A=2JD[ J@FVC6 CF??:?8 E96 32==[ J@FVG6 8@E A=2J\24E:@? A2DD[ J@F 8@E E96 D4C66? 82>6[ J@FVG6 8@E 2== E96 ,CF?\A2DD @AE:@?D. … qFE H96? :E 4@>6D E@ E9:C5 5@H? 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 <?@HD J@FVC6 23@FE E@ E9C@H[ @C EH@ >:?FE6 ,2?5. J@F 8@E E@ 92G6 :E[ @C :? E96 C65 K@?6 H96C6 6G6CJE9:?8VD DA65 FA 2?5 E96 H:?5@HD 86E 2 =@E E:89E6C[ E92EVD H96C6 E96 BF2CE6C324< D9:?6D]”k^Am
kAmyFDE 9@H >F49 36EE6C >FDE (2C5 36 :? a_aenk^Am
kAmp?5 9@H 42? 96 5@ D@nk^Am
kAmw6C6’D 2 4=@D6C =@@<ik^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%9:C5 s@H?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(2C5 2?5 E96 %:E2?D DECF88=65 >:89E:=J @? E9:C5 5@H? A=2JD =2DE D62D@?[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 E96J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9C625D]4@>^oD92CA732?2=JD:D^A@DE^s3#v'_4s0`2^E96\C2>D\72465\2?\2G6C286\@7\C5\2?5\:?\D9@CE6DE\:?\E96\?7=\E96\3C@H?D\72465\C5^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m?66565 f]a J2C5Dk^DEC@?8mk^2m — @? 2G6C286 — E@ A:4< FA 2 7:CDE 5@H?[ E:65 7@C E96 6:89E9\9:896DE 7:8FC6 :? E96 =628F6]k^Am
kAm%92E D2:5[ (2C5 5:5?’E 86E E96 ;@3 5@?6 @? 2?JH96C6 ?62C 2 DF77:4:6?E 32D:D[ 2D 9:D \_]bc t!p W6IA64E65 A@:?ED 25565X @? E9:C5 5@H?D C2?<65 c`DE @FE @7 cc BF2=:7J:?8 BF2CE6C324<D :? a_ad]k^Am
kAmxE’D ?@ DFCAC:D6[ E96?[ E92E E96 %:E2?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^$92CAu@@E32==^DE2EFD^a_cahhh_cc`_d_`dbefnC670DC4lEHDC4TdtE7HTfrEH42>ATdtEH66E6>365TfrEHE6C>Tdta_cahhh_cc`_d_`dbefTfrEH8CTdt7a4_``d4dcc6a4he4a6gcg4`afca4bea7e2ff2h3TfrEH4@?TdtD`0U2>AjC670FC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]D:]4@>Tau?7=Tau8:2?EDTau@?D:Tau3:8\3=F6\A=FDTau8:2?ED\;2ID@?\52CE\E9:C5\5@H?\6A2\DE2ED\a_adQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m4@?G6CE65 @?=J b`]h A6C46?Ek^DEC@?8mk^2m @7 E9:C5\5@H? 2EE6>AED[ H9:49 C2?<65 b`DE]k^Am
kAm(2C5 36=:6G6D 96 92D >256 :>A@CE2?E DEC:56D :? D:EF2E:@?2= 2H2C6?6DD 8@:?8 :?E@ 9:D D64@?5 J62C[ H9:49 D9@F=5 96=A 9:> @? E9:C5 5@H?D]k^Am
kAm“,%9:C5 5@H?D 2C6. H96C6 x 92G6 E@ 36 @? 9:89 2=6CE 7@C —H96E96C :E’D 4@G6C K6C@[ 3=:EK A24<286D[ 7=:AA:?8 E96 AC@E64E:@?[ 4964<:?8 A=2JD … 2?5 E96? E96 D4C2>3=6 5C:==[” (2C5 D2:5] “xE’D H96C6 x 92G6 E@ 36 @? A@:?E … 3642FD6 E9:C5 5@H? 42? 32:= FD @FE @7 7:CDE 2?5 D64@?5 5@H?] %96 8@2= :D E@ 4@?E:?F2==J <66A E96 492:?D >@G:?8]”k^Am
kAm(2?’s2=6 #@3:?D@? D9@F=5 >2<6 (2C5 2 36EE6C E9:C5\5@H? BF2CE6C324<[ 2D E96 7@C>6C z6?EF4<J DE2C 42F89E ad E9:C5\5@H? A2DD6D 7@C E96 v:2?ED =2DE J62C[ ?:?E9 36DE :? E96 }u{]k^Am
kAmw2G:?8 qC:2? s23@== 2D 2? @776?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C D9@F=5 96=A 2D H6==[ 2D 96 AC6D:565 W7@C `_ 82>6DX @G6C 2 v:2?ED @776?D6 =2DE D62D@? E92E 7:?:D965 E96 J62C C2?<65 `cE9 :? E9:C5\5@H? 4@?G6CD:@?D Wc_]a A6C46?EX]k^Am
kAmy2ID@? s2CE[ E96 v:2?ED’ C@@<:6 BF2CE6C324< =2DE J62C[ 24EF2==J A@DE65 E96 E9:C5 36DE t!p W_]`bX :? E96 =628F6 @? E9:C5 5@H?D]k^Am
kAm“%9@D6 2C6 E96 5@H?D E92E 42? H:? @C =@D6 J@F 2 82>6[” (2C5 D2:5] “%9@D6 2C6 E96 5@H?D E92E BF2CE6C324<D 86E A2:5 E96 >@DE E@ 36 DF446DD7F= 2E 2 9:89 C2E6 @?] %92E’D H96C6 :E 92D E@ 4=:4< 7@C J@F]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#65 +@?6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(2C5 H2D 24EF2==J AC6EEJ D@=:5 :? 2 =@E @7 H2JD :? E96 C65 K@?6 =2DE D62D@?[ 2D 96 4@>A=6E65 bc\@7\ch A2DD6D :?D:56 E96 @AA@?6?ED’ a_\J2C5 =:?6[ 2 eh]c A6C46?E C2E6 E92E H2D D64@?5 @?=J E@ !9:=256=A9:2’D y2=6? wFCED 2>@?8 "qD H:E9 2E =62DE ch C65\K@?6 2EE6>AED]k^Am
kAmw6 E@E2=65 `a E@F495@H?D 2?5 @?6 :?E6C46AE:@? :? E96 C65 K@?6[ E96 =2EE6C 7:8FC6 E:65 7@C E9:C5 36DE :? E96 }u{ 2>@?8 BF2CE6C324<D H:E9 2E =62DE ch C65\K@?6 2EE6>AED]k^Am
kAm~?6 H2J 7@C (2C5 E@ :>AC@G6 :? E96 C65 K@?6 :D D966C E@F495@H? AC@5F4E:G:EJ WH9:49 @7 4@FCD6 :D A2CE=J 56A6?56?E @? 7:CDE 86EE:?8 k6>m:?E@k^6>m E96 C65 K@?6X[ 2D (2C5’D `a C65\K@?6 E@F495@H? A2DD6D =2DE J62C C2?<65 E:65 7@C abC5 :? E96 =628F6]k^Am
kAm!2E:6?46 :? E96 C65 K@?6 H:== 2=D@ 36 :>A@CE2?E 7@C (2C5[ <?@H:?8 H96? 96 42? 62C? 2?@E96C 7:CDE 5@H? @C A@D:E:@? E96 @776?D6 4=@D6C E@ E96 8@2= =:?6 H:E9 2 D9@CE E9C@H — 2D @AA@D65 E@ 8@:?8 7@C 3C@<6 H:E9 2? 6?5\K@?6 2EE6>AE]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 E9@D6 =:?6D[ (2C5 42? 5@ 2 36EE6C ;@3 @7 4@>A=6E:?8 D9@CE A2DD6D :? 2 H2J E92E 2==@HD 9:D C646:G6CD @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C J2C5D 27E6C E96 42E49]k^Am
kAm“,xE’D. >@C6 @7 ECJ:?8 E@ AFE E96 32== H96C6 x <?@H :E’D DFAA@D65 E@ 8@ G6CDFD 46CE2:? 4@G6C286[” (2C5 D2:5] “#62==J[ ;FDE E@ C624E :? DA246 2?5 ,E9C@H. E96 32== EH@ J2C5D 2?5 =6E E96> 5@ E96 C6DE]”k^Am
kAmx7 J@F H6C6 H@?56C:?8 9@H s2CE 72C65 :? E96 C65 K@?6 =2DE J62C[ 9:D 4@>A=6E:@? A6C46?E286 @7 cb]a H2D >:=6D 36=@H E92E @7 (2C5’D] qFE s2CE 5:5 E9C@H ?:?6 E@F495@H?D G6CDFD K6C@ :?E6C46AE:@?D W282:?[ AC:>2C:=J F?56C s23@==X[ 2?5 9:D 2G6C286 J2C5D A6C 2EE6>AE H2D 23@FE 92=7 2 J2C5 36EE6C E92? (2C5’D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m&?56C !C6DDFC6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 2E =62DE E9C66 C62D@?D (2C5 6?5FC65 2 =@E @7 AC6DDFC6 7C@> 5676?D6D 5FC:?8 9:D C@@<:6 D62D@?i u:CDE[ 96 H2D 2 C@@<:6] $64@?5[ 96 H2D A=2J:?8 369:?5 2 DFDA64E @776?D:G6 =:?6] %9:C5[ 96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^DA@CED^E:E2?D\42>\H2C5\>FDE\>2<6\3:8\DEC:56D\F?56C\AC6DDFC6\:?\D64@?5\J62C^2CE:4=602g6bffe3\f274\ccbe\22`g\bbac7`c7b4`h]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m5:5?’E 92?5=6 E96 AC6DDFC6k^DEC@?8mk^2m H6==[ H9:49 >62?E @AA@D:?8 5676?D6D H6C6 5@F3=J >@E:G2E65 E@ D6?5 H2G6D @7 2EE24<6CD 27E6C 9:>]k^Am
kAm(2C5 H2D AC6DDFC65 @? `fa 5C@A324<D =2DE D62D@?[ D64@?5 >@DE :? E96 }u{ 369:?5 E96 ?F>36C @7 yFDE:? w6C36CE @7 E96 {@D p?86=6D r92C86CD]k^Am
kAmw6 AC@5F465 2 D42CJ \``d]_ A6C46?E 7:8FC6 F?56C AC6DDFC6 =2DE J62C :? E6C>D @7 s'~p[ H9:49 >62DFC6D H96E96C 2 A=2J6C A6C7@C>D 36EE6C @C H@CD6 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 }u{ 2G6C286] %92E ?F>36C H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^u%}u2?E2DJ^DE2EFD^a_f`hcfbfdedf_dgecaQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8mD64@?5 H@CDE :? E96 =628F6k^DEC@?8mk^2m 2>@?8 BF2=:7J:?8 BF2CE6C324<D[ 29625 @7 @?=J E96 >2C< @7 v6?@ $>:E9 W\`bc]h A6C46?EX[ A6C u%}u2?E2DJ ?F>36CD]k^Am
kAm(92E 5@6D (2C5 92G6 E@ 5@ E@ 36 36EE6C :? a_aenk^Am
kAm“%92EVD =:<6 2 >:==:@?\5@==2C BF6DE:@? 7@C 6G6CJ BF2CE6C324<[” $2=69 D2:5] “!2CE @7 E92EVD F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 AC@E64E:@? DJDE6>[ F?56CDE2?5:?8 H96C6 9:D E9C@HD 2C6[ F?56CDE2?5:?8 H96C6 9:D @FE=6ED 2C6[ F?56CDE2?5:?8 H96C6 E96 AC6DDFC6 :D 4@>:?8 7C@> 2?5 9@H >F49 E:>6 96 92D]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 6IA6C:6?465 BF2CE6C324<D … 4@F=5 D66 2 D276EJ 4@>:?8 7C@> 56AE9 2?5 <?@H 96 DE:== 92D E:>6 2?5 96 92D 2 ,C646:G6C CF??:?8 2 9:E49 C@FE6.[ D@ 96 42? E2<6 E:>6 :? E96 A@4<6E C2E96C E92? 766=:?8 CFD965] xEVD ;FDE 8@:?8 E@ 36 A2CE @7 E96 >2EFC2E:@? AC@46DD]”k^Am
kAm(2C5 D66D :>AC@G6>6?E 96C6 2D 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 E:>6 6=6>6?E :?G@=G65 :? 6G6CJ A=2J]k^Am
kAm“x ;FDE E9:?< 92G:?8 2 4=@4< :? >J 9625 6249 2?5 6G6CJ A=2J ,H:== >2<6 >6 36EE6C.[” (2C5 D2:5] “,xE’D. 96=A:?8 @FE E96 ~\=:?6[ 86EE:?8 E96 32== @FE 2?5 E9:?<:?8 E96 D2>6 ,H2J. 2D s23@== ,5@6D.] x E9:?< E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 96=A >6 @FE E96 >@DE]k^Am
kAm“(96? :E’D E:>6 7@C >6 E@ >2<6 2 564:5:?8 A=2J[ E92E’D H96C6 x 4@>6 :? 2?5 5@ >J ;@3]”k^Am

