NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) 鈥� Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward has a simple philosophy about : The next break comes when the season ends.
The Titans started their mandatory minicamp Tuesday wrapping up with new coach Robert Saleh and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Ward made clear that concluding the offseason program doesn’t mean a vacation or break ahead of training camp.
鈥淲e’re behind the 8-ball,鈥� Ward said. 鈥淲e finished with a No. 4 pick last year. Our goal is not to be top-15 picks, we want to be later. That means we get a chance at the playoffs. We get a chance to win a division. That鈥檚 our goal each and every year.鈥�
Ward was drafted a year ago to help turn around the Titans. Now he has a new coaching staff after the franchise’s fourth consecutive losing season and a second straight 3-14 record. It’s why the Titans used that to help Ward by selecting receiver Carnell Tate out of Ohio State.
The Titans also signed veteran Wan鈥橠ale Robinson and reworked Calvin Ridley鈥檚 contract after an injury-shortened season. The improved receiving corps is nice, but this franchise has been looking for a No. 1 receiver since trading away
That receiver is expected to be Tate who has provided regular highlights this offseason with his catches, including a dazzling one-handed snag down the sideline. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Tate finished his career at Ohio State with 121 catches for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He has been hanging out at Ward’s house with the duo working to be on the same page for every play. The rookie also is in his playbook studying hard, and Tate credited coach Brian Hartline at Ohio State with making it a priority to learn the role for each wide receiver spot to better understand a playbook and offense.
His new offensive coordinator is very happy with how Tate has picked up the playbook.
鈥淚鈥檝e done this for a long time,” Daboll said. “In terms of picking it up, he鈥檚 been one of the tops at the skill position.鈥�
How the Titans’ offense performs will fall heavily on Ward. He threw for 3,169 yards with 15 TD passes and seven interceptions. He was picked only once over the final nine games.
Tennessee has worked on situations this offseason with an offense that features lots of options for wide receivers on intermediate to slot and vertical routes. That has led to some incompletions by Ward as the quarterback hones communication and timing with his receivers.
Critics use those misses to question Ward’s accuracy and whether he might wind up another bust for Tennessee.
said Ward has very good awareness, field vision and instincts. With coaches busy teaching, he calls Ward a good student to teach. Even better, according to Daboll?
鈥淐am can make all the throws,鈥� Daboll said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to be a good quarterback.”
said can take any criticism thrown at him, able to move onto the next play quickly and receptive to what he needs to do better with no ego.
Ward may not have an ego. The quarterback is a self-described perfectionist.
鈥淓ven though it鈥檚 one of the hardest things to do in this world is be perfect, I want to be a perfect football player,” Ward said. “I think if I continue to strive to try and get that, then I鈥檇 be able to help this team win a lot of games.鈥�
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