Live Press Conference: 2:20 PM CT: QB Cam Ward
Um, I think just getting the ball to my playmakers, something that I’ve been better at since week one. Um, and then also just continue to emphasize the little things. U just as a person. I think that’s what set us back in the past and continuing to set us back. Um, that’s just something that we got to fix right now. An example, one or two examples maybe of the little things. Um, just within within practice. Um, practicing the way that, you know, we need to play. Um, something that we preach. Um, and I think that’s going to end up carrying over for us in the game. Do you feel like you played with more decisiveness this past week? And if so, like was that game plan knowing that the edge rushers or or what was behind you? Um, I just think every week I get better at it. Whether the stat sheet says it or the score says it or not, I just think I know I’m getting better at something little every week that I got to get to the be my best. Um, and also I just think the the the emphasis on doing what the players want to do. um not only from my standpoint, but the receivers, the routes that they’re good at running, um the offensive line helping them out a lot. So, I I think a lot goes into it. Did you go into that game thinking I’m going to look for a couple chances to take off here or what what changed about about the situations where you didn’t run? Um really nothing. Um get a chance, step up, you know, go get a couple yards, get down. So, um, Houston is a team that, you know, a lot of quarterbacks just have end up having good rushing, you know, just stats on just because, you know, how they rush, um, to get out of gap sometimes and they give you a hole to go run. What do you feel like the identity of this offense is and what do you want it to be going forward? Um, I think the identity of us is physicality. U, especially from the O line. I think they bring that consistently um, in and out of games. And I just think what our identity has to be going for from not only now but for the future is physicality. It has to be an emphasis on it just on a perimeter. Um from myself and the receiver standpoint um we got to match that physicality that the O line says every time. How do you how do you factor in the identity is physicality? What can you do in a physical offense? Uh just getting the urgency level going from the first play um in out the huddle the play calls in to the guys fast then just us playing at a fast pace at a fast pace. What do you see from Seattle defensively from being able to rush the pass or provide pressure and how do you think you’ve done maybe handling that as as the weeks have gone by? Oh, I think they’re real talented all go all those guys up front. Um do a lot of games um especially in third down, but it’s a it’s a talented group. They really don’t need a a lot of blitzes to get pressure on the quarterback. Um so I just got to be decisive, get the ball out and help the old line out. You think you’ve been getting better at that, recognizing things more just from practices and games? Uh yeah, I think I’ve got better every week, especially going verse, you know, our defense, a similar style what Seattle does. So, I think it’s going to be able to help us. Did you feel the need to address the penalty stuff from last game at all? Additionally, or is it just kind of a turn of phase situation? Um, it’s kind of both. We addressing in practice. Um, we try not to let it carry over to the game. So, um, it’s really more of us being locked into the cadence. Um, then, you know, jumping off the ball and having a good play. Cam, you talked a lot about before the season about continuity and how important that was going to be for you. And you know, obviously now there’s been a coaching change and as as you look ahead, how much do you think you’re dealing with now in the system is going to be able to to carry over and I know you don’t know who the next guy’s going to be, but how much do you think that carries over? I think a lot is going to carry over. Um, a lot of people NFL even throughout my pre-raft process run a lot of same similar concepts. A lot of people have the same names for the concept. So, I think whoever we end up getting um as the head coach and as the play caller, it won’t be a big change for a lot of us rookies just cuz we have a season under our belt. Um now be more learning, you know, the nuances of, you know, his terminology and then just playing fast. Do you have a preference on who or what type of coach you would want to work with offensively moving forward? Um really a coach who’s going to demand the most out of, you know, not only myself, but the whole offense and the team in general. um someone who’s going to run the ball offensively, someone who’s going to put that put the ball in my hand. A lot of times, like when you look at the formula for a young quarterback, they say marry the rushing attack to to a guy like yourself. So, I know you guys don’t necessarily have that, but when you have a a solid run attack, like how much does that help you as a quarterback? No, I think we have a solid run game helps. You know, the quarterback myself is going to help me out a lot just because um just from looks wise, whether it’s play action, um bootleg, um the defense is going to sink back a lot. Um especially postnap freaking out. I think that’s a lot of times where we can get the ball to the back, get it to Tony and space and let him meet. And I just think the run game is always going to be, you know, beneficial. Um it’s a it’s a standpoint where the O line can come off the ball um and hit somebody and then just from play action standpoint we will we’ll be good at it. Came two questions on Kenzie plays. One I guess first was what made you change that play where it ended up being a we route. What made you think that would be successful there? Um just something that I’ve seen all week on film that I know we’ll end up hitting on. Um and I mean Mason uh he he got the check. He made a good play. He made a great catch for me. the second I guess the one that was further down the right sideline. Did you think he was headed more towards the sideline than coming back towards the middle of the field on that one? Um I just got to throw the ball on his chest honestly. Um I shouldn’t have drilled it at him like I did. Um so you know I really just got to put on his chest. He’s wide open. Cam, with some of the injuries in the receiving court, do you maybe spend a little bit extra time at practice or in meetings talking with guys to make sure you’re on the same page moving forward? Oh yes, ma’am. Um, everybody, no matter whether you’re on the active roster or you or you practice squad, you can get called up anytime. So, we all got to be on the same page and we meet every day consistently. Uh, we throw every day consistently. So, even with the new guys we just signed, um, I try to get a lot of reps with those guys compared to guys I already throw with. Um, just cuz you never know who going to be playing there. You feel like you uh, this might be the week we see your buddy Restreo? I mean, we going to see, man. I mean, I know I know A7 going to be ready. Um, I got chemistry with him. So, you know, if he if he get a shot this week, you know, I make sure, you know, he’ll he’ll know what to do and if he get the ball, he going to show youall what he can do. How much has chemistry mattered as a rookie? We talked so much about it in the preseason, developing those chemistry with the receivers. Does it matter as much as you thought it would or is it maybe a little bit overplayed? No, it matters a lot. Um, and I had chemistry with every receiver in my past from high school all the way to every stop I made in college. Um, and it’s because we can, it’s more of a freelance we can play with. Um, I don’t care how you run the route. If I know you going to be there at this time, when I’m at this point in my drop, balls coming your way. Um, and we have we have that here. Um, the only the only bad thing just the injuries that we dealt with, you kind of lose chemistry on guys just cuz they get caught up and you ain’t got a lot of reps. So, that’s something that you got to get in in practice. Cam, a lot of the guys, yourself included, say, “Hey, we can play better than this. We are better than this after some of the losses.” at this point in the season, can you unlock that next better level of play and and how can you do that as a unit? Uh, yeah, we can unlock that and we should have been unlocked it by now. Um, but that’s something that we got to continue to unlock every week and especially for us rookies. We got an offense really one of the youngest in the league. Um, and we don’t make it as excuse, but we got to continue to harp on the little things cuz that’s the things that’s been getting us beat on offense. Um, and it’s a it’s an exciting, you know, journey. Every week you get a chance to play somebody new and play a new scheme, play play a new defensive guys. Um, but at the end of the day, football is never going to change. You got to be able to be physical. You got to be able to throw the ball consistently and run the ball consistently. I know you’re you and worked out a lot together in the offseason and of course your names were associated with one another leading up to the draft. What do you think of of him, I guess, getting his chance at last and the fact that he’s starting his first game. you guys still keep in touch at all? Uh yeah, I’m I’m excited for him um to finally get a chance, you know, do what he loves. Uh I know he’s going to be ready for it. U Cleveland got them going, so, you know, it’s going to be it’s going to be a good game this week for him. Um but, you know, I’m excited for him. Appreciate you. Thanks. [Music]
Titans QB Cam Ward addresses reporters on Wednesday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park
YT Channel: https://bit.ly/2M1n3Kd
For More Titans NFL Action: https://bit.ly/2LWlmxy
#TennesseeTitans #Titans #NFL #TitanUp
For more Titans action: https://www.tennesseetitans.com
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/titans
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titans
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/titans