You Have to Run the Ball Well to Win | Press Conference

You Have to Run the Ball Well to Win | Press Conference

un unofficial depth chart that you guys put out at I Manor starting as one of your three receivers. What have you seen out of him that’s elevated him to that status? Uh it’s consistency. He’s shown up in in practices. He’s shown up in games. He’s he’s strong. He’s fast. He’s made plays when the balls come his way. He’s earned a right to to be the first guy to walk out there. But that doesn’t mean that he’s the only guy that’s going to be out there. You know, we’re going to have receivers up on game day. They’re all going to play. They’re all going to have roles. We’re counting on all those guys to to produce and perform for us. So, um he’s earned a nice little uh bump as a starter on paper, but they’re all going to play. What did you see from him progressively get better, I guess, through through camp in the preseason? Uh just the performance, I think the consistency of performance, just showed up every day, you know, made plays every day. Um he’s gotten better every time he stepped out there. He’s a good he’s a strong runner. He’s a powerful route runner. Um he’s made plays on the ball and that’s that’s that’s what we’re looking for. He’s he’s earned himself a ear earned himself the right to be called a starter. I guess with Gray and and Williams on the depth chart too, you anticipate both those guys playing and and what what did Cedric do maybe to earn that nod? I think Cedric Cedric showed up when when it was time to play football. That was really the biggest separator I think between the two of them. James had a really strong camp. U wasn’t anything that James didn’t do. It was more what Seed did. Uh he showed up, played physical, we played hard in the run game, played sideline to sideline. Um he’s he’s really showed well for himself when we had the chance to go compete for real in the preseason games and earned himself a spot just like Eric did. He’s earned the role. Uh it was great competition. Both those guys are going to be counted on this year in in roles. Um happy with where both of their progress is at, but I think Cedric uh Cedric at the end of camp there really showed up I think in the games, which was good to see. But Bo’s ability to kind of move around and use his feet too. How disciplined is you guys have to be defensively? Oh, it’s critical. That’s really what what’s made their offense so uh you know so dangerous is he’s really strong in the pocket. He’s hard to bring down. He’s he’s a really strong pocket presence. He can run when he’s breaks contain. He’s a re he’s a real threat as a runner. Um and he’s got great feel for when and where to escape. So you quarterbacks like that, which there’s more and more of them in the league nowadays, you have to really do a great job balancing your rush, knowing where your where your rush lanes are at, knowing where the quarterback launch point is at, uh condensing the pocket and making sure that we don’t give up free lanes for the quarterback to run. That’s a huge part of of playing all these quarterbacks that can run nowadays is you do your best to don’t give them free ones. You know, they make a great play and escape and that happens, but uh we try to not give them give them easy lanes to run in. going into an environment like that, how important will it be to get Tony Pard going early and how do you feel he’s going to be able to to carry if a heavy workload is required? Yeah, he’s proven he can do it. He did it last year for us. Uh he’s he can he can carry the ball a bunch. He’s a productive runner. He’s a hard runner. Uh all those things are things that we’ve seen from Tony. So there’s not a whole lot of mystery what that looks like uh for him performing in a in in a role where he’s going to take a majority of the carries. We’re still going to need the other guys to play for us. You know, July is going to have to step up. K might have some work in there. Um those guys all got to contribute for us to win, but very confident in Tony’s ability to handle it. Um you know, obviously you got to run the ball well in this league if you want to win and so we’re going to have to run the ball well when we run it. Does that get amplified a little more being as though you have a rookie quarterback making his first start? Um not any more than it would for any normal game, I don’t think. Yeah, certainly we’d like to to run the ball well and and keep him out of some of the tough situations uh that you can get in if you got to drop back a bunch or face the pass rush a bunch. They’re very clearly an excellent pass rushing football team. their production is is what best in the league. So, um yeah, we got to be mindful of of what the spots we put them in and running the ball always helps that, but at the end of the day, we’re still going to do what we think is going to help us win a game. And if if we got to throw it, we’ll throw it. Ryan, in your eyes, what’s the most important thing for a quarterback to do, a rookie that is, um to successfully get through game one, and how does Cam fit into that? The biggest thing for a young quarterback is just stay within yourself. you know, play within what’s asked of you. Do the things that you’ve done all training camp, all offseason. You know, it’s week one. I kind of alluded to it the other day. Week one gets made into this this benchmark moment of a season. It’s really just one game of 17 that you certainly want to play well in. Um, but it’s it’s uh it’s you still got to have some perspective on it and and not you don’t need anything crazy. He just needs to be one of the 11 guys on the field on offense doing his part to help us win. um making smart decisions with the football, keeping us on track, keeping us on schedule. Obviously, protecting the football is a huge part of of winning football games in the NFL period, but certainly in week one, uh is going to be critical. So, I think it’s just playing football the way that that we ask him to play and and playing within himself. Um he’s got all the talent in the world to go make the throws we need him to make and um the rest of the guys around him got to play well, too. So, we’re counting on everybody to play well together. Is there something specific you really want him to focus on or hone in on in practice these next three days? Um outside of the game plan, you know, the normal stuff. No. Again, try not to make it something that it isn’t. You know, it’s still just a football game. He’s played a lot of football. Um this isn’t this is not any different. you sir that the talent’s different and the environment is going to be fun but um you know you walk in you walk on the on the field there it’s still 100 yards long and 10 yard end zones and 53 and a third yards wide and doesn’t really change so you know just that approach I think helps you know you don’t we don’t need him to do anything super human just need him to play good football and need the guys around him to play well for him said yesterday that the game plan’s probably at 65 70% and what’s the timeline to getting it to 100% what’s left to tinker with and just kind of what are you guys trying to to get on these I think we’re right. We’re right on track where we are on a normal week. Um you know, we get a couple extra days here just because of the bonus week now without that fourth preseason game, but uh right on our normal normal rhythm of the week. You know, we got our base downs and third downs and red zone. We just sort of follow that same rhythm. Um maybe a little bit ahead of it just because of the extra time, but but pretty pretty squarely on where we need to be. Yeah. Your experience, what what do defenses often do with with a rookie quarterback or a guy starting his first game? What are maybe some generic things that you usually see from defenses that you might not see against a vet? Uh they test you. I mean, they’re they’re they’re going to see what you can handle. Um and the the old adage for most quarterbacks is, you know, if they test you and they pressure you and it works, probably coming again, you know, and they you’re going to get tested until you show you can handle it. And I think that’s an important part of the position. and and every defense is going to have their DNA and and how much they pressure and why and where and but I I’ve always believed that especially young players, you know, first, second year quarterbacks, you’re going to get tested and once you show you can handle it, those things tend to fall by the wayside a bit and they don’t they don’t do anything reckless. But, um, look, Vance is Vance is is an outstanding coordinator. He’s done it for a long time. I don’t think he’s going to go out of his way to to to veer much off of what they believe in and what they do. Um, but I just know that young quarterbacks get tested and and until you prove you can handle it, um, you’re going to keep getting tested. Did you choose the placement of guys in the locker room? I know it’s been a while they’ve been in it. First we saw it the other day, but how intentional were you about who was next to who and who’s between who? Yeah, I would say it was there was definitely thought put into it. um not not all of it was, you know, every single person, every single spot, but there was certainly some spots that uh had some intention behind him and some thought put into it on on where we wanted those guys to be. The biggest point for the locker room to me was just to make sure that there was enough guys uh intermixed offense, defense, special teams by position to have more opportunities to to connect. And I think when you guys walked in there, you saw we took out the those big pod lockers in there that were around the post. So, it opens up the locker room more. So locker is a little more open, more guys can kind of see and talk and and you can see the whole space a little better. So that was really the biggest thing. But yeah, there was certainly intention behind some of it. On Kazir White and and I guess what’s going to be like kind of getting him up to speed and or being help? Yeah, excited excited to have Kazir. He’s uh he’s a proven veteran in this league. Been very productive over the course of his career. Um he’s, you know, he’s been captains on a captain on teams. He’s he’s well regarded amongst the places he’s been. um excited to have him and and he hadn’t been anywhere, you know, for the offseason or training camp. So, uh get him back in shape, get him back in the groove. You know, these guys have been been working for a lot of weeks now. So, to catch him up on that process, make sure he’s in shape and then ready to roll when we need to count on him. Such a vertical passer. You know, he likes to push the ball down the field. This team, they’re going to blitz. They were 10th last year. How do you go about like making sure, hey, I want you to take your shots, but we got stuff underneath is options as well. That’s part of playing the position in the NFL. You know, there’s there’s a um a discipline and a patience involved in playing quarterback. Um I would say there’s probably, you know, 80% of the game that the quarterback has to do the right thing. And then there’s those 20% that they got to make the play. Uh make a great throw on third down, make a great throw in the red zone, create on a scramble. Um but a lot of the position is is the discipline and patience um that’s required to keep moving the team down the field. And those are the things that Cam’s learned along the way. You know, there’s there’s teams that can rush the passer just like this one. you got to be mindful of how long you hold the ball and how often you’re going to hang back there because they’re coming. Um but that’s all part of it and then but you just don’t ever want to take away the stinger and and Cam’s got one and um you know he’s going to take some chances and take some risks and and put the ball in some tight windows and that’s that’s part of what makes him who he is and we don’t want to take that away from him. So uh he’s going to go play football the way he’s played football his whole career. um he’ll learn the differences in the NFL as he plays more NFL games, but um you know, he’s there’s not a there’s not a whole lot of things that I’m going to I’m not going to tell him how he’s got to go play. I can point out the things that he needs to do well and where he can help the offense, but when it’s time to go play quarterback, go play quarterback. How much is the prep switched up for you now that you actually have an opponent game plan, you can study tendencies and things like that, or how many tendencies are you actually looking at given that it’s week one? Uh the prep hasn’t really changed for me at all. um throughout the preseason till now I still watch the same stuff base downs, third downs, red zone, a lot of other stuff that I need to watch. Um so just really just doing it for real now um against you know just a a real NFL atmosphere um and you know go do it for the first time. What is your feeling heading into week one and and what are you seeing from them on defense that you’re preparing for? Uh they’re very sound. They’re not going to beat themselves. Um it’s a very good defense. Uh they do a lot of different things up front and coverage wise that you got to be ready for. Um, but at the end of the day, we got to, you know, make plays in the run game. I got to put the put the ball in the players in my playmakaker hands. You know, let those guys make plays for us. Seems likely they kind of try to sell out to stop RIT based on what you guys have shown so far and take their chances against whatever else you guys can do. You kind of comfortable knowing that that that’s a possibility. Um, it’s going to be hard to stop Zero. I mean, he’s one of the best route runners out there. Um, but we got we got guys, you know, behind who going to make plays in Van, Jim, Ellie end group, gun and cheek. So, I’m surrounded by playmakers. I just got to do my job. Put the ball in their hands, let them catch the ball, they going to do the rest. Cam, Trump said that, you know, he wants to test you and and see how you’ll handle pressure. When you hear something like that, like how how do you respond? What do you think of of that being the challenge he wants to present? Um, know your protection, get the ball out, don’t let them kill you. Um, I mean that that’s really all you can do to handle pressure. No matter what the blitz you call, the blitz still got to get there. So, you know, a lot of stuff can get watered up at the line of scrimmage. Um, but you know, I just continue to listen to my coaches who, you know, prevy, you know, for the past week’s preseason game, you know, protect myself and then put the ball in the playmaker’s hand. What do you think, Cam that you’ve always said in your player and you like that style of play? How do you balance that versus not wanting to create any kind of big, I guess, turnovers, especially in week one? Um, I’m not really worried about turnovers. Um, I don’t think quarterbacks had a turnover free season in the NFL. So, you know, um, I would like to be the first one, but, you know, it’s not chances not in my favor right now. So, you know, I’m not really worried about that. I’m more worried about, you know, just continuing to move the chains on first, second down, trying to stay out of third and long. Um, then if we get a situation like third and long, got to convert. Um, so, you know, we just got to be good up front, good in my in my position, you know, good in the running backs and receivers, I think we’ll have a good game. Cam, how old were you the first time you thought about being an NFL quarterback? And what do you think it’s going to be like when you walk in the huddle for the first time Sunday as a pro? Uh, I was probably about six. Um, I knew I was going to go pro something, whether it’s football, basketball, baseball. That’s always been a dream of mine. Um, but I’m excited to, you know, get out there in a real game atmosphere, you know, sort out crowd, you know, try to get a win out there. Are you like there’ll be some butterflies? Um, not really. The end of the day is football. I’ve been doing it my whole life. So, um, I know Coach K ain’t going to put the ball in my hands. you know, I make sure, you know, the ball goes to the right people. Yeah. I had asked coach Callahan about what makes a rookie quarterback successful in the first official start. He said he thinks sometimes it can be made too big a deal or too much of a benchmark um in the first official game. How do you view that? Um I just view it as doing my job. I would say um I think Tennessee took me for a reason, you know, that you know I’m capable of throwing the ball and leading the offense, you know, to score a lot of points and, you know, I’m just trying to do my 111. Um, everybody has a job in our offense. Everybody got to contribute to, you know, hopefully coming out there with a win. Cam, you’ve had your your parents at every single one of your games. Obviously, we’ll be at the opener as well, I guess. What will that mean for you and your family knowing that this is like kind of the start like right the the regular season for for them to like having that moment with them? Uh, I mean, it’s a blessing um them never miss one of my games. Um, not a lot of kids, you know, had the luxury of having that. Uh, so you know, I’m blessed to, you know, have those two as my parents, but I know they excited. I think they going to always be more nervous than me. Um, but you know, it’s exciting to have both my parents in the stands. I know they’re going to be, you know, hopefully come out there with a win. K, what you think of of uh getting named in the first team departed in training camp? Oh, it’s good. He He deserves it. He’s somebody who work hard every day. He went here early, working hard every day. He watches a lot of tape. Um, so for him to be named a starter is not a surprise to nobody in this building. Um, and I think the the biggest thing that I think Ellis’s grown in is just adjusting to different I would say situations, especially the DB plays that he can face against when he went against AJ Terrell, he’s going against Sne um when he went against the Bucks and uh and Dean. So, you know, he’s got the best of a lot of those guys. I think Ella is going to end up being one of the best routers um at the end of at the end of his career. But I think right now me and him are the good space mentally. We’re at the good space where I can trust him. He can trust me. He knows what I like and what I see space-wise in the film. Um, and the ball going to go five way. Um, I’m pretty sure every time he open, I’m going try to get him the ball. He wins the man coverage. So, you know, um, he he he’s a good cat. I mean, he’s a team player. I’m excited to have him with me. Do you have any do you have any specific goals you’ve set for yourself as a rookie this season? Uh, win a lot of football games. Um, last year we were the worst team in the league. This year we trying to flip that around. So my goal is to win games. I think winning take care of everything. You made a habit of you get into the stadium early. What’s your pregame routine look like and what do you try to accomplish leading up to in the hours before kickoff? Um I say just get my mind right. Um u a lot of reminiscing and then just really staying in the moment. Um making making every moment you know special. Uh not a lot of people get the opportunity to play NFL football. So, you know, every time, you know, I get a chance to sharp up, you know, I make sure I’m trying to have everybody remember it. What do you like to listen to in your pregame routine? Um, I just a lot of stuff. A lot of time I actually like to listen to nothing. I like to just sit there in silence. Um, and just think honestly. So, I I like the silence with the headphones on and silence. Mhm. What do you do? Do you play do you do plays run through plays in your head? Uh, yeah. Um, and I’ll say more of that is like the night before the game cuz when it get to game day, I’m really just I’m going to play football. I prepared the whole week. I know what I’m going to get from another team, uh, defensively. Um, but there’s also going to be things in the game that you got to adjust to coverage wise or frontwise. Um, but I’m just ready to play. I’m ready for Callahan to call the play, me to draw it up in my mind, know where everybody is, and go execute. On the whole, how ready do you feel this team is to get the season started? I feel we’re ready for week one. U, especially going against a team like that. coming off a playoff um appearance and you know th those guys are good over there in Denver. So you know um they going to have their hands full. We going to have our hands full. You know we’re trying to go out there and get a win defensively. I think we’re one of the most sound defense in the NFL especially when we play together offensively, you know, I think we’ll be able to put us some points. Do you have to deal with much altitude when you were at Washington State? Just kind of what do you know or what have you been told about playing in those high altitude games? Um I really never had to deal with it at Wazoo. Uh we played over there. I played in Colorado before. It’s not, at least to me, it’s not really, you know, I don’t notice a difference in altitude. Um, but, you know, my goal is to go over there and try to win a game. That’s our goal this week. You know, it’s going to be our goal every week.

00:00 HC Brian Callahan
09:42 QB Cameron Ward