Every season, a new class of rookies enters the NFL and immediately is met with comparisons and expectations. The exercise isn’t just done by fans, as analysts pore through years of notes to come up with the perfect match.
This season is no different, and of course, the Tennessee Titans‘ selection of Cam Ward is no exception. And many comparisons have been made. But for some analysts, his leadership style and work ethic bring back memories of one of Tennessee’s all-time greats.
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Rob Rang of Fox Sports recently completed this comparison exercise and believes that Ward has the potential to lead the Titans into rarified air, with similarities to Steve McNair.
Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward — Steve McNair
It goes without saying that as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, the Titans are expecting Ward to become a star and perhaps someday guide this team back to the Super Bowl, in much the same way that the late McNair did for this franchise. Ward isn’t the bulldozing runner McNair was, but he’s fantastically slippery in the pocket and possesses both the downfield vision and deep ball accuracy to light a fire under a dormant fan base.
Ward and McNair may have different skill sets, but both were known for their work ethic and leadership traits entering their NFL careers. While McNair’s impact on Nashville will never be duplicated, Ward does have the ability to help the Titans transcend mediocrity and become viable contenders.
Like McNair, Ward does bring a sense of excitement and hope to the franchise, and all signs have been positive to this point. Yes, there is still a long way to go before this comparison can become a reality, but the foundation is already being laid with hard work and intangibles that cannot be duplicated.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: NFL analyst sees shades of Steve McNair in Titans’ Cam Ward