An under-discussed element of Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward’s development in the NFL is the acknowledgment that he’s not at Miami anymore.

Dating back to the night the Titans drafted Ward, he’s been direct about his perceived strengths. Within minutes of being selected, Ward told former Titans coach Brian Callahan he needed to incorporate Ward’s favorite passing concept, switch verts, into the playbook more.

Through OTAs and training camp, Ward was vocal about knowing what his strengths are, going as far as to say he doesn’t feel the need to change the way he plays because playing the way he plays got him as far as it did.

As recently as Dec. 17, Ward said he wants to be involved in the Titans‘ coaching search so he can articulate what he likes and what he does well to potential candidates.

How Titans QB Cam Ward’s rookie season has gone

For as self-aware as Ward says he is, the transition from college into the pros hasn’t been easy. Ward only threw seven touchdowns with 12 turnovers across his first 12 starts, leading the Titans to a 1-11 record. He ranked at or near the bottom in the NFL in passer rating, yards per attempt and completion percentage while leading the league in sacks taken and sack yards.

It’s only been the last three weeks (2-1 record, 62.4% completion, 6 TDs, 1 INT, 97.9 rating) that Ward has started to flash the potential that enticed the Titans into drafting him No. 1 overall on an every-down basis.

Was there a disconnect between what Ward thought he was good at and what Ward could actually do as a pro?

“Boy, that’s an interesting way to say it,” Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz responded when asked that question. “There were just some concepts that he was like ‘I really want this.’ And we were like ‘That doesn’t really play out the same (as in college).’

“There were some of those things that are just, the spacing is different and some of those deals. But he looked at the tape and saw some of it. Now, with experience, everybody gets better. Us and him. I think it’s the way we’ve called it for him, and the way he sees it. I think there’s just no replacement for the reps and the time on task.”

How Cam Ward, Titans work out differences of opinion

When asked a variant of the same question, Ward said there are areas he has to improve on, but mostly stuck to his old standard. There are things he’s good at, and he thinks the Titans should do them more often.

Ward, unsurprisingly, isn’t shy about feedback. He says he’s open to learning new things and wants to improve in the areas he’s not succeeding. But he also shares what he’s seeing from the field and what he thinks he can do with it, a skill Holz says Ward has improved as the season has gone on.

The commentary doesn’t flow one direction. Ward will have an opinion about, for example, his release point. The coaches will have an idea about a tweak. Ward will express why he feels strongly about the way he does things. The coaches will come back with a rationalizing of what they’re trying to achieve with the tweak. And the group comes to the consensus about what changes, or lack thereof, will come from the conversation.

Ward is playing better. Holz described the Titans’ win over Kansas City on Dec. 21 as not just Ward’s best game statistically, but his best game mechanically and in running the offense. He’s completing passes at a higher volume, getting the ball out more quickly, taking fewer sacks, guiding longer drives and ending more series in the end zone.

Points are up. Yardage is up. Ward and the Titans’ future is pointing upward.

Particularly now that Ward is playing to his strengths more effectively.

“Especially now that he’s got some experience and some things, there were some things that he really pushed for early on that they didn’t really marry up to how the NFL game and coverage structure works. There’s always some of that trial and error with him that we got to and now we’re kind of through the other side of that,” Holz said.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at  nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.