NASHVILLE – Cam Ward is an early morning guy.
As part of his process since being drafted first overall by the Titans, the rookie quarterback has been arriving at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park by 5 a.m. to watch film, and get treatment.
It was also part of his routine at the University of Miami.
Coach Brian Callahan said on Tuesday he's had a conversation with Ward and some of the team's other rookies about not getting burned out, with a long season ahead.
With a smile, Ward said he gets enough sleep, even if he's in the building before the sun comes up.
And, not to worry about him getting burned out.
"I am always energized – I am playing football," Ward said. "I am doing what I love, and not a lot of people can do that in this world. So, I am always going to have energy when I'm on the field."
Ward and the Titans wrapped up OTA No.5 on Tuesday, and the final OTA is scheduled for Thursday.
Next week, the team will hold a three-day minicamp before taking a break before training camp, which will begin in late July.
Already, Ward has already impressed teammates with his work ethic, and ability.
"I think he's a great player, has an immense amount of talent," tackle JC Latham said. "He shows up every day, ready to work with the right attitude. He holds himself accountable, and he holds himself to a standard that a lot of people can learn from. In that regard, I think he's a great player and was a great pick for our team."
Titans receiver Calvin Ridley has spent a lot of time with Ward, not only at the facility, where their lockers are side by side, but away from work as well.
"From Day 1 I met him, I knew he was going to be in the (play)book, and here," Ridley said of Ward. "It's easy to relate to him, fun, (he's) easy to talk ball with. … You have to have that (expletive)-it mentality, and he's got that.
"I see a great arm, a great mind, someone who knows he can make the throws."
On Tuesday, Ward and the team's other quarterbacks worked a lot on third down in practice, and he faced blitz packages from the defense.
He feels likes he's making improvements in a number of areas each week.
"I think I am making strides in the protection game, I think that is the biggest thing I have to improve on every week," Ward said of recent work. "Just trying to get with coach Callahan as much as I can, get with (QBs) coach Bo (Hardegree), get with (o-line coach Bill) Callahan. Just trying to get better with my protection game."
Coach Brian Callahan said it's been encouraging to see Ward's improvement from the first OTA.
"It's just the recognition part, understanding what's being thrown at him from a defensive perspective," Callahan said. "The protection game is always really important, so you're getting reps at that. (Tuesday was) a big third down day, so he'll see lots of different pressures, understanding where your answers are. Those things have progressed. Happy with that process so far.
"And then he's seeing different types of space and field defense that—throws that maybe he might've made in college that don't show up in the NFL the same way and he's learning from those. I think it's been great. He's had a lot of learning that has occurred from just the act of doing and things that he's maybe used to doing that are different at this level and that's always for young quarterbacks the case, it's always going to feel different. So pleased with where he's at, he's picking it up pretty quickly as far as the mental part goes and we're learning every day he's out here."
Callahan also discussed how he manages Ward's eagerness to stay in the building, and if he ever worries about him pacing himself.
"Everybody always starts out of the gate pretty hot, you know? But you start to get into the actual routine and you understand how long of a season it is and the marathon that it is for young players from the time they finish their college season to the time they finish NFL season. I've made that point," Callahan said. "Just again, I'm not telling him what to do, I'm just making the point that there's a lot ahead of him that he's not aware of yet when it comes to this, the length and the week-to-week-to-week grind that comes up for these guys. It is a marathon. I mean, this is a long run for these young players and all of them have to have the same sort of mindset that you're trying to get better every day and trying to put the work in that's required. But there's also that element of this is going to go all the way into January every day for the next however many months. And there is a bit of pace that's probably required. They learn, they figure it out, but you try to help them and give them advice and point it out when you can, but I have no problem with guys trying to get the work in."
Ward, for now, is focused on getting better each day.
During the two open OTAs, Ward has completed 23-of-38 passes on the 7-on-7 and team drills combined, with no interceptions. He's made some tight-window throws, and he's made some good decisions.
At this point, Ward isn't worried about "dazzling." In time, he'll have a chance to do that.
"I can't really make crazy plays in practice," Ward said. "Practice only tells half of the story, the game has to tell the other half. I am more trying to be better on first and second down, and I have to get to third down. Try to keep the chains moving, every play we get. The more time the quarterback position can put the ball in play, let his receivers, tight ends, running backs make plays, the more successful our offense is going to be."
