How did Cam Ward play today? Grading Titans rookie QB vs. Falcons
The top quarterback taken in this year's draft took the field for the second time in the preseason following his debut last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ward completed 5-of-8 passes for 67 yards in that contest as the Titans lost 29-7 on the road.
Tennessee played on the road again Friday in another matchup with an NFC South foe: the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta lost its preseason opener 17-10 against the Detroit Lions.
Ward played three series for the Titans before backup Brandon Allen took over halfway through the second quarter. Here's how the No. 1 overall pick played Friday night:
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Cam Ward grade: Titans rookie QB makes impressive throws
This is a case in which the overall stat line doesn't tell the full story of how Ward played. His night ended in the second quarter after he completed just 2-of-7 passes for 42 yards. Considering his line from the Buccaneers game, that appears to be a regression from his debut.
But Ward made multiple good throws, specifically on the Titans' opening drive.
On second-and-6 from his own 10-yard line, Ward took the snap from the shotgun and rolled out to his right before finding fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor on a crossing route 20 yards downfield. Ayomanor was pushed out of bounds for a gain of 35 yards.
Ward's next pass sailed out of bounds deep for Van Jefferson but running back Kalel Mullings was called for holding and the Titans offense was pushed back anyways.
His next throw on second-and-13 was his best of the night. Ward took the snap from shotgun again and stepped up to layer a throw over multiple Falcons defenders to Jefferson. The veteran wideout couldn't hold on and the pass fell incomplete.
Ward's next throw was a sidearm shot towards rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike but it fell incomplete to force a punt.
On the next drive, Ward ended the quarter with a swing pass to Ayomanor that ultimately counted as a rushing attempt by the rookie wide receiver. Ward's next throw came on third-and-13 and he missed Dike on a low throw over the middle with pressure up the middle from Falcons defenders.
Ward took the field for the Titans' third series on offense and missed Ayomanor on first-and-10 from his own 21-yard line. He threw it too high for the rookie wide receiver but kept it out of reach of any nearby defenders.
He made his second and final completion of the night on the next play to wide receiver Bryce Oliver, who took the short pass seven yards to set up third-and-3. Ward couldn't connect with Ayomanor on a fade from the slot as Ayomanor faced physical coverage from Falcons cornerback Dee Alford.
Ward made good decisions and showed good touch on most of his throws. If not for a bad drop by Jefferson and questionable contact by Alford, Ward's stats would look much different. He avoided pressure, layered the ball well and made the right decision on most of his seven throws.
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