Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh said second-year quarterback Cam Ward is becoming more comfortable in the pocket.
The former first overall pick was sacked 55 times last season. Saleh said at his press conference Wednesday that he is still in the panicky mindset of that season and is slowly learning to hang tough in the pocket.
“What you see, early in games at least—and it’s getting later and later in games too, you see him comfortable in the pocket,” Saleh said.
“You see him trusting the offensive line, and then later in the game you kind of see him kind of revert back to some old habits. But I do think he’s getting better in that regard. I think he’s starting to really appreciate the offensive line because I think they are doing a really good job protecting him and I think he’s building that trust.
“You’ve got to remember the young man was sacked however many times last year. So I’m sure there’s some PTSD there. But he’s getting better. He’s trusting it. His footwork is lasting him longer into games, if that makes sense. But from an accuracy standpoint, decision-making standpoint, everything starts with your feet at the quarterback position.”
Ward was sacked 55 times in his rookie season, tied with then-Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith for most in the NFL. He was regularly forced to scramble out of the pocket and extend plays with his legs.
The Titans put two new faces in the interior during free agency: center Austin Schlottmann and guard Antonio Mafi. Behind Schlottmann, Mafi, former first-round picks Peter Skoronski and JC Latham, and 2025 free agent signee Dan Moore, Ward has been sacked five times through three games and is on pace for between 25 and 30 sacks this year.
The newfound time to throw appeared in a very peculiar way during the Titans’ game against the New York Giants on Sunday. On 1st and 10 from the Giants’ 29-yard line at the end of the third quarter, Ward dropped back to throw and made his reads with a typical bounce. But eventually he stopped and walked backward before tossing a checkdown to running back Tony Pollard.
“I would have liked for him—and we talked about this one—I would have liked for him to use his legs to extend the play to see if he could find an explosive,” Saleh said.
“I think that’s his weapon. I think that’s where he shines. And I think that was an opportunity, but I also think the protection was so darn good, it probably took him by surprise. It was incredible protection, but in that situation, we talked about that, when you’d like for him to use his legs to find an explosive.”
A reporter asked whether he was OK with Ward’s apparent nonchalance.
“No,” he replied. “He’s got a style to him, but as long as he’s careful with the ball, it doesn’t matter.”
With the pressure literally off him, Ward has been developing his footwork during the week in addition to on Sundays. Saleh said the work needs to continue, but he is showing signs of real growth.
“You watch the tape, you drill it, you get out on the practice field, he knows what he needs to do,” Saleh said.
“He can feel it happening too, and you’re trying to address it in-game, but he’s fully aware, and he’s showing that he’s getting better. If you watch the totality of all three games, his footwork and his pocket presence and his awareness has gone longer and longer into the game.
“And I think we’re going to eventually get to a point where he’s not even thinking twice and none of us are even talking about this anymore, but he is working relentlessly. I know [offensive coordinator Brian] Daboll and his staff work relentlessly with him to make sure that he’s being shown where he can be better, and where he’s been good, and we’ll just keep getting better at it.”
