Rookie QB Cam Ward faces new challenge with new coach 6 games into his NFL career

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Rookie Cam Ward talked more than a couple of times about valuing stability in working with Tennessee coach Brian Callahan.

Now Callahan's gone, fired just six games into the No. 1 overall pick's NFL career. The quarterback who played at three different colleges before coming to the Titans is adapting quickly.

“I’ve dealt with coaching changes at really every stop I’ve had in my past," Ward said Wednesday. "The biggest thing is we’re trying to score points as an offense. Our defense, they’re playing hard for us each and every game.”

The lack of improvement on offense with Ward helped cost Callahan his job Monday with a 4-19 overall record and a 1-5 start this season.

Ward, the first rookie in franchise history to start the first six games, completed a season-high 26 passes for a 68.4 percent completion rate in last week's 20-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

But Tennessee ranks last in the NFL in total offense and 31st in both rushing and passing yards per game. Four of the Titans’ losses have been by 10 or more points, and some of the yards they’ve managed on offense have come too late to help.

They struggle to stay on the field, ranking last converting only 28.05% of third downs. They're also last in first downs per game.

Left guard Peter Skoronski, the 11th pick overall in 2023, said he doesn’t make the decisions when asked if it was time for a change.

“Obviously things were not working for us offensively, and so I think that change is not a bad thing,” Skoronski said.

Ward is the player drafted to help this franchise rebuild. The rookie ranks 30th in the league in passer rating (67.3), 22nd with 1,101 yards and is tied for 33rd with just three touchdown passes.

Interim coach Mike McCoy, in his 23rd year in the NFL and a former head coach of the San Diego Chargers, said the coaches will be “brutally honest” with the Titans and hold them all accountable.

Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree will continue calling the offensive plays. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan is the other on-field coach gone after his son was fired.

McCoy also has talked a handful of times with Ward over the past couple of days. McCoy says quarterback is the hardest position to play in this league, and his message has been for the rookie to keep plugging away.

“Cam has a burning desire to be great, a burning desire to be great,” McCoy said. “And the key thing I always tell him, ‘Just trust the system and go out there and be you. Have fun. Be Cam.’”

The first test of how these changes affect Ward and the offense comes Sunday. The Titans host former Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel and his New England Patriots (4-2).

McCoy's guiding principle of focusing on players and not plays should give the Titans a chance to put Ward in position to perform. Ward knows McCoy has worked with quarterbacks such as Philip Rivers, and the rookie is looking to play more freely from the play call coming in, breaking the huddle to executing.

“The biggest thing is just, you know, me being better every play,” Ward said. "I haven’t played my best ball. And I think just once I’m playing to my standards that I put on myself, we’ll be able to take care of a lot of stuff on offense.”

NT T'Vondre Sweat had his window opened to return from injured reserve and was limited in practice Wednesday. OLB Arden Key (quadricep muscle) did not practice with DT Jeffery Simmons, WR Tyler Lockett and RG Kevin Zeitler given the day off for rest.

K Joey Slye, who missed last week's game, was limited as he tries to return from his injured right calf.

CB L'Jarius Sneed (quadricep) and WR Calvin Ridley (hamstring) also did not practice.

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