Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward discussed his relationships he's built with the team, playing at the professional level compared to college, and much more. Ward says that he has really made sure to make strong relationships on the field as well as off. The rookie QB complimented his offensive line saying that it's one of the most athletic he has been around.
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00:00Good, especially following the game to comment with guys who's been in the league like Red,
00:04Ben Jefferson, T. Lockett was out here.
00:07It's good, James.
00:08So it's been good.
00:10It's been exciting, especially to connect with those guys.
00:15What do you think about this surprise you can't so far?
00:17About this?
00:19No, I've been wanting to be put in this position.
00:21God bless me with it.
00:23So I'm just taking advantage of every opportunity that he gives me.
00:26I get to play around with some good guys up front.
00:29Defensively, we have some good talent, so I'm excited to see us put it on the field on Sundays.
00:33With the reps and how they're distributed, how are you going about just making sure you take advantage of everyone?
00:39Just getting a lot of mental reps, whether Will's up, B.A. or Tim is up.
00:43Then also just going through it in my head, the formations, the play call, the motions if we have one.
00:49So really just getting an understanding of the full offense.
00:52What's your relationship been like with Will since you got here and met him?
00:57Well, it's been good.
00:58He's one of the first ones to come up to me in the locker room, ready to compete, ready to get to work.
01:02But it's been exciting to work with somebody who's played an actual NFL football game so you know, to take a little advice from him.
01:07So it's been good.
01:08The game looks like the hedge next to Calvin in the locker room, I guess, is something biggest.
01:12Do you like that?
01:13And does it help you guys kind of form a relationship?
01:16What do you hope to learn?
01:17You know, by having so much pressure?
01:18Well, I just think the biggest thing I'm trying to learn from him is, you know, how to be a fool.
01:24He's did it for a numerous amount of years at a high level.
01:26So he is the standard.
01:29I mean, he's one of the oldest guys in the locker room.
01:31So a lot of things you want to look up to him.
01:33And for him to be my locker mate, for him to open his house for me, I mean, it's been cool.
01:37So especially, you know, I'm trying to, you know, establish myself like he did.
01:42How much does it turn you up to not be throwing against air right now?
01:45You actually have some defenders out there to navigate.
01:47Oh, it's real good.
01:48Because going against air is all BS.
01:50It's not real football.
01:51So any time I get a chance to go against a defense, especially going like ours, it's a blessing.
01:56Because you finally get to get real game speed, real time into what it's going to be like.
02:01But then really just you see a lot of people's character when the bullet starts flying.
02:05We have a great group around us.
02:08We know adversity is going to come.
02:09But, you know, the biggest thing about us, we're not going to point fingers.
02:11Does the trust start now?
02:13You're earning trust and them earning trust in you at this point?
02:16It's been a start since I got here.
02:18Just all about us connecting, you know, on and off the field.
02:21Knowing what we like to do, what we're good at on the field, and off the field.
02:24Just vibing with each other.
02:25Our families, going out to eat, just doing stuff like that.
02:27Cam, I know it's still early for you, but what's your process and timeline like for solidifying yourself as the starter?
02:35I'm on Coach Callahan's timeline, so that's really not my decision.
02:40But I know I still got a lot to work on.
02:41I got a lot of processing to do to play the NFL.
02:44I think I'm getting up there at a rapid pace.
02:48And so, you know, I'm excited.
02:49And I just think the biggest thing for me is, you know, just taking it day by day.
02:54Learning from, you know, one day to the next and not repeating the bad things over and over.
02:58What's the biggest thing you've learned?
02:59I guess the highs and lows, knowing not everything can be perfect, and how do you think you do on that on a regular basis?
03:05I think I do all right.
03:06I've had highs and lows throughout my whole career.
03:09We're going to lose a game.
03:10It's inevitable.
03:10We're going to win a lot of games.
03:12So, I'm excited.
03:13I'm excited to, you know, be a part of this journey, you know, to help change this franchise around.
03:18What's been the biggest thing you've learned so far that's different from college to the NFL?
03:21I would say the biggest thing for me has been the hashes, adjusting to those.
03:26The ball's in the middle field a lot more, so you've got to be on time a lot more.
03:29So, hitting the back of my drop, getting the ball out.
03:32They also just continue to create relationships off the field, trying to get with my guys.
03:38And, you know, we all got busy lives, so, you know, I don't take those things for granted.
03:41Sometimes we do get to meet up, you know.
03:43I try to really get to know them.
03:45Is, Will, a good lesson for you in that nothing is guaranteed or promised in this league?
03:50Like, it ultimately always has to be earned.
03:52Well, it always has to be earned.
03:53I don't just think just that specific person has to be a lesson.
03:57But a lot of quarterbacks, you know, every year you've got to prove yourself.
04:01No matter if you're a Super Bowl champion or you're one of the worst teams in the league,
04:04every year somebody's trying to come for your job.
04:07The target's on my back.
04:08The target's on every quarterback in the room.
04:10So, you've just got to have a good mindset about going about your business.
04:13Those relationships you mentioned, how is that going, being able to develop that?
04:17I know you're very big on the O-line and developing that relationship.
04:20So, how is that going, how have they received you,
04:22and what are some of the things you do to really establish that?
04:25I would say just the biggest things I do, just talk to them,
04:28put us in the locker room, get a chance to meet up outside the facility.
04:32And then, really, not everything's got to be about football.
04:34We know we walk in the building, it's all business.
04:36And I'm excited to play against, you know, a revamped O-line like that.
04:40It's probably one of the most athletic O-lines I've been a part of.
04:44The way Dan can move, J.C., even Peter, and then Corey up there moving real well.
04:48So, you know, they're going to do their job this year,
04:50and that'll be the reason why we win a lot of games.
04:52Cam, even though it's still obviously very early,
04:54can you feel the difference going against NFL players on defense
04:59and maybe the speed, athleticism of those guys on the other side of the ball?
05:03Well, yeah, you can feel the difference since day one.
05:05From, especially the safeties, I would say the biggest difference,
05:09they close down real hard on the, whether you're throwing digs, shallows,
05:14they got good cover ground.
05:15So it's really just about being on time with, you know, myself and the receivers.
05:19At the end of the day, it's about making plays.
05:21Football, it's not going to change.
05:22It's been the same sport, you know, for 100 years.
05:24And the end of the day, when the ball in your head, you got to make a play.
05:26A couple more.
05:27You good?
05:28Good.
05:28Thanks, Cam.
05:29All right.