About midway through Cam Ward’s showcase on Monday, the University of Miami’s pro day, things finally got gratuitous in the manner pre-draft quarterback exercises normally do.
Taking a quick snap from under center and reverse twisted around a fake pass pressure, the Hurricanes quarterback and presumed top choice in next month’s NFL Draft rolled into a 10-step backpedal. He launched a high-arching tight spiral back and to his left toward teammate Xavier Restrepo, who was on an out-and-up path from the slot position. Streaking 56 yards down the left sideline, the ball dropped exactly into Restrepo’s arms in perfect stride.
Unless motivated by a desperate act, most likely you will never see this pass in an NFL game. But given that desperation is what obtaining the No. 1 overall choice in this league implies, these training sessions are always somewhat relevant for quarterbacks. Sometimes the theatrics show themselves as hurling a football fifty yards from your knees (Josh Allen). Other times Patrick Mahomes is turning in an 80-yard pass. And occasionally it’s doing what Ward did, showing on a pass he will hopefully never need an interesting mix of footwork and arm strength.
Clearly what Ward had on mind going into Monday’s pro day: it was supposed to make an impact on whatever team retains the top overall pick in the NFL. Ward let Tennessee Titans officials, who are now considering possibilities with that top choice, know where he expected to be chosen at one time before the practice.
After Ward was taken to dinner Sunday in advance of his workout by a motorcade of the team’s top executives and coaches, the Titans surely knew their plans. Everyone else knows now as well. At least one official from every team in the league attended the practice, including a healthy contingent from the New York Giants in general manager Joe Schoen, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, and quarterback coach Shea Tierney. Fascinatingly, neither general manager Andrew Berry nor head coach Kevin Stefanski made appearances for the Cleveland Browns.
More evidence that Cam Ward is locked for Titans at No. 1
Two weeks ago, Ward was telling some NFL officials he thought the Giants were probably going to move up to the top pick to grab him. Rather than dealing down as far as the Giants’ No. 3 pick, the Titans now seem to be concentrating on selecting him with the first choice.
The following are the indications:
First and most importantly, Tennessee’s absolute lack of participation in pursuing a qualified candidate to occupy the starting post from Will Levis says volumes. Rather, they have decided to hire a support backup in Brandon Allen, who spent three seasons covering for Cincinnati while Brian Callahan, the present Titans head coach, was an offensive coordinator for the Bengals. That action is seen as Callahan introducing a young quarterback who can assist by imparting the system he brought over from his days with the Bengals
The Titans did not bring just their strong hitters from personnel and coaching to see Ward’s workout, which is an odd but typically true data point. They also brought some of their own in-house social media staff to the exercise; this is a common practice when clubs with the #1 overall pick have concentrated on a quarterback.
