Cameron Ward, Tennessee Titans show glimpses of what they can be

Cameron Ward, Tennessee Titans show glimpses of what they can be originally appeared on The Sporting News

Things did not look promising, as the Tennessee Titans were down 21-6 in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals. But some hustle, the ball bouncing their way a couple times and some playmaking helped the Titans come back and win their first game of the season, 22-21, against the Cardinals on the road. It was described as a “relief” to get this win by Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons. It could also be described as a miracle, considering how things unfolded in the fourth quarter. However you describe it, there were some glimpses of things that may be at a turning point for the Titans.

Cameron Ward has not had it easy in his rookie season. Coming into Sunday’s game, he was the most sacked quarterback in the NFL, being taken to the turf 17 times. In Sunday’s game, he was sacked four times and in the first three quarters, he had thrown for only 71 yards. But in the fourth quarter, Ward showed the grit, talent and poise that made him the first overall pick. Ward was magical, throwing to his tight ends Gunnar Helm and Chig Okonkwo, along with big-time passes to Calvin Ridley that carved up the Cardinals' secondary for 196 yards alone in the fourth quarter. The throws were on time, either giving his players a chance to run right through the catch or make the catch with the ability to make a move afterwards. While this was only one quarter of action, it shows glimpses of what Ward could be as he continues to search for consistency as an NFL quarterback.

Another glimpse you got in the game against the Cardinals was a look at what this defense can do. Sure, they gave up that long run to Cardinals running back Emari Demarcado, but he promptly dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. However, after the first half, the Titans did not allow the Cardinals a single point. People can say what they want to say about the Cardinals' offense, but holding anyone scoreless in the second half is an achievement. And along with that, the defense was flying around the field the entire game. With the Titans, their pattern had been to play a solid defensive game and then, in the fourth quarter, their defense would run out of gas. That did not happen on Sunday, and the leader in effort on every single play was Jeffrey Simmons. One of the longest-tenured Titans, he demonstrated his leadership not only by motivating players on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball during games with his words, but also through his play on the field.

 The Titans are not the most talented team in the NFL, but against the Cardinals, they demonstrated that they can compete even better than they had in the first three games, showing that they are capable of executing some impressive plays with the talent they have. It is all about being consistent and consistently putting out this type of effort, showcasing their abilities consistently. Now that they have shown glimpses, they must find consistency in their approach each week.