by: Nick Schultz 34 minutes ago NickSchultz_7
Amid a loaded slate of NFL action, the No. 1 overall pick will make his debut. Cam Ward will get the start for the Tennessee Titans in their preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler discussed the franchise’s expectations.
Ward has made a strong impression since arriving in Tennessee this offseason. He’s coming off a standout season at Miami , where he became a Heisman Trophy finalist as part of his journey from unranked recruit to top pick.
Fowler said the Titans threw Ward straight into the fire and he responded well. The goal for Saturday is so simply run the offense cleanly, though Fowler pointed out the skillset that could make the rookie jump off the page.
“They have put a lot on him in practice – third-down run, lot of disguised blitzes,” Fowler said Saturday morning on SportsCenter . “He’s handled it well. He’s had some off days, but he always responds with a strong day. They want to see that today, come out firing. They just want to see a clean operation.
“He’s a hard worker. He processes information fast. They feel like he’s ready for this moment. He is great out of the pocket. I saw it first-hand, when he scrambles left to right and throws on the run, he’s got a chance to be special in that area. He can show that today.”