The Tennessee Titans have struggled for three weeks to put a consistent offense on the field. For every good play, two make fans scratch their heads and wonder what is going on with Cam Ward.
Ward has been erratic this season, and he's also been uneven within games. His first-to-second-half statistical breakdowns are something to behold, showing him as a completely different quarterback in the second half of ball games. Is it Ward? Is it the play calling and system? Right now, no one knows; they just want answers.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN doesn’t have answers, but he has some interesting thoughts on Ward and the Titans as he goes through the NFL’s QB Panic Meter.
Accuracy and decision-making are issues, but the Titans hope he will build off the late-game
growing pains. He also isn't turning the ball over at a high clip (one interception through three games), and the team values his makeup and work ethic. Adjusting to Brian Daboll's offense has taken time, but averaging 12 points can test a front office's—and locker room's—patience only so long.
The accuracy and decision-making issues were obvious in Week 3 against the New York Giants, and Ward has to take accountability for those plays, especially the missed fourth-down throw in the end zone to a wide-open Carnell Tate.
The problem is that Ward is missing throws that he has to make. Yes, he has made some solid throws and made some plays, but he misses the easier throws on a regular basis. Some of that can be tracked to footwork and mechanics, but at this stage he must be better.
Fowler wasn’t the only one to weigh in. Dan Graziano of ESPN also sees a disconnect between Ward and the coaching staff, but wonders what is holding Ward back.
The sense I get from Tennessee is that things are out of whack there and haven't gotten on track at all. I'm talking about the overall environment around the team, not just Ward. There's an obvious disconnect between Ward and the coaching staff, or at least the scheme, and the time to address and adjust those things was the spring and summer.
Over three weeks, it's been hard to watch Tennessee’s offense at times. Yes, Ward has been uneven, but there is also something wrong with the first-half playcalling. For some reason, the Titans look completely different after the break, and the offense has actually shown signs of life. This makes it extremely hard to pinpoint exactly what is transpiring.
Tennessee will have another chance to get back on track when they take to the field on Sunday to battle the Baltimore Ravens.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: NFL insider sees disconnect between Titans' Cam Ward and scheme
