Would you take a chance on Cam Ward?

[ForJimmy]

8 hours ago, OldhamA said:

It's a rivalry game, son. You score, score and score again. They had 2 TOs remaining when the commentator was whining about Miami not kneeling. 

Ward was efficient and didn't turn the ball over - we scored on 7 of 8 drives. 

Ward played fine. FSU sucks at run defense so the Miami running backs handled them. This was the first game Ward didn’t have to play hero ball. 

[OldhamA]

8 hours ago, CPF4LIFE said:

Stat padding...people think he already does it soon as the game starts. Lol

Tough for a QB to stat pad when he's handing the ball off to his RB.

[Martin]

2 hours ago, OldhamA said:

Tough for a QB to stat pad when he's handing the ball off to his RB.

Miami is ok to just win, they don’t really care about showcasing a certain player. So in this game they didn’t need as much from Ward, just like it should be.

[raleigh-panther]

I’m just having a hard time with the same scouts and scouting system that brought the last 6 or 7 years of draft failure, picking anyone 

Who knows how much Tepper’s hand was in it …but the Panthers have had  failed draft classes consistently 

until the root cause of that prolonged failure is identified and corrected, it isn’t going to matter 

I’m also not feeling great about Morgan and Canales under the influence of said owner 

The difference between winning and losing is the Draft…those who do it well, win…those who don’t are Carolina, Cleveland et al

[strato]

1 hour ago, raleigh-panther said:

I’m just having a hard time with the same scouts and scouting system that brought the last 6 or 7 years of draft failure, picking anyone 

Who knows how much Tepper’s hand was in it …but the Panthers have had  failed draft classes consistently 

until the root cause of that prolonged failure is identified and corrected, it isn’t going to matter 

I’m also not feeling great about Morgan and Canales under the influence of said owner 

The difference between winning and losing is the Draft…those who do it well, win…those who don’t are Carolina, Cleveland et al

I think the scouts might be my new 'thing' now that Bryce has settled the big question.  Because if you are talking about QB, and citing the team's scouting system people for, say, the Bryce failure, that is kind of a straw man.

I don't they were much involved in picking which quarterback to take number one.

What I think was mostly the overall issue with our rosters and bad drafts? The yearly parade of coaching staffs, coodinators, and front office power shifting (Rhule roster control, then Fit, whatever that was).

Every draft different coaches had influence over who was scouted or what was scouted and they pretty much straight up gave coaches players (Evero and DJ Johnson for example, Zavala and Campen too). It is understandable that you'd want to help your position coaches build their rooms and get the DC his guy or the OC his guy that he sees as a fit for his system... but you got no consistency year to year in who is picking them, who is coaching them.

That is where the problem lies in my opinion. Not lower level scouts sending reports on a Big Ten offensive tackle. Whether he bends enough at the waist, how long his arms are, if he is an asshole or well liked by his teammates.... because that is all they are doing. Collecting, culling, that sort of thing. 

[raleigh-panther]

2 hours ago, strato said:

I think the scouts might be my new 'thing' now that Bryce has settled the big question.  Because if you are talking about QB, and citing the team's scouting system people for, say, the Bryce failure, that is kind of a straw man.

I don't they were much involved in picking which quarterback to take number one.

What I think was mostly the overall issue with our rosters and bad drafts? The yearly parade of coaching staffs, coodinators, and front office power shifting (Rhule roster control, then Fit, whatever that was).

Every draft different coaches had influence over who was scouted or what was scouted and they pretty much straight up gave coaches players (Evero and DJ Johnson for example, Zavala and Campen too). It is understandable that you'd want to help your position coaches build their rooms and get the DC his guy or the OC his guy that he sees as a fit for his system... but you got no consistency year to year in who is picking them, who is coaching them.

That is where the problem lies in my opinion. Not lower level scouts sending reports on a Big Ten offensive tackle. Whether he bends enough at the waist, how long his arms are, if he is an asshole or well liked by his teammates.... because that is all they are doing. Collecting, culling, that sort of thing. 

Not sure where the fault lies 

yes, drafting to a scheme is optimum.  Yes the scheme is set by coaching philosophy or is supposed to be and delivered by the GM based on scouting reports  I get all if that 

…I’m just having a hard time seeing a draft be successful here…very hard 

I’m also not sure Morgan and Canales is the right combo for the future 

when I see a coach having faith in Ian Thomas instead of Chuba on a critical 3rd or 4th, it just isn’t smart on the simplest level in game It doesn’t inspire faith in the harder decisions    Add to it a luxury running back pick they traded up to get who has yet to see the field when there are so many other needs.  That line is good enough any average rb would do

[strato]

Realizing it wasn't a one year fix so you have to take a longer timeline approach, is the tough reality. Being in the midst of the build from nothing sucks. That is where we are.

Pick some people and stay with them. Are these the right people? All I can say is I like these people better than any he has picked so far. There is a chance for Canales to grow and I am not as down on Morgan as most people.

And I am definitely unhappy watching this Brooks saga drag out. It really needs to show some positive returns. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Hadn't really thought about it because he's been so out of the spotlight so far, but yeah...

[45catfan]

Had there been a better QB, he wouldn't have been #1.  Where do you think he stacked up verses the six first round QBs in 2024? He's okay, but not #1 overall quality.  The Titans should be happy, with fanfare and media scrutiny usually comes lofty expectations.  Ward flying under the radar shouldn't be an issue for them.

[TD alt]

40 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Had there been a better QB, he wouldn't have been #1.  Where do you think he stacked up verses the six first round QBs in 2024? He's okay, but not #1 overall quality.  The Titans should be happy, with fanfare and media scrutiny usually comes lofty expectations.  Ward flying under the radar shouldn't be an issue for them.

Chris Simms says Ward would have been the #3 QB (just behind Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels) if you had combined 2024 & 2025 together. Not saying his mouth is a prayer book, but another GM said he'd have been QB5 had he been in the 2024 class. He may not be "#1 overall quality," but it's still very much in the air if he was worth that draft pick. Very much in the air...

Edited July 20, 2025 by TD alt

[45catfan]

11 minutes ago, TD alt said:

Chris Simms says Ward would have been the #3 QB (just behind Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels) if you had combined 2024 & 2025 together. Not saying his mouth is a prayer book, but another GM said he'd have been QB5 had he been in the 2024 class. He may not be "#1 overall quality," but it's still very much in the air if he was worth that draft pick. Very much in the air...

I would have put him in the 4-6 range in the '24 QB draft class.  Ward was being discussed among the rest of the QB class before deciding to stay in college and if I remember correctly, that's about where he stacked up on average (4-6).  I mean, a 5th round draft pick being the most discussed QB should be all you need to know about the strength of this year's QB draft class. It's not Kenny Pickett's draft class weak, but not that far behind.

Edited July 20, 2025 by 45catfan

[Davidson Deac II]

Only time will tell if he was worth the pick.  The Titans had to pick a qb.  Cam Ward was the best one available.  There really isn't much to discuss beyond that.  

[TD alt]

1 hour ago, 45catfan said:

I would have put him in the 4-6 range in the '24 QB draft class.  Ward was being discussed among the rest of the QB class before deciding to stay in college and if I remember correctly, that's about where he stacked up on average (4-6).  I mean, a 5th round draft pick being the most discussed QB should be all you need to know about the strength of this year's QB draft class. It's not Kenny Pickett's draft class weak, but not that far behind.

Ward was cheap in the grand scheme of things. Bryce Young? Not so much. Just food for thought when contemplating Cam Ward.

[TylerDurden]

I think where they would be picked if redrafted before both classes have played enough football to really tell.  Baker literally looked like a washout with us after Cleveland gave up on him, then turned world beater with the Rams, got a prove it deal with the Bucs and has looked awesome ever since.

Asking where Ward would’ve went had he went in ‘24 is just stupid.  I’m no GM, but I wouldn’t have taken Williams #1 either.  I would’ve taken Joe Milton way higher than he went.  I think Shadeur should’ve been a first round pick this year.  Point being, opinions are like buttholes, everybody has one.  It’s my opinion that Ward has that “something special.”  I get that feeling that he’ll be an even better pro than he was a collegiate QB because of whatever that quality is.  I think he’s gonna surprise a lot of people, especially being such an under appreciated first overall pick.