PALM BEACH, Fla. – Brian Callahan offered the most insight into the the Titans' evaluation of Cam Ward we've gotten yet as the team draws closer to making a final decision about the No. 1 pick in the April 24th first round.
Callahan drew a large crowd as AFC coaches met with media early Monday at The Breakers as part of the NFL owners meeting, and he talked a great deal about Ward’s part from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami.
“You saw the flashes at Washington State -- maybe it’s a talent disparity, I don’t think there is a crazy swing in talent,” he said. “You saw the flashes. Then, all of a sudden, he gets to Miami and then you saw it consistently. And I think that just comes from playing. I think that’s why these guys that have stayed in school longer, who are playing four and five years, I think it’s helping them because they’re getting chances to get more reps and more opportunities and you see their games sort of smooth out, become more consistent, become more pro ready, is the best way to put it. [Unlocked]
“You see that progression. You see his decision-making become more consistent, you see the accuracy become more consistent over the course of his career. It’s been really fun. I think I’ve watched almost every snap he’s played, so it’s been cool to see that real progression. Of where he’s at now to where he came from, he’s made a lot of really impressive improvements over his career so far.”
Callahan hit on two areas in decision-making and accuracy that are listed in most scouting reports as weaknesses for Ward, who threw for 4,313 years, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year for the Hurricanes against a schedule that was not super-difficult.
Those are also two areas where Callahan got poor play from both starter Will Levis and backup Mason Rudolph in his first year at the helm of the Titans.
Callahan also spoke broadly about how player movement in college is helpful in scouting from the NFL. That’s certain the case with Ward.
“Now you get to see how these guys enter a new environment,” Callahan said. “How do they win their teammates over, how do they lead a room that they’re not familiar with, that they didn’t grow up with per se? That part is actually really interesting. The transfers have allowed you to see that opportunity for them to show their leadership and how they win over their teammates. It’s kind of unique in that regard. Before you had to wonder how it would happen in an NFL locker room, but these guys have gone to at least one other locker room, sometimes two, and they’ve found their way. So that’s kind of a benefit to be honest.
“Sometimes you get a little bit different information. Sometimes, these guys can reinvent themselves. They 
know maybe what they lacked at the previous school, and they can spread their wings in a different way when they get to a new place. The key is just doing the diligence at every stop they’ve been making sure you’re talking to everybody that’s had contact with those players. It’s unique now, it’s what college football is.”
Mike Borgonzi told me Sunday that the Titans won’t pass on a franchise quarterback if they believe they’ve found one. So if they love Ward, they won't trade out of No. 1.
But the Titans aren’t there quite yet.
“I would be wrong to say there is a leader in the clubhouse at this point, Callahan said. “We’re still going through all of the process. And we’ve got meetings coming up still that we have to finish when it comes to the Colorado players (Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter)….
“When it comes time to make the decision we’ll make it and we’ll have done it knowing we have gone through every bit of the process and looked at every possible outcome and feel really good about it at that point.”
