Titans OC raves about QB Cam Ward: 'It has been awesome to work with him'

In an era when NFL coaches are often hesitant to hold their players accountable in public, perhaps for fear of upsetting the dressing room, Brian Daboll stands apart.

Admitting his New York Giants team was "outplayed in every phase of the game" against the Denver Broncos last season earns you a reputation as a straight talker.

So when the new Tennessee Titans OC speaks glowingly about quarterback Cam Ward, it's worth paying attention in a way you might not with most coachspeak.

Daboll was hired, in part, to help the 2025 NFL Draft's first overall pick unlock his potential, and the early signs suggest the young gunslinger is already making a good impression.

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Cam Ward: What Daboll has seen so far

Bringing in a new OC was a gamble. This is Ward's second new offense in two years, and that's rarely a winning recipe for young quarterbacks still finding their feet in the pros.

Learning new terminology and play-calling language from scratch often substantially slows development.

So far, the former Giants head coach has no such concerns with his young quarterback.

"He is a young professional," Daboll said. "He wants to be great. He is instinctive. When we are just watching the tape, he is able to communicate the things that he sees.

"When we are installing the new system to him, concepts and things like that, he is able to pick things up very quickly. It has been awesome to work with him."

Why Ward's year two should be different

As a rookie, Ward showed glimpses of why he was such a coveted prospect, demonstrating real playmaking ability and a fierce competitive streak.

And considering he was new to the pro level, he showed very few signs of the nerves that often come with rookie QB status.

His 80.2 passer rating won't wow anyone who didn't follow his progress over the second half of the season, but for those who did, there were plenty of encouraging signs.

He showed real improvement down the stretch, throwing eight touchdowns and only one interception in the final five games after tossing seven touchdowns and six interceptions in the first 12.

It's worth noting, too, that his progression came despite turnover at the top, with head coach Brian Callahan fired just six games into Ward's rookie campaign.

Granted, the Miami product was far from perfect, occasionally forcing throws into tight windows and holding onto the ball too long when under pressure, but these are areas Daboll has been brought in to iron out.

So far, according to Daboll, so good.

Ward's improved offensive weapons

The Titans have invested heavily in the weapons around Ward, adding wideout Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency after his breakout 2025 campaign and Ohio State's Carnell Tate, taken fourth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

If Tate's bold proclamation of being a "complete receiver" holds true, Robinson produces anything like the 1,014 receiving yards he managed last year, and Calvin Ridley returns to his 2024 pre-injury form, Ward could be in for a huge year.

That's a lot of 'ifs', but on the evidence of what Daboll's seen so far, Ward looks like a player who's ready to deliver.