When it comes to physical tools, Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward checks all of the boxes. However, some of Ward's most intriguing traits are ones that can't always be measured.
Ward's spatial awareness, ability to extend the pocket, quick decision-making, leadership, and improvisational skills are all noteworthy, but in the Titans' first practice of mandatory minicamp, he showed off a different skill.
Arden Key is one of the most talkative defenders on the Titans roster, and Femi Oladejo is quickly getting a reputation as a talker as well. However, Jeffery Simmons is still the king of the mountain for trash-talking Titans defenders, so it was when Simmons registered a would-be sack on Ward that the two started jawing at each other.
Brian Callahan recalled the play in Wednesday's press conference, saying both Simmons and Ward were trash-talking back and forth; it wasn't a situation where the veteran Pro Bowler was barking at a shellshocked rookie. It was quite the opposite, with Ward trash-talking so long that Callahan was calling the next play while the rookie signal-caller was still firing back at Simmons.
"I'm not used to calling plays to a quarterback who is still talking while I'm talking to him, and that is great," Callahan said. "So I asked him after practice, 'Just help me out here, do you need for me to wait until you finish?' and he says, 'No, I'm listening.' So he is hearing what I am telling him, and it was pretty remarkable to see all the things going on and how much he is talking, but his brain is still with me. When I'm calling a play he's doing all he is doing, but he is listening to everything that I'm telling him, and he enters the huddle and he calls the play and doesn't screw up the play call. It is pretty remarkable, I know I couldn't do that. That is just who he is, that is his personality, again if it was something that I felt like was detrimental to his ability to manage the offense and call it in the huddle I would probably have a couple of things to say to him, but he didn't miss a beat when it came to calling the play and staying on top of it, and then executing when it came time to execute. That was a new experience for me, but it was fun."
Callahan said all of that with a smile on his face. It's a reminder that Ward's love for the game and infectious attitude is boosting the morale of his coaches and teammates in real time. It also highlights his ability to multi task. This is a fascinating development, and every new bit of information that comes out about Ward seems to emphasize that the Titans made the right decision on draft day.