Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward has publicly stated he believes himself to be a "very good quarterback" following critical remarks from his head coach, Robert Saleh. Saleh, who previously coached the Jets, commented that Ward is "at the floor of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback" after the Titans' 23-10 season-opening loss to the Jets.
During a press conference leading up to the Titans' Week 2 matchup against the Eagles, Ward responded to Saleh's assessment by highlighting his unique skills. "I think I do a lot of things different, that a lot of quarterbacks can’t do," Ward said. "And there’s also stuff I have to get better at, some things that I lack and that’s a process you take on each and every day. I have great coaches around me to keep pushing me to the level I want to play at, and when the tide turns I am pretty sure it’s going to be a different story."
When pressed by a reporter about whether a "very good quarterback" should have better results, Ward attributed performance to the game's variables. "I think it comes with the game," Ward stated. "It comes with the defense you’re playing. It comes with what the DC’s philosophy is and every game’s not gonna be a shootout. It could be a bad passer rating, a bad completion ratio, but it’s all about the win and loss. We haven’t done that and that’s something we only focus on."
The Titans concluded Ward's rookie season with a 3-14 record. In the offseason, the team aimed to bolster its offensive support by selecting wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft and signing Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency. Ward and the Titans are scheduled to face a challenging defense under coordinator Vic Fangio when they play the Eagles this Sunday.