How No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward fared in NFL debut with Titans

TAMPA, Fla.— Cam Ward’s pro debut was solid, if unspectacular.The first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft completed five of eight passes for 67 yards, but more importantly was composed and looked comfortable running Tennessee’s offense in the Titans’ 29-7 preseason-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night.Two days after working against the Bucs defense in a joint practice at Tampa Bay’s training facility, Ward played two offensive series, including an impressive second-quarter touchdown drive that gave the Titans a glimpse of what the franchise is counting on to be a bright future with him at quarterback.The 6-foot-2, 219-pound rookie completed three passes to Calvin Ridley to account for all but 15 yards on the 11-play, 65-yard TD drive Tony Pollard finished with a 1-yard scoring run.

That came after the Tennessee offense spent more than 14 minutes of the opening quarter on the sideline while Tampa Bay was building a 10-0 lead and a whopping 143-5 advantage in total yardage while running 22 plays to Tennessee’s 3.“I thought Cam played well, the two series that he got,” Titans second-year coach Brian Callahan said.“It was kind of a weird first half with three possessions.

He had one three and out, then came back with a touchdown drive.He started to feel comfortable and was begging to go back in, but that was not in the cards tonight.”Ward felt good about the abbreviated debut.“It was a lot guys first time playing together, but it felt good to come up with points,” after failing to move the ball on the Titans’ first possession,” the rookie said.“I wanted to go out for a third (series) … but Coach Callahan has a plan for us,” Ward conceded.

”We’ll stick to his plan.”Ward began his team’s only scoring drive with a 27-yard completion over the middle to a wide-open Ridley and later led his target cutting across the middle again with a nice throw for a 13-yard gain into Tampa Bay territory.The rookie go...