The Tennessee Titans made quarterback Cam Ward the No. 1 general decide within the NFL draft in April.
Tyler Shough needed to wait till the second spherical and the fortieth general decide earlier than the New Orleans Saints made him the third quarterback drafted. In between, the New York Giants used the twenty fifth decide to seize Jaxson Dart.
The hole between the performances of Ward and Shough as rookies hasn’t been almost as large because the one on the draft. Come Sunday, they’re going to be nearer than ever as they face off as professionals for the primary time when the Saints go to the Titans in Nashville.
Ward has been the Titans’ starter from Day 1 — from a 1-11 file by means of November to a 2-1 December that has showcased growth by the participant and his crew.
Shough was overwhelmed out by second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler in a detailed competitors throughout coaching camp. The Saints (5-10) misplaced seven of their eight video games earlier than Shough changed Rattler because the starter. New Orleans has gone 4-3 behind Shough and constructed a three-game profitable streak.
It was frequent data lengthy earlier than the draft that Ward was going to be the highest decide, however Shough’s prospects have been far much less sure. He was unusually outdated (25) for a draft prospect and began 32 of the 42 video games he performed in throughout a seven-year collegiate profession cut up between three colleges.
“My complete thought course of (main as much as the draft),” Shough mentioned, “was I will have enjoyable all through it and be myself, present what I can do and simply go from there. I believe every part will care for itself.
“I believe you possibly can’t actually get caught up in all of the pre-draft rankings. All of it modifications. (The groups’) job is to guage and your job is to go on the market, carry out and execute.”
Shough has accomplished 66.4% of his passes for 1,792 yards with seven touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His passer ranking is 86.5.
Ward has accomplished 60.2% of his passes for a franchise rookie file 2,866 yards with 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. His passer ranking is 79.1, however he delivered his first 100-plus scores within the final two video games, together with a season-best 122.3 in Sunday’s 26-9 victory towards Kansas Metropolis. He has authored his solely two-touchdown passing efforts in every of the final three video games.
“I’ve simply obtained to be constant,” Ward mentioned. “I’ve obtained to do what I have to do to win soccer video games, put my teammates in a very good scenario to assist them and actually simply maintain taking part in clear soccer on offense like we have been doing.”
Ward was the headliner in a rookie class that leads a youth motion in Tennessee. However large receiver Chimere Dike, a fourth-round decide, has set himself aside by main the NFL in all-purpose yards (151.3 per sport) to earn a beginning spot within the Professional Bowl.
“You get to see what guys can do early,” Ward mentioned of the Titans giving taking part in time to rookies instantly. “You get a way of their first yr, what they’re actually good at, and what we additionally started working on.”
One rookie who will not contribute over the last two video games is cornerback Marcus Harris, the sixth-round decide who interim head coach Mike McCoy mentioned is not going to play once more this season due to a knee harm suffered towards the Chiefs. Harris was the one Titan to overlook follow Wednesday.
Three Saints starters — operating again Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle), guard Cesar Ruiz (ankle) and defensive sort out Bryan Bresee (knee) — didn’t follow Wednesday. New Orleans coach Kellen Moore has declared Bresee will not play towards the Titans.
–Discipline Degree Media
