Could Cam Ward turn out to be a flash in the pan?

He’s overrated for sure. He’s getting better as a passer being in that air raid WSU system from what I understand, but I’m not too worried. If this was the end of the season, it would be a bigger deal as he’s proven nothing at this point IMO.

 

That is what I have bee looking at. He is a wiling runner but not a talented runner. The most he ran for last year in a game was 44 yards. This is his first game in a new system and it is in the Swamp, which would be a huge task for any QB. They are going to play conservatively until they have no choice. It most likely will be a rough day for him.

 

Sounds a little like Mertz' stats at UW? I don't have time to research that, but my point is.....We've seen QB's improve/regress after a transfer/change of staff, and it's really hard to predict what's going to happen with Ward.

The good news: We'll find out in 2 weeks!!

 

Mertz was an underwhelming pick for many. He turned out okay. Sometimes being surrounded by better talent and new scenery does wonders for a player. Sometimes not. I wouldn’t count him out. He doesn’t concern me though. It’s our OL against their DL. We get to find out soon though!!!!! Can’t wait for some football.

 

Hah.

 

He’s an upgrade over the Van Dyke guy they had the past few seasons

 

He, like most decent QBs, will pick any defense apart if you give him a clean pocket and all day to throw the ball. Pressure him even just a bit and he falls apart like a cheap suit.

 

With a poor OL at WSU he threw a lot of short passes like Mertz, but that 44% under pressure is wildly bad combined with his lack of ball security. I have to imagine that in most offenses 1/4 to 1/3 of those under pressure would be to a relief valve rb that would be a very high percentage. That would mean that the rest of his throws were at a rate way below 50%. With his over 70% rate without pressure suggesting his receivers get where they are supposed to be tells me he doesn't see the field well under pressure or he just doesn't read defenses well in general and is used to throwing to his first read.

 

And the same goes for the greatest quarterbacks of all time, you have to get pressure.

 

FWIW…

QB RATING
20. Mertz 157.8
45. Ward 145.3

QBR
36. Mertz 68.5
50. Ward 65.1

 

Our OL will tell the story as they have 2 potential All ACC rush ends. Even last year against the same rush end Baron we got yardage and scores, and the Canes' secondary is certainly worse than the Vols' secondary was last year.

 

The big question this year is can we get a descent pass rush? I'm concerned about lack of quality depth at DL with the recent injury. We will soon find out.
The other thing I'd like to see is our cb's disrupting timing routes. Most pass plays involve timing routes and thus jamming wr's can cause errant throws.

 

If not already said, he will have better athletes around him, better OL, better RBs, aspects that make him not need to be great. Agree, can we get a pass rush and will our OL be able to handle their business? That's going to determine whose offense has room to operate.

 

Ward has just been labeled the ACC preseason Player of the Year. That may not be saying much but either all the pundits are wrong or this thread is off course. We shall see soon enough in two weeks.

 

Mertz is pretty good under pressure... way better than Miami's QB... according to TOS.

 

They are also slobbering all over Miami regardless of how much they looked even worse than us last year.

That percentage under pressure though is pathetic, and add in all his fumbles, it just is troubling if you think he really is a transcendent qb. It's puzzling at best. A bad OL doesn't mitigate it. Mertz was under pressure constantly last year but had a 20+% advantage over Ward.