What are Canes getting in new QB Ward? Washington State analyst/ex-Cougar QB goes in-depth
Part 1 of a 4-part series on new UM quarterback Cam Ward, who committed to the Hurricanes last Saturday after initially planning to enter the NFL Draft. He’s expected to replace Wisconsin-bound Tyler Van Dyke as Miami’s starter in 2024 and will play one season here before moving onto the NFL.
For insight on Ward, we solicited input from former Washington State and CFL quarterback Alex Brink, who is the Cougars’ radio analyst and called every one of Ward’s starts the past two years.
What does Ward do well?
“He’s a fantastic improvisational player,” Brink said. “Makes a ton of plays off schedule. Really tough to bring down in the pocket. From his first year starting to his second year, he got a lot better throwing from the pocket and in rhythm.”
What about his ability to function within the offense?
“There was huge improvement from 2022 to 2023, and a lot of credit goes to [Cougars 2023 offensive coordinator] Ben Arbuckle,” Brink said. “There’s still improvement to be had in that area, and that’s some of the reasons he came back to [college]. That’s something he is going to have to show if he’s going to be a high level prospect.”
Ward’s 3,736 passing yards last season were eighth-most in college football, per ncaa.org. He threw 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and completed 66.7 percent of his passes, while rushing for eight TDs.
▪ How did Ward play when the first read wasn’t there and he had to go to his second or third option?
Brink said he also improved in that area last season.
“One thing a little underrated is he had two coordinators in two years,” and his first coordinator, like Ward, came from Incarnate Word, which plays at the FCS level.
“I think for both of them it was big jump to FBS,” Brink said. “The second year, Arbuckle was really good and there was a big jump in the scheme and that led to a jump in Cam’s ability to go through his progressions.”
▪ How would Brink rank Ward overall among college quarterbacks?
“He’s way above average and knocking on the door of the upper echelon of quarterbacks. When you see him at his best, he’s as good as there is in college football. There have been moments where that hasn’t been the case.
“Some of that has been the supporting cast, maybe the way defenses defend him. Washington State was one of the worst teams running the football and he was doing a lot by himself.”
▪ Turnovers have been an issue, particularly fumbles.
Ward has been responsible for 46 fumbles in four years of college (two at Incarnate Word, two at Washington State).
During his two seasons in the Pac-12, Ward had seven multi-fumble games and 25 fumbles overall, including 14 last season.
According to teamrankings.com, his 14 fumbles last season were second most in FBS.
Brink said he had a “bad habit of keeping one hand on the football when scrambling.” Brink is hopeful he will learn from that.
▪Ward had nine interceptions on 497 passing attempts in 2022, seven interceptions on 485 throws in 2023. What has been at the root of those interceptions?
“A little bit of” everything, Brink said, referencing decision making, good plays from the defense and mistakes by receivers.
“One of double edge swords of being really good off schedule,” Brink said, “is you get off schedule at times. It was a mix of bad decisions when things were breaking down and other things. One of the advantages coming back to college is hopefully you learn some of those lessons.”
▪ The other concern is intertwined with the first: Even though he’s mobile, he has taken a lot of sacks – 85 in the past two years, the most by any quarterback in that time frame.
The Cougars allowed 39 sacks last year, tied for 20th most in the country. WSU allowed 46 in 2022, which was tied for third most.
Brink said Ward isn’t primarily to blame for that.
“Washington State would say the offensive line is a project,” Brink said. “He will take some sacks, but getting rid of the ball was not the primary issue.
“He did a good job throwing the ball away last year. He didn’t take a lot of bad sacks. He took sacks in the pocket either when blocks were missed by the line or he was holding the ball” maybe a tick too long.
▪ If you remove the 39 sacks that lost 260 yards last season, Ward -- who’s 6-2 and 221 pounds -- ran 81 times for 404 yards. That’s 4.98 yards per carry.
“He’s very elusive, has tons of escapability,” Brink said. “He’s not overly fast but he’s big and strong.”
His escapability is “more about about his ability to make the first man miss and shake off a sack because he’s so strong.”
▪ UM offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson might want to play more up-tempo offense; Brink said Ward thrives playing in hurry-up.
WSU “played tons of up-tempo and he’s really good in those scenarios,” Brink said. “Cam is at his best when the game is flowing and going” briskly.
▪ How does Ward compare with NFL-bound Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who led his team to the national championship game and finished second in the Heisman voting, behind LSU’s Jayden Daniels?
“Different players,” Brink said. “Cam is much better moving in and out of the pocket. It’s about equal arm talent wise and with the ability to drive the ball down the field.
“Penix is such a fantastic rhythm passer. That’s where Cam can make a big step. He has shown it, but it has to happen more consistently to be in upper echelon.”
Coming next in part 2: Something else very encouraging about Ward and more tidbits.
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 3:41 PM.
