We got our first glimpse of what kind of quarterback play we are in store for this season with Washington State transfer Cam Ward at the helm.
Here are some observations of every throw from Ward:
-- First Drive
- On the first play, Ward sits in the pocket and goes to his second read to Xavier Restrepo for a 12-yard gain. His first read was supposed to go to Elija Lofton but was covered by Jaden Harris. Accurate ball to a wide-open Restrepo, who separated himself from Jadais Richard near the right sideline.
- The second pass play is called; Ward does not find an open receiver and runs through a lane as the pocket collapses around him. The only open option was JoJo Trader on the right sideline, but the pressure became too much just as Trader broke open. Sack registered.
- Ward's second completion goes for a significant gain, but mainly from the effort from Restrepo. X runs a great route, selling his break to the inside, then cuts it outside. Ward anticipates the window opening, and the timing is perfect for a short throw and catch, which would have been good for the first down or fourth down. Restrepo breaks a tackle (Richard) and turns a four-yard gain into a 50-yard gain.
- Ward's third throw was seemingly a throw away as cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. had tight coverage on Isaiah Horton in the corner of the end zone.
- Ward's fourth throw is an easy toss to his right to Isaiah Horton for a five-yard touchdown. Ward was patient to let Horton enter an open window on a drag route.
-- Second Drive
- On Ward's second drive, his fifth throw was a quick sidearm throw to Jo Jo Trader, which gained 19 yards. A great throw to get the ball quickly and accurately to his wideout with plenty of bodies close by.
- Another quick pass on the sixth throw to Chris Johnson Jr. The running back caught the ball about 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and the play went for no gain.
- Play action fake, and Ward takes a deep shot to Isaiah Horton in double coverage. With the coverage and a tight pocket, it nearly connected. If Horton had more speed, he would probably catch up to that one for a big play. What you do see from Ward is that he puts the football in place for an opportunity for the pass-catcher to make a play and out of the chances for the defender.
- Ward's next pass attempt ends in a sack. He looks to his right, where Restrepo and Trader are in the vicinity. The receivers are not open fast enough, and Ward takes too long to get to his next read. The pocket collapses on him, drive ends. Powell on the coverage on Restrepo.
-- Third Drive
- The first throw of his third drive was a short flip pass to Lofton that went for a short gain. Looking for Restrepo again initially, Ward checks it down to his running back hanging around the middle of the line of scrimmage. After first was not there, he anticipated Lofton turning around to look for the football.
- Ward's next throw was to a covered Restrepo, but the Miami QB again put the ball in a place where the defender (Wesley Bissainthe) could not make a play on the ball. Just his third incompletion of the game to this point. The tight coverage forced the incompletion.
- Ward attempted another deep shot on his next throw, perhaps his worst day. Ward threw into triple coverage to Restrepo, and it could have been intercepted if the safety (Savion Riley) had a better read on the football. There was no pressure on Ward, and he seemed pretty set on taking this deep shot from the snap. He looked left briefly and attempted to fit into a tight window. Restrepo beat Powell on the play.
- Ward connects with Tight End Elijah Arroyo on fourth down but was stopped short of the first down marker to end the drive. Arroyo lined up out wide to the right, and Damari Brown nearly broke up the pass and made the tackle. Ward was going to Arroyo the entire time and delivered an accurate ball on time.
-- Fourth Drive
- Ward's first throw of the next drive was a quick pass to Horton on a curl route. Once again, great timing and anticipation by Ward on the play. Delivers an accurate ball that enables Horton to gain more yards for the first down.
The second pass play of the drive had Horton open again on the same route, but Ward did not see him. The pressure eventually flushed him out of the pocket (Malik Bryant), and Ward threw the ball away. Ward could not find a player open despite having seven seconds in the pocket.
- One of Ward's most impressive throws. Ward scrambles to his right and delivers an accurate ball to Restrepo on the sideline. It probably should have been called a sack with Cole McConathy and Bryant in pursuit, but the off-balance accurate throw shows just how athletic Ward is. The play went for nearly 20 yards. Restrepo did a great job returning to the football and getting his feet in bounds on the play.
- A play-action fake, which seemed to throw off the timing to a deep throw down the sideline to Restrepo. He appeared to pre-determine that he was going there with the football. Pressure by Marley Cook rushed the throw.
- Ward found Horton on a short flip pass after his first read to Arroyo was not there. The play goes for 26 yards but is called back because of an ineligible man downfield. Great way to make something out of nothing here.
- Ward connects with Restrepo for a 22-yard touchdown. Accurate ball by Ward, who targeted Restrepo the entire way. Restrepo runs a mid-out route. Nice timing again between the two. The timing made it impossible for Riley to make a play on the ball. Nice effort by Restrepo to reach over the goal line for the score.
-- Fifth Drive
- Ward's first pass of his next drive was completed to Horton for about nine yards. Horton flashed open on a short route, and Horton, with space, gained the 8 yards. Ward got the ball out quickly and looked for Horton the whole way.
- He connects with Restrepo again on his second throw of the drive. He waited for Restrepo to get open on an inside curl route for seven yards.
-- Sixth Drive
- Ward, running a two-minute drill to end the half, delivers one of his best balls of the day, but the ball goes through Arroyo's arms, with Cameron Pruitt getting a slight deflection on the football. Ward sat in the pocket and gave Arroyo a chance to make a play. Excellent read by Ward to see the potential in that play as it developed.
- The second throw of the drive, is a checkdown to Johnson Jr. for no gain. Pressure came in forcing Ward to get rid of it to avoid a negative play. Bryant with the pressure again.
- This is another impressive play by Ward. The first read to Restrepo or Horton was not there, so Ward stepped up in the pocket to buy time and found Trader in a small window for about a 29-yard gain. The second completion to a wide receiver not named Horton or Restrepo. Trader was the recipient of a short side arm pass on the second drive.
- Ward, under heavy pressure from Rueben Bain, found Restrepo on the sideline for about a 20-yard gain. Catch ruled out-of-bounds. Another impressive throw on the run by Ward scrambling to his left.
- The pass was ruled incomplete but should have gone down as a sack. The Miami D-Line collapses the pocket, and Ward throws the ball to no one in the flat.
- Ward completes another to Restrepo. Accurate throw to X on an out route, good for about 20 yards. Once again, the timing between these two is at a high level.
- Ward completes a short pass to Restrepo this time, under heavy pressure. X gets a few yards just before the half.
-- Seventh Drive
- Ward quickly tries to sneak one into Horton on an inside slant, but Porter Jr. slaps it away.
- Ward connects with Horton on a go route as he trusted that his receiver would beat Porter on the play. Ward seemed to throw the ball off his back foot but still made the accurate throw that Horton caught in stride. The play went for about 45 yards and could have been a touchdown if Horton had not stepped out of bounds.
- Ward's first throw to Jacolby George goes for a 24-yard touchdown. Powell had a chance to make a play on the ball but George was wearing a non-contact jersey. Superb throw by Ward who drops it in the bucket in the corner of the end zone. Ward makes the confident throw with pressure in his face.