5 Reasons To Be Excited To See Cam Ward In A Hurricanes Uniform
Miami's signing of former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward brings about many opportunities for Hurricanes fans to be excited. Here are five of those reasons that will lead to Canes fans jumping for joy.
1) Ward makes "Wow" plays!
There are numerous plays from the 2023 season where Ward escaped pressure and then threw a pass that probably should have never been. His uncanny ability to create a positive gain when he should have been sacked is rare. Here's a video reel of Ward with some of those plays, just for fun.
2) Experience matters.
During the Fox NFL pregame show, former Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson mentioned that he would gladly take talent over experience. While true in general, the quarterback position usually needs both talent and experience to be successful.
A second-year starting quarterback often makes considerable strides as a passer. Consider former Miami signal-caller Brad Kaaya. He went from 12 interceptions in 2014 to 5 interceptions in 2015.
With Ward behind center, a fifth-year senior quarterback, Miami is going to possess a passer with a tremendous amount of knowledge. Per ESPN's Ward player page, he's attempted 982 passes in the last two seasons for the Cougars and that does not even take into account his time at Incarnate Word (two seasons before Washington State).
That many passes as a Power 5 quarterback will help the Canes in 2024.
3) Ward's arm strength will bolster Miami's receiving corps.
How many times does one see a deep route and the quarterback does not possess the arm strength to hit the wide-open receiver in stride?
With Ward, that's not going to happen often. He can throw bombs on a line, with some arc, or the true over-the-top balloon shot that allows a receiver to run underneath the pass and not give a defender much of a chance to defend against it.
Miami's yards per reception was only 7.7 in 2023, good for 48th nationally, per CFB Stats. That number should grow when considering the talent of Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton, and Nathaniel "Ray Ray" Joseph catching passes, among others.
2) Ward enhances The U's rushing attack.
Miami has a bevy of talented running backs and a big-time offensive line. With Ward calling the plays, it's going to be far more difficult for opposing defensive coordinators to scheme all week against Miami's ground game.
The fear will be that Ward will pick a secondary apart if an extra defender is diving into the box or flat-out lined up in the box before the snap of the football. Indeed, one-on-one coverage benefits the Canes. Then again, Miami's talented offensive line playing versus a six-defender box could be even more devastating for its opponents.
1) Ward will be a difference-maker with the game on the line.
After gaining all of that experience, and with the combination of Ward's skills, look for Miami's new quarterback to help the Canes win at least one or two games that it probably should not have.
As the saying goes, "He placed his team on his back and carried them!"
Hard to say which games those will be, but look for Ward to have big moments when the Hurricanes need him most.
