Cam Ward identifies the most important piece to being a quarterback

Cam Ward is one of the best quarterbacks in the country entering his fifth collegiate season and first at Miami. That’s in large part, at least to him, because of how he can read a field at his position.

Ward spoke about the most key skill for a quarterback in a conversation with EJ Manuel of the ACC Network. He said being able to see everything and, in turn, look at space and evaluate what you’re looking at is what allows him to put his offense in a great position and their opponent in a bad one.

“I think the most important piece is seeing the field – seeing space, seeing leverage off guys, being a leader,” said Ward. “I think the best thing, you know, I try to help other quarterbacks in our room with is just seeing space because, the more you see space, the more you can put the defense in a predicament.”

Over two years apiece at Incarnate Word and Washington State, Ward certainly proved to read at a top level with what he produced. While with the Cardinals and Cougars, he has completed 64.1% of his throws for 13,876 yards, 119 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. That includes a career-high completion rate of 66.6% last season at Wazzu to go with his second-best yardage and touchdown total along with his second-fewest interceptions.

Ward now brings all that with him to Coral Gables. If he can do more of the same, he could have one of the better passing seasons in some time for the ‘Canes.

Why expectations are so high for Cam Ward at Miami

Much of the lofty expectations in Coral Gables are due to adding QB Cam Ward to their team this offseason.

“Well, they’ve already named him the ACC Player of the Year. So I don’t know that the expectations could be any higher,” CaneSport‘s Gary Ferman said on the On3 Roundtable. “To me that’s a little unfair just because he hasn’t played a single play at Miami. But he has meant the world to this program. He really has – not just on the field but off the field.”

Ward is now entering a season where he may be part of the best offense of his career.

“He’s gonna be surrounded by far greater talent at Miami than he has at any point in his career.”

“They have got an offensive line that has been built to win. They have a running game to go around him. He has got multiple receivers that he can count on at any time during the course of a game. He has got an elite looking tight end who’s back healthy,” said Ferman. “You put all of that together and there’s really not a massive weakness on the Miami offense.”

For Ward, a potential breakout year could be there for him and his new team.

“Cam Ward’s got a lot of weapons around him, hopefully a little bit more dynamic offense to work with. He’s going to be given a lot of freedom in that offense. He’s gonna get the chance to meet those expectations that everybody is setting for him,” Ferman concluded. “We’re going to find out if he’s good enough to do it.”