Preseason opener a good measuring stick
After two weeks of camp, time for a progress report
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. — After practice Monday, coach Bill O’Brien called his players together to deliver a message before the first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
O’Brien targeted the younger players the coaches need to evaluate in the nationally televised game.
“It’s really more about the younger guys, especially the skill players,” O’Brien said. “Knowing the formations, knowing the personnel. Just the routine things that they need to know Wednesday night.
“You break the huddle, know where to go, and then everything else takes care of itself. I think our guys that have been around us for a while now, they understand what that standard is.”
Quarterback Tom Savage is playing in his fourth season. He knows what the standard is, and his goal is to make a strong impression in every preseason game.
‘It’s important’
Even though it’s the preseason opener, it means something to Savage.
“It’s important,” he said. “Every time we strap on those pads, it’s important. It’s going to be a good test for us, and it’s going to feel good to get hit for the first time in a year.”
The first preseason game shows how much they’ve learned off the field and how much they’ve improved on the field since training camp began two weeks ago in West Virginia.
“We’re competing, and we’re battling against each other, and it’s good to see,” Savage said. “I know communication on offense is good right now.
“And the defense has done a heck of a job.”
The coaches aren’t worried as much about a defense that finished first in the NFL last season compared to an offense that scored only 23 touchdowns and finished 31st in the red zone.
Savage, who entered camp as the starter for the first time in his four-year career, is trying to hold off the challenge from rookie Deshaun Watson.
Brandon Weeden, the most seasoned quarterback on the roster, will follow Savage and Watson against the Panthers.
“We’re all communicating with each other — with all the groups, not just the ones (starters),” Savage said. “With the twos and threes, you see some growth there, too.”
O’Brien has a lot to learn about his quarterbacks, especially Savage and Watson. How much they play depends on how the game goes.
O’Brien wants to see how they command the offense, how comfortable they are with plays he calls, how they protect the ball and how they react to mistakes.
One thing that impresses O’Brien is how the quarterbacks push each other and make each other better.
“Absolutely, that’s one of our keys in our room,” Savage said. “The competition and pushing each other to get better. We’re all out there helping each other (and) our main focus right now is winning.”
O’Brien likes the relationships the quarterbacks are developing with each other.
“From what I see, I think it’s really good chemistry,” O’Brien said. “There’s a lot of encouragement, a lot of give-and-take, in the room – some (good) senses of humor in the room. All three of them.
“I wouldn’t say they’re the funniest guys in the world, but they have their moments. All three get along, and they root for each other. there. It’s competitive, obviously, but they want their buddy to do well.”
Vying for attention
While most of the attention will be on the quarterbacks, particularly Watson, the coaches are eager to see the younger players who are trying to make an impact this season or are just trying to make the team.
The coaches know what the veterans can do. They need to look at some of the younger players against the Panthers to evaluate them in game conditions.
Savage said some of the younger players have asked him about playing in the first preseason game that’s nationally televised.
“I’ve told them I’ve only played three games in the NFL, so I’m not really a good person to ask,” he said. “Ultimately, you’re going to have nerves, and you’re going to have those jitters, but it’s a sport. You’ve got to have fun.”