Staying calm is easy for Watson
Maybe it’s the big games quarterback Deshaun Watson played in at Clemson.
Or maybe it’s just Watson’s nature to be calm under pressure.
Whatever the reason, the rookie doesn’t seem to get rattled in a hostile environment, a trait that will serve him well Sunday when he makes his second NFL start, against New England at Gillette Stadium.
Watson has a quiet confidence that helps keep him relaxed. Nothing appears to be too big for him — an impressive characteristic that came in handy when he played in back-to-back national championship games, including a victory over Alabama last season.
After winning his first NFL start, a 13-9 nationally televised victory at
Cincinnati, Watson tangles with the Patriots, the defending Super Bowl champions, in a supercharged atmosphere where fans will be much more antagonistic than he experienced at Paul Brown Stadium.
“The thing about Deshaun is he doesn’t get nervous,” coach Bill O’Brien said before practice Monday. “I asked him before last week’s game, ‘Are you nervous?’
“He goes, ‘No, I don’t get nervous.’ And I see that. So, I don’t really concern myself too much with that.”
O’Brien is concerned with New England’s defense and a plan defensive coordinator Matt Patricia hopes will confuse and contain Watson.
Familiar setting
O’Brien was asked Monday if Watson playing in so many huge games at Clemson had helped prepare him for a game like Sunday’s in Foxborough.
“I think so,” O’Brien said. “I think anybody that’s played in the type of games that he’s had to play in — it’s different, obviously, because it’s the National Football League — but he’s played in some national championship games (and) in big games relative to the ACC.
“Dealing with the noise (and) with the big-game environment, I think that’s important.
“Now, dealing with the Patriots’ defense relative to a college defense, that’s a whole other thing.”
If Watson doesn’t play well against New England, it’ll be because of the Patriots’ defense and not because the game was too big for him at Gillette Stadium, where the Texans have never won.
At Clemson, Watson’s performance under pressure was impressive. He led the Tigers to a 3-1 record in two semifinal games and two championship games in his last two seasons.
The one defeat was in the national championship game after the 2015 season when, despite his 405 yards passing, the Tigers lost 45-40 to Alabama.
Now, talk about performing under pressure, in the rematch last season, Watson threw the winning touchdown pass with one second left to upset the Crimson Tide 35-31.
Watson obliterated Nick Saban’s defense for 420 yards before 74,512 fans at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium and a national television audience of 26 million.
Time to get ready
No wonder Watson was cool and calm at Cincinnati, where he made his starting debut on a short week. He had one full practice to get ready for the Bengals. Before Sunday’s game, he’ll have a lot more practice time, which is invaluable to a young quarterback.
“He’s been in here already this morning,” O’Brien said. “He’ll get the bulk of the firstteam reps now. Based on that alone and his film study and learning from week to week, he’ll get better and better.”
O’Brien calls the plays. They’ll have a game plan for New England. Watson will be under a lot of pressure after he breaks the huddle and at the line of scrimmage — before the ball is even snapped.
“I don’t feel any limitations,” O’Brien said about what he will and won’t call. “He’s a different quarterback, so that’s relative to what each guy can do, and with Deshaun, he can do some different things.
“Relative to what his skill set is and what he knows and what he can do, I don’t think there’s any limitations.”
O’Brien hasn’t called plays for a quarterback with Watson’s running ability, something he showed on his 49-yard touchdown run at Cincinnati. O’Brien can take advantage of that mobility with some calls.
“I mean, that’s obvious, right?” O’Brien said. “He had the longest run we’ve had in a while, so his legs probably give us something.”
At least something more than last season, when the Texans lost twice at New England, including in the playoffs, with Brock Osweiler at quarterback.