Saints compliment poise, potential of Texans’ Watson
METAIRIE, La.—When asked if Deshaun Watson looked like a rookie during joint practices with New Orleans, veteran Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro nodded affirmatively.
Then Vaccaro added, "I go against Drew Brees every day, so everybody looks like a rookie."
Vaccaro said he has followed Watson's career and is "rooting for the kid," noting that he and Watson have the same agent.
"He looks good. He looks real promising," Vaccaro continued. "Obviously he's a rookie, so he's still learning, but I'm excited for him."
Watson, who was taking second-team snaps, wasn't given an opportunity Thursday to discuss how he felt about his performance against a Saints defense that ranked last in the NFL in pass defense last season. The Texans declined to make him available for interviews, instead allowing media to speak with presumed starting QB Tom Savage.
Watson didn't have to say anything about this trip to New Orleans; it was evident it has not been as easy on Watson's ego as a couple previous ones. When Watson visited the Big Easy before, the former Clemson star arrived to be praised as he accepted the Manning Award as the nation's top college quarterback the past two years. He is the first player to win the award twice.
While Watson was on target with several routine throws on Thursday, there were some plays that didn't go so well. During 11-on-11 drills, he was
intercepted by Malik Foreman, a rookie out of Tennessee. He tried a deep back-shoulder throw on a roll-out, only to have cornerback Sterling Moore bat it down. There were other plays in which Watson didn't attempt a throw despite blockers appearing to give him a standard amount of time, and he resorted to scrambling.
But as Saints coach Sean Payton noted, forcing Watson to run doesn't always produce a good outcome for an opposing defense.
"Man, if the play breaks down, he's hard to get a hand on," Payton said." He broke contain on us a few times and it was challenging."
The Saints could face Watson again on Saturday night, when Houston visits the Superdome for both teams' third preseason game.
Payton has had the record-setting Brees as his clear-cut starter every year since taking over as Saints coach in 2006, but he could empathize with the situation facing Texans coach Bill O'Brien, who appears inclined to go with his more established QB for now. Many fans are clamoring to see Watson, last spring's 12th overall draft choice, who led Clemson to a national title with prolific, clutch performances.
"They've got experience (with Savage) and they' ve got a young player( in Watson) and I'm sure they're going to develop him as they see fit for their team," Payton said.
Payton praised Watson's poise and commended his play-making in a 27-23 exhibition victory over New England last weekend, when Watson had completions of 63 and 33 yards, and also ran for a short TD.
However, Watson completed only three of 10 passes overall.
"I'm sure like any young player ... there's a learning curve," Payton said.