QB Tom Savage
(on what he has focused on this offseason) “Really just kind of familiarizing myself with this offense and really just trying to put some work in and grasp it. So if my time ever does come again, I’ll be ready.”
(on his first couple of practices) “I mean, I think I have a lot to work on, but at the same time, I’m really coming in early and trying to put as much work in as I can. Hopefully, just keep growing.”
(on the difference between last year and this year) “I think this year I kind of developed more of a routine in how I prepare for practice and everything. I think that’s helped a lot.”
(on the quarterback room) “It’s awesome. I mean, you want to talk about a competitive room. It’s pretty fun to be around. That’s what we want. That makes the team better. Everyone is striving to be the starter and just keep competing.”
(on having a year in the system) “It helped a lot. Obviously, last year I was kind of swimming in it. I’m not saying that it’s easy now. I’m still trying to put the work in and still trying to grasp a lot of knowledge out of this offense. But at the same time, it’s been good so far in year two. I think it’s been a pretty big difference for myself from a confidence standpoint and being around the guys and understanding schemes and what we’re trying to do.”
(on working with new wide receivers) “I think, especially this offseason, we’ve put in a lot of work together. All the quarterbacks, we’ve all taken reps with them. That’s the biggest thing because once preseason comes around, you don’t know who you’re going to be in there with. You got to really get as many reps as you can with everybody. I think we’ve been doing a good job after practice, kind of getting together and doing it.”
(on what QB Brian Hoyer has told him about year two) “Obviously, he’s played in this system before and he’s doing a really good job. He obviously comforts me a lot, talking about how he was the same way his first year and year two. I got to keep getting better and keep improving and that’s what coaches want to see.”
(on how much the game has slowed down) “I mean, it has definitely. This year I actually know what’s going on out there. I know the routes instead of dropping back and figuring out what ever yone is doing at the same time and then trying to figure out what the defense is doing. I think it’s more just playing the game and just trying to put the ball in those guys’ hands.”
(on what helps him more: film or practicing) “I think both. I think this year I’m putting a lot more work in with the film aspect of it. Last year, I was just trying to study the plays and figure out what everyone was doing and where everyone was supposed to be. Now that I know that, I think being able to understand tendencies. I still got to be able to anticipate things better and throw the ball quicker. But, like I said, I’m just trying to keep growing.”
(on when he changed his routine) “I think just this offseason. Last year, it was a privilege to be on this team and I realize that not a lot of teams keep three quarterbacks. I think you’ve really got to earn your spot in this league especially. You can’t take anything for granted. I’m going to really control what I can control. If that’s being the first one in here, then that’s what I’m going to do. It kind of lets me get in the right direction for the day and keep doing the same thing every day.”
(on if he see’s himself competing with the starters) “Oh yeah, absolutely. Obviously, I’ve been in that p osition last year where a guy breaks his leg, and (Ryan) Mallett gets hurt. You get thrown in there with the dogs. I don’t want to do what I did last year. I want to be able to go out there and help the team. I’ve been in the locker room when the guys won the last game and it was all up to another team. That’s what coach says, ‘We don’t want to put anything in anybody else’s hands.’ We want to be able to win and keep playing.”
(on if his mindset changed this offseason) “Yeah, especially for younger guys. I don’t think I realized it last year and I try to emphasize to the rookies now, it’s a catch up game. It’s not really like we come in here and we’re as good as these people and we understand what’s going on. It’s full blown catch up. You have to try to catch up to everybody. That includes whoever, Duane Brown. He’s been in the league for a really long time, so you’ve got to be able to go out there and show them that you can be in there and take control and be out there with them.”