QB Deshaun Watson (8.1.26)
Deshaun (Watson), you guys were down in Miami a couple weeks ago together, you, Shedeur (Sanders) the QBs. How much have you seen carryover from what you were able to accomplish down there as you have eased into camp?
“I think the biggest thing that has been carrying over is just the relationships that we’ve built. The time, not just on the field, but off the field, hanging out, going to dinner, and just being around each other has been great. You can see the chemistry and the bond between the team is really good.”
Deshaun, how do you feel like you’ve performed in your first few days of camp so far?
“It’s been decent. Just working on the different situations we go through each day, just trying to master that while learning the new system. Of course, we had all spring, about 10 weeks, to learn the system, but once you get into training camp, there are a lot of different changes and things that he (Todd Monken) throws in. So, it’s been good. Been trying to stack each day. You can’t win all the days at once, so you take one day at a time, correct the mistakes you make, and build from there.”
Coach Monken was talking about cadences the other day. He wants to have at least 10 different cadences in a given game. Is that a lot? Have you been through days where you had to know that many cadences for a game?
“Yeah, actually, when I first got into the league, that was very heavy in Bill O’Brien’s system, which came from the Patriots’ Tom Brady tree. Everything was required for the quarterback to make the reads, the points, the cadences, and make sure everyone was on the same page. So, this is definitely something I’m familiar with.”
Physically, Deshaun, how do you feel?
“I feel really good. I feel healthy. I’ve just got to continue to build that football shape. I think that’s the biggest thing I’m working on through this process each day, just trying to build that endurance, build that football shape, because it’s been a while since I’ve really been on the field with 11-on-11.”
Is it tough at all going back and forth? One day you’re with the ones, one day you’re with the twos.
“Yeah, I mean, it can be, because it’s hard to build that rhythm. But at the same time, as a quarterback you just try to lock in. You’ve got to be a leader out there, and you’ve got to bring everybody to that standard, and you all have to play that way. So regardless of what group you’re in or who you’re in there with, you’ve got to make sure you execute at a high level. It’s definitely challenging, but at the same time, you can’t make that an excuse.”
Deshaun, we’ve heard other quarterbacks talk about this, what’s the fine line for you as a quarterback between testing things out versus not wanting to or being afraid to make mistakes?
“I think it just depends on the period and what we’re working on. Certain things we work on, like third-and-long, so if we have those opportunities, and we talk in the meetings if we get a certain look, it’s, ‘Hey, let’s be a little bit more aggressive. This is the time to see if we can make those throws, if the receivers can get their depth, have those timing routes.’ This is the perfect time to make all the mistakes you possibly can, because it doesn’t really count. You don’t want to be in a game, and you haven’t run that and have it go wrong. So, there’s a fine line, but you just have to know and understand what we’re working on.”
I know it will intensify when the pads come on, but so far in training camp, what is the offense getting from the looks the defense is giving you guys daily?
“It’s multiple – they’re doing all types of different stuff, showing us different things. It’s really good, especially for the quarterbacks, running backs and O-line, just protection-wise. They’re showing us different things every time, and each group is getting different looks. Just because the first group goes up and you think the second group is going to get the same look, they switch it up on us. It’s been awesome for us to be in the meeting rooms and see the different things and try to work on them now.”
Deshaun, given that you know this is the time to make a few mistakes and air it out, how concerned are you with the back-to-back interceptions on day one and then another one to Quincy (Williams) yesterday? Are these just things that happen early in practice when you’re figuring out how far you can take things?
“Of course. It goes back to timing, the little things with depth and when the ball is coming out and coming back down to the catch point. But then again, we have a really good defense, so they’re going to make plays too. Sometimes you want to be aggressive and they’re going to make plays, and we’re going to make plays. I think it would be really bad if we were completing all the balls and touchdowns and the defense wasn’t making plays. We have a really good defense and a really good offense, and we love to compete. We learn from those. I put it in the memory bank, so I know that against this look and this play, I’ve got to be a little more cautious about trying to be aggressive.”
On the Quincy interception yesterday, what did you see on that play?
“I was just trying to squeeze it in on the IB (Isaiah Bond) route toward the middle. There were something that, Quincy, when I talked to him, it was a wing-wing set and he saw the chip, so he came back by the side, and every progression is on the right side. So, it was about seeing the backside coverage, it happened on the first day too. I go up to him, he comes to me, he tells me different things, and when we get them on the opposite side, he asks me what I’m looking at. It’s been really good to learn from each other and compete.”
How are the GoPro cameras used in meetings, and what are you getting out of them?
“The biggest thing with the GoPros is being able to see where our eyes are. First off, in the huddle, being able to call the play and see who we’re looking at, and then once we get up there, seeing our eye progression once the ball is snapped, seeing where our eyes are going, looking at the defense. It’s a good point of view, a different point of view for us to be able to learn and study.”
Deshaun, how much of getting back to form and playing at the level you want to be about getting back to the speed of the game? Is that something you’re still getting acclimated to?
“That’s going to grow. That’s when the pads come on and bullets are really flying. But the biggest thing for me is just letting my instincts take over – not doing anything extra, not doing anything less, just staying balanced and letting it come. Day to day it’s getting better, and honestly, I think the biggest thing is just playing football. Whenever the preseason games come up and we’re out there playing, I think that’s where we can learn. Each game is just an opportunity to get better at it.”
How much are you looking forward to getting some preseason snaps, whether it’s all three games or however many Coach Monken decides on?
“I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t played football in a long time, so for me, it doesn’t matter how long I play or how many games I play, I just want to play football. A lot of people wrote me off and said I wouldn’t be playing football again after two Achilles injuries. I’m proving that wrong and proving myself right. It’s a great opportunity for me to get out there and showcase what I can do.”
Coach Monken has talked about, now that you’re healthy, wanting to utilize your athletic ability and mobility more, with more designed runs. How do you feel about that part of the offense?
“I’m comfortable with it. We’ve had short talks about that. I think he knows, he came from coaching a guy in Lamar (Jackson), who won two MVPs and used his legs as much as he was throwing. I think he knows how to call the right plays at the right time for the quarterback to use his feet. So, I’m going to trust him and the coaching staff, and whenever those plays are called, I’ll just try to execute.”
Do you have a time in mind for when you’re hoping Coach (Monken) makes a decision on the starter?
“I have no idea. I’m just taking it one day at a time, and I think the organization and the coaches are going to make the best decision for the team, and you just go from there.”
What would it mean to you if you do come out and play like you did in 2020? To go six years without playing like that, how incredible would that be?
“It’d be awesome. That’s what I’m playing for, that’s what I’m training for and working for. That’s what’s been on my mind the whole time, just playing really good, productive football so we can win a lot of games here. That’s the ultimate job. You’ve got to win in this business and if you’re not winning, they’re going to find somebody else. But that’s the ultimate job: come out, play well, produce and win.”
There’s been talks about the rookies impressing like KC (Concepcion) and Denzel (Boston), but the rookies overall, how impressed have you been, and how much do you think they’ll help boost the offense and the team?
“I think KC and Boston have been doing a heck of a job picking up the offense, being able to learn from the veteran receivers in the room – but just making plays. I think just being able to see them come out here and go up for balls, making contested catches, has been really good. I think they’re going to be very productive and helpful for this offense.”
How does your accuracy feel? The last time you played live ball, in 2024, you said your arm wasn’t completely 100% ready. How does it feel now? How is the ball coming out? Is it going exactly where you want it to go?
“I’m two years removed from my shoulder injury, really three years, ‘23. Coming back in ’24, I was only about seven or eight months removed from that injury – wasn’t where I was comfortable with it, but you know when they’re investing, you’ve got to play, you’ve got to perform. But; you can’t make that an excuse. Right now, sitting here talking to you guys, I feel very comfortable, very strong, fluent. Now it’s just building trust within the receivers, because everyone runs different routes and we have different types of guys. Being able to call that trust and let it rip, I think that’s the biggest thing and don’t be afraid of it.”
Jimmy Haslam was asked yesterday about the potential of you coming back next year, and he left the door open, saying anything could happen. Do you view it that same light? That there’s potentially a future here in Cleveland?
“Oh, for sure. When I first got here, there was a lot of stuff going on, as the world knows. But I don’t have any bad feelings toward Cleveland. I love Cleveland. Me and my wife have our house on the east side, so we’re here all the time. We were here this summer. If you ask around, I’m at pretty much all the restaurants, hanging out, so I haven’t had a bad experience outside of different times in the stadium. I don’t know why that narrative is out there that people think that I don’t like Cleveland. My family and I have been enjoying our time here, if the opportunity shows up, we’ll see where it goes.”
Last year when you weren’t playing, you were still meeting with and helping (Dillon) Gabriel and (Shedeur) Sanders. What does Shedeur look like now, after that?
“He’s definitely improved; he’s grown a lot. You can see it within his fundamentals, his reads, being able to execute, call the plays. You can tell he’s a lot more comfortable, and that he’s been putting in the work to be able to be where he is right now.”
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