Titans backup quarterback Logan Woodside shares his thoughts on preseason games being canceled and reflects on his high school and college days.
Nashville Tennessean
On March 17, about two months after the curtain fell on the Titans’ 2019 season, Logan Woodside was slinging passes to Corey Davis and Anthony Firkser.
Woodside posted video of the throwing session to his Instagram account.
Somewhere, Pat O’Hara was smiling.
“I kind of told (Woodside) last year when he was on IR and he was working really hard, I was like, ‘I want you to win thatoffseason program award,’” the Titans quarterback coach recalled Thursday. “And he did.”
Titans coach Mike Vrabel announced earlier this month that Woodside was one of three offseason award winners for the team, further endorsement of Woodside as he makes his case to be Tennessee’s backup quarterback. Titans general manager Jon Robinson could look to sign a veteran free agent to stash behind Ryan Tannehill — names like Blake Bortles is still available — but it’s evident Woodside will have every chance to win the role.
“He’s earned the opportunity right now to earn the job,” O’Hara said. “The rest remains to be seen.”
The NFL’s cancellation of its 2020 preseason games is one less opportunity for Woodside to prove himself. The 25-year-old quarterback has said he planned to “treat practice like games” as he makes his case.
Asked about what Woodside needs to do in training camp practices to cement the QB2 job, O’Hara said, “Consistency. His approach every day — which has been good. Him being able to operate our offense, he’s shown the ability to do that. I anticipate him being able to continue doing that. Logan knows that it’s a day-to-day evaluation.”
A factor that O’Hara brought up unprompted was Woodside’s experience in the now-defunct AAF. In early 2019 he was a starter for the San Antonio Commanders before the league filed for bankruptcy.
“It wasn’t the NFL, but he’s had some pro snaps as a full-time starter in the Alliance, and that really helped him,” O’Hara said. “Certainly he carried that over to the preseason last year.”
In 2019, Woodside made appearances in all four of the Titans’ preseason games, including playing all of the last one in a win over the Bears. He completed 46 of 76 passes for 539 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
Woodside spent most of the 2019 on the team’s practice squad but was relegated to IR after an injury to his throwing arm.
Even then, O’Hara said Woodside was taking advantage of what was in his control.
“We set an individual development program for Logan a long time ago and it was demanding of him as far as him mastering the offense, the physical part when he was healthy, and then his individual plan of growing as a pro,” O’Hara said. “He really hit all of his marks. He’s done everything we asked him to do. And again, he’s earned the opportunity to compete for (the backup role). We all feel good about that. We’ll see how it plays out on the field.”
Reach Erik Bacharach at [email protected] and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.