PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s that time of training camp where it should be starting to click for the younger players and that’s exactly where quarterback Drew Allar is heading into the second preseason game Friday against the Jets.
The rookie led three scoring drives in three possessions to end the win over the Packers last Thursday. What we are seeing is him really starting to understand.
“I feel like it’s definitely slowing down,” Allar said Wednesday. “Even the play calls are slowing down in my headset. I felt like when I first got here it was very fast and I wasn’t sure what was being said in the headset. Now I feel pretty confident, especially when we are getting into game planning.”
And they did game plan against Green Bay and are doing it again facing New York. Allar said the structure of preparing for a game helps him and he’s now familiar with the different formations and motions in the Mike McCarthy offense.
“It makes it easier mentally when you are out there on the field, not thinking about how to say the play and going out and executing it,” Allar said.
That’s a change from where it was, Allar admits he was ‘swimming mentally’ during rookie mini-camp and through OTAs. He was trying to digest and retain a lot of information, not just with the playbook, but with his mechanics.
Now he’s able to go out and play football, not that he thinks he’s figured it all out even after a couple of passing touchdowns and rushing touchdown in his first preseason game.
“There are a couple of areas I still want to clean up,” Allar said. “There are one or two plays I would like to have back which is how it’s going to be every week no matter how good the performance or how bad the performance is. For me, it’s just continuing to be clean with my decisive decision-making and just be clean in my football and protections. Just master the fundamentals at this point to be able to go out there and play fast.”
Mike McCarthy breaks down Allar and Will Howard
He’s not alone, praising quarterbacks coach Tom Arth, but he also said Aaron Rodgers watched film with him. Rodgers pointing out how some of his actions could be better and allowing him to better understand what he’s seeing. Allar also said Rodgers and Mason Rudolph helped him during the game last week.
When he entered the game for the first time there were a series of ‘Drews’ being yelled across Acrisure Stadium and you start seeing number 16 Allar jerseys popping up around town.
“It’s pretty similar to Penn State,” Allar said. “I think that comes with the territory of being a quarterback in general. Fortunately, I went to a great school at Penn State, I feel that kind of prepared me for everything. I feel like that prepared me for everything.”
Now he’s likely to get even more reps against the Jets. Will Howard will start and then its Allar. He said he’s very excited anytime he gets an opportunity to play football.
After the performance last week, fans are growing excited to see him out there again.
Rookie to get more time as QB2 in preseason game 2
Rookie to get more time as QB2 in preseason game 2
