He acknowledged that when he analyzes his practice work, he doesn’t want to be “super result-oriented,” as cliché as that might be. As an example, if he had a pass play and the defense dropped into a zone, he wonders if he could fit a pass in down the field.
“Well, now’s the time to try,” Beck said. “In the game, the checkdown will be open, but you’ll never know if you can make that throw or test things.
“It’s all trial and error.”
LaFleur said Beck’s Sunday practice – the last practice before LaFleur spoke – was Beck’s best. The coach also said he was encouraged by the level being played by the second- and third-units. That’s important given that it will be those players on the field Thursday.
Beck said he wouldn’t be nervous, noting that the last time he thought he was nervous for a game was when he was 8 playing for his Pop Warner city championship.
“It’s a game at the end of the day,” Beck said. “Not really any nerves. More excitement than anything.”
That comes back to Beck’s age and experience, as a 24-year-old who was in college football for six seasons. He played in multiple high level college playoff games. A start in a preseason game, albeit one nationally televised, won’t faze him.
“That’s one of the best things about him, all of his experience,” Hackett said. “His age, his understanding that things are going to go good, they are going to go bad. You can never get too excited, you can never get too frustrated.”