It was the start of the second quarter in the 2017 College Football National Championship and Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers were in trouble.
After cruising past Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal, the Tigers had the chance to avenge their national championship loss to Alabama the year prior. However, just over a quarter into the game, the Tigers found themselves down 14 points and were struggling to move the ball on offense against a talented Alabama pass rush.
"There were some plays where, man, I saw him get hit hard, I saw him get beat up," Browns QB Jameis Winston – who was in attendance that night in January – said before practice Thursday.
"But he persevered."
Watson led the Tigers back, capping off his four total touchdown performance with a walk-off touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow to win the national championship for the Tigers.
"You can go out and see practice, you can knick knack, this that, paddywhack, give a dog a bone, Deshaun Watson is going to turn it on," Winston said. "He is always going to find a way to shine when the lights come on."
After watching Watson from afar, the 10-year veteran now spends most of his time with his fellow quarterback in the Browns' quarterback room and practicing alongside him on the field.
In order to be a great backup, Winston said, it requires being a great teammate. Winston has been sure to get to know his offensive linemen, receivers and running backs over the course of training camp.
Understanding other players' behaviors and preferences on the field is undoubtedly important – especially for Winston, who had a new roster of unfamiliar faces to learn when he was signed in March. But just as important, Winston said, is getting to know who each of his teammates are outside of practice.
"The most beautiful thing is just learning who they are," Winston said. "I really took pride in the time that we had together at The Greenbrier. Like those eight days allowed us to really get a chance to know who people truly are, understand their roots, understand things that they don't like, understand things that they do like."
With a reputation across the team as a vocal leader and glue guy in the locker room, Winston has been a valuable addition to the Browns roster. Whether it be taking part in viral TikTok trends with his teammates or running sprints with coaching and personnel consultant Mike Vrabel, Winston is clearly buying into his new position in Cleveland.
"Jameis has done a great job since day one," Stefanski said. "He definitely has an infectious personality. You hear him before you see him. Not surprisingly, he's a team guy all the way. He wants to win badly."
Winston has looked sharp in practice, connecting with WR Cedric Tillman and WR Jaelon Darden for long touchdown passes on Tuesday. The former Heisman winner has been locked in during practice but is particularly looking forward to making his debut in front of the Cleveland faithful on Saturday in the first preseason game against the Packers.
"That's the most exciting part, man. To get in that stadium, have those fans turned down on us, supporting us, being loud, 'Go Dawgs, go Brownies', I can't wait to just feel that atmosphere and go out there and get a win for them," Winston said.
Despite being in his first season with the Browns, this year is the first time that Winston feels like the true veteran in the quarterback room. He consistently expressed that it's not a role he takes lightly as he looks to help both Watson as well as fellow backups Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Winston knows the pressure that is placed on the shoulders of a starting quarterback in the NFL as a former franchise player for the Buccaneers. He gave his thoughts on Thursday on what he's seen from Watson, a player he said has high expectations for himself.
"To whom much is given, much is required," Winston said. "And he knows the magnitude and expectation that a lot of people have for him. But if you think Deshaun Watson has lesser expectations than all the fans, than all of you have for him, then you're short-changing yourself."
The Florida State standout is here to help Watson in whatever way possible, whether it be by providing technical, on-field advice or serving as a motivator for the eight-year veteran. But, Winston said, confidence isn't something Watson is lacking. He's seen him step up to the plate in big moments, both over the offseason as well as seven years ago against the Crimson Tide.
"I'm making sure that he knows that, and he doesn't even need my help because he has [confidence]," Winston said. "He already has possessed that, and I saw that in him when he won that national championship against Alabama."
