NASHVILLE – Titans quarterback Logan Woodside learned plenty from the 2020 season, even though he played sparingly.
At the start of training camp, his mindset was clear as he began his fight to be the team's No.2 QB behind starter Ryan Tannehill once again.
"I just want to be consistent each and every day," Woodside said. "Ryan has taught me a lot, and I have learned a tremendous amount of stuff from him. I just want to make a mirror image of what he does and put that into my game a little bit.
"The past few days (to start camp) have been good. Training camp is always a fun time of the year, and it's been awesome."
A former Toledo star who paid his dues on NFL practice squads and also in the Alliance of American Football League, Woodside hopes to further establish himself as the team's backup. This year, he's competing against DeShone Kizer, the former Notre Dame quarterback who has spent time with the Browns, Packers and Raiders in the NFL.
In 2020, Woodside made his NFL debut as a reserve at quarterback and appeared in six contests on the season. He completed a seven-yard pass on a fake punt in the team's win at Baltimore.
"First and foremost, for me, it's always, 'What can I do to help our team?," Woodside said. "I want to do everything I can when I get opportunities, and with Ryan, anything he needs, watching film, being there for him at practice, on the sideline, anything I can do to help him that's what I want to do.
"And I want to make the most of my opportunities when I get a chance."
As for the competition with Kizer, Woodside said it's nothing new.
"My whole life I've had to compete, and I've tried to raise my game through competition," Woodside said. "DeShone has been great. We've been working hard together, and I've been learning things from him, and I'm sure he's doing the same, so it's been good."
A 6-foot-1 inch, 213-pounder who was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round (249th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, Woodside has impressed those around him this offseason following a year when he completed 1-of-3 passes for seven yards in the six games he appeared in.
Woodside said he feels like he's a lot further ahead of where he was last season, based on how he did against the team's defense in practices as the scout team quarterback a year ago.
Among other things, he's focused on improving his footwork this offseason.
"I feel like the offense is more familiar with me, and I really don't have to think a whole lot because I try to prepare myself to get ready," Woodside said. "I just try to go out and do what (OC) Todd Downing is asking of us, and get our offense and the team in the right play and going in the right direction."
Because of the pandemic, Woodside wasn't able to play in a preseason game last season.
He's excited about showing how much he's improved in games this August. Titans coach Mike Vrabel has already said Woodside and Kizer should be prepared to play plenty.
In four preseason contests in 2019, Woodside completed 46-of-76 passes for 539 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating was an impressive 99.6. Woodside started the 2019 preseason finale against Bears and played the entire game. He finished the night completing 17-of-29 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, good for a passer rating of 104.4. An elbow injury put him in Injured Reserve for the 2019 season, but it didn't keep Woodside from learning and developing.
"I am fired up about the preseason, just to get back out there and show what I can do, and as a team it's an opportunity for some of the younger guys to get out there," said Woodside, who established program records at Toledo in passing yards (10,514), touchdowns (93), passing efficiency (162.87) and 300-yard games (17) during a four-year career.
"I just have vivid memories of a couple of years ago in the preseason, how much fun that was. Going out there and competing at a high level in the preseason I think is very important not only for me, but really for everybody trying to fight for a job."
