ENGLEWOOD, Colo –Quarterback Brock Osweiler found himself under pressure more than once during Friday's training camp session. He was forced out of the pocket a couple of times and still managed to get off a catchable pass.
Once in an 11-on-11 session, Osweiler was chased out to his right and he found wide receiver Andre Caldwell just in bounds.
While the scrambling out of the pocket might be exciting for fans, a lot of the time, Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase wants him to be getting the ball out quicker.
"He has done well, every day is improvement," Gase said. "The hardest thing for him to get used to is that the (defensive) ends are coming quick, the (defensive) tackles are coming quick, and we have to get rid of the ball. That is what he has been working on.
"We just have to make sure we go through our progressions quickly and if it's not there, get it down to the backs. I think getting that first or second reading is the hardest thing for a young player to do."
The 6-foot-8 Arizona State product has what Head Coach John Fox called during minicamp an "ideal situation" with the opportunity to learn under Peyton Manning.
Fox said on Monday that he has seen Osweiler make a lot of progress.
"For any rookie, that leap from their freshman to sophomore year is tremendous," Fox said. "He has been the same way. He has a lot better feel for how we operate. What we do is a little bit tougher to learn than just a standard huddle-up, line up and play."
The preseason is an important time for any quarterback in a backup role as they stand to see a considerable amount of action on the field.
Osweiler saw limited action during the regular season in 2012. He completed two of four attempts in Week 17 against Kansas City – the only game in which he attempted a pass.
"Every snap you get in a game-like atmosphere is very important," Gase said after practice Friday. "That Kansas City game he got to play in last season is priceless for him. In the preseason it is huge for him."
Osweiler's talent has shown periodically throughout training camp, but Fox said that it would be hard to speculate whether or not he could be a starter if he played for a different team – out from behind Manning.
While he may not be in a starting role right now, Gase said that Osweiler needs to be ready for any time that his number is called.
"He knows that he needs to get better every day," Gase said. "Whether it is practice or preseason, you never know. He has to be ready to go and be ready to fill in that spot when he is called upon."
