STEPPING UP: Second-year linebacker Pete Werner isn’t new to the starting lineup; he started eight of 15 games as a rookie last year, when he had 62 tackles, four tackles for loss and a quarterback hit. But as of now, with Kwon Alexander on the free agent market, he’s a primary starter with Demario Davis at the position.
“I don’t see it like that right now,” Werner said Monday. “I just see an opportunity. You’re given (only) so many opportunities in the game of football, and it’s what you’re going to make of it. I see this as kind of a time to grind. Going into this second year, you can appreciate knowing the defense a little bit more, so I see this opportunity as, I’m going to make an impact out of this and I’m going to put my head down and work.”
Werner said after missing a few games last season, he’s working on increasing his durability.
“Trying to strengthen some of those smaller muscles was a big focus this offseason,” he said.
But also, he has been able to increase his playbook knowledge based off what he experienced last season.
“It’s a lot easier,” he said. “You’re stressed, you’ve got so many different emotions going in your mind as a rookie, but knowing that you have the playbook in the back of your head, you’ve been through it for a year now, you can take that stress away and focus on the deep ins of the playbook.
“You can start diagnosing film a little bit better, not only understanding what your responsibility is from a playbook standpoint, but opening up your vision and seeing what the offense can do. Looking at those certain tendencies a little bit easier, understanding what’s my responsibility here as far as what the playbook tells me to do.”