Elite players, regardless of position, understand how to maximize the value of practice. They do not waste reps, including the plays they are not physically involved in. Mental reps compound development because they allow a player to process more football than the practice script can give them directly.
For a quarterback, observation should still follow a disciplined sequence. Identify the front. Check the protection math and pressure indicators. Determine whether the middle is open or closed. Confirm man or zone, then work through the progression with the correct timing.
Avoid becoming the off-topic chatter on the sideline, recapping your day to your best friend while practice is moving. Now both of you have missed the rep. Find ways to help teammates stay focused on the work and protect the standard of the period.
Staying locked in is difficult, especially when you are waiting for your turn. That is exactly why it is an underrated skill. Do not stand behind the play and watch practice happen. Process every rep as though you are taking the snap.
Mental reps are one of the most efficient ways to accelerate command of the position. The discipline to stay engaged returns real value when the game speeds up.