Preseason football is an interesting mix. It’s both exciting and a drag.This is Greg Olsen’s 9th preseason. Does a veteran like him really need to risk his regular-season availability in these games?

“I think you do need to play a little bit. I wouldn’t like to just practice for four weeks and go out there for the first time and get tackled. You want to get those under your belt in the first preseason game. It would be great to play a couple series, get a pass or two, get tackled, get hit, bounce up and get into a flow and rhythm of an offense.”

This is also year No. 9 for Ryan Kalil. He’s not legitimately … what’s the word … excited, right?

“I’m excited. We’re going to mix up some different things and test some different stuff with what we’re doing. I don’t think it’ll be super vanilla, which I’m excited about. I’m excited to see how the guys play and how we play as a unit.”

But Olsen said …

“I think these exhibition games, especially these first ones, as far as the older guys and starters and first group out there, is just about going through the process, going in and out of the huddle, getting lined up, getting the ball snapped, executing a vanilla, basic offense.”

So, Ron Rivera, how much will we see Cam Newton and the rest of the super vanilla-to-vanilla offense against the Bills?

“We’ll take him into the first quarter, and we’ll evaluate it and go from there. Pretty much, he’s going to play in the first quarter. He’ll play predominantly when No. 1’s are in. We’ll attach him with a couple of the other guys, so when he goes out, they’ll go out.”

Those guys are likely offensive linemen, who will get a quick but good challenge against a Bills’ defense that features sack specialists Jerry Hughes and Mario Williams, right coach?

“They have a good group, especially pass-rushing group. This will be a really good test for us as a unit to see how we’ve been working and how that translates to the game.”

Speaking of “Super Mario,” he had 4.5 sacks against the Panthers a couple years ago. Remember that, Nate Chandler?

“Yeah, but that’s in the past; we’re moving forward. You can call him whatever you want but I trust the guys in our room, I trust myself, the quarterback, every position, we’re going to get the job done.”

All right, we’ll look forward. What are you most eager to see, coach?

“I’m looking forward to seeing what we have in terms of our young guys. I’m excited for what we have in terms of front line guys and starting 11 on both sides of the ball, but I am excited about some of the young guys and free agents we brought in. I’d love to see some of those guys compete and really see what they’re going to bring to the table and if they really are capable.”

With starters playing about a quarter, what’s a best-case scenario for them?

“I’d love to be able to see a couple of drives go seven or eight plays then turn around and get a three-and-out on defense. You want that; I don’t know how feasible it is in your first preseason game, but we’re really looking for consistency, guys making plays, guys taking advantage of opportunities. As far as the ones are concerned, consistency is probably a big word. The second and thirds are guys we’re going to put in a position to make plays.”

Are there any position groups you’ll have your eye on?

“Wide receiver, most certainly. We got five or six or seven guys who are really at it right now and are battling … One of the things that the young guys have to learn is to play physical and catch the ball in traffic. It’s going to be great to watch Funchess when he gets a test, and he’s in traffic and going against NFL corners.”

Anything else?

“Defensive end, especially with Charles Johnson not playing, it’s going to be a shot for a lot of guys, a lot of opportunities. Who knows, maybe one of those young guys or free agents this year will flash a little bit … Everybody says we’re going to do it by committee, which is fine, but if one guy steps up and becomes a watermark, I think everybody then competes to get more playing time.”

Oh yeah, you’ll also get to meet up with new Bills’ coach Rex Ryan. You played under his dad, Buddy. What do you remember about Rex from back then?

“That he was always around. Buddy used to have a saying I’ll tell that hopefully Rex won’t take personally. Buddy used to say, ‘I have a bunch of nice boys, but I don’t want them playing for me.’ That used to be funny. We’d always laugh about that. I remember Rex and Rob being around training camp. They’re good dudes and good guys to hang around with. They’re a couple guys that every now and then I’ll run into at the combine or someone along the scouting line and get to talk and visit, and we reminisce about their dad. I know he’s still alive, thank goodness, but we’ll talk about the things his dad did and how he developed that 46 defense.”

Anyway, what do you want to get out of this game, Cam?

“We want to win. This game is nothing different than any other game.”

But it is. It doesn’t count. Get in, knock some rust off, leave healthy. That’s what matters most. The preseason doesn’t mean a lick once the season starts, right coach?

“It’s 50-50, some people feel they do, some people don’t. I was on a Super Bowl team that won one game in the preseason. We were 1-3 and then won 15 games in the regular season.”

50-50 is a good way of putting the importance of the preseason. And since Olsen is often best at painting the bigger picture, he gets the final word:

“Momentum in this league is powerful. One good preseason series or two leads into a good half leads into a good third preseason game playing almost the whole time, and then we roll into the first week. These games, individually don’t mean a whole lot, but they do mean a lot for the process going forward.”

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