Brisco_County
Apples and roadmaps
I'd like to see what Savage can do with actual protection. At least we know he throws the prettiest spiral.
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- Thread starter PockyAF
- Start date
I'd like to see what Savage can do with actual protection. At least we know he throws the prettiest spiral.
bah007
Hall of Fame
The protection Savage is getting isn't great but it's not terrible either. The reason he is under pressure so often is because he holds onto the ball too long. He looks more comfortable in the offense. The next step I'd like to see is him getting faster mentally. That internal clock has to speed up.
He might hold onto the ball too long sometimes, but at least he's attempting to look downfield and throw the ball down there, unlike someone who throws the ball out so quick and not even attempting to at least look downfield to see if anyone is even open or not.
PHILLYTEXANFAN
Saddle Up Partner
Could he be holding on to the ball too long be due to WRs not getting separation??
xtruroyaltyx
Hall of Fame
So in a few more years Savage will have the experience that mallett and Hoyer have in the offense now.
OB can't pick a starting qb for a week from now. I have no faith that he sees anything for savage in a year/years from now other than a future participant in his yearly qb battles.
OB can't pick a starting qb for a week from now. I have no faith that he sees anything for savage in a year/years from now other than a future participant in his yearly qb battles.
texanhead08
All Pro
If the season goes south I hope they give Savage a month of starts to see if there is a future with him as the starter.
Marshall
Not pretty, but ALIVE!
I noticed the consistently tight spiral as well. He throws a good ball, but he'll have to learn the pre throw well enough it's second nature and NFL speed.
speedfreek
All Pro
I bet he gets a start this year. Mallett is brittle and Hoyer likes to implode
midway through the season -- history usually repeats itself.
midway through the season -- history usually repeats itself.
If Hoyer is named the starter, then Mallett failed. He's done, needs to go. Savage should move up to the #2 spot & get back-up QB reps to prepare him for the game should his number be called.
jmo
jmo
Marshall
Not pretty, but ALIVE!
Mallett has value to teams facing QB injury now because he performed well, but not well enough. If we have a rash of injuries or a pressing need other than QB, he is a trade asset this year. Savage has stepped up enough to be the backup if necessary. But Malett has more value than he did last year.
bah007
Hall of Fame
That would certainly be possible. But that's not what I've seen.
One of his big warts coming out of college was how many sacks he took. He had a bad habit of holding the ball too long. Almost like he didn't even consider that guys might be trying to tackle him while he's sitting back there. He doesn't feel the pressure, which is a good quality. He'll stand back there and take a hit. And he doesn't panic. But it can be a bad quality too.
He has improved in that regard. But not enough that it isn't still an issue. I'd like to see him maintain the fearlessness, but also make an effort to get the ball out quicker.
badboy
Hall of Fame
while I agree, Savage should have a better more consistent offensive team surrounding him than he did in college as well as better coaching. I am really hoping that the new starting QB does well and allows Savage time to develop.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
Yeah, I think he just needs to have more of a sense of urgency getting the ball out. He needs to be quicker and more decisive with his reads. But he's made a lot of progress since just a few months ago. That's very heartening.
I think you're onto something. Savage is giving the downfield patterns that extra second or so they need to develop. You don't get those downfield opportunities by releasing the ball as soon as you complete a 3-step drop. O'Brien even commented on the fact that we're not looking downfield enough for his liking.
Nitrofish
Let The Big Fish Eat!
Hoyer is the brittle one. He tore his ACL simply sliding FFS. Malletts injury was in the gym in a dick measuring contest. That is where he blew his chance to lead this team. Had that not happened, if Hoyer was brought in at all, it would have been as a backup with no QB competition.
I agree. Since they named Hoyer the starter I think they should look to trade Mallett to the Jets for one of their running backs. I would take Ivory. Not going to happen though. We will probably play all 3 QB's and trade for Keenum after all three go down to injury knowing out luck.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Mallett is as good as gone. Don't quite remember the contract details, but if he can walk away after this year he will. If he can't, he will ask for release. IMHO, I wouldn't stay around this situation. Even if he does replace Hoyer at some point, you know OB is going to bring someone else in next year.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
2 years so it isn't up to him other than as you say asking for release/being disgruntled. 0 cap hit for cutting/releasing him after this season.
The same can be said for Hoyer by the way.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
I hear ya about Hoyer. I just don't think OB sees Mallett as anything other than a hedge bet. If Hoyer doesn't work out, I won't assume the job is Mallett's even if he finishes the season as the starter.
Hervoyel
BUENO!
Yep. Texans knew without any doubt they would be kicking one of them to the curb after 2015
Yep. Unless Mallett lights it up and takes this team deep into the playoffs, I think they'll be looking for a QB next year too. Of course this is assuming that Hoyer gets injured or fails miserably, which most here believe/hope will happen. I hate to say this but, unless this team fails badly this season and gets one of the top picks (for Cook or Hackenberg), it's chances for finding that top QB with what's left out there, get pretty small. Hopefully, The Texans season will not be a failure and Savage can develop into a solid starter or they can find a gem in the later rounds of the Draft like N.E. and Seattle did. Who knows, maybe Savage is that gem and we just don't know it yet.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Over/Under on Cassel being in camp next year...
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Third time's the charm?
He will be UFA so I'm calling it now. No way OB can resist...
If one of the Texans "3 Amigos" don't step up this season and we have no chance of drafting Cook or Hackenberg, then Cassel would be a sure thing!
Seegara
Guitar Picker, Dog Lover, Woodworker
It were better to throw Savage in there and let him develop in real game situations during the season. He would get there faster and he was already doing better than Hoyer. That's not to say his top side would be franchise quality; that remains to be seen. But finding out while having a better season at the same time, in heaven's name why not?
NVM
I really do think that is what sank Mallet's ship. Right there. For O'Brien to be so noncommittal on deciding who the starter would be at his Sunday presser, yet to make the comment of not throwing the ball downfield enough, to me, that just screamed Mallett.
I don't know if more hints behind his decision will show up on Hard Knocks tonight, but I'm betting the editors are looking for some.
I'm thinking Mallett going through with a QB sneak on 3rd & 4 without showing initiative to change the play on his own or at least calling a timeout to ask, "WTF?" probably resulted in a demerit or two on O'Brien's QB eval sheet.I really do think that is what sank Mallet's ship. Right there. For O'Brien to be so noncommittal on deciding who the starter would be at his Sunday presser, yet to make the comment of not throwing the ball downfield enough, to me, that just screamed Mallett.
I don't know if more hints behind his decision will show up on Hard Knocks tonight, but I'm betting the editors are looking for some.
xtruroyaltyx
Hall of Fame
I wonder if the Hefty Lefty, Jared Lorenzen is still eyeing a comeback
Let that guy stay with the river monsters.
Maybe. But it would be a tough call, knowing the coaches are calling plays to evaluate players in particular situations. You'd think it was an easy call, but I can see not questioning the boss when your job is on the line. For all we know, Mallet probably thought they were testing his faith in their confidence in him, "QB sneak? Well, they want the ball in my hands on 4th & three. I am a tall Mf'er. Giddy up!!!"
I doubt that's what really happened, just wanted to throw that out there.
That's why I hate the idea of that kind of scenario beaing tossed around. It becomes one giant ouroboros and the best answer for the person being "tested" should become a middle finger right back at the test giver for waisting his time.
Mallett, or whomever, should be able to share the same confidence in his play caller as the play caller has in him.
Part of the eval should be knowing when to stand up to the boss when you disagree with his plan - or at least having the 'nads to go find out what he's seeing that you do not.
You do remember O'Brien's reaction to that play right?
1st, O'Brien Didn't make the call. Godsey did.
2nd, yeah, after seeing his reaction I'm sure Mallet understood he guessed wrong.
3rd, what would OB have said if they converted?
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
My 1st post after that clip was that OB was completely out of the loop. His exclamation was general disbelief - if anything he couldn't believe Mallett had called that on his own. I'm sure Godsey and Mallett both heard about that play later.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
I'm sure it didn't. OB said preseason meant dick.
Of course he also said there was a competition.
I believe there was a competition in so much as if Mallett had played completely lights out or Hoyer had completely faltered then we would have seen something other than the default position of OB just feeling more comfortable with Hoyer.
The competition played out within the parameters of default.
The competition played out within the parameters of default.
Well, for the record, I didn't want Hoyer either. But I wanted to see what Savage could do. The only reason why he's not the starter is because he was a 4th round draft pick. We all know the circumstances why. But if other teams can stick a rookie (2nd year)QB in there to develop, why can't we do that here? How do we know that Savage isn't the 'franchise' answer? Just from what I saw this preseason, I liked what I saw out of Savage more than I did Mallet.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
So, I guess since Mallett didn't win it, there wasn't one, right?
I think Lucky summed it up well, echoed by a ton of other folks, posts going back to Hoyer signing, all the insider 'leaks' oh and the absurdity of Hoyer shining in closed practices. No, there wasn't one, not if competition is meant to convey something approximately even handed.
Just exactly what I thought. O'Brien's a bald-faced liar. Doesn't care about winning. Has no interest in making any decisions in the best interest of the team. Doesn't care if he wins or not. It's all nothing but a big f'cking scam.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Do you always operate in absolutes? One can critique OB's obvious manipulations of this QB situation and it not be a referendum on the entire character and abilities of the man.
Mallett (& Savage) couldn't beat out Ryan Fitzpatrick last season .... and now you expect him to beat out a guy who actually played pretty decent in Hoyer ?
That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of Hoyer - Just telling it like it is about Mallett & Savage. Neither of them are going to save us.
IMO Hoyer has looked the best of the three so far .... and the "upside" of Mallett & Savage has yet to show itself .... This is the Keenum syndrome all over again - We don't know what he can do but some would take the potential of the unknown over 8-8 / 9-7 (Not good enough).
Marshall
Not pretty, but ALIVE!
Savage is greatly improved, but still a step slow to get rid of the ball. The draft position is not the whole story, but probably a part of it.
Starting a quarterback with relatively unknown ability but great potential "just to see what he can do" sounds like a reverse game of Russian roulette - you hope to hit the loaded cylinder sooner rather than later. Let's try Mallett a few games. Didn't work? - let's give Savage a shot. Didn't work? - spin the cylinder again.
Of course, such Russian roulette might be preferable to Hoyer if he plays like Fitz did last season. The offense during the Fitz games was many times borderline unwatchable.
Starting Hoyer is like playing Russian roulette with a semiautomatic pistol.
Starting Hoyer is like playing Russian roulette with a semiautomatic pistol.
In this version of the game they want the gun to go off - I didn't realize you were such a Hoyer fan.