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Is Tom Savage A Long Term Option?
- Thread starter gtexan02
- Start date
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Absolutely not. Anything he may show in Osweilers place will be a mirage due to how bad the QB play has been.
I'm hoping the QB for next year and beyond isn't on the roster right now.
I'm hoping the QB for next year and beyond isn't on the roster right now.
I think he could be the long term solution ... IF ... he can stay on the field.
But that is a BIG if. Like someone else has said, I was a Savage fan before it was cool. I think he's got the skill and the tools, but his inability to avoid injury is frustrating.
If he can get thru the Bengals game still standing up, I'm confident about winning the game.
But that is a BIG if. Like someone else has said, I was a Savage fan before it was cool. I think he's got the skill and the tools, but his inability to avoid injury is frustrating.
If he can get thru the Bengals game still standing up, I'm confident about winning the game.
texanhead08
All Pro
Its true BOB said he told the team Savage would start at his press conference today.
Scooter
Funky
I'm at least 95% sure that Savage is not any type of long term answer. Everybody loves the backup quarterback, and when the starter is the league worst ... well the bar isn't exactly set very high. The ovation at the game was both hilarious and awesome when it was announced that Savage was coming in. So, for the rest of this season I'll hope to be proven wrong as Savage shows he can play. Realistically we will enter the offseason desperate for a starting quarterback ... again.
HouSportsWriter
SIAB
I would start savage next year and have Brock back him if savage fails we trade up and draft a QB like Lamar Jackson and have a battle between Savage and our rookie and release brock
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
Don't remember where I got #5 scoring defense but regardless their defense isn't the reason for their 2 win season
False Start
On # 69
Are you related to Weeden? Is this another case of Hulk75?
at the very least... I think PapaL nailed it
Well, their rushing defense sucks, but we couldn't run on them. They have a good passing defense and that's where we hurt them is all I was saying.
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Their linebackers are great and as handsy as Ramsey is,he'll be a hof'er. Their defense may not be great but they have the talent to be really good. No small obstacle.
Hoptimus Prime
Waterboy
HOF is a massive stretch, but yeah, he's really good
bigmck
Rookie
Damn, Damn, Damn...........Thanks for posting the article
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Perhaps. I see greatness in that guy.
Texan_fan_13
Needed: OL now that we have a QB worth it
I agree with you here on this. And I've been long saying that Osweiler dances around way too much before the snap. What i really mean is he is always changing the play at the line so i think it causes confusion but i also think it telegraphs plays to the opposing defense. It is why runs fail. and why D-hop is getting no separation because however its happening the other team knows what is coming every time. We went from no audible Schaub to wont shut up Osweiler.
Savage hit d-hop in stride, something that has not happened since 2015. He has touch, so as you guys talk about the two near interceptions. It don't think it was luck. I think it was touch something osweiler sorely lacks. I can't believe we are 8-6 have the number one defense and have a Quarterback issue. Sorta sounds like ...like...wait...the 2015 denver broncos. I'm going to hold out hope because healthy Tom Savage sure looks like an upgrade over a a broken peyton manning and look what happened there.
I'll wait until this season is done before I start to plan, in earnest, for next year.
Don't get me wrong, Smith and the scouting staff better be getting film and putting together scouting reports on what QBs should be on our 2017 draft board as we speak.
But, if I'm O'Brien I'm trying to win a division and get somewhere in the playoffs right now.
Per SporTrac, Savage will be under contract through 2017. He will be owed all of $765K next year. That's also the last year of Osweiler's guaranteed money. So if Savage actually works out to be a long term answer, they can just flip what they gave Osweiler to Savage and, hopefully, be grooming a fresh, new (and cheap) draft pick QB for the future.
Oh and I'd keep Weeden for the #2 man while the draft pick learns this system.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
YESTERDAY VS the JAGS
xtruroyaltyx
Hall of Fame
We'll see how he finishes the year. Right now I still think this team needs a franchise qb.
But at least I can find something fun about watching the Texans again.
But at least I can find something fun about watching the Texans again.
Supertoad
Rookie
YESTERDAY VS the JAGS
Amazing! This is why Savage is the answer. Our craptastic Swiss cheese on-line is actually a benefit for Savage. For Brock he folded like a cheap beach umbrella and fell down. I'm so excited for Texans football for the first time in years!
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
Someone a hell of a lot smarter than I am is going to to have explain that one to me.
Scooter
Funky
Savage's numbers were higher when pressured and blitzed. Fun stat, but an anomaly until proven otherwise.
stonewhite
Rookie
Savage will be a hall of famer.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Dude, think all of us but Thorsson are glad that Savage is getting a chance, but let's not play revisionist history. Brock had decent feet and was one of the fewest sacked QBs in the league. His isssue was quite the opposite of folding. It was trying to extend a play when the obvious answer was throw it away and created needless INTs.
Hervoyel
BUENO!
It doesn't help when guys can come out as juniors too. Not saying Savage did that just adding to what you already said about how they rush them these days. Now you have to hurry up and get them playing and they're even sometimes starting out a year younger than they used to.
Hervoyel
BUENO!
Calm down young man I'm sure they're gonna let your daddy play again eventually.
usernameJJ
Waterboy
Weeden suited as the #2 when Savage had his arm infection. So you're wrong on that one. And Weeden is our savior crap is where you're wrong on point #2.
OB said we have 3 good QB's but we can call BS if we want to. I call BS!!!
But I sure loved me some Savage on Sunday
OB said we have 3 good QB's but we can call BS if we want to. I call BS!!!
But I sure loved me some Savage on Sunday
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Link:
Prior to Sunday, Savage had not played in a regular-season NFL game in more than two years. He spent last season on injured reserve after spraining his shoulder during a preseason game. During training camp, O'Brien praised Savage's knowledge of the offense.
"He's the same guy every day," O'Brien said. "He's a very consistent person. He's been the same guy as far as his personality and how he approaches his day-to-day workload since he arrived here. He's a hardworking guy. He's done a lot to work in the weight room to change his body. He's worked to get in better shape over the years.
"He's always trying to do something to prepare, and I think as far as leadership in the huddle, he communicates the play well. He can throw the football, and that more than anything can spark a team ... when you complete some passes."
Prior to Sunday, Savage had not played in a regular-season NFL game in more than two years. He spent last season on injured reserve after spraining his shoulder during a preseason game. During training camp, O'Brien praised Savage's knowledge of the offense.
"He's the same guy every day," O'Brien said. "He's a very consistent person. He's been the same guy as far as his personality and how he approaches his day-to-day workload since he arrived here. He's a hardworking guy. He's done a lot to work in the weight room to change his body. He's worked to get in better shape over the years.
"He's always trying to do something to prepare, and I think as far as leadership in the huddle, he communicates the play well. He can throw the football, and that more than anything can spark a team ... when you complete some passes."
banned1976
sleeper mode
If the Brock signing was between BoB and Rick Smith and all McNair did was say "find me a quarterback", both guys are terrible evaluators of QB talent. If that's the case, both guys should be on the hot seat. Even if McNair said "lets sign Brock" one of those guys should have stepped up and said he's not the guy, we like Savage and we'd like to draft another QB to groom.
The Texans dilly-dallied around with the QB position for the first 2 years of O'Brien's term here and now we have to trust them to make a good decision with that position in the draft? I can't do it. I honestly believe O'Brien does a very good job of coaching QB's. Fitz had his best year here, Hoyer did well as well. Winning records w/o having a stable QB situation. But Brock apparently is a lost cause. I know people that still think Brock will be a good QB some day make excuses - the line is terrible, the coaching has been bad. True. But there are probably 10-15 quarterbacks in the same or worse position as Brock and they all outperformed him.
Unless McNair forced Osweiler on the team, like he did with Ed Reed where even the DC didn't know what was going on until he was signed, someone needs to lose their job. McNair has to know the fans see it. We see the ineptitude from the people who are paid to evaluate talent, specifically QB talent are completely clueless. Savage will probably leap the low bar that Brock has set, but there are 3rd string QB's that could do that. I like that Savage is starting, I like that O'Brien made the change when he did but I don't know how good he can be or how durable he can be (so far not so much) to actually be considered a long term solution at the QB position in Houston.
Interesting, and sometimes entertaining, thoughts on Savage in this post. It made me think of a future scenario, that, if it happened, would be fantastic and somewhat hilarious! Can you imagine if Savage took the Texans to the Super Bowl and they won! That would make BO the 1st QB to be benched in back-to-back seasons and have 2 SB rings! 
After re-watching the game, my hope is back.
I think I like Savage a lot, now.
He's a totally different QB than the one from 3 years ago.
I'd have to pour over the game film some more, but so far I like it quite much.
I don't want to jump for joy yet; however, I will say that I'm more impressed than watching it live.
At the very least, it looks like Savage had been putting in a lot of work to improve himself, and he's making good stride.
I think I like Savage a lot, now.
He's a totally different QB than the one from 3 years ago.
I'd have to pour over the game film some more, but so far I like it quite much.
I don't want to jump for joy yet; however, I will say that I'm more impressed than watching it live.
At the very least, it looks like Savage had been putting in a lot of work to improve himself, and he's making good stride.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
It's interesting to look back at his NFL.com Draft Profile:
*********************************************
Analysis
Strengths
Terrific size. Sets with balance. Easy, compact, high three-quarters release. Spins a catchable ball. Excellent arm strength to complete NFL throws -- capable of sticking outs from the deep hash or launching balls 60 yards on the money. Experience in pro-style offense. Smart and hardworking. Solid personal and football character. Has tools to work with. Team captain.
Weaknesses
Needs to speed up his clock and show better awareness in the pocket. Needs to quicken his eyes, expand his field vision and learn to manipulate safeties. Tends to stare down his target. Forces some throws into traffic. Erratic accuracy. Slow of foot -- not a scramble threat. Can improve play-action fake. Had some duds -- struggled against Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Mental toughness needs to be looked into.
*********************************************
He's always had notable strengths. Now over the last 3 years, he looks to have possibly grown out of most of weaknesses................with more room to grow. The next game is bound to help better determine which direction he is headed.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
QB Tom Savage offers downfield threat Texans have been missing
8:36 AM CT
HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans may not know exactly what they’ll get from quarterback Tom Savage in his first NFL start on Saturday, but he likely will offer an improvement in the team’s ability to throw the ball farther down the field.
The Texans’ offensive identity this season has been in their running game, led by starter Lamar Miller and an offensive line anchored by veteran left tackle Duane Brown. Though the Texans have won games this season by leaning on that ground game, opponents have been able to stop them through the air, or at least limit them to short passes.
Savage took over for Brock Osweiler in the second quarter of a victory Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars and was 26-of-39 for 260 yards, which was one of the best passing games the Texans have had this year.
One area in which Osweiler especially struggled was throwing downfield. On passes thrown 15 yards or more downfield on Sunday, Osweiler was 0-for-2 with two interceptions, while Savage was 4-for-8 for 89 yards. In 14 games this season, Osweiler averaged 5.75 yards per attempt, which is on pace to be the NFL’s third-lowest average in the last five seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
DeAndre Hopkins involved heavily in the offense. The fourth-year receiver had eight catches for 87 yards, which is the most yards he’s had in a game since Week 2. In Houston's seven most recent games before Sunday, he had just one with more than 60 receiving yards.
Osweiler was intercepted on his lone throw to Hopkins on Sunday, his ninth interception while targeting the Pro Bowl receiver this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Savage was 8-of-14 targeting Hopkins. The eight receptions were tied for Hopkins' second-most in a game this season.
"You know that he’s one of the best receivers in this league, and it was good to show that today,” Savage said.
In 2015, Hopkins ranked third in both targets (190) and receptions (111). Through 14 games this season, he is tied for ninth in targets and tied for 23rd in catches.
On Saturday, against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Texans will face a passing defense ranked 13th in the league. The Cincinnati secondary, led by cornerbacks Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick, has allowed an average of just 241.6 passing yards per game.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has put his faith in Savage for the Christmas Eve matchup against the Bengals and has praised the third-year man for his accuracy and proficiency against the Jaguars. “I thought he threw the ball very accurately,” O’Brien said. “I thought he made the right reads. It wasn’t perfect. There were some things that he needs to improve on, but I thought he made some good throws, made some big throws. A couple on third down. A couple down the field. Some were caught. Some weren’t caught, but I thought they were in the right spot.
“He’s worked very hard to know our offense. He’s a good practice player. Now he has to continue to be a good player on Sundays -- or Saturday night.”
8:36 AM CT
- Sarah BarshopESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans may not know exactly what they’ll get from quarterback Tom Savage in his first NFL start on Saturday, but he likely will offer an improvement in the team’s ability to throw the ball farther down the field.
The Texans’ offensive identity this season has been in their running game, led by starter Lamar Miller and an offensive line anchored by veteran left tackle Duane Brown. Though the Texans have won games this season by leaning on that ground game, opponents have been able to stop them through the air, or at least limit them to short passes.
Savage took over for Brock Osweiler in the second quarter of a victory Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars and was 26-of-39 for 260 yards, which was one of the best passing games the Texans have had this year.
One area in which Osweiler especially struggled was throwing downfield. On passes thrown 15 yards or more downfield on Sunday, Osweiler was 0-for-2 with two interceptions, while Savage was 4-for-8 for 89 yards. In 14 games this season, Osweiler averaged 5.75 yards per attempt, which is on pace to be the NFL’s third-lowest average in the last five seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
DeAndre Hopkins involved heavily in the offense. The fourth-year receiver had eight catches for 87 yards, which is the most yards he’s had in a game since Week 2. In Houston's seven most recent games before Sunday, he had just one with more than 60 receiving yards.
Osweiler was intercepted on his lone throw to Hopkins on Sunday, his ninth interception while targeting the Pro Bowl receiver this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Savage was 8-of-14 targeting Hopkins. The eight receptions were tied for Hopkins' second-most in a game this season.
"You know that he’s one of the best receivers in this league, and it was good to show that today,” Savage said.
In 2015, Hopkins ranked third in both targets (190) and receptions (111). Through 14 games this season, he is tied for ninth in targets and tied for 23rd in catches.
On Saturday, against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Texans will face a passing defense ranked 13th in the league. The Cincinnati secondary, led by cornerbacks Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick, has allowed an average of just 241.6 passing yards per game.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has put his faith in Savage for the Christmas Eve matchup against the Bengals and has praised the third-year man for his accuracy and proficiency against the Jaguars. “I thought he threw the ball very accurately,” O’Brien said. “I thought he made the right reads. It wasn’t perfect. There were some things that he needs to improve on, but I thought he made some good throws, made some big throws. A couple on third down. A couple down the field. Some were caught. Some weren’t caught, but I thought they were in the right spot.
“He’s worked very hard to know our offense. He’s a good practice player. Now he has to continue to be a good player on Sundays -- or Saturday night.”
I don't think the Texans are done with Brock Osweiler. Watching the all 22 all year, he just looks like a guy who needs experience, more time in the system.
I know he isn't a rookie & I expected him to come along a lot faster. I bet the Texans expected him to come along a lot faster as well. But they signed him for two years.
I still say, watching him he doesn't look bad. He doesn't look good, & definitely doesn't look great. But where he is lacking, imo, is anticipation & understanding how a play is supposed to attack a defense.
76Texan said, after watching the film, that Osweiler doesn't make the best decisions. I agree with that. But he wasn't making bad decisions. Just making the right decisions two or three times a game & I think we would have seen what made the Texans think he could be something.
With that in mind, I think there will be a QB competition that Brock will most likely win next season, unless Tom plays very, very well. Then Brock will be on the bench waiting for an opportunity.
I know he isn't a rookie & I expected him to come along a lot faster. I bet the Texans expected him to come along a lot faster as well. But they signed him for two years.
I still say, watching him he doesn't look bad. He doesn't look good, & definitely doesn't look great. But where he is lacking, imo, is anticipation & understanding how a play is supposed to attack a defense.
76Texan said, after watching the film, that Osweiler doesn't make the best decisions. I agree with that. But he wasn't making bad decisions. Just making the right decisions two or three times a game & I think we would have seen what made the Texans think he could be something.
With that in mind, I think there will be a QB competition that Brock will most likely win next season, unless Tom plays very, very well. Then Brock will be on the bench waiting for an opportunity.
Hervoyel
BUENO!
Interesting, and sometimes entertaining, thoughts on Savage in this post. It made me think of a future scenario, that, if it happened, would be fantastic and somewhat hilarious! Can you imagine if Savage took the Texans to the Super Bowl and they won! That would make BO the 1st QB to be benched in back-to-back seasons and have 2 SB rings!
That would crazy epic and I'd love it.
Number19
Hall of Fame
Precisely
Speedy
Former Yeller Dweller
Let's remember too that we've been watching really bad QB play for 14 games so watching Hoyer from last year looks good to us right now.
I'm as excited as I've been for 2 seasons now, if not longer, but Savage still has to prove himself. Yeah, I liked what I saw a lot Sunday, but it was just 2 1/2 quarters against a team that didn't prepare for him or a legit Texans pass game at all.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Strangely enough, if you think about it, Savage has actually been O'Brien's only truly "virgin" hand-picked Texans QB.
******************************************************************************************
Tom Savage Has Been the One Constant Since Bill O'Brien Arrived with the Houston Texans
Patrick Starr
9:29 AM
Tom Savage is the one quarterback that has been the constant in the Houston Texans quarterback room since Bill O'Brien's arrival.
The choice has been made by Bill O'Brien to continue the late season push to the playoffs with Tom Savage at the helm. What is lost in all of this is the fact that Savage was the hand-picked quarterback of O’Brien from day one.
The actual connection started when O’Brien took over the Penn State head coaching vacancy in 2012 and recruited Savage after he transferred to Arizona from Rutgers. Unable to land him, O’Brien kept an thumb on Savage after he transferred to Pittsburgh to finish up his college career.
When O’Brien first took over the Texans job in 2014, he personally took trips to see prospects up close. During that draft process, O’Brien went to Pittsburgh to personally workout Savage. At that workout, O’Brien personally scripted over 100 passes for him at his pro day and, despite conditions being on the cold side, he impressed the 28 teams that were in attendance including O’Brien. The Texans met with Savage at the pro day and had a formal interview with him at the NFL Combine.
It was clear that the Texans had Savage on their draft board and when the 4th round arrived, the Texans selected him with the 135th selection.
The growth of Savage over three training camps has been clear and the intentions were always to have him as a developmental quarterback, to see what he can be when the time was right. The biggest jump for Savage was from year one to year two, especially when he took time out to use goggles with a camera to help him see the field from his point of view. He looked much more developed as a passer in 2015 compared to his rookie season. In 2016, he was clearly the most well-versed in the Texans offense and was the clear cut best quarterback in camp to start the season.
The issue was that by the Texans placing Savage on the injured reserve in 2015, the direction changed and forced the organization to look for the best option available.
On January 11th, shortly after the end of the Texans season, Savage made a proclamation on how he was going to handle the unknown quarterback situation of the Texans future after the failures of Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.
"They can draft 12 quarterbacks," he said in January of 2016 at the end of the season. "I am going to be ready to go. I am definitely excited about competing and that still falls under the category of controlling what I can control. I am not up there. I don’t make those decisions, so all I can do is be ready to compete."
Savage’s season was taken away from him in 2015 due to a shoulder injury he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys in the final game of the preseason. With two quarterbacks in front of him, the Texans opted to place Savage on the injured reserve and use his roster spot for another position group. That proved to be one of the clearest mistakes by the Texans during the O’Brien era.
"Every night, every night," said Savage on thinking about his season ending in 2015. "It was tough, but that is a really tough spot to be in as a coach when you have that awkward timing for an injury like that.”
Injuries have plagued Savage in his three seasons with the Texans. As a rookie, he injured his knee which ended his season in his first appearance as a quarterback. In year two, a shoulder injury in a meaningless fourth preseason game ended the 2015 campaign before the regular season even started and this season, he had a scare with an infection involving his elbow on the trip to Green Bay which required antibiotics and a trip to the hospital to correct.
With the injuries and setbacks behind him, patience came into play for Savage, something he struggled with in his college when his lack of patience made him look for a new school after Rutgers forced him to split time despite being a Freshman All-American. Savage himself said he should have been more patient with his college career and that issue set him in the position he is in now.
Brock Osweiler entered the picture and, as often happens with a calculated risk, the gamble has not materialized as most had hoped. The patience that Savage lacked as a young man paid off in a big way when he finally hit the field for the first time in 735 days to bring the Texans back in a 21-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“He’s a very consistent person. He’s been the same guy as far as his personality and how he approaches his day-to-day workload since he arrived here," explained O’Brien of Savage. “He’s a hardworking guy. He’s done a lot to work in the weight room to change his body. He’s worked to get in better shape over the years.”
The work has been done and Savage has been the one constant in the quarterback room over the past three seasons. Quarterbacks have come and gone, he has seen multiple quarterbacks shuffled in and out of the roster. The learning experiences have been there for Savage and now it is his turn to step to the plate.
If there is one thing going for Tom Savage, he has been the only quarterback under O’Brien to be conditioned to think exactly like O’Brien from day one. Savage is a symbol of everything O’Brien wants with the Texans and he was the only hand-picked quarterback with a clean slate ready to mold as an NFL quarterback. Savage is O’Brien’s own product from the Texans way of coaching from day one; he is not like other quarterbacks who have been shaped by other coaching staffs. Savage is an O’Brien product and now the time has arrived to see what he has been coached to do.
"I'm going to win that job," said Savage in that same interview about how his season ended before it began at the end of 2015.
Savage has won the job like he said he would. Now it is up to him to prove that the answer for the Texans has been in house the entire time.
******************************************************************************************
Tom Savage Has Been the One Constant Since Bill O'Brien Arrived with the Houston Texans
Patrick Starr
9:29 AM
Tom Savage is the one quarterback that has been the constant in the Houston Texans quarterback room since Bill O'Brien's arrival.
The choice has been made by Bill O'Brien to continue the late season push to the playoffs with Tom Savage at the helm. What is lost in all of this is the fact that Savage was the hand-picked quarterback of O’Brien from day one.
The actual connection started when O’Brien took over the Penn State head coaching vacancy in 2012 and recruited Savage after he transferred to Arizona from Rutgers. Unable to land him, O’Brien kept an thumb on Savage after he transferred to Pittsburgh to finish up his college career.
When O’Brien first took over the Texans job in 2014, he personally took trips to see prospects up close. During that draft process, O’Brien went to Pittsburgh to personally workout Savage. At that workout, O’Brien personally scripted over 100 passes for him at his pro day and, despite conditions being on the cold side, he impressed the 28 teams that were in attendance including O’Brien. The Texans met with Savage at the pro day and had a formal interview with him at the NFL Combine.
It was clear that the Texans had Savage on their draft board and when the 4th round arrived, the Texans selected him with the 135th selection.
The growth of Savage over three training camps has been clear and the intentions were always to have him as a developmental quarterback, to see what he can be when the time was right. The biggest jump for Savage was from year one to year two, especially when he took time out to use goggles with a camera to help him see the field from his point of view. He looked much more developed as a passer in 2015 compared to his rookie season. In 2016, he was clearly the most well-versed in the Texans offense and was the clear cut best quarterback in camp to start the season.
The issue was that by the Texans placing Savage on the injured reserve in 2015, the direction changed and forced the organization to look for the best option available.
On January 11th, shortly after the end of the Texans season, Savage made a proclamation on how he was going to handle the unknown quarterback situation of the Texans future after the failures of Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.
"They can draft 12 quarterbacks," he said in January of 2016 at the end of the season. "I am going to be ready to go. I am definitely excited about competing and that still falls under the category of controlling what I can control. I am not up there. I don’t make those decisions, so all I can do is be ready to compete."
Savage’s season was taken away from him in 2015 due to a shoulder injury he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys in the final game of the preseason. With two quarterbacks in front of him, the Texans opted to place Savage on the injured reserve and use his roster spot for another position group. That proved to be one of the clearest mistakes by the Texans during the O’Brien era.
"Every night, every night," said Savage on thinking about his season ending in 2015. "It was tough, but that is a really tough spot to be in as a coach when you have that awkward timing for an injury like that.”
Injuries have plagued Savage in his three seasons with the Texans. As a rookie, he injured his knee which ended his season in his first appearance as a quarterback. In year two, a shoulder injury in a meaningless fourth preseason game ended the 2015 campaign before the regular season even started and this season, he had a scare with an infection involving his elbow on the trip to Green Bay which required antibiotics and a trip to the hospital to correct.
With the injuries and setbacks behind him, patience came into play for Savage, something he struggled with in his college when his lack of patience made him look for a new school after Rutgers forced him to split time despite being a Freshman All-American. Savage himself said he should have been more patient with his college career and that issue set him in the position he is in now.
Brock Osweiler entered the picture and, as often happens with a calculated risk, the gamble has not materialized as most had hoped. The patience that Savage lacked as a young man paid off in a big way when he finally hit the field for the first time in 735 days to bring the Texans back in a 21-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“He’s a very consistent person. He’s been the same guy as far as his personality and how he approaches his day-to-day workload since he arrived here," explained O’Brien of Savage. “He’s a hardworking guy. He’s done a lot to work in the weight room to change his body. He’s worked to get in better shape over the years.”
The work has been done and Savage has been the one constant in the quarterback room over the past three seasons. Quarterbacks have come and gone, he has seen multiple quarterbacks shuffled in and out of the roster. The learning experiences have been there for Savage and now it is his turn to step to the plate.
If there is one thing going for Tom Savage, he has been the only quarterback under O’Brien to be conditioned to think exactly like O’Brien from day one. Savage is a symbol of everything O’Brien wants with the Texans and he was the only hand-picked quarterback with a clean slate ready to mold as an NFL quarterback. Savage is O’Brien’s own product from the Texans way of coaching from day one; he is not like other quarterbacks who have been shaped by other coaching staffs. Savage is an O’Brien product and now the time has arrived to see what he has been coached to do.
"I'm going to win that job," said Savage in that same interview about how his season ended before it began at the end of 2015.
Savage has won the job like he said he would. Now it is up to him to prove that the answer for the Texans has been in house the entire time.
Yes, it does look like he had improved each of his areas of weakness.
Once you add them all up, it makes for the different QB that I was talking about.
It will take me several hours at least to go through the game film again in minutiae details, though I must say I had also improved myself in the process of going through the plays after more than ten years of extensive learnings.
It used to take me several days at the beginning, and I still had to go back over and over again.
Now, I have also improved on my areas of weakness, just the same as Savage seems to have done.
LOL .. yeah I imagine so. That would pit the Texans against most likely the Cowboys in the Super Bowl in NRG Stadium, after beating Brady and the Patriots in the snow in New England.
There would be a big hole in the ground in Nevada where Las Vegas used to be.
