Deshaun Watson. For all the talk about how Watson isn’t pro-ready, and came from a jenky college offense, Watson looked pretty sharp today. He made quick decisions, with confidence, and hit his spots on most of his throws. He did throw an interception, and had a few bad misses, but so did Savage, who’s only ever played in pro-style systems and was given the Texans starting QB job moments after Watson was drafted. This is literally the first time Watson has competed against NFL players on an NFL practice field. I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say, per the Texans media policy, in terms of specific play calls and formations, but let me put it this way – it seems like the coaching staff is doing everything they can to get him cozy with pro concepts, and are even changing some of what they do to fit what he’s most comfortable with already. In the end, as a back and forth with a Twitter follower made me think of today, whatever we and the staff see from Watson in practice, it’s probably not going to be as good as what he does in games. That is, after all, the main selling point on Watson. His performance when it matters. It’s what he did in his 38 starts at Clemson, two straight National Championship games against Nick Saban and Alabama, and that masterful game-winning drive and TD pass to Hunter Renfrow in the latest one. So even if Watson looks awful in for the rest of the offseason, until he’s consistently bad on the field, in meaningful games, with the first-team offense, he’s given us no reason to think he won’t be the player he was the last few years for the Tigers: a future franchise QB.
Tom Savage. Savage just seemed off today. He missed on a number of throws, and saw his deep ball die multiple times on a day where there wasn’t much wind. For a guy who at times looked like best QB in camp the last two seasons, he simply wasn’t that guy today. That’s fine. Everybody has off days. Even LeBron, apparently. But considering the dynamic – the Texans just drafted his presumed replacement in the first round, and gave up another first round pick to do it – it’ll be interesting to see how Savage handles the QB competition. You’d think this is something he’s used to at this point, having to transfer from Rutgers after losing his job to injury, then getting to start only one year at Pitt due to injuries, then losing chances at the starting job in each of his last three seasons with the Texans due to injuries. But that could also make it harder. Only once in my career have I ever said that an athlete choked: Brian Hoyer, who gagged in both the 2015 regular season opener and AFC Wild Card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Why? To me, because for Hoyer, that was his last real chance at an NFL starting QB job. He was never going to get it with the New England Patriots or Arizona Cardinals – or even with the Cleveland Browns. But with the Texans, and Bill O’Brien? Maybe. Looking back, it stands to reason that he pressed. Tried too hard. Wanted it too bad. And, ultimately, folded. I’m not saying that’s happening with Savage, who it’s worth noting dipped not one but two questions today about Watson: first, about how he’s handling helping him learn the offense, second, what he thought of his performance. But if he keeps looking like this, and unlike the guy we’ve seen for three years prior, I probably will.
Will Fuller. First, no drops today from Fuller, who was drafted in the first round a year ago and may have been an honorable mention in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race of not for a bad case of the dropsies. He caught a few deep balls, and some others over the middle, and didn’t put any on the turf. Even better, he didn’t double clutch any passes the way that he often did last season, even on the ones he was able to pull in. I haven’t talked to Fuller, and so can’t tell you that he’s worked on it, but I’ll say this – it looks like he’s worked on it. Which is good news.