Houston Texans Positional Breakdown: Quarterback

Dec 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) throws the ball during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Hoyer – 6’2″, 215 Pounds, 29 Years Old

Another guy with ties to the Patriots and Bill O’Brien, Brian Hoyer was undrafted out of Michigan State and is a new face to the Texans after coming over in free agency from the Cleveland Browns. Hoyer would like to try and compete for the starting job, but I don’t see how he can beat out the upside Mallett has.

Some Background Info;

Hoyer has bounced around the league with New England, Pittsburgh, Arizona and Cleveland before this season. For a brief spell in Cleveland he looked to be their answer at quarterback, but then an injury cut his season short and in 2014, the team took rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round and Hoyer performed rather inconsistently for the Browns last year.

With a young guy on the staff and Hoyer finishing with a completion percentage of 55.3% and a quarterback rating of 76.5 (not to mention more interceptions, 13, than touchdowns, 12) the team decided it was best to let the veteran test free agency.

So he once again joins coach Bill and there are now two quarterbacks on the roster who know the staff and the system very well. This should make Houston feel very comfortable knowing their backup will be so familiar with what is expected, regardless of who eventually starts.

Hoyer, like Mallett has a cannon for an arm and that strength jumped out at times when he would deliver passes in Cleveland. Sadly, way too many of those passes seemed to fall incomplete last season.

While this could be as much about the horrid Browns receivers, it may also be due simply to Hoyer being nothing more than an average quarterback. This may be the case as he has a career completion percentage of 56.5 with 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

What To Expect This Year;

I expect Hoyer to do a lot of clipboard holding this season for the Texans. There is not much I see out of him that makes me feel like he will lead a team into the playoffs, much less on a playoff run. What he can provide is a viable backup to fill in for a game or two and keep the wheels from falling completely off.

Next: A Young Guy To Develop