Texans Should Not Overlook Tom Savage In 2016

With the Houston Texans riding a hot four game win streak and after a stellar performance by Brian Hoyer, this team’s future rests on former fourth round pick Tom Savage

Quarterback Brian Hoyer as a Houston Texan, has achieved a passer rating of 100 or more in five of the eight games he has started this season. Although Hoyer may have dismantled the New Orleans Saints 31st ranked defense in the league, Houston cannot pen him the starter following the 2015 season.

Taking a look ahead of Houston’s remaining five games this season, the Texans are a viable playoff contender. As Houston sits at the top of the AFC South tied with the Indianapolis Colts, it appears very plausible the Texans can finish the season 10-6 if not 11-5.

Even if Houston manages to win out the rest of the season as they ride a four game win streak, their 2016 quarterback looks to be on the current roster .

Tom Savage suffered a sprained right shoulder in the 2015 preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys. After an MRI revealed Savage would miss the first four to six weeks of the season, he was promptly placed on injured reserve effectively ending his season.

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Brian Hoyer went on to win the starting job and Ryan Mallett had an ugly exit as he was released mid-season. Had the Texans kept Tom Savage , he might have seen his number called to start games this season. However, he never had the opportunity to play one down this season.

Most media and fans demand that no matter the result this season, they want to see a quarterback drafted in 2016 as Brian Hoyer is not seen as a quarterback worth investing another season into. Although Hoyer should not be handed the starting job in 2016, the Texans do not need to look past their roster to solve their quarterback woes.

Tom Savage was drafted in the fourth round by Rick Smith as a developmental quarterback seen as the possible future of the franchise. Coming out of Pittsburgh, Savage displayed the ability to stand tall in the pocket with his 6’4 230 lbs. frame and make pro style reads.

Since entering the NFL, Savage has shown his ability to throw the football with power as well as having the athletic ability to make plays with his legs.

Savage, as a professional quarterback, has all the tools the win. He is matured coming out of three high-end college football programs in Rutgers, Arizona and Pittsburgh. Savage has all the physical traits as well as intangibles a professional team searches for in the position with prototypical size and arm strength.

With Rick Smith coming under fire in recent weeks, the worst thing this franchise could do is pressuring the front office to select a quarterback high in the draft. Savage has shown in preseason games that he can perform even while undermanned offensively with a patchwork offensive line and no go to weapons.

Houston may indeed win out the rest of this season as they have won their past four contests. The Texans need to prepare for the 2016 offseason as the quarterback position still needs to be clearly addressed, and no matter how this season ends, Houston needs to stick true to their scouting. This front office staff drafted Tom Savage with the idea he could takeover in a few years. Houston has a bright future with Savage, as long as he has a fair opportunity to compete in 2016.