http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/tom-savage?id=2543640 OVERVIEW Sat out two seasons due to NCAA transfer rules. 2013: Started all 13 games for Pittsburgh. Left Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Bowling Green with a rib injury. Threw just three interceptions in final nine games. 2012: Transferred to Pittsburgh prior to 2011 season. Did not play due to NCAA rules. Did not feel new Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez played a style of football to fit his game. Wanted to enroll at Rutgers again but hardship waiver to play immediately was denied. 2011: Transferred to Arizona prior to 2011 season, but did not play due to NCAA rules. 2010: Played in six games and made four starts for Rutgers. Ineffective early in the season before suffering a hand injury. 2009: Played in 12 games and made 11 starts as a true freshman. Was named the Scarlet Knights' Most Valuable Offensive Player after having the most passing yards (2,211) and touchdowns (14) by a true freshman quarterback in Big East history. 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. BOTTOM LINE Big, inconsistent pocket passer who took a circuitous route to Pittsburgh, where he played a full season for the first time since 2009. Is inconsistent and in need of more reps, but has ample arm talent to warrant developmental consideration if teams deem his intangibles worthy of an investment.
Kind of am digging what the Texans have done this draft. Nice to see them target some upside for a change. Still would have traded up and taken Manziel, but it's looking pretty good.
Probably won't pan out as it's extremely rare that anyone drafted from the 4th on does. BUT, hopefully the stuff about him not playing a game in 1,000 days due to a bad decision to transfer from Rutgers and Rich Rodriguez being hired at Arizona (not a fit) is the odd aberration that makes him the exception to the rule. Casserley said that teams can grade players differently depending on when they see them. Earlier in the year he looked like a 5-6 rounder. Later in the year he looked like a 3rd rounder. After not playing for so long due to the transfers, that's not surprising. Hopefully he's really that 3rd round grade with potential who fell because there's not a lot of good tape on him. I would've been fine with not taking a QB, but I'm not against the pick. I would've been if were a 2nd. But as a compensatory 4th, it's OK. He's not going to play this year and I hope the fans don't call for him like they did Keenum. He needs to develop and his chances are better of making it if he stays on the bench this year. Maybe two. I don't think us drafting him will prevent us from taking a top QB next year if the opportunity presents itself which is what I've been most afraid of with taking one of these QBs.
Savage? Derp level is high, hopefully not the Schaub elite level derp but just looking at the kid and there is some derp here.
Orlovsky had all the tools too. Why do you think Kubiak wanted him? He got fooled by his potential to. Not wishing that's the case but I'm not gonna fool myself on a project.
So, what's left? They need a DE. They need a nickle back. They need a scat back. They need a slot receiver. They need depth at RT. They need depth at LB. They need depth at DB. Anything I'm missing?
Orlovsky had already demonstrated his was nothing more than a journeman backup by the time he came here. He wasn't brought here because of his potential. He was brought here simply to be Schaub's backup. I don't think he even threw one pass as a Texan.
Savage hasn't demonstrated anything either except that he looks like a Pro QB and can throw a long ball. His statistics only solidify that. Not saying he can't get better but Bill didn't want this guy as his 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice. He is not expected to be the next franchise QB so let's all settle down now.
