Houston Texans Make Mistake Starting Ryan Fitzpatrick

Again and again these Houston Texans find ways to disappoint me.

I’ve been front and center since week one that I wanted Ryan Mallett starting under center for this Texans team. Did I know if he was ready? Did I know how good or bad he could be? No, but I did know what Ryan Fitzpatrick brought to the table and that is mediocrity.

And nine games into the season I was right. Fitzpatrick led….errrr….didn’t screw up enough in wins over the Redskins, Raiders, Titans, and Bills, but didn’t do enough in losses to the Giants, Cowboys, Colts, Steelers, and Eagles.

Nov 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The truth is, Fitzpatrick probably isn’t even a top 25 QB in this league. And in terms of quarterbacks you want on your team for this year and the future he probably doesn’t rank in the top 32.

So why in the world are the Texans starting a journeyman quarterback again, just weeks after benching him?!? Well, their only other options are Tom Savage and Thaddeus Lewis.

Let’s just spend a few useless words on Thaddeus Lewis; No thank you. There you have it. Shouldn’t see a snap.

Now, Tom Savage? Honestly, I don’t know what to say. I’m not in practice and didn’t watch much of him in the preseason. Is he ready? According to pretty much everyone on Twitter and based on how the coaches are handling the situation it seems like he is not ready.

I have an issue with this though. Head coach Bill O’Brien refused to switch quarterbacks earlier in the season because Mallett wasn’t “ready” to take over. Do I have a hard time believing that? You bet. I don’t think Mallett learned THAT much more in those several weeks sitting on the bench watching that craptastic quarterback play. I have a hard time believing all that time on the bench was the reason he was successful against the Browns.

So now I’m supposed to believe that Savage isn’t ready either? O’Brien hasn’t exactly impressed me thus far, so can’t give him the benefit of the doubt quite yet.

Am I blaming O’Brien on this quarterback mess? Kind of, I mean it sure seems like he’s the one controlling the quarterback carousel, not GM Rick Smith – who by the way also needs to be fired.

It’s O’Brien who is likely making the call to go back to Fitzpatrick, which I believe is another TERRIBLE mistake he’s making. The Texans need to go to Savage for the next five games. Instead, O’Brien is sending a message to his locker room saying they’re not going to tank and still try and march towards the playoffs.

That’s cute and all but it won’t happen.

I’m somewhere in between an optimistic fan and a realist, and even I don’t see a scenario where the Texans make the playoffs. The AFC is too good for the Texans to clinch a wild card berth, and the Texans are 2 games behind the Colts for the division, a lead they won’t be able overcome.

My problem is that the Texans think they could still make the playoffs when in reality they simply can’t. And it appears ONLY after the Texans are mathematically eliminated will make the switch.

Oct 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) is hit after he throws the ball by Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

And I hate it. I hate it so much!

The Texans next two opponents are the Titans and Jaguars, two very easy opponents whom they will likely beat because their talent outside of Fitzpatrick is good enough. That brings the Texans into Indianapolis with a 7-6 record, still likely two games out of the division.

At that point the Texans will very likely lose – unless Andrew Luck quits football – and then we will see Savage.

Is their a chance the Texans could make the playoffs? Sure, but I think it’s so unlikely that it’s not worth wasting valuable NFL experience for Savage.

The Texans drafted Savage in hopes of him potentially being the future at QB. Now is the chance to see what he has got, even if he’s not “ready” for action. Practice reps with the third-teamers won’t get him much better.

For now I sit in a state of frustration and confusion. The so-called QB guru totally mishandled his first test at QB – however much of a mess he initially inherited – and he’ll be making his second mistake of his short career so far. He took too long to start Mallett and he’ll wait too long to start Savage.

Houston Texans Make Another Mistake Starting Ryan Fitzpatrick…Again

By Yoni Pollak | Nov 28, 2014