Houston Texans: Ryan Mallett, Go Seize What's Yours!

The Houston Texans are in full swing of OTAs and we’ve our favorite team members go out there and knock some rust off from the previous season.

For most players, it’s just a refinement of their skill set and to learn new schemes from the coaching staff.

For some, it allows some players that were behind-the-curve to get ahead of it.

I honestly can’t believe that there would be a professional football player that’s behind the eight ball but it happens.

Just think of the level of difficulty it takes to get to the highest level and to not be prepared is irresponsible and reckless at best.

But it happens.

For others, this is their first opportunity to shine in front of their future brethren and make a dynamite impression.

Last season, we were all witnesses to a quarterback battle and as we transition to the start of the 2015 season in a few months, this year will be none the exception.

At around this time one year prior, we were talking about how Matt Schaub was dropped quicker than a hot potato and what we we’d see out of Ryan Fitzpatrick after the Texans inked a deal with the veteran journeyman.

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We saw Fitz go up against hometown favorite Case Keenum and Tom Savage, our newly-minted 2014 draft pick.

Although I was hopeful that Keenum would work hard to win the starting job for the Texans, this competition wasn’t even close as Fitz clearly was the one that showed more poise throughout the off season workouts.

He was clearly the cream of a diluted crop and Bill O’Brien had no choice but to roll with him.

That was until Ryan Mallett came along.

The Texans were able to essentially sign Mallett for free, they only had to give up a conditional late-round pick in the draft for him.

Although Mallett made some impressions upon his arrival, he clearly wasn’t ready as he was acquired right at about the start of the season.

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Mallett finally got his opportunity to prove his worth Nov. 16th against the Cleveland Browns after Fitz was stinking it up so bad that O’Brien had no choice but to turn Mallett to create some type of spark.

The Texans were 5-5 at that point and something had to be done.

He went to throw for 211 yards with two touchdowns and one pick to lead the Texans 23-7 win with hopes of repairing the season.

But Mallett injured his pectoral muscle — allegedly during that game — and his season was over.

He waited four years to have a chance to start in the NFL and it all seemed to end in one moment.

Fast forward to the present.

Mallett is back, healed and with a fresh two-year, $7 million contract.

His candidacy for being the starting quarterback is alive and it’s honestly his to lose.

He will now battle with Brian Hoyer — a teammate when they were both with the New England Patriots — who was signed during the NFL free agency frenzy to provide additional depth at the position and give Mallett a push.

Oh yeah, Savage is still here but the real battle is between those two.

The good thing is that all QBs are currently getting reps while I’m sure O’Brien is working them plenty hard as they learn an ever-growing playbook for the upcoming season.

But here’s the deal.

Mallett WILL win that job because he has something, he has that IT factor, a fire in him that can’t be extinguished and is a leader by example.

But it honestly is his to lose.

Houston Texans: Ryan Mallett, Go Seize What’s Yours!

By Brian K. Patterson | Jun 2, 2015

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