The Houston Texans (1-4) will look to build momentum this Sunday as they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) in the first of their two divisional meetings.
Brian Hoyer will be under center for the Texans and this is unquestionably the best move for the team moving forward.
”It’s 11 one-game seasons (remaining), so (Hoyer’s) the starter for Jacksonville,” head coach Bill O’Brien said. ”I think over the last two games he’s gone in there with a really good attitude, with a calmness about him, with really good mechanics. Has he been perfect? No. But I think that … overall he’s played pretty well.”
Hoyer has recently performed well enough in O’Brien’s eyes to steal back the job Ryan Mallet stole from him. Last Thursday, Hoyer finished 24 of 31 for 312 yards and threw two touchdowns for the second straight week in Houston’s 27-20 loss to Indianapolis.
Mallet originally stole the starting job in the Texans’ season-opening loss to the Chiefs. In efforts to justify the switch, Mallet had a passer rating of 126.4 on his first drive and nearly led the Texan comeback before falling short.
Since that glimmer of hope for Houston fans, Mallet has completed just 53% of his passes, thrown three touchdowns and four interceptions to the tune of a 63.6 quarterback rating.
Let’s not forget Hoyer played well enough and earned enough confidence to win the starting job coming out of training camp. O’Brien said that if Hoyer struggled for several games, then the Texans wouldn’t hesitate to pull him and that is perfectly understandable when the difference between him and the backup is slim.
But instead, O’Brien reacted hastily and benched Hoyer in the first game on a day where he was constantly under duress with an offensive line in transition facing a ferocious Kansas City defensive front. Despite the constant heavy pressure, Hoyer finished that game with a 72.7 passer rating, a number Mallet bested only one time out of his three starts with a 75.6 rating against Tampa Bay.
Hoyer deserves more opportunity to show he can lead the team to success.
The last and maybe most compelling argument against Mallet being the starter is his leadership ability. The quarterback is the indisputable leader of NFL teams; he’s the face of the company. He must inspire all those around him to feel they have a chance to win each time they take the field. He has to be the standard.
Ryan Mallet has not been any of those things this season.
There have been concerns about his character since he left Arkansas for the draft and last Thursday did nothing to quell off those inquiries.
After he was forced to the bench by a hit he took in the second quarter of last Thursday’s game, he showed visible frustration and gave negative body language as Hoyer tried to lead the team back to victory.
Regardless of whether or not you’re in the game or playing well, part of being a team player is celebrating the success of the team and trying to help everyone do their best. Sitting in the corner and pouting is not what a leader does.
Everyone can understand the disappointment of losing your job but it gives you no excuse to let everyone see you’re disappointed you lost your job. Fake it until you make it. This immature display gives credence to those who were suspicious of Mallet after he “overslept” and missed practice the day after Hoyer won the starting job.
Texan fans should find solace in O’Brien’s recent decision as Hoyer will give the Texans the best chance on the field and he will continue to be a professional in spite of the team’s quarterback controversy.
“I’m just concerned about winning the game,” Hoyer said. “Having gone through what we’ve gone through at the quarterback situation, like I said, I’m going to take it one day at a time and then come Sunday, do whatever I can to help this team win and not worry about anything past that.”
