Savage looks to limit mistakes as Texans host San Francisco
HOUSTON—Tom Savage threw for a careerhigh 365 yards last week before the Houston Texans were once again done in by one of his turnovers in a loss to the Tennessee Titans.
The latest error left Savage searching for a way to limit his mistakes as the Texans (4-8) prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers (2-10) on Sunday.
“Now I'm being labeled as a fumbler and a turnover machine, which I know I'm not,” Savage said.
“It comes down to just executing and doing it and then just proving to yourself you're not a turnover guy.”
Savage gained that label by losing seven fumbles and throwing six interceptions in just six starts this season. Ten of those turnovers, including all of his interceptions, have come in the past four games where the Texans have gone 1-3.
While acknowledging that he has to cut down on his turnovers, the Texans are also quick to point out the improvement that he's
made in other areas of his game since taking over when Deshaun Watson was injured in November.
“He does a great job of understanding it's about winning and it's about putting the ball in the end zone,” quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan said.
“We still didn't get that done. So, for as good as the performance was, as much as it can help him individually … he realizes that ultimately we didn't get done what we needed to get done, so there's certainly a lot of room for improvement.”
While Savage is only filling in for the season as Watson recovers from a knee injury, the 49ers may have found their quarterback of the future in Jimmy Garoppolo.
Acquired before the trade deadline from New England, Garoppolo shined in his first start on Sunday, throwing for 293 yards to help the 49ers to a 15-14 win at Chicago.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if it's too early to get excited about what Garoppolo could do for the team.
“To come in there in that situation and to make some of the plays that he did, when he is in that situation, definitely excites everybody,” Shanahan said. “I think everyone knows the potential and the possibilities. It's not that you have to temper, you just have to be realistic. It was one game.”