Houston Texans QB Ryan Mallett still talks the Patriots' way

CBSBoston:

Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett picked up his first career win under center on Sunday, guiding Houston to a 23-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. After spending his first three years in the NFL learning under Tom Brady in New England, Mallett gave a very Patriots-like answer when he took the podium after the win.

“We’re on to Cincinnati, if that sounds familiar,” he said, echoing Bill Belichick’s response to reporters during the week after New England’s blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4.

It is easy to be the class clown after an upset win. Ryan Mallett had all the answers for the reporters at the post game press conference on Sunday. The Houston Texans shocked the Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium in front of 67,407 fans in Cleveland on Sunday.

After three years of riding the bench in New England backing up Tom Brady, Ryan got his first opportunity to show the fans what he had learned. It is easy to throw to Houston WR Andre Johnson for seven catches and 68 yards. Why not have some fun like Tom used to have throwing to a defensive player, like LB Mike Vrabel?

While Joe Montana and Steve Young had Jerry Rice, and Dan Marino had Mark Clayton and Mark Duper for primary targets, Ryan Mallett chose an unconventional receiver in his first NFL start.

Knowing that Tom Brady had thrown his first career TD pass to WR Terry Glenn, Ryan made his first one more dramatic. Lining up DE J.J. Watt as a WR near the goal line, Ryan got the one on one coverage he was looking for. The two yard pass to the multifaceted defensive end in the corner of the end zone makes for some great press. If one can add in a quote from Tom Brady's head coach, you have front page news.


We have seen this before. Barry Petchesky, Deadspin:

Yeah, absolutely. [We're] really moving forward and we're going out there being good little foot soldiers. We are making sure we are going out there doing everything coach [Belichick] asks us to do.

Bill Belichick refused to comment on "why Wes Welker missed the first offensive series" against the New York Jets following the playoff loss on January 17, 2011. Welker was coming off an 86 catch, 848 yards and seven TD regular season. Bill O' Brien, head coach of the Houston Texans, was the New England Patriots offensive coordinator when Wes made 11 references to feet for Rex Ryan

Ryan Mallett has one career start. 20 for 30 passing for 211 yards, 2 TD's and one interception against the Cleveland Browns should get him a second one against Cincinnati. Ryan did leave out one point from his press conference.

“We'll do the injury report on Wednesday.”


Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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