Play 15
Situation: 2nd and 8 at HST 21
Description: Q4 - (11:14) (Shotgun) T.Savage pass short right to D.Johnson pushed ob at HST 36 for 15 yards (G.Toler).
Savage sets his feet a little too early on this play. Unlike many of these plays where Savage just stares down his first read, he normally does not set his feet before he’s ready to throw. On this play it’s clear he’s going to Damaris Johnson because as he drops back he looks right at him, turns in his direction, and then sets his feet and waits for Johnson to get open. This is something he needs to avoid doing in the future because it will not work against NFL defenses.
Play 16
Situation: 3rd and 3 at HST 43
Description: Q4 - (9:21) (Shotgun) T.Savage pass short right to D.Hopkins to IND 48 for 9 yards (G.Toler).
The poise by Savage on this play is pretty remarkable. He has a defender leaping into his face, and he still stands tall and delivers a bullet to Hopkins.
Play 17
Situation: 3rd and 4 at IND 42
Description: Q4 - (7:24) (Shotgun) T.Savage pass incomplete deep right to D.Hopkins.
Savage does a good job to start the play. He freezes the safeties for a second and then turns to make the throw to Hopkins. A miscommunication on the play leads Savage to think Hopkins is going deep when he’s actually running a comeback route.
Play 18
Situation: 4th and 4 at IND 42
Description: Q4 - (7:18) (Shotgun) T.Savage pass incomplete deep right to D.Hopkins.
Another miscommunication on this play. Savage expected Hopkins to run a comeback route, but Hopkins was running the fade. Hopkins had the right idea in continuing his vertical route after he beat the corner off the line, but Savage made the correct read and saw the safety creeping over to help cover the deep ball. Savage’s throw was ill advised though as Hopkins had no chance of making a catch on the comeback route.
If Savage gives Damaris Johnson an extra second before making the throw this play is likely a touchdown.
With Johnson’s speed and that much open space in front of him the touchdown is almost an after thought. He runs a great route, but Savage is so fixated on getting the ball to Hopkins that he throws it into coverage and it winds up incomplete.
Play 19
Situation: 1st and 10 at HST 20
Description: Q4 - (2:11) (Shotgun) T.Savage pass incomplete deep right to R.Griffin.
Savage drops back and feels the pressure in front of him and just throws the ball away. Savage’s problem on this play is that he just doesn’t look to the other side of the field. Had he done that he would have seen the outside receiver wide open on the comeback route.
Play 20
Situation: 3rd and 6 at HST 24
Description: Q4 - (1:58) (Shotgun) T.Savage pass short left to R.Griffin pushed ob at HST 32 for 8 yards (D.Butler).
Savage feels the pressure coming from the left and steps into the open space and fires a rocket to Griffin on the sideline.
Play 21
Situation: 1st and 10 at HST 32
Description: Q4 - (1:51) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Savage pass short middle to A.Foster ran ob at HST 39 for 7 yards.
Savage makes the throw to Foster who was his first read on this play. He sold the throw far too early, but the defense didn’t react quickly enough and Savage was able to complete the pass.
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