Dan Orlovsky is best known in NFL circles for running out the back of the end zone in a game in Minnesota in 2008, when he was with the Lions. In 2009 with the Texans, Orlovsky never got on the field, but that was part of a different problem: Texans coach Gary Kubiak didn’t think Orlovsky understood how to prepare like a professional quarterback.
Now, however, Kubiak says Orlovsky is starting to come around.
“Obviously, I’m more comfortable,” Kubiak said when asked how comfortable he is with Orlovsky as his No. 2 quarterback. “He’s a better player right now than he was last year. It’s a really big camp coming up for him, training camp and stuff. Dan’s had some chances in this league, and he’s got all of the tools that Matt [Schaub] has.”
Saying Orlovsky has all the tools that Schaub has sounds like a stretch, but Kubiak says that the demotion of Orlovsky from No. 2 to No. 3 quarterback in Houston last year wasn’t about the physical gifts, it was about the preparation.
“Really, what happened was that there were great expectations for him, and it wasn’t happening as fast,” Kubiak said. “I really, personally – and I told Dan this, so it’s nothing new to him – I really just thought it was about his standard in how he prepares and how he plays and how he practices. We’ve got one here for the quarterback. Our quarterback is going to play good. It just wasn’t happening at the same pace it should have. So we felt more comfortable with Rex [Grossman].”
Now Grossman is with the Redskins, and Orlovsky is expected to beat out John David Booty for the No. 2 job.
“I’m proud of the way he went about his business,” Kubiak said of Orlovsky, “and now it’s time for him to take off.”
