National Football League

QB Dan Orlovsky embracing fresh start with Texans

Published Aug. 17, 2010 2:51 p.m. ET

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Dan Orlovsky zipped a perfect pass to David Anderson in the corner of the end zone at the Houston Texans' practice on Tuesday morning.

A few minutes later, coach Gary Kubiak snapped at his backup quarterback for not spotting a tight end cutting open across the middle.

The 26-year-old Orlovsky has appeared in only 12 games in five often frustrating NFL seasons. He's found a comfortable niche with the Texans and thinks he finally has his career moving down the right path.

Orlovsky took most of the snaps in Houston's preseason opener in Arizona on Saturday, completing 12 of 21 passes for 129 yards without an interception. He's likely to get more extended playing time when the Texans play in New Orleans on Saturday, and feels pressure to impress his coaches and teammates before the regular season begins.

''The preseason is so huge for me,'' Orlovsky said. ''I know, and we all know, that the guys who are playing a lot in the preseason are basically auditioning. Once Week 1 rolls around, it's about our team getting wins, it's not about me getting reps. So that's why I'm trying to focus on the games and just trying to do my job.''

Detroit drafted Orlovsky out of Connecticut in the fifth round in 2005. He played in two games as a rookie, then sat out the next two seasons as the third quarterback on the depth chart.

He started seven games in 2008, when the Lions became the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. Orlovsky finished that season with a 72.6 rating, fourth-lowest in the league, and struggled to keep his confidence.

''You're human, so of course there are periods of frustration,'' Orlovsky said. ''Doubt creeps in your mind, thoughts that you never thought would've been part of your process are there. You just have to continue to believe in yourself and work.''

Orlovsky felt renewed when he signed with the Texans as a free agent in 2009. He was the third quarterback behind Matt Schaub and Rex Grossman and was inactive for all 16 games.

But Orlovsky admitted that he needed to sit out, learn the offense and refine his skills.

''Last year, I had to get broken down,'' Orlovsky said. ''I had developed bad habits, mentally and physically. It wasn't fun last year, but it's one of those things that, when I look back on it, I'm happy I went through it.''

Schaub led the league with 4,770 passing yards in 2009 and Houston finished with the NFL's No. 1 passing offense (291 yards per game). Orlovsky said he learned ''countless things'' from watching Schaub run the system.

''It was a whole scope of things,'' Orlovsky said. ''Really, it was just seeing how to run this position the way it's supposed to be run at this level. It's been beneficial.''

Kubiak said last week that Orlovsky is much improved from last season, but needs to cut down on bad decisions. He called Orlovsky's performance against Arizona ''steady'' and was happy Orlovsky didn't commit a turnover.

Orlovsky said he botched some simple throws against the Cardinals, an area to improve against New Orleans.

''I just missed some easy plays,'' he said. ''I missed some plays that I can make in my sleep, 99 or 100 times out of 100. I need to make the routine play consistently, and really continuing to protect the ball, that's the really big focus of mine. I'm just focusing on executing on every single play.''

Orlovsky said that his overriding goal in the preseason may be simply earning the confidence of his teammates.

''I've gained such an appreciation for the guys on this team, that I want to go out and perform, so they know that if something happens to Matt, that we won't miss a blink,'' he said.

Star receiver Andre Johnson said Orlovsky is winning over the Texans and seems much more at ease at training camp this year.

''You could tell that he was thinking a lot when he first got here,'' Johnson said. ''Now, you can tell he's feeling comfortable with the offense. It showed when he went out and played this last Saturday. Hopefully, this week, it's another test for him and he can go out and keep improving.''

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