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QB Tom Savage, 49ers (1 Viewer)

Faust

MVP
Excerpt from Peter King's MMQB:

Speaking of surprise players … The stunner this draft season is a quarterback who threw 83 passes as a Rutgers sophomore in 2010, then didn’t play college football in 2011 or 2012 as he transferred from Rutgers to Arizona to Pitt. “The hottest guy in the draft,” Brandt of Tom Savage. How hot is he? Late last week Savage’s agent, Neil Schwartz, had to tell two teams who wanted to set up a visit or meeting with the quarterback that he didn’t have any time left to do so. “There are literally no days left on his calendar for him to go see any other teams,” Schwartz said Saturday. The deadline for teams to host players or work them out is April 27, and by then Savage is scheduled to have either worked out for or had visits with 24 or 25 teams. That’s an amazing number of workouts and/or meetings … and when I say meetings with teams, I mean time with either the GM, coach, offensive coordinator or two or three of those. Savage is popular because he’s got an above-average NFL arm right now—some are calling it the best in the draft—and showed well over the last half of last season with a bad offensive line at Pitt. He spent Friday with the Oakland staff, and that’s a place he’d fit in well. Amazing to think a player so itinerant and with so little college success could be leap-frogging A.J. McCarron, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger. But there’s a good chance Savage will. Todd McShay had Houston taking Savage with the 33rd overall pick. Now there’d be a way to kick off the second day of the draft in style, with a stunner like that.
 
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Film review: Is Pitt QB Tom Savage worthy of draft-sleeper buzz?

By Bucky Brooks

NFL Media analyst

What's up with the buzz surrounding quarterback Tom Savage?

That's the question that I've been wrestling with since my colleague, Gil Brandt, began to rave about the potential of the Pittsburgh standout last fall. The wily evaluator likened Savage to a young Troy Aikman after watching him toss six touchdowns against Duke, and said he expected Savage to emerge as a top-50 prospect by the end of the draft process. Not to be outdone, Mike Mayock called Savage the "wild card" of the 2014 QB class, citing his prototypical size and superior arm talent as traits that could make him a steal in the draft.

With my colleagues and several other analysts raving about Savage's talent and potential, I thought I would dig into the tape to see if his game matches the hype. Here's what I discovered:

AthleticismSavage is a classic dropback quarterback with exceptional physical traits for the position. He has a big, sturdy frame and body build that's in line with the quarterbacks that have traditionally manned the position in the NFL for years. Additionally, Savage has big hands, which should allow him to "grip it and rip it" in poor weather conditions.

From an athletic perspective, Savage ranks as a marginal athlete. He lumbers a bit when moving outside of the pocket and doesn't exhibit the speed or quickness to escape defenders in the pocket. Although he flashes enough mobility to execute the bootleg or a movement-based passing game, Savage is a non-factor as a runner. He lacks the speed to run away from defenders in pursuit, and isn't elusive enough to make tacklers miss in space. Thus, he isn't a threat to leave the pocket unless the pressure forces him out of his comfort zone.

Here's a chart to put his measurements and drill results from the NFL Scouting Combine in perspective:

(click on the linked article to see the combine stats)

Arm TalentSavage has one of the strongest arms in the draft. He capably makes every throw in the book with zip and velocity, particularly the deep-out from the opposite hash. He fires the ball to the outside edges of the field with excellent pace, yet the ball doesn't overpower receivers working back to the quarterback. On deep throws, Savage can throw the ball 60-plus yards, but lacks the accuracy and touch to drop the ball down the chute. He routinely misses the mark on open receivers on go-routes and posts, but Savage hasn't learned how to change the speed or trajectory on his vertical throws. As a result, he routinely fails to cash in on big-play chances when he catches the defense out of position.

Savage's accuracy woes also show up on short and intermediate throws. He struggles placing the ball in the receiver's strike zone, especially on in-breaking routes in congested areas. Given the importance of making tight-window throws at the next level, Savage's inconsistency in this area is a concern.

Pocket PoiseSavage's limited athleticism and movement skills make it imperative for him to shine from the pocket. He must be able to feel rushers in close proximity, while keeping his eyes downfield to deliver accurate strikes. Studying Savage on tape, I question his poise and judgment under pressure. Although he makes a handful of heroic throws under duress, Savage repeatedly makes poor throws that result in turnovers. Of course, those misfires are expected when the pocket breaks down immediately, but you would like to see Savage display better composure when the game gets muddied. Additionally, he holds onto the ball too long in certain situations, leading to costly sacks and negative plays.

Now, I won't place all of the blame on Savage for the Panthers' dismal sack totals, but he has to display better awareness of the pocket breaking down and get the ball out of his hands before the rush arrives to avoid placing his team in a long-yardage situation. While I will certainly give Savage credit for his courage and toughness -- he takes shots while delivering throws -- he must show better poise and awareness amid chaos to become an effective pocket passer at the next level.

Football IQSavage enters the NFL with experience playing in multiple pro-style systems from his time at Rutgers (2009-10) and Pittsburgh. Thus, he is well aware of setting protections and identifying hot reads within a progression. These concepts are staples of most NFL offensive schemes, so he is one step ahead of the competition due to his exposure to advanced offensive tactics.

Breaking down Savage's play from his final season at Pittsburgh, I came away encouraged by his overall knowledge of the West Coast offense. He appeared to have a firm grasp of the basic concepts featured in coach Paul Chryst's system. It's even more important that he showed the awareness and discipline to find his second option in the progression when the primary target was taken away by coverage. Now, I must admit that Chryst deserves a lot of credit for crafting a quarterback-friendly scheme that featured an assortment of bunch formations with crossers and various quick reads, but that's what good coaches do at the next level, as well.

If Savage's interviews and chalk talk sessions confirm his mastery of the West Coast offense, he should earn high marks for his football intelligence from scouts and coaches around the league.

Clutch FactorCoaches are always looking for quarterbacks who possess the "it" factor. Though this trait can't be quantified, you can get a feel for whether a player has it by looking at his performance in big games or key moments. Savage showed glimpses of being of a clutch performer during his final season at Pittsburgh. He led the Panthers to a bowl game despite playing with an inexperienced set of pass-catchers. While their inexperience routinely led to drops in key situations, Savage displayed poise and leadership skills by encouraging his teammates in those moments. Better yet, he showed evaluators that he is capable of taking his game up a notch with strong performances in wins over Duke and Notre Dame.

In fact, I would suggest that he played at a high level the last seven games of the season, with a 10:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 64.1 completion rate. With those numbers compiled against seven bowl-eligible teams, Savage deserves solid marks for his big-game moxie and clutch traits.

CharacterNormally, I don't include this category in my evaluation, but I must make mention of Savage's status as a double-transfer and how it could impact his perception in draft room. As a highly touted quarterback prospect coming out of high school, evaluators will question Savage's decision to leave Rutgers after losing his starting job to an unheralded player during his sophomore season. He will need to convince coaches that he possesses the mental toughness needed to endure competition at the position in a stressful environment.

It's even more important for him to show coaches and scouts that he has lost the sense of entitlement that might have accompanied his celebrated status as a five-star recruit in high school. With a track record that suggests he could pack it in at the first sign of adversity, Savage must make a compelling case in front of evaluators to squelch any concerns about his competitive makeup at the next level.

ConclusionSavage is certainly an intriguing prospect based on his physical tools and arm talent. He looks like the traditional dropback passer that has long thrived in the NFL, and his experience working in a pro-style offense puts him ahead of the competition in several aspects. From a playing standpoint, Savage is nowhere near ready to compete for a starting job in the NFL. He is erratic with his accuracy and ball placement. He needs to work on controlling the velocity on his ball to make it easier for receivers to catch his passes. Additionally, Savage must develop better footwork and mechanics in the pocket to make up for his lack of athleticism and mobility. Given the work Savage needs to do to become a potential starter, he will earn developmental grades (Rounds 4-7) on most boards and enter the league viewed as a probable No. 3 quarterback as a rookie.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
 
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Kiper's picks: Uphill battle for ACC QBs

Excerpt:

Another interesting late-round quarterback pick is Pitt's Tom Savage, whom Kiper selected at No. 88 in the third round to the Cincinnati Bengals:

"Savage has starting upside, and he's among the strongest arms in the draft," Kiper wrote. "He was beaten up behind bad blocking at Pitt, but is the kind of upside this roster could use behind Andy Dalton."

Kiper isn't overstating the hits Savage took last season. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Savage was under duress on 28 percent of his dropbacks, the highest percentage of any QB prospect. As a result, Savage was sacked an FBS-high 43 times last season.
 
Scout: Pitt's Tom Savage has strongest arm in 2014 NFL DraftBy Mike Huguenin

College Football 24/7 writer

The buzz around Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage continues to grow, with one scout telling NFL.com that he might have the strongest arm in the draft.

Savage is not a first-round pick -- not close, in fact -- but he is seen as an intriguing developmental candidate. "He's got a really strong arm, but erratic," a scout told NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport. "Maybe late-round type. But interesting."

Savage measured 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds at last month's NFL Scouting Combine, and the buzz has continued to grow since that event and since Pitt's March 3 pro day. NFL Media senior draft analyst Gil Brandt had a feeling in October that Savage could become a hot commodity.

While he was a fifth-year senior in 2013, Savage remains relatively inexperienced. He was a consensus national top-15 quarterback prospect in the 2009 recruiting class out of Springfield (Pa.) Cardinal O'Hara High, behind players such as Matt Barkley, Tajh Boyd, AJ McCarron, Zach Mettenberger and Garrett Gilbert. Savage signed with Rutgers and was seen as a recruiting coup for then-Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano.

Savage started 10 games in 2009 as a true freshman; he threw for 2,211 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions but completed only 52.3 percent of his passes that fall. Savage began the 2010 season as the starter but was hurt and eventually lost his starting job to lightly regarded true freshman Chas Dodd. Savage finished with 521 passing yards and transferred to Arizona after the season.

Savage sat out the 2011 season under NCAA rules, then hit the road again after Rich Rodriguez took over as Arizona's coach following that fall because he was ill-suited for Rodriguez's spread offense. Savage transferred to Pitt and again sat out as a transfer in 2012.

Savage threw for 2,958 yards, 21 TDs and nine interceptions, completing 61.9 percent of his passes, in 2013. Six of his TD passes came in one game, a wild 59-56 victory over Duke, and six of his picks came in the first four games of the season. Savage played well in an upset of Notre Dame, throwing for 243 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.

A bruised kidney caused Savage to miss the second half of his final college game and to turn down an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game.

Savage's lack of experience before the 2013 season led to him having no draft grade, according to BLESTO and other national scouting services, which is extremely rare for a senior who is a projected starter at a major college.

While Savage has a strong arm, decision-making and accuracy have been issues. He also lacks mobility and that issue was exacerbated in 2013 because Pitt had a young offensive live. He was sacked eight times in a loss to Virginia Tech and seven times in a win over Virginia. When he faces pressure and is forced to move around in the pocket, his mechanics frequently go awry and he makes bad decisions.

In February, Savage said he had learned that a quarterback needs much more than a strong arm.

"A lot of guys in the NFL can throw the ball 70 yards," he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "The tough thing is doing it with people in your face."

Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
 
Rotoworld:

NFL Films' Greg Cosell believes Pitt QB Tom Savage commits the cardinal sin of "backing up in the face pressure."

"But his arm talent and the ability to snap it off, and he also played in an NFL type offense, is very impressive," Cosell said. The NFL Films producer called Savage a "late-round guy" and said the quarterback has the look of a conventional, prototypical pocket passer. The buzz is trending towards Savage being selected in the second-round, which is a bit unbelievable, but the NFL does obsess over big bodied, big armed, quarterbacks who have dropped from center.

Apr 11 - 9:58 AM

Source: Philadelphia Eagles
NFL.com's Gil Brandt wrote "I'm taking" Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "and I'm taking him in the second round because he likely won't be there in the third."

The long-time Cowboys' executive speaks from experience in this example of how a player can jump up a round or two. And, at this point, it would almost be an upset if Savage is on the board when Round 3 kicks off. "His lack of experience, not his ability, could hinder him early," Brandt said when suggesting his drafting team have another option in 2014. "He only played in 28 college games with three different schools -- Rutgers, Arizona and Pittsburgh. However, you saw progress in his final season at Pitt when he threw nine interceptions but only three in the final nine games. He has a gun for an arm that was tough to show off with little talent around him. I think that Savage will be selected in the top half of the second round."

Apr 10 - 10:44 PM

Source: NFL.com
Pitt QB Tom Savage went at the top of the second round, No. 33 overall, to the Texans in ESPN analyst Todd McShay's newest mock draft.
McShay slotted South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney to Houston at No. 1, a scenario that would scream for a QB at the top of the second. Enter Savage, the fastest rising prospect in the draft. "This pick is made based on the premise that the Texans wouldn't need him to play right away," McShay wrote. "Savage has very good arm strength, but Bill O'Brien would need to work with him on getting the ball out quicker and improving his footwork."

Source: ESPN Insider
Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "keeps coming up when I talk to decision makers," writes NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah.
"The Tom Savage buzz is legitimate," he wrote. ESPN's Todd McShay said on this week's "First Draft" podcast that Savage isn't getting out of Day 2 (the third round, in other words). Savage is simultaneously one the draft's most polarizing and fastest rising prospects. McShay calls him the draft's biggest QB sleeper, Smart Football's Chris Brown says he's "fool's gold for scouts," and Scout Inc.'s Kevin Weidl believes he's "one of the most underrated quarterbacks in this class." Savage's bazooka arm makes it easy to dream on him.

Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter
NFL.com's Gil Brandt says Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage's arm "reminds me of [Troy] Aikman's."
"Is he a finished product? No," Brandt tweeted on Monday. "But arm reminds me of Aikman's and teams covet that, as they should." Coming from the former VP of player personnel for the Cowboys between 1960-1989, this is not a comment that can be easily dismissed. ESPN's Louis Riddick tweeted at Brandt on Monday: "Some teams love this kid. He gets right coaching he'll be steal of QB group." The buzz surrounding Savage has grown so persistent that he has possibly elevated himself into the second round.

Source: Gil Brandt on Twitter
The Sideline View's Lance Zierlein expects Pitt QB Tom Savage and LSU QB Zach Mettenberger to be selected in the second-round.
"Anyone who believes that Tom Savage is going late in this draft doesn't realize how many teams are heating up on him," Zierlein previously tweeted, ending the statement with "Arm Talent." Traditional NFL evaluators will certainly fall for aspects of Savage's game, including a big arm and big frame who does his best work in the pocket, but it can be tough to conclude if the poor pocket movement he displayed in 2013 was due to a poor offensive or his lack of poise.

Source: Lance Zierlein on Twitter
NFL Films' Greg Cosell calls Pittsburgh's Tom Savage "a really intriguing prospect" and "one of the best pro-style quarterbacks in this class."
"He's got a really good arm," Cosell said. "I ended my work on him by saying, 'A very intriguing prospect based on arm talent and understanding of NFL passing concepts.' He's one of the best prototypical pocket passers in this draft. How will that be valued in 2014? Now, he has other concerns. But he is your classic tall, erect prototypical pocket passer with a compact delivery and a strong arm, and he ran NFL passing game concepts." Savage has quickly turned into perhaps the draft's most polarizing prospect. ESPN's Todd McShay calls him the draft's biggest QB sleeper, Smart Football's Chris Brown says he's "fool's gold for scouts," Scout Inc.'s Kevin Weidl believes he's "one of the most underrated quarterbacks in this class," and so on. It appears likely that Savage's ultimate draft slot will surprise people. A contingent of teams will fall in love with that golden right arm and one will ensure their developmental prospect doesn't get away.

Source: Ross Tucker Podcast
ESPN's Todd McShay called Pittsburgh's Tom Savage the draft's biggest QB sleeper.
This opinion comes on the heels of Smart Football's Chris Brown calling Savage "fool's gold for scouts." Savage has been the toast of the postseason process as evaluators salivate over his bazooka arm. Some forgive his inconsistencies on the field by pointing to his substandard teammates, while some say he simply doesn't have the footwork, reaction to pressure and throwing accuracy of an NFL QB. "He played behind a very poor offensive line at Pittsburgh, and didn't get much help from his pass-catchers, either, but he was the most impressive pure thrower of the football at the combine, according to different people I've talked to from around the league," McShay wrote. "His arm strength is just a notch below elite. Another guy to keep an eye on is Merrimack's Joe Clancey, who could get a shot in a training camp as an undrafted free agent."

Source: ESPN Insider
Smart Football's Chris Brown believes Pitt QB Tom Savage is "fool's gold for scouts."
By fool's gold, Brown means that evaluators will "Discover him late, see the big arm, miss the inconsistency." Savage was a highly sought after high school recruit, but flopped at Rutgers before landing at Pitt. He has generated some buzz in recent weeks after evaluators noted how poor his offensive line was, but Rotoworld's Josh Norris believes there are a handful of issues with his play, one being footwork.

Source: Chris Brown on Twitter
Former NFL scout John Middlekauff believes that Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage's film is "as good as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles" coming out of college.
"I'd argue Tom Savage film is every bit as good as Nick Foles coming out with a more live arm on tape. Foles went in the third," Middlekauff tweeted. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound quarterback has an impressive blend of size and arm strength. With the ability to make some big-time throws, some pro scouts have fallen in love with Savage's arm, as of late. It's safe to say, that Savage has become a popular sleeper pick among draft evaluators and could be a late-round riser.

Source: John Middlekauff on Twitter
 
Rotoworld:

Scout Inc.'s Kevin Weidl calls Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "one of the most underrated quarterbacks in this class."
Fans late to the Savage party can be forgiven for losing track of him, as the former elite prep prospect bounced from Rutgers to Arizona (where he was an atrocious fit in Rich Rodriguez's spread zone-read offense) to Pitt. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound quarterback "is an effortless thrower of the football" and will be aided in his transition to the pros by his familiarity to a pro-style system, according to the analyst. "Savage is far from a finished product. However, he displays a physical skill set that translates well to the next level. In addition, he is built for the inclement weather, and teams such as the Jets, Bears, Bills, Packers and Bengals looking to add a developmental backup to their roster could find strong value for Savage early in the Day 3 range," Weidl wrote.

Source: ESPN Insider
Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "should be getting much more attention," believes ESPN's Louis Riddick.
Riddick thinks the circumstances surrounding Savage -- "background, play history, character, scheme, talent played with" -- have contributed to his lack of hype. "He makes some serious big-time throws," Riddick tweeted. "No QB in this draft class making the 18-22 yard opposite 'college' hash corner and comeback throws like Savage can. ... And doing it all within the structure of an NFL-style passing game that he started in just one season." The 6-foot-4, 228-pound quarterback with intriguing tools could be a late-round riser. Savage has an impressive blend of size and arm strength, but needs to improve his reaction to pressure and throwing accuracy.

Source: Louis Riddick on Twitter
Scout Inc.'s Todd McShay joked that Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "could build [a] strong malpractice suit vs. [his] supporting cast" last season.
"Pass protection (especially on the right side) is nightmare and drops everywhere!" McShay tweeted. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound quarterback with intriguing tools could be a late-round riser, especially if more evaluators excuse his so-so collegiate production by pointing to lesser talented teammates.

Source: Todd McShay on Twitter
According to TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline, Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien "requested" that Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "throw specific routes" at the end of his workout.
"Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien at Pittsburgh pro-day for QB Tom Savage...requested Savage throw specific routes at the end of workout," Pauline tweeted. The 6-4, 228 pound quarterback could be a late-round riser, and at his pro-day Savage went through a scripted workout of 100 passes and showed good arm strength. O'Brien could see Savage as a quality backup to develop at the next level. Under O'Brien's tutelage, the one-time walk-on QB Matt McGloin flourished at Penn State and successfully made it to the NFL.

Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter
Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "displayed velocity on his throws" at Pitt's pro day, according to NFL.com's Gil Brandt.
Savage (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) elected not to throw at the combine, but he aired it out with receiver Devin Street on Monday in front of scouts and decision-makers from 30 NFL teams. Savage has an impressive blend of size and arm strength, but needs to improve his reaction to pressure and throwing accuracy. Expect his name to be called deep on the draft's third day by a team searching for a developmental prospect.

Source: NFL.com
CBS Sports' Rob Rang believes Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage is particularly intriguing.
Savage has a good size, and perhaps the strongest arm in a "class of smallish QBs," Rang tweeted, adding that interviews will be big after Savage transferred twice. He is the second quarterback in this class to do so, with the other being David Fales. Savage did not participate in an all star game, likely by choice.

Source: Rob Rang on Twitter

Feb 15 - 11:32 AM
NFL.com's Gil Brandt guaranteed Pittsburgh senior QB Tom Savage will impress evaluators at the NFL Combine.
Brandt likened Savage to Troy Aikman a few months ago, comparing their strong arms. The former NFL executive now believes Savage has displayed more mobility than he initially thought. Despite touting Savage, Brandt did not list the quarterback in his updated top 100 seniors. The Panthers is likely a fringe invitation to the Combine.

Source: NFL.com

Tue, Nov 12, 2013 09:01:00 AM
Pittsburgh redshirt senior QB Tom Savage reminds NFL.com's Gil Brandt of Troy Aikman.
"When I update my Hot 100 senior prospects next week, Savage will be on the list. And from the little I've seen of him, he has the chance to ascend into my top 50," Brandt writes. "I was higher on Tannehill than I am on Savage, but it's a similar situation in that Savage is an unheralded QB who has a chance to take off." Savage spent time as a backup with Rutgers, but he's getting his shot with a pair of great receivers at Pittsburgh.

Source: NFL.com

Fri, Oct 11, 2013 12:02:00 PM
 
Savage's agent must be working awful hard today to get all these stories released. My lord.

 
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As for Savage, Simms likes the way he can get a good throw off from any physical position, and make accurate throws across the field, and throws off his back foot are solid. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat-kirwan/24520092/simms-on-qbs-in-draft-from-manziel-circus-to-bridgewater-red-flags
FWIW - Sims seems to talk about QBs the way someone would talk about pitchers. Emphasizing the number of throws and frequency of throwing QBs have had. Like he worried about their endurance. He also seems to prefer pocket passers and arm strength a great deal. He likes the qualities in QBs that he had as a QB.

 
Watched him a lot over the years since he started at Rutgers. Wouldn't be surprised if he has some "lightning in a bottle" success at some point just due to his arm strength, similar to Mike Glennon. He actually has a better arm than Glennon but is just as stiff in the pocket and lacks any level of mobility. The Bucs got good production out of Glennon and still signed McCown and immediately annointed him the starter because they knew Glennon's limitations wouldn't work in today's NFL. You just can't be a statue back there, unless you bring another dimension to the position from a smarts standpoint like Peyton Manning.

 
Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage turned down invite to 2014 NFL DraftBy Will Brinson | NFL Writer

April 19, 2014 4:54 pm EThttp://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24532906/pittsburgh-qb-tom-savage-turned-down-invite-to-2014-nfl-draft

You want to know how hot Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage is right now? Dude turned down an invite to the 2014 NFL Draft.


At least according to Pittsburgh's Twitter account anyway: Pitt Football @GoPittFootball
#Pitt QB Tom Savage has declined an invitation to attend the #NFLDraft in New York. He is one of the draft's fastest rising prospects.
9:33 AM - 19 Apr 2014

Over the past two weeks, Savage has rocketed up draft boards, drawing praise for his big arm and ability to stand strong in the pocket.

It actually makes sense to turn down the NFL's offer to attend the draft, and not because he's the draft equivalent of Hansel.

It makes sense for Savage to decline the invite because he's fairly unlikely to go in the first round. If he isn't drafted in the first 32 picks, he'll have to stick around for the second day, when it's a little more awkward to be kicking it in the green room.

He could've potentially called his shot and gone to the draft hoping he landed late in the first.

But Savage made the smart play declining the invite in this case.
So now Savage is being suggested to be a 1st round pick. This past week has been a bunch of why the face type news, even more than normal.

 
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I saw some speculation (so not sure how true it is) that Gil Brandt, who has probably been the most vocal Savage backer, has a lot of influence in who gets invited to the draft, which is how he earned the nod.

 
Rotoworld:

The Patriots are "incredibly high" on Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage and "will consider using a pick to acquire the signal caller during the draft," reports draft insider Tony Pauline.
Pauline said he's known about New England's interest in Savage since the combine, and adds that "some in the organization" are calling Savage "Tom #2." If you need to ask who Tom #1 is, you're in the wrong place. "I’m told Savage impressed the franchise during combine interviews, especially when former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano was on hand," wrote Pauline. "Evidently Savage took responsibility for the 2011 situation when he left the Rutgers football program, which was then headed by Schiano. Both the Patriots and Schiano were impressed by Savage’s maturity in discussing his departure." The analyst believes evaluators sweetened to Savage when they divided his 2013 game tape into halves, putting great faith in his potential based on the decreased mistakes and improved accuracy in the latter half. Extrapolations like that can be terribly dangerous, but the Patriots have identified magic in unlikely places before.

Source: Monday Morning Quarterback
The MMQB's Peter King believes the Rams will take a QB in "the first three rounds."
This jives with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's story on Sunday stating that the Rams are "strongly considering" taking a quarterback in May's draft. GM Les Snead has already stated that he won't use a first-round pick at the position, but it appears likely that he'll pull the trigger on a signal-caller on Day 2. The Rams used a pre-draft visit on Pittsburgh's Tom Savage, and dispatched QB coach Frank Cignetti to watch Aaron Murray's pro day. Those two will be in play. As for a darkhorse candidate, St. Louis is intrigued by SMU's Garrett Gilbert, and NFL.com's Gil Brandt has been insisting for a while now that the former Longhorn could crack the third round.

Source: Monday Morning Quarterback
Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage declined the NFL's invitation to attend the draft in New York.
The NFL doesn't invite players to the green room who are expected to get embarrassed. While it still seems a little farfetched that Savage could crack the first round, he's now regularly being mocked at the top of the second. Savage (6-foot-4, 228 pounds) has arguably the draft's strongest arm and is experienced taking snaps from under center.

Source: Pittsburgh Football on Twitter
 
Four for Monday: Is Tom Savage really worth a high draft pick?Pat Kirwan

Hype surrounding Pitt's Tom Savage: Long before the draft world created a meteoric rise for Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage, Phil Simms said on my radio show that Savage was his dark horse candidate in this draft. As Simms noted, Savage could make all the throws and rarely had solid protection in college. I discussed Simms' opinion of the draftable quarterbacks on April 9, and plan on meeting with Simms this week about Savage and the other quarterbacks in the May 8-10 draft. I just finished up three game tapes on Savage (Old Dominion, Notre Dame and Bowling Green). In those games Savage completed 41 of 66 passes for 471 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also ran 19 times for 17 yards and one touchdown. I feel like I got a pretty good look at the "hot" QB who played at three different colleges.

Old Dominion couldn't stop the run against Pittsburgh and the bootleg game was a natural complement. Savage was mobile enough to threaten, but rarely looked to the deeper receiver. From the 3- and 5-step drop he is accurate and can snap the ball off in a similar fashion to Tom Brady, which was impressive at times. Pittsburgh features the bubble screen and Savage puts the ball in a position for the receiver to run with it.

The Notre Dame game was his most impressive because he had to throw to win, and he delivered. Because of Pitt's offensive line issues, the coaches sprinted Savage out to avoid the rush and he threw a very catchable ball. One criticism that surfaced in most of the games was hitting the shallow crossing route on the upfield shoulder. Occasionally the receivers had to reach back for a ball behind them, which would be a yellow flag for west coast offense coaches.

Savage usually throws a catchable ball and even when he is struggling in a collapsing pocket can get off a solid throw off his back foot. He faced several clutch situations vs. ND and answered the bell. Savage is going to take sacks in the NFL, but his experience behind a mediocre offensive line will serve him well. I like the ball he throws in the short to intermediate range, but he needs more development in the deep game. I would love to see this guy behind Tom Brady for a few years to refine his game. He has the tools to go places in the NFL.
 
If Belichick was really considering Savage as a possible Brady replacement, we wouldn't be hearing about it in April.

 
Tony Pauline is apparently the source linking the Vikings to Mettenburger and the Patriots to Savage. Got to wonder if his source is just punking him.

 
Rotoworld:

Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage had a visit with the New York Jets, according to NY Daily News' Manish Mehta.
"Most intriguing player who quietly visited Jets: Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage. He was in NYJ facility last week for a pre-draft visit, I'm told, Mehta tweeted. The Jets brought Michael Vick through free agency and just drafted Geno Smith in the second round of the 2013 draft. With all that being said, it's quite interesting that Savage could be a potential prospect the Jets have interest in. With Savage probably going in the late second or third-round the Jets would have to spend a quality pick for Savage's services. If that scenario did happen, it would be pretty telling what they think about Geno Smith's progress to date. The Tom Savage buzz continues.

Source: Manish Mehta on Twitter
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage had an official visit with the Green Bay Packers.

Coach Mike McCarthy has made it known, that the Packers could be looking to add quality depth behind Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien. If the Pittsburgh prospect, is indeed that quarterback, they may have to use a much higher pick to bring him in. Savage is projecting to go from the second, to the third round in this years draft. The Packers may be willing to pony up a higher pick for a quality back-up, after losing Rodgers for most of the season to injury last year.

Apr 29 - 10:46 AM

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
 
Tom Savage really struggles to climb the pocket.

 
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Rapid rise makes Savage's winding road to NFL Draft worthwhileJason La Canfora

The situation could have been incredibly awkward.

Tom Savage, coming off a resurgent senior season at Pittsburgh, opened the door to begin his combine interview with the New England Patriots and immediately saw too familiar faces -- the often-scowling face of super-intense Bill Belichick, a coaching legend, and Belichick disciple Greg Schiano, who once brought Savage to Rutgers as one of the top prep recruits in the country, then watched him transfer to Arizona just before his junior season after a falling out over the starting role.

It was a daunting room, to say the least, but one that Savage took on straight away. He immediately set a tone by issuing a mea culpa to Schiano, who he didn't expect to be there, taking responsibility for immaturity and mistakes he made early in his college career. He broke the ice with a joke or two as well, sources said, and at a time when the focus back in February was on Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater or the NFL viability of Michael Sam, this was one of many behind-the-scenes moments that was setting the stage for Savage's meteoric rise. Savage further fueled his growing buzz with a very strong combine performance and followed that with a series of workouts for NFL teams that has many scouts talking about Savage in more of the glowing terms that accompanied his journey to Rutgers and much less about the series of transfers and lack of playing time that marred much of his college career.

He has had much to overcome in a short period of time. So far Savage has navigated it with aplomb, to the point where many projections have him going in the second round, possibly quite high, and he was invited to attend the draft at Radio City Music Hall (Savage politely declined). None of it, however, may have been as potentially stressful as that initial meeting with the Patriots, a team that very well could select a quarterback. Savage is among those whom they would have in-depth firsthand knowledge.

"I was surprised to see him in the room," Savage said of Schiano, who has been doing consulting work for Belichick since being let go as head coach of the Buccaneers. "And obviously I was a little nervous, too. At the time, I was a little nervous just to meet Coach Belichick, because you see him all the times on the sidelines and he's pretty intimidating on his own, and then I see Coach Schiano is in there, too. It was a unique experience, I have to say, and it was fun, too. I can look back on it and laugh. It was a good time and I really enjoyed the combine.

"Coach Schiano and I, even when I left Rutgers, I felt like we were on pretty good terms and I was a young kid at the time and I thought I was entitled to stuff and people make mistakes when they're younger and leaving Rutgers was one of mine, and I told him that at the combine."

The Patriots were impressed by Savage's upfront approach and demeanor. He has continued to make a good impression on NFL coaches and decision makers ever since, leading to a player barely even being mentioned in connection with the draft about three months ago now the subject of considerable debate about just how high he might go on the second day of the draft next week in New York City. It has also led to a whirlwind tour in which Savage got requests to either visit or work out for so many teams that several clubs had to be turned away. There simply was not sufficient time to meet them all.

Teams had until April 27 to complete their series of player visits at their facility (they are allowed to bring in a maximum of 30 draft prospects), and Savage was in demand. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he certainly looks the part, and the more work teams did on him the more they seem to like what they see.

"I'm already like Silver Premier," he noted, a nod to all the frequent flier miles he built up crisscrossing the country. There were too many visits and workouts for Savage to remember them all off the top of his head as he paused Thursday afternoon to collect his thoughts after a dizzying run the past six weeks.

"I went and visited roughly 12 teams and I think 10 to 12 teams came and worked me out as well," he said.

Many of the obvious candidates -- teams lacking viable options at quarterback on their current roster -- are smitten with him. He could go as high as 33rd overall, to the Texans, some believe, if they do not take a quarterback in the first round. The Vikings would be looking at him in the second round as well, and the Jaguars would be another legitimate possibility at No. 39, again assuming they do not take a passer with their first pick. Savage has approached each meeting with teams as an opportunity to absorb as much as possible, to tell his story and explain how he went from a nationally heralded recruit to a walk-on at Pitt his senior year just hoping to earn a scholarship and then a few months later something of a pre-draft darling.

"Most of the coaches I've met, to be honest, it's a full day," Savage said, "and you are sitting in their office for two or three hours and you get to communicate with them and it's fun just to talk ball with them and to pick their brains as well. People think it's just them interviewing you, but you can soak up a lot too and I tried to get as much as I could from all those guys and try to gain a little edge for the future."

Savage in many ways is still pinching himself. His journey is far from the norm.

When he chose Rutgers it was cause for celebration throughout New Jersey, a crowning achieving for Schiano (who league sources said has championed Savage's ability when approached by NFL teams considering drafting the youngster), rebuilding the long-dormant program, and he was immediately big man on campus. Top that off with an excellent freshman season, in which he earned national honors, and it seemed like great things were ahead.

But Savage fell into a slump his sophomore season, got injured, the team underperformed and Schiano made it clear that in his junior year, the hotshot would be fighting for a job. He wouldn't be guaranteed the starting position. Had he stayed, as Savage knows he should have, he would have won the job and it probably would have lit a fire under him and propelled him to regain his form.

Instead he split, transferring to Arizona, where he had to sit out a year. And then the Wildcats made a coaching change, bringing in Rich Rodriguez and a style of offense that didn't fit Savage at all, and he was transferring again (the moves are not unlike what Nick Foles went through in his college career, and Foles, who had a breakout season with the Eagles in 2013, is a confidant of Savage's and someone he draws some comparisons to).

"I was a young kid at the time," Savage said, "and I speak to Coach Schiano often and I tell him the God's honest truth -- I was a young kid at the time and I thought I was entitled to the starting job or a second chance, but to be honest, this game is a business and Coach Schiano has to feed his family as well and he made a decision to go with the other guy and at the time I would have said I didn't get a fair shot, but I did. Looking back on it now, I learned a good, valuable lesson at a young age."

So, at this point, after starting 12 games as a freshman with a 129 passer rating, Savage appeared in just six games between 2010 and '13, when he arrived at Pitt. That's a lot of lost time. Panthers coach Paul Cryst offered Savage an opportunity to make his team, nothing else, and perhaps salvage something from his college career, and Savage took full advantage.

He won the quarterback job, ended up being a team leader and, after an admittedly slow start and some struggles in September -- only natural given how long it had been since he was in a game setting -- Savage began to take off (it should be noted that Savage had six touchdown passes against a quality Duke secondary in his third game of the season, too). He tossed 11 TD passes to just three interceptions in his final seven games, his completion percentage began to soar, and Savage ended up fourth in the ACC in passing yards and third in touchdowns.

"It was a good experience this season," Savage said. "Obviously, looking back at it, I would have liked to win more games and we only went 7-6 and I wanted to win more games, but I think the program is on the rise and for me, personally, I just enjoyed getting back to a team, getting back to the guys. That's the first thing you miss -- being around the guys and being in the locker room.

"The whole process just helped me out a lot. And it was humbling. Shoot, I went into Rutgers as a top recruit, I played my freshman year and get freshman All-American and I never had any adversity, and this helped me out and I evolved. I was voted a captain my senior year and I was only at Pitt one year and I earned the team's trust and these were guys who had been playing together three or four years and they're like, 'Who is this hotshot walking in our locker room?' And I was able to earn their trust and that helped me out a lot."

With his travels to teams now complete, Savage is trying to exhale a bit. He is maintaining his running and throwing program, and maintaining this base he has built up. He throws regularly to some friends who played college football, and some neighborhoods and even his father when need be, though those options are waning.

"My dad doesn't like it anymore," Savage said. "He wears big construction gloves now when I throw to him and he just swats the ball down. He doesn't even try to catch it."

I fully anticipate another team or two to schedule a second workout with him, very quietly, in this final week before the draft, and I suspect Savage won't have to wait all that long to hear his name called over the three-day affair. In the meantime Savage is trying to avoid the hype, staying away from the mock drafts and savoring the opportunity to be with an NFL team soon enough, something that was hardly assured this time a year ago.

"Before the season started I wasn't imagining any of this," Savage said. "I just wanted another shot to play the game again and I've been through that process where I didn't have football in my life, and I am just enjoying everything about it now. I try to keep my expectations low, especially with this draft process.

"I don't know what's going to happen and a lot of it is fluff, and I have no idea what to believe and you can't really control it. A lot of it is just rumors and no team is going to tell you, 'We're definitely going to take you here.' You just find out when the commissioner calls your name. I'd be lying if I said I should be in the second round and all of that, but I try not to get excited by it. But it's a different game now, and a team is going to make their decision the way they want to make it, and all I know is it looks like I am going to get a shot, and that's what I am focused on."
 
Excerpt from Peter King's MMQB:

I think one of the big questions anyone should have about Pitt quarterback Tom Savage was raised the other day by Gil Brandt. “It’ll be interesting to see how much of a factor it’ll be that Savage basically went 1,000 days without playing a game,’’ he said. “Did you know that?” Can’t say that I did. But I looked it up. And yes, it was 1,022 days between the last game Savage played at Rutgers in 2010 and the first game he played at Pitt in 2013.
 
10 Perfect Patriots: Tom Savage

Mike Reiss

After months of studying the NFL draft, we'll start our list of "10 perfect Patriots", narrowing down the list of prospects to a select group that we feel would be ideal (and realistic) for the New England Patriots, while adding a few draft-related thoughts:

Player: Tom Savage

School: Pittsburgh

Position: Quarterback

Listed height/weight: 6-foot-3 7/8, 228 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 4th (scouting profile)

Draft projection: Second/third round

Why he's on our list: Savage has one of the strongest arms among this year's prospects and also an ideal physical makeup. His profile reminds me a bit of current Patriots backup Ryan Mallett coming out of the 2011 draft. He is a double transfer, starting at Rutgers under Bill Belichick confidant Greg Schiano, and showed toughness under adverse conditions last season at Pittsburgh when pass protection often broke down. The combination of physical tools and mental aptitude make him our top pick as the Patriots' developmental quarterback (Mallett's contract expires after 2014 and the team has been exploring the position closely); it's just a question of whether he'll be on the board as his "public" stock has soared in recent months.

A feel for the quarterback class: While there is no Andrew Luck in this class, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper previously noted that as many as 15-20 signal-callers have draftable grades, which is higher than the norm. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said as many as 10 quarterbacks have grades within the first three rounds, which is also higher than the norm. It's a good year to be looking for a developmental quarterback, and the Patriots seem to be doing just that.

Recommended link: Matt Fortuna, writing on ESPN.com's ACC blog, highlights Savage's rise in the draft process. The piece includes a Patriots twist, with Savage seeminly getting a chuckle out of the thought that the Patriots might view him the same way they once did Tom Brady (while we like Savage as a prospect, we think that's highly unlikely).

Key stat: Has only played two full seasons of college football after transferring from Rutgers to Arizona to Pittsburgh.

Workout stat: Hand size of 9.5-inches, which is average for the position and something the Patriots have traditionally placed a significant value on in recent years.

Draft strategy: Quarterback is one of the more challenging positions to project. In this case, it seems safe to say that if the Patriots don't draft Savage with their late second-round pick (62nd), it's probably unlikely he makes it to their next pick at the end of the third round. Texans coach Bill O'Brien once said he wants to build his team in a way that it could compete in all conditions, and that makes me think the strong-armed Savage could a target for them if they don't pounce on Blake Bortles or another top quarterback early. They pick at the top of each round.
 
Tom Savage has necessary moxie for NFL, Greg Schiano saysBy Chase Goodbread

College Football 24/7 writer

NEW YORK -- Former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano joined NFL Total Access' NFL Draft Preview on Tuesday and provided a unique perspective on one of the draft's most unique prospects in Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage. Having sat out two full seasons while transferring from Rutgers to Arizona to Pittsburgh, Savage has more stickers on his suitcase than a traveling salesman.

But he's also got the fearlessness in the pocket required of a good NFL quarterback, according to Schiano, who coached him at Rutgers.

"He's big, he's strong, and the biggest thing is he's tough. He stands in there and takes a hit. And that's what it is in that league. You're going to stand in there, and you're going to get it off just in the nick of time, then you're going to get hit," Schiano said. "He showed that as a freshman. I think he's got all the tools. He did sit out awhile. But I like that as a head coach. I say 'He's got a lot of improving to do, but he's a pretty darned good quarterback right now.'"

Savage's place in the NFL draft, like all the quarterbacks, remains something of a muddy picture. But NFL Media analyst Charles Davis suggested he might get his call in the first round on Thursday.

Savage's vagabond journey through college football is one that no doubt had NFL scouts scratching their heads. But once he settled in as the Panthers' starting quarterback last year, he delivered 2,958 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. Schiano said he was the most sought-after recruit the Scarlet Knights signed in Schiano's 11-year run as head coach. And even though Savage's commitment to the school only lasted a couple of years, Schiano is sold on his commitment to the game.

"The thing I loved most about him is he loves the game of football. He's going to live it," Schiano said. "He's going to be in your building, he's going to be studying, grinding, that's the kind of guy I wanted leading our football team."

Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
 
Experts' take: Tom Savage

Ben Goessling

MINNEAPOLIS -- We're (finally) less than 36 hours from the start of the NFL draft, which means we're bringing our look at the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback draft options in for a landing. We'll wrap things up with a final post tomorrow on a couple other options, but we'll give our final solo spotlight today to a quarterback who has been attracting plenty of attention in the past few weeks.

Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage didn't show up as a top name in many early mock drafts, after putting up forgettable numbers behind the Panthers' shoddy offensive line, but his size and arm strength have earned him mention as a sleeper quarterback. The Vikings brought him in for their top-30 prospects event last month, and Savage has said he's met with 24 of the 32 teams in the league. Longtime NFL scout Gil Brandt, who drafted Troy Aikman with the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, compared Savage to him last fall, and according to NFL draft wonk Tony Pauline, the New England Patriots are referring to Savage as "Tom #2," for the comparisons he evokes to Tom Brady.

So what gives? Is Savage really worth the late-developing buzz he's attracting before the draft? Once again, we'll consult our in-house experts: ESPN NFL scout Matt Williamson, who used to be a college and pro scout for the Cleveland Browns, and ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick (the former pro personnel director for the Philadelphia Eagles).

2013 stats: 61.2 completion percentage, 2,958 yards, 21 touchdowns, nine interceptions.

NFL combine measurements: 6-foot-4, 228 pounds, 31 5/8-inch arm length, 9 5/8-inch hand span.

Pros: Savage has plenty of arm strength to make the tough throws required of a NFL quarterback, and of the quarterbacks who might be available on the second day of the draft, Riddick sees Savage as being a possible match for the Vikings. The Brady comparisons come from Savage's release, which looks similar to the Patriots quarterback's setup and allows Savage to make quick, clean throws with velocity. "The top of the second round is very reasonable," Riddick said. "If you're somewhere between (picks) 32 and 38, I would take him and keep on trucking."

Cons: Williamson wasn't as high on Savage, saying he didn't think the quarterback was worth a second-round pick and would need more seasoning after starting just one year at Pitt. "The old (Bill) Parcells rule is where you want a three- or four-year starter with X number of reps under your belt," Williamson said. "He also had some really good receivers. That kid (Tyler) Boyd here at Pitt, nobody knows about him, but he's going to be a first-round pick someday. His line in front of him was very bad. He made a statement there; he's very tough. But he'll miss some open guys, too." According to ESPN Stats & Information, Savage was off-target with 24.7 percent of his passes, which was the worst among the 10 quarterbacks ESPN NFL Nation reporter Kevin Seifert analyzed here.

Bottom line: There's quite a bit of projection required with Savage, and he'd have to go to a team that could afford him time to sit and learn. That might explain some of the Patriots' interest in him, but the Vikings could have a favorable setup, where Savage can bide his time behind Matt Cassel, learn from Norv Turner and step into an offense with plenty of talent around him once he's ready. "It's important he continues to get the level of coaching in order for him to reach what really is tremendous potential," Riddick said. "Development programs across the NFL are not uniform. The thing about Minnesota is, Norv's one of the best. It's almost like a perfect match if he holds the prospect in the same regard." If the Vikings are still looking for a quarterback on the second day of the draft, and they're willing to let Savage grow before putting him on the field, the Pitt quarterback's name could be one to remember.
 
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The Texans QB of the future? There is no doubt that he will need some NFL coaching and seasoning for his development, but this is a pretty good landing spot IMHO.

 
The Texans QB of the future? There is no doubt that he will need some NFL coaching and seasoning for his development, but this is a pretty good landing spot IMHO.
If they don't get Mallet, he certainly looks to be in position to have at least a shot at some point this year.

He'll have to show a lot immediately (if gets a chance) to prevent Hou from drafting early QB next year (pending Mallet).

 
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The Texans QB of the future? There is no doubt that he will need some NFL coaching and seasoning for his development, but this is a pretty good landing spot IMHO.
He's better than Bortles. This will be end up being one of the most savvy moves in the draft.

 
The Texans QB of the future? There is no doubt that he will need some NFL coaching and seasoning for his development, but this is a pretty good landing spot IMHO.
He's better than Bortles. This will be end up being one of the most savvy moves in the draft.
I'm on board with this. More upside than Bortles. Arizona also screwed up royally taking a bum like Thomas when this guy was still available.

 
The Texans QB of the future? There is no doubt that he will need some NFL coaching and seasoning for his development, but this is a pretty good landing spot IMHO.
He's better than Bortles. This will be end up being one of the most savvy moves in the draft.
I'm on board with this. More upside than Bortles. Arizona also screwed up royally taking a bum like Thomas when this guy was still available.
Savage has potential, but he's a one year wonder who has never completed more than 61% of his passes and has a career completion percentage of 57%. Bortles' is 66% and never completed less than 62%.

 

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