My only question about Leinart is how well he can mesh with our receivers and TEs. Just look at Schaub 3 years ago as opposed to now. His decision-making is much better now as he becomes more familiar with his receivers and vice versa. The only hope for the Texans is that (A)Leinart has been seriously studying on our playbooks and knows the system inside out and (B)he can use the rest of this soft schedule develop the timing so he doesn't miss too many throws. Also, despite what DD may think, Schaub handles the blitz as well as anyone. Interested to see how Leinart respond under pressure.
If Skelton can go nuts on Nnamdi and Asante, why can't Leinart on much lesser corners? Jacksonville's best corner just went on IR, Grimes/Dunta are average talents, Leon Hall went on IR. The "scariest" cornerbacks are Tennessee's in week 17.
Schaub on Leinart at the beginning of the season. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VPh7AovVxyE?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
So random note but since Leinart is left handed, Eric Winston becomes the blind side tackle. I'm not so thrilled with that prospect. He's a good gap creator as a lineman but he gets overwhelmed at times.
He has the talent and intellect to be all pro. He knows he has to step up and that means first putting down the mic and the wingstop.
Wrong link. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-around-the-league/09000d5d8241edab/Leinart-named-starter
Leinart has performed well when complimented with a strong run game with one of strength being passing off of play-action. Obviously, he had that at USC but Arizona attempted a pass first, QB initiated offense, a la Peyton's Colts, Rodger's Packers, etc. That does not play to his strengths. I firmly believe that is why Kubiak made a point to keep him. He fits the system of Play action pass QB in a run dominated offense. He does have some issues with throwing on the move and feeling pressure in the NFL, but his arm is tad bit stronger than Schaub to get a bullet pass in say on quick slant. I think he can be successful with an array of play action as well as screen passes and quick passes that would nullify any rush or limitations he has moving in the pocket or feeling pressure.. Especially with the schedule that is coming up.
I don't think he is. Not that he's much worse either since both aren't that good. In "Madden" rating (just random numbers) its like a 59 and a 52 rating to Schaub's 84.
yea and in his atlanta days schaub wa sin the low 60s on madden while carr was in the mid 80s.. madden ratings are useless, reall football is not a video game..
I don't see the "bigger arm" argument. I feel like his passes are wobbly and don't have the zip, from videos i've seen.
You want wobbly? Check out this lame duck. <object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7km6q0L3Xw4?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7km6q0L3Xw4?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Just want to say, I'm so glad we have Leinart instead of Rosenfels, Orlovsky, Grossman or any of the other jokers we've had at backup QB over the last few years. I feel like Leinart might not be too much of a drop off..
It's funny how many Texans fans come here to post once Schaub gets injured. If you can't spell his name right, I doubt you care that much about this team. You guys that are forecasting doomsday scenarios are way off base, too. Leinart has the tools. The biggest problem with him is that he hasn't seen any significant NFL action in a few years. And there's no way you can judge him based off of preseason. He was playing with second and third string players, not the top flight offense he'll have now. Leinart is the best option out there right now. He's played many NFL games, and like Kubiak said, he's played in significant games. The biggest problem Leinart's faced in the NFL, like others have said, is that he was in a pass first offense that wasn't tailored to his strengths. Gary Kubiak is smart enough to put in different packages, if need be, to cater to Leinart's strengths. Leinart has never really seen significant time in the NFL as the undisputed starter, believe it or not. His rookie year, he started 12 games, and that is pretty much the extent of him being "the man." (i.e. He started five games his second year, but had Kurt Warner playing at the same time, and was a backup after that) Kubiak and Knapp are two of the best quarterback coaches in the NFL. It's unfair to judge how far Leinart has come under these two, in two years, before we see him play. Leinart's career is on the line here. If the guy ever wants to really stick in the NFL, it's make it or break it time here. Kubiak, to an extent, has his reputation on the line. Look, I'm not saying Leinart is football Jesus, or anything like that. All I'm saying is don't judge a book by it's cover. It'd be different if Leinart had failed for multiple teams (ha! David Carr), but he hasn't. He was ousted by a good quarterback in a system that never fit who he was. Here, he has a chance to be The Man in a system that more closely resembles the system he excelled in (USC), with one of the better offensive minds in the league, and (arguably) the best offense he's ever played on. On top of that, he's not going to be asked to do a ton. Play action. bootlegs. Maybe throw the ball deep to the best receiver in the game a few times. Maybe throw mid-range passes to (in my opinion) the best receiving tight end in the game. Hand the ball off to the best running back duo in the league (and when we blow teams out, the best third string running back in the league). Mostly, what Leinart will be asked to do, is to be smart with the football. As long as the guy is not turning the ball over constantly, we'll be fine. And I'm not saying we'll win the Super Bowl, either. But, if by some grace of the football gods, Schaub can come back, there's a good chance that this team could get to the AFC championship game without him. It's funny. We lose our quarterback, who is good, but who is nowhere near the best player on this team, and you guys are acting like we are moving to Tennessee or something. Last time I checked, we've been winning all season without some of our best players. Last time I checked, we have the best defense in the league. Last time I checked, we have probably the best offensive weapons in the league, across the board. Last time I checked, we were already just one click away from playing the same type of football that the San Francisco 49ers are playing (the type of team we must apparently now become). This team will be alright. I'm not a Schaub hater. I like the guy. I've defended him all season to my wife, who apparently is on the dark side in the Schaub debate. (She thinks his arm is too weak, and he throws too many picks. I told her she doesn't watch enough football to know better) It's just the way this team has been playing this year, we'll still be alright. Schaub has been playing extremely efficient this year, but with our running game, and defense, we're not relying on him to throw for 350 yards a game, and we don't have to put up 35 points to win a game. Final Record: 11-5 First round bye because we hold the tie breaker over Pittsburgh. We'll play Pittsburgh in the second round, and we won't really need Leinart as much as you think, because we'll run the ball down their throats.
