The knock on Keenum so far in the NFL is not that he cant make plays...it is that he is getting crushed inside the pocket. Imagine this Texan team trying to protect anyone under center. Regardless of a top flight QB, our OLine has been exposed for what it is...underwhelming and overrated(still cant believe we had so many All stars from our OLine last year.) A powerful OLine masks the deficiencies of a Average QB. The adage that if you give an NFL QB time in the pocket, they can make plays actually means something. Keenum has had to make improv throws, but with time he has been decent. He isnt fast with his progression reads, but at least he tests the defense down the field. But he has seriously been crushed inside the pocket. If we are considering that there is a top flight QB available in this draft, why arent scouts willing to say the same things about Bridgewater that they said about a guy like Luck and RG3? They all say he is good, but nothing special. They even say that Mariota has more potential, but he is staying back another year. Do we really want an Alex Smith or Sam Bradford? or worse...JeMarcus Russell? I totally disagree with your premise that without a TOP flight QB we would be dead. Our season proves this to not be true at all...Yes Schaub was never the answer, but we tried TJ. He wasnt either. And its looking like Keenum isnt either. But how is 3 NFL QBs all struggling? How are their deficiencies being exposed by defenses? It really has to do with terrible coaching and poor personnel/talent. Defensively, Seattle has it right. So does San Francisco. This team needs a talent infusion. But it has to be done slowly, methodically and carefully. If you build a team, build a dynamic presence somewhere; whether it be offensively or defensively. Adding Bridgewater without other significant improvements will not be the answer. The goal for this Texans team is to answer the rapid progress Andrew Luck and the Colts have made in this division. We have to win our division first. Everything else is secondary. We need an identity. A combo of JJ Watt, Cushing and Clowney makes us scary good on defense and we should totally back something like that.
Agree with you entirely. Just not sold on any of these QB's being the "answer". I also don't think no first pick QB=crappy 2014 either. I believe winning in today's NFL requires a complete team, now more than ever. I think they need upgrades everywhere. Thus, I'm more for BPA, or shopping the pick to get additional picks to attempt to build depth. I don't think Keenum is the answer, and I don't think this teams future long term QB is on the roster now. Looking at the starting QB's amongst current playoff teams over the last 3 seasons shows that you don't need to reach for your QB in the first round. If they're talented, and their workouts are off the charts, by all means take one... If there is any doubt, explore other options and improve via the draft where you can.
I'm not 100% sold on drafting a QB, but you're way off on the assessment of this being more of a line problem vs a QB problem. This line can block base defenders. They can also usually avoid dumb false starts and holding penalties. They cannot block 7-8 guys at a time... Which teams will continue to rush as long as Keenum can't figure out who to throw to.
In the past 48 hours you have: -said you would rather take Manziel over Bridgewater, because "His NFL potential is truly underestimated and a lot of people are going to be surprised." -complained about the Astros trade like it's the end of the world, but I'll admit I laughed when you said, "Fowler sucks... The definition of mediocre." -disrespected Whataburger by saying In-N-Out is better. (I included this one for humor, but still, WTF?) And now all the sudden Keenum will be a star in the NFL? Hopefully this is just an epic troll job.
i vote continue losing and secure #1 and trade down. wins are worth much less than higher draft picks and possibly trading our #1 pick down to Minnesota, Cleveland, Oakland who are probably all looking for a chance at Bridgewater. it's a deep QB draft and you could get Taj Boyd late first, early second for example if you so desire a QB. bottom line is we need OL/DL/LB talent infusion and the more darts you have to throw at the board the more chances to stick.
I'll say it again.... trading down just doesn't happen often, particularly with organizations like the Texans that never make trades.
Barring injuries, my opinions on Bridgewater/Manziel, Keenum, and Fowler will all be proven accurate within a couple of years. My opinion on the sucktitude of Whataburger vs. In N Out is subjective. You people can like what you like. I still maintain that Whataburger is crap. Salty, soggy, and overpriced in comparison to In N Out.
I've always thought Keenum was a big part of the problem. Say what you want about Schaub's deteriorating skills, but when he replaced Keenum in the 2nd half of that Oakland game, the offensive line suddenly didn't look like such a big problem anymore. He took his drop, threw in rhythm, and got the ball out quickly. Seeing them back to back, I was actually shocked at how much more quickly the ball came out of Schaub's hand than it did Keenum's. In same number of pass attempts, mobile Keenum got sacked twice while lead footed Schaub wasn't sacked at all. Case isn't making quick decisions. He's looking for bigger plays, whether they're there or not, overlooking open receivers in the process, and holding the ball longer as a result, which allows the pressure to get to him. You say a good OLine can mask the deficiencies of a QB. I say a good QB can mask the deficiencies of an OLine.
That's not necessarily true. Keenum is struggling because he can't figure out how to deal with the blitz, so teams are blitzing him and overwhelming the O-Line. O-Lines are supposed to be run over by an all-out blitz - the way to stop it is by making plays to discourage that blitz. Notice that the O-Line held much better for Schaub. Can you name some of these average QBs that look good with a powerful OLine? Or it could be that they all suck. Schaub is a mess. The other two were a 5th round pick and an undrafted player. It's not like the league had expectations for either of them. It's not like any of these are an example of a top-flight QB. And adding the other improvements without a QB won't be the answer either. But you find other pieces a hell of a lot easier in the 2nd round and on than you can a QB. Tom Brady and Russell Wilson are the exceptions - otherwise, 2nd round and beyond QBs have a long history of mediocrity in the league. I'd point out that the Colts made progress from 2-14 to 11 wins in a year by getting a top-flight QB. Their defense was bad, their running game sucked, their O-Line was mediocre at best. QB is the only position that has that kind of impact - one defensive player will never change a team in that way.
To draft Bridgewater as your first pick the Texans must get a new coach, a Superbowl type coach so he can develop Bridgewater's game better and that way they can compete against Andrew Luck and teams like the Patriots. Too bad there aren't very good coaches out there available.
I think these teams will all definitely need a QB, and would likely pull the trigger in round 1 if a QB is available: Jets, Texans, Jags, Browns, and Vikings. Teams who aren’t currently on the list but could very well be after parting company with their current QBs: Titans, Bears, and Rams. Is Oakland sold on Pryor? What about Tamp Bay on Glennon? Is Carson Palmer back in Arizona? Probably “yes” on all three. So I’d rate 8 teams would very likely grab a QB if a good one tumble into their laps.
I don't teams lining up to trade for our first rounder either. The new NFL CBA makes Draft picks too valuable to teams. You only see it from really ballsy coaches who are trying to make a statement like Shanahan and frankly there is no QB at RG3's level in this draft and if there were one we'd draft him. Any new coach or GM will want to make sure they get well beyond market value for our first rounder. Really the only way I see us trading down is if Kubes and Smith are still here.
Dont disagree with your assessment of Keenum, but the rhythm that Schaub had with the OLine cant be compared to Keenum. Schaub's had almost 3-4 years with this same line, while Keenum has had 4 games. And you only used a game sample, but failed to see that Schaub also was getting hit a bit more than usual this season. Surely his noodle arm doesnt help and his inability to test DB's deep are detrimental, but if our OLine did its job more efficiently, there is zero reason for why we are 2-10. We couldnt run, run block, pass, or pass protect, and we gave up 31 sacks for the season. https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/11/20/ranking-the-2013-offensive-lines-second-quarter/4/ Interesting list of the top NFL Oline of 2013 so far. Of the top ten teams, Manning's Broncos are the 2nd highest ranking OLine based on season stats 2nd to Philadelphia, who has the #1 ranked OLine.
I'm going to be surprised if more than 3 QBs are taken in the 1st round. I'm going to be a little surprised if there's even 3 taken. Between the lack of demand and abundance of "meh" guys behind Bridgewater, I can't see it happening.
