Teddy Bridgewater or Bust

That's really not true. Kaepernick was drafted as Harbaugh's guy/pick. You don't waste 2nd round picks on "luxuries" that you don't plan on utilizing. No team can withstand that sort of wasted roster spot.

In this case, management ensured that Smith got a chance to show what he could do with actual coaching... and he did just enough to keep Harbaugh from putting in Kap till he got injured.

The fact that they "excelled" was more due to Harbaugh's coaching/offensive scheme/and overall talent throughout the O-line, backfield, and TE/WR (along with Smith not making many mistakes... much like he has done this year).... but it was not the "plan" all along to have Smith become what he was.

Harbaugh gave him a shot much like Kubiak gave Carr one... didn't change the fact that both teams wanted/needed an upgrade at QB (and neither utilized a first round pick to do so).

 

That's not actually true. What's best for the Texans is to try to be great, even at the risk of being terrible. What's best for BOB's future career prospects is to not be terrible. Being great is ideal, but the big thing is to not flop - which seemed to be what you were suggesting with your post. That's very different from the Texans' goals, which should solely be to be great, regardless to downside risk of failure.

They drafted CP in case Smith didn't pan out and wasn't fixable. But CP was option #2. What exactly happened after Smith got hurt? They went 13-3 with Smith in 2011. They went 6-2 with him in 2012. They went 5-2-1 with CP in 2012. They made it one game further in the playoffs, thanks to not having a muffed punt. Smith's success was just as good, albeit in a different way, as Kaepernick. Having both do well was a luxury that allowed them to get draft picks back.

 

That's right "a quarterback" not "the first quarterback off the board" or "the quarterback the 49ers had rated highest".

This point only works if the 49ers had the first pick and passed on Newton. The reality is that the 49ers didn't have the opportunity the Texans do now: to take the first QB off the board. But the Panthers did have that opportunity and they chose Newton. If the Texans think Manziel or Bridgewater or whoever is the franchise QB, they should take him.

At #7, the drop off between Newton and the next guy was likely too large for the 49ers, especially given they had Smith on board and where they had rated the other prospects. It helps that San Francisco also didn't have as dire a need at QB as the Texans do now.

No one is saying the Texans should draft Bridgewater or another QB no matter what. Reaching at QB just to draft a QB would be a mistake. But if the difference between the top rated QB and the top rated prospect is not huge, if that QB is rated as a franchise guy, the Texans should take the plunge.

The point is that it all depends on where the QBs grade out for the Texans. If the Texans identify a franchise QB, franchise DE, franchise OLB, then take the QB. If the Texans rate some DE or OLB as a franchise/hall of fame prospect and the top QB as being pretty good, skip the QB with the first pick.

Here is what Harbaugh thought about Newton:
"That's plutonium-grade raw material, you know?'' said Harbaugh. "I haven't seen upside like with this guy in probably the last 10 years."

He could've been blowing smoke, but I think Newton would have been the guy had the 49ers had that first pick.

The caveat is that if the Texans think they know something the rest of the league doesn't know about some QB not rated for the first round, then they can wait. There are reports that Harbaugh fell in love with Kaepernick and was determined to get him in the second round. But Harbaugh knew he had no shot at Newton.

 

Exactly...If the Texans had the 7th pick in this upcoming draft, I would bet that we wouldnt choose a QB in the first round since the guy(s) we'd want would probably be taken. In this case, I could see the Texans taking a chance on someone like Boyd in the 2nd round.

 

Definitely true. This year, it's possible that TB, Manziel, Bortles are all gone in first 6 picks, and potentially Carr as well - whom Texans would never take anyway... I don't think.

But frankly, even if it was just TB that was off the board, and the Texans were picking 7, I could see them not going QB... just like 49ers didn't... and waiting until later in the draft... or not drafting QB at all.

To me, either take TB first, or don't take a QB till later or not at all.

 

I'm not going to debate you on Harbough's mind set on Smith and Kapernick. But I will say unless there's a high talent good QB in place, most new coaches want there own guy. And Smith was pretty much a bust for a #1 overall pick until Harbough got there.

And no my friend _ I'm not suggesting they flop. Unlike yourself I believe that the success of a QB has a lot to do with coaching and the coach's ability to develop that QB to go along with the QB's on ability, talent, work ethic, etc. What kind of game plan the coach uses, the QBs ability to improvise, etc. And luck...Lol. Look at what Harbough is doing with Kapernick and look what he did with Alex Smith. He coached them boys up. Remember when Oakland came in here and put it on us with some kid fresh off the street...? Well O'Brien did that. And I believe that kid was a walk on at Pen State. When Tom Brady and the New England offense took off _ O'Brien was there. I just believe alot of QBs in the draft have the tools _ it's what kind of coaching they get on the next level to develop that talent Look at Matthew Stafford and how they say his mechanics are off and he takes too many chances but then look at Josh McCown with a good coach.

You never know... O'Brien might feel he can draft a QB with a later pick (either trading down or taking one in a later round) and develop him. Don't forget that it's O'Brien who brought up Bortles while everyone else is talking Bridgewater and Johnny.

 

I don't read Major making definitive statements. But you are. Major stated:

Simply put, Major has stated that if the Texans think Bortles is the best quarterback, they should draft Bortles. If they think they can get Bortles with the 12th pick, then the Texans would be correct to trade down and pick up extra picks and still get their man. Major simply thinks the QB position should be addressed by the team taking the guy they most believe they can mold into a franchise QB. After all, there is a reason the 49ers traded up to select CK instead of waiting for any other QB they thought had the tools.

If the Texans think they know something the rest of the league doesn't, let's say they like Tajh Boyd as much as Harbaugh liked CK, then pick Clowney or whoever 1.1 and take the QB 2.1. It is all about the Texans evaluation.

I am totally a Bridgewater guy and will follow his career wherever he is drafted, but if the Texans aren't sold on him, so be it. But I do feel they should secure the franchise QB they most desire, not the 2nd best or 3rd best. If the Texans feel no franchise QB is in this draft, then pick accordingly.

 

But does Bridgewater or Johnny grade out as high as Cam...? When Cam runs DBs and LBs have to make business decisions when they try to tackle him. But good point and if there was a prospect that graded out like Cam or Luck it would be an even better point. But yes, I'm sure Harbough would have drafted Cam.

 

you are like a broken record...

 

if obrien likes bortles then i think you take the chance that he falls to the 2nd or 3rd. he is not a 1st round talent. if you take that risk and you miss on him, oh well.. he might be a guy that coaches like but dont love..

 

I don't know. Still waiting for the usual scouting consensus to develop and word on what the Texans think -- which is what matters most.

 

If someone didn't think Bridgewater had performed up to par I wonder what they think of Winston so far today!

 

This is what happens when you face good teams...Winston didn't play anybody all year. Neither did Bridgewater. Last year the gators were missing some key defensive talent due to injuries.

 

We don't need to draft teddy first overall or even manziel and I'm a big fan of his but our defense needs help if we end up releasing the ninja our d line will need major help our offense can score but the real problem is our defense yeah Cush and manning being out didn't help but manning might be cut as well and Cush and watt are being asked or have to do way too much for our defense to be good if we draft clowney it makes everybody better and with talk about a veteran QB being signed and grooming a rookie QB makes me think we are going defense first overall clowney or Barr and QB later whether 26 if we trade with Cleveland but we can draft a QB later and he would be coming into a good position with a good team and time to learn

 

Sorry for the long post just venting

 

I actually think it's the opposite. Coaches are re-hired for their "accomplishments." Which means playoffs, playoff wins, SB appearances, SB wins. Teams are the ones that have to ensure that they sell out and have the maximum fan interest every year. Although this aspect is mitigated given that it's football in Houston.

It's much more preferable for O'Brien to have signature season(s). If he goes 8-8 4 straight years and fired, he'll get a coordinator job at best, and position coach possibly. If he goes 4-12, 9-7(edges into the playoffs), 13-3(SB appearance), 5-11(lots of injuries or players falling off) and fired, he can easily get another HC gig.

 

Feel free to mix in a period every once in a while.

 

unreadable.

next, please!