Exactly. It's like there is a segment of the Texans fanbase that has tunnel vision and is exclusively focused on the QB position. It's really sad because that kind of QB desperation makes otherwise intelligent fans seem really really foolish. Unfortunately I'm not sure anything outside of the Texans stumbling onto an elite level QB or them winning the SB will fix it.
If we had Russell, Cam, Kaepernick, etc probably not.... Real question should be would Indy make the trade...?
The first step to winning a superbowl is consistently being in the mix. Certainly other pieces have to fall in place to win one, but the teams that tend to consistently in the playoffs year-in and year-out are the ones with great QBs. Teams with great defensive players - or even great defenses as a whole - come and go from the playoffs. The two consensus best QBs of the era are in the mix every year - no matter whether they have a running game or a defense or good O-Line or anything else. The consensus best defensive player of the era is currently nowhere near being in a Superbowl, less alone winning one. *That* is the benefit of the great QB, and why you should always build around one as opposed to building around a great defensive player.
Matt Ryan is not an elite QB. Tell me how many times the elite qbs in the league go 4-12, compared to teams with the best defensive player in the league. If you have a chance at Luck (who is not yet elite but looking well on his way to reaching that level) then you make the hypothetical trade. Now if the team had even a decent qb who either had some upside or was someone the team could win with then you don't make that trade. If we are talking about right now this current team, yea I make that trade because I believe Clowney can step into Watts position as dominant defensive player.
Well that's the thing. The team should be able to get a good qb. Should be easier to do that than replace Watts historic production. Clowney will be good but it is way too early to say he will be a hall of fame type talent like watt.
Luck has never been in the mix for a super bowl. He hasn't proven he is that kind of qb. Luck is good, but it is highly unlikely he will be like Manning or Brady. You would be trading possibly the best defensive player ever for a guy you're gambling is a historic QB to make the trade worth it. I'm also not sure you're right. A defense like Seattle has plus a good QB will always be in the mix as well. Its why Eli has 2 rings and Peyton just one.
So with Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco, Russell Westbrook, and Colin Kapernick being in the mix every year.... does that mean that they are all elite QB's, or does it mean that you can still be consistently in the mix with average QB's and great overall teams? And frankly, this isn't about whether or not you need elite QB play to win... sure you do. This is about where do you need to find that QB.... and there's ample evidence that those QB's don't necessarily come from the first round in the draft, unless they're a "can't miss" prospect on the level of Luck and Cam Newton.
????? He's been to the playoffs each of his first two years in the league; he'll likely make it 3-for-3 this season - how is that not being "in the mix for a super bowl"?.........
Because literally no one thought they had a chance of advancing to the Super Bowl let alone a chance to win it. The Texans were in the playoffs with TJ Yates, does that mean they were "in the mix" for the SB that year?
No, you said it's "highly unlikely" he'll eventually be like Manning or Brady. His stats are already better than Manning's stats his first 2 years. You're acting like Luck is a finished product. He's just getting started (unfortunately). BTW, I still LOVE JJ Watt. And Luck is probably the only guy in the league I would trade him for.
A lot of young QBs are putting up better stats than a young Manning did. Its a more passer friendly league. Russell Wilson's stats his first two years are way better than Luck's. I agree Luck isn't a finished product. I think hell be good, but an all time great? That's not easy.
Really? Of the 21* unique teams that have made the playoff the past three seasons, 14 were QB'ed by a former first round pick. In fact, 16 of the 21 were picked 35th or higher with Drew Brees actually going 32nd, which was 2:1 in 2000 but would, of course, be 1:32 today. Colin Kaepernick was the 45th pick. (Andy Dalton went 35th.) Altogether, 21 of the 36 playoff teams since 2011/12 have been QB'ed by a first round pick, and 26 of the 36 by a top 35 pick. So, in the past three years, first round QBs have made the playoffs far more often than all the QBs from rounds 2-6 combined. * I counted SF twice because they went with Smith one year; Kaep the next two
Wilson has also had a better line and a running game. Posters are actually arguing Luck isn't all that because he hasn't been to a Superbowl or conference game.. how silly can you get. It's his 3rd season, he took over a team that won 2 games (granted they tanked a little), and immediately had them winning 11 games with a subpar run game. When his team was healthy last season, he the eventual SB champs and one of the previous year's SB representatives on the road. I'm surprised about some of the Anti-Luck arguments to be honest. The guy is on pace to break single season records of passing yards and tds... in his 3rd season! He's easily on pace to be a top 5 QB all-time.. easily. Hopefully Clowney and Watt make his life miserable the next 10 years because he'll probably make ours that way.
Yes. Even by picking the most extreme of examples - the Texans were just marginally average QB play away from being in the conference championship game that year. BTW, did anyone give Joe Flacco a chance two years ago, Bobby? If you make the playoffs, you are most assuredly, without question, "in the mix for a super bowl." To argue otherwise is foolish.
Luck doesn't have to be an all time great... He just needs to be one of the best in the business at this time, which he arguably is. And the league has been changing the rules yearly in favor of the offense which makes Luck a more valuable commodity. Luck touches the ball more and he's been showing he can win surrounded by average to sometimes good players on offense and an average at best defense. He's even had two different head coaches (I think they may have been 1st time head coaches) and took both to the playoffs... With a weak offensive line... And his genius of a GM traded a 1st round pick for Richardson. No one denies J.J. is great. But he still needs more help and he can't overcome a GM and coaching.
Everyone was saying Flacco wasn't elite and therefore couldn't win a super bowl. That doesn't support the trade Watt for Luck case. But I still think you are interpreting "in the mix" too broadly.
