Ryan Mallett named the Texans starting quarterback

You probably haven't been watching them very much then... their defense (especially the secondary) has been keeping them in games, while the offense is predicated on simply not making mistakes (but they certainly aren't lighting anybody up... again, a lot of ground/pound).

 

They would have likely cut the free agent to be Mallett... and getting him for a conditional 7th round pick is basically like cutting him (except Mallett still gets paid, which is good for him).

 

That was the case. If they thought he was better than Jimmy, he would still be a Patriot. Not saying the Patriots are the forever experts on QB but they didn't think he was worth keeping. They were probably going to cut him anyway.

 

Speaking of the ground-pound offense, I have been saying the Texans were better with a power-style backup running back (like Ben Tate was). The RBs on the roster are more finesse; a change of pace backup would be nice.

 

Actually they're secondary hasn't been very good (Haden started off the year slow and their top drafted rookie corner has been going through growing pains), and they have been terrible against the run. Prior to last night they've been giving up 4.8 yards per carry... One of the worst rushing defenses in the league.... And yes I have been watching.... I don't think you have.

 

This was by design under the Kubiak regime due to his ZBS philosophy. At the present time, BoB simply doesn't have the OL to implement a power-style ground attack. It will take time for him to fully remake this offense into what he wants to do. I really believe that he wanted Fitz to be his Trent Dilfer but Fitz was simply unable to move the offense consistently and keep them in games so BoB has turned to Mallett.

 

Well the Texans can get Tate back if they want because the Browns will probably cut him after this year. He's getting beat out by two rookies up in Cleveland.

 

Nope, nope, nope - please stop saying this; it is fundamentally wrong. There was no circumstance in which Ryan Mallett was going to be a Patriot beyond this year, good, bad, or otherwise. New England routniely jettisons *starters* before paying them; there is no scenario in which they would have extended Mallett, save two: 1) he agrees to become an unpaid intern; 2) Tom Brady passes away.

 

So Bill Belichick told you this personally? Or was it Kraft?

 

If Jimmy G was horrible, they would have kept Mallett at least for another year.

 

Did either light up your phone? I'm guessing not... Seems we're back to square zero, eh?

Flaccid responses aside, we have 14 years of Bill Bellicheck having little-to-no interest in overpaying players, including starters. Seriously, the list of players he's let walk could nearly field a fairly competent team. So, yeah, I'm sure it was just a coincidence that Mallett was entrenched for 3 years and they made a move in the final year of his deal....

 

Not if they could turn Mallett into a draft pick. The Patriots are much too savvy - and have too much reverence for draft picks - to let him walk.

 

It doesn't necessarily mean that he was better than Mallett, just that he was good enough to assume backup duties as a rookie. If Brady goes down, they're probably screwed either way. At least with the way they did it, the Pats got a draft pick and an extra spot on the active roster.

 

So, basically what the Texans strategy for this year was supposed to be. They're just executing it better.

 

hey a kid can dream right? lol

off field issues aside, wouldn't most people say that Winston is the best QB prospect coming into the draft since Andrew Luck?

 

I'd be willing to say better....

Probably so... Because receiving a conditional 7th round pick for him is almost like cutting him.

 

No, that means mallett would have to agree and sign to be a backup for another year and there is no way. Pats released him because Tom says he wants to play in his 40's and Mallett wasn't sticking around for that.

 

Except they paid QB, CB, DT (Haynesworth), WR (Moss), etc. Every team has let players walk instead of paying them. The biggest fact is nobody else was willing to pay more than a 6th/7th round pick for him. They could have held on to him a little bit longer to see what QBs had injuries after the season started but he wasn't worth the roster spot.

Bottom line. The guy might end up being REALLY good but nothing he has done in the NFL tells us he will. Nothing says he is going to be a bust either, so we'll have to wait and see.

 

[rQUOTEr]The Houston Texans' decision to move from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Ryan Mallett isn't just to give the offense a spark. It's to get a clear evaluation of the position going forward. And for that reason, it would hardly be shocking to see rookie Tom Savage get a start or two before the year is out. Despite Mallett's struggles in preseason action over the last four years -- and the fact that the New England Patriots were close to cutting him a couple months ago -- the opportunity to see the 26-year-old in live action is worthwhile for a Houston team that clearly is at least a year or two away from meeting Bill O'Brien's vision. Mallett brings size, arm talent and field vision that Fitzpatrick simply couldn't, and that should help this offense get more out of a pretty competent group of skill players. And as one Texans source says, "It's not like he's been in the line of fire, but he's been in (O'Brien's system) for four years (in New England and Houston), so hopefully that counts for something." Since arriving in September, Mallett has shown a willingness to work long hours, and displayed command of the offense and huddle in practice. In short, the way the Texans see it, he deserved the shot. The flip side of this is that Mallett is put in the best possible spot to succeed -- with a strong run game, receiver tandem and knowledge of the scheme -- going into the final months of his rookie contract. So, as is the case with Sanchez, we should have a cleaner evaluation of Mallett at the end of the calendar year.

http://goo.gl/IxxJPy[/rQUOTEr]

 

well, the same thing happened with Hoyer and Mallet.
Hoyer was the backup QB, then they drafted Mallet, and after 2 years they released Hoyer, and made Mallet the only backup QB for Brady.

so according to your logic they didnt think Hoyer was worth keeping, because they already had Mallet and they thought Mallet was better.

and Hoyer is playing well, so if the Patriots kept Mallet over Hoyer, thats means, he is better?