Thread title and poll are different questions. I am satisfied with seeing improvement from last year. There are some positives and negatives around the franchise, from the management to the players. However, I'd hardly call another mediocre season a success.
Exactly. It's about as good as could be expected, but it was against a last place schedule in a terrible division. Not exactly something to make you think they are about to become serious contenders. Without a quarterback they have a cieling and without a better GM they are limited in what improvement you can expect.
Success? 1. We still don't have an answer at QB - the most important position in the game. 2. Our number 1 pick was relegated to the sidelines all season. 3. Andre Johnson is a shell of his former self. 4. Our defense has to be depended upon to SCORE in order to win games. 5. J.J. Watt would have been a unanimous pick for MVP on a better team headed to the playoffs. So, all in all we did improve our record from 2-14 to possibly 8-8... AGAIN! If that is the measuring stick of success, then sure we were successful. In every other aspect, this team has severely regressed.
In spite of #1-3, we might actually finish above .500. And in AJ80's case - crap QB + father time obviously won't equate to success. How is #4 a bad thing? It just helps our offense moving forward, and our defense further improves and matures. Or would you rather the philosophy be "the best defense is a good offense?" How did that work out for Denver, last year? The MVP vote won't even be unanimous for a defensive player in today's game, I bet. And individual awards are meh, as we're talking about the team. Obviously, there are many (read: MANY) things to work on, on this team. But some of guys are so dang pessimistic. It's the holidays - cheer up!
Boy, we have a bunch of whiny, pessimistic b*****s here. Likely to go from 2-14 to 9-7, yet in people's minds this team hasn't improved. Rome wasn't built in a day, BOB had to completely change the garbage losing atmosphere that Kubiak left behind. The only thing to be genuinely angry about is that Rick Smith is still the GM.
It's not 'pessimistic' to say Mr. Smith hasn't managed the salary cap well or drafted well and that is the metric that measures the job. One thing, and it might be Mr. Mcnairs directive, he pays too much in 'team loyalty' money over pay-for-performance money that, while it does give the team a continuing identity, hamstrings your efforts in acquiring fee agents.
In a vacuum this season is a success. The most important thing is that the team (for the most part) is playing better as the season goes on. O'Brien said he will know what kind of team he has after Thanksgiving and it's quite clear he has a pretty good team. The defense is playing great right now and the o-line has improved tremendously since the beginning of the season. A lot of the early struggles and deficiencies with team had to do with learning new schemes. If the QB position gets stabilized next yr with either Mallett or Fitz and they spend FA money wisely the Texans could be 10-6 or 11-5 next year.
I said "NO" because we need to stop getting use to Mediocrity around here. Pat on the back isn't going to do anything. Win n advance or it's not a success. Draft better, get a qb. Come back at it again & be the elite team.
I think it is a success by most measures. The new coaching staff is bringing new ideas to the team - not new to the NFL, just new to the Texans, and it looks like the players are buying into the message. The two real negatives are the lack of any real impact from this year's draft class and the lack of a solid plan at QB going into 2015. If we can eek into the playoffs this year, that will be a bonus, but going forward, this team will be defined on how this draft class comes together and if BO'B can find the guy to lead his offense. Here's a sobering factoid from John Clayton: Convenient how he left off Houston, and even if you don't think Dalton/Big Ben/Flacco/Rivers/Smith are in the same category as Brady/Manning/Luck, you have to admit having good, consistent QB play is a winning formula in today's NFL with the rules being what they are. Whether it is internal growth (Mallett/Savage/Keenum) or an outside FA or draft pick, they have to get that position settled so they can continue to build the team. Would also certainly help to get some more contribution from this year and next year's rookie class. They have to start supplementing their aging core with some talented, cheaper, and younger contributors.
Considering its O'B's first year and going into the the season with Fitz as starter, did we actually think that with one game left in the season there is a chance at making the playoffs? Not to mention the Clowney fiasco, having three qbs down, the bad calls that we have to deal with every year. Im saying yes, with expectations of kickin A next year.
Yeah, but that's really rare...and those are historically good defenses that carried the day for those teams. Baltimore with Dilfer was the best defense I have seen other than maybe the 85 Bears...and I think I'd take that Baltimore D over Chicago's honestly. TB's defense was insanely good too that season. Year in and year out the teams that sustain success are teams with legit QB's. Having said that...I don't see how anyone can say this season is not a success. It's huge improvement to go from 2-14 to potentially 9-7. That's a lot better than I thought they'd do. I think we have the right coach...that's a great first step.
I was still enthralled in week 17, so if the metric is entertaining me, and it is, this season was a success.
Without question this season is a success. Success is relative and coming off a 2-14 season, on a 14 game losing streak, I would say that 9-7 and narrowly missing the playoffs is a pretty damn good year. We have a ton of holes to fill but we know that we have our answer at coach and a team with some heart. Can't wait for next season.
Joe Flacco vs. Colin Kapernick may go down as the worst QB matchup of all-time in the modern-day Super Bowl era. Gives every team hope that they don't necessarily need a super-human QB to win it all... just one that doesn't make dumb mistakes, can read a defense, and can occasionally make a play when needed (but doesn't need to carry the team). I think what ultimately separates the haves from the have-nots is coaching. Teams with fluid game-plans, and the ability to make adjustments, not only have consistent regular season success... but also go far in the playoffs. Its why New England would rather play Peyton/Broncos (who are who they are, regardless of opponent), vs. teams like Baltimore and Pittsburgh (who don't have as much talent, but end up making adjustments and playing above themselves at times).
