I don't know why you guys keep pumping up the branch deal. common thought is seattle way overpaid for him then and after he's been there, people still think they overpaid. so I wouldn't use that as a standard. and you can say, "yeah but he's not your avg backup" he's a backup with little game experience, branch came off being superbowl mvp.
It wont be the same line. Healthy players (like the promising rook Spencer) will return. And there is this thing called free agency where teams can get new players.
so any printed confirmation that we didn't swap first rounders? i guess 10 isn't that big of a slide down, but could be for those that want landry.
actually I agree, and one thing I will say is that its nice to see them making a move of any sort. and not going after some retread, I didn't want to see plummer here, nor garcia, and I didn't want them to draft a rookie high. I think this is the best move on their part outside of drafting a project in the later rounds. at least you can say this is truly a move for the future.
uh, oh..time to re-think my opinion. Justice likes the deal: http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/03/texans_get_a_qb.html I love this trade. Matt Schaub could be a star. This is a terrific day for the Texans. Matt Schaub has more physical tools than any quarterback they could have acquired in free agency or the draft. He would surprise almost no one by becoming a star. About all he hasn't done is prove he's the real deal. That's the risk in the trade the Texans were on the verge of making Wednesday. Until Matt Schaub has a chance to get on the field and prove he can play, we're not going to know. That's life. Give the Texans credit for identifying the guy they wanted and zeroing in on him. Suddenly, the off-season has some focus. It was clear they were lukewarm about Jeff Garcia and Jake Plummer. It was clear they didn't want David Carr back. It was also clear Brady Quinn wasn't going to be available unless the Texans moved way up from their eighth position in the first round. So they went for Schaub, apparently surrendering their 2007 and 2008 second-round picks and exchanging first-round picks in 2007. The Texans will drop from eighth to 10th in the first round. He's 25 years old. He's 6-5, 237 pounds. He has started just two games in three NFL seasons and has as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes (six). Gary Kubiak clearly believes he can do great things with Schaub. There's much work to do around him. The Texans need a speed wide receiver to line up across from Andre Johnson. But with Ahman Green and Owen Daniels and Andre Johnson, and now with Schaub, there are the makings of a very good offensive team--if Kubiak and GM Rick Smith are right about Schaub. If this move works out, the Texans won't just be better next season. They could be dramatically better. They improved from 2-14 to 6-10 in the first season under Kubiak and Smith. They were one play from winning four other games. Yes, the next step up is the hardest to take. That said, they seem to be getting there. Chemistry matters, especially in the NFL. Experience matters, too, especially in the NFL. Until today, improving the chemistry and professionalism was the most impressive thing the Texans had done in this off-season. Yes, they signed a lot of old guys who aren't costing a lot of money. Given their salary cap issues, they had no choice. They're also bringing professionalism into the locker room. Once upon a time, you could look around their locker room and not see enough experienced, solid guys, the kind of guys every successful NFL team has. That began to change dramatically last season with the addition of Anthony Weaver and Ephraim Salaam. There was the day Salaam cut short a news conference to be at the hospital with Charles Spencer after his surgery. He was just as diligent in helping Spencer learn the ropes of playing offensive line in the NFL. With Tuesday's signing of 32-year-old Shawn Barber, the Texans have added four free agents with at least seven years of experience: Barber, LB Danny Clark, RB Ahman Green and DT Jeff Zgonina. Salaam and DE N.D. Kalu have been re-signed. "First and foremost, the guys we've signed and re-signed are good players that we think can help our team," GM Rick Smith said. "Then, there's the added benefit of them being good leaders." These are important additions in the grand scheme of things. The Texans still have many needs. Good teams have a blend of youth and experience. The Texans need more talented kids. They need more speed. Okay, they need a lot of things. One of their pressing needs has been more veteran players, the guys who set an example and have a presence. The Texans are filling this need. With the talent gap slight in the NFL, the teams that go around their business the right way have an edge.
uh, oh...McClain likes it too: http://blogs.chron.com/nfl/2007/03/what_schaub_could_mean_to_the_1.html What Schaub could mean to the Texans To those of you who e-mailed me and suggested that the Texans should go after Falcons quarterback Matt Schaub, I stand corrected. I didn't think he'd be traded, and I didn't think Schaub would be coming to Houston if Atlanta did decide to part with him. Although nothing is official, the Texans are getting Schaub, a highly thought of backup to Michael Vick the last three years, for at least a second-round draft choice. I didn't think Schaub would be traded by new Atlanta coach Bobby Petrino, but, man, was I wrong. Teams inquired about trading for Schaub in the past, but former coach Jim Mora wouldn't deal him. The Texans are signing Schaub to a long-term contract. He'll compete for the starting job with Sage Rosenfels. Now, what does this mean for David Carr and the draft? I've been telling you since December that I thought Carr would be traded. I still believe he will be. But it takes two to tango. The Texans want a first-day pick, but so far, there have been no takers. They're hoping that on draft day or right after, a team that hasn't solved its quarterback problem will step up and make them an offer that appeals to them. As for the draft, getting Schaub means the Texans don't think Brady Quinn will be available at the eighth spot. It also means they won't be planning to use a first-day pick on a quarterback for coach Gary Kubiak to develop. Mock drafts will have to be altered. Here's what I believe about the first round: They won't draft a quarterback or an offensive tackle. They might trade down and take a receiver or a cornerback or free safety. General manager Rick Smith would love to acquire extra picks to help restock the roster. Remember when the Texans tried to sign Jeff Garcia and Patrick Ramsey but lost out to Tampa Bay and Denver? It was obvious they wanted another quarterback to go with Rosenfels because Carr won't be on the team next season. There were no more free agents worth pursuing. Once Falcons general manager Rich McKay and Petrino decided to trade Schaub, the Texans got interested. Schaub hasn't played a lot during his three-year career. His statistics aren't very impressive, but just about everyone in the NFL who has paid attention to him in preseason and regular season thinks he's got a chance to become a big-time quarterback. Schaub, who turns 27 in June, is 6-5, 237. The Falcons speak highly of him. But he was a restricted free agent who would have been gone after next season, and they would have received no compensation for him. Teams don't slap the franchise tag on backup quarterbacks. Although Schaub has excellent size, he also moves well. In Kubiak's system, the quarterback has to be able to roll out to both sides. Scouts who have watched Schaub say he throws well on the run and that he moves well enough to avoid the rush and to gain yards when he's forced to run. The Texans didn't want to part with draft choices, but Smith and Kubiak believed Schaub was too good to pass up. Kubiak has been looking for a quarterback who he believes is ideal for what he wants to do with the Texans' offense. The trade makes sense for the Falcons because they'll have an extra high draft choice. They like D.J. Shockley as their backup quarterback behind Vick, although Petrino might want to acquire another one.
I've been one of david carr's biggest supporters.Infact,I still believe that the organization failed him and not the other way around;but I must admit this trade has made my day .Now what do I with my carr Jersey?
I love how Justice flip-flops from week to week. He isn't too bad when it comes to baseball, but he really should stay away from the other sports (Though that article is pretty good)
Our line does need to improve in order for Schaub to suceed. And handing the ball off to Ahman won't take any pressure off..
Wow, this is a great move by the Texans -- I did not think anyone had a chance to grab Schaub from Atlanta.
