You said and that simply isn't true. Here, again, are their rankings: '08 Giants: rushing 1st; defense 5th; points allowed 5th '09 Saints: rushing 6th; defensive QBR 3rd; forced TOs 2nd ’10 Packers: defensive QBR 1st; forced TOs 1st; points allowed 2nd; sacks 4th; overall defense 5th Which of these rankings, all top 6 or better, would not qualify as “elite”? And then the ’11 Giants were mediocre running the football and defending (and were overall mediocre, despite Eli Manning having one of his best seasons as a pro) until the defense went uber-elite in the playoffs, holding opponents to 14 points/game, including giving up just 17 to the Patriots, who had averaged 32 in the regular season. Do you think they’re capable of winning a Super Bowl with Schaub? Didn’t you previously term their chances, “low”? If not Schaub, where does your concern emanate from? So Schaub didn’t make the 2011 team better? You saw no discernible drop-off after TJ Yates took over? And didn’t the team tank as soon as he tanked last year? Do we not have enough evidence to suggest that as Schaub goes, so goes the Texans, as opposed to the other way around? Otherwise, why didn’t the 6th best running game and defense last year carry him through his rough stretch? I don’t think Schaub is “awesome.” If anyone is consistently reading my posts, my opinion of him has absolutely evolved – heck-fire, I admit to being skeptical of him in the post you’re responding to – are skeptical and awesome interchangeable in your opinion? But I think this repeated notion – not necessarily by you – that those six games last year (+ Green Bay and the first New England game, of course) are the only ones that can be used to define him is patently unfair and narrow-minded.
So the year he led the league in passing and the team won 9 games – at the time, the most in franchise history.... you were done, huh?
[SI] Houston Texans' supporting cast need to step up, but Matt Schaub is the deciding factor Texans Preview: The Supporting Cast Must Take a Leading Role But Matt Schaub—the NFL’s rifleman without the arm—will ultimately determine if Houston’s season is Super Bowl or bust Much like how a person’s interpretation of the Second Amendment often reflects their broader political beliefs, a person’s opinion of Matt Schaub often reveals their greater football dogmas. Most discussions about Schaub veer into a misguided debate about the player himself. But there are six years’ worth of film that clearly illustrate what Schaub is: a smart system quarterback with functional out-of-pocket passing ability, shrewd ball-handling aptitude and unequivocally below average arm strength. This isn’t a discussion; it’s a blatantly obvious scouting report. The debate is whether you can win with a quarterback like Schaub. In other words, can you capture a Lombardi Trophy when your quarterback is more of a puzzle piece than cornerstone? When impassioned Texans fans rush to Schaub’s defense, trumpeting his three 4,000-plus-yard seasons, career 91.9 passer rating and his team’s back-to-back AFC South crowns, they’re really just taking the affirmative: yes, a team can win a title with a puzzle piece quarterback. Debaters on the negative side essentially argue that the Texans’ regular season success has been merely with Schaub, while their postseason failures have been largely because of him. Schaub doesn’t necessarily lose big games, he just lacks the dynamic tools to win them. In July, Texans general manager Rick Smith made headlines by saying on Sirius XM, “Quarterbacks are judged by championships. That’s just a function of the position. That’s just the reality. And [Schaub] understands that. He knows that. And he does have to play better in those situations for us to take our team to the next level.” This certainly doesn’t mean Smith—or his boss, owner Bob McNair—side with the negative. After all, they signed Schaub to a five-year deal last summer worth over $29 million guaranteed. More importantly, they’ve surrounded Schaub with a supporting cast that just might be good enough to actually let the debate solve itself. Because, without question, the rest of Houston’s lineup is of Super Bowl quality. OFFENSE ... DEFENSE ... SPECIAL TEAMS ... BOTTOM LINE Houston’s Super Bowl chances depend on what side you take in the Schaub debate. The vote here is negative, with the thinking being that the Divisional Round, maybe Conference Championship, is as far as a middle-of-the-road quarterback can go. But that’s just one man’s opinion.
RARELY steps up? How about NEVER? He's just an overpaid substitute QB on a starting job. Had it not been for his screw ups, we'd be in the playoffs much earlier and gone much deeper in the past couple years. I lost faith in him quite a few years ago when he totally choked in a crucial game against the Colts at Reliant. Basically he squandered an 18-point lead in the last few minutes, less than 5 I think, and had our collective ass handed to him, to put it nicely.
Lol, he got the team an 18 point lead and then with less than 5 min to go he allows the Colts to get the lead.
I lost faith in him last year against the Colts when he allowed that kickoff return TD. Thanks alot, Schaub. LOL. The irrational Schaub hate around here is comical at times.
I think yuisakata blaming Schaub for a game in which he didn't even play may very well be the defining moment of the Schaub Era. I don't understand why everyone is so afraid of gray. It's all black and white. He's great! He's terrible! In response to a post in which I admit to being skeptical of him - an opinion I have openly owned since December of last year... I'm accused of going out of my way to convince people he's awesome. While having my reading comprehension questioned, no less. I think he's earned the hot seat; I think the concern is fully warranted. But if he plays as well as he did in 2011 + the first 12 games of 2012... I'll say it again: if this team can't win a SB with *that* QB, then the problem ain't with the QB... And, BTW, I have no issue whatsoever, if he instead plays like he did down the stretch last year, being done with him.
It's to the point where if you don't think he's TOTAL GARBAGE, well then, you must think he's better than Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees put together. There is no in-between (apparently). Schaub was a big part of the late season collapse last year. But if you even suggest that there were other problems as well (defensive injuries, O-line issues, special teams), you are quickly labeled as a Schaub Apologist.
That's the other thing: I don't know a single fan - rational or otherwise - who hasn't fully endorsed a heaping blame be placed on Matt Schaub for the final six games of last year. But if you DARE suggest he might have had performances earlier in the year that balanced out that atrocious finish... the excuses come flooding out of the woodwork. They're oblivious to how convenient their hindsight is: losses are always important games; wins never are.
When you view yourself as a good sports team wins are undervalued because they should be expected. But the thing that gets most people about the losses were that they were all in important/statement making games where the pressure was on. Let's go over the losses... Massive loss at home on the first Sunday Night Football game of the season, ok. Massive loss on a Monday Night game against one of the best teams in the conference after only losing one game prior. Ouch. Back to back losses against teams you should be better then on paper (one of which you have beaten before) where just 1 win would have guaranteed a bye week if not potentially home field throughout the playoffs... Spoiler <iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MIZbGSXeWWE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
Generally, I think that's fair - I don't personally believe "important/statement games" ultimately mean anything to the teams; I think it's all worthelss fan service... but I understand why fans would rather the Texans beat Green Bay in prime time on NBC than Buffalo on a noon CBS broadcast. But, again: hindsight is dictating what constitutes "important/statement making games." In the lead-up to both the Denver and Baltimore games, there was all kinds of chatter about them being "important/statement making games" - and as soon as the Texans thrashed both teams (with Schaub playing exceptionally well, especially against Denver)... the excuses started up and suddenly, amazingly, those games weren't all that important. I'm 100% fine with people pinpointing high profile losses - as long as they're consistent and willing to appalud high profile victories.
I don't hate Schaub, I just don't think he's going to get any better. The Texans need to start grooming his eventual replacement, immediately. If they don't think that player is Keenum or Yates, then they need to find that player in next Spring's draft. But about statement games, just what games are statement games? Games against teams who might be waiting for you in the playoffs, right? Ravens - road Seahawks - home 49ers - road Patriots - home Broncos - home Of those five games, all I would consider "statement" games, two are on the road. Can we agree that Schaub needs to play at a high level in order for the Texans to beat Baltimore and SF on the road? Can we all agree that those two games are going to tell us a lot of both Schaub as a QB and the Texans as a team?
I generally agree with your first sentiment, re: future playoff opponents dictating importance (though not absolutely). But I disagree that Seattle and/or San Francisco qualifies - those are ultimately meaningless games. Two NFC opponents among the first 5 weeks of the season? It'll be disappointing if they lose... but it won't have much impact on their postseason plans. (Note: the Patriots lost to both last year.) They play four division games among their final six - right now, I would rate every one of those more important than the Seahawks' or 49ers' games. They play Indianapolis in week 15 - the division might be on the line: is that an important game? What if the #1 seed, or division, or heck - playoffs are on the line in the final week against Tennessee? Pretty doggone important...
It is not so much about hating on Schaub as it is what many fans want in the QB position. The see the talent level rising with the Texans and they want a "race car driver" QB to deliver the sizzle. There is no "sizzle" in Matt Schaub. Or Kubiak. It is this bland, old style conservatism that annoys some fans. It feels like we are missing "our chance." The window of opportunity seems to be closing because McNair made the wrong leadership commitments. That is the real issue.
Yes. It didn't amount to anything. Hell, he threw less than 30TDs. He moved the ball all up and down the field , but couldn't cash in......sounds familiar huh? He wasn't mobile and had a very average arm (see Cardinals gm circa '09). I knew he would never be a great QB. Trust me, I voiced my opinion here loooong ago. Good, not great
cardinals game after turning it over with the pick six, 'nutted' up and drove them to the 2 yard line, where chris brown fumbled the ball and didn't 'cash in'. that year our browns (kicker and rb) cost us 3 victories, considering the other 2 mishaps turn to O.T games and we lose. in 2010, the defense cost us 5 games.
