I would guess that is now on Wade Phillips. And they don't have a better alternative. FO's fault - but I don't necessarily blame them Wade thought he saw something he could mold. They were 9-7 two years ago. And this, btw, is the same fanbase that said the team had no urgency this summer and that we'd sit out free agency and make no additions to the team. They seem credible. Again, too many of you are constantly moving the target. Three months ago, they had no urgency to sign a #1 CB; now it's a #2. And suddenly, one of the league's best offenses absolutley, positively MUST have a #2 WR. THEY HAVE TO!! Name a winning team with an appreciably better WR tandem than Johnson/Walter. You would think every other contender had Rice and Moss in their primes.
They've lost to 3 teams that are a combined 12-5 and were in those 3 games well into the 4Q - 4Qs, I might add, that have been played without at least one of their league's best skill players. You would think, based on the rhetoric here, that they were 2-4 or worse - if they beat Tennessee, they'll take control of their division with a soft schedule upcoming. Most of us figured these first 6 games were going to be tough. We didn't know how quickly the defense would gel and we entered the season with Foster hurt. I'm perfectly content with 3-3. No one is arguing they're an elite team. But (probably) good enough to win a division and host a playoff game. I'll take it.
These aren't all winning teams, but as you've demonstrated before, winning isn't all about offense: Really good #1 & #2s: Dallas: Miles Austin, Dez Bryant Philly: Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson Atlanta: Roddy White, Julio Jones Green Bay: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson (amongst others) Indy: Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon Arguable, but borderline (#1 is worse, but #2 is better): NY: Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham New England: Wes Welker, Deion Branch San Diego: Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd Pittsburgh: Mike Wallace, Hines Ward / Antonio Brown Then there are the teams with a bunch of decent #2s that split catches like Detroit and New Orleans.
Seems to me that if you had a legit #2, losing your #1 wouldn't be as big a deal, no? If they aren't elite, why on earth would you argue a #2 WR couldn't help them?
When Miles Austin went out for a couple weeks, Dez Bryant stepped right in. When Julio Jones went down with the hamstring, Roddy White stepped in. When any of those guys get injured, they have someone who could step in, maybe not get similar production, but they can handle the load. We have Jacoby Jones.
But that's kind of the point... The implication here is that to win, we ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVLEY have to have a #2 WR. Well, I can name 9 current winning teams who's #2 WR isn't appreciably better (or worse) than Kevin Walter. How they do it without Brandon Lloyd is anyone's guess. I wouldn't trade Kevin Walter for *any* of those guys. Again, it's not all about catching passes: he's a terrific blocker in a run game that, when all is clicking, is one of the NFL's most feared.
Are we talking in general or specifically about losing Andre Johnson, one of the 2 or 3 best WRs in football? Because Andre Johnson is irreplaceable. And Brandon Lloyd is no Andre Johnson. Major, I'm all for an upgrade - any-and everywhere; never said otherwise. But this not-lost season everyone is acting like is lost is not going to turn with the acquisition of Brandon Lloyd, a *vastly* overrated WR who, career-wise, isn't even in the same zip code as Derrick Mason who, BTW, this FO with no urgency just traded for a week ago. No contending team in football - even 2-4 teams - thought he was worth a remarkably cheap 5th round pick. It took an 0-5 team making a massive msitake for him to be dealt. But thumb through this thread and you'd think they just passed on a chance to land 1990 Jerry Rice.
Ric, are you really acting like Brandon Lloyd is a nobody? A few facts for you: 1. Brandon Lloyd was the undisputed #1 receiver on the Broncos. You'd have to have a pretty horrible receiving corp to say your #1 guy is basically worthless and not able to help a contending team for a 6th round pick. 2. He had his breakout year last year because he was healthy and as he aged, he transformed into more of a true all around receiver than just a deep threat. Going into 2010 he was just a big play, deep threat guy, who worked his ass off to become a more all around receiver and his hard work showed. He also showed flashes of brilliance this year when Orton wasn't throwing ducks to the opposing team. 3. He's going to be a stud for the next 3-4 years. He still has his speed and as mentioned above he's developed into an all around receiver and has great hands. 4. He's a whole hell of a lot better than jacoby jones and kevin walter - and as a matter of fact he shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as those two scrubs. He's a legit #1 on most team and he'd make an amazing #2 alongside Andre Johnson. The Texans had an opportunity to do something here that showed the cared about winning. Even if AJ was healthy, I'd be all over this opportunity - and because he's not? Well that made this a no brainer - which is why many of us are frustrated about this. I'd give up a #3 or a #4 for a solid #2 stud receiver all day long. The only thing I can think of is that the Texans DID make a move but the Broncos wanted to punish Lloyd and sent him to the sorry ass Rams.
Schaub had 400+ yards against Oakland. Schaub was slightly better than what the average QB does. Players are stepping up. They've lost to two great teams, split with good teams, and beat two bad teams. Some times the other team is just better which might explain why Atlanta and Dallas don't have winning records also.
Something no one has thought about: Maybe the Texans made the same offer, but since the Rams pick will be higher, Denver Broncos accepted their offer.
You wouldn't trade Walter for Mike Wallace? Reggie Wayne? Julio Jones? Etc? Wow. That says it all Ric.
Miles Austin missed *a* game. Roddy White steps in for no one. Julio Jones (who cost Atlanta 341 draft picks and they've already lost as many games with him this year as last year without him, FYI) is a scary-ggod player not having a remarkably more productive season than Kevin Walter. He's been targeted more (25 catches v. 15) but averages just two more yards a catch and has scored two fewer TDs (he has none). Kevin Walter is fine.
No #2 is going to replace a #1 - that's why they are called #2s. But they are going to a hell of a lot better than having Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter are your receiving core. Except you did: I don't see how a "legit" #2 WR makes them better. I think Derrick Mason was a good addition. As would Brandon Lloyd. He did, after all, lead the entire league in receiving yards last year and had more yards than Kevin Walter had in the last 2+ years combined. You don't do that by accident, especially when you have Kyle Orton as your QB. The odds of the Texans picking up anyone nearly as good as Brandon Lloyd with their 5th round pick this year are miniscule. It's a no-brainer trade, especially for a team with little depth at WR. Having Johnson, Lloyd and Mason on the field along with Owen Daniels in passing situations is a hell of a lot better than Johnson, Walter, and Jacoby.
He's better than Eric Decker? And we *didn't* trade our 2012-2018 drafts for him? Really? Because here are his career #s: 101 games (63 starts): 260/4,101 yards; 26 TDs Here're Walter's: 126 games (69 starts): 291/3,569 yards; 22 TDs. Yeah, when was the last time they showed they cared?.... Why are they *punishing* him? BTW, there are 30 other NFL teams; they didn't seem to want him, either. You think the Titans couldn't use an upgrade at WR?
Lloyd last year: 1,448 yards, 11 TDs, 18.8 yards per reception. Seriously Ric, you are arguing Walter and Jacoby are as good as that? Lloyd was a late bloomer, hence his career stats being pedestrian. Can he fall back to earth? Maybe. Or maybe he can play at a high level for a few more years.
@Mr.Clutch: Nay. But do you remember this pre-lockout rumor? http://twitter.com/#!/nflcharlie/status/45241410181545984 <!-- http://twitter.com/nflcharlie/status/45241410181545984 --><div id='embedly_twitter_8440739' class='embedly_twitter'><style type='text/css'> #embedly_twitter_8440739{background:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme1/bg.png) #C0DEED; padding:20px;} #embedly_twitter_8440739 p{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 0px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} #embedly_twitter_8440739 .embedly_tweet_content{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} #embedly_twitter_8440739 p span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:0px;height:40px; padding-bottom: 12px;} #embedly_twitter_8440739 p span.metadata span.author{line-height:15px;color:#999;font-size:14px} #embedly_twitter_8440739 p span.metadata span.author a{line-height:15px;font-size:20px;vertical-align:middle} #embedly_twitter_8440739 p span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 10px 0 0px;width:48px;height:48px} #embedly_twitter_8440739 p a {color: #0084B4; 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