So the OL went from the NFL's worst to below average, at best. And what has been the big offseason move to improve the OL? Let's all hold our breath together.
they drafted 2 OL last year. they signed Flanagan last offseason. it takes some time. but they're improving. if you watched Texans games, particularly down the stretch last year, i think you'd conclude that Carr has problems independent of the OL. the OL in years past might have caused them in stunting his growth...but he didn't throw 4 INT's against the Pats because he was pressured. he didn't throw for -5 yards against the Raiders because he never had time.
1. Why all the hatred for DC? I kept hoping for him to succeed. No one was ever set up to fail as a QB more than him. Yes I know he has developed some flaws, but I still wish the best for him. 2. The OL was improved at the beginning of the season but after the injury bug hit, I thought they were almost as bad as the first year. Sure the sack totals went down, but alot of that had to do with all the check downs and short passes. It's just too bad we had zero game breakers that could get some YAC's. 3. I'm excited about Schaub and think he can do good thing with Green and hopefully a healthy and improved OL. Would also like to add some gamebreakers or a good slot type receiver. 4. Some of y'alls infatuation with VY is sickenning. If he grew up in any other city, most people would be complaining we didn't draft Bush and barely mention Vince.
1. he came to be a symbol of our futility. that may not be fair, but it is what it is. TO SOME he came to be a point of resentment given his opportunity cost. he never was introduced to competition. he seemed to have the starting job no matter what. 2. i disagree. by the end of the season, even with the injury bug, i felt like the OL was improved; 3. me too 4. VY was rookie of the year. we needed a QB, in my view. the idea that a commitment to DC kept us from drafting VY or any other QB in that draft made me sick to my stomach. thankfully, those days are behind us. finding good running backs, in my mind, is a lot easier than finding good QB's. and many of us think VY will be special. houstonians aren't the only ones who think that, i promise you.
I give you that next year last year rookies Charles Spencer and Eric Winston should be better (though let us all hope that Winston see no more time at OT). Mike Flanagan, Ephraim Salaam, and Steve McKinney likely will not be better, since their careers are on the decline. One can hold out hope that Fred Weary, Drew Hodgdon, and Chester Pitts will get better, but ... And the Texans will likely not draft an OL in the first round, making the third round the highest possible OL pick in the next draft. Thus, it is unclear in my mind if the Texans OL will be that much better next year.
after the season played out, i would agree with you on this statement. BEFORE the season though, i would say the majority of the people outside houston or UT didn't think he'd be a top 3 pick.
i don't understand...he WAS a top 3 pick before the season. he was rated higher than Leinart or Cutler on most boards, as i understand it. the question is whether you thought the texans had a need at QB. according to John McClain, McNair told VY's mom on draft day that they would have taken VY #1 but for the fact they already had David Carr. i wasn't there...i don't know if that actually happened or not.
we'll see, i guess. but i'm telling you...i think we're gonna find that pocket presence, or lack thereof, was contributing to a lot of sacks.
what i meant about the top 3 pick was BEFORE the draft. but maybe it's just my memory. i thought Leinart was rated ahead of him.
I'd venture a guess that if Shaub doesn't spell instant playoffs (which is what average joe easy chair fan wants NOW) that the "perfect storm of negativity" has yet to begin. Mark it down... If the Texans are not 8 - 8 and border line playoff contenders in '07, the fan base will start to jump ship even more so. And Captain Kubes will feel the heat of a disgruntled media that may lead to a worse '08. Seriuosly... Shaub for 6 years? I'd rather have a lame duck QB and a draft pick... but hey, I'm not the only one.
Anyone that expects us to make the playoffs next season is a schmuck. We made improvements in a lot of areas last year and we've now made an improvement at the QB position, but we're still a couple years away. I think if we have our first .500 season next year, this town will really start buzzing for the Texans again. And the only way Schaub will be here for six years is if he deserves to be here six years. In the NFL, you aren't married to players like you are in baseball or basketball.
Really? One could say that a healthy OL and DC should deliver a 8-8 season. If Shaub can't do better, the average fan will not be happy, I suspect.
Kinda my point... but if this doesn't happen... look out. They'll be calling him "Scab" -covering the same old wound. See my quote again (the average joe easy chair fan = schmuck)... reason would say 8-8 is not unfair... which would most likely be borderline playoffs in the AFC. I doubt Schaub will be in town all 6 years either way.. a draft pick is in the works, methinks either this year or next (when the outrage hits harder). I'd love to see both Carr (elswehere) and Schaub ("here") do well, all things considered.
A lot of the ESPN "experts" had Vince dropping off. No one in the NFL did. That being said, he was almost universally considered a 3rd-5th pick. According to every GM that was asked, Mario and Bush were 1-2 on every single board. Vince was in the second group with D'Brickashaw and Hawk.
spencer missed 14 games; flannigan 7; and winston saw the field only because of injuries - he was on the practice squad for most of it. and these are the guys anchoring "improvements" along the offensive line? the run blocking, which is based on a system, did get progressively better; but then, it's never been as bad as the pass protection since it's infinitely easier. the pass blocking never improved last year. bring in barbaro... sorry, but he was sacked 5 times that day... 5. he attempted 19 passes. so he was sacked once every 4 passing attempts, max. and that doesn't include and/or account for the # of additional hits he absorbed or their intensity. 5 sacks/game is an 80-sack pace, which would have broken the single-season record for most sacks allowed... which they set his rookie year - when he was sacked 17% of the time. it changes nothing, but to state his lack of success against the raiders was "independent" of the pressure the oh-by-the-way top ranked pass defense in football established that afternoon is just - well, it's just wrong.
not a guaranteed contract. if Schaub plays 6 years here, it means things went very, very well. i agree with this much...Schaub holds the keys to Kubiak's future with the Texans. if this fails, Kubiak will lose his job over it.
