A title is the only bottom line that matters to McNair. Texans' McNair still looking for a title [rquoter]Alone among the 10 current owners of Texas' major pro sports franchises, the Texans' Bob McNair had to build something from nothing. He had to pay a king's ransom, to boot. No, make that an emperor's ransom — far more than any long-established team in the state has sold for. Then, once he handed over that $700 million expansion fee, his new National Football League business partners effectively said "Good luck and good-bye." "The league did nothing to help us," McNair said. "We didn't have anybody come down to show us anything, (such as) how teams set up their books, how you prepare for the draft." In retrospect, he admits he wishes he'd sought the counsel of his experienced peers, but at the time there was a pretty good reason why he chose not to. "I'd been negotiating with them over the price of the team," McNair said. "They were trying to get as high a price as they could, and I was trying to get a reasonable price," he said. "After you've gone through that, you're not real confident talking to those folks and asking for advice - not after they've just finished trying to take every nickel you have. "I mean, how much could I trust them? I had to learn who would be honest and candid with me. That took some time." Big numbers, but . . . Still, all's well that end's well - to a point. McNair has long since recovered his staggering initial investment, at least on paper. The Texans' franchise - the 10th most valuable in the world according to Forbes Magazine - is said to be worth $1.17 billion today. ... Where the team hasn't yet reaped a single dividend is in the standings. After their 6-10 step backward in 2010, the Texans are also the only Texas franchise never to have appeared in a playoff game, never mind won a championship. That, McNair concedes, is the only bottom line, ultimately, that matters. To him, too, not just to the Texans' frustrated, increasingly impatient fans. "If you're successful financially, but you're not successful on the field," he said, "then you're not successful. If you're just in this to make money, there are a lot of things you could do that are a lot easier and more profitable." Not looking back At least he's halfway there with the Texans. "You have to be successful (on the business side) if you hope to be successful as a football team for the long term," McNair said. "I'm still optimistic. We've got a good foundation. We've got good people in the right places. I think we'll win a championship, but I can't say when. We've got to just keep plugging. "Honestly, I wouldn't want to be in a situation like Carolina or Jacksonville, whose early success was greater than what they've enjoyed recently. I'm not satisfied at all with our record. We've got to turn it up a notch." ... None of McNair's coaching and general manager hires have yet to produce acceptable results. The franchise's first four seasons were essentially squandered under GM Charley Casserly, coach Dom Capers and quarterback David Carr, who also proved an albatross for Kubiak in his first season. But, McNair argues, "You make decisions based on the information you have and you move forward. It's a waste of time to look backwards." McNair shakes his head when someone points out how, whether the team wins or loses on Sunday afternoons and whether Kubiak stays or goes, the investors always win because of the franchise's equity growth - more than 40 percent, if you believe Forbes. "Don't pay attention to the valuations you read about," he argues. "Those people publish magazines. They don't buy teams. And it does you no good anyway if you have no intention of selling, which I don't."[/rquoter]
I've heard it at least three times from different sources this last week. Off the top of my head I believe, Pat Kirwan/Tim Ryan, Mike Mayock, and durring a round table discussion of the Senior Bowl on ESPN Radio. I don't remember where I heard it, but one of the sources quoted a scout as describing him as "one of the best pass rushing prospects ever" and during the practices he also showed he has the skills to be a 3-4 will linebacker.
You know what is going to happen,...Von Miller will be lights out terrific for years to come and we will be stuck with someone who is not.
CB's don't play in a vacuum, there are 9 other guys out there. The best corners in the league can't keep coverage on a WR after about 3 seconds. The worst NFL CB can play effectively if the QB is under constant pressure. The only way to slow down Manning is getting pressure. For him specifically, I think pressure up the middle, so he can't step up into the pocket to make his throws. If that's true, excelling at NT could be the best way to improve your CB play. (Or by stunt rushing an interior LB from the 3/4) I actually watched the Senior Bowl, everyone commenting was having a Miller-gasm. Coincidentally, Sam Acho looked outstanding. Everyone calls him a DE but he looks a lot like Demarcus Ware to me. I would want him bad if we miss on Miller.
Completely disagree, pressure means NOTHING if your cornerback looses his man at the line of scrimmage like Jackson does every play. Mario and Antonio were both in the top 10 in quarterback pressures last season (more than any DE duo in the NFL). If a receiver is open 1 step into his route, pressure cannot happen
If you can play bump and run because you know the QB doesn't have all day to throw, you do get coverage on the first step. If you play bump and run and but have to chase a 4.4 guy with a 4. 5 guy for 4 seconds you are going to get killed. But you have to play both bump and zone at some time. I am just suggesting that drafting or signing a CB isn't the only way to make you pass coverage look better. The passing game has gained so much sophistication in recent years I think it has left coverage CB's behind. No one can cover anyone when they get picked, or can cover a zone when it gets flooded. If I had to choose between a defense with real good corners and an anemic pass rush or a team that can't cover squat but pounds on the QB all day; I think I will get more wins from the badass front 7.
obviously, most people would prefer a front 7 with great pressure, but like I said, Mario and Smith had more QB hurries than any DE duo in the NFL, if the corners could cover their guys for an average amount of time, those hurries turn into sacks
I think we can all agree the Texans desperately need serious help on both ends. If they get a chance to nab a difference maker for either position, they HAVE to take him. Get one and not the other, and the defense will remain piss poor. Have to, have to, have to install at least 3 new, above average, starters (NT, CB, and S). Historically, when you get a top tier NT, the rest of your defense falls into place (Suh, Detroit)....but when you pay top dollar for an elite CB to play on a bad D things stay pretty bad (49ers, Nate Clements; Broncos, Champ Bailey).
Wade has said that the Texans have the linemen to play a 3-4. Given that, I suspect that Wade will target a player maker LB or DB in the early rounds.
Unless Mitchell really emerges, he's wrong. For the most part, he was trying hard to sell the McNair-approved line that major acquisitions weren't needed to improve the D.
If the Texans aren't aggressive in acquiring talent via free agency this offseason, then I really think that Bob McNair would be burning one of the few remaining bridges he has with this fanbase. It's PAINFULLY obvious that this team has glaring needs in the secondary, and if he has truly handcuffed the coaching staff with a "no big acquisition" policy like you say, I think people would have had enough. There are PLENTY of options out there for the Texans in terms of experienced players, and there are NO excuses for them to not go out and at least TRY to get them (and by try, I don't mean a half-assed, low-ball offer). If McNair has the balls to go out there and try to sell the city his snake-oil youth-is-the-way-to-go BS again, then I think I wouldn't be the only one to tell him to go **** himself. This defense was an absolute embarrassment this past season, and if he's perfectly fine sitting around being a laughing stock for the rest of the league, then that's on him. I expect more to be done with my money than just lining the pockets of an already-rich man, and I won't contribute another penny to his cause. This city has waited long enough for a winner....we don't deserve to have an owner who takes advantage of our patience and loyalty. Just because we love football enough to sell-out 9 years worth of mediocrity doesn't mean we don't deserve a team that actually gives a damn about winning.
Our guys can't jam at the line either. Either they'd miss (Roy Williams/Dez Bryant) or the play would call for huge cushion (majority of short yardage/goal line situations).
^^^^This. Me in 2000. A lil more skeptical in 2006.................. After not firing Kube and the Gang then hiring Wade.................
Tom Brady won the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award. Foster came in 3rd in the voting behind Brady and Michael Vick.
Man, that is a horrible headline you put up. lol. I thought the guy actually got shot. You know, with a gun.
[rquoter]The Texans kept Dunta Robinson, Phillip Buchanon, Demarcus Faggins, Dexter McCleon, Lewis Sanders and Von Hutchins.[/rquoter] ............... ............... ............... ...well, I have no words...
Honestly, I can't blame them for letting go of a guy who ended up being unsigned until November of that season. Props to the guy for working hard and improving himself, but it's hard to see that coming. And I have my doubts that he'd be the player he is today if our coaching had anything to do with it.
