That's amazing! How can Kubiak live with himself? I mean Kube's adores Walters. .............. .............. ..............
I'm mourning of the Texans cutting the best blocking WR in NFL history. :grin: K-Dub did have good years though, and made some clutch catches. I'll never forget the Bengals game to clinch the first Division Title, he was on point that day. His TD catch that won the game, is one of my favorite Texans moments. Second to taking my daughter her first game. It was a bad ass game too, Dre caught a TD to put us ahead with 28 seconds left. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wcdUg-DYi2E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Let's not get too ahead here. It's just a smoke screen. Texans offseason 1. Draft a young WR in the 3rd or 4th round 2. Said WR doesn't block hard enough or savvy enough for Kubiak's liking 3. Kubiak brings Walter back in camp for unguaranteed money to "teach the young'uns how to block." 4. Kubiak falls in love with Walter all over again. 5. Texans make Walter's contract guaranteed and start him for his "experience and familiarity with the Texans scheme."
Y'all are all happy he is gone. It's a move I like/accept. Just don't expect us to have a superior player at WR2 next season. I imagine there's about a 65% chance we'll regress from Walter in 2013, not improve.
It's sink or swim now for Kubiak and Smith. If the move turns out like Jacoby 2.0 (Not that Walter will blow up somewhere else) and the Texans don't find a legit replacement they should be ready to hand in their papers.
I just don't think WR2 is a priority for them, and maybe it shouldn't be. It's what we fans want but in reality, cutting Walter was probably done because he's simply overpaid. It also frees up money to go out and pay Quin and McCain and hopefully add depth in other areas. Aside from a 3rd to 4th tier FA and mid-to-late round pick I'm not sure they're planning to address WR2 with new blood. We basically have no ILB2s, healthy RTs or a competent SS under contract. Walter would still be here if he was making $1.4mil/yr.
If Rick Smith can't find a receiver to produce more than Walter did last year, then he should be fired.
I'd love a dynamic WR2, someone who makes Schaub a better player. But I get the feeling Kubiak and Phillips are in Smith's ear making sure he knows where their priorities are. If you go out and get a playmaking WR2 Kubiak will have to tinker the offense, possibly sacrifice talent at RT, Phillips might lose McCain. When you're pressed up against the cap every move, even small ones impact every position, not just this year but over the next 2-3 years. They're playing Jenga right now and investing in a WR2 might bring the hole thing crashing down.
Honest question? what do we need from the second receiver? in numbers of yards? When you run the ball as much as we do, throwing for 4,000 yards is already impressive feat as an offense. To me the change should come with a change in philosophy. When in the redzone, spread it out a little. Don't get all stingy with the playcalling. First 8 games...y no schaub throw to dre?dre is done! last 8 games... y no schoob throw to other receivers other than dre? O.D is done!
If the Texans can improve their running game and defense, then indirectly they should be able to get a WR2 enough opportunities/room to produce more than Walter did last year. The bar is set so low, I do actually expect Smith to find someone from the scrapyard and have him produce more. Someone making veteran minimum or a mid-round pick.
