As Ric more eloquently explained, that's more of a knock on Kubiak and Smith's plan than Jackson as a player. I have no problem holding the Texans responsible for miscues with their blueprint. I just want to keep it within reason when it comes to the players themselves, and it's ridiculously early to label Jackson as a bust.
I would like to think that Jackson will get better, but the mistakes he's making aren't experience mistakes. He is just flat out getting beat one on one, you can't fix slow. This regime has drafted poorly for a while now, they had one great offseason, and haven't done much since.
Uh, there are maybe two or three CBs in the entire league that can hold their own one on one. It comes down to technique, positioning and understanding situations so that you can funnel receivers toward help or toward positions in which QBs are unlikely to throw. Jackson isn't Antonio Cromartie fast, but his speed and quickness is certainly adequate for the position. It comes down to instincts and smarts, as it does for most, and we'll see if he catches on.
9 games in and Jackson looks like the weakest link on the defense. Compared to our other first round defense players in their first years, Amobi, Mario, Cushing, etc... he sure does look like a bust. Can he turn it around? Sure. But given what we have to go on, things don't look promising.
You have to compare to the position. On offense, you would be concerned if a first-round RB struggles as a rookie. On the other hand, you wouldn't if a first-round QB struggles as a rookie. It all goes by the nature of the position. OLB is one of the easiest positions for a rookie to come in and contribute immediately. CB is one of the most difficult. Take a look at the performance of Kyle Wilson in New York, the CB most had pegged to go in our slot. He's looked remarkably similar to Kareem. Again, I'm not trying to dispute the obvious, which is that he's looked bad. But you have to keep in perspective that he's being asked to do far too much for a rookie in his position. So imo, the blame primarily goes to Kubiak/Smith, not Jackson. If we're sitting here at this point next year and Kareem is still having these same issues, then you can bring out the epic bust label.
The poster you're quoting is the most biased, delusional, illogical, agenda-fed ******* I've ever come across on any of the hundreds of message boards and blogs I read on a semi-regular basis. Just pointing that out so that people here will have an idea of the source.
I think this is the correct assumption. It's not Jackson's fault he was drafted in the first round, or that he's replacing the best DB on a team that has never had a consistent pass rush. That's why I hate Kubiak so much. David Carr 2.0? Have we ruined Kareem for good
I definitely don't think Jackson is as bad as he's been, but I also don't think he was worth the 1st round pick. Unfortunately, the team left themselves with no option in the draft, and had to take a CB early even though perhaps none of the guys remaining were worth that pick. In hindsight, another year of franchising Dunta probably would have worked wonders, even though he certainly was not worth that based on his play last year. I'll admit that I was completely against brining him back, and now it's biting us in the ass. This would have been the best way to spend some money in an uncapped year. Regarding Kubiak, I think he definitely stays with 8 wins or more. Anything less and I think Bob faces the reality that the seats may be empty next year, at which point it would be well worth it to be paying two coaching staffs. In any other year, he would be gone without a playoff appearance. Ric brought up an interesting point though ... maybe I'm just daydreaming here, but I wonder if Bob would consider bringing in a new GM to call the shots in the front office, and have the GM find a new promising DC with the potential to take over as HC once the labor thing works itself out. This effectively strips Kubiak of power and makes him a glorified OC for the time-being.
I pointed this out earlier, in this or another thread - but I think people should be careful not to overrate Dunta. Looking back? Sure - they should have kept him. But one thing the Texans have repeatedly always done is overestimate themselves. They did it under Casserly; they're doing it under Kubiak. This wasn't necessarily a *better* defense last year; they simply didn't consistently play against so many top-flight QBs that could expose how poor their pass defense is. My guess is that while personnel is certainly an issue, the bigger issue is scheme/approach/coaching, etc. IOW, Frank Bush. Just look at the QBs they have and will play this year as compared to last year. Other than getting ripped twice by Manning (which we're now numb to), Kurt Warner was the only QB we faced that would be considered above-average last year. They're not the '85 Bears but they're not talent-barren, either. A core of Williams, Smith, Ryans & Cushing *should* produce a better product.
If money is indeed a possible issue, it makes a lot of sense. And from a football perspective, it makes some sense, too. I'm no longer sold on Kubiak - but it allows you to keep the offense intact while quickly rebuilding the defense. But it better be a big, good hire; a proven DC.
That's the point of the thread though, right? That's the context I'm talking about. Jackson was drafted for a purpose. It's failed miserably. He was a reach at that point, anyway. I don't know if he's a bust forever...but for the purpose of what we drafted him for, it's all a bust.
Wow, that was really an awful post. It should stay on that other board where it belongs. Ben Tate is a bust because he got hurt and hasn't played. Oooookay. And I love that he's calling out our 5th, 6th, and 7th round picks. As if guys picked that late are supposed to step in and contribute right away. Just a HORRIBLE post.
Dunta sucked rocks though. He might be doing better this year elsewhere, but would undoubtedly sucked rocks if he stayed. Dunta at his very best (which we did not see last year) was an average cover CB. Saying Dunta was the best Texan CB says extremely little.
My thoughts: Jackson - I agree with those saying it was foolish to cement him as a starter from day 1. He clearly wasn't ready. I'll also say, putting the learning curve aside, his complete lack of closing/recovery speed is alarming. That's not going to improve with experience. His crummy tackling is also a concern, seeing as that was one of his few selling points in April. Tate - come on. He was sensational the 2 minutes before he got hurt. You can't hold this against anyone. Mitchell - who knows. Is he not playing because he can't help.....or is he not playing because Kubiak "sticks with his guys" and can't believe someone could replace the immortal Okoye? I know which scenario I'd bet on. Sharpton - He hasn't look bad in the time he's seen, and I'll guess Kubiak's no depth chart changes unless emergency stance is also playing a role here. 5th rounders and after are all bonus rounds. If someone out of this becomes a starter, raise your glass. Hopefully you get 1-2 contributors per year out of this on average. Looking at the Kubiak era defensive player draft history by position (and being kind): DE: 2/2 (Williams, Barwin) DT: 0/3 (Okoye, Okam, Mitchell) LB: 4/5 (Ryans, Diles, Adibi, Cushing, Sharpton) CB: 1/6 (Quin) S: 1/3 (Nolan) Their evaluation and drafting of DBs is horrendous. Bush is a LB guy, so it stands to reason that they have a good eye there.
I am. The learning development/curve on defense doesn't seem extraordinarily high for CBs compared to, say, MLB or DE/DL. CB seems to be more about pure athletic ability and instincts, rather than technique/size (DL) or knowledge/experience (MLB)... all of which come with time. If CB is more technique driven, then I'll buy that argument, but... Like I said, compared to most first round defensive picks, he is an absolute bust by the standards set for him based on both his predecessors (even Dunta had a good rookie campaign) and his peers. (Devin McCourty, Earl Thomas, etc) What Kyle Wilson is doing is all fine and dandy, if he's sucking it up, then he's a bust too... but it doesn't absolve Kareem of his performance.
Maybe by the end of next year, Quin and Jackson will be consistently average. I am assuming that the Texans will bring in a new DC who can develop players (aka do that coach-thing) or all bets are off.
hey wouldn't that be swell? maybe next year our players will be average!!! i hope they put that on a bumper sticker. what a thrilling, riveting franchise!!
