Bye week assessment

[Big Texas]

Offense: held back by limitations of Fitz. Oline was built to run kubiaks system. They need to be replaced. Even Duane Brown was making critical mistakes.

Defense: Classic bend but don't break philosophy. Near the bottom of all defensive statistics except number one in turnovers. The turnovers have kept us from being blown out each game. It's time to let the young corners play. At least there's potential to get better with experience.

Coaching: I am ok with the system. A better QB would make this system look a whole lot better.

Side note: Clowney better come back better an ever because Merciless is making a case for himself...

Cushing better come back better than ever, otherwise he's about to get the Demeco Ryan's treatment.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Big Texas

Offense: held back by limitations of Fitz. Oline was built to run kubiaks system. They need to be replaced. Even Duane Brown was making critical mistakes.

Defense: Classic bend but don't break philosophy. Near the bottom of all defensive statistics except number one in turnovers. The turnovers have kept us from being blown out each game. It's time to let the young corners play. At least there's potential to get better with experience.

Coaching: I am ok with the system. A better QB would make this system look a whole lot better.

Side note: Clowney better come back better an ever because Merciless is making a case for himself...

Cushing better come back better than ever, otherwise he's about to get the Demeco Ryan's treatment.

As I understand it, releasing Cushing after this season would really make for a big cap hit that would be extremely challenging for the Texans to absorb/manage, and the same goes for Andre Johnson ? Isn't there general agreement on that ?

[WMH]

My bye week assessment -

Overall, they're not very good at football.

O
QB - Fitz is what he is, and regardless of who they go to next, its unlikely to get any better for the next couple of years.
RB - We're going to really suck if Arian is down for any period of time. Blue flashes in the run game, but can't protect very well yet.
OL - They're not the group they once were.
WR - Dre is old but can still ball, Hopkins is good, and a guy off the waiver wire is your starting slot. Probably the best unit on the roster.
TE - Do we still have any of these guys on the roster?
K - Mr. Inconsistency
P - OK, he's good.

D
DL - JJ's not too shabby. Pickett has been a welcome addition. Crick is a sub.
ILB - Reminds me of that scene from Major League - Who the F are these guys?
OLB's - Having your #1 pick on the field would help. Reed is a B/U, but Mercilous plays well in spurts.
CB - Despite a couple of gift INT's, they're not good, starters or reserves.
S - Decent at the run, can't cover anyone.

Coaching - He's a rook, and I like his style. Hopefully he'll get it sooner rather than later.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

As I understand it, releasing Cushing after this season would really make for a big cap hit that would be extremely challenging for the Texans to absorb/manage, and the same goes for Andre Johnson ? Isn't there general agreement on that ?

It would be cheaper to keep Cushing than it would be to cut him until after the 2015 season.

Andre would be significantly cheaper to cut than to keep. The twist is that when he was out of camp this summer McNair assured Andre that he wouldn’t be cut after the season. It's possible that at this point Andre would let that slide if it meant he could catch on with a team that has a better chance of winning.

[chuck]

The Colts' complete dismantling of the Giants in New Jersey shows just how far the Texans have to go to be a respectable team. This will never happen, of course, because the owner is a clown and the GM is a fool. And whoever is next up at either position is sure to be even worse than the idiot who currently occupies that spot. If you don't believe me refer to the Astros. Yes, it can get worse.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Warren

It would be cheaper to keep Cushing than it would be to cut him until after the 2015 season.

Andre would be significantly cheaper to cut than to keep. The twist is that when he was out of camp this summer McNair assured Andre that he wouldn’t be cut after the season. It's possible that at this point Andre would let that slide if it meant he could catch on with a team that has a better chance of winning.

Warren - far and away the best link I've seen on team/individual player data on cap info, and I especially like the bar graphs, great feature - thanks man.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

The Colts' complete dismantling of the Giants in New Jersey shows just how far the Texans have to go to be a respectable team. This will never happen, of course, because the owner is a clown and the GM is a fool. And whoever is next up at either position is sure to be even worse than the idiot who currently occupies that spot. If you don't believe me refer to the Astros. Yes, it can get worse.

We get it Chuck. Owner's a thief, palm lickers and Mouth breathers and such...

You are like a broken record on this stuff. The team is in a transition year with a new coach and has exceeded expectations, but you wallow in negativity like a pig in slop. You act like McNair is some terrible owner that will prevent them from winning when there is nothing to indicate that. He spends money and mostly lets people do their job. That means everything depends on if those people do their job, not whether the guy signing the checks is good enough at signing them.

Is Tom Benson a good owner? Steve Bisciotti? Is John Mara a good owner because a guy he'd never heard of caught a ball on his helmet? Owners don't matter unless they meddle or refuse to spend. If they are rich over in the corner then they have no impact on the team.

This team will win or lose based on O'Brien and the players he coaches.

[chuck]

That's a nice narrative but it's not true. McNair has inserted himself again and again into the football side of things invariably with disastrous consequences.

I'll choose one instance for your enjoyment. He extended David Carr (never mind drafted him...) in 2005 and insisted that any new head coach accept Carr as the starter. As a result we were a) stuck with Carr for one more pointless year b) stuck with the dead money after the team inevitably released him c) limited in head coaching candidates to people who would accept a job knowing i) the owner would force his will onto football operations ii) David Carr would be his starting quarterback.

So we end up with palm licker and eight more years of beautiful futility.

[popanot]

Any owner that refuses to change the lockset on Rick Smith's office is inserting himself into the football operations, IMO.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

That's a nice narrative but it's not true. McNair has inserted himself again and again into the football side of things invariably with disastrous consequences.

I'll choose one instance for your enjoyment. He extended David Carr (never mind drafted him...) in 2005 and insisted that any new head coach accept Carr as the starter. As a result we were a) stuck with Carr for one more pointless year b) stuck with the dead money after the team inevitably released him c) limited in head coaching candidates to people who would accept a job knowing i) the owner would force his will onto football operations ii) David Carr would be his starting quarterback.

So we end up with palm licker and eight more years of beautiful futility.

Standard Operating Procedure in the NFL. Same thing happened with Locker last year and many others. When a 1st round QB is hanging around it is normal for the new coach to take his shot at him for a year.

But you mistake my post. I don't think McNair is a good owner. I think he is useless like about 25 other NFL owners. They don't help or hurt to any real degree. There are a few meddlers who screw things up, a few great owners who add something culture wise, and a whole bunch of rich idiots who get to print money because they joined the right rich toy club (and the government enables them by paying for stadiums and offering tax exemptions).

The Ravens owner mishandled the Ray Rice thing as bad as he could and he's got a super bowl. Stupid owners win championships all the time as long as they get lucky once and make the right hire. The 49ers ownership group has been trying to get rid of Jim Harbaugh since they stumbled onto him because he doesn't kiss up right, and they've been rewarded with a great 3 year run for their arrogance. Owners are pointless when it comes to the NFL. The business runs itself and the football has nothing to do with the business.

Nothing McNair has done has scared candidates away. O'Brien was amongst the top coaching targets of the last 3 years (up there with Kelly). McNair got him to sign and ponied up to buy him out of PSU. Now Bob will sit in an office and employ 29 executives (friends and kids mostly) who do nothing. If O'Brien can coach then they all get to pat themselves on the back. If O'Brien can't, then they still get richer and get to play BMOC while hosting super bowls. I don't think Bob McNair really cares that much either way. But I also don't think he influences the outcome on the field by even 1%.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by popanot

Any owner that refuses to change the lockset on Rick Smith's office is inserting himself into the football operations, IMO.

But isn't the GM the owners, any owners ultimate proxy, the person that the owner hires to run his team ? Certainly fine to criticize McNair for retaining this GM if you think he's failing the team and his boss/owner, but I don't think it makes an owner overly intrusive to do what all 32 owners do (hire/fire/retain their GM).

[Nconroe]

Sure, easy to complain about everything after another loss, but we knew to expect there would be losses this year didn't we? new coach, temp QB, ...

So this year somewhat is a timing situation and we need to find a Andrew Luck QB for Texans to get elite, but they only come along every 5-10 years, so what we gonna do? complain or try to be positive till then?

Anyways, for me, very glad Mr. McNair brought Texans and football back to Houston, and I think Texans are very good to excellent members of the community. Trying to be patient with the team becoming ongoing winners.

Looked up a few of these owner rankings from 2014 - http://cover32.com/2014/02/18/power-...ers-from-1-32/

11. Bob McNair (Houston Texans) – He’s shown patience, which is an undervalued trait amongst owners, since bringing pro football back to Houston. Ultimately, avoiding knee-jerk reactions, wanting to win and spending money will pay off.

Here at no 15 http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfls-be...lkA1ZJUDMwMV8x

15. Bob McNair, Texans
Since earning the rights to the league’s 32nd franchise in 1999, McNair has largely stayed out of the spotlight. He’s made solid hires, and remained patient. His team just hasn’t accomplished much of anything. The Texans’ first-ever playoff appearance in 2011-12 was marred by the loss of quarterback Matt Schaub, while McNair’s 2012-13 unit fell off a cliff after looking like one of the best teams in the league for the season’s first three months. McNair is now reloading after a lost 2013. With an epochal talent in J.J. Watt and a highly sought-after new coach in Bill O’Brien, McNair has the right pieces in place. It’s just a matter of those pieces regaining the franchise’s forward momentum. McNair’s reign has been nondescript, but that’s not a bad thing for an owner. McNair’s tenure should ultimately bear fruit.

and http://bloguin.com/thisgivensunday/2...lic-image.html

13. Bob McNair, Houston Texans — There isn't a lot he does wrong. The fans seem satisfied.

[Nconroe]

And here are two GM rankings for your pleasure. Unless you win you are middle of the pack or worse.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/stor...mpson/slide/13

13 / 32 Rick Smith, Houston Texans
Last year’s meltdown stinks up his resume quite a bit. So does the fact that five of their draft picks from last year are already off the roster. On the other hand, he was on board for the back-to-back division titles, for Gary Kubiak’s hiring and the signing and drafting of the players that got them there. If the Texans turn things around fairly quickly with Bill O’Brien, Jadeveon Clowney and the core of this group, Smith's rep to an extent can be restored.

another http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...-best-gms?pg=2

16. Rick Smith - Texans
Smith has done it all as a general manager. There have been bad picks (Amobi Okoye) and brilliant ones (J.J. Watt). Arian Foster is one of the best undrafted free agent signings of the past 10 years, Matt Schaub one of the best trade acquisitions. But a largely competent reign has still produced a sub-.500 record (61-67), and only two playoff wins in eight years. That’s not a résumé you can coast on forever. That’s why Smith has to get the No. 1 overall pick in May’s draft right. The correct choice could buoy a talented roster back to the upper reaches of the NFL, and buy Smith another 3-4 years of job security. The wrong choice would likely be the straw that broke the camel’s back on a perfectly fine, but ultimately unmemorable era of GMing in Houston.

[Nconroe]

probably should focus on players but there are some Coach rankings out there.

it is early for O'Brien, generally I like his style.

here is all I could find since season started off the internet
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ranking...lkA1ZJUDMwMV8x

25. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
Very well respected around league circles, O'Brien has already doubled the Texans' win total from a year ago. Probably an upgrade away at QB from skyrocketing up this list.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

And here are two GM rankings for your pleasure. Unless you win you are middle of the pack or worse.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/stor...mpson/slide/13

13 / 32 Rick Smith, Houston Texans
Last year’s meltdown stinks up his resume quite a bit. So does the fact that five of their draft picks from last year are already off the roster. On the other hand, he was on board for the back-to-back division titles, for Gary Kubiak’s hiring and the signing and drafting of the players that got them there. If the Texans turn things around fairly quickly with Bill O’Brien, Jadeveon Clowney and the core of this group, Smith's rep to an extent can be restored.

another http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...-best-gms?pg=2

16. Rick Smith - Texans
Smith has done it all as a general manager. There have been bad picks (Amobi Okoye) and brilliant ones (J.J. Watt). Arian Foster is one of the best undrafted free agent signings of the past 10 years, Matt Schaub one of the best trade acquisitions. But a largely competent reign has still produced a sub-.500 record (61-67), and only two playoff wins in eight years. That’s not a résumé you can coast on forever. That’s why Smith has to get the No. 1 overall pick in May’s draft right. The correct choice could buoy a talented roster back to the upper reaches of the NFL, and buy Smith another 3-4 years of job security. The wrong choice would likely be the straw that broke the camel’s back on a perfectly fine, but ultimately unmemorable era of GMing in Houston.

Smith wasn’t in on the Kubiak hiring since he himself wasn’t hired until several months later.

He deserves credit for picking JJ, but I don’t buy that he believed that JJ would turn into the dominant player he has. The Texans had a deal in place to trade up with the 49ers (#7) for Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals took Peterson at #5 so the Texans stayed put at #10 and “settled” for JJ.

Same for Foster – if Smith had a strong belief that Arian could become a franchise back, he would have drafted him instead of hoping that he’d be able to sign him as an undrafted free agent. And he wouldn’t have exposed him to waivers by cutting him at the end of that training camp, or kept him on the practice squad for most the season where someone could have signed him away.

[Arky]

Been hearing the rumors that the Texans are mulling a QB change (to Mallet) during the bye, in fact, Schefter came on at halftime of MNF and mentioned it, also.

If it happens, I expect the vertical game to see a noticeable improvement. However, the downside is Fitz (and his legs) has/have developed a Plan B and Plan C when pass protection breaks down which is quite often. Mallet won't be as mobile and he may take more sacks but there will be some home run opportunities that won't exist with Fitz in there.

Who can win more games the rest of the way? Dunno, but I think we have seen the best of Fitz.....

[Big Texas]

Concerning the whole Mallet vs. Fitz situation, we have got to get away from the whole "who is the better QB right now" thing. It's about who has the higher upside. Sure Fitz may have played more football and has a better understanding of NFL defenses, but what has that gotten him/us 4-5 with seemingly no room for growth. The NFL is all about RISK and REWARD. And if you are always going with the safe pick, you will always be a mediocre team. I am not saying Mallett is the savior but it's worth RISK.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Warren

Smith wasn’t in on the Kubiak hiring since he himself wasn’t hired until several months later.

He deserves credit for picking JJ, but I don’t buy that he believed that JJ would turn into the dominant player he has. The Texans had a deal in place to trade up with the 49ers (#7) for Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals took Peterson at #5 so the Texans stayed put at #10 and “settled” for JJ.

Same for Foster – if Smith had a strong belief that Arian could become a franchise back, he would have drafted him instead of hoping that he’d be able to sign him as an undrafted free agent. And he wouldn’t have exposed him to waivers by cutting him at the end of that training camp, or kept him on the practice squad for most the season where someone could have signed him away.

I get what you're saying about JJ and Arian, but the same can be said of any draft pick. The Patriots passed on Brady 5 times. And they never would have played him if Mo Lewis hadn't put a hole in Bledsoe's chest.

Part of being a GM is luck, just like part of being a GM is bad luck (like making great picks that get derailed by injuries when there was no injury history, or having a RB with no history of trouble miss a season to child abuse).

I have no idea how much of the JJ pick was Smith and how much was Wade. I know we had other targets we wanted even more. The fact that Peterson was one of them actually reflects well on Smith since he might be the 2nd best player in that draft. But the bottom line is the card the Texans turned in said JJ Watt. Probably one of the best picks any GM has made the whole decade (Russell Wilson is the only one I can think of that comes close). So I will give Smith credit for that pick just like I'll blame him for any unlucky ones.

[Nconroe]

For me, frustrating, mainly because see some promise, but not success yet, could characterize season so far. And hope for improvement still there.

Want to see Mallett and maybe even Savage before season ends.

Hope for team to improve as games go by, new system to learn, quite a few new players and injuries to deal with.

Clowney and other 2014 draft picks, hope they get more involved and productive as gain experience.

Not sure if 3W-4L is realistic to expect now, if so, end up at 7-9 record.

I do expect team keeps positive attitude and continues to play hard and thus keep the entertainment value up there.

[Arky]

Bye week viewing in the Houston area:

Sunday early:

CBS = Tennessee @ Baltimore -- Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein

FOX = Dallas vs Jacksonville (in London) -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa

Sunday late::

FOX = NY Giants @ Seattle -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

------------------------------------------

SNF (NBC) = Chicago @ Green Bay

MNF (ESPN) = Carolina @ Philadelphia