Can we all agree Rick Smith is not a bad GM?

[painekiller]

Last year he tried to upgrade the offense by signing the "best" FA QB available, it didn't work out. But he tried. When it was apparent that Brock was not working, Rick was able to find a way of moving him, with his guaranteed money to another team, freeing up cap room. At the draft this year, he pulled off a huge trade up and grabbed the most NFL ready QB in this years draft.

The signing of Brock was big move #1. The dumping of Brock and his contract was big move#2. The trading up 13 spots in the draft, big move #3.

The salary dump of Broke was said to be a first in the NFL, I disagree, the trade of Matt Schaub was also a salary dump. Oh wait that was done by Rick Smith also.

The man is well respected around the league. Shouldn't he be respected here in Houston?

[barrett]

We cannot all agree.

Dumping Brock was necessary. The same could have been accomplished by cutting him. Until I see us wisely use that money I can't call it a great move. But even if we use that money in a great way, it is still at best a smart bailout on his own disaster.

He could have drafted a QB a year ago and saved roughly $25 million in cap space and a 1st and 2nd round pick. Plus we'd be a year further along in developing the rookie QB and we wouldn't have gone through a playoffs with Osweiller.

Cleaning up most of the mess you made at great expense is not a praiseworthy thing.

[Nconroe]

I agree with PK that overall Rick has done a pretty good job. We've got a very good defense assembled.

Very few have figured out the QB thing.

Maybe only Tom Brady, others who seem good, still don't win consistently and get back to playoffs.

He's much better than most GM's in many ways.

[HPF Bob]

How differently things might have been if the Texans refused to overbid on Osweiler and instead used their first pick in 2016 to take Paxton Lynch instead of Oops Fuller V or selected Penn State alum Christian Hackenberg in the second instead of Nick Martin. Osweiler probably would have played better under the continued coaching of Kubiak and Manning. Lynch or Hackenberg would have struggled as much or more but the Texans would have had more money to beef up the line or find a veteran free agent receiver.

[Arky]

Yeah, I'm OK with him. I'm pretty sure the McNair's love him and he is (as the radio guys say) a "made man", i.e., he's probably not going anywhere anytime soon...

He's been smart to maintain the "yes man" role and not letting ego or power influence his decisions. He stays in the background, not in the headlines much and that I think that is preferable over some of the other extremes.

I do like that he's starting to stick his neck out a bit especially with the last few QB moves....

I know some think he's a pariah that is driving the franchise into the ground and I'm just not on that boat. With the Texans, I think mistakes are organizational and usually not the fault of any one person....

Are the Texans starting to enter an era with consistently deep playoff runs? I sure hope so. But if they aren't, everybody's chair will warm up....

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

How differently things might have been if the Texans refused to overbid on Osweiler and instead used their first pick in 2016 to take Paxton Lynch instead of Oops Fuller V or selected Penn State alum Christian Hackenberg in the second instead of Nick Martin. Osweiler probably would have played better under the continued coaching of Kubiak and Manning. Lynch or Hackenberg would have struggled as much or more but the Texans would have had more money to beef up the line or find a veteran free agent receiver.

To answer your Oops Fuller comment, Andre Johnson himself said that in his rookie season he dropped double digit passes, and he worked on it and became know as a sure handed WR. Rookie seasons are for the player to have his weaknesses exposed, it now up Fuller to rewrite the script on him.

I direct this to everyone, how many teams have more then four of there 1st round picks playing and starting on there team? Only the Texans IIRC. And that number is 7 first rounders starting. Duane Brown, Brian Cushing, Kareem Jackson, JJ Watt, Whitney Mercilus, DeAndre Hopkins, Jadeveon Clowney - On the team but not a full time starter Kevin Johnson, William Fuller.

Thats nine guys on the team contributing from the most valuable pick, again no team in the league has that many hits in the 1st round.

Plus check out how many UDFA the team plays, the Texans have one of the best scouting and then developing that talent into NFL talent.

When Kubiak was here, this team did not develop players like the current group does. Look no further than Whitney Mercilus for an example of what coaching can do for a young player.

Rick Smith has built a team with the #1 defense, won there division 3 out of 4 years, all without a solid QB. Well finally they draft a potential starting QB. And they don't grow on trees. How many games has Paxton Lynch started? How many snaps has Christian Hackenberg taken in a game?

Its hard to draft a QB in the NFL. That is why so many teams are still looking for one.

[chuck]

Buford is the only one pining for Paxton Lynch or Hackenberg. I would rather start Weeden than Hackenberg and it is not close.

I'm going (to try) to lay off my Smith bitching until I see what he does after the FA cuts with the Romo money he elected not to spend on Bouye. If he solidifies the OL with some quality and adds some secondary depth I'll be pleased. Or at least I'll be a little calmer about his letting the team's best corner walk.

I also think the team's problems are likely more organizational than personal.