Free Agent Target - Priority #1 - Asomugha’s a FA

[NBT]

There are other, more SB ready teams out there that he might relish more than just the money. That would not bode well for our chances.

[chuck]

I don't feel like starting another thread so I'll hijack this one. Watching the Green Bay - Philadelphia game is very, very depressing. Watching Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams make plays all over the place just reminds me emphatically of how bad the Texans' personnel decisions have been over the Rick Smith years.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by chuck

I don't feel like starting another thread so I'll hijack this one. Watching the Green Bay - Philadelphia game is very, very depressing. Watching Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams make plays all over the place just reminds me emphatically of how bad the Texans' personnel decisions have been over the Rick Smith years.

The problem is in knowing who was responsible for his release. With so many of the question personnel decisions on defense, it is simply hard to know. Who was it that decided to keep Okam for a 3rd year? Smith? Kubiak? Bush? Kollar? all of them?

Regarding Matthews, I have no problem with that move. Sure I'd like him, but it is hard to argue with the Cushing draftpick. If the argument is "stereoids", I'd say that is as likely an issue for Matthews.

More than personnel decisions, I think the issue is in development at certain positions. I would argue there is a good chance that Tramon Williams would never have developed into a good CB if he stayed in Houston. Though, it is all conjecture.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Sure I'd like him, but it is hard to argue with the Cushing draftpick. If the argument is "stereoids", I'd say that is as likely an issue for Matthews.

It's hard to argue with the Cushing pick ? Only before he got suspended, because right now after his suspension and his mediorce second season it's real easy to second-guess the wisdom of taking Cushing. And Matthews now has 2 seasons behind him while his play on the field has continued to improve and he remains clean.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

It's hard to argue with the Cushing pick ? Only before he got suspended, because right now after his suspension and his mediorce second season it's real easy to second-guess the wisdom of taking Cushing. And Matthews now has 2 seasons behind him while his play on the field has continued to improve and he remains clean.

If he was great as a rookie, then clearly they accurately identified his talent. When a team goes 6-10, lots of things go wrong. For Cushing, he missed a month of time and did not handle Demeco's absence well. Picking in the middle of the first round in 2009, they selected the ROTY and a player at a need position that has already been to the probowl.. I'm saying that it is hard to argue that was a poor selection. A lot of teams passed on Matthews. Draft grades can't be simply based on selecting the best player in hindsight.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

If he was great as a rookie, then clearly they accurately identified his talent. When a team goes 6-10, lots of things go wrong. For Cushing, he missed a month of time and did not handle Demeco's absence well. Picking in the middle of the first round in 2009, they selected the ROTY and a player at a need position that has already been to the probowl.. I'm saying that it is hard to argue that was a poor selection. A lot of teams passed on Matthews. Draft grades can't be simply based on selecting the best player in hindsight.

Are you really in total denial about the possibility if not likelihood that his dramatic decline in performance from his rookie year to his second season was because he no longer had the "benefit" of PEDs ?

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Are you really in total denial about the possibility if not likelihood that his dramatic decline in performance from his rookie year to his second season was because he no longer had the "benefit" of PEDs ?

No. My point is that the same rumors were swirling about Matthews, not to mention the evidence that he had ballooned up from 165 lbs. while in college. My guess is that you were celebrating the Cushing pick 12 months ago. I'm not going to be hyper-critical of decisions made two years ago simply because they aren't working out great in this moment. That's what happens when you go 6-10.... lots of decisions look worse than they did when you were 9-7 and improving.

If the question is, "would I rather have Matthews than Cushing based on the information gathered in the 2 years since the draft?" yes. "Could I have a different answer to that question by December of 2011?" yes. "Does the Cushing pick show me that the Texans' can't evaluate talent in the draft?" no. "Does the Kareem Jackson selection and 2010 performance worry me that the Texans struggle to identify and coach defensive talent?" yes. "Is Rick Smith accountable for many of the current Texan talent issues?" yes.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

It's hard to argue with the Cushing pick ? Only before he got suspended, because right now after his suspension and his mediorce second season it's real easy to second-guess the wisdom of taking Cushing. And Matthews now has 2 seasons behind him while his play on the field has continued to improve and he remains clean.

Couldn't let this one go by without a comment. Yes Mathews had a good year. He also had a stable environment and a good DC. Cushing will be OK now that he has Wade for a Coordinator. You'll see.

[Fonz the Boss]

Originally Posted by NBT

Couldn't let this one go by without a comment. Yes Mathews had a good year. He also had a stable environment and a good DC. Cushing will be OK now that he has Wade for a Coordinator. You'll see.

^^^ I agree with this

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by NBT

There are other, more SB ready teams out there that he might relish more than just the money. That would not bode well for our chances.

Maybe but this is an argument that I hear a lot but I see little real world support for. I can think of very few, if any, players over the last 10 years who went into free agency and changed teams but took less to go to a winner. I ask this in all seriousness to the people that make the argument that free agents don't go to the highest bidder, can you name 5 guys (besides end of the career guys) who took less money to play for a winner? I can't. And didn't Nnamdi re-up with the Raiders 3 years ago despite the fact that they were terrible becasue they offered the most money? Just seems like an argument that sounds right but doesn't actually happen.