The Cowardly Lion

popanot · #1 09-18-2009, 06:30 AM

Was listening to a national Fox Sports Radio feed yesterday and they said the most cowardly performance in Week 1 was performed by our very own Matt Schaub. They said he was a coward and a true wimp in the pocket. Justified or not, his fault or not, that's the perception by some in the national media.

I'll have to admit, I'm getting more than a little concerned here that we still haven't found our franchise QB. Watching Schaub at times makes me wish he had half the toughness that David Carr had. Carr couldn't do much of anything all that well (and no, I'm not saying I prefer Carr), but at least he could take a hit and showed toughness. Combine Schaub's vision and smarts with Carr's arm, athleticism, and toughness and you'd have one hell of a QB.

papabear · #2 09-18-2009, 08:33 AM

Toughness is one of those things like leadership in that it's more or less intangible so the media(and fans) use it as their fall back explanation when they can't come up with anything else. Anytime a QB is winning they talk about how great a leader he is and how tough they are. When they aren't winning it gets questioned. I don't think Manning is a better leader or tougher than the average NFL QB....he's just a much better QB.

I don't have a problem with Schaub's toughness. He busted his ass to get back on the field after his knee injury and forced his way on to the field likely before he was 100% last year. He could be one of those guys who is more susceptible to injury than average, but that doesn't mean he isn't tough enough to play through some pain.

My biggest complaint with Schaub is pocket awareness. He doesn't seem to be able to slide around in the pocket to buy a little extra time like the great ones do. I'm not sure if that's something that can be taught, or if it's something that might develop over time but Schaub doesn't have it right now. He's shown he can put up some pretty good numbers, but I don't know that he's shown enough for the Texans to pick up that big option on his contract. I don't think there's any reason for him not to get every chance to prove himself this season though.

As far as Carr. Sure he took a lot of hits and came back for more and I don't question his toughness...but the last year or so he also got to where he would just drop into the fetal position before he got hit. If ever it could be said that a QB was playing scared it was Carr that last season or two.

Keith · #3 09-18-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papabear

I don't have a problem with Schaub's toughness. He busted his ass to get back on the field after his knee injury and forced his way on to the field likely before he was 100% last year. He could be one of those guys who is more susceptible to injury than average, but that doesn't mean he isn't tough enough to play through some pain.

My biggest complaint with Schaub is pocket awareness. He doesn't seem to be able to slide around in the pocket to buy a little extra time like the great ones do. I'm not sure if that's something that can be taught, or if it's something that might develop over time but Schaub doesn't have it right now. He's shown he can put up some pretty good numbers, but I don't know that he's shown enough for the Texans to pick up that big option on his contract. I don't think there's any reason for him not to get every chance to prove himself this season though.

I basically agree with this entire post. Schaub is plenty tough, or at least has the desire for toughness, there's just some question if his body is ready for the toughness. I'd still like to think it is, but the ankle injury is shaking me some.

As for his awareness, Schaub seems plenty aware. I just think he must believe he is tougher than he really is. He has been far too willing to stand in that extra half second to make the right pass, and it has hurt him, literally, sometimes. Maybe that falls under the category of awareness, but I do think he needs to be smarter about doing some of those little things to protect himself from so many hits.

And his contract situation is FAR more intriguing to watch now than those of Dunta, DeMeco, Daniels, Walter, Pitts, etc.

Arky · #4 09-18-2009, 02:44 PM

Ya, I don't think he's a coward. Sunday was one of his strangest performances, though. Who was that guy? When the camera showed him, I was thinking "pod people" from Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I mean, really.

Just really weird. We find out later he's still suffering from the ankle sprain yet he scrambles for a 1st down one time. I haven't heard much coming out of the Texans on his condition other than he is expected to play. I truly hope we get the real Matt Schaub this weekend.... Otherwise, more of the same and you'd have to consider substituting one of the backups.... This is a division game and so important...

HPF Bob · #5 09-18-2009, 03:22 PM

As with Carr, I tend to fault the o-line more than I do Schaub. They were clearly overwhelmed last week and I hope they get their act together before Sunday.

Nconroe · #6 09-18-2009, 10:35 PM

Maybe the fault was OL and coaching or lingering injuries, or a really good Jets defense, but once Jets had hit Schaub hard and often he sure didn't look in control. He looked totally flustered and lost out there after a while. I've maybe never seen someone look so much like they needed some help or relief. He'd look at the sideline for a long while after almost every play with a big questioning gesture. I recall thinking, man, they need to coach him to look better when the crap is being beat out of him. I was thinking please put someone else in there, this is not good at all. But not a coward, nope. And, he's shown with protection he can be pretty darn good at running the offense.

Roy P · #7 09-18-2009, 10:56 PM

Let's not get all crazy about one game, please. Schaub played hurt against a Rex Ryan defense. Many QB's don't do well against that kind of pressure and Kubiak and Shannahan haven't been able to figure out how to protect against it. When the Texans look bad against the Bengals, I'll start blaming Schaub, until then my complaints go towards the Coaching and Rick Smith.

coloradodude · #8 09-19-2009, 02:55 PM

Rehabbing an injury has little to do with toughness. Carr was tough but had a terrible line so the defense just had to bull rush. We knew Schaub wasn't very mobile nor had a super strong arm. (Carr had both but neither led him to success.)

Personally, I can't believe our line sucks this bad. Where is Gibbs?

Big Texas · #9 09-19-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nconroe

Maybe the fault was OL and coaching or lingering injuries, or a really good Jets defense, but once Jets had hit Schaub hard and often he sure didn't look in control. He looked totally flustered and lost out there after a while. I've maybe never seen someone look so much like they needed some help or relief. He'd look at the sideline for a long while after almost every play with a big questioning gesture. I recall thinking, man, they need to coach him to look better when the crap is being beat out of him. I was thinking please put someone else in there, this is not good at all. But not a coward, nope. And, he's shown with protection he can be pretty darn good at running the offense.

I totally agree, I wish I could see what he was looking at in the pocket. There were times when they blitzed 3 of their four LBs. He would just be looking into the secondary totally confused. I was thinking we definately did not keep anyone in to block besides Slaton (???) So what was he looking at? Someone should have been open. Or maybe Rex just had the secondary in the perfect zone. Who knows. He just looked completely confused.

NBT · #10 09-20-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy P

Let's not get all crazy about one game, please. Schaub played hurt against a Rex Ryan defense. Many QB's don't do well against that kind of pressure and Kubiak and Shannahan haven't been able to figure out how to protect against it. When the Texans look bad against the Bengals, I'll start blaming Schaub, until then my complaints go towards the Coaching and Rick Smith.

I Concur completely. And after the way he stood in there against the Titans defense today, I would say it was more the the OL than it was Schaub's ankle. He is like Collins of Tennessee, if he doesn't get the pass protection he is just not mobile enough to get himself out of trouble.

HPF Bob · #11 09-20-2009, 07:34 PM

Well, considering Schaub's effort today and the way Brady got kept out of the end zone by the Jets, we might conclude it was more the Jets' D than it was our inept OL or quarterbacking.

Keith · #12 09-20-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Well, considering Schaub's effort today and the way Brady got kept out of the end zone by the Jets, we might conclude it was more the Jets' D than it was our inept OL or quarterbacking.

The Texans were far too inept last week for this to be the full reason (the Jets D wasn't converting all those third downs against us, a rookie QB was doing that). But yeah, seeing this offense flail miserably against a 3-4 is akin to watching David Carr misfire against the Cover-2.

NBT · #13 09-21-2009, 12:07 PM

I said some mean things about Kubiak after the Jets game last week. But Keith got to the heart of what I was trying to say, A Kubiak led team historically has not done well against what I used to call a Buddy Ryan type of defense. Of course it has now evolved itself into what I now call the 3-4 attacking defense that Rex Ryan ran against us.