How Tight is the QB Leash? Or is Schaub Just Too Conservative?

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Keith

There's a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking going on where Schaub is getting tossed by fans in favor of guys like Alex Smith and T.J. Yates. Which if you've ever watched football, you'll know these fans haven't. Schaub is better than both, easily.

Pretty bold statement. Not saying Yates is the answer, nor am I saying he should be handed the starting job, but you don't think they should at least open the competition? If Schaub beats him out, so be it, but there should be competition.

Even at that, I'd like to know what Schaub has that is clearly better than Yates (or maybe Smith, or someone else...)?

Athleticism? I'd give Yates the advantage.
Arm Strength? Yates.
Mobility? Yates.
Accuracy? Perhaps Schaub, but certainly not by much - if at all.
Pocket Awareness and Quick-Twitch Reflex? Haven't seen enough of Yates, but Schaub's a statue.
Smarts? Kubiak apparently doesn't think Schaub's all that if he can't even let him audible in basic, low-pressure situations.

DEC 2011: Yates (a rookie w/zero camp and practice 1rst team reps) 2W's-3L's / 1-1 in playoffs. Yes, Yates played poorly, but they were in each of the losses and were in the playoff game.
DEC 2012: Schaub (9yr vet w/ALL 1st team reps) 2W's-3L's / 1-1 in playoffs. Schaub played poorly in most of the loses and was awful in the 2 games against the Pats.

It pains me to even bring Yates into the equation, I wanted (want) Schaub to succeed. However, we now know what Schaub can do. And that's mostly beat the teams he should, but crater in the big games that count.

If the Texans don't think Yates can be a future starter, then they better damn well make sure they draft or trade for someone who can in the very near future. Just think of where this franchise will be if Schaub falls on his face again next year without the potential QB answer in the pipeline.

EDIT: And let me just add, if the Texans don't think it's Yates, I'm all for drafting one of the top QB's in this year's draft if one of them falls to late-2nd or 3rd Rd and taking a chance he'll develop. They need to get someone who has potential in the pipeline.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by popanot

Athleticism? I'd give Yates the advantage.
Arm Strength? Yates.
Mobility? Yates.
Accuracy? Perhaps Schaub, but certainly not by much - if at all.
Pocket Awareness and Quick-Twitch Reflex? Haven't seen enough of Yates, but Schaub's a statue.
Smarts? Kubiak apparently doesn't think Schaub's all that if he can't even let him audible in basic, low-pressure situations.

DEC 2011: Yates (a rookie w/zero camp and practice 1rst team reps) 2W's-3L's / 1-1 in playoffs. Yes, Yates played poorly, but they were in each of the losses and were in the playoff game.
DEC 2012: Schaub (9yr vet w/ALL 1st team reps) 2W's-3L's / 1-1 in playoffs. Schaub played poorly in most of the loses and was awful in the 2 games against the Pats.

First, I don't mean to write Yates off completely. But the little I saw him play in 2012 didn't show me he had a ton of improvement from 2011. And I was actively looking for it. It takes average QBs like Yates and Schaub 3 years or so of experience to be comfortable in this offense, so I'm not ready to give up on Yates, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking he will be ready in 2013.

Comparing December won-loss records doesn't mean much to me in large part because the defense was much better in 2011.

If Yates was under center on Sunday, do the Texans score 28 points? I don't think so. What evidence suggests Yates is capable of leading the offense to score more? If anything Yates is far more turnover prone than Schaub.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Keith

Comparing December won-loss records doesn't mean much to me in large part because the defense was much better in 2011.

If Yates was under center on Sunday, do the Texans score 28 points? I don't think so. What evidence suggests Yates is capable of leading the offense to score more? If anything Yates is far more turnover prone than Schaub.

Yes, I understand those stats don't mean much. The main point I was trying to make is they both played poorly in DEC crunch time, but Yates did it as a rookie with limited reps, whereas, Schaub did it in full practice/starter mode with 9yrs. experience. Trust me, I'm not saying Yates SHOULD be the starter. However, I do think he and others -whoever that may be- should get a shot. We know what Schaub is at this point, and I still think that someone else who has a full camp and practice with the starters could be just as effective in this offense as Schuab, if not better. Whether that's Yates, Keenum, Matt Barkely, Tyler Wilson, whoever, they need to find that guy ASAP b/c Schaub isn't getting it done.

[barrett]

Yates should not get a shot. He has never shown anything to merit a chance to start. You don't offer a job to a completely unqualified applicant because you don't like the current guy's performance. Did you watch Yates in the preseason this year? John beck was better. If we cut Yates does anyone think another team would give him a chance to start?

There are many cheap veteran FAs we could sign who are way more qualified and talented if we want a QB competition.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by barrett

There are many cheap veteran FAs we could sign who are way more qualified and talented if we want a QB competition.

Amen! Then lets get one of those guys!! I'm only tossing Yates out there because 1)he's under contract and on our team, 2)at least he's familiar with the system, and 3)Kubiak and Smith hand picked this guy last year. I don't care who it is, really. Bring in someone who can push or compete with Schaub.

[popanot]

Just to be clear, I understand we're likely stuck with Schaub for at least 1 year if not 2 years. I get it. However, that dosen't mean I like it or think that Texans management should just sit on their behinds expecting big things from him. Seattle made a tough decision sitting the guy they just paid millions to. They let another QB compete and it paid off. Obviously Wilson turned out to be special and there's no guarantee the Texans find that guy, but with Kubiak and this thinking they're tied into starting Schaub because of his salary, well then they're paralyzed and we'll likely never find out while they burn through the current talent and chances they do have. If the Texans true goal is to win a SB, they shouldn't give a flying flip if Schaub's a high-priced bench warmer for 2 years.

[Keith]

Well, something to keep in mind is these guys are human beings. After Kubiak left Denver, the Broncos were getting tired of annual playoff appearances going nowhere with Jake Plummer. So Shanahan used a first round pick on Jay Cutler with Plummer still on the roster. Plummer was then benched with a 7-4 record, grew a beard and retired from football that offseason. Oh, and the Broncos began to really suck from that point and once Shanahan was gone, they hired someone else who really accelerated the downward spiral.

So asking the Texans to jumpstart Phase One of the "Replace Schaub" operation isn't going to help the team win more games in 2013 or go any deeper in the playoffs in 2013. And I am specific to 2013 because this team's window to win a Super Bowl is RIGHT NOW.

They have the other key pieces in place. Short of getting lightning to strike like it did in 2012 with all these rookie QBs, only bringing in someone like very experienced like the Broncos did with Manning would seem to enhance the team's chances in 2013. And there isn't another Manning available this offseason (no, it's not Alex Smith).

I think the 49ers are incredibly lucky that their midseason QB switch has gone as well as it had. Usually a team with 2 QBs is said to be a team that doesn't have one at all. Bringing in Schaub's 2014 or 2015 replacement in 2013 will only divide the locker room and drive us all nuts. They'd have to do like what the Oilers did with Steve McNair and just flat out be committed to Schaub in 2013, keeping an early draft pick like that on the bench. Nobody does that anymore for good reason... it's expensive for one thing. Oh, and apparently there isn't a strong QB prospect in this draft anyway.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by popanot

........... Whether that's Yates, Keenum, Matt Barkely, Tyler Wilson, whoever, they need to find that guy ASAP b/c Schaub isn't getting it done..........

Unfortunately, I think the only way we will be able to see one of these high upside guys, (I think Keenum has more upside than Yates) is probably going to take an injury to Schaub. At that point, you would hope that Mr. Upside could take advantage of the opportunity..... I would like to see Kubes give someone else a shot in-game for a few plays - for example, kinda like the way Kaepernick was introduced into the lineup. Let the backup/upside guy run a special package or two per game..... But I don't think Kubes would be open to that ..... as long as Schaub is healthy, he gets all the snaps - that's just the way Gary rolls.....

Originally Posted by Keith

I think this team is built to win 11-12 games every year and set us up for disappointment annually around mid-January. ..............

I was just thinking about this - what if the Texans go 10-6 next year but still make the playoffs as a 4th or 5th seed? I'm thinkin' a lot of people would find that unacceptable....

What if they go 9-7 and don't make the playoffs? Can you imagine the uproar?