Case Keenum: Career Backup or Something More?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Arky

I think he wants to do a good job and maybe he's trying to hard to make plays. He beat the blitz a few times yesterday but no one seems to want to acknowledge that. The Jags backed off and only rushed 4 most of the time. Did you notice all the misfires yesterday? Receiver runs one way, QB throws another? Can't really speculate who is at fault here, but let's say it's 50:50. Reps and practice fix that. He was sacked twice against the Jags - not atrocious for a QB in any game (though admittedly, his sacks are big'uns).



The Raiders are not pushovers and the Jags have nothing to lose. The Texans are too dysfunctional to compete these days... Wait till the Pats come in this Sunday...

Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, etc. many more have been playing backyard/flag football for years. You make it sound like a "bad" thing. Keenum's ability to extend plays is a good thing.....and I expect it to return - if not with us, then with another team. There is absolutely no way a secondary can prepare for it. There is no adjustment that can be made for it. A good defense will try to prevent it from getting started..... This last game, seemed to me, he was "instructed" to be more Schaub-like....

And "dangerous" to prorate his stats after 3.5 games? Not the adjective I would have used.... "premature" maybe.... Some of us consider it "ludicrous" to call a guy a career back-up after 4 or 5 games but that's probably another situation where "premature" works better....



Not sure where you get your stats but I'll assume they are correct. This is a bit puzzling because I believe Keenum was known for his accurate short and intermediate game in college. What it suggests is his vertical game is much better. Keenum is currently at 55% completion overall as a first-year-in-the- NFL-action-starter (some get annoyed when one shortens it to "rookie" as he is not technically a rookie). Andrew Luck completed a whopping 54.1% of his passes in his rookie year...(And it's a real shame the Texans have lost their mojo this year as the Colts just ain't that good).

Here's the deal: I got a problem with the Case critics pointing out his flaws like piranhas on a cattle carcass. In their eyes, he can do no right (though they've got plenty of ammo the last couple of games). I'm here for balance.

QB development can take years. Drew Brees was a decent QB laboring in San Diego sometimes sharing starts with Doug Flutie. This didn't stop the Chargers from drafting Phillip Rivers. It was not till he was traded/signed with Sean Payton and the Saints that he turned into Drew effing Brees.... Some of us believe Keenum can at least reach the "decent starting QB" level....

You've mentioned before Case critics attacking him. It's not happening on this site so there is no need for you to try to balance things.

Referring to the thread title, I think he is more than a career backup and could have a 2009-2011 pre-injury Matt Schaub ceiling under the right circumstances (top 8-16 starting QB).

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

You've mentioned before Case critics attacking him. It's not happening on this site so there is no need for you to try to balance things.

Actually, I'll do whatever the hell I want, barrett. Just include me in the whiny, complaining, venting fan category if it makes you feel better....

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Arky

Actually, I'll do whatever the hell I want, barrett. Just include me in the whiny, complaining, venting fan category if it makes you feel better....

You can say all you want as often as you want (I know I do). You simply won't be balancing anything.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

You can say all you want as often as you want (I know I do). You simply won't be balancing anything.

Maybe not for this forum's consciousness. But I'll feel a lot better.

I think there's many people like me that hit all the Texan forums. It's hard not to be affected by some of the predominate chatter....

[Keith]

Originally Posted by barrett

My point was simply there are lots of QBs this year and we won't find ourselves looking at Carr as our only option in some kind of cosmic joke. Additionally, if Kubiak is gone, not one member of our organization who got rid of big brother would still be here (unless our ST coach survives another HC hiring).

Well, Bob McNair is still here. And his minority owners. I don't know for sure, but I can imagine the feeling is mutual that the Carr's and the Texans prefer to avoid each other outside of meaningless pleasantries exchanged. I've been fearing lil' Carr on the draft board since I started a thread in September. It would not surprise me at all if lil' Carr makes a big move up general scouts' boards between now and April. David wasn't much more of a 2nd or 3rd round pick early into his final season at Fresno, too.

Originally Posted by Arky

This last game, seemed to me, he was "instructed" to be more Schaub-like....

Blame Kubiak. No argument.

Originally Posted by Arky

And "dangerous" to prorate his stats after 3.5 games? Not the adjective I would have used.... "premature" maybe.... Some of us consider it "ludicrous" to call a guy a career back-up after 4 or 5 games but that's probably another situation where "premature" works better....

I used dangerous in the sense that making long-term decisions based on prorated stats is beyond risky. Calling him a career backup may sound like me doing the same, but all I can say is that stats (prorated or not) have little to do with my opinion on this... I'm letting my eyeballs drive my thinking here. That split stat on completion % is available on ESPN, Yahoo, etc... anywhere split stats are posted.

Originally Posted by Arky

QB development can take years.

Agreed. I've written here numerous times about how QB's in Kubiak's system really take three years to pick it up. So now Case is somewhere in between year 1 and year 2. Problem is Kubiak is presumably gone after the season, and a new HC is probably not going ignore a 1st round QB prospect in favor of Keenum. Keeping Keenum here where he is loved by the locals would be a tough way to bring along a new rookie QB as well.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

............... I've written here numerous times about how QB's in Kubiak's system really take three years to pick it up. So now Case is somewhere in between year 1 and year 2. Problem is Kubiak is presumably gone after the season, and a new HC is probably not going ignore a 1st round QB prospect in favor of Keenum. Keeping Keenum here where he is loved by the locals would be a tough way to bring along a new rookie QB as well.

Well, if he wants to stick around in Houston, he needs to start showing progress, pronto. His play in his first 3 losses (KC, Colts, Cards) was more than acceptable, IMO. Against the Raiders and Jags, not so much. I saw a stat in the Chron today.... Avg margin of defeat in Keenum's 5 losses = 3.8 pts. Avg margin of defeat in the previous 4 losses (Schaub) = 20 pts.

Provided he's the starter the rest of the year, the New England and the Denver defenses might be too smart for him at this stage so it will be interesting how he does in those games. Seeing the Jags and Colts a second time - these are less scarier and will be chances to show that he's learning. The Titans defense is top 12 and will be another good test.

As mentioned, if he wants to survive a possible/probable regime change in Houston, it's up to him. By all accounts, he's supposed to be a quick study. An incoming coach may want to draft a QB, but keep Keenum around for competition and continuity.... Don't know about you, but if I was an incoming coach and asked to pick one of Schaub/Yates/Keenum, I'm taking Keenum....