Official Texans @ Steelers Game Thread, 10/20/2014

[popanot]

I know I've been on Fitz (a lot), but let me just say, I don't blame that loss on him. That was a total team collapse. But one of the things that bothers me is it takes a monster game from JJ, a monster game from Foster, a monster game from anyone else, and basically a zero turnover game to overcome Fitz's limitations. Whether his limitations are talent-based, coaching induced or both, I don't know. We've had 2 or 3 games now where they've gotten a monster game from JJ or Foster or both and they've still lost. But I think the thing that bothers me most with this whole situation and with Fitz et.al, is that the franchise is choosing to stay in Neutral.

They are not choosing to win (since they aren't), they're not trying to lose (obviously), and they are not evaluating talent. Neutral and neutered. I know this post will likely get picked apart, but I'm frustrated by being stuck in Neutral. It's basically a season lost, IMO, and the Texans are choosing it to be this way. I didn't (and don't) expect a bunch of W's and I don't want a bunch of L's, but I'd rather see L's with a young QB/WR/RB/OL/you-name-it being evaluated rather than L's or limbo with players you know have no future with this franchise.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by popanot

It's basically a season lost, IMO, and the Texans are choosing it to be this way.

We all knew this was going to be a lost season given the lack of talent at QB... can't roll with Fitzy as your starter and expect to add a Lombardi to your trophy mantle.

The main problem is that by punting the QB need this year, the team pushed off likely another lost year next year, too. How will the Texans get better at QB in the next offseason? Drafting a rookie? Well that should pay immediate dividends, right?

No. So even if this is an 8-8 team in 2014, I'm not entirely sure how much better the team will be in 2015. Their key vets are a year older (Foster, Andre, JJo, etc), and they'll be playing a likely tougher 2nd place schedule, too.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Keith

We all knew this was going to be a lost season given the lack of talent at QB... can't roll with Fitzy as your starter and expect to add a Lombardi to your trophy mantle.

I didn't expect a Lombardi regardless of who was at QB this year. That is, unless they somehow magically cloned P. Manning. Lost season to me is choosing to continue to roll with Fitzy and possibly others who have zero future with this franchise. It's time to throw in the towel and evaluate Mallett and/or Savage, play Posey and whoever else on the roster our idiot GM drafted or traded for and move forward or backwards. At least we'll know if these guys have starter potential, are career backups, or need to be tossed in the trash. In addition, it'll expose our GM for what he is.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

We all knew this was going to be a lost season given the lack of talent at QB... can't roll with Fitzy as your starter and expect to add a Lombardi to your trophy mantle.

The main problem is that by punting the QB need this year, the team pushed off likely another lost year next year, too. How will the Texans get better at QB in the next offseason? Drafting a rookie? Well that should pay immediate dividends, right?

No. So even if this is an 8-8 team in 2014, I'm not entirely sure how much better the team will be in 2015. Their key vets are a year older (Foster, Andre, JJo, etc), and they'll be playing a likely tougher 2nd place schedule, too.

That is my main issue. Punting on this season would have been ok by itself. This year has lots of dead money, roster turnover from system switches, and purging of the Kubiak taint. But now we are staring at a rookie QB next year or another cast off in the Fitzy mold.

It is great that McNair is patient, but the knowledge you'll probably get 5 years even if you are terrible means O'Brien could throw away 2+ seasons on a rebuild in a league where worst to first happens every year.