Rick Smith [Contract Extension thru 2012]

[kravix]

I wouldnt say Smith has done nothing.

He has managed a very cap stressed team, and been able to bring in quality players. I tend to give Kubiak more credit for the drafts, but ultilately it is up to Smith to oversee all of the data that is brought to Kubiak pre draft and FA wise.

We all know Kubiak basically hand picked Smith as the GM, and in two years the two of them have not only completly turned over the roster they made the team better than it has ever been. Smith is not the type of GM that says "Caoch, here is a player that I think is awesome and would be a great DT.. Now go!" and the coach says "But GM!!! He is a WR???"

You cannot dismiss the chemistry that Kubes and Smith have. That is stability. That is also the family like atmosphere that McNair wants to promote with his team.

Also dont just look at the players he has brought in, look at the FO support staff he has created. Such as our salary cap/contract guru, and the new scouting department. There are behind the football stuff that he is supposedly doing very well also.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by kravix

I wouldnt say Smith has done nothing.

Don't extend my meaning... the nothing refers to spending big in free agency, not something broader than that.

Anyway, for many of the good things that can be said for Smith so far, I think that Kubiak is the kingpin here. I'm not trying to take away from Smith, he has done well learning on the job for the sorts of things we can evaluate, but his grade is still very much an incomplete in my book, especially until we see how Schaub and his first day picks progress.

Safe to say most of us including me are very optimistic here, I just don't want to jump the gun.

[kravix]

Originally Posted by Keith

Don't extend my meaning... the nothing refers to spending big in free agency, not something broader than that.

Anyway, for many of the good things that can be said for Smith so far, I think that Kubiak is the kingpin here. I'm not trying to take away from Smith, he has done well learning on the job for the sorts of things we can evaluate, but his grade is still very much an incomplete in my book, especially until we see how Schaub and his first day picks progress.

Safe to say most of us including me are very optimistic here, I just don't want to jump the gun.

Kieth, after rereading your post i got what you meant. Maybe I should slow down. Im not a big fan of big money free agents.. so to me that is a plus.

I think Schaub was way more of a Kubiak pick than a Smith pick though, moreso than even any draft picks we have picked up save maybe Studdard. The picks we gave up were steep but if Kubiak wanted him then whats Smith to do?

Draft picks will reflect on him, but I think only to the point of how well him and his team evaluate talent. Not just talent but talent that fits the coaching scheme and team needs. Mostly because Kubiak is "kingpin" like you said Keith. The vibe I get is that Smith evaluates and says here is what you are asking for, which one do you want? And the coaches single out the players.

To me the easiest factors to evaluate now are the mid season FA signings, trades, and contracts. Talent gets pretty thin once things start up.

Typically it takes 3-5 years to really grade a draft class. Some are better up front, and others pay more over time. Smith has had 1 draft class which played 1 season... Amobi and Bennet gave us quality play. Diles looks to be a starter this year. Three quality startes out of 6 picks is not bad.

I agree that we have no way of knowing if Smith is great or not, but at this point, with the body of work we can evalute, it should be easy to say Smith doesnt suck as a GM. I am not saying he is the greatest GM ever. He may be signed through 2012 but we will know by 2010 if he will really be around that long.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by Keith

Don't extend my meaning... the nothing refers to spending big in free agency, not something broader than that.

Anyway, for many of the good things that can be said for Smith so far, I think that Kubiak is the kingpin here. I'm not trying to take away from Smith, he has done well learning on the job for the sorts of things we can evaluate, but his grade is still very much an incomplete in my book, especially until we see how Schaub and his first day picks progress.

Safe to say most of us including me are very optimistic here, I just don't want to jump the gun.

I still have doubts about Schaub too (which I hope will be alleviated after this season), but I think you will have to eat your words this year on last years draft, and next year when this years Draft has a year under its belt, we will have become a much better, and a playoff team.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by NBT

I still have doubts about Schaub too (which I hope will be alleviated after this season), but I think you will have to eat your words this year on last years draft, and next year when this years Draft has a year under its belt, we will have become a much better, and a playoff team.

Well, let me state (again?) for the record that I am optimistic on both Schaub and the picks; the point originally was that almost in unison Texans fans here and elsewhere were praising the move to extend Smith a year early based on his performance. I was simply asking that we take a closer look at what Smith has accomplished, and more specifically, how much of what he has done can really be measured now versus a year from now.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Keith

Well, let me state (again?) for the record that I am optimistic on both Schaub and the picks; the point originally was that almost in unison Texans fans here and elsewhere were praising the move to extend Smith a year early based on his performance. I was simply asking that we take a closer look at what Smith has accomplished, and more specifically, how much of what he has done can really be measured now versus a year from now.

A lot of the reason for Smith's extension, IMO, have to do with the way he has systematized the college and pro scouting departments and modernized the front office. Casserly did not even use email.

Our scouts now have a central data base that tracks a prospect from the day he hit the team radar to the day the player is no longer n the league. There is no need to go find the guy and ask him to review the notes, they are available for everyone with access to see.