Predicting Rick Smith's GM Decisions Using the 20/70/10 Philosophy

[Marcus]

Originally Posted by SheTexan

Thanks! I've never denied the fact that I'm sentimental. I simply cannot imagine being a football fan and NOT being sentimental. I've been a fan of the NFL for the better part of 60 years, long before the Oilers came to town, soooo, this is not my first go round with dealing with the loss of favorite players. It will happen again and again, for as long as I remain a fan of this game.

I use to feel comfortable logging on to TT and venting my frustrations, some due to ignorance of the in's and out's of the way the NFL has changed over the years, but, that's not the case anymore. I'm truly not argumentative, I just read the board, do some research on my own, and depend on some of my favorite posters to keep me straight. But, as the game has changed over the years, so has the Internet, and so has TexansTalk. It's all good, and I'm not offended by negative comments about my feelings concerning Rick Smith.

Time will tell! I'm a TEXAN fan, and if the changes RS has made in our team pays off, I will be the first to say, I WAS WRONG about him! In the meantime, I think I'll just keep my opinions to myself. I enjoy reading this board, appreciate each individuals opinion, and consider this a means of learning more and more about our team. I DO have an open mind, and will try to have positive thoughts about our GM!

SheTexan, my post was too harsh, so don't stop posting on my account. You have a right to be sentimental since your a fan. I just have a view that sentimentalism and loyalty took a big flying leap out of the window when it became a free agency/salary-cap NFL. There's just no money left on the table to account for those two things. The players certainly don't have sentimentality or loyalty to their teams. {Well, they do so long as they are satisfied the money they are getting) So why should we?

Players (I know this is a surprise to some) are not paid for what they have done in the past, Thus the saying, "what have you done for me lately" They are paid based on what the teams think they will bring to the table in the future.

If you don't like Rick Smith now, wait til you see what he does with Andre Johnson next year if his productivity doesn't pick up. Nobody is sacred.

[SheTexan]

Originally Posted by Marcus

If you don't like Rick Smith now, wait til you see what he does with Andre Johnson next year if his productivity doesn't pick up. Nobody is sacred.

I'll be prepared for Andre's demise as a Texan. I already see it coming! I wasn't prepared for Demeco. Really believed he could switch to the 3-4 and continue to be a happy TEXAN for the remainder of his career. Seems like I'm the only one who believed that, so what the hell do I know!

[buddyboy]

Originally Posted by Marcus

SheTexan, my post was too harsh, so don't stop posting on my account. You have a right to be sentimental since your a fan. I just have a view that sentimentalism and loyalty took a big flying leap out of the window when it became a free agency/salary-cap NFL. There's just no money left on the table to account for those two things. The players certainly don't have sentimentality or loyalty to their teams. {Well, they do so long as they are satisfied the money they are getting) So why should we?

I just want to echo this, I never meant to demean anyone's opinion, even if I disagree with it. This board is for opinions, no one should feel censored.

I was just bringing some logic into the, what I believed to be, overly emotional and sentimental idea that R.S. is the scum of the earth. You're completely right SheTexan, these moves could blow up in our faces. They could propel us to Superbowl. Either way, I honestly believe they were the "right" moves.

[GP]

Originally Posted by beerlover

The key to 20-17-10 is how well RS executes timing in locking up the 20%. There has to be some manipulation of the numbers for salary cap purposes alone. Its difficult for a layman like myself to watch the number one pick leave just when things turnaround, with minimal compensation but guess those are the breaks. Overall when looking at my list Rick Smith seems to have done a nice job retaining a core that should continue with these players as well.

Also since Andre, Foster, Daniels, Myers, Joseph & Manning are locked up for a while I would fudge my list a bit & not include them in my top 10. Instead I would focus on key, younger players who already have established themselves as core in future of this teams success.

#1. Brian Cushing - Must lock him up early.
#2. Duane Brown - Deserves top 5 LT money.
#3. Matt Schaub - His durability is a concern but his importance to this team is undeniable. I list him lower because of his age, hence future productive seasons ahead.
#4. Connor Barwin - With Mercilus it lessons his need to sign him to a big contract, something with in reason or possibly trade?
#5. Glover Quinn - This is where it really starts getting sentimental for me. My desire to see him remain a Texans probably out weighs his actual worth.
#6. JJ Watt - It's never too early to ensure a stud like him remains locked up as Texan long term.
#7. Brice McCain - Yes I include him as the nickle back. He has the best speed in secondary & is proving himself invaluable.
#8. Brooks Reed - Texans would like to remain deep & talented @ OLB.
#9. Shaun Cody - Much as I hate to admit it the guy fits Wade Phillips system & keeps players around him free to make some plays.
#10. Antonio Smith - Out of respect earned, & contributions to this organization through some lean times, he should receive some serious consideration for his leadership & work ethic.

The bolded, above, are players I am iffy about.

GLOVER QUINN and BRICE McCAIN
Our secondary has always been a mystery. Outside of the Dynamic Duo we obtained last off-season, the other guys are truly a patch-worked bunch of guys who are struggling to advance their worth to this team. I do think, however, that the two guys you listed ARE the best two secondary players outside of the Dynamic Duo of Joseph/Manning.

SHAUN CODY
I just don't see it. I think there will always be a scrapper type, blue collar lunch pail type of guy (Jared Crick, for example) who can do what Cody does. For the time being, he's adequate. I just don't see the value in spending on this guy.

ANTONIO SMITH
I agree with your value of Smith's role here. Have said the same thing many times myself. I just have to wonder, though, if a guy like Mercilus ends up putting his hand down in the dirt in Antonio Smith's position if Smith doesn't get a new deal here. I mean, Mercilus is BIG and has the motor. I think Wade definitely wants Mercilus as a LB...I just think he has a lot of the same attributes that Antonio brings to the defense. When it comes time for Smith and his agent to ask for a long-term deal, what happens??? I think Smith will argue that he's been THE presence on the DL for the Texans for a long time, and that he deserves to be paid Top DL money. I just think he will ask for a lot of dough. But I don't know that we should pull that trigger. Then again, outside of JJ Watt it's been a long dry spell at drafting DL.

That leaves me three players to potentially substitute into your list.

I will take these guys:

BEN TATE (subbed in for Shaun Cody)
Yes, Ben Tate. Because he's worth having if Foster is out for extended periods of time. After Foster, there's nobody on the distant horizon if we don't have Tate to fall back upon. For that reason, I give Shaun Cody's spot to Ben Tate.

GLOVER QUINN
I toyed with the idea of subbing someone for him, but couldn't find a name to use for it. So Glover stays. He owes me a steak and a beer for my kindness.

ANTONIO SMITH
Once again, after looking up and down the roster--if we'e sticking to the script/intention of this topic--then I would have to say that Antonio Smith has been not only a model citizen here, he's been a high motor guy on the DL who really earned an affirmative nod in this discussion.

I'd leave McCain on the outskirts of the list, a fence-riding A or B depending on the 2012 season. Depends on what Harris can do...if Harris gets a shot, that is.

[beerlover]

Originally Posted by GP

The bolded, above, are players I am iffy about.

GLOVER QUINN and BRICE McCAIN
Our secondary has always been a mystery. Outside of the Dynamic Duo we obtained last off-season, the other guys are truly a patch-worked bunch of guys who are struggling to advance their worth to this team. I do think, however, that the two guys you listed ARE the best two secondary players outside of the Dynamic Duo of Joseph/Manning.

SHAUN CODY
I just don't see it. I think there will always be a scrapper type, blue collar lunch pail type of guy (Jared Crick, for example) who can do what Cody does. For the time being, he's adequate. I just don't see the value in spending on this guy.

ANTONIO SMITH
I agree with your value of Smith's role here. Have said the same thing many times myself. I just have to wonder, though, if a guy like Mercilus ends up putting his hand down in the dirt in Antonio Smith's position if Smith doesn't get a new deal here. I mean, Mercilus is BIG and has the motor. I think Wade definitely wants Mercilus as a LB...I just think he has a lot of the same attributes that Antonio brings to the defense. When it comes time for Smith and his agent to ask for a long-term deal, what happens??? I think Smith will argue that he's been THE presence on the DL for the Texans for a long time, and that he deserves to be paid Top DL money. I just think he will ask for a lot of dough. But I don't know that we should pull that trigger. Then again, outside of JJ Watt it's been a long dry spell at drafting DL.

That leaves me three players to potentially substitute into your list.

I will take these guys:

BEN TATE (subbed in for Shaun Cody)
Yes, Ben Tate. Because he's worth having if Foster is out for extended periods of time. After Foster, there's nobody on the distant horizon if we don't have Tate to fall back upon. For that reason, I give Shaun Cody's spot to Ben Tate.

GLOVER QUINN
I toyed with the idea of subbing someone for him, but couldn't find a name to use for it. So Glover stays. He owes me a steak and a beer for my kindness.

ANTONIO SMITH
Once again, after looking up and down the roster--if we'e sticking to the script/intention of this topic--then I would have to say that Antonio Smith has been not only a model citizen here, he's been a high motor guy on the DL who really earned an affirmative nod in this discussion.

I'd leave McCain on the outskirts of the list, a fence-riding A or B depending on the 2012 season. Depends on what Harris can do...if Harris gets a shot, that is.

Think people have grossly for one reason or another undervalued both Glover Quinn & Brice McCain.
I have the Texans looking at Nose in next years draft early which may include Cody in that equation.
Smith would depend on Cricks health I suppose? I really think a three man rotation would be as wise @ DE as it would be @ OLB. Heck throw in NG as well, the trenches set the tone for the entire defense including secondary.