ESPN: Schaub doesn't solve all of Houston's problems

[Texans34Life]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...eff&id=2939302

1. Who is going to help Matt Schaub?

I realize the Houston Texans love their new quarterback. I also understand that he has a nice target in Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson.

But one of the big questions surrounding the Texans -- aside from the annual concerns about their shaky offensive line -- has to be the uncertainty in the rest of their passing attack. I keep hearing that wide receiver Kevin Walter is supposed to be the man who takes the pressure off Johnson and becomes a reliable weapon for the Texans.

In fact, one team source says that coaches compare him favorably to former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, a key cog in Denver's success in the late 1990s, when current Texans coach Gary Kubiak was Denver's offensive coordinator.

Now there are obvious similarities. McCaffrey bounced around as a reserve receiver early in his career before blossoming in Denver, while Walter is now in his second year in Houston after being a backup in Cincinnati for three years. Like McCaffrey, Walter also is a sturdy possession receiver with excellent size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds). But I'm skeptical of how this will play out. The Texans have spent the last four years trying to find a decent complement to Johnson and the best they could do was an over-the-hill Eric Moulds. I don't see Walter changing that pattern this season.

[Goldensilence]

I guess No one wants to mention how much a decent rushing attack will help. I'm not saying Ahman Green is an end all but he brings a legit presence in the backfield that will help on play action. I think that'll help keep teams honest on coverage as for who'll help AJ...TC will help deceide that.

Also no mention of Owen Daneils who could develop more and Putzer as well over the middle.

[alphajoker]

Right, no mention of OD who will be a great safety valve for Schaub.

[HuttoKarl]

Originally Posted by TexMexVato

Right, no mention of OD who will be a great safety valve for Schaub.

I'll be stashing Walter away on several fantasy rosters this season.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by Goldensilence

I guess No one wants to mention how much a decent rushing attack will help. I'm not saying Ahman Green is an end all but he brings a legit presence in the backfield that will help on play action. I think that'll help keep teams honest on coverage as for who'll help AJ...TC will help deceide that.

Also no mention of Owen Daneils who could develop more and Putzer as well over the middle.

I agree with you here Silence, and he's also a legit threat catching balls out of the backfield.

So, in the passing game the #2 is a ? mark, but you still have AJ, OD and AG.... Not too bad and not all is lost. I would prefer having a legit #2 and maybe Walters fits the role.... TBD.

[Texans Horror]

Originally Posted by Goldensilence

I guess No one wants to mention how much a decent rushing attack will help. I'm not saying Ahman Green is an end all but he brings a legit presence in the backfield that will help on play action. I think that'll help keep teams honest on coverage as for who'll help AJ...TC will help deceide that.

Also no mention of Owen Daneils who could develop more and Putzer as well over the middle.

Agreed. This is supposed to be a run-first offense. Green/Dayne destroying the defensive line is supposed to open up the pass offense, and should do it well. I don't think the Texans are looking at all for three great receivers. They have AJ to throw to, but safety valves (great term) in Daniels and Walter. Green is a catching running back, too, which reminds me of the years when DD ran and caught for the Texans.

However, the problem Matt Schaub does not solve is the left tackle. If the left tackle cannot prevent the defense from bullrushing into the Texans' backfield, all this is useless. Also, the Texans have huge gaps in the defensive secondary, which Matt can't do much with. Sure, a good offense eats up the clock, but I expect most of that offensive clock-eating to be done on the legs of running backs.

[Specnatz]

I am just happy the article did not bash the Texans. It only just asked the same questions we have all asked.

[rickyb]

Originally Posted by HuttoKarl

I'll be stashing Walter away on several fantasy rosters this season.

HK, can I count on you to spend a 2nd rounder on KW? j/k

[gary]

Matt will only help some but I don't know about our O line

[HuttoKarl]

Originally Posted by rickyb

HK, can I count on you to spend a 2nd rounder on KW? j/k

Nah...I wouldn't pick him any earlier than the third round.

[Double Barrel]

ESPN: Schaub doesn't solve all of Houston's problems

What I don't get is whoever said that Schaub was supposed to solve all of our problems?

These writers like to strawman a lot. They make up situations to respond to, but anyone with any sense knows that the Texans FO has always maintained that Schaub is just another piece of a much larger puzzle. Nobody has ever said he was Superman or the Second Coming.

As far as doubting unproven players, a sixth grader in her first writing class could ask those questions. Not a whole lot of deep journalism going on in these articles. I suppose that would require some work.

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

What I don't get is whoever said that Schaub was supposed to solve all of our problems?

These writers like to strawman a lot. They make up situations to respond to, but anyone with any sense knows that the Texans FO has always maintained that Schaub is just another piece of a much larger puzzle. Nobody has ever said he was Superman or the Second Coming.

As far as doubting unproven players, a sixth grader in her first writing class could ask those questions. Not a whole lot of deep journalism going on in these articles. I suppose that would require some work.

My thoughts exactly.

[gary]

Mine to

[Overalls]

One thing I don't think we can underestimate is the "Vonta Factor". We now have a FB that can block for Green and pick up the blitz for Schaub. If, as we are hearing, Schaub thinks though his progressions and reads defenses faster than our former qb and we can give him just a second longer to throw, we could be looking at a #2 WR picking up good yards. Do we really have to say that every game player "W" will get the 2nd most yards than AJ. Why can't we just hope that one game it is player "W" and the next it is player "J" or player "D". Just go with the hot hand of the game. We all know that our former qb rarely looked past AJ. I think Schaub will and that one or more of our "unproven" WRs will have a chance to step up.

Right now, my money is on Jones, but I expect someone to have more yards than Molds did last season.

[gary]

Is it no wonder why they got rid of Molds

[rickyb]

Originally Posted by HuttoKarl

Nah...I wouldn't pick him any earlier than the third round.

sounds good. KW "Houshamazilly" in the 3rd. Mark it down. "Championship."

[Texans Horror]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

What I don't get is whoever said that Schaub was supposed to solve all of our problems?

These writers like to strawman a lot. They make up situations to respond to, but anyone with any sense knows that the Texans FO has always maintained that Schaub is just another piece of a much larger puzzle. Nobody has ever said he was Superman or the Second Coming.

As far as doubting unproven players, a sixth grader in her first writing class could ask those questions. Not a whole lot of deep journalism going on in these articles. I suppose that would require some work.

The front office has always maintained the stance that Schaub is just another piece in the fix, but on the other hand, many fans have made it abundantly clear that Schaub will fix all the offensive woes. Maybe the writer just has his audience confused, cause if he was talking to fans rather than the front office, I'd have to agree with his basic argument.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Texans Horror

However, the problem Matt Schaub does not solve is the left tackle. If the left tackle cannot prevent the defense from bullrushing into the Texans' backfield, all this is useless.

A little bit of a tangent here, but I was watching the Colts/Chefs playoff game with Black playing against Freeney. I had seen another Chefs game from earlier in the season where Black looked fine but in this game against the Colts, Black was getting taken to SCHOOL by Freeney. The one play that really sticks out was one where Freeney saw that they were going to chip him with the back (don't remember if it was LJ) so instead of going with the speed rush, Freeney bullrushed Black and just totally manhandled him.

I really can't see Black taking the LT spot away from Salaam if that game is any indication. And personally I'm not so sure that Spencer's going to be able to make it back, either. Schaub is supposed to be great at reading defenses and getting the ball out quickly and he's going to have to be.

[brakos82]

KW... KW "who's your mamma?"

That commercial... never get tired of it.

[Texans Horror]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

A little bit of a tangent here, but I was watching the Colts/Chefs playoff game with Black playing against Freeney. I had seen another Chefs game from earlier in the season where Black looked fine but in this game against the Colts, Black was getting taken to SCHOOL by Freeney. The one play that really sticks out was one where Freeney saw that they were going to chip him with the back (don't remember if it was LJ) so instead of going with the speed rush, Freeney bullrushed Black and just totally manhandled him.

I really can't see Black taking the LT spot away from Salaam if that game is any indication. And personally I'm not so sure that Spencer's going to be able to make it back, either. Schaub is supposed to be great at reading defenses and getting the ball out quickly and he's going to have to be.

I'm not convinced Black will usurp Salaam either. Where I get nervous is that I feel that yet again the Texans' season will teeter on the legs of the left tackle, and once again it is still one of the weakest areas on the whole team. However, to be more to point, I think Matt will be much more adept at getting the ball out before the bullrush. My worry is how many hits will it take to slow down his reads and make him itchy to get the ball out. I suspect this is the core of everything that Kubiak/Shanahan is doing with Matt, but we won't have a glance until September, which can't come soon enough...