Football Outsiders Picks Matt Schaub as rising star

[gtexan02]

From ESPN Insider:

Want to know a big secret about Santonio Holmes? You don't need to wait for him to become a star. He already is one.
...
There are players like Holmes all across the league -- guys whose hype hasn't caught up to their excellent level of play. (Of course, being Super Bowl MVP has a way of helping that hype catch up.) We've picked 10 guys whose bandwagons deserve to be buckling, starting in Texas, where only Houston knows the score -- so far.
...
1. Matt Schaub, QB, Texans

Talk of Schaub losing his job this offseason was impossibly asinine and dictated by a total misunderstanding of schedule effects.

More to read

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insid...ory?id=4302332

[Texans_Chick]

Talk of Schaub losing his job this offseason was impossibly asinine and dictated by a total misunderstanding of schedule effects.

Who was talking about Schaub losing his job this offseason?

[gtexan02]

I don't know, I can only assume he was referring to the articles speculating the Texans had some interest in acquiring Cutler or Cassell in a trade

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Who was talking about Schaub losing his job this offseason?

I don't see how anybody could say that after this past season. I reckon there was plenty after the 07 season.

Every time I read an article concerning Schaub I expect some sort of asterisk with a note on the bottom saying "if he can remain healthy for the season". I think he can be a really good QB, but until he can stay on the field for the entire season these type of articles mean little to me.

No offense to the OP.

[stingray]

It's all about his health. If he stays healthy, he probably makes the pro-bowl.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

I don't see how anybody could say that after this past season. I reckon there was plenty after the 07 season.

Every time I read an article concerning Schaub I expect some sort of asterisk with a note on the bottom saying "if he can remain healthy for the season". I think he can be a really good QB, but until he can stay on the field for the entire season these type of articles mean little to me.

No offense to the OP.

Im just the messenger with ESPN Insider.

I'll start adding Dislaimer:
The views posted in the original post do not necessarily reflect those of the poster or his ISP.

[spurstexanstros]

I question Schaub's accuracy. It was pointed out by another poster when we were watching a game (V-man) that Schaub has a problem leading the receivers , he either throws right at them or behind them. The receivers rarely catch it instride. I think that this is true from what I noticed last year.
This I think caused a large majority of Schaub's interceptions and incompletions. The receivers had to reach behind them or be alert for a ball in their face, if they didnt it led to tip balls or passes behind the Wrs that landed in the arms of opposing team's safties. If he or any Texan QB can figure out how to lead the receivers we can have some big time plays...instead of the catch and tackled passing plays we are used to.
(The one exception is OD who always seems to catch it instride and make plays)

[infantrycak]

We were near the top of the league in big plays and Schaub was near the top of the league in down field completion %. I can understand a better placement comment (not turned into inaccuracy) but I don't get trying to call Schaub inaccurate. Folks, a QB is hucking a ball 30 yards to a moving target on a hope and a prayer. If for instance the WR misjudges the ball as overthrown and accelerates and then realizes it was spot on, the ball can appear overthrown. Not saying that happened on any one play - just an illustration. Bottom line, Schaub and the Texans connected at a very high rate on down field passes.

[eriadoc]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

We were near the top of the league in big plays and Schaub was near the top of the league in down field completion %. I can understand a better placement comment (not turned into inaccuracy) but I don't get trying to call Schaub inaccurate. Folks, a QB is hucking a ball 30 yards to a moving target on a hope and a prayer. If for instance the WR misjudges the ball as overthrown and accelerates and then realizes it was spot on, the ball can appear overthrown. Not saying that happened on any one play - just an illustration. Bottom line, Schaub and the Texans connected at a very high rate on down field passes.

I mostly agree with this. My only knock on Schaub, and it's nitpicking, is that he doesn't have the best arm strength. He certainly doesn't have the arm strength to adjust to the fastest WR in football.

Again, nitpicking, and not really important as long as he keeps connecting, however he does it.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by spurstexanstros

I question Schaub's accuracy. It was pointed out by another poster when we were watching a game (V-man) that Schaub has a problem leading the receivers , he either throws right at them or behind them. The receivers rarely catch it instride. I think that this is true from what I noticed last year.
This I think caused a large majority of Schaub's interceptions and incompletions. The receivers had to reach behind them or be alert for a ball in their face, if they didnt it led to tip balls or passes behind the Wrs that landed in the arms of opposing team's safties. If he or any Texan QB can figure out how to lead the receivers we can have some big time plays...instead of the catch and tackled passing plays we are used to.
(The one exception is OD who always seems to catch it instride and make plays)

I wouldn't call him inaccurate. Lack of arm strength maybe but he's far from inaccurate. Infantrycak and eriadoc have it exactly right. Being the best WR in the NFL means that the QB needs to keep up with the WR more than the WR having to keep up with the QB.

If that made any sense at all... that could mean he may need to develop his timing a little better but he's far from inaccurate.

My beef with Schaub is that he should be relagated to the bench for one play after getting slammed. I think I notice most of his errors come after being smacked to the ground HARD. Is that a knock on Schaub being injury prone? I don't know. He's been hit HARD then again so has Brett Favre and he may be coming back for season #19.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by eriadoc

I mostly agree with this. My only knock on Schaub, and it's nitpicking, is that he doesn't have the best arm strength. He certainly doesn't have the arm strength to adjust to the fastest WR in football.

Again, nitpicking, and not really important as long as he keeps connecting, however he does it.

I understand where this comment comes from but I am not sure it is true. Let me illustrate. Schaub has thrown balls 45 yards to a WR - one was a highlight moment in Atlanta that got him national attention and ultimately to Houston. Then he underthrows a 30 yard pass and folks say weak arm. Now maybe it is, and maybe it is a consistent judgment issue. When in doubt, Carr would overthrow the ball. Schaub obviously can throw the ball 31 yards instead of 30 yards as he has thrown it even longer in the past. To me that means the computer in his head is misjudging not a failure of his arm. Like you say, nitpicking and the difference is really irrelevant as the result is the same whatever the cause.

[barrett]

Is there anything more to the "insider" story that us "outsiders" aren't allowed to read? Anybody able to copy paste it?

[Houston_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by spurstexanstros

I question Schaub's accuracy. It was pointed out by another poster when we were watching a game (V-man) that Schaub has a problem leading the receivers , he either throws right at them or behind them. The receivers rarely catch it instride. I think that this is true from what I noticed last year.
This I think caused a large majority of Schaub's interceptions and incompletions. The receivers had to reach behind them or be alert for a ball in their face, if they didnt it led to tip balls or passes behind the Wrs that landed in the arms of opposing team's safties. If he or any Texan QB can figure out how to lead the receivers we can have some big time plays...instead of the catch and tackled passing plays we are used to.
(The one exception is OD who always seems to catch it instride and make plays)

I agree with your assessment. I noticed it, too that Schaub consistently underthew his receivers and they either had to come back to the ball or hold up for it. He rarely hit them in stride.

[HouSportsWriter]

Originally Posted by stingray

It's all about his health. If he stays healthy, he probably makes the pro-bowl.

whats the chances he gets hurt at the pro bowl