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GM Rick Smith - 2011

After reading that story I get the impression that JoJo basically forced his hand rather that Smith making a smart decision. I think we should thank JoJo for giving the Texans the choice before he went with another teams offer. And the more I look into the Manning deal the more I think we overpaid. The Bears reportedly offered him 6 million over 3 years. We are paying him about 5 mill a year. I really want to know what other bids were in play for him.
 
BullsOnParade said:
Story on Rick Smith post JJoe and D. Manning:

http://htowntouchdown.com/2011/07/29/rick-smith-makes-his-moves/

What are your thoughts on Rick Smith now? Is he out of the doghouse? Somehow he managed to get Arian Foster. Not sure if that was dumb luck or not. He's made some questionable moves in the past.

Is your opinion of Smith dependent on what he does with Vonta?
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Oh, damn. I wrote a long assed response and it got lost.

Here's the gist of it.

Fans are fickle. Two seasons ago, coming off our first winning season, Smith was generally perceived as having done a good job at improving the talent level of our team. He'd had some misses but he'd had a lot of hits. And of those negative fans, many of them would have fired Kubiak and kept Smith (unless Kubiak's replacement wanted to be GM, too.)

Smith had done a lot of good things: Cush -- ROY, Schaub, Pollard, Smith, Slaton, Brown. And he'd cleaned up the cap hell Casserly had left us in.

Then Cush has the PED thing, Dunta walks, Leigh Bodden stiffed us, we go with Kiddie Korners, Duane Brown gets suspended, KJ looks like hell, Tate breaks his leg, ex-players come out of the woodwork calling him an asshole, and we end up 6-10.

Smith goes from hero to dog who needs to be eviscerated and defenestrated. No one will ever want to play for us. We're losers.

Now, he's got what looks to be his best off-season as a GM. He's done a lot of things right. (I think this draft happens because Wade and his staff is better at identifying what they want than the previous defensive staffs.) He's negotiated some things that please a lot of us.

Just because we like his moves, that doesn't mean they're any good. We have to wait to see what the end product is before we really judge it. But it looks good and that makes most of us feel better.

Personally, I think Smith is an OK GM. I think he's learned a lot over the past few years and I think he's improving and developing into a really good GM. But I could be wrong.
 
I Think fans went ga ga for smith because our previous regime was so awful.

The bloom has worn off the rose and he needs to step his game up.

Hopefully this off season was him doing that.
 
Pencil Neck,

I think that's a fair assesment. Especially this paragraph.

Now, he's got what looks to be his best off-season as a GM. He's done a lot of things right. (I think this draft happens because Wade and his staff is better at identifying what they want than the previous defensive staffs.) He's negotiated some things that please a lot of us.

I hope he continues to make strides at least. Unfortunately, I'm not sure he'll be around if Gary can't get it going this year.



Rey,

Maybe being backed in a corner finally woke these guys up. I sure hope so.
 
Dutchrudder said:
After reading that story I get the impression that JoJo basically forced his hand rather that Smith making a smart decision. I think we should thank JoJo for giving the Texans the choice before he went with another teams offer. And the more I look into the Manning deal the more I think we overpaid. The Bears reportedly offered him 6 million over 3 years. We are paying him about 5 mill a year. I really want to know what other bids were in play for him.
Click to expand...
In years past, our GM would've froxe like a deer in the headlights and we would've ended up scraping the bottom of the barrel. I applaud Smith for not only striking while the iron was hot, but reportedly striking to make the iron hot. We got pretty fair value for noth players when all things are considered.
 
BullsOnParade said:
Story on Rick Smith post JJoe and D. Manning:

http://htowntouchdown.com/2011/07/29/rick-smith-makes-his-moves/

What are your thoughts on Rick Smith now? Is he out of the doghouse? Somehow he managed to get Arian Foster. Not sure if that was dumb luck or not. He's made some questionable moves in the past.

Is your opinion of Smith dependent on what he does with Vonta?
Click to expand...

He has yet to provide a solid draft and his handling of FA signings and retaining players are spotty at best.

Lets see what happens this year. This is a make or break year for Smithiak.
 
Dutchrudder said:
After reading that story I get the impression that JoJo basically forced his hand rather that Smith making a smart decision. I think we should thank JoJo for giving the Texans the choice before he went with another teams offer. And the more I look into the Manning deal the more I think we overpaid. The Bears reportedly offered him 6 million over 3 years. We are paying him about 5 mill a year. I really want to know what other bids were in play for him.
Click to expand...

Not sure what it is but I didn't read it the same way as you. I don't think it was so much JoJo forcing our hand as it was him saying yes to the contract and Rick Smith making the smart move by saying yes. I really don't think any credit should be taken away from him for that. It was a shrewd maneuver and now that we know about the Eagles and their eventual involvement, Rick Smith deserves loads of praise for saying yes to Joseph. I just don't see it as a situation where Joseph forced him by basically saying either you say yes now or we won't accept the deal at all. I think Rick and the Texans just had enough of Nnamdi's pandering and had been made to look like fools in the past (Bodden and Pace come immediately to mind), and he decided he wasn't going to let that happen again. At least he learned from his mistakes.

As far as Manning is concerned, maybe it is just the homer in me but I believe the guy is just entering his prime and is going to be a game changer for us. I see him as possibly being a top 20 NFL safety (out of 60) based on what he was able to do last year. Everything I have read about him talks about how all he did early in his career was move from position to position. The Bears weren't sure what he was. They knew he was a great kick returner but was he a corner or a safety? And if he was a safety, was he a free or a strong safety? Once he moved full-time to strong safety, he blossomed.

I wouldn't worry about what the Bears were willing to offer as their offseason has been HORRIBLE. Bears fans are in an uproar about how little they have done. I'd be surprised if they win 8 games next season. Yeah, it's great they went and got Peppers but if that is pretty much all they have with Urlacher losing a step, then all they have done is get worse by letting Manning go.

I have high hopes about both of our signings.
 
TEXANRED said:
He has yet to provide a solid draft and his handling of FA signings and retaining players are spotty at best.

Lets see what happens this year. This is a make or break year for Smithiak.
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Which players woud you have liked to see retained?
 
DocBar said:
Which players woud you have liked to see retained?
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Yeah I'm not so sure I get that comment. Other than Dunta, I can't think of one meaningful free agent we have lost under Smith. Now that could obviously all change next year but so far, we have held onto our own and most importantly, Smith held onto Andre.
 
Ckw said:
Yeah I'm not so sure I get that comment. Other than Dunta, I can't think of one meaningful free agent we have lost under Smith. Now that could obviously all change next year but so far, we have held onto our own and most importantly, Smith held onto Andre.
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Are you sure about DROB? I am and I'm glad he's gone.
 
DocBar said:
Are you sure about DROB? I am and I'm glad he's gone.
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That was basically the entire point of my post. Believe me, I am glad he is gone as well. The guy thinks of himself as a top 10-15 corner and he is lucky to be a top 30 corner. So you basically nailed it that our only "loss" has been DROB, and that can't really even be considered much of a loss.

Actually though now that I think of it, the biggest "loss" we have had is Tramon Williams. Can you imagine if that guy was still with the Texans? Damn!
 
Doesn't all this stuff really center upon what the Owner will and won't permit his staff to do?

I mean, Bob spends bucks on some better guys and everyone's lookin' a little better because of it.

My caveat: Not every free agency period is as bountiful as this one, which (as some have proposed) Bob felt he had to wait for a better crop or he'd have overspent for previous years' "talent."

A GM can only do so much.
 
GP said:
Doesn't all this stuff really center upon what the Owner will and won't permit his staff to do?

I mean, Bob spends bucks on some better guys and everyone's lookin' a little better because of it.

My caveat: Not every free agency period is as bountiful as this one, which (as some have proposed) Bob felt he had to wait for a better crop or he'd have overspent for previous years' "talent."

A GM can only do so much.
Click to expand...
Bob is very well known for letting his football people take care of the football operations. He's not known as a hands on owner at all. That would be Al Davis, Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder.
 
DocBar said:
Bob is very well known for letting his football people take care of the football operations. He's not known as a hands on owner at all. That would be Al Davis, Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder.
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You are quickly becoming one of my favorite posters. I can't remember the last post you made that I truly disagreed with.
 
We including me have demonized this guy for his past moves so its time to give him credit for his current moves.
 
Ckw said:
You are quickly becoming one of my favorite posters. I can't remember the last post you made that I truly disagreed with.
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LMAO. Give it a little time. I usually go against the grain and piss people off. It's a God given talent.
 
GP said:
Doesn't all this stuff really center upon what the Owner will and won't permit his staff to do?

I mean, Bob spends bucks on some better guys and everyone's lookin' a little better because of it.

My caveat: Not every free agency period is as bountiful as this one, which (as some have proposed) Bob felt he had to wait for a better crop or he'd have overspent for previous years' "talent."

A GM can only do so much.
Click to expand...

This isn't like baseball.

I don't think Bob has much of anything to do with anything. Smith probably talks things over with him. But the cap has been allocated by the league and it's up to Smith to work within those limits. The cap hasn't been dicated by Bob and we've never been under the cap by a significant amount.

Granted, there are some free agency periods where there aren't a lot of players and the past few seasons, the pickings have been slim for the positions we needed most. Like last year, we needed a CB and the FA's were Leigh Bodden or Bust. I think Smith gets blamed a lot of times for not having a lot to work with.

But I don't think it's because Bob has closed the pocketbook. Bob's pretty much paying the same regardless.
 
DocBar said:
That's weak. Smith has much more to work with.
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Smith has something at stake too ..... Wade is likely outa here as soon as the sale is approved.



Smith did a pretty solid job of solving the problems on the back end this offseason. Now I'd like to see Vonta signed along with some insurance for Demeco and maybe a big ugly at DT .... Then I'll be totally satisfied with the offseasons results.
 
Here is my perspective on the entire Texans organization, but it may be wrong.

Rick is in his position for the first time. He has to make mistakes to learn. Ex - Last year's cornerback situation vs this years.

Gary is in his position for the first time He has to make mistakes to learn.
Ex - Picking the defensive coordinators in the past vs this years.

Chris Olson -Vice President of Football Operations- Been with the texans 4 years, works closely with Rick Smith on contract negotiations. This is his first time being put in this position. Before that he was in the league's cap office. (http://mobile.battleredblog.com/2011/7/29/2302741/what-has-changed)
Ex- Just proving my point that he is ne. Somewhere that guy made a mistake because everyone does sooner or later if they are new in some capacity whether small or large.

Bob McNair- is on his second gm and coach, but is a first time owner. Has learned a thing or two about owning a team and mistakes newbies and seasoned coaches and gm's make. Also the mistakes he has made in the past.

So, if Gary was fired last year, there was speculation he would have been a shoe in for Denver. I dont know if this is true, but he may have gotten a job somewhere and brought with him the lessons he has learned here in the past.

Same thing for everyone else, except Bob because he aint going anywhere.

That's why I think these guys are still around. They know the stupid mistakes they made. Bob does too. And Bob is making sure they don't make the same mistake twice(Gary gets three chances on D-coordinators for some reason...) Bob is taking a chance on the idea of taking newbies, growing them the way he wants them too, give them the chances to make mistakes, and grow this team better longer term with out much turnover. Just a theory.

And not to say Gary is the next Belicheat, but if the browns had patience with him, would they have been where the patriots are today? Probably not because you have to have ownership like Kraft, but I think you get the point. I think that is what McNair is trying to do. Not gid rid of a talented(debatable I know) young coach and let him be successful elsewhere after he(Rick and Gary and Chris) learned on McNair's millions of dollars.

My point is these guys made mistakes, learned something, and Rick proved he learned something from last year, Gary hopefully with hiring Wade, and Bob too with forcing the hiring of Wade.

What do yall think?
 
DocBar said:
Bob is very well known for letting his football people take care of the football operations. He's not known as a hands on owner at all. That would be Al Davis, Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder.
Click to expand...

Mike Brown doesn't even have a GM for his team. He has to be up on that list.
 
TexansBull said:
Here is my perspective on the entire Texans organization, but it may be wrong.

Rick is in his position for the first time. He has to make mistakes to learn. Ex - Last year's cornerback situation vs this years.

Gary is in his position for the first time He has to make mistakes to learn.
Ex - Picking the defensive coordinators in the past vs this years.

Chris Olson -Vice President of Football Operations- Been with the texans 4 years, works closely with Rick Smith on contract negotiations. This is his first time being put in this position. Before that he was in the league's cap office. (http://mobile.battleredblog.com/2011/7/29/2302741/what-has-changed)
Ex- Just proving my point that he is ne. Somewhere that guy made a mistake because everyone does sooner or later if they are new in some capacity whether small or large.

Bob McNair- is on his second gm and coach, but is a first time owner. Has learned a thing or two about owning a team and mistakes newbies and seasoned coaches and gm's make. Also the mistakes he has made in the past.

So, if Gary was fired last year, there was speculation he would have been a shoe in for Denver. I dont know if this is true, but he may have gotten a job somewhere and brought with him the lessons he has learned here in the past.

Same thing for everyone else, except Bob because he aint going anywhere.

That's why I think these guys are still around. They know the stupid mistakes they made. Bob does too. And Bob is making sure they don't make the same mistake twice(Gary gets three chances on D-coordinators for some reason...) Bob is taking a chance on the idea of taking newbies, growing them the way he wants them too, give them the chances to make mistakes, and grow this team better longer term with out much turnover. Just a theory.

And not to say Gary is the next Belicheat, but if the browns had patience with him, would they have been where the patriots are today? Probably not because you have to have ownership like Kraft, but I think you get the point. I think that is what McNair is trying to do. Not gid rid of a talented(debatable I know) young coach and let him be successful elsewhere after he(Rick and Gary and Chris) learned on McNair's millions of dollars.

My point is these guys made mistakes, learned something, and Rick proved he learned something from last year, Gary hopefully with hiring Wade, and Bob too with forcing the hiring of Wade.

What do yall think?
Click to expand...

I think that's a fair analysis TexasBull. Spot on I'd say.
 
TexansBull said:
Here is my perspective on the entire Texans organization, but it may be wrong.

Rick is in his position for the first time. He has to make mistakes to learn. Ex - Last year's cornerback situation vs this years.

Gary is in his position for the first time He has to make mistakes to learn.
Ex - Picking the defensive coordinators in the past vs this years.

Chris Olson -Vice President of Football Operations- Been with the texans 4 years, works closely with Rick Smith on contract negotiations. This is his first time being put in this position. Before that he was in the league's cap office. (http://mobile.battleredblog.com/2011/7/29/2302741/what-has-changed)
Ex- Just proving my point that he is ne. Somewhere that guy made a mistake because everyone does sooner or later if they are new in some capacity whether small or large.

Bob McNair- is on his second gm and coach, but is a first time owner. Has learned a thing or two about owning a team and mistakes newbies and seasoned coaches and gm's make. Also the mistakes he has made in the past.

So, if Gary was fired last year, there was speculation he would have been a shoe in for Denver. I dont know if this is true, but he may have gotten a job somewhere and brought with him the lessons he has learned here in the past.

Same thing for everyone else, except Bob because he aint going anywhere.

That's why I think these guys are still around. They know the stupid mistakes they made. Bob does too. And Bob is making sure they don't make the same mistake twice(Gary gets three chances on D-coordinators for some reason...) Bob is taking a chance on the idea of taking newbies, growing them the way he wants them too, give them the chances to make mistakes, and grow this team better longer term with out much turnover. Just a theory.

And not to say Gary is the next Belicheat, but if the browns had patience with him, would they have been where the patriots are today? Probably not because you have to have ownership like Kraft, but I think you get the point. I think that is what McNair is trying to do. Not gid rid of a talented(debatable I know) young coach and let him be successful elsewhere after he(Rick and Gary and Chris) learned on McNair's millions of dollars.

My point is these guys made mistakes, learned something, and Rick proved he learned something from last year, Gary hopefully with hiring Wade, and Bob too with forcing the hiring of Wade.

What do yall think?
Click to expand...

Nice, level-headed assessment.
Repped.
 
I believe that analysis is very accurate. My only concern is that the mistakes that these people (Kubes, Smith, etc.) will be repeated and Bobby won't bring down the hammer on them. Kubiak's game management is still terrifying.
 
I believe that a lot of that is true.

By the end of this past season, I believed Smithiak should have been fired. But I wasn't averse to them staying because I think they've learned alot and are much better at doing their jobs now and I expect the team to be better in the future because of it.

If they had been fired, I would not have been surprised for them to land somewhere else like Denver and be extremely successful.

But Bob's patience with them, which may have been based more on the CBA craziness he knew was coming up than anything else, may well pay off.

Lord, I hope so.
 
DocBar said:
aaaaaaaahhh....that's what :sarcasm: is for. LOL
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Lol, I didn't know that was protocol. You learn something new everyday. :) Thanks for the heads up.

It'll be interesting to see what else Smith does. Part of me thinks he's going for broke and will continue to try to get Kubiak the right pieces this year. I hope he does. Warren and Leach would be nice.

But in the end, it'll be up to Kubiak come gametime. I'm not sure I have as much faith in him. Maybe the missing ingredient will be Wade. Lord knows you can't win football games without some sort of defense.



TexansBull,

I'd add to that list on BRB, "The shortened free agency period." I think that was a blessing in disguise. I'm not sure Smith would of pulled the trigger on Joseph had we not been crunched for time. It elevated the need to get something done.
 
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