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Yates Love

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True story: Just over two years ago, T.J. Yates came on the jumbotron at the Dean Dome during a North Carolina game as the lead-in to a UNC football video, said "I'm T.J. Yates and I'm a Tar Heel," and Yates, who was in the crowd, was booed mercilessly by Tar Heel fans in attendance.

One surprisingly strong senior season and a slew of injuries to Houston quarterbacks later, Yates is the starting quarterback for the first Texans team to ever make the playoffs. He's no figurehead, either, as his play in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 20-19 victory in Cincinnati showed.

We think that logic and common football sense says a rookie quarterback can't take a team deep into the playoffs, but does it? This Texans team's success is predicated on running the ball and playing defense.

And that's not too far off what Mark Sanchez and Ben Roethlisberger leaned on as rookies. Both those guys went to the AFC Championship Game, as a rookie quarterback mind you.

Yates is different than those Sanchez or Roethlisberger because he's matured under tough circumstances, his expectations are lower, he didn't leave school early so he's more experienced and he's got good mentors surrounding him on the roster.

If Houston gets into a shootout with an opponent or finds themselves with a huge halftime deficit, they're probably in trouble. But if that happens, it's not on Yates anyway -- the defense and rushing attack probably already let them down.

Just remember that when it comes time to debate the viability of the Texans in the postseason that the rookie quarterback under center is about as viable as the stereotype that the Texans can't stop anyone on defense.
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Shannon Sharpe effing LOVES the Texans. Must be that Denver connection.
 
Yates is different than those Sanchez or Roethlisberger because he's matured under tough circumstances, his expectations are lower, he didn't leave school early so he's more experienced and he's got good mentors surrounding him on the roster.
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Another difference is that his teammates don't feel as if TJ was handed the starting job. Well he was, but it was out of necessity. But he doesn't carry the sense of entitlement that a Sanchez or Roethlisberger (or a David Carr) had to carry. I think that makes his teammates more forgiving of the mistakes. And it may make them play a little harder for him.
 
Lucky said:
Another difference is that his teammates don't feel as if TJ was handed the starting job. Well he was, but it was out of necessity. But he doesn't carry the sense of entitlement that a Sanchez or Roethlisberger (or a David Carr) had to carry. I think that makes his teammates more forgiving of the mistakes. And it may make them play a little harder for him.
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That's very true. TJ has earned his praise through hard work, intelligence and ability on the field of play, not by draft position. If we make the ACG, we'll have a full blown QB controversy. I'd be hard pressed to pay Schaub in that case.
 
The booing of Yates was the talk immediately in Chapel Hill. After a huge freshman year at UNC, he broke his ankle in the middle of his sophomore year (which probably cost them the game against VT and who knows what else in the long run), then he replaced a guy that played the role TJ is playing now with Texas as a valiant replacement, only to see his team get humiliated by its arch rival at home. With expectations high, his junior season was lackluster to say the least, at least by the standards he had set. Interceptions and decision making were huge issues for him. The guy could take a sack like none other when he wasn't throwing it to the other team. He had Hakeem Nicks as a target which helped, but he was hurt when current Cincy Bengal Brandon Tate tore his ACL in a win over Notre Dame.

Then the NCAA came to town which led to the dismantling of a top 5 defense and also took out his top two running backs for some time and top receiver and current Cleveland Brown, Greg Little, for the season. Despite enormous adversity and a decimated roster due to suspensions, precautionary holdouts and a slew of injuries, TJ led his team to a very improbable 8 win season which ended with a bowl win in Nashville over Tennessee and as well as wins at FSU and at UVa (first time UNC won there in 30 years) and at home against Clemson. The guy was a leader in every respect and had 98% of UNC fans that had doubted him after his previous season respecting the hell out of him.

While it's shameful that the UNC fans booed the kid, the way he carried himself throughout his struggles and led the team through what could have been a nightmare season a year ago was incredibly admirable. The Texans couldn't have a better young man leading this team and as it turns out, he's the first UNC QB to ever start in the NFL and you can bet he has thousands and thousands of eyes on him now. The guy never complained and pouted, even when a highly touted freshman was supposedly pushing for his job in the fall camp before his senior season. All he did was go out and play and turn the disbelievers into believers and it appears he's decided he isn't going to stop doing that. This is a guy I've learned you just can't count out. He's cool, calm, collected, and clearly has a hell of a work ethic and a great head on his shoulders. If any team was forced to play a 5th round rookie in a playoff run, this would by far be my guy. He may not be Aaron Rodgers, but he could lead my guys into battle any time.
 
Lucky said:
Another difference is that his teammates don't feel as if TJ was handed the starting job. Well he was, but it was out of necessity. But he doesn't carry the sense of entitlement that a Sanchez or Roethlisberger (or a David Carr) had to carry. I think that makes his teammates more forgiving of the mistakes. And it may make them play a little harder for him.
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And what makes that last drive Sunday even more special for them.
 
GuerillaBlack said:
And what makes that last drive Sunday even more special for them.
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The young man showed grit, determination and poise on that drive. Yates seems ready for prime time. With three more weeks of "practice", he might just be a bona fide NFL starter.
 
DocBar said:
The young man showed grit, determination and poise on that drive. Yates seems ready for prime time. With three more weeks of "practice", he might just be a bona fide NFL starter.
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Is that you Gary Kubiak? ;)
 
Lucky said:
Another difference is that his teammates don't feel as if TJ was handed the starting job. Well he was, but it was out of necessity. But he doesn't carry the sense of entitlement that a Sanchez or Roethlisberger (or a David Carr) had to carry. I think that makes his teammates more forgiving of the mistakes. And it may make them play a little harder for him.
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To be fair to Roethlisberger...we wasn't handed the job either. He took over after Tommy Maddox was also knocked out with a injury. Remember the situation between Faneca and Roethlisberger? Big Ben had to earn his team's trust as well...he responded by winning every start he made that season.
 
Carr Bombed said:
To be fair to Roethlisberger...we wasn't handed the job either. He took over after Tommy Maddox was also knocked out with a injury. Remember the situation between Faneca and Roethlisberger? Big Ben had to earn his team's trust as well...he responded by winning every start he made that season.
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Roethlisberger was drafted in the first round, he was the future of the franchise. Yates was just another Alex Brink.
 
reinders said:
The booing of Yates was the talk immediately in Chapel Hill. After a huge freshman year at UNC, he broke his ankle in the middle of his sophomore year (which probably cost them the game against VT and who knows what else in the long run), then he replaced a guy that played the role TJ is playing now with Texas as a valiant replacement, only to see his team get humiliated by its arch rival at home. With expectations high, his junior season was lackluster to say the least, at least by the standards he had set. Interceptions and decision making were huge issues for him. The guy could take a sack like none other when he wasn't throwing it to the other team. He had Hakeem Nicks as a target which helped, but he was hurt when current Cincy Bengal Brandon Tate tore his ACL in a win over Notre Dame.

Then the NCAA came to town which led to the dismantling of a top 5 defense and also took out his top two running backs for some time and top receiver and current Cleveland Brown, Greg Little, for the season. Despite enormous adversity and a decimated roster due to suspensions, precautionary holdouts and a slew of injuries, TJ led his team to a very improbable 8 win season which ended with a bowl win in Nashville over Tennessee and as well as wins at FSU and at UVa (first time UNC won there in 30 years) and at home against Clemson. The guy was a leader in every respect and had 98% of UNC fans that had doubted him after his previous season respecting the hell out of him.

While it's shameful that the UNC fans booed the kid, the way he carried himself throughout his struggles and led the team through what could have been a nightmare season a year ago was incredibly admirable. The Texans couldn't have a better young man leading this team and as it turns out, he's the first UNC QB to ever start in the NFL and you can bet he has thousands and thousands of eyes on him now. The guy never complained and pouted, even when a highly touted freshman was supposedly pushing for his job in the fall camp before his senior season. All he did was go out and play and turn the disbelievers into believers and it appears he's decided he isn't going to stop doing that. This is a guy I've learned you just can't count out. He's cool, calm, collected, and clearly has a hell of a work ethic and a great head on his shoulders. If any team was forced to play a 5th round rookie in a playoff run, this would by far be my guy. He may not be Aaron Rodgers, but he could lead my guys into battle any time.
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Good stuff, thanks, and welcome to TT :)
 
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