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Is Matt Schaub clutch?

Lady.Gaga.3000

Lady.Gaga.3000

Waterboy
Is Matt Schaub clutch? Paul Kuharsky poses that question.

Based on his résumé so far, if we’re still buying the conventional definitions, the answer has to be we don’t know yet. He’s won games in big moments. He’s lost games in big moments. And because he missed the stretch run and playoffs last season because of a right foot Lisfranc injury, we simply haven’t seen him enough in the big settings to know.
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When I think of clutch, I think of a quarterback who can be counted on to go out there and get that critical 3rd down and set up a score when the team needs it. Turnovers in the second half, particularly the fourth-quarter of a close game, are killers. At the very least, that is the unclutch of the NFL. Eli Manning comes to mind when I think of clutch. Statistically a decent regular season quarterback, but seemingly a man amongst men in the biggest games of his career at the most crucial times.

We haven’t seen Matt Schaub play a good team since week 6 in Baltimore last year. If you recall the Texans did not score a point in the fourth-quarter. PK quoted some stupid games if you ask me. What I recall most of Schaub and pondering the question of whether he is clutch or not is the 4th quarter of the Saints game last year. After the Texans defense did wonders in the first half by holding the Saints offensive machine to 10 points, they subsequently crumbled in the second half, particularly the fourth-quarter.

Or rather, did Drew Brees come up “clutch” in the second half? On the five drives New Orleans had in the fourth-quarter, the Saints produced three touchdowns, one punt, and one kneel-down to end the game. Meanwhile the Texans had four full drives in the fourth-quarter with one three-and-out, one three play drive ending in an interception, one touchdown, and a four play drive resulting in a game ending turnover on downs.

This is the drive chart of both teams in the 4th quarter, minus the Texans TD scored on the first play of the fourth-quarter. The Texans are white and the Saints are black.

texanssaintsdrives.png


I know Schaub has no direct control over how good or bad the Texans defense was, but he did give the defense a nine point lead to start the fourth-quarter (it was 26-17 when the Saints got their first offensive drive in the 4th quarter).

However, this is when I question Matt Schaub being clutch. The Texans just received the ball leading 26-24 with nine minutes left. Kubiak (or somebody) called three straight passes, with the third pass being a deep 3rd and 10 pass for Andre Johnson that was intercepted by a defender underneath of Johnson. Maybe somebody with nfl.com’s coachs film could tell me, but it appeared that Schaub didn’t see him?

I hate playing what-if’s, but even Walters touchdown bounce in the fourth-quarter should have been an interception. If the Saints turn the ball over just once in the fourth-quarter of that game, the Texans chances of winning that game increases dramatically. Unfortunately for Texans fans the Super Bowl MVP never faltered once (in the 4th).

Teams have their good days and their bad days. Drew Brees could not get it done Sunday against the Redskins. Does that make him less clutch or not clutch anymore? In the five drives that the Saints had in the fourth-quarter, the Saints produced one three-and-out, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. With 3:40 left in the game and the Saints down by 8, Brees throws an interception returned to the Saints 3 yard line and put the nail in the coffin. Does that take away from the fact that Brees was clutch in week 3 versus the Houston Texans? Hell, Eli Manning couldn’t come back against the Cowboys last week. And there’s certainly no Drive by Elway without Byner’s fumble. *end of rambling*

No team wins every game. Even quarterbacks who are constantly associated with clutch are not clutch sometimes. Are the quarterbacks coming back from behind because they were bad in the first half? Perhaps some quarterbacks seem to be more clutch than others simply because they are getting more chances at game-winning drives. Some however just seem destined to fail. Eli Manning's antithesis Tony Romo makes me cringe in the fourth-quarter. It always seems like Romo...Cowboys...find a way to lose a close game. However, Romo has the highest fourth-quarter passing rating among active quarterbacks. Statistics can be so clutch.

Is Schaub clutch to me? Should we even care? What if Schaubs not considered a clutch quarterback because he's so efficient at getting his team a halftime lead that there are rarely moments for him to shine in the fourth quarter. At the very moment in a fourth-quarter when Schaub is facing 3rd and long and the defense is blitzing, are you turning in your stomach or cheering with confidence? I still do not know if I believe in clutch. But then I see things in the NFL and I find myself saying, "Man, that was clutch!"

Remember when Schaub led the Texans back from a 21-point second half deficit against the Ravens two Decembers ago, only to throw a pick six in overtime. Was that clutch and then…not clutch?

Does clutch even exist?
 
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The better question is "Does he grasp AND perform the Kubiak offense well enough to let the offense operate as it should?"

Yes.

Clutch? Too many intangibles to really factor if he is clutch or not, same goes for the other 31 starting QBs out there. A fluke play here, a bad bounce there, when does a QB's ability end??? He is one guy.

So for me, I just say that Matt Schaub earned an extension because he proved he could come back and play football on that foot of his AND he knows Kubiak's offense and performs it the way I think Kubiak expects him to.

Which is something TJ Yates and Case Keenum better start doing a better job at, IMO. If they want a future here a few years from now.
 
Clutch to me is like Brady or Manning and there is 2 minutes left and they need to drive the length of the field and score ... and you just know they are going to do it.

Matt has had his moments, but also made huge game ending mistakes.

Far as I am concerned he isnt right now, but now has a new contract and more time to establish himself as someone who can be. Better hope that he does ... when you start playing deep in the playoffs it could be the difference between advancing or going home.
 
I remember early in the 2010 season...Schaub's TD passes to Andre late in the game against The Redskins and The Chiefs...I think he is clutch...
 
To me, all I remember are the late game INTs. I'm scared if we have to go the length of the field on a game winning drive.
 
I think Kuharsky is right that we just don't know. We've seen bits of both. Kubiak hasn't helped at times either with some of his late game playcalling. I like Schaub and I know we could do a heck of a lot worse. I just hope to hell he can stay healthy this season.

I don't think I'll ever be comfortable watching anyone QB the Texans in a late 4th Quarter drive to win a game, I'm scarred for life on that front from years of futility, and losing records based on countless games each year that we nearly won.

There's also a lot to be said for having someone with the patience to play to the gameplan throughout the game and set up the game so that in the 4th Q we either have a lead to protect or have plenty of confusing looks up our sleeve that will make the defense blow big plays. I see a lot of that in Schaub. I'd much rather have that than a Tebow-like ability to play like **** all game and come up with a few big plays at the end to snatch a win.
 
From the sample size we've seen so far...No. Good news from what we've seen as well he's not a choke artist either.

It's a role he's going to have to grow into this year, but good news is he's not in a situation where he has the shoulder the load alone. He's got a couple of play makers around him in AJ, Foster, Tate, and OD can come up big. Defensively...well last week really showcased what this defense can do in getting turnovers and giving the offense short fields.

Will say this Matt's arm looked much better than I have seen in the pat, not sure if it was the adrenaline of first time after the layoff or if its something we can come to expect.
 
In the PAST i have seen Schaub lead us down the field, tie or take the lead only so the defense can give up point of their own and give the other team the lead.

The stats dont say that he had already led the team down the field twice to take the lead only to lose it twice before finally throwing an INT. It only says the INT and forgets the (2 other game winning drives) haha
 
To me, clutch means you keep the chains moving. One way or another, you find a way to keep the chains moving. Last week, I saw a semi parapalegic Peyton Manning pick up 10 yards for a first down, to keep the chains moving. I mention this because I know I'm going to hear how athletic Schaub isn't, but it really doesn't matter. Gotta keep the chains moving & whatever it takes...... gotta be done.

Sometimes, that's on the receiver. He's got to catch the ball. But when you think about the guys Peyton has thrown the ball to, or Brady, or Eli, or Rogers....... they aren't always the most talented guys in the world. Sometimes, you know that receiver gave all he had to make sure he caught that ball.

Imo, they do that, because they know that QB did everything he could to get the ball to him & he don't want to let him down. It's a form of leadership if you will.

Is Matt Schaub clutch? Not no, but hell no. Can he be? Hell yes he can. How do I know? because he did it in 2009 & off & on through out his career. He needs to do it more often than not & right now, that's just not the case.
 
EllisUnit said:
In the PAST i have seen Schaub lead us down the field, tie or take the lead only so the defense can give up point of their own and give the other team the lead.

The stats dont say that he had already led the team down the field twice to take the lead only to lose it twice before finally throwing an INT. It only says the INT and forgets the (2 other game winning drives) haha
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Did you watch Alex Smith against the Saints last year? In the play-offs? That was clutch. Had they lost, & the ball was last in Alex Smith's hands, that's not clutch.
 
Fiddler said:
Did you watch Alex Smith against the Saints last year? In the play-offs? That was clutch. Had they lost, & the ball was last in Alex Smith's hands, that's not clutch.
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There is more to a QB being clutch than just him. In 2010 there were 3 games i can think of where Schaub gave us the lead and the defense gave the lead right back. Only one the defense did stop was the Redskins. Watch that last play and throw to AJ, he was under pressure, threw on the move to a nice spot and AJ made the catch.
 
EllisUnit said:
There is more to a QB being clutch than just him. In 2010 there were 3 games i can think of where Schaub gave us the lead and the defense gave the lead right back. Only one the defense did stop was the Redskins. Watch that last play and throw to AJ, he was under pressure, threw on the move to a nice spot and AJ made the catch.
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The defense started the third Qtr of the Giants game that year with a 3 & out & back to back turnovers. The offense couldn't get a first down.
 
EllisUnit said:
In the PAST i have seen Schaub lead us down the field, tie or take the lead only so the defense can give up point of their own and give the other team the lead.

The stats dont say that he had already led the team down the field twice to take the lead only to lose it twice before finally throwing an INT. It only says the INT and forgets the (2 other game winning drives) haha
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This. There were PLENTY of games he led us down the field only to have our defense give up the lead. Im pretty sure we had 3 games in a row like this, I know for sure two, Colts and Jags I think back to back :toropalm:
 
Fiddler said:
Clutch is clutch. If you're not clutch to start the third, you don't have a chance at the end of the game.
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What that makes no sense, then u can count Schaub is clutch against miami since he turned all the turnovers into points. Since it was before the 2 minute warning ???
 
EllisUnit said:
What that makes no sense, then u can count Schaub is clutch against miami since he turned all the turnovers into points. Since it was before the 2 minute warning ???
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Let me put it to you this way. If you have a clutch QB, you can win the Super Bowl with the 31st ranked defense.
 
Fiddler said:
Clutch is clutch. If you're not clutch to start the third, you don't have a chance at the end of the game.
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Not to mention Clutch is when it Matters most thats why its called clutch. Start of the third quarter going 3 and out dont make him not clutch.
 
Lady.Gaga.3000 said:
Is Matt Schaub clutch? Paul Kuharsky poses that question.


Does clutch even exist?
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First off, I'm not sure why I'm responding to someone using a user name of Lady.Gaga.3000 :facepalm:
;)

In any event, my answer is this:
IF ALL three phases of the game perform, we'll never have to know. In other words, we should be better in all three phases where it shouldn't come down to Schaub "being clutch" for the simple fact that he's a good leader AND has "clutch players" to work with. He knows this offense in a brilliant manner, meaning he'll put the ball in the hands of those that can get it done!

"Clutch"? No.. More than competent?? YES!

BTW, Paul "Tinnbred Homer" Kuharsky has been, is, and always be an Tinnbred honk. Once in awhile he'll pull his head out of his ass!

I love my man Adam Clanton, but he and I must "agree to disagree" about Kuharsky!
 
Fiddler said:
The defense started the third Qtr with a 3 & out & back to back turnovers. The offense couldn't get a first down.
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Schaub has played clutch in games and forced some throws that I am sure he would like back in other games. If you look at more games than last season, Schaub has shown us that he can be an elite QB.

Clutch is something that only happens when your team is down and the QB takes the team down the field to score/win the game. Schaub has done that and when he takes the field I do not cringe. I am confident in what he can do as a QB.

Why are we even questioning if Schaub is clutch? I would rather look at the Texans as all around winners than rely on a QB to win a last minute game for us each week.
 
When I think of what "clutch" really means to me for a QB, I only think of three QBs in the league right now (Brady, Manning, Brees)....and probably about 3 other young ones who will or might be some day. That leaves 29 teams without a currently "clutch" QB. I don't know if we should've waited to extend Schaub's contract or if we should've looked harder at Manning, but I do know that most NFL fans are going to have to live without a "clutch" QB and Schaub, if he stays healthy, can win a SB or two with good players around him, which we do have.
 
I don't think there's a QB out there that hasn't blown an opportunity to win a game in the 4th quarter for their team. I've seen Brady screw up. I've seen Manning blow it. I've seen Brees and Rodgers not get it done as well.

I've seen Schaub do everything that a clutch QB needs to do. I've seen him lead game winning drives. I've seen him score with under 2 minutes left to take a lead. Sometimes we've won those games and sometimes we haven't. Remember the Jets game where we took the lead with 45 seconds and then our defense screwed us or the Jaguar game where we took the lead at the end of the 4th and couldn't keep Garrard out of the end zone or the OTHER game against the Jaguars where Glover Quin knocked the hail mary pass right into the Jaguar's hands. I can't blame Schaub for those losses.

And I've seen Schaub push too hard and throw interceptions or just not get the first downs we need.

I said this a long time ago about Elway... I just want a QB that wins. I would prefer that he not have to do it in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter because if he's having to do that, it means he didn't play well enough the rest of the game. I'd prefer that we jump out to a lead every game and never let it go rather than having to pull one out at the end. But if we have to pull one out at the end, by all means have the defense to seal the deal.
 
Can anyone honestly say that shammy has proven to be a choke artist?

Dude hasn't proven anything either way...
 
Everybody has their own stupid definition of the word "clutch" and its all subjective anyway. My big problem with Schaub is attendance more than it is in-game ability; he seems to fit what Kubiak wants out of a QB. As long as Kubiak has a job he's probably going to want Schaub on the roster and I'm okay with that.

He makes plays and has screw ups just like probably 80% of the league, he's certainly not a liability.
 
Is Matt clutch, elite, an all pro, cannon arm, blah blah blah. I would imagine there have been QBs with none of that in Super Bowl. I' m more interested in do the players and coaches trust him and his leadership? Does he run the O and game plan given him. More importantly is he the best option we have or can get without giving up way too much? When you have minimal options, you take a deep breath and cross your fingers.
 
Showtime100 said:
Elway.......clutch
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The king of the 4th quarter comeback who "couldn't win the big one."

After his SB losses (which were decidedly un-clutch), one joke went: How do you keep John Elway from getting to his front door? Put an end zone in front of it.

And this is what I was saying earlier, even the guys normally recognized as "clutch" don't necessarily have records as good as people imagine they do in those clutch situations.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
The king of the 4th quarter comeback who "couldn't win the big one."

After his SB losses (which were decidedly un-clutch), one joke went: How do you keep John Elway from getting to his front door? Put an end zone in front of it.

And this is what I was saying earlier, even the guys normally recognized as "clutch" don't necessarily have records as good as people imagine they do in those clutch situations.
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Lol, I remember those jokes. I'll still take him in the 4th. :)
 
The thing is, we don't need Schaub to be "clutch". We have a team in place that's like a well oiled machine, fully built with a battery backup should something falter.

Defense is dynamic which gives us great field positioning, letting Schaub manage the game with a minimal amount of offensive plays needed. On offense, he doesn't have to carry the load because of our stellar run game and play action.

Yes, he'll have to make throws, but they're throws any NFL team would expect out of their QB. What Schaub is best at and why's he fits here perfectly is his ability to keep us on schedule to put points up on the board.
 
HJam72 said:
When I think of what "clutch" really means to me for a QB, I only think of three QBs in the league right now (Brady, Manning, Brees)....and probably about 3 other young ones who will or might be some day. That leaves 29 teams without a currently "clutch" QB. I don't know if we should've waited to extend Schaub's contract or if we should've looked harder at Manning, but I do know that most NFL fans are going to have to live without a "clutch" QB and Schaub, if he stays healthy, can win a SB or two with good players around him, which we do have.
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Big Ben has been clutch a number of times. He has had like 21 last minute drives to win games or something like that. That is the definition of clutch and there really is no argument to suggest that he isn't with a stat like that. Aaron Rodgers is damn clutch as well and has proven that a number of times. Eli Manning has definitely proven that he is a clutch type of player.

I'd put the 3 you mentioned and those other two. There are about 5. Matt Ryan has had some nice clutch performances as well though.
 
If you're just looking at game-winning drives:

Here's the link

The current active players are:
1. Peyton Manning, 47 GWD
2. Tom Brady, 35 GWD
3. Kerry Collins, 30 GWD
4. Drew Brees, 29 GWD
5. Ben Roethlisberger, 26 GWD
6. Eli Manning, 25 GWD
7. Matt Hasselbeck, 22 GWD
8. Carson Palmer, 18 GWD
9. Matt Ryan, 16 GWD
10. Philip Rivers, 16 GWD
11. Jay Cutler, 16 GWD
12. Tony Romo, 14 GWD

Matt Schaub only has 10 GWD. Sanchez, Alex Smith, Joe Flacco, Rex Grossman -- all those guys have more game winning drives than Schaub. Even David Carr has 11 GWD.

But to me, that's not a great indicator of whether a QB is a good/great QB... although it does end up separating the men from the boys. I wouldn't want Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer, Kerry Collins, or Matt Hasselbeck over Schaub.
 
The General perception of Matt Schaub is going to be completely different at the end of the season.
 
OK I have held off for 5 pages and will give my 2 cents - it is almost a useless question. It is undefinable. It is subject to way to many variables - it could be your TE hit in between the numbers in the endzone in the SB, it could be a misthrown ball which the WR miraculously catches on the side of his helmet in the SB, it could be your safety making exactly the play he is taught on a hail mary and it falls into someone's hands, it could be your D giving up an 80+ yard drive in under 50 seconds, etc. None of that reflects on the QB.

I know one thing. I watched Schaub orchestrate 5 straight scoring drives with one being 99 yards and the next 94 yards against one of the toughest defenses of the last decade. That kind of prolonged effort is clutch enough for me.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
If you're just looking at game-winning drives:

Here's the link

The current active players are:
1. Peyton Manning, 47 GWD
2. Tom Brady, 35 GWD
3. Kerry Collins, 30 GWD
4. Drew Brees, 29 GWD
5. Ben Roethlisberger, 26 GWD
6. Eli Manning, 25 GWD
7. Matt Hasselbeck, 22 GWD
8. Carson Palmer, 18 GWD
9. Matt Ryan, 16 GWD
10. Philip Rivers, 16 GWD
11. Jay Cutler, 16 GWD
12. Tony Romo, 14 GWD

Matt Schaub only has 10 GWD. Sanchez, Alex Smith, Joe Flacco, Rex Grossman -- all those guys have more game winning drives than Schaub. Even David Carr has 11 GWD.

But to me, that's not a great indicator of whether a QB is a good/great QB... although it does end up separating the men from the boys. I wouldn't want Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer, Kerry Collins, or Matt Hasselbeck over Schaub.
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Anf the majority of these had what we did not until last year -a defense.
 
Its funny. I always hear that Manning is clutch and Brady etc. I seem to remember a lot of playoff games in which Manning looked terrible. Not only that but his completion to porter in the SB a few years back is a fine example of clutch if I've ever seen one. Clutch is a buzz word with very little substance. For all that Eli is called clutch, we would talk about him that way if Tyree didn't catch the ball with his helmet.

Mike
 
Texanmike02 said:
Its funny. I always hear that Manning is clutch and Brady etc. I seem to remember a lot of playoff games in which Manning looked terrible. Not only that but his completion to porter in the SB a few years back is a fine example of clutch if I've ever seen one. Clutch is a buzz word with very little substance. For all that Eli is called clutch, we would talk about him that way if Tyree didn't catch the ball with his helmet.

Mike
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We also so easily forget how that pass got to Tyree in the first place. Eli avoided like four or five lineman to get that pass off. Some miracle ****.
 
Lance Zierlein ‏@LanceZierlein
RT @Espngreeny: Credit John Clayton: Texans have won last 8 gms started by Matt Schaub by combined 160 points.
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8-0, average win by 20 points ..... clutch.
 
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