infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Or there is an even closer comparison. Daunte Culpepper had been more successful than Drew Brees prior to that off-season. Miami got first choice and took Culpepper.
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Potential reasons for not drafting a FS
- Thread starter gtexan02
- Start date
Or there is an even closer comparison. Daunte Culpepper had been more successful than Drew Brees prior to that off-season. Miami got first choice and took Culpepper.
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
Good points above. There are more failures than success when playing around with risk. It's when that risk pays off, you get rewarded for it.
In the point with New Orleans... I think they were a team that was in a position, or a need, to take that risk. Other teams maybe not so much, but I think in N.O.'s case, right after Katrina and all... it was probably a risk that was warranted. Hindsight of course, it looks brilliant. They HAD to get an new QB over the 5 years of terrible Aaron Brooks play.
In the point with New Orleans... I think they were a team that was in a position, or a need, to take that risk. Other teams maybe not so much, but I think in N.O.'s case, right after Katrina and all... it was probably a risk that was warranted. Hindsight of course, it looks brilliant. They HAD to get an new QB over the 5 years of terrible Aaron Brooks play.
I'm just using this to point out the difference between the two organizations and the success the Saints success. Until the Saints put the pieces by drafting well. Brees coudn't do it by himself. So yes scouying has also played a large part in the Saints success.
Ask Minny how they feel about taking a chace on a 40 yr old Favre. You can point out successes and failures on both sides of this argument.
To all that think the Texans have done a bang up job in scouting/draftin, which teams would you say have done a better job than Smithiak.
Honest opinions not homer opinions, and if Smithiak are at the top of your list why is it that the Texans are still dreaming about making the playoffs?
Honest opinions not homer opinions, and if Smithiak are at the top of your list why is it that the Texans are still dreaming about making the playoffs?
dalemurphy
Hall of Fame
That's our point. If your last sentence is true, then don't criticize the Texans for minimizing risk. You just said that philosophy also has successes, just as the risk-taking philosophy has failures.
If you notice, I don't argue with you about the Texans mismanagement of the safety position or the poor play on the interior line, or issues at DT, etc... the difference is that I realize all teams have those kind of problems. And, from what I've seen, the Texans are building a team that will be successful for much of the next 10 years. You seem to get frustrated with one disappointment and then allow it to color everything else you see.
Not really, I just dont think that Smithiak's philosopy is going to bring a SB trophy to Houston.
Yes , I believe that taking risks have to be done if you want to win a SB.
All teams have not been poor on the OL and S positions for 2 regimes and 9 yrs running.
dalemurphy
Hall of Fame
The Texans have been among the best in drafing/scouting since 2006. The Texans have missed out on the playoffs because of the talent deficit they had after Capers/Casserly + Manning's Colts + a couple of blown games midseason last year + being unprepared for the Jets on openning day last year.
That would be my answer.
I can't find a team that has done more to turn over a roster in the last 4 years. I know for a fact that you can't find another team as young as the Texans... We'll have a better answer to just how talented these players are in the next year or two.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
But i bet you could point WAY more failures than successes.
Bottom line is you take away all that Brees brings to that team & insert Brunell or Daniels & they're 7-9, tops & the only reason the win total is that high is b/c the spread offense they run lends some help.
So yeah, while he literally couldn't do it by himself, the stud factor he brings to the table puts that team in another stratosphere. The players around him are really inconsequential honestly.
You think that defense would be pinning there ears back every down if they didn't know Brees & that offense weren't putting up 50 pts a game?
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
The deepest most talented team IMO in the last 20 years , is the Cowboys of the JJ era . Jimmy said that the way he built the Cowboys is getting a bunch of picks and hitting on some . If you look at the Cowboys draft form 89-94 ... you'll see a few giant hits but mostly misses .
http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=1200&type=team
http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=1200&type=team
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
I can honestly say that I can't name a single team that has done a better job at drafting than the Texans. I think a lot of it is obviously I've become more familiar with our guys than others but nonetheless find me a team that you think has drafted better than us since 2006 and I'll tell you why we're better.
There's been several teams close to us, but none that are hands down better.They're all chalked full of busts with the occasional good pick.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
This has been the case for every major dynasty for the last umpteen years sans the patriots.
Cowboys & Bills of the 90's
49ers of the 80's
steelers of the 70's
Colts of the 2000's
all built primarily in the draft.
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
Goldensilence
hipster elite
I can honestly say that I can't name a single team that has done a better job at drafting than the Texans. I think a lot of it is obviously I've become more familiar with our guys than others but nonetheless find me a team that you think has drafted better than us since 2006 and I'll tell you why we're better.
They're all chalked full of busts with the occasional good pick.
Two of the better drafting teams are the Eagles and Colts IMO. Ravens draft pretty well too.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
I've been debating this with HoustonFrog (http://www.texanstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71571) seems like they are continuing in this tradition, your spot on. However its not 89-94 era teams do a much better job in research & development. To me the Patriots have replaced the Cowboys as superior system of talent aquistion, they continue to work the draft better than anybody. its a number game but not so much in amount of players brought in as how they fit under the salary cap moving forward. they made their killing being first to embody the 3-4, pulverized teams with hybrid, later round OLB's & rode the wave until the rest of the league could catch up & premium players moved on.
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
Those are the ones that have stuck out to me. I'd say the Eagles, Ravens and even the Jets would be in competition with us. Colts have done really well relative to their system - and that's what it's specific to anyways. They know who they are and what the need in a prospect. Definitely a team to copy. I see Kubiak/Smith picking in this way: Kareem Jackson over the other CB's we though, Glove Quin, the TE's, etc.
It's just when you add up the guys we've taken, it's hard to find another group that is hands down better. Mario Williams, Demeco Ryans, Eric Winston, Owen Daniels, Zac Diles, Duane Brown, Steve Slaton, Brian Cushing, Glover Quin. After next season you may be able to add Antoine Caldwell, Connor Barwin and Jacoby Jones. This doesn't even bring the new guys like Kareem Jackson and Ben Tate that we're pretty high on and should have a huge impact.
All of these teams have done a better job of drafting than the Texans have in the years since Smith has been here. (2007-2009) 1 starter per year is unacceptable. IMHO
Ole Miss
The Pats,Ravens,Jets,Saints,SD,Packers Colts, Eagles and Mia have done a better job drafting. IMHO
I could be wrong because I haven't done an in depth study of those teams drafts from yrs 2007-2009. I would love to have your imput as to what the Texans have done better than the teams I listed.
That's 9 teams that have done as well as the Texans. IMHO
Almost a third of the league.
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
Fair enough. My opinion differs slightly but I think yours is definitely valid. I'm going off 2006-2009 drafts (4 years). '06 is the turning point in our franchise. I understand Smith joined shortly after that draft but '06 was the start of a new era. 2010 draft I didn't include because we're just speculating with them.
I would not put the Patriots, Saints, Packers, Chargers and definitely not the Dolphins ahead of us. Patriots have an unfair advantage b/c they go with older veterans and have a TON of draft picks that never make the team. The usually get 1 or 2 guys to maybe make the team each year. The other 3 teams have way more misses than we do and not much in the way of better picks than us. Definitely some good picks here and there but not overly better than ours.
Ravens, Jets, Colts, Eagles have drafted well. I can see the arguement with these but I still wouldn't say the Texans draft poorly in relation to these teams. You say we're top 10, I say we're Top 5 and probably 1-3.
Just looking back at the drafts and seeing what the players have or havn't done is pretty interesting. There's defnitely some that make it but all in all none of the teams you listed consistently have more than 2 big time contributers per draft. Then you compare those players to the Texans' contributors and I think we win.
Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree though!
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
To recap: I think we get more players to contribute on our team and at a higher level, at that.
dalemurphy
Hall of Fame
No way! I just went and looked. Check out pro-football-reference.com and you can get a complete list of any team's draft picks along with their stats, going back to the 1930s.
Anyway, the only team that did as well or better than us was : GB Packers. But, they also had 2 picks in rounds 2, 3, 4, 5 of the '06 draft.
Here's the NE Patriots from 2006-2009:
2006
Gostkowski - K
Maroney - part time RB... not great for 1st round
*rest of the draft had crap like Chad Jackson
2007
Brandon Meriweather in the 1st
** no starters or heavy contributors after that
2008
Jared Mayo 1st (overrated!)
** crap after that
2009
Edelman
D.Butler
R. Brace
P. Chung all have contributed and could be good picks.
EDIT!!!: Okay, the NYJETS have had excellent drafts during that time. WOW!
Fair enough. My opinion differs slightly but I think yours is definitely valid. I'm going off 2006-2009 drafts (4 years). '06 is the turning point in our franchise. I understand Smith joined shortly after that draft but '06 was the start of a new era. 2010 draft I didn't include because we're just speculating with them.
I would not put the Patriots, Saints, Packers, Chargers and definitely not the Dolphins ahead of us. Patriots have an unfair advantage b/c they go with older veterans and have a TON of draft picks that never make the team. The usually get 1 or 2 guys to maybe make the team each year. The other 3 teams have way more misses than we do and not much in the way of better picks than us. Definitely some good picks here and there but not overly better than ours.
Ravens, Jets, Colts, Eagles have drafted well. I can see the arguement with these but I still wouldn't say the Texans draft poorly in relation to these teams. You say we're top 10, I say we're Top 5 and probably 1-3.
Just looking back at the drafts and seeing what the players have or havn't done is pretty interesting. There's defnitely some that make it but all in all none of the teams you listed consistently have more than 2 big time contributers per draft. Then you compare those players to the Texans' contributors and I think we win.
Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree though!
Thanks for the info. I know you do alot more research than I do.
Would rep you if I could.
We will have to agree to disagree on this one.
dalemurphy
Hall of Fame
Here's NE 2009-2006:
Rk Year Rnd Pick Pos Tm From To AP1 PB St CarAV G Cmp Att Yds TD Int Att Yds TD Rec Yds TD Int Sk College/Univ
1 2009 2 34 Patrick Chung DB NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 2 16 1 2.0 Oregon
2 2009 2 40 Ron Brace DT NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 2 9 Boston College
3 2009 2 41 Darius Butler DB NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 3 14 3 Connecticut
4 2009 2 58 Sebastian Vollmer T NWE 0 0 0 Houston
5 2009 3 83 Brandon Tate WR NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 0 2 1 11 0 North Carolina
6 2009 3 97 Tyrone McKenzie LB NWE 0 0 0 South Florida
7 2009 4 123 Rich Ohrnberger G NWE 0 0 0 Penn State
8 2009 5 170 George Bussey T NWE 0 0 0 Louisville 9 2009 6 198 Jake Ingram LS NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 0 16 Hawaii
10 2009 6 207 Myron Pryor DT NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 2 13 Kentucky
11 2009 7 232 Julian Edelman WR NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 4 11 2 5 0 37 359 1 Kent State
12 2009 7 234 Darryl Richard DT NWE 0 0 0 Georgia Tech
13 2008 1 10 Jerod Mayo LB NWE 2008 2009 0 0 2 16 29 1.5 Tennessee
14 2008 2 62 Terrence Wheatley DB NWE 2008 2009 0 0 0 1 11 Colorado
15 2008 3 78 Shawn Crable LB NWE 0 0 0 Michigan
16 2008 3 94 Kevin O'Connell QB NWE 2008 2008 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 23 0 0 3 -6 0 San Diego State
17 2008 4 129 Jonathan Wilhite DB NWE 2008 2009 0 0 0 7 30 3 Auburn
18 2008 5 153 Matt Slater WR NWE 2008 2009 0 0 0 0 28 1 6 0 UCLA
19 2008 6 197 Bo Ruud LB NWE 0 0 0 Nebraska
20 2007 1 24 Brandon Meriweather DB NWE 2007 2009 0 1 2 17 48 9 2.0 Miami (FL)
21 2007 4 127 Kareem Brown DT NWE 2007 2007 0 0 0 0 1 Miami (FL)
22 2007 5 171 Clint Oldenburg T NWE 2007 2007 0 0 0 0 2 Colorado State
23 2007 6 180 Justin Rogers LB NWE 2007 2009 0 0 0 2 32 SMU
24 2007 6 202 Mike Richardson DB NWE 0 0 0 Notre Dame
25 2007 6 208 Justise Hairston RB NWE 0 0 0 Connecticut State
26 2007 6 209 Corey Hilliard T NWE 2007 2008 0 0 0 0 5 Oklahoma State
27 2007 7 211 Oscar Lua LB NWE 0 0 0 USC
28 2007 7 247 Mike Elgin G NWE 0 0 0 Iowa 29 2006 1 21 Laurence Maroney RB NWE 2006 2009 0 0 0 25 45 582 2430 21 40 409 1 Minnesota
Passing Rushing Receiving
Rk Year Rnd Pick Pos Tm From To AP1 PB St CarAV G Cmp Att Yds TD Int Att Yds TD Rec Yds TD Int Sk College/Univ
30 2006 2 36 Chad Jackson WR NWE 2006 2008 0 0 0 2 18 4 22 0 14 171 3 Florida
31 2006 3 86 David Thomas TE NWE 2006 2009 0 0 1 11 47 56 617 2 Texas
32 2006 4 106 Garrett Mills FB NWE 2007 2008 0 0 0 1 9 7 91 0 Tulsa
33 2006 4 118 Stephen Gostkowski K NWE 2006 2009 1 1 4 0 64 Memphis
34 2006 5 136 Ryan O'Callaghan T NWE 2006 2009 0 0 1 11 40 California
35 2006 6 191 Jeremy Mincey DE NWE 2007 2008 0 0 0 1 9 2.0 Florida
36 2006 6 205 Dan Stevenson G NWE 0 0 0 Notre Dame
37 2006 6 206 LeKevin Smith DT NWE 2006 2009 0 0 0 5 44 1.0 Nebraska
38 2006 7 229 Willie Andrews DB NWE 2006 2007 0 0 0 3 30
BOLDed players aren't on the team!
Rk Year Rnd Pick Pos Tm From To AP1 PB St CarAV G Cmp Att Yds TD Int Att Yds TD Rec Yds TD Int Sk College/Univ
1 2009 2 34 Patrick Chung DB NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 2 16 1 2.0 Oregon
2 2009 2 40 Ron Brace DT NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 2 9 Boston College
3 2009 2 41 Darius Butler DB NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 3 14 3 Connecticut
4 2009 2 58 Sebastian Vollmer T NWE 0 0 0 Houston
5 2009 3 83 Brandon Tate WR NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 0 2 1 11 0 North Carolina
6 2009 3 97 Tyrone McKenzie LB NWE 0 0 0 South Florida
7 2009 4 123 Rich Ohrnberger G NWE 0 0 0 Penn State
8 2009 5 170 George Bussey T NWE 0 0 0 Louisville 9 2009 6 198 Jake Ingram LS NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 0 16 Hawaii
10 2009 6 207 Myron Pryor DT NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 2 13 Kentucky
11 2009 7 232 Julian Edelman WR NWE 2009 2009 0 0 0 4 11 2 5 0 37 359 1 Kent State
12 2009 7 234 Darryl Richard DT NWE 0 0 0 Georgia Tech
13 2008 1 10 Jerod Mayo LB NWE 2008 2009 0 0 2 16 29 1.5 Tennessee
14 2008 2 62 Terrence Wheatley DB NWE 2008 2009 0 0 0 1 11 Colorado
15 2008 3 78 Shawn Crable LB NWE 0 0 0 Michigan
16 2008 3 94 Kevin O'Connell QB NWE 2008 2008 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 23 0 0 3 -6 0 San Diego State
17 2008 4 129 Jonathan Wilhite DB NWE 2008 2009 0 0 0 7 30 3 Auburn
18 2008 5 153 Matt Slater WR NWE 2008 2009 0 0 0 0 28 1 6 0 UCLA
19 2008 6 197 Bo Ruud LB NWE 0 0 0 Nebraska
20 2007 1 24 Brandon Meriweather DB NWE 2007 2009 0 1 2 17 48 9 2.0 Miami (FL)
21 2007 4 127 Kareem Brown DT NWE 2007 2007 0 0 0 0 1 Miami (FL)
22 2007 5 171 Clint Oldenburg T NWE 2007 2007 0 0 0 0 2 Colorado State
23 2007 6 180 Justin Rogers LB NWE 2007 2009 0 0 0 2 32 SMU
24 2007 6 202 Mike Richardson DB NWE 0 0 0 Notre Dame
25 2007 6 208 Justise Hairston RB NWE 0 0 0 Connecticut State
26 2007 6 209 Corey Hilliard T NWE 2007 2008 0 0 0 0 5 Oklahoma State
27 2007 7 211 Oscar Lua LB NWE 0 0 0 USC
28 2007 7 247 Mike Elgin G NWE 0 0 0 Iowa 29 2006 1 21 Laurence Maroney RB NWE 2006 2009 0 0 0 25 45 582 2430 21 40 409 1 Minnesota
Passing Rushing Receiving
Rk Year Rnd Pick Pos Tm From To AP1 PB St CarAV G Cmp Att Yds TD Int Att Yds TD Rec Yds TD Int Sk College/Univ
30 2006 2 36 Chad Jackson WR NWE 2006 2008 0 0 0 2 18 4 22 0 14 171 3 Florida
31 2006 3 86 David Thomas TE NWE 2006 2009 0 0 1 11 47 56 617 2 Texas
32 2006 4 106 Garrett Mills FB NWE 2007 2008 0 0 0 1 9 7 91 0 Tulsa
33 2006 4 118 Stephen Gostkowski K NWE 2006 2009 1 1 4 0 64 Memphis
34 2006 5 136 Ryan O'Callaghan T NWE 2006 2009 0 0 1 11 40 California
35 2006 6 191 Jeremy Mincey DE NWE 2007 2008 0 0 0 1 9 2.0 Florida
36 2006 6 205 Dan Stevenson G NWE 0 0 0 Notre Dame
37 2006 6 206 LeKevin Smith DT NWE 2006 2009 0 0 0 5 44 1.0 Nebraska
38 2006 7 229 Willie Andrews DB NWE 2006 2007 0 0 0 3 30
BOLDed players aren't on the team!
McKenzie, Ohrnberger, Bussey, Crable, and Ruud are shown to be on the current roster. David Thomas is a Saint. Smith is with the Broncos. Rogers may be out of football.
Trying to compare who has drafted better than whom is a tough thing to do. I would point out that it's tougher for a draft choice to make a winning team, like the Pats, than a .500 team, like the Texans.
dalemurphy
Hall of Fame
Sure it is. However, they also have a lot more picks and many of these players that have been cut (chad jackson) or moved on, haven't been lighting the world on fire for Detroit, Cleveland, or KC either.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
they pulled Sebastian Vollmer (4th rd.) right from under the Texans noses (UH) he started several games & will probably win position outright this coming season. excellent pick!
Patrick Chung was injured alot otherwise started early on.
Brace is a talented nose tackle but sits behind pro-bowler Vince Wilfork.
Butler is a CB I really liked, not physical enough for Texans but excellent in coverage.
Brandon Tate was a bit of a surprise, tore his acl mid way through last season @ North Carolina, but very dynamic returner/slot WR.
Several others are solid depth players 2nd or 3rd string, they re-tooled a major chunk of positions, along with this years are well on their way back up. To make matters worse for the rest of the NFL I beleive they have two #1's & two #2's next draft. thats exceptional manuvering & utiliztion of resouces
Honestly, I don't see this. I think we need to wait and see.
IMHO, the FO is trying to lay a foundation, which I think we can safely say we will be moving beyond that phase in the near future. After that foundation is built, after their system is in place, then it would be the appropriate time to bring in big names, and take risks...
I struggle with the same thing at work. I don't have any control over who they bring into, and take from my team. I've got to deal with whatever. I know my job would be easier, and we would work better, and more efficiently, if certain people weren't brought on to my team, and if others weren't taken away.
Smithiak have complete control, and I think they are doing a fine job. I don't agree with everything they have done. But I can understand why they are doing what they are doing.
My honest opinion, is if everyone thought we would be a play-off team after 4 years, I don't understand the "they'll never get it done" attitude, when they looked like a play-off team more times than not in 2009. There were definitely times they didn't, when they should have... I'm not denying that. But I feel they are close enough, that it will happen in year 5.
If it does happen in year 5 (& I don't mean back-dooring into the play-offs, I'm talking about a serious run at a championship, which is the goal), what's the big deal about being a year off?
don't forget an equal dosage of playing in the weaker conference, in one of the weaker divisions. I don't think any team in that division has had back to back successful seasons in quite some time. The leader one year, is usually in the cellar the next year, for one reason or another.
Year in, and year out, the AFC South is usually beating up on the rest of the NFL.
Blake
MMQB
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
I agree , and part of that foundation needs ... IMO ... to be All Pro players who are the first there and some of the last to leave . This is how you get to be a perennial playoff contender . Then you add a piece or two as needed . To me it helps if the pro bowl guys are a QB , LT , CB , pass rusher supreme .
While you are prospering and picking late , you add a guy who may have fallen but he's easily the best player on the board . Then in two years when he's hitting his stride and you dump the vet that was in front of him , folks will be wondering how he fell that far .
Goldensilence
hipster elite
I have a bad feeling in my gut we're going to be saying that about Jerry Hughes whom the Colts drafted.
Then again they didn't get the production I thought they would from Donald Brown.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Yep ... Hughes will step in for Mathis and they won't miss a beat .
The Colts OL , really isn't that good , to me anyways . Manning makes a read and gets the ball out of there . That's why you have to go get him up the gut . I think Brown is like a Texan RB , no where to run .
In the case of the Patriots, I would say hands down, we've drafted better than them. I understand it is harder to make the team, when the team is winning. But I would also think they would be in a better position when it's time for those old guys to move on, and they are clearly not. FA is the way they've kept that team winning. Not only do their draft picks not make the team immediately, but they seldom ever do.
Like they aren't being developed to one day take over.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
I think the whole " everybody picks better than us " couldn't stand up to myth busters . It's simply a case of the grass is greener on the other side of the hill .
Goldensilence
hipster elite
Agreed on their Ol not being very good, but from my understanding Caldwell is wanting to get bigger up front.
Picking McClendon from Tenn was a start in that direction.
drs23
Veteran
Regarding DC Bush's' comment on "letting him (Shelly Smith) soak" for a while. Do folks here take that to mean in a backup role on the roster or more likely on the practice squad?
Why was Bush talking about Shelley Smith?
Fair enough,
Atleast you have a set period of time for Smithiak to get the job done. If they aren't serious contenders next year. There will be built in excuses, injuries,turnovers,bad calls, etc...
I'm glad that you have set a time period for success.
It really bothers me that for the last 2 yrs McNair said in 2008 they were a playoff caliber team. In 2009 McNair said it was playoffs or bust. Then he reupped Kubes. It makes me think McNair is more of a salesman than Uncle Drayton. LOL
Second Honeymoon
Hall of Fame
Mcnair isn't anywhere near as bad an owner as Drayton is. Bob needs to grow a pair and take a risk but Drayton is a brutally incompetent owner
that is what happens when you build statues of playoff chokejobs
that is what happens when you build statues of playoff chokejobs
badboy
Hall of Fame
I think the new CBA with reductions in $ for first round picks will greatly change this. Three seconds and two thirds may be better than a high first now but not necessarily so every draft. This last one was very deep which benefitted teams this year. Probably not that way next season.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
I guess that's the difference in perspective. Last year I saw a team that with the exception of one game, the first, was in every game contending. 50 different missed kicks, fumbles, coaching decisions, couple poor officiating calls, other teams laying down had to happen for them not to make the playoffs. Examine championship teams and often you will find the ball bounced their way that season in addition to being good.
Now we know why Sharpton was drafted. Hopefully he can come up big.
But I dont want any excuses. It's time to make the playoffs.
But I dont want any excuses. It's time to make the playoffs.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
exactly. the "luck" factor is the thing people most often overlook when they look back on championship teams & there are few teams where you can say "they were just that good" & you just knew they were going to win the championship from day 1; the 72-10 chicago bulls come to mind.
Whether it's a season of generating an exceptional amount of timely turnovers like the saints just had or the year tom brady & the patriots found out about the tuck rule, luck is a big part of why a particular team wins the championship from year to year.
I think the thing we missed the most, and hopefully have found, is that those teams also understand most games are decided by a handful of plays. When it is time to make those plays, you've got to step it up... regardless how good, or how hard you've been playing... you've got to step it up and make that play. Whether it's a kick, completing a catch in the end zone, holding on to the ball at the goal line, or making the right call from the sideline.
Good teams make their own luck.
The thing is, you never know which play might be the game deciding. You have to play each play like it is the most important play of the game.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Digging down deep starts in the offseason and goes into the season . The more you invest the more you expect and the less likely you are to retreat .
I think you look for guys who have been on winning teams or guys on bad teams that play all out no matter what . I think the Texans look for guys who've been a captain .
You show me a winning team and I'll show you a group of star players who are driven . Show me a bad team and I'll show you the guys who are supposed to be the lead dogs , not giving much and collecting paycheck . Show me an average team and I'll show you a group who doesn't quite have that major influence one way or the other .
I think this is a very valid point, though I might put it differently. I like what Antonio Smith brings to the table; and I think that Danny Clark will be big for us this year. This team is so very close, all they need is a boost of confidence. If they can pull out a win against Indy in week 1 without Cushing, I believe that would propel them to a stellar season.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
That's what Cushing brings because like it or not , that guy would do anything to be good and win . The Texans haven't had many guys like that in their history .
The guys who influence ... IMO .
Defense
Smith , Pollard , Ryans , Cushing , maybe Diles .
Offense
AJ , Schaub , Daniels , Winston .
drs23
Veteran
^^^^^This. Would rep if I could.
Goldensilence
hipster elite
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8180f45e&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
Atogwe looks to beheaded towards FA.
Atogwe looks to beheaded towards FA.
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
Holy crap! Did he name his dog Muhammad???