What in Smith's past drafting history would lead you to believe this will actually happen?
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I like the direction of the current Texans
- Thread starter Texecutioner
- Start date
What in Smith's past drafting history would lead you to believe this will actually happen?
GuerillaBlack
Hall of Fame
Who says its going to take four years? You should expect some missteps along the way with someone being a HC for the first time. And I'm seeing improvement, which is coming with increased difficulty in the teams the Texans are facing. They are literally right at the doorstep already with a new HC and just need average QB play. Other positions could be upgraded, but a better QB alone would have this team at 5-1 imo.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Those thinking playoffs have been hangin with Thorn too much.
I rarely do predictions, but 6-10 is what I've had stuck in my noodle. I still think Clowney was the right pick and didn't really like any of the QBs in the draft. FA was slim pickings for QBs, so I expected crappy play from the position.
I did, however, expect better play on defense. Time will tell, but they've been unimpressive.
In the end, I expected a cruddy season. However, that doesn't mean I can't still beach about it.
I rarely do predictions, but 6-10 is what I've had stuck in my noodle. I still think Clowney was the right pick and didn't really like any of the QBs in the draft. FA was slim pickings for QBs, so I expected crappy play from the position.
I did, however, expect better play on defense. Time will tell, but they've been unimpressive.
In the end, I expected a cruddy season. However, that doesn't mean I can't still beach about it.
Dread-Head
Hall of Fame
(sigh) The season's NOT over yet.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
I thought that we had an outside shot at going 9-7..whether that came with playoffs or not depended on the rest of the afc. but i/m with you Tex. After the disaster that was 2013, there was no reason to be optimistic about this team making the playoffs. I'm just glad that we're back on the upswing again and like you, i'm happy to see them fighting. A few more difference making players and i think we're back contending for the AFC south crown again.
Dread-Head
Hall of Fame
I wasn't on the J'Devion "You better pronounce my name right, ouch I sprained my uterus in the 1st quarter of my only game" Clowney bandwagon, and for the record I STILL think this is a playoff calibre team.
Then 4 years turns into another 12 years and a lot of these idiot fans will fall for it and keep losing more money and more hope. Then all we could say is that is Houston nfl football. Be patient to end up sucking again in the future. This team becomes a super bowl winning team when they get on the field and freakin earn it the right way and when this organization holds the qb position to higher priority... hopefully by then the offensive line and the receiving core is strong if we even still have a good defense. I know how Houston is...
They could go 0-16 for the next three years & I will continue to buy my season tickets, hats, jerseys, T-Shirts, mugs, pencil sharpeners, shoe laces, etc...
If that makes me an idiot fan, so be it.
However, with the talent we have at RB, WR, (even OL), DE, DBs (even though they looks suspect)... I think we should be 8-8 or 9-7 with the teams we've got on our schedule. Sucks that we didn't win the Giants game (got blown out) when they were playing so poorly the week before, but other than that I've enjoyed this season so far (even though I ***** about Fitz 24/7)...
If we're not 8-8 or better when the season is over, I'll be more overtly critical of O'Brien... but I'm not deluded enough to think that's going to change anything.
Wolfiegrrl
Fan of NFC Seahawks & AFC Texans
The more I look at the numbers the team is putting together, the more I think that the direction is good, not great, but good. We have a longer distance to travel than we thought. O'Brian has brought a more physical and mental philosophy to the city of Houston and it is going to take time for the players to shift, for the fans to shift, and for the coaching staff to really get their philosophy in place.
The fans are having a hard time adjusting to it. We spent the last 8 years hoping that our "pro-bowl" caliber team would take us to the promise land. How many times were the Texans called a "finesse" team? There was no way the team could take on the more aggressive teams and win. How many times did we lose to Baltimore in the last few years?
Reality is hitting home. Andre Johnson, the man who will be our first HOFer, is no longer the man that we are used to. Remember this off-season, he may not have said the 'retirement' word; however, he really considered how much he wanted to continue his career. To me the guy looks older and slower, football has taken it's toll on him. He hadn't fumbled since 2008 and now look at his performance. He's gotten slower. Age happens! Time to be honest with ourselves and see that his best years are behind him. We have out grown our best and most favorite security blanket.
The QB situation is what it is. Many of us begged and pleaded for "anyone but Schaub". And this is where we are. Will BoB move on to a younger man at the QB spot that has more experience in the offense? Not as long as Fitzpatrick continues to play to average expectations. Was the last drive of the Colts game epic failure? Sure it was. But is it enough to pull him? No. Fitzpatrick is, believe it or not, learning and progressing in this offense.
I could go on and on with our running back, tight end, and defense situations, but I'll be brief. Arian plays when he feels like playing. Or so it seems to me. Blue looks like he may turn into something yet. Where are the TEs in this offense? Haven't seen much out of that position yet and I don't expect to see much there when the oline needs help in blocking. And if the defense would learn how to freaking tackle I would be happy. I've enjoyed seeing all the turnovers, but getting the strip or the interception isn't going to keep our defense off the field. Take DJ and all those other young men back to tackling school.
We need to temper our expectations. In epic fashion the house of cards fell apart last year. The fans, I'm included, continue to see great talent but wonder at the lackluster performances. We no longer have the tolerance for average or below average QB play. Every interception, every fumble feels like a person hit to each one of us. Lets remember that Bill O'Brian has set out to change the attitude and persona of our team. Its going to take a while for all of that to sink in for everyone, player, coaches and fans alike.
I love my Texans. And 3-3 right now sure feels better than last year!
The fans are having a hard time adjusting to it. We spent the last 8 years hoping that our "pro-bowl" caliber team would take us to the promise land. How many times were the Texans called a "finesse" team? There was no way the team could take on the more aggressive teams and win. How many times did we lose to Baltimore in the last few years?
Reality is hitting home. Andre Johnson, the man who will be our first HOFer, is no longer the man that we are used to. Remember this off-season, he may not have said the 'retirement' word; however, he really considered how much he wanted to continue his career. To me the guy looks older and slower, football has taken it's toll on him. He hadn't fumbled since 2008 and now look at his performance. He's gotten slower. Age happens! Time to be honest with ourselves and see that his best years are behind him. We have out grown our best and most favorite security blanket.
The QB situation is what it is. Many of us begged and pleaded for "anyone but Schaub". And this is where we are. Will BoB move on to a younger man at the QB spot that has more experience in the offense? Not as long as Fitzpatrick continues to play to average expectations. Was the last drive of the Colts game epic failure? Sure it was. But is it enough to pull him? No. Fitzpatrick is, believe it or not, learning and progressing in this offense.
I could go on and on with our running back, tight end, and defense situations, but I'll be brief. Arian plays when he feels like playing. Or so it seems to me. Blue looks like he may turn into something yet. Where are the TEs in this offense? Haven't seen much out of that position yet and I don't expect to see much there when the oline needs help in blocking. And if the defense would learn how to freaking tackle I would be happy. I've enjoyed seeing all the turnovers, but getting the strip or the interception isn't going to keep our defense off the field. Take DJ and all those other young men back to tackling school.
We need to temper our expectations. In epic fashion the house of cards fell apart last year. The fans, I'm included, continue to see great talent but wonder at the lackluster performances. We no longer have the tolerance for average or below average QB play. Every interception, every fumble feels like a person hit to each one of us. Lets remember that Bill O'Brian has set out to change the attitude and persona of our team. Its going to take a while for all of that to sink in for everyone, player, coaches and fans alike.
I love my Texans. And 3-3 right now sure feels better than last year!
Newton looks like our best linemen at the moment. That speaks volumes. Interior is getting abused.
great post
repped
I'd rep you again for not being contaminated by the Seahawk madness that surely surrounds you up in Portland.
Bulls on Parade
2017 Astros: Earn It!
We can make the playoffs. 11-5 or 10-6 is very realistic as I posted in another thread.
Those thinking playoffs have been hangin with Thorn too much.
I rarely do predictions, but 6-10 is what I've had stuck in my noodle. I still think Clowney was the right pick and didn't really like any of the QBs in the draft. FA was slim pickings for QBs, so I expected crappy play from the position.
I did, however, expect better play on defense. Time will tell, but they've been unimpressive.
In the end, I expected a cruddy season. However, that doesn't mean I can't still beach about it.
This is pretty much my thoughts as well ... almost to the letter.
Wolfiegrrl
Fan of NFC Seahawks & AFC Texans
great post
repped
I'd rep you again for not being contaminated by the Seahawk madness that surely surrounds you up in Portland.
Yea, sadly my brother is a huge 'Hawks fan. It takes a lot to keep that smut off of my Texans gear. LOL But to see that both of our teams lost to the cowgirls really sucks.
Aaaah... there's no better bonding force than mutual disdain
and no better target for it than the cowpies.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
Great post and the bolded is what many of us were speaking of when all the clamoring for "anyone but schaub" wave was taking over the forum last year. As many are now finding out, the grass rarely stays green for long on the other side..... Now it seems we've hit the reset button for this year & it's "anybody but Fitz". Have some of you really not learned anything?
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
Great post, repped.
Wolfiegrrl
Fan of NFC Seahawks & AFC Texans
The town has no faith that we can play winning football long term. I was an Oilers fan up until Bud took the team away. Now, we have no tolerance for less than stellar football. Seriously? Houston has never had the philosophy that the Dynasty towns have... it takes time to build those things in. I'll be patient. I like watching JJ Watt score every which way he can.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
The town has no faith that we can play winning football long term. I was an Oilers fan up until Bud took the team away. Now, we have no tolerance for less than stellar football. Seriously? Houston has never had the philosophy that the Dynasty towns have... it takes time to build those things in. I'll be patient. I like watching JJ Watt score every which way he can.
I hate when people say this stuff about the city. What do you expect from the fans? What are they supposed to do, just automatically feel like we're going to be champs every year and sound like a bunch of silly homers? Believe me, we have plenty of that around this site and around this city. Bottom line is that this city has a horrible history of football success for the most part. Since the Texans came here they've had two terrible regimes that have been embarrassing? What the hell do you want the fans to say? What do you want them to do? It hasn't been pretty. The fans sell out every game and have made Mcnair's team one of the most successful franchises in all of sports. And here you are coming in here and saying that fans need don't have the right philosophy and this and that? Seriously, that is one of the most ridiculous things anyone could say. This is a football town and the fans here support this team a lot more than the majority of football fans around the NFL even despite the team's lack of success and embarrassing blunders of the Kubiak/Capers era.
If you want to criticize the behavior, start with the owner and the Texans management who has not done a strong job at building this franchise. For god sakes though, get off the fans. The fans here are as die hard of football fans as it gets.
I get what you're saying, I really do. My first Oiler game was at Jeppesen Stadium.
Before Rice stadium, before the dome. I've been here for the entire history of Houston Professional football, with a short timeout to serve my country.
I've been all over the spectrum of fandom, happy and at the same time oh so mad when the Oilers left. I wanted oh so bad for Bud to sell the team but when he wouldn't then I was glad the pain was moving to hickville.
But I think McNair is a different type of owner. I think he really wants to bring a winning franchise to Houston. I think every move he made was towards that goal. But sometimes people just ain't as good as they think they are, or others think they are. And sometimes luck just deals us a shitty hand. Midway thru the 2011 season, I was sure we would be in the super bowl within 3 years. Instead we had the first pick in the draft.
We deserve better, we surely do. But I don't think it's a case of blame one guy like it was with Bud. Fate hates Houston
what if Haynesworth was sitting out that one play?
Wolfiegrrl
Fan of NFC Seahawks & AFC Texans
Texecutioner, I wasn't talking about the die hard fans. I think that is where misinterpretation happens. Yes, Houston is a football town; But it is not a Championship/Dynasty winning town. At least not yet, in my opinion. There is a different feel to the energy in a city when the general populace Believes their team can win. The town has never experienced anything close to that level. It's too easy to for the general or casual fan to change the channel or walk away when the team isn't doing so hot. Hell, my sister is a wonderful example of this. It's suffered from some serious disappointments in the sports world. There's 2.2 million people living in Houston, but not everyone of them are diehard Texans fans. I no longer live in Houston and yet I bleed Battle Red. Can you imagine my pain watching the Seattle Seahawks win the Big Show last year?
Back to the point. Even a diehard fan doesn't know what goes on at NRG Stadium between football games. We have no idea what our Rookie Head Coach really is thinking. We can guess, we can assume... I think the team is on the right track... but the coaches and front office need to get this train moving a lot faster.
Neither was New England before Tom Brady. They weren't the envy of the NFL until they got Tom Brady & won that first SuperBowl, then he & Belichick made it a "Dynasty."
Indy, to much a much lesser degree... expectations to win in Indy was said tongue in cheek before the forehead.
GreenBay went through a bit of a drought before they found Favre...
We've got to win something first, then keep winning. Or we'll be the next Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
cuppacoffee
Resident Grouch
Another fan who missed the luv-ya-blue era. It was brief but the energy was intense.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Ask DB, we have had this discussion for over a decade now.
It isn't expect from the fans, it's just the fans are different.
I grew up a Cowboys fan. Bought Texans PSLs. Very first season commented on how if we got down at all, heck even were leading by less than 300, the stadium had an expectation of losing. If anything negative at all happened, my Houston raised wife would be "we're going to lose." As a Cowboys fan I found it baffling. Every game was winnable. 21 points down with 7 minutes to go was still an expectation Staubach would pull it out. There is a very different culture in Houston. Not saying worse, or unrealistic - just different. Today's Cowboy fans are living in the past and yet they are still more optimistic than Texans fans.
amazing80
Hall of Fame
Thats because time after time we see the same thing. Its more of a shock to win those games vs lose them, because we have a very long history of losing games. The TEAM is the only thing to change this mentality. They win and eventually we expect them to pull out those games.
The town has no faith that we can play winning football long term. I was an Oilers fan up until Bud took the team away. Now, we have no tolerance for less than stellar football. Seriously? Houston has never had the philosophy that the Dynasty towns have... it takes time to build those things in. I'll be patient. I like watching JJ Watt score every which way he can.
I remember when the Oilers went to the playoffs 7 years in a row and fans in Houston still were expecting them to lose.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Because they did lose. It's not just the losses it's the fashion in which they lose. Heartbreaking losses take their toll on fans.
Buffalo, no need to say much further. KC and Montana's drive after we beat him up all game long. Denver, Elways drive
The late 70's weren't much different. Except one loss is placed solely on that asshat for a referee.
*sigh*
They were always the underdog ..... that Steelers team was one of history's best.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
Faster? How do you expect them to do that without even an average QB? Sorry, but that isn't happening until they find that guy. No chance, unless they just put all of their investments all on the defensive side of the ball and that rarely ever works. You talk as if they are 1-5 right now. They are 3-3 and could have easily been 5-1 and had the entire football world talking about them.
This is not some SB caliber team that OB took over. It was a 2-14 team, and despite how many homers and delusional thinkers believe that we were way better than that, YOUR TEAM IS WHAT YOUR RECORD SAYS IT IS. They were a terrible team that earned the #1 pick. When you bring in a new regime, they typically bring in their guys, their HC's, and have to implement their scheme. If OB doesn't find a QB though, he may never get this team where it needs to be. I see it happen with HC's all of the time. Finding a QB is extremely difficult, because you might find one that is pretty good, but then realize later that he isn't the type of guy that can carry you through the playoffs like an Andy Dalton/Tony Romo type which can be worse than having a horrible one.
The team is fighting in games and they're playing with a nasty style of attitude and that is what I want to see personally. As long as that continues this team will get better. I'm just glad that I'm no longer watching the "sissy style" of football that was Gary Kubiak and a team that had adapted his sissy attitude.
Since I'm tired of seeing this repeated, here's an honest take.
The Texans were just as many plays from being 1-5 that they were from being 5-1. One blowout convincing win and the others could easily have gone either way. One thing that separates the wheat from the chaff in NFL circles is winning the close ones.
& some people said McNair was out of his mind when he said bringing in a new coach would be devastating.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Disagree 1000% with this. Last year's team was a QB away from 10 wins...as is this one. Notice OB changed essentially nobody on O (1 aging LG). I guess you can throw Foster in as an impact as well. OB certainly is.
This 2-14 team is not anything close to the 2-14 team Kubiak took over. Nothing, not a resemblance to how bad that was. None.
Despite that 35-3 and Montana came at the end of that 7 year playoff run, I always understood (if not agreed) with the reluctance to believe.
Funny how all that still touches a nerve in me.
Only the Andrew Dalton/Tony Romo types were available this year, Tex. If you want an Andrew Luck type to be available, you gotta tank it in the right year, correct? Each of the 3 times, it's been the wrong one.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
I realize that, and that is why I am not freaking out over where we are right now. However, I was very high on Bortles. Still am. I think we should have taken him, and I would have taken a number of guys over Clowney. The reality is that we could possibly go ten years before we find a great QB. I hope that isn't the case, but it is very possible when you look at teams like the Bills, Raiders, Dolphins, Bucs, Titans, Jags, and the Rams. There are a lot of teams in the NFL that have been in QB purgatory for a long time. I just hope that we don't end up being one of them.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
Disagree all that you want, but that Texans team that Kubiak started out with could have been a lot better with a much better QB as well. This team is a little bit better, but not a lot. That also is a huge contradiction to all of the apologetic posts you have had about Kubiak all of these years then, because of this team was a playoff caliber team to you and Kubiak drove it into a 2-14 team, then that says a lot about how incompetent he was as a coach and his inability to adapt in games and from season to season.
Tailgate
Fall of Hame
Just have to have some faith in OB when it comes to the QB posish. If he can find his guy and we get to have Clowney AND Watt as well then all is better and right in the world.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
Those were only Kubiak homers who were in love with the man because of reasons like
1. Aggie alumni
2. Nice guy
3. Didn't want to be wrong about him after aggressively standing up for him for years.
Kubiak was supposed to be canned after he went 6-10, but Mcnair thought Wade could help and he did temporarily. He really should have been canned after that fake 9-7 season where Kubiak demonstrated some of the dumbest coaching I've ever seen that literally cost the Texans like 3 or 4 games that season and held them out of the playoffs. We basically wasted another 4 years of football after that. We were never going to win a SB with that guy.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
I do have faith my friend. I do. I like OB and his attitude as a coach. He is the type of guy I have always wanted for the Texans. If he doesn't find a franchise QB though, he will ultimately get fired around 4 years like most other coaches who never find a quality QB.
If McNair is truly a different type owner why does Rick Smith still have a job? My guess is because Smith has made the McNair's a lot of $$$$. The fact is this is just another business venture for Bob/Cal McNair and a vastly successful one at that.
Bud and Bob McNair were friends and McNair said how close of friends they were after Bud's funeral. Fans cant contemplate that Bud/Jerrah/McNair are all close to the same people. Some are just more upfront about it and treat people better. But make no mistake they all want one thing more than anything else, fans $$$$.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
You've completely lost it in hatred if you think that Capers' team was only a little bit worse than this one. Carry on.
Ummm, You are what your record says you are. Too many holes to fill all of the needs. Injuries kill teams that draft poorly. Thanks Rick
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
I think on opening day our 53 man roster had about 20 new faces on it, or ~38% turnover. It's tough to gauge today because of injuries, but we've added a couple more.
I expect to see another 15 or so turnover after this season. O'Brien and staff will have had actual on field time with our players going into the draft as opposed to the last one... and I expect a bit less of a "group effort" on draft day in 2015.
Ch...ch..ch..ch.. changes...
I expect to see another 15 or so turnover after this season. O'Brien and staff will have had actual on field time with our players going into the draft as opposed to the last one... and I expect a bit less of a "group effort" on draft day in 2015.
Ch...ch..ch..ch.. changes...
Choose your poison.
I think you draftniks will always believe we have "too many holes" to fill. Outside of QB I don't think we have any more "holes" than any other team. There may be one or two clearly better from top to bottom, but for the most part, we're right there with everyone else. Better than several.