Quarterback Drafting Strategies and the Texans

[Runner]

if you compare units between the Texans and Colts the Texans have better units every where except at QB.

If true the Texans need to quit jerking around with the quarterback position and fix it. If the Texans truly aren't drafting QBs because they aren't the perfect fit for the system*, they need to get over it. There are quarterbacks available in every draft that aren't elite, but are better than the mediocre game managers this organization uses. For instance, I'd like to see them use a first round draft pick to get a non-elite, non-mediocre, non-bust Roethlisberger type then wait around for the stars to align until the team can draft a "guaranteed" elite quarterback like Manning. Continuing to bet on mediocrity and hope isn't going to cut it in the future any more than it has in the past. This is a quarterback's league. A corporate twiddling of thumbs with Joe Average at QB isn't the path to greatness.


*I am also open to the fact that this is a theory promulgated by fans and isn't the Texans plan.

 

[Double Barrel]

Hey, man, we've got our potentially great QB that is perfect for O'Brien's system. Unfortunately, he's got a jacked up pec at the moment.

 

[Runner]

Hey, man, we've got our potentially great QB that is perfect for O'Brien's system. Unfortunately, he's got a jacked up pec at the moment.

Mallett might be that guy that raises the bar for Texans QBs; he showed some promise. If not, the team is behind yet another two years (this year and next year) if they don't pull the trigger and invest in a QB with a first round draft pick.

Yes, I know that first round quarterbacks aren't guaranteed to succeed. However, I doubt one could have less impact than our most recent can't miss, no-brainer first round draft pick.

Screw waiting for perfection. Better is the enemy of good enough.

 

[Vance87]

Hey, man, we've got our potentially great QB that is perfect for O'Brien's system. Unfortunately, he's got a jacked up pec at the moment.

Story of the Texans. The only time Luck will be out for the year will be 15 years from now when another Luck/Manning type QB is coming out of college and the Colts get the first pick again. I hate it.

 

[Runner]

Story of the Texans. The only time Luck will be out for the year will be 15 years from now when another Luck/Manning type QB is coming out of college and the Colts get the first pick again. I hate it.

The Texans have the most ping balls in that lottery. They get the first pick about 25% of the time.

 

[thunderkyss]

If true the Texans need to quit jerking around with the quarterback position and fix it. If the Texans truly aren't drafting QBs because they aren't the perfect fit for the system*, they need to get over it. There are quarterbacks available in every draft that aren't elite, but are better than the mediocre game managers this organization uses. For instance, I'd like to see them use a first round draft pick to get a non-elite, non-mediocre, non-bust Roethlisberger type then wait around for the stars to align until the team can draft a "guaranteed" elite quarterback like Manning. Continuing to bet on mediocrity and hope isn't going to cut it in the future any more than it has in the past. This is a quarterback's league. A corporate twiddling of thumbs with Joe Average at QB isn't the path to greatness.


*I am also open to the fact that this is a theory promulgated by fans and isn't the Texans plan.

That's fine. But what separates Roethlisberger, or even Matt Ryan apart from Tom Savage? Or Zach Mettenberger?

I never would have looked at Aaron Rodgers & figured his performance in the NFL would have been that much better than Alex Smith's, or Matthew Stafford's who I thought was a better prospect coming out of college (different years, I'm aware).

What I hope, is that we have a competent staff that can get the most out of a Matt Schaub... If that guy has what it takes to be Tom Brady or Bret Favre, so be it. But I don't think we should waste time like Jacksonville, Buffalo, & Oakland have trying to make sure they have that guy first, then building a team around him.

 

[Insideop]

Story of the Texans. The only time Luck will be out for the year will be 15 years from now when another Luck/Manning type QB is coming out of college and the Colts get the first pick again. I hate it.

Yep. It doesn't seem fair that one organization has had 2 (Unitas and Manning), and probably 3 (with Luck), of the greatest QB's to ever play the game! Maybe there's something to that horseshoe on the side of their helmets!

 

[Runner]

That's fine. But what separates Roethlisberger, or even Matt Ryan apart from Tom Savage? Or Zach Mettenberger?

I never would have looked at Aaron Rodgers & figured his performance in the NFL would have been that much better than Alex Smith's, or Matthew Stafford's who I thought was a better prospect coming out of college (different years, I'm aware).

What I hope, is that we have a competent staff that can get the most out of a Matt Schaub... If that guy has what it takes to be Tom Brady or Bret Favre, so be it. But I don't think we should waste time like Jacksonville, Buffalo, & Oakland have trying to make sure they have that guy first, then building a team around him.

Using the Bill O'Brien methodology as a metaphor, I'd use a first round pick on a guy with 8 of his 10 requirements rather than use a fourth round pick with 5 of the attributes if a guy with all 10 isn't there.

Note that this is a metaphor. I know someone can claim "but what if Savage has 8 of 10 yada yada yada". For the purpose of this metaphor, I am assuming O'Brien's 10 points are accurate in determining a QBs worth and if Savage had an 8/10, he'd have been a first round choice.

=====================================

In simpler terms:

Teams rate QB's. The rare ones are rated 1/1. Some are rated mid first rounders. Others are rated fourth round talent. Basically, some are rated at every level of the spectrum.

All I'm saying is don't ignore QB because that 1/1 talent isn't there. Take the guy you rate as a top 10 or 15 draft pick. He's better than what you have.

In all this, the evaluation still might be wrong, but that holds true for every position. Try to fix the problem; don't keep waiting until next year for that perfect 1/1.

 

[thunderkyss]

Using the Bill O'Brien methodology as a metaphor, I'd use a first round pick on a guy with 8 of his 10 requirements rather than use a fourth round pick with 5 of the attributes if a guy with all 10 isn't there.

Note that this is a metaphor. I know someone can claim "but what if Savage has 8 of 10 yada yada yada". For the purpose of this metaphor, I am assuming O'Brien's 10 points are accurate in determining a QBs worth and if Savage had an 8/10, he'd have been a first round choice.

=====================================

In simpler terms:

Teams rate QB's. The rare ones are rated 1/1. Some are rated mid first rounders. Others are rated fourth round talent. Basically, some are rated at every level of the spectrum.

All I'm saying is don't ignore QB because that 1/1 talent isn't there. Take the guy you rate as a top 10 or 15 draft pick. He's better than what you have.

In all this, the evaluation still might be wrong, but that holds true for every position. Try to fix the problem; don't keep waiting until next year for that perfect 1/1.

So we should have drafted Savage with 1.1 if he graded Savage & Bortles as having 7/10 of the qualities he's looking for?

 

[TEXANRED]

Hey, man, we've got our potentially great QB that is perfect for O'Brien's system. Unfortunately, he's got a jacked up pec at the moment.

Savage is hurt too?

 

[Runner]

So we should have drafted Savage with 1.1 if he graded Savage & Bortles as having 7/10 of the qualities he's looking for?

Correct. Take the metaphor as a literal, ignore the meaning of the post, and obfuscate the discussion.


A 7 out of 10 quarterback, with the assumption that the "O'Brien Rating System" is accurate for purposes of the metaphor, would probably be a second round choice. I haven't performed a mathematical proof of this theory.

==============================

Let me try again. Even the Texans don't pick first every year, so they likely won't have the 1/1 pick next draft (unless you want to twist the discussion and assume they trade up). Let's say they pick 12th.

Assume there is no Payton Manning to pick 1/1. Heck, assume there is and someone else takes him.

Assume the Texans have a Bortles or Bridgewater type rated as a top 15 pick. Say they have a Travis Johnson (sorry, I wanted to make people cringe) type defensive lineman rated as a top 12 pick.

I suggest they don't give up because they didn't get a 10 out of 10 rated quarterback and pick the d-lineman. I suggest they take the 9 out of 10 rated quarterback (who is a reasonable pick for that draft slot) and address the position.

 

[infantrycak]

So we should have drafted Savage with 1.1 if he graded Savage & Bortles as having 7/10 of the qualities he's looking for?

You consistently make this argument and it makes no sense. If the market values someone at 4th round you don't spend a 1st round on them just to prove your evaluation.

You liked McCarron, even in the 1st. Everyone in the world knew he wasn't going to be drafted in the 1st or anywhere close. It would have been dumb to spend a 1st on him.

 

[thunderkyss]

You consistently make this argument and it makes no sense. If the market values someone at 4th round you don't spend a 1st round on them just to prove your evaluation.

You liked McCarron, even in the 1st. Everyone in the world knew he wasn't going to be drafted in the 1st or anywhere close. It would have been dumb to spend a 1st on him.

That's absolutely not the argument I'm making.

O'Brien said there wasn't much separation between the QBs in this draft. If we take him at his word & he graded Bortles, Carr, Garoppolo, & Savage as 7 out of 10, why would he spend a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd if two of the four are available & he has the ammo to move up to get one if he needed to?

That's all I'm saying.

 

[JB]

That's absolutely not the argument I'm making.

O'Brien said there wasn't much separation between the QBs in this draft. If we take him at his word & he graded Bortles, Carr, Garoppolo, & Savage as 7 out of 10, why would he spend a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd if two of the four are available & he has the ammo to move up to get one if he needed to?

That's all I'm saying.

Not much separation is not the same as grading out and being valued the same

 

[thunderkyss]

Not much separation is not the same as grading out and being valued the same

I understand that. It seems that athleticism in QBs carried a lot more weight in this draft than a strong arm. & yeah, Savage doesn't have the experience those guys have but he's just as talented.

 

[Double Barrel]

Mallett might be that guy that raises the bar for Texans QBs; he showed some promise. If not, the team is behind yet another two years (this year and next year) if they don't pull the trigger and invest in a QB with a first round draft pick.

Yes, I know that first round quarterbacks aren't guaranteed to succeed. However, I doubt one could have less impact than our most recent can't miss, no-brainer first round draft pick.

Screw waiting for perfection. Better is the enemy of good enough.

ugh, I cannot imagine us having this conversation in two years. Next to your team blowing the biggest lead in playoff history, waiting for your team to find it's starting franchise QB has got to be one of the worst feelings as a football fan.

Savage is hurt too?

Well played, man.

I understand that. It seems that athleticism in QBs carried a lot more weight in this draft than a strong arm. & yeah, Savage doesn't have the experience those guys have but he's just as talented.

O'Brien has stated that he values three main traits in QBs more than any others: accuracy, clutch, and intelligence.

He also said at the same time that height, athleticism, and strong arm are not his priorities when evaluating QBs. He would not mind having those in his QB, but they are not the qualities that determine his decision.

 

[Runner]

ugh, I cannot imagine us having this conversation in two years. Next to your team blowing the biggest lead in playoff history, waiting for your team to find it's starting franchise QB has got to be one of the worst feelings as a football fan.

You get the feeling it is coming.

There was a lot of discussion on this board about not considering Bortles this year because next year was loaded with quarterbacks. Now I see a lot of receiver, linebacker, defensive lineman talk because the perfect match isn't out there (again). I hope this sentiment isn't reflected by the brain trust, but we've seen it before.

 

[thunderkyss]

You get the feeling it is coming.

There was a lot of discussion on this board about not considering Bortles this year because next year was loaded with quarterbacks. Now I see a lot of receiver, linebacker, defensive lineman talk because the perfect match isn't out there (again). I hope this sentiment isn't reflected by the brain trust, but we've seen it before.

I've seen too many teams take a first round qb & wait for him to save their franchise. Then I saw Kubiak take 3rd round Matt Schaub & have more success than those guys & their 1st rounders.

However, I wouldn't have a problem if we did take a QB in the first. O'Brien is just about to show us that he could do something 4 other HCs couldn't & that's make Ryan Fitzpatrick a winning QB. If he can do that, then I feel pretty confident that he can take an average QB & make him a winner (ala Matt Schaub) & that if we happen to draft the next Tom Brady or whoever, he won't be wasted.

The question now though, is how long can we keep the talent we do have around him. For the longest time, we've been a QB away, my opinion of course, can Rick Smith keep it going?

 

[Runner]

I've seen too many teams take a first round qb & wait for him to save their franchise. Then I saw Kubiak take 3rd round Matt Schaub & have more success than those guys & their 1st rounders.

Has there ever been a first round quarterback that has been a success in the league? Reading stuff here makes me think every single one has failed. Except for ones drafted by the Colts, which fits the woe is me narrative.

 

[thunderkyss]

Has there ever been a first round quarterback that has been a success in the league? Reading stuff here makes me think every single one has failed. Except for ones drafted by the Colts, which fits the woe is me narrative.

From 2005, to 2013, which QBs (list them) do you regret not drafting, whether we were in position or not.

 

[ChampionTexan]

Has there ever been a first round quarterback that has been a success in the league? Reading stuff here makes me think every single one has failed. Except for ones drafted by the Colts, which fits the woe is me narrative.

Here's a complete list of first round QB picks since Texans entered the league:

Bust (15)
David Carr, Joey Herrington, Patrick Ramsey, Kyle Boller, J.P. Losman, Jason Campbell, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Josh Freeman, Tim Tebow, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder, Brandon Weeden

Quality Starter or Better (12)
Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Ben Roetlisberger, Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck

In Between/Incomplete (7)
Byron Leftwich, Rex Grossman, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Jake Locker, RGIII, Ryan Tannehill

Hopefully you'll agree that I've been pretty generous when it comes to categorization, and I left out the last two years - even though E.J. Manuel could arguably already be put in the bust category. Sheer numbers don't excactly support your position, although they don't blow it out of the water either. In my opinion (and I've said this before), there's far more damage to be done picking the wrong early round QB than not picking one at all, and I absolutely don't subscribe to the "Find one you like, even if you don't like any of them" model.

 

[infantrycak]

Here's a complete list of first round QB picks since Texans entered the league:

Bust (15)
David Carr, Joey Herrington, Patrick Ramsey, Kyle Boller, J.P. Losman, Jason Campbell, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Josh Freeman, Tim Tebow, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder, Brandon Weeden

Quality Starter or Better (12)
Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Ben Roetlisberger, Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck

In Between/Incomplete (7)
Byron Leftwich, Rex Grossman, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Jake Locker, RGIII, Ryan Tannehill

Hopefully you'll agree that I've been pretty generous when it comes to categorization, and I left out the last two years - even though E.J. Manuel could arguably already be put in the bust category. Sheer numbers don't excactly support your position, although they don't blow it out of the water either. In my opinion (and I've said this before), there's far more damage to be done picking the wrong early round QB than not picking one at all, and I absolutely don't subscribe to the "Find one you like, even if you don't like any of them" model.

I agree you've been generous on actual results. I think there is a very fair debate on what would have happened with some of those QBs if they had gone to other teams.

I don't want to have a firestorm of a debate over the particular merits but the most obvious example would be VY going to be with Jeff Fisher (who was forced to take him) v. coming to "QB guru" Kubiak. Heck many would say what if McNair hadn't thought Kubiak wasn't ready yet and they took Carr in 2002.

Having said that, the debate is totally unknowable.

Why do I feel kind of like I just threw a grenade into a room?

 

[JB]

I don't want to have a firestorm of a debate over the particular merits but the most obvious example would be VY going to be with Jeff Fisher (who was forced to take him) v. coming to "QB guru" Kubiak. Heck many would say what if McNair hadn't thought Kubiak wasn't ready yet and they took Carr in 2002.


Why do I feel kind of like I just threw a grenade into a room?

Probably cuz you just threw a grenade into the room

 

[thunderkyss]

I agree you've been generous on actual results. I think there is a very fair debate on what would have happened with some of those QBs if they had gone to other teams.

I don't want to have a firestorm of a debate over the particular merits but the most obvious example would be VY going to be with Jeff Fisher (who was forced to take him) v. coming to "QB guru" Kubiak. Heck many would say what if McNair hadn't thought Kubiak wasn't ready yet and they took Carr in 2002.

Having said that, the debate is totally unknowable.

Why do I feel kind of like I just threw a grenade into a room?

I know it's not going to be popular, but I don't understand why the Texans didn't go & get Chad Henne after Miami let him go in 2012. Heck, we were kicking the tires on Matt Lienart in 2011.

Looking at what he's done in Jacksonville, I'm sure what everyone else thinks, but I think Henne would have been great in Kubiak's offense.

 

[JB]

I know it's not going to be popular, but I don't understand why the Texans didn't go & get Chad Henne after Miami let him go in 2012. Heck, we were kicking the tires on Matt Lienart in 2011.

Looking at what he's done in Jacksonville, I'm sure what everyone else thinks, but I think Henne would have been great in Kubiak's offense.

We had a pro-bowl starter and a rookie that won us our first playoff game in franchise history. Kubiak must have disagreed with you

 

[thunderkyss]

We had a pro-bowl starter and a rookie that won us our first playoff game in franchise history. Kubiak must have disagreed with you

He must have.

 

[Runner]

Here's a complete list of first round QB picks since Texans entered the league:

Bust (15)
David Carr, Joey Herrington, Patrick Ramsey, Kyle Boller, J.P. Losman, Jason Campbell, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Josh Freeman, Tim Tebow, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder, Brandon Weeden

Quality Starter or Better (12)
Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Ben Roetlisberger, Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck

In Between/Incomplete (7)
Byron Leftwich, Rex Grossman, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Jake Locker, RGIII, Ryan Tannehill

Hopefully you'll agree that I've been pretty generous when it comes to categorization, and I left out the last two years - even though E.J. Manuel could arguably already be put in the bust category. Sheer numbers don't excactly support your position, although they don't blow it out of the water either. In my opinion (and I've said this before), there's far more damage to be done picking the wrong early round QB than not picking one at all, and I absolutely don't subscribe to the "Find one you like, even if you don't like any of them" model.

Excellent data. The spread is about what I expected given the difficulties in identifying NFL level quarterbacks. Now we need to compare these names to those taken in the fourth round or so. I suspect the ratios will be even worse, but I could be surprised.

The next part of the quiz will be to consider the bust/quality/in-between status of the player the Texans chose in the first round.

 

[Carr Bombed]

I know it's not going to be popular, but I don't understand why the Texans didn't go & get Chad Henne after Miami let him go in 2012. Heck, we were kicking the tires on Matt Lienart in 2011.

Looking at what he's done in Jacksonville, I'm sure what everyone else thinks, but I think Henne would have been great in Kubiak's offense.

Chad Henne! Bwahaha

No thank you. He's horrible.

 

[Lucky]

Excellent data. The spread is about what I expected given the difficulties in identifying NFL level quarterbacks. Now we need to compare these names to those taken in the fourth round or so. I suspect the ratios will be even worse, but I could be surprised.

Let's just look at every round from 2002-2012.

2nd round
Good - Dalton, Kaepernick
So-So - Kolb, Stanton, Henne
Not Good - Brohm, T. Jackson, Beck, Clausen, Clemens
TBD - Geno Smith, Osweiler

3rd Round
Good - Wilson, Schaub, Foles
So-So - McCown, McCoy
Not Good - Edwards, Frye, Simms, Whitehurst, Croyle, Walter, Ragone, O'Connell, Greene
TBD - Mallett

4th Round
Good - No one
So-So - Garrard, Orton,
Not Good - 7 guys
TBD - Cousins

5th - 7th Rounds
Good - No one
So-So - Cassell, Fitz, Derek Anderson
Not Good - Dozens

So the moral is, go ahead and pass on a QB in the 1st round. And hope the tooth fairy puts one under your pillow. Because that's about the only way you're going to find one. Or, be one of the teams that gets it right and takes a good QB in the 1st round. Don't draft scared. Draft well.

 

[Mr.Scarface]

Let's just look at every round from 2002-2012.

2nd round
Good - Dalton, Kaepernick
So-So - Kolb, Stanton, Henne
Not Good - Brohm, T. Jackson, Beck, Clausen, Clemens
TBD - Geno Smith, Osweiler

3rd Round
Good - Wilson, Schaub, Foles
So-So - McCown, McCoy
Not Good - Edwards, Frye, Simms, Whitehurst, Croyle, Walter, Ragone, O'Connell, Greene
TBD - Mallett

4th Round
Good - No one
So-So - Garrard, Orton,
Not Good - 7 guys
TBD - Cousins

5th - 7th Rounds
Good - No one
So-So - Cassell, Fitz, Derek Anderson
Not Good - Dozens

So the moral is, go ahead and pass on a QB in the 1st round. And hope the tooth fairy puts one under your pillow. Because that's about the only way you're going to find one. Or, be one of the teams that gets it right and takes a good QB in the 1st round. Don't draft scared. Draft well.

how about posting how many first round BUST at QB there has been since 2002.

That's a long list.

 

[infantrycak]

how about posting how many first round BUST at QB there has been since 2002.

That's a long list.

How about posting your own research. He aptly supported his point.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

So the moral is, go ahead and pass on a QB in the 1st round. And hope the tooth fairy puts one under your pillow. Because that's about the only way you're going to find one. Or, be one of the teams that gets it right and takes a good QB in the 1st round. Don't draft scared. Draft well.

No, the moral of the story is go ahead and pass on a QB in the first round if you don't think the guy sitting there is "The Guy." Just don't expect a guy you pick in a later round to be "The Guy." Don't draft scared. Draft well. And don't pick bad quarterbacks in any round. Don't pick a QB just because you need one.

 

[Lucky]

how about posting how many first round BUST at QB there has been since 2002.

That's a long list.

That was posted by ChampionTexan. Yeah, it is a long list. Quality QBs are a scarce commodity. You better go out and find one.

Here's a complete list of first round QB picks since Texans entered the league:

Bust (15)
David Carr, Joey Herrington, Patrick Ramsey, Kyle Boller, J.P. Losman, Jason Campbell, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Josh Freeman, Tim Tebow, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder, Brandon Weeden

Quality Starter or Better (12)
Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Ben Roetlisberger, Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck

In Between/Incomplete (7)
Byron Leftwich, Rex Grossman, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Jake Locker, RGIII, Ryan Tannehill

 

[EllisUnit]

No, the moral of the story is go ahead and pass on a QB in the first round if you don't think the guy sitting there is "The Guy." Just don't expect a guy you pick in a later round to be "The Guy." Don't draft scared. Draft well. And don't pick bad quarterbacks in any round. Don't pick a QB just because you need one.

I think we see Mallett extended this off season and we go into next season with him as the starter, after his first game and then the toughness he showed in the last game i think he deserves that shot anyways.

Have to admit he looked damn good in the pocket, and throwing the ball.

 

[Runner]

Great job done by ChampionTexan and and Lucky.

My take away is identify a good one that is first round quality and draft him. Don't wait for the stars to align and have a perfect one pop up when you coincidentally have the first pick in the draft. Hitting that lottery is far more difficult then drafting your quarterback if you invest that first round pick with care.

 

[Lucky]

Don't pick a QB just because you need one.

No. The moral is be the team that finds the QB. Because almost every year, one is out there. If you need a QB and don't do everything you can to get one, you're just spinning your wheels.

 

[JB]

No. The moral is be the team that finds the QB. Because almost every year, one is out there. If you need a QB and don't do everything you can to get one, you're just spinning your wheels.

^^^This

And they all have warts, just find one you can stand to kiss

 

[infantrycak]

No. The moral is be the team that finds the QB. Because almost every year, one is out there. If you need a QB and don't do everything you can to get one, you're just spinning your wheels.

What he said twenty times over.

There is rarely a year nobody comes out.

 

[EllisUnit]

So i take it most in here don't feel Mallet should be the starter next season ?

 

[Lucky]

So i take it most in here don't feel Mallet should be the starter next season ?

I don't think you can take that from this conversation. Most probably feel that Mallett is still an unknown. Personally, I would have liked to see him earlier in the season, when it was obvious that Fitz was limited in what he could provide the offense. I'm not for discarding Mallett. Just not crazy about going all in on him.

 

[JB]

So i take it most in here don't feel Mallet should be the starter next season ?

Quite a leap in deductive reasoning... I think most in here acknowledge that Mallett is an unknown.

 

[Runner]

So i take it most in here don't feel Mallet should be the starter next season ?

I think he has earned a shot, but that is based on very limited data. If they count on him and he fails, the Texans could easily have two more years of the continuing quarterback nightmare. Next year because they didn't draft one, the year after that because they might draft a rookie who either doesn't play as he learns or has a typical hard knocks rookie QB season. If they draft a better guy, I could see Mallett playing as he learns and then being a strong backup in this injury plagued sport.

 

[EllisUnit]

I don't think you can take that from this conversation. Most probably feel that Mallett is still an unknown. Personally, I would have liked to see him earlier in the season, when it was obvious that Fitz was limited in what he could provide the offense. I'm not for discarding Mallett. Just not crazy about going all in on him.

Me neither but i would hate to spend a first on a QB when we have so many other major needs, especially w/ how Mallet looked in his limited time in the NFL.

To me you have 2 options, you can go with Mallet who in his only healthy start looked DAMN GOOD against a really tough browns defense at their house. And draft a WR in the first because our WR corps needs major help IMO.

Our you can draft a QB in the first and for the most part besides maybe FA which is unlikely not upgrade your WR corps any which would not be good for this offense IMO.

We have a lot of major needs that need to be filled. Safety, LB, WR, TE, DT and OLB IMO.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

No. The moral is be the team that finds the QB. Because almost every year, one is out there. If you need a QB and don't do everything you can to get one, you're just spinning your wheels.

But if you don't see one, don't pick one just to pick one.

Which is what most coaches and front offices do and why most of them flounder for years and never win a SB.

What would you say if we win a SB with Fitzpatrick at the helm? Stranger things have happened.

 

[Lucky]

Me neither but i would hate to spend a first on a QB when we have so many other major needs, especially w/ how Mallet looked in his limited time in the NFL.

To me you have 2 options, you can go with Mallet who in his only healthy start looked DAMN GOOD against a really tough browns defense at their house. And draft a WR in the first because our WR corps needs major help IMO.

Our you can draft a QB in the first and for the most part besides maybe FA which is unlikely not upgrade your WR corps any which would not be good for this offense IMO.

We have a lot of major needs that need to be filled. Safety, LB, WR, TE, DT and OLB IMO.

There will always be needs to fill. You could have 5 1st round picks and still not fill your needs. Until you find that QB that can help your team win, none of that will ultimately matter. Look at the Rams. That team is loaded at a lot of positions. Are they're going nowhere.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

We have a lot of major needs that need to be filled. Safety, LB, WR, TE, DT and OLB IMO.

I disagree with the use of the word "need" in this context.

If we upgrade our QB position -- whether that's with Mallett, Savage, a FA we pick up, or a draft pick -- we don't have to fix everything. We just need to fix what we can and put FA and UDFA band-aids on what we can't.

 

[JB]

There will always be needs to fill. You could have 5 1st round picks and still not fill your needs. Until you find that QB that can help your team win, none of that will ultimately matter. Look at the Rams. That team is loaded at a lot of positions. Are they're going nowhere.

Officially eliminated from playoffs tonight in a game they very well could have won

 

[Lucky]

But if you don't see one, don't pick one just to pick one.

Which is what most coaches and front offices do and why most of them flounder for years and never win a SB.

What would you say if we win a SB with Fitzpatrick at the helm? Stranger things have happened.

As strange, maybe. Not stranger.

If you don't have someone in the organization that can find a QB, then you need to find the guy that can find the QB. Be it through a crystal ball or miles of game tape, a QB must be found. My gut tells me the that O'Brien missed on 2 in the last draft. That's OK, because there's probably one or two he'll have a shot at this time around. He needs to look real hard and find him.

 

[Runner]

No. The moral is be the team that finds the QB. Because almost every year, one is out there. If you need a QB and don't do everything you can to get one, you're just spinning your wheels.

The hard part is identifying the right guy. I can see why many posters see this as a big risk, because it might be hard to believe the Texans brain trust is capable of identifying a good quarterback. If that's the case, I have trouble believing they are competent to pick a good player at any position. It's all blind squirrels and nuts at that point.

I must be a kool-aid drinking optimist to think the Texans are capable of identifying a good first round quarterback if they dedicate themselves to that goal.

One thing I do know - they will never accomplish the feat of drafting a franchise quarterback if they don't seriously try - and taking a flyer on a fourth rounder is not a serious try, as the previous posts have shown.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

As strange, maybe. Not stranger.

If you don't have someone in the organization that can find a QB, then you need to find the guy that can find the QB. Be it through a crystal ball or miles of game tape, a QB must be found. My gut tells me the that O'Brien missed on 2 in the last draft. That's OK, because there's probably one or two he'll have a shot at this time around. He needs to look real hard and find him.

I don't disagree that a QB must be found. The jury is still out on last year's crop and at this point, we might have gotten the one guy and we just don't know it, yet. The odds are against it but it's a possibility.

I just think that if you draft a QB in the first round just to draft a guy in the first round, your odds are that you're going to get a Matt Leinart, a Jamarcus Russell, a Blaine Gabbert, or an EJ Manuel instead of a Peyton Manning or even an Eli Manning.

The odds are that your team is not going to have an elite QB so you've got to build a team that's strong enough and good enough to win a SB without one (like the Giants did, like the Steelers did, like the Ravens did) and in that case, you've got to find a middle of the road guy and put a good enough team around him that he looks better than he is as opposed to the opposite happening.