Quarterback Drafting Strategies and the Texans

[infantrycak]

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.

Exactly. I was one of the biggest proponents for getting him here. Wish we had seen more. Shouldn't count on him being IT.

 

[Insideop]

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.

They have?

Are we just talking in football or everything in general?

 

[Insideop]

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.

That strategy has worked pretty well for the Colts the last couple of times!

 

[thunderkyss]

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.

We're all just spinning our wheels.

But I like the Texans approach (find a QB that'll work) as opposed to the Jags (Leftwhich, Gabbert, Locker), Titans (VY, Locker), Jets (Clemens, Sanchez, Geno), & Raiders (Russell).


Because no matter how good your team is you're going to take a hiatus to teach that QB how to play the game. You're going to throw that 1st round pick out there to "see what you got"

If your team is good enough, it's no big deal, you'll probably win regardless, like the Ravens & Flacco, Seahawks & Wilson, Patriots & Brady.

 

[Runner]

We're all just spinning our wheels.

But I like the Texans approach (find a QB that'll work) as opposed to the Jags (Leftwhich, Gabbert, Locker), Titans (VY, Locker), Jets (Clemens, Sanchez, Geno), & Raiders (Russell).


Because no matter how good your team is you're going to take a hiatus to teach that QB how to play the game. You're going to throw that 1st round pick out there to "see what you got"

If your team is good enough, it's no big deal, you'll probably win regardless, like the Ravens & Flacco, Seahawks & Wilson, Patriots & Brady.

I know it is difficult to find three quarterbacks to back up your point, so I can understand using Flacco. However, as the 18th pick in the first round, he is the perfect example of wisely investing a first round draft pick in a quarterback.

You do illustrate the difficulty in finding a late round quarterback though. Thanks.

 

[thunderkyss]

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 think OB has shown us that he can at the very least game plan around a mediocre QB & win. I think Mallett & Savage are more talented than Fitz, so OB should be able to do even better with them.

We can win 10 games, or expect the bar to be set at 10 games & expect to have a shot at getting there with Mallett/Savage.

I don't want them drafting Mark Sanchez, or Ryan Tannehill because Mallett/Savage aren't going to win a Super Bowl.

 

[thunderkyss]

I know it is difficult to find three quarterbacks to back up your point, so I can understand using Flacco. However, as the 18th pick in the first round, he is the perfect example of wisely investing a first round draft pick in a quarterback.

You do illustrate the difficulty in finding a late round quarterback though. Thanks.

I included Flacco because I don't think he's "that good" not yet anyway.


So you're saying we'd have been better off taking Locker/Gabbert/Ponder instead of Jj Watt?

Where's that MVP thread?

 

[Runner]

I included Flacco because I don't think he's "that good" not yet anyway.


So you're saying we'd have been better off taking Locker/Gabbert/Ponder instead of Jj Watt?

Where's that MVP thread?

No, I'm not suggesting that and never stated picking a first round bust is the way to go. However, your effort at cherry picking a single example is much better this time. The argument that "pick anybody in the first round" keeps getting floated because it is easy to knock down. The key is that the team has to identify a good one, which is much easier to do if the team chooses from talent evaluated as first round level. They might miss, but counting on late round picks almost guarantees a miss.

In fact, the only person that even remotely suggested taking bad talent in the first round is you:

If your team is good enough, it's no big deal, you'll probably win regardless, like the Ravens & Flacco, Seahawks & Wilson, Patriots & Brady.

I know it is difficult to find three quarterbacks to back up your point, so I can understand using Flacco. However, as the 18th pick in the first round, he is the perfect example of wisely investing a first round draft pick in a quarterback.

I included Flacco because I don't think he's "that good" not yet anyway.

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

I did check the MVP thread as you suggested. It seems you might be a proponent of passing on JJ for a great quarterback, even with the hindsight of knowing how dominant JJ is:

He is without a doubt the most unique player in the league. The best football player, the most outstanding player in the entire league.

But he doesn't create wins like those QBs. Doesn't have the same value.

 

[Marshall]

I realize it is early in his career, but Luck has already been anointed as the next Great One, but he is 17-12 when not playing the AFC South. I would expect 17-13 once the season is done after playing the Cowboys.

About Luck. Two words. Dan Marino.

 

[Marshall]

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.

Sometimes a guy falls in your lap and you can't pass on him. I think that is what happened with Savage. He needed development time and that caused him to fall well below his potential rating. I suspect we had him rated as a 2nd and couldn't pass in the supplemental portion of the 4th (4.5?).

Just remember the draft looked outstanding at the time and may wind up very good in a couple of years.

1/1 Clowney - IR, but projected at 1-1 by at least a plurality of pickers.
2/1 Xavier Suo-Filo - Slow start, but projected as a late 1st rounder.
3/1 C. J. Fiedorowicz - This was definitely a reach for the position, he was projected to be a mid 3rd rounder.
3/19 Louis Nix - While disappointing so far, he was considered a mid/bottom 1st rounder for our 4th and 5th. He may still have a good career.
4/35 Tom Savage - Amazing that he was still there considering he was projected as an early 2nd rounder.
6/1 Jeoffrey Pagan - Active Roster playing backup role. All you can ask of a 6th or 7th.
6/5 Alfred Blue - Active Roster playing backup role. All you can ask of a 6th or 7th.
6/35 Jay Prosch - Starting FB, best in draft at the seldom used position.
7/1 Andre Hal - Active Roster playing backup role. All you can ask of a 6th or 7th.
7/41 Lonnie Ballentine - Mr. Irrelevant, but on IR with a bright future for a roster spot.

I still think this will turn out to be a great draft after a slow start.

None of them has been waived or even gone to the PS as would be expected.

 

[thunderkyss]

We took the playoff picture thread way off topic. Figured I'd start a new thread, hopefully that other one will get back on track.

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.

I'm going to go back to this post. I've got no problem drafting a first round QB in the first round. I don't think we need to wait for the stars to align either. & since I do believe we are a QB away from consistently winning 10 games or more, I'd have no problem trading up to get a guy I thought is special.

Because QB is that valuable.

What I don't agree with is lowering my standards to where I'll take a chance on a guy who isn't worth my first round pick... if I'm going to take a guy in the top 5, he needs to be 10 out of 10.

top of the 1st, 8 out of 10.

Guys who are 7 out of 10 can be found much easier at the bottom of the first & later.


I'll trade up to get a guy I believe is 8 out of 10 or better - not waiting for the stars to align - before I take a guy who is 7 out of 10 just to make sure I get a 1st round QB.

 

[infantrycak]

I'm going to endorse one of these ideas - identify your guy and move to get him. Nobody around here ever wants to move up. Well too freaking bad. Sometimes you have to make something happen. Last year "nobody is worth 1.1 let's move down." This year, "all the good QBs will be gone by when we pick." BS on both. If the Texans thought Bortles was "worth" a top 5 pick then they shouldn't have gotten picky about value and should have taken him 1.1. This year if we are picking 15 and you think the guy is at 5, go get him.

 

[beerlover]

starting with Mel who has been doing this like..... for..... ever..... I find this snipet revealing as to how unconventional & irrational this process of determining a franchise QB really is.

"There is really no franchise quarterback in this draft," Kiper said on a conference call. "Even though Mariota could go No. 1 [overall], he's not Andrew Luck. He's not in that elite-of-elite category."

This is obviously going to be of little comfort to fans who want to see the Jets take Mariota or Winston in the first round, which Kiper thinks they'll do anyway. But what's more important than picking a quarterback in the top five or six is that the Jets get the right quarterback, no matter when they take him. And identifying the right quarterback is obviously going to depend on who's wearing the pants as head coach and general manager, especially now that owner Woody Johnson has signaled that Rex Ryan and John Idzik could get canned come Black Monday.

 

[Lucky]

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

So why didn't the Texans draft Bridgewater???

 

[santo]

So why didn't the Texans draft Bridgewater???

Because they didn't want to move up?

I just hope that wasn't the case.

 

[beerlover]

Because they didn't want to move up?

I just hope that wasn't the case.

because they wanted the draft (QB) fall to them, yet every turn another team stepped in to ruin their well thought out war-room plan, LOL

 

[Double Barrel]

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

I'm a fan of Mallett, but like already said, I do not think they should just hand him the keys.

I say sign him, and bring him, Savage, Fitz, and a fourth QB to camp to compete for the position. I think Fitz stays around next season as a backup. He's a known quantity with O'Brien, is a decent backup that knows the system, and according to O'Brien, is a team player and good teacher to the young guys.

So why didn't the Texans draft Bridgewater???

Good question. All we can do is speculate that O'Brien did not think he possessed the important traits that he requires of his QB.

Here's the article about O'Brien's QB perspective, which would be a good reference point for this thread. Very important that we keep in mind what O'Brien wants, because he's obviously the final say on the matter.

The Bill O’Brien Prototype: What Houston’s New Head Honcho Expects From His Quarterback

1) Bill O’Brien has never once said that he prefers larger quarterbacks. Sure, it is awesome to get someone who is 6’5", but then again, in the history of the sport has there ever been an NFL team actively searching for someone who is 6’1" or under? At the end of the day, size is a perk, not a deal-breaker.

2) Mobility, while another nice bell and/or whistle that adds to the package, is not a requirement. This is not a primarily boot-action offense like in Seattle that will give a guy like Russell Wilson opportunities to make plays in space while rolling out. Nor are there tons of read-option elements thrown in like in San Francisco. Does it help to be able to run those? Yes, of course. Does it matter if O’Brien does not have someone who can do it? Absolutely not.

3) Intelligence is what O’Brien craves above all else. An O’Brien quarterback must be smart. Period. End of story. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Billy O’ said it best himself last summer at the Nike Coach of the Year Clinic.

"These are just some things that I believe in. I think when you’re out there and you’re thinking about who the quarterback of your team is, they have to have a few things. Number one, and don’t laugh, they’ve got to be able to throw the ball accurately. If you tell them to put it somewhere, they’ve got to be able to put it there, and they’ve got to be able to work at it to improve their accuracy. In my opinion they don’t have to be the greatest athletes in the world. If they are, that’s fantastic, there’s a really great example of guys that are great athletes that are really good quarterbacks in the National Football League right now – Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, RG3. Those three guys can throw the football. Remember that first, they’re accurate passers. So they have to be able to throw.

They’ve got to be able to make good decisions. They have to be able to be good decision makers. And you can judge a lot of that off the field. You can watch how these guys do things and carry themselves off the field, and they’ll help you when you’re watching them on the field if they’re making good quick decisions or they’re making crappy decisions. Those are things you have to observe but they have to be able to make good decisions.

This next one to me is really, really important. With all the multiplicity of the defenses these days, defenses at every level you’re seeing even, odd, we call it diamond, bear defense. You’re seeing bear. You’re seeing overload blitz. You’re seeing up the middle blitz. You’re seeing man-free, blitz zero. You’re seeing blitz zone, from the field, from the boundary. With all that, in my opinion, your quarterback has to be intelligent. He has to have a great football IQ. And if he doesn’t, if he can’t learn it, then he should play another position. I’m telling you, because nowadays that guy once he’s out on the field has got to be like a coach on the field. He has to understand what you want, how you want to attack the defense, and he’s got to understand football. In order to do it, he’s got to put work in."

-----------------------------------------

The quarterback is given freedom to move his chess pieces at will based on the defensive looks he gets, and the moves he makes will be determined on a week to week basis by O’Brien’s game plan. It is free form offensive football at its finest, but not just anyone can do it. In order to be a successful passer under Bill O’Brien, the quarterback must first learn how to protect himself by understanding how to direct his offensive line effectively.

-----------------------------------------

If a quarterback does not understand how defense works in the Bill O’Brien system, he will fail. This is not some new age pistol attack that can make up for having an underdeveloped quarterback by exploiting athleticism and sleight of hand. This is an offense that is based around maintaining tempo, outsmarting the enemy, striking weaknesses without mercy, and always having a counter punch dialed up when they try to strike back. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will cover up for poor decision-making skills in this scheme whether those poor decisions are made while calling protections, adjusting routes, or delivering the ball. If the quarterback does not have the capacity to win pre-snap, he does not have a good chance of winning post-snap.

Full article with lots more information on O'Brien's perspectives

 

[eriadoc]

I may yet be proven wrong, but I don't think there's a QB the last two drafts I'd want, in any round. And I think you do far more damage to your franchise drafting a guy like Alex Smith or Sam Bradford or Ryan Tannehill than you do drafting Jamarcus Russell or Andrew Luck. With either of the latter two, you know what you have in short order. With the former, you waste years upon years trying to figure out if they're good enough. Sometimes, what you need just isn't available. Sucks, but that's life in the NFL.

A separate discussion is whether we've seen enough to trust that the current regime can draft well at any position, much less QB.

 

[thunderkyss]

I'm a fan of Mallett, but like already said, I do not think they should just hand him the keys.

I say sign him, and bring him, Savage, Fitz, and a fourth QB to camp to compete for the position. I think Fitz stays around next season as a backup. He's a known quantity with O'Brien, is a decent backup that knows the system, and according to O'Brien, is a team player and good teacher to the young guys.

I believe (though I may be mistaken) they laid out their QB plan last season & there's no reason to change course. I think the plan all along was to get Mallett, a guy in the draft, & a veteran.

I'm perfectly fine going into next season with Mallett & Savage & another rookie.


But I will not be upset in the least if the Texans trade up to get what they feel is a better prospect.

 

[thunderkyss]

I may yet be proven wrong, but I don't think there's a QB the last two drafts I'd want, in any round. And I think you do far more damage to your franchise drafting a guy like Alex Smith or Sam Bradford or Ryan Tannehill than you do drafting Jamarcus Russell or Andrew Luck. With either of the latter two, you know what you have in short order. With the former, you waste years upon years trying to figure out if they're good enough. Sometimes, what you need just isn't available. Sucks, but that's life in the NFL.

A separate discussion is whether we've seen enough to trust that the current regime can draft well at any position, much less QB.

I think Kubiak & Smith did a good enough job that Matt Schaub was able to win a bunch of games... for a little while. I've seen OB win more games than he should with that team & Ryan Fitzpatrick.

I feel fairly confident that OB/Smith can build at least as good a team.

But those other teams & QBs you mentioned... most of them were on teams with coaches who couldn't get anything out of any QB. Alex Smith being the exception. Harbaugh showed he could get that guy to the NFC Championship game, then he was able to identify a second guy that he was able to take farther.

Andy Reid now has Alex Smith & he's been able to get to the play-offs with him.

I don't think Bradley is going to be able to do anything with Bortles, Jed Fisch wasn't able to do anything with Gabbert or Henne.... absolutely nothing at all.

I think Kyle Shanahan is going to win a bunch of games with JFF

 

[markn]

I'm going to endorse one of these ideas - identify your guy and move to get him. Nobody around here ever wants to move up. Well too freaking bad. Sometimes you have to make something happen. Last year "nobody is worth 1.1 let's move down." This year, "all the good QBs will be gone by when we pick." BS on both. If the Texans thought Bortles was "worth" a top 5 pick then they shouldn't have gotten picky about value and should have taken him 1.1. This year if we are picking 15 and you think the guy is at 5, go get him.

I agree with this, but history indicates we (or maybe Rick Smith) seldom make a serious move up. Only one I can really remember was Jason Babin under an entirely different regime.

 

[thunderkyss]

I agree with this, but history indicates we (or maybe Rick Smith) seldom make a serious move up. Only one I can really remember was Jason Babin under an entirely different regime.

I don't know how you define "serious" but we moved up to get Brandon Harris, & Nix.

 

[markn]

I don't know how you define "serious" but we moved up to get Brandon Harris, & Nix.

I was thinking of trading up in the 1st or trading into the 1st.

My justification for that is that the 1st round is where we're likely to find that elusive QBOTF

 

[Double Barrel]

I believe (though I may be mistaken) they laid out their QB plan last season & there's no reason to change course. I think the plan all along was to get Mallett, a guy in the draft, & a veteran.

I'm perfectly fine going into next season with Mallett & Savage & another rookie.


But I will not be upset in the least if the Texans trade up to get what they feel is a better prospect.

I tend to agree with you. I think Mallett is O'Brien's first choice, which could explain why they passed on a QB in the first few rounds of the draft.

I think the kid looked good against one of the better secondaries in the league. Give him a full off-season with O'Brien, and he should be the favorite for the job in training camp next year.

 

[infantrycak]

I tend to agree with you. I think Mallett is O'Brien's first choice, which could explain why they passed on a QB in the first few rounds of the draft.

I think the kid looked good against one of the better secondaries in the league. Give him a full off-season with O'Brien, and he should be the favorite for the job in training camp next year.

I agree as well. Just scares me.

 

[Runner]

If Mallett proves to be the guy that's great. He showed he might be, but that is still a big question mark. Having a good rookie learning in the wings would be great idea.

If he proves to be just another game manager, I hope he is the last one. Following that path has contributed to the Texans being a .500 franchise with as many "worst records in the league" as playoff appearances. Risking a high draft pick on finding the quarterback of the future might be scary, but at least it isn't as gawdawful boring as this team has become. Games would be excruciating if there wasn't the hook of seeing what JJ Watt is going to do next.

 

[santo]

because they wanted the draft (QB) fall to them, yet every turn another team stepped in to ruin their well thought out war-room plan, LOL

LOL, seems to be the culture now of the Texans. And even when they do move up, they seem to get someone that was going to fall to them anyway.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

I may yet be proven wrong, but I don't think there's a QB the last two drafts I'd want, in any round. And I think you do far more damage to your franchise drafting a guy like Alex Smith or Sam Bradford or Ryan Tannehill than you do drafting Jamarcus Russell or Andrew Luck. With either of the latter two, you know what you have in short order. With the former, you waste years upon years trying to figure out if they're good enough. Sometimes, what you need just isn't available. Sucks, but that's life in the NFL.

A separate discussion is whether we've seen enough to trust that the current regime can draft well at any position, much less QB.

This is pretty much where I'm at with it.

We need to get a great QB. But if there's no great QB out there, what are you supposed to do? Draft Jake Locker and try to make it work?

I'd prefer to draft guys later and try to build them into a great QB than to spend a high first round pick on a Gabbert or even a mid-to-late first round pick on a Patrick Ramsey, Josh Freeman, or a Kyle Boller.

If you build a strong enough team, you can take a rookie like a Russell Wilson or a Ben Roethlisberger and you can make him successful.

I don't know that Mallett or Savage can't become the guy for us. But maybe our chance isn't going to come through the draft but through free agency like it did for the Saints and Broncos.

It's up to OB and Smith to make the right call here. If there's a QB in this draft that they think is going to be the next Brady, then they need to take out a second mortgage and trade away some guys/picks to move up and nab him... as long as he's really the guy.

 

[Double Barrel]

One thing that we've got going for us is O'Brien. Looking at this season, I think he was the best choice for HC. I think he's done a solid job of both turning the overall attitude of the team around, as well as a good of a job that can be done with Ryan Fitzpatrick. O'Brien did not get desperate in the draft and feel the pressure to draft a QB high. He chose what he perceived as the best option for the moment, being patient with the potential of the future.

I was bummed about Fitz being on the roster, much less our starting QB. That said, I've got to give props to both him and O'Brien for making Fitz the best that he can possibly be, which is a competitive and somewhat consistent game manager. If O'Brien can work that kind of coaching magic with a player like Fitz, I feel pretty optimistic about the future and what he can do with a young QB of his choice.

Koolaid talk? Maybe. But I refuse to be pessimistic right now, not after that Clowney thread. Otherwise, I'd probably talk myself out of being a fan if I was completely hopeless about the future. O'Brien and J.J. are the things I base hope for the future on.

 

[santo]

One thing that we've got going for us is O'Brien. Looking at this season, I think he was the best choice for HC. I think he's done a solid job of both turning the overall attitude of the team around, as well as a good of a job that can be done with Ryan Fitzpatrick. O'Brien did not get desperate in the draft and feel the pressure to draft a QB high. He chose what he perceived as the best option for the moment, being patient with the potential of the future.

I was bummed about Fitz being on the roster, much less our starting QB. That said, I've got to give props to both him and O'Brien for making Fitz the best that he can possibly be, which is a competitive and somewhat consistent game manager. If O'Brien can work that kind of coaching magic with a player like Fitz, I feel pretty optimistic about the future and what he can do with a young QB of his choice.

Koolaid talk? Maybe. But I refuse to be pessimistic right now, not after that Clowney thread. Otherwise, I'd probably talk myself out of being a fan if I was completely hopeless about the future. O'Brien and J.J. are the things I base hope for the future on.

And Hopkins and Foster. I like both of them on offense but it may be hard to keep Foster for long.

 

[HouTx11]

because they wanted the draft (QB) fall to them, yet every turn another team stepped in to ruin their well thought out war-room plan, LOL

This is the risk you run when trying to guess when and where "the guy" is going to fall to. Yes, there is risk involved. If you "go get him" any higher everyone will call it a reach. If you don't someone else easily could step in like Minnesota did with Bridgewater, assuming of course the Texans would've drafted Bridgewater had he fallen to 2-1 anyways.

Texans either didn't want Bridgewater or else didn't want that pick to be a reach and lose other picks in doing so. It's a gamble for sure!

 

[Playoffs]

"If you have, let's say, 12 qualities you're looking for in a quarterback...

[he] better meet just about all 12 of them."

 

[Runner]

The Texans game manager and fourth round draft pick combined to put up 3 points in an extremely important game today. At some point they need to bite the bullet and take a risk at finding a talented quarterback in the first round.

Just my opinion.

 

[Lucky]

"If you have, let's say, 12 qualities you're looking for in a quarterback...

[he] better meet just about all 12 of them."
__________________

Mr. Perfect QB doesn't exist. There's a better chance that Charile Brown sees the Great Pumpkin.

 

[santo]

Mr. Perfect QB doesn't exist. There's a better chance that Charile Brown sees the Great Pumpkin.

And finally kicks the ball when Lucy is holding it.

 

[thunderkyss]

All we need is quarterback who can kick ass and take names.

I wonder why so many teams haven't figured that out.

 

[Marcus]

We need a QB that can kick ass and take names.

Of the 32 teams in the league, name the ones who have a QB that can "kick ass and take names".

 

[Sigma]

Of the 32 teams in the league, name the ones who have a QB that can "spank ass and take names".

the steelers

 

[Insideop]

Of the 32 teams in the league, name the ones who have a QB that can "kick ass and take names".

"Kick ass and take names"
Pats
Broncos
Colts
Packers

Just "kick ass"
Steelers
Saints (I would have them in the group above normally, but this year well....)
Seahawks

Yep, that's about it for me.

 

[thunderkyss]

"Kick ass and take names"
Pats
Broncos
Colts
Packers

Just "kick ass"
Steelers
Saints (I would have them in the group above normally, but this year well....)
Seahawks

Yep, that's about it for me.

Damn... must not be as easy as some people think.

 

[Runner]

Damn... must not be as easy as some people think.

Nice try. No one said it was easy. Many have said that a team can't get that great quarterback if they don't invest heavily in that very important position though. Basically, the team has to try to get the QB they need, not hope to get lucky and find one with no real investment. It is relatively easier to pick fourth round quarterbacks and build a .500 franchise though.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

Damn... must not be as easy as some people think.

The others just don't want to win and have embraced their mediocrity.

 

[thunderkyss]

Nice try. No one said it was easy. Many have said that a team can't get that great quarterback if they don't invest heavily in that very important position though. Basically, the team has to try to get the QB they need, not hope to get lucky and find one with no real investment. It is relatively easier to pick fourth round quarterbacks and build a .500 franchise though.

I understand, but to say the Texans "must" take a quarterback in the 1st round is just as wrong as saying they can find "the guy" in the 5th.

Connor Cook is saying he's going back to school, Mariota & Winston will probably go in the top 5.... so who's next? Who should the Texans be looking at in the first? Bret Hundley? I'm already hearing he's looking like a mid 2nd round type of guy.

I still think Matt Schaub was the best QB we could have gotten in 2007. & so far, I'm much happier getting Ryan Mallett (though it didn't work out the way I'd have liked) than any QB in this draft & I hope we sign him for the next 3 or 4 years... even if Winston were to drop to us.

I also believe we should have been accumulating draft picks so when the time comes for us to move up to get our QB, we won't be stuck like chuck without any draft picks.

 

[JB]

We need a good quarterback, perhaps even an elite quarterback, if we ever expect to win a Super Bowl or actually defeat the Indianapolis Colts on the road for the first time in franchise history (0-13 now).

Making the playoffs is nice. We've done it twice before and even beat the Bengals in a couple of wild-card games, but I'm tired of not being a realistic Super Bowl contender. Until we find that special talent at the quarterback position we'll always be in this same situation. Wondering, hoping, relying on the next draft or free agency to sort of save us. Our franchise is only respectable right now because of J.J. Watt's MVP caliber performance this season. He's had one awesome year to say the least.

All we need is quarterback who can kick ass and take names. A lot of teams are in the same boat as us. Those teams, for the most part, don't typically go to the playoffs or reach a Super Bowl. Bill O'Brian is a heck of a head coach. I'd argue he's the best head coach in the AFC South, even better than Chuck Pagano of the Colts. But Pagano has Andrew Luck he can lean on. We don't have jack-$hit at quarterback if you know what I mean. Pardon my frustrations. I hid it with a dollar sign.

This post endorsed by:

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Jim McMahon

 

[Runner]

Connor Cook is saying he's going back to school, Mariota & Winston will probably go in the top 5.... so who's next? Who should the Texans be looking at in the first? Bret Hundley? I'm already hearing he's looking like a mid 2nd round type of guy.

Then I guess the Texans really blew it last year when they could have taken a shot at drafting a quarterback of the future. Of course, they'd have been without Clowney's contributions to the team, so that has to be balanced out. (I don't buy the "can't predict injuries" excuse. There were questions about Clowney pre-draft, he wasn't the no-brainer many would like to believe.)

I also remember that many posters didn't want a quarterback in the 2014 draft because the 2015 draft was going to be extremely quarterback rich. What happened there? Was that just rationalization because of David Carr syndrome? So that they could agree with the choice of Clowney?

I guess the Texans can just wait until 2016, 2017, whatever; continue down the right track as it were.

 

[thunderkyss]

Then I guess the Texans really blew it last year when they could have taken a shot at drafting a quarterback of the future. Of course, they'd have been without Clowney's contributions to the team, so that has to be balanced out. (I don't buy the "can't predict injuries" excuse. There were questions about Clowney pre-draft, he wasn't the no-brainer many would like to believe.)

I also remember that many posters didn't want a quarterback in the 2014 draft because the 2015 draft was going to be extremely quarterback rich. What happened there? Was that just rationalization because of David Carr syndrome? So that they could agree with the choice of Clowney?

I guess the Texans can just wait until 2016, 2017, whatever; continue down the right track as it were.

I don't believe any of the 2014 QBs are going to amount to anything special... well, I don't think the first round guys are going to be more successful than guys like Mettenberger, Murray, or McCarron.

I haven't seen a QB projected for the 2015 draft to drool about either.

Hopefully we'll start banking some draft picks that will allow us to move up in the 2017 draft if there's a QB worth moving up for.

 

[bah007]

I think the Texans blew it when they passed on Bortles. Most people wouldn't have taken him but I would have. Sitting him behind Fitz for a year would have been just fine for me.

Maybe Mallett works out. I hope he does but I have been probably his biggest critic ever since he was a prospect, so I'm not exactly confident.

If he doesn't work then we are back where we started. I disagree with the notion that you have to reach and take a QB whenever possible, but if you have the opportunity to take a guy you like then you should.

 

[markn]

I think the Texans blew it when they passed on Bortles. Most people wouldn't have taken him but I would have. Sitting him behind Fitz for a year would have been just fine for me.

I still wish we'd traded back into the bottom of the 1st for Bridgewater. I think he has the smarts to play in OB's offence. The Clowney pick was never ideal but I dont think there was a QB worthy of 1.1, and assuming there was no suitable trade he was the obvious, but tragic pick.

 

[thunderkyss]

I still wish we'd traded back into the bottom of the 1st for Bridgewater. I think he has the smarts to play in OB's offence. The Clowney pick was never ideal but I dont think there was a QB worthy of 1.1, and assuming there was no suitable trade he was the obvious, but tragic pick.

& that's what makes this draft so.... goofy. Clowney wasn't my pick either. As a 4-3 DE, I'd have been all over him. But thinking we'll either make him a 3-4 OLB, or DE...


xigh....

Imagine we took Robinson, XSF, then CJ. Robinson could've started at RT, then bring XSF in next year... with Ben Jones at center.

 

[JB]

& that's what makes this draft so.... goofy. Clowney wasn't my pick either. As a 4-3 DE, I'd have been all over him. But thinking we'll either make him a 3-4 OLB, or DE...


xigh....

Imagine we took Robinson, XSF, then CJ. Robinson could've started at RT, then bring XSF in next year... with Ben Jones at center.

I don't understand your fascination with Jones. Everytime I see him he's either been knocked down or chasing after the guy he let by that hits the qb

Or looking dumbfounded cuz he didn't know who to block