Atlanta is really going to regret keeping Vick over Schaub in my opinion New QB Schaub taking over as Texans leader By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer May 17, 2007 HOUSTON (AP) -- Matt Schaub wasted no time getting started on establishing himself as the leader of the Houston Texans. The day he was traded from Atlanta, the quarterback was on the phone calling key members of the team to introduce himself and let them know what to expect from him. "That was big," Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson said after Houston's minicamp Thursday. "A lot of people don't do that when it's their first day with the team. I think just by him doing that he caught a lot of guys' attention." Schaub will become just the second quarterback to lead the young Texans franchise after replacing David Carr, who was dumped after five seasons without a winning record. It will be the 25-year-old's first starting job. He spent three seasons with the Falcons as Michael Vick's backup. Though Schaub's presence marks the beginning of a new era in Houston, the quarterback's choice of a number brings thoughts of the old one. He'll wear Carr's No. 8 because that's been his number since he entered the NFL. Schaub's willingness to assert himself as a leader was important to Texans coaches when they looked for a new face to lead their team. "That's his personality," coach Gary Kubiak said. "That's something I think is his strength and we kind of knew that. People gravitate to the young man. He has a lot of confidence in what everybody's doing, not just what he's doing and you can see that on the field." Schaub said asserting himself without stepping on the toes of the veteran players is a balancing act. "Everybody leads in different ways, whether it's by example or vocally," he said. "You've got to find a happy medium, being a new guy. You've got to take the reins, but you want to show guys that you're out here to work and get better and do it by example, not just be the voice." Schaub already looks comfortable with Johnson, who had a career-best 103 receptions last season. That is likely thanks to more than a dozen offseason workouts together. "We were throwing just about two or three times a week," Johnson said. "We were going out and just going through the routes and things like that, just trying to get the timing down. I think it was important to all of us." The 6-foot-5 Schaub, who signed a six-year deal worth $48 million, is ready to be the starter after starting just two games in his career. He thinks his offseason work will help ease the transition. "It's been an ongoing process since I got here, just learning," he said. "It's a work in progress, but you just try to take a little bit each day and absorb it and go from there." Though Houston has only been through two practices, Kubiak is already encouraged by what he's seen from Schaub. "Matt is to me is very composed," Kubiak said. "Watching him operate with everybody and getting everybody lined up. 'You get here. You get there,' and the young guys get in the huddle with him and they don't panic. They can ask him and he's got control of all 11 of them."
I disagree. I think Schaub has a lot of potential but he wasn't worth nearly what Houston gave up for him. Atlanta made out like bandits in that deal. Meanwhile, Houtson still has no line and Schaub is no more mobile than Carr. He's a lock to get sacked at least 30 times this season. Houston may improve on defense but I think they are going to regress on offense this year (even though that may not seem possible). Meanwhile, despite his personal problems, Vick still has a ton of talent. If the new coaching staff can find a way to use Vick, I think his ceiling is higher than Schaub's.
The Pats line sucked before Bledsoe got hurt, Brady comes in and BOOM we have a good line all of a sudden. I seriously think they hated Bledsoe. We'll find out this year if the OL hated Carr or truly do suck :smile:
That is way more about Brady's mobility versus Bledsoe. Same exact thing happened in the Bledsoe/Romo situation last season in Dallas. Everything I've read about Carr is that he's a solid guy who wants to win more than anyone else on the team. Maybe players resent him cuz he was the former coach's golden boy. But I don't think that really plays into how many times you get sacked. O-lineman are not going to jeopardize their own careers by giving up tons of sacks cuz they hate the QB.
4 wins. That's how many I see the Texans getting with their new leader. Leadership is a great and required quality on a successful NFL franchise. Talent, however, is still ingredient #1 and all the leadership in the world isn't going to make champagne out of lemons. With lemons you get lemonade. I was at a little league game the other day which featured the best team in the league against the worst. Along about the 3rd inning it was 12-1 and we were just sitting there waiting for the mercy rule to kick in after the 4th. The losers were standing out at their positions in the field very subdued, this being about the 5th mercy in a row for them, when the kid at shortstop suddenly started the chatter that had been missing since a 7 run first by the other side. Within 30 seconds the whole team was yammering and talking it up. The kid didn't have anybody tell him to do that, he just decided to grit his teeth and start the chatter even in the face of ignominious defeat. Now that's leadership. The final score was 21-2.
i liked Schaub and think he has great potential but I dont see why they did this. Carr has the tools to be a legit starter and a good one at that. not once has this guy had an oline though. I dont understand how millionaries and organization brass dont get this. plugging in a backup from another team is instantly going to flip things? hell maybe it will, but I dont get any of this. they havent built around carr correctly. that was the problem. oh well best of luck to schaub. he has the tools let just see if he has a line.
