At least Carr got a ring... Source: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

I’m not blaming David Carr or Bob McNair, but the Texans have failed to produce a winner and one year of success (a year with a very bemused Colts team) does not suddenly make the team a perennial playoff lock.  Personally, I think it all relates back to head coach Gary Kubiak.

A couple years ago, Kubiak’s job was on the line.  Many sports pundits openly said he was bound to lose his job and that it may be time for Houston to transition away from the ex-quarterback and focus on building a more complete team.  Having only one winning season in 2009 when the team went 9-7 and missed the playoffs, the team did not look to be heading toward success until the 2011 breakout that saw the team go 10-6, a full four more victories than their 2010 total (a 6-10 season that tied Kubiak’s worst).

So, with things seeming to look up, why am I hard on Kubiak?  Because it took the brilliance of Wade Phillips to bring the team to the playoffs.

Kubiak can, and has, built a superb offense.  His downside is his defense.  Phillips came in after being excused in Dallas and turned the Texans into a winner.  But even with a very, very good defense the team still only managed to win one more game than they did in 2009.  It could be extrapolated that the team would have been better with Matt Schaub under center, and I agree.  But that is a player, not scheming or coaching.

For a rookie, he did pretty damn well. Source: US-Presswire

T.J. Yates – a man some here at B&T thought would be drafted higher than the fifth round – is a decent player, one of the league’s greatest receivers plays in Houston, a superb pair of backs rush the ball, and a very strong crop of defensive players have responded well to good coaching from Phillips.

Meanwhile, Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin are turning no-names into legends and changing the way the game is played.  John Harbaugh is inspiring his players to heights far beyond their potential in Baltimore.  The Steelers are making waves with players who have been around the block a few too many times.  And the Broncos got by with a quarterback who could only play in the fourth quarter.

I like the Texans, they should have won the Super Bowl in 2011 with a healthy Matt Schaub.  The team has a roster that is stronger than most any other team you match it against.  But the team is being limited by a head coach who has worked hard at building a good offense but probably can’t sustain it.  The team relies too much on its players and too little on its coach to be successful over the longer term.

I’m not going to say the team won’t be tough to beat.  But look for a drop similar to the 2010 season for the Texans.  And when it’s all said and done I’ll be pointing at Kubiak and thinking of a potential Houston dynasty that could have been in the AFC South.

- Luke N. Sims

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Some quarterbacks play the role perfectly. Kerry Collins, Kurt Warner, and Brad Johnson all managed to transition from top league quarterbacks to successful backups.  They worked hard with their teams, they helped guide younger quarterbacks as they tried for success in the NFL.  And when their teams called their numbers?  Collins responded by leading the Titans to the AFC South title, Warner led the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl, and Johnson led the Vikings to a 7-2 record in games he started, just falling short of the playoffs.

Kerry Collins turned the Titans into a threat again by staying sharp despite not starting for years. Source: Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE

These quarterbacks all stayed sharp. They all had success during their time starting for teams.  What sets them apart from the Byron Leftwiches, the David Carrs, and the Trent Edwards?  Is it all about skill?  Is it all just superior performance?  Or does it have something to do with the ability to sit down and understand one’s role?

I’m willing to argue the latter.  David Carr had a rough go of it in Houston.  He is the most sacked quarterback in his first season.  Byron Leftwich had a big arm and could read defenses.  He wasn’t the most mobile quarterback, but neither was Drew Bledsoe or Collins.  And what about Trent Edwards?  A little gun-shy, sure, but the kid could take his backup time and work harder to understand pressures and regain a starting role.

Chad Henne will be coming into a backup role in Jacksonville.  For the good of the franchise and his own professional career, it behooves the signal caller to work hard, study hard, and try to help the franchise as a whole.  If a player is truly invested in the team he plays for.  Henne won’t be as far removed from starting as Warner, Collins, or Johnson were. He never experienced the success that all three of those quarterbacks had (All three went to a Superbowl), but he has a strong arm and knows how to lead an offense.

He won’t be leading the first team offense during practice, but by working hard he will be able to improve the Jaguars chances of winning every time he steps on the field.

And if Henne is forced into the leading the Jaguars, I want him as prepared as he possibly can be.  I wish him the best of success in his learning the role of the backup quarterback.  It’s often overlooked, but the role can be considerably more beneficial than people realize.  Just ask Warner, Collins, and Johnson.

- Luke N. Sims

Blaine Gabbert faces another rookie opponent in Week 5 Source: bloguin.com

This week, for the second week this season, Blaine Gabbert will be the counterpart to a rookie quarterback:  Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton.  In the build up to the draft, I counted Dalton as my man.  I liked his accuracy, thought his arm strength could improve through NFL level conditioning, and I figured TCU’s offense would translate well for him in the NFL.  But how have the rookies been doing through the first four weeks?  How have rookies historically done in their first seasons?  What can we expect from Blaine later on in the season?  What can we expect from him later on down the road?  Follow the jump to find out.

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