The truth about Gary Kubiak's offensive system??!!

Former Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub recently spoke to Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area New Group about how much control he will have in the Oakland Raiders' offense.  These quotes from Matt Schaub have gotten several people, especially in Houston, talking about how Gary Kubiak's offensive system was really like especially for the quarterback.

It’s exciting. It’s just like going to a new place and getting a fresh start. To come to an offense where the coach is looking to give you more freedom, and looking to give you more control of things. I had that in some aspects in Houston, but there are things I’m being asked to do here that I didn’t have control of in Houston. I would have loved to, but we just weren’t in control of it. To now be in that position, and being the quarterback, that’s such a great place to be because you can get everyone on the same page.

From what I've understood about the offensive system Gary Kubiak ran during his time in Houston, the quarterback wasn't given much control at the line of scrimmage.  Based from what I've read and heard, the quarterback was given 2 offensive plays by the play-caller (Gary Kubiak in this case) to call in the huddle.  While at the line of scrimmage, the quarterback couldn't call an audible or adjust the protection based from what the defense was presenting.

Under Greg Olsen in Oakland, Matt Schaub will apparently have more control over the offense in games than he had in Houston.  For the most part, Matt Schaub has been productive during his time in Houston aside from the 2013 debacle that occurred in Houston.  Time will tell if he can turn things around in Oakland.

But as far as the offense that Bill O'Brien runs, the quarterback has loads of responsibilities during the games.  How do you feel about the new offense that'll start getting installed soon?

The Power Structure of the Houston Texans

We are only a few days before the 2014 NFL Draft.  Therefore, one thing that hasn't really been mentioned is who has the final say on Draft Day.  Every team is structured differently however it appears that many teams including Houston are mirroring the structure of the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks.  Pete Carroll was brought to the Seattle Seahawks with the promise of significant control of the team.  Basically, while GM John Schneider looks for players to build the roster, head coach Pete Carroll cuts the roster down to the final 53.  The same type of structure is used in Houston.

Bob McNair has always used the Patriots' as his model for how he wants the Football Operations to be run in the Houston Texans organization.  Who better than to help him than somebody that has been in New England under Bob Kraft for several years like newly hired head coach Bill O'Brien?  From what we have seen so far, it is clear that Bill O'Brien has final say over the 53 man roster while Rick Smith handles the NFL Draft and free agency.  Typically when there are huge football decisions to be made where Rick Smith and Bill O'Brien can't seem to agree, Bob McNair is the tiebreaker.  We haven't seen that yet being so early in Bill O'Brien's time here in Houston.

Bob McNair, Rick Smith and Bill O'Brien are all highly respected within the NFL.  Do you think the structure in place is going to benefit the Houston Texans long term?  Or are you more concerned about the immediate fix?

Thoughts on Houston Texans Town Hall Meeting

Yesterday (March 31), the Houston Texans held a closed Q&A session at the Houston Texans Grille located in City Centre open only to media and Houston Texans season ticket holders.  He was asked about various topics including the draft and free agency.  Most are addressed in this latest episode of Bulls On Parade Talk.

Will the Texans trade another of their current quarterbacks from last year's roster?

Now that Matt Schaub has been traded to the Oakland Raiders, that now leaves 3 quarterbacks on the current roster.  Those quarterbacks are T.J. Yates, Case Keenum and newly signed free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Bill O'Brien, in an interview with NFL Network, made it clear that the Texans will draft a quarterback.  The uncertainty remains about the spot at where the Texans will target a potential quarterback.  In addition, O'Brien stated in an interview with Marc Vandemeer on Texans All Access on SportsRadio 610 that all the quarterbacks will all compete for the starting job.

“I don’t see why we couldn't have four guys, including a drafted quarterback, in our camp.  Those guys have been told it’s a competition.  They’ll get reps and everybody is there to compete.  We are trying to put together a very competitive roster."

This does not, however, dismiss the possibility of T.J. Yates or Case Keenum getting trade before training camp.  The other possibility is that either of these quarterbacks could potentially be cut during the preseason as the roster is set to the final 53.  This leaves the question of where they could potentially land.

Two possibilities I can see are the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.

Cleveland is looking for a quarterback.  While they are being patient with Brian Hoyer, I don't see why they can't look at either of these two as other potential "quarterbacks of the future."  One factor that people might forget is the current offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.  That man is Kyle Shanahan.  He was the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans when Matt Schaub first arrived on the scene in Houston.  Around this time, Matt Schaub was putting up good numbers resulting in more wins even though they never really gave us a playoff berth.  That, however, has more to do with the fact there wasn't much of a team around Matt Schaub at the time.  But Case Keenum and T.J. Yates have both spent their young careers learning the Shanahan West Coast system that Gary Kubiak continued running in Houston during his tenure.  This is the one reason I believe it would be a good fit for both of them.

Baltimore presents another possibility but not in terms of being a starting quarterback.  That job belongs to Joe Flacco.  However, the new offensive coordinator is very, very familiar with Case and T.J.  Either of them could potentially battle with Tyrod Taylor for the backup spot behind Joe Flacco.

So could we trade Case Keenum or T.J. Yates before or after the draft?  We most certainly could.  But the better question is: will we?

Matt Schaub traded to the Oakland Raiders for a 6th round pick

The inevitable move in free agency that almost every Houston Texan fan has been waiting for has come to pass.  Matt Schaub and his expensive contract has been traded to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a 6th round pick.  This leaves Case Keenum and T.J. Yates along with newly signed free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick on the current roster.  Whether or not you like Matt Schaub or not, you have to at least recognize what he has done for the city of Houston during his time here.  Since the Texans acquired Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons, the Houston Texans' offense started improving.  Matt Schaub led the league in passing during two of his seasons as the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans.  Now 2013 wasn't Matt Schaub's best year by any stretch of the imagination.  However, the fault can't be placed solely on the quarterback, and not because there were 3 different starting quarterbacks, but because everyone on the roster in some way was at fault.  The offensive line wasn't protecting well or creating running lanes for the running backs and injuries once again plagued the team forcing younger and inexperienced players to see action prematurely including Case Keenum and Dennis Johnson.  

Just because a player has one bad year or one bad game, it doesn't make them a bad player or a bad person.  Everyone has bad moments in their lives at some point.  It's what makes us human.  Do I like Matt Schaub?  I sure do.  Now do I feel that getting rid of him was a good move?  I do as a matter fact.  But it's probably for different reasons that some of you might think.  His contract would cost us cap space for the next two seasons and the fans have completely turned against him after last season.  Just ask the guy that went to his house and threatened his family.  The same can be said about Randy Bullock after missing several field goals during the Sunday Night game against Indianapolis which was Case Keenum's first start as well as the night which Gary Kubiak had that mini-stroke.

Overall, the season didn't turn out as planned for the Houston Texans.  But, I'd still like to take this time to thank Matt Schaub for everything he and his family have given to the city of Houston.  He is nothing short of a class act and I'm sure he will be successful no matter where he goes.