A quick question for any Jags fan that might stumble through here.
Aug 25, 2008 Teams that aren't the Texans, Tony Boselli is dead
Do you really have to listen to Tony Boselli for 16 games/year? Because I recorded a Jags game the other day and, upon watching it, wanted to light my eardrums on fire.
Bob McNair breaks it down, gangsta-style*
Mar 23, 2008 Barbaro is dead, Bob McNair, Casserly blows goats... I have proof, Charles Spencer, Old dudes, Tony Boselli is dead
*Or, um, “rich old man”-style. Whatever.
Texans owner Bob McNair did a two part interview with Texans TV early last week. It was, as you would expect, fairly general stuff–yes, we’ve turned a corner as a team; yes, it was hard to watch all the injuries last year; yes, it was important to re-sign the Special Teams Ninja; etc.
There was, however, one answer that stuck out.
Brooke Bentley: This year’s draft will be a little different for you because the Texans don’t have a top-10 pick. They will be selecting a player with the 18th selection. What excites you about this year’s draft and which direction do you see the team going with the first-round draft pick?
Bob McNair: Fortunately, there is depth in several positions and depth in several positions where we could use some more help. We’ve had problems with left tackle in the offensive line from day one, as you will recall. We thought we solved that when we picked Tony Boselli. Then, we drafted another young player behind Tony and he didn’t work out and Tony never played one down for us because of his injuries. And the last year with (Charles) Spencer, we thought, “Now, we’ve got the guy in there,” and then I think it was in the second game (of 2006) that he got injured and then he was down. So we have had a real difficult time filling that position. Ephraim (Salaam) did a good job for us last year and he’s going to be back with us, but we need a young player in there that’s going to be with us for a long time.
Hopefully, we’ll find that. If we don’t, there’s some good defensive backs and one of those should be available at the 18th pick. And who knows? Maybe there’s an outstanding running back. If there is somebody special, we would certainly consider that. But I think that Rick and his people have done a good enough job in free agency that we are not really vulnerable or desperate at any one position, so we can pick the best athlete that is available when our turn comes. And if we have the opportunity to trade down and still get the player we want and get an additional pick later, then certainly we always like to do that.
Hmm…I like the reference to possibly trading back. I dislike the idea of taking any DB at 18 whose name doesn’t rhyme with Smodgers-Thromartie. And I am genuinely concerned by the total lack of mention of DE or DT. (Though I suppose it’s possible that Bob is just playing some Texas Hold’Em and not tipping his hand here. Maybe he is just reciting what some of the “experts” are saying while fully planning on going a different direction. Or maybe I am overthinking this.)
Eric Allen struggles to group series of words into sentences
May 18, 2007 Andre Johnson, Batman, Broken Record, Gary Kubiak, Offensive (punch)Line, Reggie Bush, The Schaub Experiment, Tony Boselli is dead
Memo to Eric Allen: When Joe Theismann comes off as more intelligent that you, it might be time to consider never writing anything ever again. Seriously.
From the latest ESPN burning questions:
Will the Texans be able to protect Matt Shaub?
Allen: I think the Texans are going to have the same protection problems they’ve had in the past. Houston doesn’t seem to understand the importance not only of surrounding the quarterback with playmakers but also of making sure he has the protection to get the ball to those playmakers. There will definitely be times this season when Schaub will wish he was still in Atlanta not taking some brutal hits.
Really, Eric? Schaub is going to wish that he was still on the bench in Atlanta, instead of being paid an asston* of money to throw to Andre Johnson as a starting QB? I call bullshit. (Also, other than Johnson and (possibly) Ahman Green, who are all these “playmakers” that the Texans have surrounded their QBs with? Last I checked, the big knock on the Texans–besides not having a living offensive lineman–was that they DIDN’T draft Bush/Young, DESPITE NEEDING playmakers.) Next, you’ll tell me that the biggest problem facing the Texans is that they won’t draft defensive linemen and linebackers to take some of the pressure off their All-Pro secondary.
Remember way back at the beginning of this post, when I suggested that Joe Theismann was sensible? Well, that’s only compared to Eric Allen. Still, Joe accidentally stumbles onto a nugget of truth in his answer when he offers
I don’t think protection will be as big of an issue because coach Gary Kubiak probably will try to run the ball as much as possible. That will provide protection for Schaub and also create space for receiver Andre Johnson on the outside in play-action situations. Kubiak is a brilliant offensive mind, and he’s going to find a way to make sure that Schaub stays on his feet this season.
Um… running the ball is certainly a way to open up passing options. No argument there, Joe. But running the ball successfully requires an offensive line, doesn’t it? So, if you are saying that Kubes will try to utilize Green in a ground-heavy attack, then you must be saying that there will be adequate blocking to accomplish such tact. On that point, we agree. Now we must never speak of this moment again.
*”Asston” is a metric measurement. That’s why you don’t recognize it.
David Carr to Texans: Suck it, bitchez
May 7, 2007 Athletes who don't stab people, David Carr has Post-Concussion Syndrome, DeMeco Ryans, Houston Chronicle, Teams that aren't the Texans, The Schaub Experiment, Tony Boselli is dead, Tremendous Busts
This just in: Über-competitor David Carr is thrilled– THRILLED! –to be playing the role of clipboard caddy. One of the perks of this job, it seems, is it affords David ample time to run off at the mouth.* Says Dave:
As far as the talent on this team, it’s something I haven’t been around. It’s fun for me, just coming out here and playing with a group, both offensively and defensively, that has (so) much skill. [...] If you’re not having fun, it’s going to be like what I had the last couple of years where you almost don’t even want to come to work.
Now, look, I always liked David Carr. I thought he got a bum rap, considering that the best offensive lineman he had prior to last season was the Corpse of Tony Boselli. I also thought he was a stand-up guy for showing up everyday and just playing, without screaming about the team or demanding to be traded. That said, when your career is such that the team (whether wisely or not) cuts you so they can pay through the nose for a heretofore-only-been-a-backup QB, maybe you shouldn’t go popping off about the lack of “talent” you just left behind. That’s the sort of thing that will make DeMeco angry, which could lead to Delhomme getting murdered** in week 2. This, in turn, would force you back into the starting role, thereby eliminating (a) Carolina’s playoff hopes and (b) the free time you are currently using to be a prick.
I’m just sayin’.
*Judging by the photo in that article, he also has lots of time to work on his Gordon Gecko hairdo. Greed is good.
**Fanhouse seems to think that this is the plan.
