Case Keenum's Upside Makes Him Better Long-Term Option Than Matt Schaub

Following a dismal start to a season that began with high expectations, the Houston Texans appear willing to head in a different direction under center, and who can blame them?

In two games since taking over for veteran quarterback Matt Schaub, who has since recovered from a leg injury, undrafted rookie Case Keenum has displayed limitless potential and tremendous upside, assets that make him far and away a better long-term option for Houston than Schaub.

While the Texans know that at his best, Schaub is among the top quarterbacks in the league. He's had more than half a dozen seasons to prove he can lead Houston to the promised land.

Keenum hasn't had that opportunity yet, and that's the biggest difference. 

Although the Texans are now 0-2 with Keenum as the starter, they went just 2-4 in the six games Schaub started. Not to mention the Texans' past two losses have come by a combined four points. 

Plus, Keenum's numbers as the starter have been excellent.

Although he's only completing 59.3 percent of his passes, he's thrown for 621 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions through two games. Not bad when you consider he was going up against the league's third-ranked pass defense in Kansas City in Week 7 and a Colts' secondary that only allowed eight passing touchdowns through its first seven games coming into Week 9.

Keep in mind that Schaub, who is seven years older than Keenum, is only completing 64.4 percent of his passes this season. That matches his NFL career mark.

Again, Houston has witnessed the peak of Schaub's production.

In addition to Keenum's upside, it's the plays he doesn't make that make him a better option to lead the Texans' offense. Schaub's infamous stretch of four consecutive games with having an interception returned for a touchdown highlight his biggest weakness at this point. 

Not only is he lacking confidence, but now he's hesitating more and more often as a result of his mistakes. 

Keenum is accurate enough to do damage but also rarely makes the mistake of putting too much trust in his arm. In his final season with the Cougars, he threw 48 touchdown passes to just five interceptions. 

But even if Schaub rediscovers his old form, the Texans can confirm that it doesn't translate to championship football. Houston has won just one playoff game with Schaub under center.

At 2-6 and with the season effectively over, Houston would be better suited to see what Keenum can do as the starting quarterback over the second half of the season and moving forward.

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