This Should Be A Put Up Or Shut Up Year For Matt Schaub

When you read the list of players on the NFL hot seat, Matt Schaub is curiously not on any one of them.

This is strange, for Schaub definitely needs to prove that he is capable of being a starting NFL QB by leading the Texans to the playoffs this year.

If he cannot, the Texans need to try to go in another direction, whether via free agency, trade, or the draft.

These are the reasons why.

1) The Texans are no longer an expansion team.

The Texans have never been under any pressure to perform because of the "grace period" that exists for expansion teams in the eyes of the media and the fans.

That period is over.

The Texans entered the NFL eight years ago. The Tennessee Titans had the best record in the NFL last year with only one starter who has been with them since 2002—Keith Bulluck.

With the draft and free agency, eight years is more than enough to build a competitive franchise. The Texans—and their players—should be judged by the same standards as everyone else, and that includes Matt Schaub.

2) Schaub is by no means inexperienced.

Quite the contrary. He started 40 games at Virginia, running a pro-style, west coast offense that is similar to what the Texans run. Then, he spent his first three years in the NFL as the number two QB for the Atlanta Falcons, a team whose offense was based on the Denver Broncos-type offense that Houston runs, and this is his third year as the Texans' starter.

Granted, some QBs like Steve Young and Rich Gannon were late bloomers, but the point is that Schaub has had the ideal background and preparation to succeed in his current system, and more than enough time to do so.

3) The Houston Texans have been on the cusp of success for a while.

This is not the Bengals we are talking about.

The Texans have gone 6-10, 8-8, and 8-8 the last three years. Better QB play could have gotten them over the top in each of those years, and in the last two seasons in particular.

4) The Texans have no glaring deficiencies.

This isn't the expansion team with the sieve offensive line that ruined any shot that David Carr had of succeeding (70 sacks his rookie season!), had no run game, defense, or anything but a young Andre Johnson.

Instead, the Texans probably have the second best offensive line in the AFC South. They also arguably have the best group of pass-catchers, and a good—if not great—RB in Steve Slaton.

On defense, if Brian Cushing is healthy and plays as expected, they will easily have the best LBs in the division, good DBs, and that leaves the defensive line as the weak link the team. As this "weak link" contains Pro Bowl caliber Mario Williams, proven performer Antonio Smith at DE, and and an average—if not playmaking—rotation of Amobi Okoye, DelJuan Robinson, Frank Okam, and Shaun Cody at DT.

Their weak link is not nearly as bad as, say, the Jacksonville Jaguars' wide receivers. If they put points on the board, the Texans have 10-6 or 11-5 talent, and putting points on the board centers on Matt Schaub.

5) The Texans invested heavily in Schaub.

The fellow is no caretaker for a dominant team along the lines of what Kerry Collins and Joe Flacco were for Tennessee and Baltimore last season or what Kyle Orton will be for Denver this season.

Instead, Houston gave up two second round picks for Schaub and invested a $48 million contract in him. Before the new collective bargaining agreement made absurd contracts like that of Jake Delhomme ($42 million over five years) somewhat routine, Schaub's contract was the going rate for a Pro Bowl caliber QB who was not drafted in the first round.

For instance, Tom Brady's contract, which was signed two years prior to Schaub's, was six years for $60 million. With the picks—which the Atlanta Falcons have used to acquire two starters—and the investment, Schaub should be a guy who leads the Texans to victories this season. 

6) The 2010 draft is an excellent one for QBs.

Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Zac Robinson, and Todd Reesing represent the Big 12 alone. Then there is also Jevan Snead and Tim Tebow from the SEC. (Although the Texans, who need to win right away, would not be a good destination for Tebow, who unlike Schaub has not played in a pro style offense and will need at least two years to pick up the NFL game).

This gives the Texans a good shot at getting a QB with a first-round grade without having to trade up even if they barely miss the playoffs, in contrast with last season where the Jets had to pay a handsome sum to trade up to get a guy who started 16 college games in Mark Sanchez. While trading for a QB is probably the safest way to find a good QB, if Schaub fails to lead the Texans to the playoffs yet again and a guy like Snead is available, the Texans have to take him. 

This really should be Schaub's last shot with the Texans.

A guy who played in a pro-style college offense AND had the benefit of holding a clipboard for three seasons should not get four tries to lead a talented team to the playoffs. Why more people have not picked up this angle is very surprising.