Who In the Hell is Next Man Up Now?

[barrett]

I was the one who had predicted doom for leinhart as a checkdown guy. This is not a caretakers offense and schaub was not game managing. With AJ out half the year he still had like 6 TDs of 50+ yards. We were a very scary passing team as proven by the fact that teams still didn't bring an extra guy up weeks 7-10 with AJ gone. NFL defenses fear the big play more than anything and schaub gave it to us, making our run game and OL look better.

Yates may be able to give us a downfield threat, but if he doesn't we are screwed. Leinhart certainly didn't. I'd like rosenfels most because he has proven he can move a less talented version of this team up and down the field. And I think we're good enough to overcome his turnovers (which Yates likely beings to the table as well). But don't overestimate how much of our offense Yates knows. He has not dressed yet and spends his week running the opponents stuff on the scout team. It is not promising right now in terms of playing past the first round.

[Roy P]

One of the things I like about Yates is that he kept playing well for Butch Davis with all of the investigations going on at UNC. I saw him play in San Antonio for the Tx vs. The Nation NFLPA) game and was impressed. It featured WR Denarius Moore and CB Gaitor (TB). Yates was the MVP if I recall. Anyway, I have faith that Kubiak can coach him up to be competent. My concern is teams loading the box vs. Our run and Kubiak being stubborn in trying to run anyway to protect Yates. If we keep the playcalling the same, then we can be successful.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Anyway, I have faith that Kubiak can coach him up to be competent. My concern is teams loading the box vs. Our run and Kubiak being stubborn in trying to run anyway to protect Yates. If we keep the playcalling the same, then we can be successful.

This is my biggest fear, that Kubiak will keep the gameplan conservative against the Falcons to "protect" his QB, to "boost" his confidence, or some other hokum soundbite he's already preparing for postgame. Kubiak was right to be conservative in the second half against the Jags. The results speak for themselves.

The Falcons though have at least as good an offense as the Texans have seen since mid-October, plus they ain't too shabby at run defense, too.

So please, Kubes, please let Yates run the show. Play like you have nothing to lose. This is a home game against a non-conference opponent anyway. Give the guys the ol' "it's us against the world" speech pregame. Then live and die with your defense and a QB who many, including yours truly, thought outplayed Leinart in August anyway.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

This is my biggest fear, that Kubiak will keep the gameplan conservative against the Falcons to "protect" his QB, to "boost" his confidence, or some other hokum soundbite he's already preparing for postgame. Kubiak was right to be conservative in the second half against the Jags. The results speak for themselves.

The Falcons though have at least as good an offense as the Texans have seen since mid-October, plus they ain't too shabby at run defense, too.

So please, Kubes, please let Yates run the show. Play like you have nothing to lose. This is a home game against a non-conference opponent anyway. Give the guys the ol' "it's us against the world" speech pregame. Then live and die with your defense and a QB who many, including yours truly, thought outplayed Leinart in August anyway.

Apparently, Kubiak is reading this site and took our good advice. Happy to see Yates throwing the ball deep yesterday. Wish Andre had made that first catch. Anyway, I am content with Yates as the QB.

[Keith]

lol, yep, right down to the pregame speech. Kubes used the early betting line (where the Texans were 3-point dogs) to motivate his team throughout the week.

[painekiller]

Brett Hartman is done. Torn ACL according to Kubiak.

They are bringing in multiple guys tomorrow.

IMO Turk is the early favorite, like it or not. I am a not liking that.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Brett Hartman is done. Torn ACL according to Kubiak.

They are bringing in multiple guys tomorrow.

IMO Turk is the early favorite, like it or not. I am a not liking that.

I literally rolled my eyes when he said that.....

Good news on Dre - Mild sprain - Day to day. Don't think we'll see him this week, but definitely good news.

[NBT]

I'm behind T.J. Yates in this conversation. He came in with little prep, and threw the ball with a good tight spiral, and with good accuracy, and seemed to manage the game pretty well. The fact is that Kubes went ultra-conservative on him and did not allow him much chance to show his wares in the second half. I think, with a weeks worth of skull sessions with Kubiak under his belt, he will acquit himself well in the Atlanta game. The fact that he was a four year starter at N.C. bodes well for him also.

If the offensive line gets off their blocks better, the run game will help a lot too.

[Fonz the Boss]

I don't believe any of that "trying to keep TJ upright" stuff from Kubiak. At the end of the day you still have to go out and try to win the game and you don't do that from going 3 and out on almost every possession. Being 8-3 at this time is more than i could have asked for therefore making the postseason would still be a huge success. We will likely lose our first playoff game with Yates as our QB but it would still make the season a big success. There's still a decent chance we could finish the season 3-2 (11-5 overall).

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Fonz the Boss

I don't believe any of that "trying to keep TJ upright" stuff from Kubiak.

Why not? At halftime he learned that Leinart would not return and realized that the next man up is Owen Daniels who last played quarterback in junior high. I have no trouble believing that Kubiak, with the lead, decided to have TJ hand the ball off and let the defense win the game. It was a little frustrating to watch but in retrospect Kubiak absolutely did the right and responsible thing.

[WMH]

@McClain_on_NFL Texans will work out Delhomme and Garcia Tues. Expected to sign one of them to back up Yates.

Also, the Fins apparently aren't in the Christmas spirit per LaCanfora. They are not expected to release Sage IF he passes a phyiscal.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...headline_stack

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by WMH

@McClain_on_NFL Texans will work out Delhomme and Garcia Tues. Expected to sign one of them to back up Yates.

Given that option.....I would take Garcia. Delhomme totally sucks.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Given that option.....I would take Garcia. Delhomme totally sucks.

That would be my vote. Plus we might get to see his wife...

[NBT]

Originally Posted by chuck

Why not? At halftime he learned that Leinart would not return and realized that the next man up is Owen Daniels who last played quarterback in junior high. I have no trouble believing that Kubiak, with the lead, decided to have TJ hand the ball off and let the defense win the game. It was a little frustrating to watch but in retrospect Kubiak absolutely did the right and responsible thing.

I have trouble with "the next man up is Owen Daniels" to QB if Yate goes down. I think Yates will handle the job OK, and anyway OD would be best suited where he is, a dangerous weapon at TE. Why not go to James Casey, assuming that FB Vickers would be back? Of course, if that were not possible, then I guess OD would have to be the Man. Dang all these injuries.

Of course GB had 15 on the IR last year and still won the SB. A good omen for us?

[WMH]

Interesting.....

@AdamSchein: Garrard tells us the Texans called him, but he had to tell them he can't play at this time.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by NBT

I have trouble with "the next man up is Owen Daniels" to QB if Yate goes down. I think Yates will handle the job OK, and anyway OD would be best suited where he is, a dangerous weapon at TE. Why not go to James Casey, assuming that FB Vickers would be back? Of course, if that were not possible, then I guess OD would have to be the Man. Dang all these injuries.

Of course GB had 15 on the IR last year and still won the SB. A good omen for us?

I think every team has to declare before the game who their emergency QB will be in a situation like this. Anyone confirm this? As I understand it, this is generally OD for the Texans. Whether he is the right guy for the job? Your guess is as good as mine and this situation happens so infrequently (can anyone even remember the last time the "emergency" non-QB QB actually took snaps in any game?) that it probably doesn't get a lot of attention from the coaching staff. In any event, with the prevalence of the wildcat, not sure why you couldn't get around this by putting whoever you want back there and then just claiming to be running wildcat plays.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Joshua

I think every team has to declare before the game who their emergency QB will be in a situation like this. Anyone confirm this? As I understand it, this is generally OD for the Texans. Whether he is the right guy for the job? Your guess is as good as mine and this situation happens so infrequently (can anyone even remember the last time the "emergency" non-QB QB actually took snaps in any game?) that it probably doesn't get a lot of attention from the coaching staff. In any event, with the prevalence of the wildcat, not sure why you couldn't get around this by putting whoever you want back there and then just claiming to be running wildcat plays.

Not anymore. They did away with that in the new CBA, and just made it a 46 active game day roster. The term emergency QB is rather loose now, and only used in "oh-shit" cases.

Likely OD was in that spot due to Thors torn pec recovering. If that situation had to play out, and we actually had to throw the ball, tough to do with a recovering peck muscle.

[cadams]

Originally Posted by NBT

I have trouble with "the next man up is Owen Daniels" to QB if Yate goes down. I think Yates will handle the job OK, and anyway OD would be best suited where he is, a dangerous weapon at TE. Why not go to James Casey, assuming that FB Vickers would be back? Of course, if that were not possible, then I guess OD would have to be the Man. Dang all these injuries.

Of course GB had 15 on the IR last year and still won the SB. A good omen for us?

Per OD in a radio interview this morning, Casey can't throw the ball right now because of the pec tear.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by NBT

I have trouble with "the next man up is Owen Daniels" to QB if Yate goes down.

That was only being said about last Sunday's game. They only had 2 QBs in uniform. Matt Leinart and TJ Yates. Leinart got hurt, so they only had one guy that played QB left.

Kubiak is the one that said Owen was the emergency QB.

[WMH]

Another one for the scrap head?

@AdamSchefter: Filed to ESPN: Vikings plan to release Donovan McNabb today, according to a league source.