Before the season, I posted "My Take on the 2021 NFL QB Class". With the exception of D'Eriq King and Purdy, my class is fairly similar to what it was earlier in the season. Obviously, Zach Wilson was the big mover. COVID did impact this QB class as it did for everything in sports. Here is my updated list:
QB1 :
Trevor Lawrence – Top QB in the draft. Once in a generation prospect even if his QB skills aren’t exactly there with Andrew Luck, he’s better at the spread than Luck as a pro-style QB.
Status – Very Polished, could use more polish as a pro-style QB
Style of QB – Balanced QB
System – Spread (Elite) The greatest spread QB prospect of all time.
Floor: Very good NFL QB who’s a top 12-15 QB especially if used in the spread, could be higher.
Ceiling: The best player in the NFL
Player Comparison – John Elway
Impact Comparison – Not sure we have seen someone as good as Trevor as a spread QB who is going to a spread system like Urban Meyer. Obviously, Kyler and Kliff Kingsbury was a great marriage but T. Law is several tiers better at the spread than Murray. Some will say Herbert but Trevor is a much better spread QB than Herbert. Trevor makes others around him better. Herbert needs to have a strong supporting cast. Trevor has some Deshaun Watson in him.
Tier – All-Pro Prospect
I am about going to breakdown any of these prospects to a T. I felt a lot of guys have done that already and have pretty good lists of their strengths and weaknesses. While Trevor has a similar floor to Fields, his potential is astronomical. He and Lance have the highest ceiling in this draft. If this were another sport like Basketball, I would compare Trevor to Luka Doncic.
Favorite High-End Play from Trevor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiGP_wd8Z5c QB2:
Trey Lance– Most talented and gifted QB in this draft. Elite athleticism, elite strength for the position, very good arm, elite work ethic, elite Football IQ, and Football instincts, with pre-snap abilities as an RS Freshman. It helps he’s also a pro-style QB which matters in the NFL.
Status – Needs polish, Boom or Bust prospect
Style of QB – Running QB
System – West Coast QB
Floor: Below Average QB who could be solid (top 20-25 QB) if the personnel around him is very good.
Ceiling: All-Pro QB who is an elite football player while being a very good QB
Player Comparison – Steve McNair
Impact Comparison – Josh Allen
Tier – Pro Bowl Prospect
He has a lot of McNair qualities and throws and moves a lot like McNair. Faster than McNair plays like a 4.5 guy. What is special about Lance is he is an elite all-around athlete. He is not just a great athlete out of the pocket, he is a great athlete in the pocket. He also showcases a very good mental processing speed. They make things simple for Lance with mirrors but considering he was an RS Freshman in all the tape I watched, I really don’t have as much of a problem with it.
I liked his accuracy overall. I really did not have much of an issue with it as I rewatched the tape. Experience is probably the biggest thing I want to see him add more of. He's a freak athlete, extremely talented QB, what if he is what Pat Mahomes is to Brett Favre for him/McNair. His impact comparison is Allen because he's one of the most naturally gifted and talented physically strong players I've seen as I have been doing this.
QB3a:
Justin Fields– Elite Mobile QB prospect and the best mobile QB I have ever seen. Excellent athleticism, elite strength for the position, very good arm, excellent accuracy, elite work ethic, scheme versatile, and knows when to run or pass effortlessly. PFF rated him an elite QB every season he has played.
Status – The most polished QB in the draft.
Style of QB – Mobile QB
System – Pro-Style QB, scheme versatile, can also play pro-style at a high level.
Floor: Good QB, top 20 QB day 1.
Ceiling: Multiple time Pro Bowler who can win you a lot of games with a good team surrounding him.
Player Comparison – Donovan McNabb
Impact Comparison – Matt Ryan
Tier – Very good Prospect
Reminds me of Matt Ryan a lot. Meaning that they are extremely polished as prospects and ready on day 1 but they have a good number of flaws that are not as workable as their fans want you to believe and I wonder if their ceiling really is that high. I felt Ryan’s was not and was proven correct. I feel the same about Fields, but I could be proven wrong.
Ryan as a prospect was an elite game manager prospect which is like Fields who is an elite mobile QB prospect. His playing style reminds me a lot of McNabb. I hate the Watson comparison; Watson is a gamer who is a freakish playmaker. Fields usually take what the defense gives him. He is a lot more like McNabb.
Mobile QB always have a much higher risk of injuries due to their style of play but their style of play leads to winning with less and winning big with more but they don’t have the same longevity as balanced and non-mobile QBs.
QB3b:
Zach Wilson– Similar to Joe Burrow, he had a freakishly elite year before he entered the NFL while previous years were decent but nothing to write about for an NFL QB Prospect. What I love about Wilson is many of the things I loved about Burrow. Elite accuracy. Can throw off-platform. Throws off many different arm angles. Mobile. Good football IQ. The issue where I differ between him and Burrow who I felt was a legit All-Pro prospect with a very high floor is decision making. I do like his arm strength more than Burrow. I really was not a fan of Wilson’s decision making and I feel, he needs a lot of development at it if it can be fixed at all. PFF rated him a 95.4 which is insanely high considering his personnel.
Status – Very polished
Style of QB – Balanced QB
System – Spread QB
Floor: Decent QB, should be top 20-25 QB as a rookie and better depending on the personnel.
Ceiling: Multiple time Pro Bowler who can win you a lot of games with a good team surrounding him. Players will really be able to put up excellent stats with him at QB when he reaches his comfort zone.
Player Comparison – Joe Burrow
Impact Comparison – Tony Romo
Tier – Very good Prospect
Reminds me of Tony Romo. Talented. Accurate. Questionable decision making. Thinks he is more athletic than he is. Will likely have a lot of injuries due to his decision making. Overall, he’s a great fit for the modern game with the WR’s, TE’s, and schemes we have in today’s NFL.
QB5:
Mac Jones – Had one of the best seasons in college football history. Tremendous pocket QB ability. Elite ball placement on short to intermediate throws. Gives his WRs a shot to make the play. Throws all his players in stride when it is not a deep ball. He likes to sling the rock and knows how to mix run and pass. His athletic ability is not awful, he reminds me of Nick Mullens athletically. Best Football IQ in this draft for a QB, he is a very good decision-maker. Tremendous foot speed within the pocket. The best in the class and easily the best I have seen in a while for a QB prospect.
His arm strength is a major issue and considering the timing of today’s pocket, he needs to be more athletic too. Also, his weapons are better than the players he will likely play with at the next level. He is clearly the best game managing QB I have seen in a while but most of these guys if not all of them have been bad or bust recently. Jared Goff is the last elite game managing prospect, and he is hurting his team more than helping them these days. Mac is a very good game manager prospect.
Status – Very polished
Style of QB – Game Manager
System – West Coast QB
Floor: Below average QB, should be back up tier QB as a rookie.
Ceiling: Could be a decent QB long term. Depending on the system, coaching, and personnel, could be the biggest breakout in this class.
Player Comparison – Jake Fromm
Impact Comparison – Phillip Rivers
Tier – Good Prospect
Clearly a 1st round QB to me. Best pocket passer in the draft. Will be a game manager for a while and hopes that he can develop into a good QB. He reminds me of a lot of Fromm but he is superior in many key areas. The hope is that he eventually develops into a Phillip Rivers reliable Pro Bowl type of QB considering his arm strength questions. His most impressive trait for me is his foot speed within the pocket. He will remind some people of Tom Brady. Watching early Brady, I can see the comparisons but man, Brady needed A LOT to go right for him to be an elite QB. Coaching, system, scheme, personnel, how you are used. You can go to the wrong team and he is a rich man’s Nate Peterman being a career backup. In today’s NFL, getting everything to go right usually does not happen so do not expect it to happen. If there is a Pat Mahomes or Lamar Jackson in this class (2nd or 3rd round grade QB who became a superstar), Mac Jones is it for me.
QB6:
Kyle Trask – A Pocket Passer. We do not get many of these a lot these days. Kyle is excellent at the line. The pre-snap grade is very good. He knows how to get the ball to his playmakers. He has an excellent feel for the game. He has very good size. He is a very good Pocket Passer QB prospect. Guys like him do well in the NFL because running an offense and being productive is VERY hard to find and his arm is strong enough.
Status – Very polished
Style of QB – Pocket Passer
System – Spread QB
Floor: Average QB, should be a top tier backup QB as a rookie. Top 30-35 QB
Ceiling: Should be a decent QB long term with the potential to be a long-term starter
Player Comparison – Dwayne Haskins
Impact Comparison – Matt Hasselbeck
Tier – Good Prospect
While he is not a 1st rounder to me. He is a lot less risky than Jones or Lance. Why? He going to run the offense the way the coaches draw it up to be run like. He has the size. He has the arm. It would not surprise me if he appealed to teams who want to be run first and defensive-minded. His potential is not high, but it is not bad either. Do not be surprised if Trask has more success than Wilson long term. It is hard to see him have more success than Fields or T-Law. Do not be shocked if he had more short-term success than Lance.
QB7:
Jamie Newman – An mobile QB prospect who is a deep ball threat. Newman reminds me of Daunte Culpepper as a prospect. I wish we would have seen him this year but the Monken system was not really a fit for Newman’s style of play.
Status – Needs polish
Style of QB – Mobile QB
System – Pro-Style QB
Floor: Below average QB, backup at best.
Ceiling: A top 20 QB with a chance a major success with the right personnel.
Player Comparison – Daunte Culpepper
Impact Comparison – Daunte Culpepper
Tier – Good Prospect
While he is not a 1st rounder to me. He has one of the higher ceilings in the draft. If there is a QB you want to bet on the long term and you have the right system, Newman makes a lot of sense. Should appeal to teams like Pitt who want big plays and the running game to win games.
The rest are not worth me grading. Mond is a 4th to 5th rounder for me. He is a poor man’s Kaepernick. Ellinger is even worse. Ian Book, Dustin Crum, and Davis Mills are interesting, and I will be tracking them at the combine and further.
- Trevor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiGP_wd8Z5c
- Trey - https://youtu.be/4oP3O1C3PUc
- Justin and Zach - https://youtu.be/afu8ul3RoQ0 and https://youtu.be/T36Gk6czPio
- –
- Mac - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W9a_Z9hkvY
- Kyle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tcDrgjZ_h4
- Newman - https://youtu.be/zZhi_bLhGa0
- Mond - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkdKxCELcQU
- Crum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nByCGzbjJQ
- Book - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sP5w-R3mN8
Original Thread:
https://www.reddit.com/NFL_Draft/comments/izkhe5/my_take_on_the_2021_nfl_qb_class/ Just about all of you are weighing in on the Deshaun Watson controversy and the hiring of the new head coach. I expect Watson, or his people, to make an official trade demand soon, and we’ll see where it goes from there. They can trade him or let him sit out, if it comes to that. I hope it doesn’t get James Harden ugly.
If you’re venting and don’t ask for an answer, I’ll just run your comment.
The Watson controversy could drag on for a long time. Meanwhile, general manager Nick Caserio is getting closer to recommending a new coach to Cal McNair, who’ll sign off on it.
There’s a good chance the next head could be a coordinator in the AFC Championship Game — Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier or Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. I think Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is a strong candidate, too.
Q: Does anybody really know what’s going on with Watson? No doubt he is a tremendous talent and I have always gotten the impression a stand-up guy. All the news/ESPN hype aside why hasn’t he stated his position. What the news is reporting is second- or third-hand information. I don’t believe in Twitter, etc., to communicate in a situation like this. The owner, GM and Watson needs to sit down and talk. If there is a problem or issue, lay it out on the table. They all need to man up. If Watson doesn’t want to be a Texan after they gave him the contract and money, Watson needs to move on. McNair owns the club, you may not agree with how everything is done but he is the owneboss. I hope Watson decides he wants to be a Texan, but that is his call. If not he is a distraction and remember there is no I in team. — Bill B.
A: Sitting down and talking makes too much sense, Bill. So far, Watson hasn’t said what he wants. It’s all come from unnamed sources close to Watson.
Q: The rhetoric around Deshaun displeasure seems to be escalating. My personal opinion is that Deshaun shows a lot of audacity demanding that the owner of the company he works for must consult with him on who he hires to be his boss. Any other industry and he would be in the parking lot with a pink slip in his hand. But then I'm an old guy and not in tune with today’s youth. My question is in regard to his contract. If he stays mad and won't play and demands a trade are the Texans obligated to trade him, or can they not pay him for showing up for work and hold him accountable for the length of the contract? — Eric R.
A: Times have changed, Eric. Some agents and players in the NFL want it to be like the NBA, where the agents and players control so much, like who goes where. If Watson sits, he doesn’t get paid. If he sits out the season, he loses credit for the season and has to start over in 2022. He can do like James Harden and make it so ugly they have to trade him, but I can’t imagine Watson doing what Harden did. That’s not the Deshaun I’ve covered since the day he was drafted.
Q: Does McNair’s decision to keep Easterby send the message to Deshaun (and the others in the locker room that consider Jack toxic) that Easterby is more valuable to the Texans organization than Deshaun. Cal called the Easterby criticism “unjustified.” I get it — it’s unjustified, to Cal. But isn’t it totally justified to 85 to 90 of the locker room (if the Sports Illustrated article and interviews are accurate). — David M.
A: I don’t know what the other players think. Charles Omenihu said at a charity event this week he didn’t have a problem with Easterby. Brandin Cooks, who met Easterby at New England, has praised him, too. What McNair is saying is that nobody is going to tell him to hire or fire, like the owner of most businesses I know.
Q: I know you keep reassuring everyone Watson isn’t going anywhere, but the situation seems to be escalating. The Texans are finding more and interesting ways to keep the fans churned up. It is like a tempest in a teapot. One issue you touched on is will the Texans be able to attract the right candidate if they don’t get this Watson situation fixed. McNair seems to be willing to win the battle at the cost of the war. I am so disgusted with that organization for being so out of touch. One question about Easterby. Is it his ties to OB or is he doing things in the organization to create divisiveness? I can’t understand how somebody can be this polarizing to so many people within the organization and so popular with management. None of this makes sense! — Randy S.
A: You’re right about it not making sense, Randy. I think players and fans believe every bad decision OB made was also made by Easterby. I know many don’t like that Easterby has his fingerprints on so many parts of the organization rather than staying in his lane like he did with the Patriots. But McNair has given him that authority, and Easterby answers to only one person.
Q: I don’t really understand what Easterby did that was so offensive to Watson and Andre Johnson. It’s like the teacher going to the superintendent and telling him to fire the principal. But in this case, Easterby doesn’t directly work with Watson. You’ve been at the Chronicle a long time and are highly respected, but you don’t tell the publisher what to do or you wouldn't be there much longer. — Joe T.
A: You’ve got that right, Joe, but times are different today. Players and agents want control. The Texans negotiated a contract in good faith for $156 million, and they don’t want to trade Watson. They’ve done nothing but praise him to the high heavens. But if Watson is determined to get traded, it’s going to deteriorate. McNair apologized to Watson for the miscommunications on the Caserio hire. McNair and Caserio assured everyone they’d keep Watson updated on the coaching search. ESPN reported Sunday that Watson won’t return their calls. If that’s the case, how does he keep up with their coaching search?
Q: Why do people not like Easterby? Evidently McNair is one of the few who support him. Watson deserves to have some input. We wasted too many years with O’Brien. — Carole R.
A: I’m not exactly sure why they don’t like him, Carole, other than his close association with OB, being part of a total collapse in a disastrous season, having Watson and Andre Johnson taking public shots at him. Nobody has detailed what they don’t like.
Q: Watson's feud. Another employee that wants to be boss. And a rich one at that. Really never heard about Easterby until lately. Let's not forget that Cal McNair let O'Brien take over. O'Brien along with McNair, will never be forgiven here in Houston for giving Hopkins away. Hiring a coach means more to your readers/fans than anything a guy like Caserio could. You've been here. You know as much as anyone, maybe more. Can anyone point McNair in the right direction? Let's see. Caserio has been here a week! Please continue to keep us aware. — Lyn B.
A: Caserio has been in personnel for 19 of his 21 years in the NFL, Lyn. There was no personnel director more deserving of getting a chance to become personnel director than Caserio. It’s going to take a lot of work, starting with the new coach and his staff.
Q: Once again I enjoyed your Mailbag this week. Under one of the Chronicle pictures of Deshaun Watson in said he was unhappy with his lack of involvement in searches for GM and coach. How can he be unhappy when his paycheck hits the bank each week. Someone should remind him that he was hired to be the QB, not the GM or coach. And I do mean sit him down for a little owner-to-QB session and remind him who signs those paychecks since he wants to talk to McNair so badly. Sounds like another entitlement issue to me. Quite frankly, I think he gets too much credit and week after week he makes his share of mistakes that contribute to losses. Not sure why the masses are willing to look beyond that. How could the Texans give him any more than they have already? As far as his no-trade clause, the backup quarterback position might just show him a bit of humility or appreciation for where he is and what he has. Time for someone to put these prima donnas in their place. With a good GM and a good coach in place the Texans can do better without him as the starting QB. Let him watch a few Texan wins from the bench for awhile and let’s see how much input he thinks he should have in GM and head coach hires. — Will W.
A: Will, Watson won’t be sitting on the bench. If he’s here, he’s starting. If he’s not, he’s starting somewhere else.
Q: I am a Chronicle subscriber, have read your column for years. I read how the Texans re-did Andre's contract. Then he was an assistant (or similar) in recent years. I understand Andre taking up for Deshaun but I do not understand such sharpness being tweeted out. That seems completely unlike the Andre that the public knows. How was Andre so wronged? — Ed K.
A: He wasn’t wronged, Ed. I think when he suggested that Watson stand his ground and then ripped Easterby, he was telling us what he thinks.
Q: Watson not happy? Let's kiss his butt to make him happy. Last time I checked he was an employee, not a part owner. Many employees are not happy with certain things in their workplace, but they get over it. Show him the door. — Gene C.
Q: OK, it’s crunch time. My opinion, hiring Bieniemy or possibly Frazier is the only thing that keeps Watson. — Scott M.
A: I’m guessing it’s got to be more than that, Scott.
Q: I think I’ve finally reached my tipping point. That is saying a lot after a year like 2020. The Harden situation was surprisingly easier. I’m a die-hard Rockets and basketball fan. I’ve had season tickets or have been buying tickets since 1991. And yet when it comes to Harden, good riddance. Take it somewhere else. Watson is a whole different deal. While the old-school part of me laughs a little at the Gen Y and Gen X demands and attitudes, that train has left the station. When you give a “kid” $100-200 million it’s hard to expect the maturity or experience of someone in their more developed years. That said, how could McNair let this get so bad? Not sure what to believe in this world of blogger news, but where there is smoke, there is fire. I guess as long as Cal believes we will keep buying tickets and watching on TV then he too can do what he wants. I will say if Watson goes, I will be remorsefully selling my PSLs at first opportunity. Even if our new GM pulled of a Herschel Walker-like trade. I believe in loyalty. It’s important in life. But there is nothing Easterby can be providing that outweighs the damage that seems well documented in and out of the organization. It’s just unbelievable to me and frankly bums me out. I handled the Astros. I’m OK with the Rockets. I’ve accepted the mask. I’ve accepted the election. I just can’t get my head around the situation with Watson. — Keith C.
A: I imagine many of us feel like you do, Keith.
Q: By the way, I’m tired of the sophomoric name-calling in many of your e-mails. You should be able to make your point without stooping to name-calling, right? Thank you. — Mike A.
A: The e-mails have been better this week, Mike. Thank everyone for ditching the name-calling. I’ve deleted several e-mails because I don’t want to take the time to edit out the name-calling.
Q: Congratulations on the Cal McNair interview about Easterby. National media giving you credit for it as well. The news about McNair being so entrenched was nauseating at best but at least it provides certainty. Let's hope the players can convince Caserio to wall him off from them so he isn't a distraction. I sincerely hope fans are allowed in the stadium next year so they can provide direct feedback to McNair and his boss. I can think of no other situation in American business when a subordinate has withstood this much hostility and venom. Maybe in a cult, but not a business. How terribly unfortunate. Thanks for being the messenger. — Ray M.
A: Thanks very much, Ray.
Q: I read your articles and watch your videos. Cal McNair apologized for his actions or communications that created mistrust. Few hours after that Deshaun Watson puts another cryptic tweet about 2 and 10. Why does such a smart player and good person put out such tweets that hurt the reputation of the team and ownership? Is he misguided? Wish tweets could be used to spread positivity, awareness on social issues instead of riling public opinion against team ownership. Why is it hard for players to sort out differences directly as grown-up adults instead of washing dirty linen in public? I want Deshaun to stay in Houston but these cryptic tweets and media leaks (anonymous sources) are beginning to damage his reputation as well. — Jeevan R.
A: It’s a new era, Jeevan. That’s just the way a lot of people operate today. One-on-one communication seems to be a thing of the past.
Q: If Easterby was such a help to the organization here are some suggested comments McNair might have made:
- You know we could not have pulled off the trading of Hopkins without his help, this was a really successful moment for our franchise, he advised O'Brian perfectly on this trade.
- Why would people question the decision to keep Easterby, after all who would listen to Andre or Watson, they were just players and you can never get enough advice for someone who has been in New England
- Our new GM needed to have friends around to support his decision making and Easterby is that guy
- Why should I listen to a quarterback or a retired wideout when choosing a GM, after all I have Easterly to advise me, let Watson vacation in Cabo
- Andre simply has not gotten to know "Jackie" like I have.
- You will see when our team advised by my close buddy Jack Easterby chooses our head coach. No I do not think a quarterback of a losing team should have any say, why would I think of that? After all he is not Elway or Manning or even Blanda. You will see Easterby's worth when we choose the new coach.
Sorry David Barron is retiring, you now have to be the old wise owl. — Don H.
A: We’re all sorry Barron is retiring, Don. He leaves a huge hole in our sports coverage and will be missed by so many of us.
Q: On the coaching search by Texans, this year it seems the new slogan for teams looking for the HC is a leader of men. In a football world of Alphas, not all coaches and players are Alphas. Bill O'Brien wasn't necessarily an Alpha. Mike Vrabel was an Alpha, as evidenced by the many complimentary comments from Texan players during Vrabel's time here. It's been no surprise to me that the Titans have excelled under Vrabel's stewardship. He's supported by a good GM who has had some recently productive drafts. I won't be surprised when the Titans go Super Bowling. How does an NFL owner or GM identify that Alpha quality in a HC candidate? — Roy S.
A: It’s pretty easy to identify, Roy, if you know what you're doing, have a lot of experience in the NFL and have a lot of contacts to investigate candidates’ strengths and weaknesses.
Q: It seems like almost everybody has agreed that Watson will be traded. I don’t think Caserio will do that, but what do you think it takes for Watson and the Texans to get their relationship back on track? And do you think this has hurt the search for a new HC? Med venlig hilsen. — Kristian S.
A: I don’t think it’s hurt the search, Kristian. There are only 32 of these jobs in the world, and they’re coveted by so many. Not to mention the new coach will probably get about $5 mil a year — lots more than an assistant coach. Med venlig hilsen to you, too.
Q: If Watson does not trust Easterby, and Caserio has said that they have a long-term relationship, don't you think it's just better for them to part ways? Get someone who wants to be here and can buy in to what Caserio is building, otherwise there will always be some kind of drama. Watson seems to be a great guy, but he wants to be at a place where he feels like he's respected, clearly he feels that he has not been, right or wrong! I don't care how much money you make, nobody wants to go to work looking over their shoulder every day. Sounds like a clean break is needed. I'd hate to see him go, but hey they traded Olajuwon! — Robert T.
A: Why would Watson have to look over his shoulder every day, Robert? Perhaps they will make a clean break. Perhaps it’ll get real ugly like Harden. Or maybe they can work it out if Watson wants to work it out.
Q: With Cal "running” things, Texans deserve what they get. But the fans don’t deserve this crap. Jack Easterby is now a known problem — nationwide — but Cal can’t see it. Respected SI writers go on for pages about his crap. Cal: unjustified and we own it in the building. It's beyond reproach that the building is an abject disaster. Did Cal say why he is retaining JE? Did he say why, when it's jeopardizing the team, Deshaun, the fans, etc; was he asked to address and respond to the litany of the events outlined in the SI article? Was he asked if 20 percent of that is true, all is probably true, Why is JE being retained? Did he answer why he is being retained when, according to O’Brien, he was intimately involved in all the horrendous decisions since he arrived? If he wasn’t asked these things, then why not?? These are the questions that 90 plus percent of Texans fans deserve answers to. And last, was he asked why, in view of all of the press and backlash, locally and nationwide, he hasn’t had a press conference so that he can field questions from a variety, not just insiders? Cal is damn lucky he’s here in Houston, and not another city where the media and fans demand performance and are exacting in their review. See Philly! Firing a pretty damn good coach who Texans ought to consider, but JE won’t approve, so no chance. Not to mention not even interviewing Saleh and asking for Bieniemy 2 weeks late. The ticket holders should boycott! Once Cal’s cash train comes to a grinding halt, maybe things will change. — Steve C.
A: Steve, I guess you missed McNair answering every question the media had about Easterby on the Zoom call with the media. I guess you missed what’s been reported over and over: It’s Caserio’s search and hire. As soon as he got here for his first day on the job, he notified the league he wanted to interview five coaches, including Bieniemy. And I guess you’ve missed all those times it’s been written, broadcast and tweeted: McNair says Easterby is here because the owner thinks he does a good job. No other explanation is necessary.
Q: Shades of the Houston Oilers. Reminds me of the yesterdays when Bud Adams didn't know what he was doing. McNair standing up for a man that was totally bamboozled and steamrolled by Bill O'Brien is a joke. It just tells me that the owner doesn't have a clue about football management. Mr. McNair seems to be a good man, and a man that knows how to make money. But his personnel skills are lacking. By standing up for Easterby, he has endorsed the failures of the past 5 years under O'Brien. The man that dismantled the Texans and left them non-competitive. But Deshaun knows Easterby is zero help. Why didn't Deshaun say something before or after he signed his huge contract? Why did J.J. Watt wait so long to speak out? Easterby was there to listen to them. I predict the Texans will continue to lose for the next 5 years. New coach? Who wants this job? Texans will have to beg to get a coach. Interviews mostly with retreads Jim Caldwell, Marvin Lewis? Are you kidding me? Losers. Watt will be gone to a potential championship team like Green Bay. The Texans will not beat the Jaguars again. You will see what real coaching does. Watson will remain unhappy and frustrated fans will still buy tickets, based on a sales pitch. Easterby will get it done. Seen it all before. Thank God I don't have season tickets with a seat license. — Kelley J.
A: I disagree about failure for the last five years with OB. Winning four division titles in five years and two playoff games isn’t failure. Let’s be fair. The Texans have interviewed eight candidates, including five who’ve never been a head coach. By the way, some other retreads who’d been fired: Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, Tony Dungy, Marty Schottenheimer, Dan Reeves, Andy Reid, Jon Gruden and Gary Kubiak, just to name a few.
Q: I'm from Boston and subscribe to Texas Sports Nation to read your stuff. We had a sportscaster named Bob Lobel who would show highlights of former players and say, "why can't we get guys like that." I hope Nick and Easterby (who reminds me of Rasputin and I'm glad he's Houston's problem) ship him (Watson) to New England. Stranger things have happened. More likely the Jets for Darnold and great picks. — Vic L.
A: Vic, what do you have to offer for Watson to go to the Patriots to work with Belichick and Josh McDaniels.
Q: I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, but in my view, regardless of how his role evolved, a critical part of Easterby’s position was to maintain a good relationship with players. Most of all, the team leaders such as Deshaun Watson. If he has not done this, he has failed at a significant part of his job. Just like with any other job, I don’t really think it matters what the reasons are. He has obviously failed at it. Personally I try to form my opinions from the information I have available to me. There is a lot of information out there regarding Deshaun Watson, from his childhood, to college, to NFL. He does not appear to be someone to me that is unreasonable or difficult to deal with. If he was, then maybe this breakdown with Easterby would be excusable. I think where there is smoke, there is fire. And there is just too much smoke around players having problems with Easterby. So, in my opinion, McNair keeping him around may not be the easy way out, but it also may not be the right decision. I just don’t think it should have been that hard for Easterby to maintain those relationships. Sometimes in life if situations degrade then it just needs to be changed, regardless of the perspectives of those involved. — David G.
A: David, Easterby’s job has nothing to do with his relationship with players. That was at New England. He’s the executive vice president of football operations who works closely with the GM who has final say on all football decisions.
Q: McNair’s every word, action and decision show he is simply not intelligent enough to be an NFL owner. The smartest thing Cal McNair could do is find someone smart enough to operate the Texans football franchise and step out of the way. Maybe that person is Nick Caserio? Maybe that is the new real question? — Deanne N.
A: The idea, Deanne, is for Caserio to hire the coach to be the face of the franchise, and McNair and Easterby slip into the background.
Q: Texans fans badly need to understand the what and why the Texans have completely fallen apart since the playoff game last year against Kansas City. While Bill O’Brien had not won a Super Bowl, he had considerable success and seemed on the brink of winning the big one. The crazy trades, the demise of any defense, all this attention of Jack Easterby, etc. What does he do that is good or bad? It appears that with the passing of Bob McNair, things have deteriorated greatly. The Chronicle needs some in-depth reporting on the matter to the benefit of those paying the tab. No diatribe from the two columnists, please. — Charles M.
A: Charles, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve written about the demise of the Texans dating back to the second quarter of the Kansas City playoff game I could buy out Cal McNair.
Q: I take it you watched the Bills vs Baltimore playoff game. The Bills beat Lamar Jackson badly. That drops the stock of Balt's OC. They couldn't do that against Watson. That game only made Watson more priceless. There's not another QB in the NFL capable of the DW4 heroic plays. But what does Houston gain by declaring him untradeable? If the D can't improve substantially during his contract, he's going to leave Houston when it expires. Doesn't it make more sense to ask for a king’s ransom now? Hypothetically speaking, if Houston were to trade him, where does Chicago rank as a trade partner? All things considered, can Houston rebound defensively and compete for the AFC crown next year? — Juan B.
A: Watson has a no-trade clause. I doubt seriously he’d agree to be traded to the Bears. I don’t think the Texans can compete for the AFC crown next season, Juan. If they trade Watson, they’ll compete for the first pick in the draft.
Q: What would happen if J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson both say they don’t want to play for the Texans as long as Easterby is in the building? What would happen if the Texans hire a coach that Deshaun Watson isn’t happy with? Easterby knows that he is toxic amongst the best players on the team and Cal knows that. What if Watson says I’m not coming unless Easterby is gone or if J.J. Watt says I’m not coming back to camp unless Easterby is gone? I feel bad for Caserio. — Glen K.
A: I feel bad for Caserio, too, Glen. He’s waited 20 years for a chance to become a GM and he starts with this mess.
Q: Hard to imagine the hold Easterby has on McNair. His background purportedly was as a character coach when he was brought in. Instead he has apparently done only one thing right — ingratiating himself with McNair and Caserio. It’s hard to imagine we may lose an unbelievable talent like Watson because of a character like Easterby. His skill set was supposed to be building team chemistry. He has done a tremendous job of doing the exact opposite. It sounds like players see him for what he is, a poser. Amazing! Casserio could salvage everything by calling Bieniemy and offering him the job immediately. Watching KC’s offense and the higher level creativity is just too good to pass on. Or we can take the safe route, dawdle and get stuck with whomever is left and have that as an excuse. Fortunately, it will probably be a defensive coach and we will need a great D without Deshaun here. — Mike D.
Q: I am a daily reader. I just got through reading the Sports Illustrated article online about Easterby. I'm trying to figure out other than the fact that he prays, what is the specific issue. Maybe everybody's avoiding coming right out and saying it due to a legal liability, but I have been unable to find anything other than vague references to the fact that Easterby's being here has somehow caused the Texans to play terribly. I also have not seen anything in the media that says a billionaire has to run his business according to public opinion which may not even represent the majority. I'm not a defender of either person, it just seems that there's a lot of smoke and not the whole lot of specific fire. No one wants to lose so maybe that's the biggest thing. Why Deshaun Watson at 25 thinks he should be able to dictate to the people who pay him a hundred and fifty million dollars is still a puzzle to me. According to SI online when asked why Caserio wasn't on their list, Korn Ferry said they knew that he was already on the Texans list so they did not add his name. I have not seen this detail in any local media, which seems to make the issue of Caserio not being on Korn Ferry list something that we should think about. — Charles W.
A: Charles, I don’t give a damn about Korn Ferry. Jed Hughes recommended they hire Brian Schottenheimer as their head coach, and he was fired by Seattle. A search firm is paid to compile information and make recommendations. This was the third time the Texans tried to interview Caserio dating back to 2017 when they had to replace Rick Smith. Caserio is one of the most respected personnel men in the NFL. That’s not debatable. Who gives a hoot if he was on the Korn Ferry list?
Q: I have no insight into the operation of a football organization. My Ph.D. is in management and have a very good understanding of organizations outside of football. I don't understand the upset QB and I am guessing many of his supporters. Let me frame my question. The CEO runs the company. His/her direct reports are probably VP's, then there are managers and report to them are various staff. I was once a college president. If a hot shot staff member had demanded that he/she be part of the selection of a VP or their direct boss I would tell them they have no business selecting senior members of my staff and I would guess that other CEO's would tell the staff member the same thing or would no longer have a job. Here is my question. Why does Watson think he should be in or hiring Caserio or the next head coach? — Rudy S.
A: That’s the way it is in just about every business, Rudy, but not the business of sports.
Q: I have not written to a newspaper writer in my 71 years on this earth, but I am highly disappointed in what is going on with the Texans. I have been a season ticket holder since 2003 and have stood by the team each year be it good or bad. Deshaun Watson has lost my respect as a player and a person. He has lowered himself to acting like a spoiled NBA player. He is paid to play football not manage the team. People are down on Jack Easterby but no reasons have been put forth for their dissatisfaction. So what is the story? The McNair family owns the franchise and funds it so that makes them the boss. I would like to see Deshaun play for the Texans but what he is doing right now is destructive and stirring up trouble for the team, fans and ticket holders. This kind of behavior is going to drive away ticket holders. A sad season ticket holder. — Jo Ann C.
A: Many feel as you do, Jo Ann. Unfortunately, times are different. Agents and players have a lot more power than they used to.
Q: It’s sad that a premier QB is now executive management. He should do his job and improve like not throw 1 interception ever again. So now we’ve established no one’s perfect, lets address coaching. Texans hired great GM, let him do his job. — Stephen G.
A: I agree, Stephen, to let Caserio do what he was hired to do.
Q: I'm heartened by last week's Mailbag participants whose concerns I shared about religion and hiring within the Texans organization. And thank you for your enlightening information in that regard. Should Deshaun Watson (or anyone) have been angered that Bieniemy wasn't interviewed before Caserio was hired to search for a coach? That confusion seems like an easy thing to smooth over. If not and Watson leaves, the organization would no longer be qualified to represent the great city of Houston. Especially after the excellent season Watson had. I'm not sure which he needed less, the support of a running game or Bill O'Brien calling plays. Am I wrong in thinking if Jamey Rootes resigns, as he was rumored to want to after all the reported GM hiring chaos, it means all that reported chaos is true? In which case, aside from Watson leaving, Rootes departing would also be a strong indictment of Cal McNair's management. If the Texans hire a defensive coordinator as head coach, does that mean Tim Kelly has a chance to stay on? — Tim K.
A: I should point out, Tim, that you’re not the Tim Kelly. I’ve said all along I thought it was a waste of time to interview a candidate before the GM was hired. Caserio is running the search, and McNair will sign off on his recommendation. I think Kelly has a chance to stay no matter who they hire. Watson wants him, and he helped Watson have his best season.
Q: What value does Jack Easterby bring to the Texans organization? How much value does this man hold if keeping him around could cost the team the one thing an NFL team needs to succeed - a transcendent quarterback. With the SI articles, it's clear there's something rotten in NRG. You keep saying Watson won't be traded, but every day that goes by is a day that the possibility increases. Firing Easterby would be the beginning of mending fences. I don't think McNair and Caserio are willing to do it. Houston seems to have got lucky to be able to interview Eric Bieniemy due to the bad press about the lack of Black coaches being hired this offseason. Although there's a limited number of these jobs, it seems to be less desirable with Easterby in the building. Can you just explain, what does that man do? If it's to provide comfort, it ain't working. It would be better the Texans bring in rescue puppies and kittens in to pet once a week. — Louis E.
A: His job isn’t to provide comfort, Louis. He’s the executive vice president of football operations. He does things on the football side to help the GM, who has final say. Easterby’s involved in everything on the football side and some things on the business side.
Q: Instead of being a reporter, how about being the GM of the Texans for a day. Granted you aren’t able to interview the coaching prospects or D4, but if you had the chance to pull the strings what would you do for coach, QB and other positions you feel need to be addressed. — Mike P.
A: I’d bring in the two or three finalists for in-person interviews. Then, I’d make my recommendation to McNair. After he signs off on it, the coach would be hired. The coach and I would sit down and figure out a way to get Watson to communicate with us. We’d offer to fly to where he is for some one-on-one communication. I might even bring my OC, Tim Kelly, along since Watson was adamant he wanted to keep Kelly as the play-caller.
Q: You have certainly added logs on them. Marketing fire to help Caserio maintain the less than stellar historical glow of the burdened mid market Texans! Honestly, in my 35 years living my life in Texas, which I continue to celebrate; for the life of my I still wonder how we get mid market and Houston disproved as in the same sentence! Stay strong John! — Bob B.
Q: The history of the Texans success is directly related to their players injuries each season. Recognition of this should be the team’s primary goal for its future. Miami coach Don Shula installed a program to prevent player injuries, and that likely played significantly in their success. If ever a team needed such a program, it's the Houston Texans. — Don S.
Bowl season and the College Football Playoff have come and gone. Here's a look at all of this season's games. College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T No. 1 Alabama 52, No 2020 College football bowl schedule, odds, TV info: Betting lines, spreads for every postseason game William Hill Sportsbook has released odds for every bowl game during the 2020-21 season College football bowl picks, predictions for all 26 postseason games in 2020-21 Bill Bender. 2020-12-31. Provinces sitting on millions in COVID-19 funds for long-term care homes: CCPA. Dutch College football bowl picks, predictions for all 26 postseason games in 2020-21 Bowl Season is here — just two days after the 2020 college football regular season ended. The College Football Playoff field is finally set, along with the rest of the bowl matchups. There are plenty of betting opportunities over the course of 41 bowl games. Here are the spreads for College football betting results against the spread bowl games. The DVR is cleared and ready for the National Championship. It sucks that we have to wait a week for our last college football College Football Bowl Games: Against the Spread Picks, Best Bets. Author: SI.com Staff Publish date: Dec 19, 2019. It's bowl season! With another college football campaign nearly in the books All bowl games can be streamed on the network’s respective Apps, with many available on ESPN+. A full list of the game dates, times, and networks can be found here. How to bet on college football Moneyline. Before jumping into betting, one has to understand what kind of bets exist. The first is the moneyline. Moneyline is the most simple, where one bets outright winners. Take the following College football bowl game picks against the spread, including the College Football Playoff games. It’s been a tumultuous season, with shortened schedules, canceled games, and a lot of doubt. There are four possible results when betting college football games against the spread. The favorite wins and covers the spread; The favorite wins, but doesn’t cover the spread; The underdog wins the game outright (which means it also covers the spread) A push (favorite wins by the exact point spread) During the regular season, underdogs win 23% of games outright. In bowl season, they win
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