Case Keenum is struggling because Gary Kubiak is incapable of change
Oct 20, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak (left) talks to quarterback Case Keenum (7) against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Greetings Texans Fans!
Well, we’ve had Case Keenum under the gun for 5, well 4.5 games and he’s starting to fail.
The question is why?
One could point to the fact other teams know his strengths and weaknesses ,and are playing against those.
I could buy that.
Bum rush through the weak offensive line and give him little time while ensuring you set a free runner to catch him when he scrambles.
This we saw … it’s still hard to say … Jacksonville do to great effectiveness this past week. Case started out as a free throwing, backyard, make it up as you go QB who made plays happen and had no fear. Against Jacksonville, he looked hesitant and lost.
Is this really who he is? I would say no.
Look at the Kansas City game. Look how he played with confidence and strength. He didn’t know the offense as well as he does now and he wasn’t expected to play a certain way. He went out there guns blazing against the then first place Chiefs, and against the formerly hapless Jags he was frankly bad.
I could spend paragraphs on how the line collapsed at every turn, and how the line isn’t doing it’s job. The defense was exposing the lines weakness as if they had lined up J.J. Watt at every position, but that’s no excuse, because Case played badly.
But why?
I put the blame where it belongs. For eight years now we’ve watched Gary Kubiak’s system, and last year was its pinnacle.
A system game plan that demands the quarterback do ‘X,’ period. Sunday’s game explains why Matt Schaub was brought in against the Raiders. Kubiak was frustrated by Keenum not playing “the system.”
Kubiak can’t coach Keenum. He wants another Matt Schaub, a QB that is going to run the play as intended, good, bad or ugly. Which isn’t a bad system when everything is working, last year showed this. But the NFL knows the game now, couch coaches and defensive coordinators can almost call the next play when the Texans lineup.
Kubiak has a great mind, but it’s proven inflexible, incapable of making the adjustment based on personnel strengths. This is why he must go, and the sooner the better.
Looking at the college landscape, I don’t see a Schaub-style QB on the way up. Houston has given Gary everything that was possible, it wasn’t enough. He’s not going to change, so it’s time to change the team.
Bring in an aggressive, flexible coach and draft to play to the players strengths. Mobile lineman that can pass block and adjust on the fly would be a great start.
Top of the ticket is J.J. Watt’s replacement, because I don’t see him re-signing after next season and I don’t blame him. It’s a shame too.
I’ve been impressed with Gary Kubiak and I’ve defended him. However, after nine losses, with things getting worse it’s time to be honest.
The fans want to see success and progress. Fans want to be entertained by daring, not safe, move the chains for first downs and field goals play.
The bold get trophies, the meek get vacations.
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