Try NFL Sport Channel Seach:
Selected searches:
NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season Superbowl
Items by
Matt Schaub To Carolina? Not As Crazy As You’d Think.
Published: December 24, 2009
No Comments
The general feeling around the NFL is that Gary Kubiack’s days are numbered.
The team has entered a frustrating cycle of being a preseason darling, only to end up as a middle of the road team watching the playoffs from home.
Perhaps this would be understandable for some teams, but Houston has loads of talent on both sides of the ball including Owen Daniels, Andre Johnson, Mario Williams, DeMarco Ryans, Dunta Robinson, Brian Cushing, and even Steve Slaton when he remembers to hold on to the football.
Barring a remarkable run to end this season, Gary Kubiack will be gone. The question is, what will his replacement do with the team?
In my opinion, unless the new head coach comes from within the franchise, Schaub will be gone.
While he is putting up pro bowl caliber numbers, it’s hard not to be frustrated with what he’s done in the last three years.
Despite the talent surrounding him, he has failed to take his team to the playoffs, and that will probably extend to three seasons. This is his first season as a starter without a major injury.
I’m not saying Schaub is a bad QB, not even close. What I am saying is there is a case against him. If a new coach comes in from outside the franchise, he has to change something drastically (whether its a good idea or not, Jim Zorn). With this case against Schaub, and a new Head Coach eager to make his mark, I wouldn’t be surprised if Schaub was shown the road.
While I admit I’m not sure of the exact terms of Schaub’s contract, I do know there’s still a couple years left on it, so I don’t expect him to just be cut. A trade is far more likely. But what team would he go to? I’d say Carolina.
There are many teams that will be in the market for a quarterback come this off-season. Washington, Oakland, St. Louis, and Cleveland just to name a few. But the difference between these teams and Carolina is when they expect to win. With the excellent quarterback class in this years draft, a team in full rebuilding mode has no reason to trade for a quarterback. The thing is, Carolina isn’t and doesn’t want to get in rebuilding mode.
It’s easy to forget the Panthers are only one year removed from a playoff berth and second seed in the NFC. Even this year, they have been very competitive despite their bad record. They have one of the best running games in the NFL, a solid defense, and at least one elite wide receiver. The problem? No decent quarterback. Delhomme is through as a starting quarterback. Matt Moore, despite some decent play of late, is not the answer. For a team in desperate need of a quarterback that thinks they can win now, Matt Schaub would be the perfect pickup.
This could be very beneficial to both sides. If Houston is really committed to rebuilding after the Kubiack era, the draft picks they’d probably get out of a trade to Carolina could be invaluable. Carolina on the other hand, would finally have all the pieces for a championship run. In all likelihood, this trade won’t happen, but it’s far from out of the question.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
