Player Spotlight: Matt Schaub (1 Viewer)

2007 Player Spotlight Series

Over the course of the offseason, we will be evaluating a multitude of players at every fantasy position. One such way we go about that is through the Player Spotlight series. Think of the Spotlights as a permanent record on some of the more intriguing players for the upcoming season. Each Spotlight will be featured in an article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans

Player Page Link: Matt Schaub Player Page

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Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDsBest of Luck and ENJOY!

I'd rank him a little lower then what Alex Smith did last year. First year starter, not a lot of weapons, horrible team.

passing

14 tds 17 ints 2,700 yards

rush

40, 160, 1

Prime Time Value Here!

I really like this guy to step in and make some noise this year. He's had quite a bit of game experience playing behind Vick in Atlanta.

I think the signing of Ahman Green is of tremendous importance to Schaub. Besides being a pretty good receiver out of the backfield, he has had to play behind a similarly terrible line for the past couple of years in Green Bay. And he had to protect a much less mobile QB.

He's got a veteran playmaker in Andre Johnson, but beyond that, it's questionable. If even a glimmer of a 2nd downfield threat emerges on this team, Schaub should be a comfortable QB2 or a key cog in a QBBC squad.

3200/20/20

30/100/1

A brand new starting QB behind a suspect offensive line reminds me of that Forrest Gump quotation, poor Matt Schaub just doesn't know what he is going to get. He comes from an Atlanta team that was improved in the passing department when he played, but what does that mean in Houston? He comes to an offensive minded coach in his second year with the team and some say that the offensive line is improving. He's got a veteran running back that is a really good reciever. He has an awesome WR in Andre Johnson along with some talented young WRs and TEs.

I think that the results COULD be much better than expected with Matt Schaub. I think that he has some potential and he comes very cheap in his first year as a full time starter. You could do much better than he is projected for and you can grab him very late, possibly as your third QB in a 10 or 12 team league. VALUE, especially in a well managed QBBC.

Matt Schaub 280 comps in 440 attempts for 3036 yds (6.9 ypa) 18 TDs and 14 ints with 110 yds rush & 1 TD

Meh. Im not entirely sold on Schaub and even if he is the goods there is nothing on this offense to excite you. A bad offensive line, an aging RB, and bad WRs after Johnson. I wouldnt draft Schaub even as a QB2.

3200 yds, 15 tds, 16 ints

A lot of people will now realize that, surprise, Carr's lack of success was less his fault than they thought. Shaub doesn't even make my draft list.

BigRed said:

A lot of people will now realize that, surprise, Carr's lack of success was less his fault than they thought. Shaub doesn't even make my draft list.

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Agreed. He probably wont even be drafted in my league.

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

you say that like Carr is going to be some fantasy stud this year . . .

A starting fantasy qb he is not, but he still can put up nice numbers. I think the Texans D is going to be very stout this year, so Schaub won't be throwing from behind from the 2nd quarter on. He has an all world receiver to throw too in Andre Johnson, but little else. Owen Daniels should continue his progression as a nice receiving option at tight end, but the Texans desperately need someone to step up opposite Johnson.

I see 3400 yards passing with 22 tds, 18 Int's.

BroadwayG said:

I think the signing of Ahman Green is of tremendous importance to Schaub. Besides being a pretty good receiver out of the backfield, he has had to play behind a similarly terrible line for the past couple of years in Green Bay. And he had to protect a much less mobile QB.

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Protecting Brett Favre is a piece of cake, because he has top-notch awareness. Favre is the least sackable QB in the league, along with Peyton Manning. According to Football Outsiders' "adjusted sack rate" metric (which measures how often you are sacked per pass attempt and then adjusts based on how good the opposing passrush is, so getting sacked twice by Baltimore isn't as bad as getting sacked twice by Washington), Green Bay hasn't finished lower than 6th in adjusted sack rate since 2001. In other words, Ahman Green's job was a heckuvalot easier in GB than it will be in Houston.I'm not a big fan of Matt Schaub- I've always thought of him as Billy Volek v2.0... but he's a hard guy to project, since if I do draft him, it's based entirely on his upside. I think it's likely that he'll finish with around 3,000 yards and maybe 16 TDs and 14 INTs... but his status as a complete wildcard means his upside is much higher than other QBs with similar projections, meaning that Schaub is the sort of guy who I really wouldn't mind taking as my QB3 or QB4 over guys like McNair, Leftwich, or Green, who I project to roughly the same ballpark.

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

He didn't get drafted in my league. So either: A. we're all really stupid or B. there is no reason to believe that Matt Schaub is one of the top 24 QB's in the NFL

Has the problem in Houston really been an atrocious offensive line or a quarterback who held onto the ball WAY too long? This is the year we find out and I'm betting on the latter.

Schaub looks tailor made for a West Coast offense and will posts nice #2 QB stats: 3200, 20 TD, 17 Int plus 150 yd and 1 Rush TD.

Afro Samurai said:

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

He didn't get drafted in my league. So either: A. we're all really stupid or B. there is no reason to believe that Matt Schaub is one of the top 24 QB's in the NFL

Click to expand...

Since he hasn't played yet I can see being cautious but not taking a chance on him in the last round does seem dumb.

Despite a poor showing from Carr last year, he still managed to be QB 20. Unless you think Schaub is going to be absolutely terrible or will get benched or injured, there is no reason for him not be drafted at least as a QB2 or 3 by someone in your league (unless it's an 8-team league.) The very fact that he is a huge question mark means he could post dramatically better stats than Carr did last year.

As for the o'line, it's been debated in many threads on these boards in the past, but many have pointed out Carr's biggest failings were his complete lack of pocket presence (couldn't feel pressure, wouldn't step up in the pocket to avoid a sack, held the ball too long, etc.) and his propensity to not throw the ball away (the running joke was his favorite play was to run the ball out of bounds behind the LOS which counts as a sack.) This time last year, Kubiak and the new coaching staff were constantly quoted on their belief they could coach those bad habits out of Carr and at the start of the year Carr did look a lot better and the o'line's standing did improve statistically. In 2006 they gave up 43 sacks, tied with Minn for the 23rd out of 32 teams. So while not quite an above average unit, the line is a far cry from being as bad as they were when Carr was breaking the sack record. Also to be noted, the Texans were without their starting LT for most of the season as Spencer went down in the 2nd game. Unfortunately, it's unknown if he'll make it back this year.

As for Schaub's prospects this year, Ahman Green and Andre Johnson should see a lot of targets but it seems unlikely anyone could emerge at WR2 with a hodge-podge of rookies and other unknowns. TE Daniels showed some flashes last year, but still is an unknown quantity if he can step it up or not. This is a team still building so the offense will likely still sputter at times. Also, being a first year starter, I'd expect Schaub to likely take some chances and force some balls when he shouldn't leading to turnovers.

The passing offense last year was quite conservative leading to a high completion percentage for Carr, but not much positive result on moving the chains. I'd expect the conservative playcalling to continue somewhat as Schaub adjusts to being a starter so a high completion % but a likely low ypa. Houston's best year was 2004 when Carr threw for 3500 / 16 so I wouldn't expect numbers that good for a 1st year starter, but I'd look for something approaching that as a most likely scenario with a substantial chance for upside or downside since Schaub is such an unknown.

3100 yards passing , 290 comp / 430 att, 15 TD's & 17 INT's, 150 yards rushing

bcr8f said:

Afro Samurai said:

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

He didn't get drafted in my league. So either: A. we're all really stupid or B. there is no reason to believe that Matt Schaub is one of the top 24 QB's in the NFL

Click to expand...

Since he hasn't played yet I can see being cautious but not taking a chance on him in the last round does seem dumb.

Click to expand...

Who are these 8 QB's that are so bad that taking them in front of Schaub is so dumb?ClevelandMNOaklandBuffalo( I don't think so)I don't see any other team who has a worse situation for a QB from a fantasy perspective than Houston. 12 team league, if you draft 2 QB's, you are DUMB if you use the last round pick on him versus a Losman or the starte in KC.

mcjc4 said:

bcr8f said:

Afro Samurai said:

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

He didn't get drafted in my league. So either: A. we're all really stupid or B. there is no reason to believe that Matt Schaub is one of the top 24 QB's in the NFL

Click to expand...

Since he hasn't played yet I can see being cautious but not taking a chance on him in the last round does seem dumb.

Click to expand...

Who are these 8 QB's that are so bad that taking them in front of Schaub is so dumb?ClevelandMNOaklandBuffalo( I don't think so)I don't see any other team who has a worse situation for a QB from a fantasy perspective than Houston. 12 team league, if you draft 2 QB's, you are DUMB if you use the last round pick on him versus a Losman or the starte in KC.

Click to expand...

Vikings are worse.Browns are worse.49ers are worse (probably).Jaguars are worse.Chiefs are worse if it is Croyle.Oakland is worse.Debateable: Dolphins (o-line is bad, Green has concussion issues, no good WRs or TE)Buccaneers (o-line is bad, uncertain starter)Wouldn't be surprised if Schaub scores better than:CutlerMcNairGrossmanCampbellDepending on scoring, a guy like Vick could be worse also, given all the negative attention he will receive all season.

BigRed said:

A lot of people will now realize that, surprise, Carr's lack of success was less his fault than they thought. Shaub doesn't even make my draft list.

Click to expand...

I think the blame for Carr's lack of success is about 1/3 Carr, 1/3 the Dom Capers coaching staff, and 1/3 the rest of the team.But that said I don't know how Schaub doesn't end up on a draft list. Carr in my leagues was the #22 QB last year. What is Schaub's situation compared to Carr?Carr lost 3 of the 5 starting O-line relatively early in the season. The same could happen to Schaub I suppose, especially with Spencer still questionable, but I would tend to give Schaub an edge here, especially as they've at least added some more depth, and Winston will be in his second year and hopefully better.The exact same RBs are on the team as last year, but with the addition of Ahman Green. So I don't see how that can't be anything but an improvement for Schaub's team over Carr's.Moulds didn't do much last year so I'm not sure I'd downgrade the receiving corp this year, especially with Daniels in his second year. I'll give an edge to Carr there though just because he had experience playing with AJ to where they could get some timing down.Carr had 1 pre-season in Kubiak's system, and that's the only season he's had in the NFL where the coaching staff taught him how to go through progressions. I'd have to believe that Schaub already has a leg up on him there in that he got adequate coaching in Atlanta which Carr never got until Kubiak arrived. The only thing I can give Carr an edge on is he has played in more games. Whether that should be an edge given how gunshy he was about the pass rush and how little other teams had come to feel they had to respect the pass, I'll leave up to you, but overall I see this as an edge for Schaub again.The defense I can't see being any worse as they have added some better depth at LB and should have improved D-line play when you consider Mario isn't hampered by plantar fascitis this year, and they have Amobi who I have to believe will do better than the DT's the Texans had to pick up from waivers after all of their DTs went on IR early in the season. Secondary is still going to be pitiful other than Robinson. I don't see how this can be anything but edge to Schaub in the defense getting the opposing team off the field more, or at worst the same amount.Team leadership sounds like it is night and day better from the reports from the beat writers. Carr would take off right at the end of practice and go home, and during practice would stand off to the side and not really talk with anyone but his top receivers. Schaub is already being lauded for his leadership, bonding with the O-line outside of the team activities, and not just working with everyone on the offense but even approaching the defense at times. There were players who it is clear from their comments lost faith in Carr, including team leaders like D. Robinson. I have to believe this is an edge for Schaub as well.Haven't done projections yet as I think it's a bad idea to do them this early, so I'll leave it at the general comments. I don't think the Texans will do much better record-wise than last year because I think they out-performed what their play merited. But I think Schaub will be at least as good as Carr was and I think the offense and defense overall will be slightly better but not a lot. I imagine he'll be worth at least a below average to poor QB2 draft slot, same as Carr was but probably with a few more passing yards and another TD or two.

Block said:

mcjc4 said:

bcr8f said:

Afro Samurai said:

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

He didn't get drafted in my league. So either: A. we're all really stupid or B. there is no reason to believe that Matt Schaub is one of the top 24 QB's in the NFL

Click to expand...

Since he hasn't played yet I can see being cautious but not taking a chance on him in the last round does seem dumb.

Click to expand...

Who are these 8 QB's that are so bad that taking them in front of Schaub is so dumb?ClevelandMNOaklandBuffalo( I don't think so)I don't see any other team who has a worse situation for a QB from a fantasy perspective than Houston. 12 team league, if you draft 2 QB's, you are DUMB if you use the last round pick on him versus a Losman or the starte in KC.

Click to expand...

Vikings are worse.Browns are worse.49ers are worse (probably). Jaguars are worse. Chiefs are worse if it is Croyle.Oakland is worse.Debateable: Dolphins (o-line is bad, Green has concussion issues, no good WRs or TE)Buccaneers (o-line is bad, uncertain starter)Wouldn't be surprised if Schaub scores better than:CutlerMcNairGrossmanCampbellDepending on scoring, a guy like Vick could be worse also, given all the negative attention he will receive all season.

Click to expand...

Please!!!!!!! I got Schaub ranked 27th right now and I think thats undraftable in my league where everyone drafts 2 QBs. I got Leftwich ranked 25th and Smith ranked 17th. The only starting QBs I have ranked below Schaub are Garcia, Croyle, Frye, McCown, and Jackson.

Prediction: More TD passes than Carr could ever do in his best year. More yards, less INT's, WAY less sacks, more victories.

shadyridr said:

Block said:

mcjc4 said:

bcr8f said:

Afro Samurai said:

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

He didn't get drafted in my league. So either: A. we're all really stupid or B. there is no reason to believe that Matt Schaub is one of the top 24 QB's in the NFL

Click to expand...

Since he hasn't played yet I can see being cautious but not taking a chance on him in the last round does seem dumb.

Click to expand...

Who are these 8 QB's that are so bad that taking them in front of Schaub is so dumb?ClevelandMNOaklandBuffalo( I don't think so)I don't see any other team who has a worse situation for a QB from a fantasy perspective than Houston. 12 team league, if you draft 2 QB's, you are DUMB if you use the last round pick on him versus a Losman or the starte in KC.

Click to expand...

Vikings are worse.Browns are worse.49ers are worse (probably). Jaguars are worse. Chiefs are worse if it is Croyle.Oakland is worse.Debateable: Dolphins (o-line is bad, Green has concussion issues, no good WRs or TE)Buccaneers (o-line is bad, uncertain starter)Wouldn't be surprised if Schaub scores better than:CutlerMcNairGrossmanCampbellDepending on scoring, a guy like Vick could be worse also, given all the negative attention he will receive all season.

Click to expand...

Please!!!!!!! I got Schaub ranked 27th right now and I think thats undraftable in my league where everyone drafts 2 QBs. I got Leftwich ranked 25th and Smith ranked 17th. The only starting QBs I have ranked below Schaub are Garcia, Croyle, Frye, McCown, and Jackson.

Click to expand...

So you think he will be worse than Carr? Carr's worse year was 2003 when the franchise was in its 2nd year of existence and Andre Johnson was a rookie. Carr still managed to rank 27th that year. Even when the Texans went 2-14 in '05, Carr managed to finish QB 18.

Buckna said:

shadyridr said:

Block said:

mcjc4 said:

bcr8f said:

Afro Samurai said:

doowain said:

If he doesn't get drafted in your league, please tell me there is an opening.

Click to expand...

He didn't get drafted in my league. So either: A. we're all really stupid or B. there is no reason to believe that Matt Schaub is one of the top 24 QB's in the NFL

Click to expand...

Since he hasn't played yet I can see being cautious but not taking a chance on him in the last round does seem dumb.

Click to expand...

Who are these 8 QB's that are so bad that taking them in front of Schaub is so dumb?ClevelandMNOaklandBuffalo( I don't think so)I don't see any other team who has a worse situation for a QB from a fantasy perspective than Houston. 12 team league, if you draft 2 QB's, you are DUMB if you use the last round pick on him versus a Losman or the starte in KC.

Click to expand...

Vikings are worse.Browns are worse.49ers are worse (probably). Jaguars are worse. Chiefs are worse if it is Croyle.Oakland is worse.Debateable: Dolphins (o-line is bad, Green has concussion issues, no good WRs or TE)Buccaneers (o-line is bad, uncertain starter)Wouldn't be surprised if Schaub scores better than:CutlerMcNairGrossmanCampbellDepending on scoring, a guy like Vick could be worse also, given all the negative attention he will receive all season.

Click to expand...

Please!!!!!!! I got Schaub ranked 27th right now and I think thats undraftable in my league where everyone drafts 2 QBs. I got Leftwich ranked 25th and Smith ranked 17th. The only starting QBs I have ranked below Schaub are Garcia, Croyle, Frye, McCown, and Jackson.

Click to expand...

So you think he will be worse than Carr? Carr's worse year was 2003 when the franchise was in its 2nd year of existence and Andre Johnson was a rookie. Carr still managed to rank 27th that year. Even when the Texans went 2-14 in '05, Carr managed to finish QB 18.

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Carr ranked as high as he did the previous years because he was one of the few QBs to play every game. He never got hurt and was never benched (except last year). So if Schaub doesnt get hurt all year he will most likely exceed QB27 since a bunch of QBs I rank ahead of him may slip below him in total rankings due to them getting injured. That still doesnt mean Id rank Schaub any higher than #27. I am more curious to see Carr's ranking for PPG.

BigRed said:

A lot of people will now realize that, surprise, Carr's lack of success was less his fault than they thought. Shaub doesn't even make my draft list.

Click to expand...

not true. Carr completed 68% of his passes last season, yet only tossed 11 tds, and 12 ints. he's avg'd 60% comp over his career, thats a decent number..but, he's fond of throwing to the guys wearing the wrong colored jerseys.59 tds to 65 ints..

he sucks, plain and simple.

he'll be out of football in a year or two, ala Tim Couch..

nygiants56 said:

BigRed said:

A lot of people will now realize that, surprise, Carr's lack of success was less his fault than they thought. Shaub doesn't even make my draft list.

Click to expand...

not true. Carr completed 68% of his passes last season, yet only tossed 11 tds, and 12 ints. he's avg'd 60% comp over his career, thats a decent number..but, he's fond of throwing to the guys wearing the wrong colored jerseys.59 tds to 65 ints..

he sucks, plain and simple.

he'll be out of football in a year or two, ala Tim Couch..

Click to expand...

He should already be out of football. He's that bad.

shadyridr said:

BigRed said:

A lot of people will now realize that, surprise, Carr's lack of success was less his fault than they thought. Shaub doesn't even make my draft list.

Click to expand...

Agreed. He probably wont even be drafted in my league.

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i don't think the writer was saying that he won't get drafted, but that shaub is not on HIS draft list. Personally he is not on mine either. by the time it would come time to actually draft him, i would have my 2 qbs that i plan to rely on and will not be looking to draft shaub. hey, michael vick isn't on my draft list either. but that doesn't me he won't get drafted but i have no intentions of taking him.

Schaub had a good game a few years ago against the Pats, but really hasn't done much else. There isn't much information to go on based on his experience. FWIW he's got a career completion percentage of 52% and 6 TD's vs. 6 Ints. I've seen him play a few times and he hasn't really done anything memorable. Now he's on a team with little help around him, so it makes sense to me why he'll go undrafted in leagues with limited roster space.

H.K. said:

Schaub had a good game a few years ago against the Pats, but really hasn't done much else. There isn't much information to go on based on his experience. FWIW he's got a career completion percentage of 52% and 6 TD's vs. 6 Ints. I've seen him play a few times and he hasn't really done anything memorable. Now he's on a team with little help around him, so it makes sense to me why he'll go undrafted in leagues with limited roster space.

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Maybe his WR's sucked in ATL. That's the Vick excuse isn't it?

FavreCo said:

H.K. said:

Schaub had a good game a few years ago against the Pats, but really hasn't done much else. There isn't much information to go on based on his experience. FWIW he's got a career completion percentage of 52% and 6 TD's vs. 6 Ints. I've seen him play a few times and he hasn't really done anything memorable. Now he's on a team with little help around him, so it makes sense to me why he'll go undrafted in leagues with limited roster space.

Click to expand...

Maybe his WR's sucked in ATL. That's the Vick excuse isn't it?

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And a double teamed AJ and squat is a big upgrade?There's a reason the Texans have never throw 20 tds in a season - they are garbage.

Been a while since this thread was updated but I've been impressed by the Texans as a group. Curious how much people's opinions on Schaub have changed. He's moved up to mid-teens on my draft board. I try not to let preseason games sway me too much but I think pretty much every Texan is undervalued at this point. I think this is a top 10 offense this year.

prefontaine said:

Been a while since this thread was updated but I've been impressed by the Texans as a group. Curious how much people's opinions on Schaub have changed. He's moved up to mid-teens on my draft board. I try not to let preseason games sway me too much but I think pretty much every Texan is undervalued at this point. I think this is a top 10 offense this year.

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it seems like they've moved up a lot in the last week - at least schaub, daniels and jacoby, whose 3 of sleeper mentions is off-the-charts.schaub was #17 qb taken in my last draft.

3500yds 20 TDs

150 rush yds

the texans will be 9-7 and almost make the playoffs.