Case Keenum will start next week following Gary Kubiak firing
Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum (7) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Texans have decided to fire Gary Kubiak, and they will be getting a head start on their coaching search by firing him before the season is over. Bob McNair and the Texans haven’t wasted any time pushing Kubiak out the door, and the move is one that is met with mixed emotions. While his firing was technically sudden, it’s not surprising since Kubiak has been on the hot seat for quite some time. Although the Texans had plenty of regular season success last year, they were unable to get over the hump, especially since the New England Patriots had their number. They played the Patriots tough but lost last week, and their overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday was the last straw for Kubiak, as the Texans have the worst record in the league.
For the second time this season, Kubiak decided to bench second-year quarterback Case Keenum, whom Kubiak is a big fan of, for veteran Matt Schaub, who lost his job after an implosion earlier this season. Schaub outplayed Keenum yesterday and has a better track record, but the Texans aren’t going anywhere this season and need to continue to see what they have in Keenum. They have a major question at the quarterback position to answer, and that’s whether or not they will draft a guy like Teddy Bridgewater in the 2014 NFL Draft (my gut says that they will).
The Keenum vs. Schaub debate for next week was an interesting one coming off of yesterday’s game, but the Texans have already made their decision. They have announced that they will start Keenum next week against the rival Indianapolis Colts, and it’s a move that doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The Texans know that they need to keep evaluating more of Keenum’s tape, especially since they need to see if he can end up being “the guy” going forward.