During McLane's 18-year tenure of ownership, the Astros had their most successful run to that point in franchise history, posting the fourth-best record in the National League in that span while making six postseason appearances. Prior to 1993, the Astros had just three playoff appearances in the first 31 seasons of the franchise (1962-92).

In 2005, the Astros won their first National League Championship, and on October 25, 2005, Minute Maid Park played host to the first World Series game ever played in the state of Texas. Overall during McLane's ownership, the Astros won four division titles and two Wild Card berths.

One of McLane's most significant accomplishments as owner of the Astros was the construction of Minute Maid Park, a state-of-the-art facility with a retractable roof. The new ballpark, which opened in April of 2000, greatly increased the development of the surrounding Houston downtown area. During the ballpark's first 11 seasons, more than 30 million fans attended Astros games with the club reaching the three-million mark in four of those 11 seasons.

Ag_07 said:

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How the hell does this GM make the same dumbs move as the last GM they just fired who made the same dumb moves as the previous GM they fired who made the same dumb moves as very first GM that they fired?

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Let's not forget that 1/2 of the brain trust that made all of those decisions is not only still with the organization but he is the most powerful person in the organization that isn't named McNair.

They have amassed a team of scrubs. With Watson not playing, there are probably 2 or 3 guys that would start for any other team.

Ryan34 said:

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JCA1 said:

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Texan_Aggie said:

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The chances of competing without a good to great qb are slim. Some believe in drafting a qb every year until you find one that sticks.

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Does anyone actually do this though? No one springs to mind. And even if you draft one every year, that's only part of it. There's only so many reps in practice. And there's even less reps with the first team. At some point, you gotta say "this is our guy" and give him the lion's share of the touches to see if he pans out. And this usually takes a year or so.

IMO, Mills has his rookie season to convince the Texans not to take a QB with their first pick next year. Which I very seriously doubt he will be able to do. If they do use their No. 1 pick next year on a QB, it will take more will power than the texans have ever shown to keep it a level competition. The No. 1 pick will clearly be given the advantage by virtue of his draft position.

Because of this, the odds of Mills being given a fair shot to develop here are extremely low, IMO. And that's why I think it was a terrible pick, regardless of your thoughts on Mills (who I've admittedly never seen play).

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Maybe not every year, but every other year for sure. Also, there's a good chance Mills was going to be one of the top QB prospects next year because right now, the options don't look that great. Not saying I like the pick, but there's a real possibility a QB isn't the right pick next year too.

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While there's no Trevor Lawrence next year, it's too early to make any proclamations on next year's crop of QBs. Someone will play well and move into the top of the draft. Kyler was gonna be a baseball player until his Heisman season. No one was talking about Burrow either. Etc., etc.

Anyone seen a list of UFA signings?

I get what you're saying but something happened in 95 that made a run in the playoffs a lot easier.

So after the draft, which team has more talent? The 2021 roster or the 2002 expansion team?

If Watson is done, I'm leaning the 2002 expansion team. Good thing the Texans are in prime position for the 1st overall pick in 2022 when the QB draft class will suck. The Texan way.

Ranger222 said:

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So after the draft, which team has more talent? The 2021 roster or the 2002 expansion team?

If Watson is done, I'm leaning the 2002 expansion team. Good thing the Texans are in prime position for the 1st overall pick in 2022 when the QB draft class will suck. The Texan way.

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I believe you are joking (slightly) but it is a bit of an interesting question. On the whole, the 2021 roster is a lot better but I expect similar results. So does that mean they are about the same? Hmm...

Fat Bib Fortuna said:

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Jebber said:

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Yes, it stunk that Bud moved the Oilers but prior to that he had strong teams. It just so happened it was during the same time as the Steelers dynasty.

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HE MOVED THE FRANCHISE AWAY.

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Bud Adams stole football from me when I was a kid. He made a huge negative impact when I had the least amount of ability to reason or understand why it was happening. I swore I'd never forgive him.....and I havent!

That being said, I think I hate Cal McNair just as much as Bud. Its may be recency bias, but I think there are plenty of reasons to justify my feelings. First, we are stuck with this loser for decades...that alone raises the dislike factor. Second, Bud Adams was greedy...not something I admire, but something I understand. Cal McNair is a trust fund baby that is probably the dumbest owner in all of football. He is entitled and stupid....my least favorite combination of traits on this planet. Finally, Cal uses non-performance characteristics to make big decisions on talent acquisition. He is no different than a person who hires specifically based upon race, gender or ethnicity. Instead of looking for the most talented individual, he looks for those that match his own spiritual narrative. Ultimately, it seems like he is more interested in surrounding himself with like minded individuals than winning. As a result, I'm not sure if its possible for the Texans to actually be a good organization under his watch.


Also Bud Adams left Tennessee with an incredible daughter who has turned into a top 10 owner. If we had appeased Bud and waited him out, we would have been in a fantastic situation right now. Based upon what I've seen, Cal McNair's wife isn't really a bedrock of stability either. I can't even imagine what kind of dumbass spoiled child they will leave as their heir.

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we're in a 2 year tank

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If we're lucky it's just 2 years.

rbcs_2 said:

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Ranger222 said:

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So after the draft, which team has more talent? The 2021 roster or the 2002 expansion team?

If Watson is done, I'm leaning the 2002 expansion team. Good thing the Texans are in prime position for the 1st overall pick in 2022 when the QB draft class will suck. The Texan way.

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I believe you are joking (slightly) but it is a bit of an interesting question. On the whole, the 2021 roster is a lot better but I expect similar results. So does that mean they are about the same? Hmm...

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Is it? The 2001 defense had Gary Walker, Seth Payne, Aaron Glenn, Marcus Coleman, etc. I don't think it's even close that the 2001 defense was a lot better.

Offense is a closer call and you could probably make the case for 2021, but I don't think it's enough to overcome the difference in defenses.

*Stop Watching*

I'll reassess my Texans' interest when we change ownership. C'est La Vie

I think the return on OL and DL after the 3rd round is pretty low for drafted guys. IMO they did a good thing just getting UFA's for that and spending the capital there. If they're smart, and I don't think they are, they stack picks by trading assets for next year (whatever we can get) and get as many 1/2 round picks for the next 2-3 drafts. Then go heavy OL/DL. Draft a QB in year 3/4 and be in the playoffs in 5 years.

Probably not gonna happen.

JCA1 said:

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rbcs_2 said:

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Ranger222 said:

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So after the draft, which team has more talent? The 2021 roster or the 2002 expansion team?

If Watson is done, I'm leaning the 2002 expansion team. Good thing the Texans are in prime position for the 1st overall pick in 2022 when the QB draft class will suck. The Texan way.

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I believe you are joking (slightly) but it is a bit of an interesting question. On the whole, the 2021 roster is a lot better but I expect similar results. So does that mean they are about the same? Hmm...

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Is it? The 2001 defense had Gary Walker, Seth Payne, Aaron Glenn, Marcus Coleman, etc. I don't think it's even close that the 2001 defense was a lot better.

Offense is a closer call and you could probably make the case for 2021, but I don't think it's enough to overcome the difference in defenses.

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Good points. Yeah I didn't put that much thought into my post. I had forgotten some of those players were on the 2002 team. By the end of the season the defense was starting to play pretty well from what I recall and they did have that strange win in Pittsburgh (maybe I have the years wrong here but I recall a couple of pick 6's).

Ryan34 said:

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I like what Caserio did in free agency, but the draft was a whiff for me. Going QB, WR, TE (and even giving up more picks to do so) is really hard to justify at this point.

We'll see what the 2022 draft looks like. Perhaps combined they may make sense. Namely, if there's no QB worth taking next year as it looks pretty bare right now.

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Personally I liked the players they drafted. I know they didn't fill specific needs in many cases but I would rather the team stick to the draft board especially in round 3 and beyond.

I agree. 2021 is all about the tank.

and finding a trade partner (who will also be bad in 2021) for Watson

Watch out for Jayden Daniels next years draft. Lots of guys who could rise up and have a dominant year like has happened each of the past 3 years

I think Caserio's strategy was obvious in reflection. He was looking for a diamond in the rough with his top 3 picks. The picks were made without any thought or regard to the current roster. Each pick was a player that has incredible talent, but some negative baggage holding them down.

Davis Mills was the best high school prospect entering college. He had an Up/Down pac10 career which was littered with things outside of his control.

Nico Collins might have been a 1st round pick if he didn't sit out. He is considered to be a raw talent. 1 year of production might have changed that perception.

Brevin Jordan is an incredible route runner for a TE with tons of physicality, but has also been injured in college (shoulder and ankle I think). He could be a Kelce like player if he stays healthy. Huge IF.

Each player has big question marks, but could also turn out to be an elite difference maker. Caserio is just rolling the dice. Its definitely a 2-3 year tank/rebuild. Maybe longer depending on the outcome of the dice.

AG@RICE said:

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I think Caserio's strategy was obvious in reflection. He was looking for a diamond in the rough with his top 3 picks. The picks were made without any thought or regard to the current roster. Each pick was a player that has incredible talent, but some negative baggage holding them down.

Davis Mills was the best high school prospect entering college. He had an Up/Down pac10 career which was littered with things outside of his control.

Nico Collins might have been a 1st round pick if he didn't sit out. He is considered to be a raw talent. 1 year of production might have changed that perception.

Brevin Jordan is an incredible route runner for a TE with tons of physicality, but has also been injured in college (shoulder and ankle I think). He could be a Kelce like player if he stays healthy. Huge IF.

Each player has big question marks, but could also turn out to be an elite difference maker. Caserio is just rolling the dice. Its definitely a 2-3 year tank/rebuild. Maybe longer depending on the outcome of the dice.

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I concur. Some of you are way too caught up in what position they're drafting...it's the third round or later. You're probably not going to get a guy who comes in right away and makes an impact after the first round or two, so the focus should be on the best available player...especially when the Texans have holes all over their roster. Need doesn't really factor in once you get past the first round or two.

I didn't mind the draft. This was a bad position to be in for Nick, so he did his best to find high potential picks without using 1/2s to do it. I think he knows we are at least 4-5 years from competing, so might as well take some chances in year one. Next year will be a better judge given we'll have our actual picks.

The other thing that we need to take in context - there was no combine this year where teams could evaluate medically first hand and many prospects sat out. While that's not an "excuse", I do think the lack of information normally available probably had an impact and perhaps the Texans were less focused on the draft because they didn't feel comfortable without a full due diligence.

Who knows. Nick had a chicken **** and tried to make chicken salad.

I heard that and, if true, why not trade picks this year for next? That should move you up a round. Instead we actually traded away a pick next year to move up. The argument just doesn't hold water.

MaxPower said:

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I heard that and, if true, why not trade picks this year for next? That should move you up around. Instead we actually traded away a pick next year to move up. The argument just doesn't hold water.

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Exactly. If you aren't confident in this year's evals, punt to next year. ESPECIALLY if you think you're a few years away from being a playoff team again.

Well if you get a franchise QB in the 3rd that is always a win. The more realistic scenario is he never does anything or, worse yet, being on a crap team washes him out when he might have been something (David Carr).

Great post, I have the same thoughts as well. I can only hope Cal decides to sale the team.

Yes Bud left. To a city that provided him a new stadium. Not saying Houston did the wrong thing at that time, I don't know all the specifics. But Bud was in the open what was required for him to keep the team here as far as I know. And another city stepped up to the plate. Has happened to several other teams in various sports so not that surprising.

Buck Compton said:

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MaxPower said:

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I heard that and, if true, why not trade picks this year for next? That should move you up around. Instead we actually traded away a pick next year to move up. The argument just doesn't hold water.

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Exactly. If you aren't confident in this year's evals, punt to next year. ESPECIALLY if you think you're a few years away from being a playoff team again.

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What's the proposal? Trade every 2021 pick to move up a round next year?

rbcs_2 said:

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Buck Compton said:

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MaxPower said:

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I heard that and, if true, why not trade picks this year for next? That should move you up around. Instead we actually traded away a pick next year to move up. The argument just doesn't hold water.

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Exactly. If you aren't confident in this year's evals, punt to next year. ESPECIALLY if you think you're a few years away from being a playoff team again.

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What's the proposal? Trade every 2021 pick to move up a round next year?

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Where you can, yes, you trade to pick up more picks next year. If you feel confident in a position group or type of eval you were able to do, then you take those where you can. But QB is really not one of those areas.

I don't know if that's the case (lack of depth in evals), but it's the excuse some people have been using across the league with no combine, etc.... If that is in fact the case, then their draft moves make even less sense.

Not even mentioning that any of the most successful GMs will all tell you that after the first and second round, it's kind of a crapshoot, even with all the scouting that is done. So much of it is left to the human element. Given that crapshoot, it makes sense to take more swings--not less. The worst thing you can do is "fall in love with your guy" in the late rounds and give up some of those chances. You want the most chances, so it doesn't make sense to trade 3 late round picks (or a pick next year) to move up on Day 3.

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Where you can, yes, you trade to pick up more picks next year. If you feel confident in a position group or type of eval you were able to do, then you take those where you can. But QB is really not one of those areas.

I don't know if that's the case (lack of depth in evals), but it's the excuse some people have been using across the league with no combine, etc.... If that is in fact the case, then their draft moves make even less sense.

Not even mentioning that any of the most successful GMs will all tell you that after the first and second round, it's kind of a crapshoot, even with all the scouting that is done. So much of it is left to the human element. Given that crapshoot, it makes sense to take more swings--not less. The worst thing you can do is "fall in love with your guy" in the late rounds and give up some of those chances. You want the most chances, so it doesn't make sense to trade 3 late round picks (or a pick next year) to move up on Day 3.

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Oh ok so I have no doubt they made calls to other teams about moving up and down the draft.

Don't have any issue with taking a player that they like at their current draft position, even QB. It's on them to evaluate so if they think moving up to get a guy is worth the price then go do it. I'd much rather have that approach than targeting a position and reaching.