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Quarterback Schaub leads the undefeated Texans

By Marc Narducci, The Philadelphia Inquirer –

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Matt Schaub admitted he enjoyed playing football relatively close to home on Monday night. The Houston Texans’ quarterback was ready to greet well-wishers for a brief visit after Monday’s 23-17 win over a stubborn New York Jets team at MetLife Stadium.

“It’s fun to come to the Northeast, where I grew up and played. But we enjoy going on the road no matter where it is,” said Schaub, who is from West Chester, Pa.

Schaub enjoys playing anywhere this season, regardless of the venue. And why not?

The Texans are 5-0, one of only two undefeated NFL teams. The other is the Atlanta Falcons, who are quarterbacked by Matt Ryan, from Exton, Pa.

Schaub signed a four-year, $62 million extension last month. He has come back after undergoing surgery on his right foot last year for a Lisfranc injury that cost him the final six regular-season games and a chance to play in the Texans’ first-ever playoff appearance, consisting of two games.

After appearing in every game the previous two seasons, Schaub said it was difficult coming back from last year’s injury.

“There were rough spots in rehabilitation through the spring,” he said. “Once training camp came it felt better than it had before the injury, so it’s a long process to get to that point, and fortunately I had the time to get there before camp started.”

It’s also been a long process getting to the point of being the leader for a viable Super Bowl contender. The 31-year-old Schaub was a third-round draft pick from the University of Virginia in 2004 by the Atlanta Falcons. He was the backup to Michael Vick for three seasons in Atlanta, starting just two games.

Schaub was traded to Houston in March 2007 and became an immediate starter. But he has been hampered by injuries, having missed 16 games since 2007. He did show his toughness by missing just one play after taking a vicious hit from Denver linebacker Joe Mays in the visiting Texans’ 31-25 win on Sept. 25.

“He has battled through a lot of injuries, and now he is healthy. And when he is healthy he shows everybody what he can do,” said Texans star receiver Andre Johnson, the only player in NFL history with at least 60 receptions in each of his first eight seasons.

Schaub, the 2010 Pro Bowl MVP, is the acknowledged leader of a Houston offense he doesn’t have to carry due to the presence of running back Arian Foster, who is second in the NFL with 532 yards rushing.

“I don’t know where his ceiling is honestly, but I have seen improvement in him every year with the timing of his throws, his knowledge of our offense and opposing defenses,” said tight end Owen Daniels, who caught a 34-yard touchdown pass in Monday’s win. “He wants to be great, and that is what you want in a quarterback.”

Since Houston has such a strong rushing attack, Schaub won’t put up the fantasy football numbers of some of his fellow quarterbacks. This season, the nine-year veteran is averaging 30.4 passing attempts, not an overly inflated figure in these pass-happy days in the NFL.

Schaub has completed 97 of 152 passes for 1,162 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. He is seventh in the NFL with a 99.2 passer rating. (By comparison, Vick’s passer rating is 77.8.)

“Matt has only thrown two picks, and if I ask him to throw 28 passes he is effective, and if I ask him to throw 50 he’s effective,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “He really has a good grasp of what we are doing.”

Schaub is enjoying being on an emerging powerhouse, one that has everybody in the NFL taking notice.

“I think the being undefeated, yes, it perks everybody’s interest to go out there and give us their best shot,” Schaub said. “But that is the NFL.”

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