Matt Schaub has become the scapegoat in Houston

When a team falls short of its goals, someone has to be the scapegoat. Matt Schaub is that person with the Houston Texans.

That much became clear Sunday when some Texans fans cheered after Schaub suffered an injured ankle in the Texans' 38-13 loss to the St. Louis Rams, which dropped their record to 2-4. The reaction by those fans and the subsequent loud cheers from the whole stadium when backup T.J. Yates came in showed who folks are blaming for the mess the Texans' season has become.

Granted, Schaub hasn't helped himself by throwing more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (eight) in the Texans' first six games -- four of which were returned for touchdowns. But it's not like Schaub is the only one under-performing on the team. Houston's vaunted defense has been abysmal in terms of stopping the run (121.5 yards per game allowed) and allowing opponents to score (29.5). And let's not ignore the fact that the Texans are an AFC-worst -12 in giveaway/takeaway ratio primarily because they've only forced three turnovers in six games.

In reality, Schaub hasn't been too bad this season. He's currently tied with Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton for 11th in passing yards (1,552 yards) and is 10th in completion percentage (64.4). It's just the nine interceptions, the four pick-sixes and the 2-4 record that have Texans fans ready to run Schaub out of town.

Those fans might get their wish if the Texans' struggles continue. Scapegoats have a funny way of leaving town once a season ends. If the Texans -- a team picked by many as an AFC championship contender -- don't turn their season around and make the playoffs, the demand for change will be strong. That likely will include Schaub, who has yet to guide his team beyond the divisional playoff round.

I hope Schaub avoids that fate because I believe he's not as bad of a quarterback as he's being made out to be. He's not Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees, but he's thrown for more than 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns three times in the last four seasons, or every time he's made it through a 16-game schedule relatively healthy. In an NFL world littered with second-rate signal callers, the Texans could do a lot worse than Schaub.

Don't tell that to Texans fans, though. They've made Schaub the scapegoat for their team's woes.