If there's one thing that Rick Smith is seemingly good at, it's finding guys in the junk pile and bringing em in to contribute in a positive manner. You mention Jason Allen. He was solid during his time in Houston. Bernard Pollard is another guy that comes to mind. I thought Mark Anderson played pretty well during the horrible 2010 season when we brought him in off the street. Barrett Ruud has made some nice plays in the last 2 games. So hopefully This new corner can fill some of these injury voids.
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Houston Texans In-season Thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter coolnerd
- Start date
Please See Mine
Footballguy
What do you guys think about the possibility of Foster resting in week 16 and/or whether Tate will re-assert himself as the clear number 2?
coolnerd
Footballguy
If the Texans beat both the Patiots and colts in the next two weeks, then I think it a real chance. If there is something to play for then foster will play. It might be in the 3 headed monster that we saw against the titans.On tate and forsett, i think they will be some form of committee from here on out. No need to give either the full roll as forsett has earned playing time and no need to force a full load on tate coming off his injury.All of this is my speculation with nothing substantial to back it up.
BRONG
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
The Texans could also use better coaching. He's good enough to keep his job (with all that talent), but not good enough to go all the way, I'm convinced.I had a feeling this would happen. Schaub normally goes soft under the bright lights and the secondary has been horrendous lately. The Texans need to find a way to control elite QBs and even Chris Weinke types if they want to make a run in the playoffs.
Major
Footballguy
I tend to agree. Kubiak tends to rest on his laurels so I'm glad they had this wake-up call now. With all that talent there is no reason this team should get skunked by GB and NE. I think NFL coaches have figured out the blueprint to stop the Texans so I hope they make some adjustments before it's too late.The Texans could also use better coaching. He's good enough to keep his job (with all that talent), but not good enough to go all the way, I'm convinced.
BRONG
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
I think coaches like Kubiak are worse than ####ty coaches because they stay around a lot longer. Like your Norvs and Martys. All game long last night, I kept noticing poor decisions by Kubiak. That's nothing new and if I recall correctly, it's worse in big games. He's kind of a choker.What's funny is I'm a Broncos fan and I fear we have a similar problem in Fox. Too conservative, I know that much already. The only thing that might save the Broncos from his style is, thankfully, Manning...for now anyway.I tend to agree. Kubiak tends to rest on his laurels so I'm glad they had this wake-up call now. With all that talent there is no reason this team should get skunked by GB and NE. I think NFL coaches have figured out the blueprint to stop the Texans so I hope they make some adjustments before it's too late.The Texans could also use better coaching. He's good enough to keep his job (with all that talent), but not good enough to go all the way, I'm convinced.
texansfan80
Footballguy
11-2.
coolnerd
Footballguy
The Texans are an execution team. the schemes on offense nor defense are not anything that other teams have not seen, so the blueprint is really just out play them and don't allow Houston to dictate tempo/pace. One of the reasons a coach like Kubiak needs time is that he ltierally needs accumulate enough talent where the relative conservatives schemes has enough guys who fit.I tend to agree. Kubiak tends to rest on his laurels so I'm glad they had this wake-up call now. With all that talent there is no reason this team should get skunked by GB and NE. I think NFL coaches have figured out the blueprint to stop the Texans so I hope they make some adjustments before it's too late.The Texans could also use better coaching. He's good enough to keep his job (with all that talent), but not good enough to go all the way, I'm convinced.
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BRONG
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
DENIAL.What's sad is that you still won't get over the hump. Cool banner, bro, or whatever it is they give to also-rans.
GregR
Footballguy
Basically had a week off from football enjoying the Florida Keys. Needed it with that Patriots game, ugh.
Great outcome today to come back to though. With the Pats going down, believe the Texans need 1 more win to clinch home field.
In some ways I think the loss in New England may end out working in Houston's favor if they do manage to clinch home field. Should help keep them hungry and playing with a chip on their shoulder.
Great outcome today to come back to though. With the Pats going down, believe the Texans need 1 more win to clinch home field.
In some ways I think the loss in New England may end out working in Houston's favor if they do manage to clinch home field. Should help keep them hungry and playing with a chip on their shoulder.
GregR
Footballguy
I put a note in the Lestar Jean thread.... it looked like Posey moved ahead of Keshawn Martin for playing time. I don't recall Martin getting any snaps on offense against the Colts though he was still returning kicks. If anyone has access to snap count information, would love to hear how many those 2 and Lestar Jean had.
Major
Footballguy
BRONG
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
How things lookin?
devouredbychaos
Footballguy
They will never win a SB with Schaub as their QB.
coolnerd
Footballguy
I missed the part where he allowed a 70 yard Td on 3rd and 23 or 101 sprint...I mean kick off return.
lod01
Footballguy
BRONG
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Exactly. As I said before, he's actually worse than a bad coach because he has enough success to keep the job. But he holds the organization back from making that last step forward. He's another Norv or Marty. They will never get there with him.
Dunzo. Kubiak and Schaub: too "good" to get rid of, too lousy to take us beyond an occasional playoff game.
We freakin blew it. Wasted season. And our window might be shut before we Even really got it opened. Luck and the colts were only 1 game worse than us this year. Jut wait until that kid gets some talent around him and more experience. We may NEVER win in Indy.
Not confident about beating a Bengals team looking to avenge last years loss. And if we miraculously beat them, we will get slaughtered in New England. Terrible, terrible choke job. Thanks Kubes. Thanks Schauby. Thanks stupid play-calling sheet that has nothing but 3rd and Long draw plays and WR screens to Andre Johnson. Thanks horrible Right side of the o-line. Thanks Barwin. Thanks terrible Inside LBs. thanks safeties. Thanks Brandon Harris. Thanks Joe Marciano. Thanks Jacoby Jones & Trindon Holliday.
We freakin blew it. Wasted season. And our window might be shut before we Even really got it opened. Luck and the colts were only 1 game worse than us this year. Jut wait until that kid gets some talent around him and more experience. We may NEVER win in Indy.
Not confident about beating a Bengals team looking to avenge last years loss. And if we miraculously beat them, we will get slaughtered in New England. Terrible, terrible choke job. Thanks Kubes. Thanks Schauby. Thanks stupid play-calling sheet that has nothing but 3rd and Long draw plays and WR screens to Andre Johnson. Thanks horrible Right side of the o-line. Thanks Barwin. Thanks terrible Inside LBs. thanks safeties. Thanks Brandon Harris. Thanks Joe Marciano. Thanks Jacoby Jones & Trindon Holliday.
Same to you as I'm sure you'll be out in the first round. -30 net points on the year. Arguably the least deserving playoff team.Better luck next year, Texan fans. 0-11 in Indy has to sting.
I always thought his conservative play just held back his fantasy players and that his absolutely awful clock management (lack of urgency when behind, horrible use/non-use of challenges, foolish timeout usage) would be what would inevitably cost us key wins. But now it appears we can't even get to a point where clock management could be the problem.I haven't completely given up hope, but my confidence is about 10% of what it was 10 weeks ago. If that. I find myself thinking about the draft and free agency already. Would be nice to find some LB help. JJ Watt can't be all of our pash rush. I like Connor Barwin but I can't imagine paying him at this point.
This team reminds me a bit of the 2007 Giants IIRC... didn't they kind of back into the playoffs? Then they rode that D-Line to the super bowl. If our pass rushers could come out of hibernation and get to it then we'd stand a chance against anyone (provided Kubiak doesn't cripple the offense). Reed, Barwin, Watt, Smith should be a more intimidating combo than it has been most of the year.
pizzatyme
Footballguy
Yet we beat you, the Packers, and the Vikings with a team of rookies. It's gonna sting when you lose next weekend to the Bengals.Same to you as I'm sure you'll be out in the first round. -30 net points on the year. Arguably the least deserving playoff team.Better luck next year, Texan fans. 0-11 in Indy has to sting.
Yeah, a lot of frustration, gotta wonder what went wrong midway thru the season. They have not been the same team since the bye and have progressively gotten worse to close out the year.
The offense is non-existent, Schaub has been awful in the month of December (for all the talk of his weak arm and underthrowing Andre, he sure doesn't have a problem overthrowing guys like Walter, Casey or Jean on those stupid fly patterns), but no one is playing well: the O'line (right side in particular, they were getting blown up by backup d'linemen yesterday), the TE's, the RB's (except for 1 Foster run yesterday) or the WR's not named Andre. And even Andre played poorly yesterday despite the stat line. He dropped a for certain TD and got bumped off his route for that 2nd INT.
If not for the defense, it would have been much worse but even their play is slipping. Way too overly aggressive making boneheaded mistake and penalty after another.
The biggest questions going into the year are the same biggest questions at the end: we have no receiving threat outside of Andre and the right side of the line is a turnstile. Depth on the defensive side of the ball is still a major concern as well. Please fire the special teams coach finally, i don't care if he is a good guy and friends with McNair, he sucks.
The season ain't over but it sure feels like it, everyone expects us to lay an egg in the playoffs (and rightfully so based on our play lately.)
The offense is non-existent, Schaub has been awful in the month of December (for all the talk of his weak arm and underthrowing Andre, he sure doesn't have a problem overthrowing guys like Walter, Casey or Jean on those stupid fly patterns), but no one is playing well: the O'line (right side in particular, they were getting blown up by backup d'linemen yesterday), the TE's, the RB's (except for 1 Foster run yesterday) or the WR's not named Andre. And even Andre played poorly yesterday despite the stat line. He dropped a for certain TD and got bumped off his route for that 2nd INT.
If not for the defense, it would have been much worse but even their play is slipping. Way too overly aggressive making boneheaded mistake and penalty after another.
The biggest questions going into the year are the same biggest questions at the end: we have no receiving threat outside of Andre and the right side of the line is a turnstile. Depth on the defensive side of the ball is still a major concern as well. Please fire the special teams coach finally, i don't care if he is a good guy and friends with McNair, he sucks.
The season ain't over but it sure feels like it, everyone expects us to lay an egg in the playoffs (and rightfully so based on our play lately.)
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Not really. The month of December has had enough sting in it to render me numb. And if I'm being honest, the month of November didn't yield anything to get excited about, either. The Texans have enough talent that they could theoretically win the super bowl should they start playing up to their potential, but at this point I can't get my hopes up. The Colts just don't have the talent to even have a chance. Neither of us are in enviable positions right now, but I'd rather be a Texans fan during the 2013 playoffs than an Indy fan.Yet we beat you, the Packers, and the Vikings with a team of rookies. It's gonna sting when you lose next weekend to the Bengals.Same to you as I'm sure you'll be out in the first round. -30 net points on the year. Arguably the least deserving playoff team.Better luck next year, Texan fans. 0-11 in Indy has to sting.
2013 season and beyond... we've got our work cut out for us. Schaub's not going to get better. Kubiak isn't either. AJ's best years have been wasted (with a bad QB and a QB who consistently under throws him), but I'm sure he's got a few more good ones. Other than needing to find a better QB and AJ's eventual heir, we've just got a few holes to patch up. Indy has the hard part figured out - QB. Their defense is total crapola. Wayne is running on fumes and a heavy target load. Their o-line is sub-par. I'm not sure there is a single unit on that team that is not either really old or sub-par. For instance, Mathis, Freeney, and Redding are still good, but about to hit that cliff.
pizzatyme
Footballguy
The difference between Colts and Texans fans this post season is expectations! As a Colts fan, I'm happy were here for the experience it gives our young team.
Grigson should win GM of the year and I expect he will do fine reloading just as he has done this year.
Your window was small and closes after this year for the reasons you mentioned above.
Good luck next week.
Grigson should win GM of the year and I expect he will do fine reloading just as he has done this year.
Your window was small and closes after this year for the reasons you mentioned above.
Good luck next week.
Agree with the first line.Second line - sure there are a couple prospects that give hope but the Colts had to catch a ton of breaks to finish 10-6 with -30 net points. Could easily be 6-10 next year.Third - Don't see how what I said means the window closes this year. Most of the guys will be returning next year (including Cushing from injury). Should still easily be the best team in the division.Fourth - All four AFC teams playing next week will need it. Two teams backed into the playoffs and two aren't good enough to be there.
Indy hit the tanking jackpot, now it remains to be seen if they can still put the rest of the team around him. Either way, it's a QB driven league so they likely are going to be contenders every year as long as Luck stays healthy. I have a feeling it's going to be a lot like many of those years with Peyton where he carried them to the playoffs but the rest of the surrounding cast wasn't anywhere good enough once they got there.Kubiak needs to fix the offense or late next year could lead to some major changes. We are not in a good place though if Kube's can't get the offense going again, I shudder at the thought of Phillips stepping up if they fire Kubiak. He is a great defensive coordinator but I do not want him as a head coach.Not really. The month of December has had enough sting in it to render me numb. And if I'm being honest, the month of November didn't yield anything to get excited about, either. The Texans have enough talent that they could theoretically win the super bowl should they start playing up to their potential, but at this point I can't get my hopes up. The Colts just don't have the talent to even have a chance. Neither of us are in enviable positions right now, but I'd rather be a Texans fan during the 2013 playoffs than an Indy fan.Yet we beat you, the Packers, and the Vikings with a team of rookies. It's gonna sting when you lose next weekend to the Bengals.Same to you as I'm sure you'll be out in the first round. -30 net points on the year. Arguably the least deserving playoff team.Better luck next year, Texan fans. 0-11 in Indy has to sting.
2013 season and beyond... we've got our work cut out for us. Schaub's not going to get better. Kubiak isn't either. AJ's best years have been wasted (with a bad QB and a QB who consistently under throws him), but I'm sure he's got a few more good ones. Other than needing to find a better QB and AJ's eventual heir, we've just got a few holes to patch up. Indy has the hard part figured out - QB. Their defense is total crapola. Wayne is running on fumes and a heavy target load. Their o-line is sub-par. I'm not sure there is a single unit on that team that is not either really old or sub-par. For instance, Mathis, Freeney, and Redding are still good, but about to hit that cliff.
Despite the contract extension earlier this season, we need to start planning for life without Schaub asap if we want to avoid another protracted rebuilding period. IDK if the future is Yates or not, but they should have looked at putting him in more this year, especially early on when we were blowing out opponents. (No reason he shouldn't have gone in late for those games against the Titans, Jags or Ravens.) Schaub is locked in for next year, but there is no guaranteed money in his contract past the 2013 season and his base salary balloons huge in 2014 and on. There is a pretty sizeable prorated signing bonus to worry about though.
pizzatyme
Footballguy
The Colts finished 11-5, just one game behind the Texans they were 1-1 against the Texans. They beat the Packers and Vikings. The Vikings also beat the Texans. The Texans window will close due to your stated reasons, not that you stated the window will close. The Colts will be better next year, I suspect the Jags and Titans will too. This WAS the window for the Texans THIS year. I project wins next year like this:Texans 10-6Colts 9-7Titans 7-9Jags 6-10I'd say that hardly makes the Texans prohibitive favorites to win the division again. Let alone make a strong run in the playoffs.
dhockster
Footballguy
The one thing the Texans have going for them this week (and throughout the playoffs) is no expectations. Everyone in the Media is going to show how smart they are by picking a Bengals upset of the Texans. If the Texans can manage to get up for this week for pride alone, I think they have a good shot of winning this week. After that, they will get their chance to "shock the world" by winning in NE. Not saying it is going to happen (it probably won't) but at least the Texans aren't burdened by unrealistic expectations. They know they will have to fight and claw to win anything in the playoffs, they can't just show up.
I already knew that I didn't state the window will close. Just not sure how the reasons I stated somehow add up to the window closing.We were by far the best team in the division this year and none of our players are at critical ages. If we can improve our right guard, right tackle, and pass rush (seriously pitiful that a single DE accounted for half the sacks in a 3-4 defense) then we'll be a significantly better team next year. The loss of Cushing really hurt, but he'll be healthy by week 1.Both Indy and Houston need to fill some holes, but Indy has a lot more. Is Luck good enough to pull off what Peyton did every year? Which is to win despite his defense and then lose in the AFC championship. He'll need a better o-line and better receiving corps than Hilton, Brazil, Allen, and Fleener.
pizzatyme
Footballguy
How do you figure the Texans were "by far the best team"? They won one more game than the Colts and split with the Colts on the season. The season does still consist of 16 games, right?
The Texans were clearly the best team the first half of the year, I'll give you that. Not on the year, however.
The Texans were clearly the best team the first half of the year, I'll give you that. Not on the year, however.
Yes, I understand that seeding is done by record, but purely looking at the # of wins is not a very accurate way of sizing up a season. The Colts won 11 games while being outscored by their opponents by an average of about 2 points per game. That is a razor thin margin and likely required quite a bit of luck (no pun intended, seriously). I mean, the Colts BARELY beat the pitiful Chiefs and Browns. And got smoked by the Jets. Not impressive. So even though the Texans couldn't stop from tripping over themselves in December, I still say they were far and away the best team in the AFC South.
Can't say I agree about the Jags or Titans getting any better any time soon. Both gambled high 1st round picks 2 years ago on QB's and both look to have struck out completely there. Both teams star players (CJ2k & MJD) are runningbacks, getting old and may not be with the team more than 1 more season. They have the 29th & 32nd ranked defenses in the league, and bottom third offenses. They may have some pieces here and there but they are still major works in progress.
The AFC South will be a slugfest between Indy & Hou for the next 1~2 seasons IMO.
The AFC South will be a slugfest between Indy & Hou for the next 1~2 seasons IMO.
Just perusing PFF. A few Texans relevant items:
Our Free Agents
I'm so glad we got Brown locked down. This list isn't very daunting. Priority 1 has to be Quin. I feel like Barwin had a good game yesterday, but he was a no show most of the season. If his price is right, I wouldn't be opposed to signing him, but I'm expecting him to be gone. It would be nice to have Casey back but he deserves a shot at more playing time. This will be his only contract opportunity so he should take the money wherever that is. Bradie James is gone. Shaun Cody is suspect will be back, but not really sure.
PFF All Pro Team
Three guys made first team:
Our Free Agents
I'm so glad we got Brown locked down. This list isn't very daunting. Priority 1 has to be Quin. I feel like Barwin had a good game yesterday, but he was a no show most of the season. If his price is right, I wouldn't be opposed to signing him, but I'm expecting him to be gone. It would be nice to have Casey back but he deserves a shot at more playing time. This will be his only contract opportunity so he should take the money wherever that is. Bradie James is gone. Shaun Cody is suspect will be back, but not really sure.
PFF All Pro Team
Three guys made first team:
Game Recap
The bolded isn't just on Schaub. It's on Kubiak, too. Hopefully they were hiding the good plays from New England...
Some NFL Films clips:
JJ Watt - a season to remember
2012 - Best of JJ
2012 - Best of AJ
(really strange fist pump at 0:25)
Also, just curious, am I the only one that finds Mark Vandermeer pretty annoying?
JJ Watt - a season to remember
2012 - Best of JJ
2012 - Best of AJ
(really strange fist pump at 0:25)
Also, just curious, am I the only one that finds Mark Vandermeer pretty annoying?
GregR
Footballguy
A number of articles out there on how Watt had a historic level season, by many measures the best by a defensive player in the last few decades. Here's a good one on how he set a new record for PFF's "Defeats" stat: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/40891176
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Houston turmOiler
Footballguy
all the more reason to fire Joe Marciano...Holliday couldn't even make it back to the 20 yard line for us
coolnerd
Footballguy
RN, You I actually like you, but non-good posting.While i sure it was the fault of our special teams scheme/coach, but Holiday was horrible on both kick-off and punt returns. Heck, he did not even know when to catch or not-catch the ball.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Strikes me as bitterness, GB.RN, You I actually like you, but non-good posting.While i sure it was the fault of our special teams scheme/coach, but Holiday was horrible on both kick-off and punt returns. Heck, he did not even know when to catch or not-catch the ball.
coolnerd
Footballguy
None there...this was the pre-season Holiday for the Texans. Once the regular season started some other dude was returning kicks for the Texanshttp://www.nfl.com/player/trindonholliday/497218/careerstatsbig gap between the two.Strikes me as bitterness, GB.RN, You I actually like you, but non-good posting.While i sure it was the fault of our special teams scheme/coach, but Holiday was horrible on both kick-off and punt returns. Heck, he did not even know when to catch or not-catch the ball.
GregR
Footballguy
So you haven't seen boneheaded play from him on Denver as well? Like when he dropped the ball to celebrate before crossing the goal line on a return TD, but got bailed out when the replay official failed in his job? Or his fumbling nearly 1 out of every 8 returns while in Denver?Strikes me as bitterness, GB.RN, You I actually like you, but non-good posting.While i sure it was the fault of our special teams scheme/coach, but Holiday was horrible on both kick-off and punt returns. Heck, he did not even know when to catch or not-catch the ball.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
You have to accept this kid, warts and all. Denver wanted to. Houston didn't.So you haven't seen boneheaded play from him on Denver as well? Like when he dropped the ball to celebrate before crossing the goal line on a return TD, but got bailed out when the replay official failed in his job? Or his fumbling nearly 1 out of every 8 returns while in Denver?Strikes me as bitterness, GB.RN, You I actually like you, but non-good posting.While i sure it was the fault of our special teams scheme/coach, but Holiday was horrible on both kick-off and punt returns. Heck, he did not even know when to catch or not-catch the ball.
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