SB Nation - Rex Grossman

Three And Out: Useless Predictions For Sunday's Game

Tim — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:22:51 -0000

I did a decent job last week, except for that whole correctly-predicting-which-team-would-win thing. I can now reveal to you that I actually did foresee the infamous Chris Brown halfback pass; sadly, I thought it was the product of a whiskey-induced haze and dismissed the power of my gift. Thus, I failed you yet again, BRB. It starts with me.

On to this week's surefire happenings:

1. I can't shake this eerie feeling that Matt Schaub's going to get knocked out of the game again via another piledriver to the turf on his non-throwing shoulder. That'll mean Rex Grossman, which will in turn mean turnovers and misplaced throws in bunches, which in turn will mean me getting my stomach pumped.

2. Dunta Robinson gets his first pick of the year. Unfortunately, he also gets flagged for pass interference on the same play, negating said interception.

3. Ryan Moats gets more carries than Chris Brown, finishes with an average of more than 4.2 yards per carry, and scores a TD. Even better, the number of passing attempts by Texans' running backs on Sunday reverts to zero.

PUT YOUR NAME ON IT: I probably should feel pretty good about this matchup. I don't. I'll call a Texans win, but if Prediction No. 1 actually comes to pass, that's out of the question. If Matt Schaub plays the entire game: Seahawks 20, Texans 24. If he doesn't: Seahawks 21, Texans 14.

Seahawks vs Texans coverage

Post-Game Breakdown: Texans Lose To Jaguars...Again

Tim — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:05:04 -0000

Four losses in a row. To Indianapolis. To Tennessee. To Indianapolis. And yesterday afternoon, to Jacksonville. From a 5-3 start and talk of playoff contention to a 5-7 record and virtual elimination from relevance. Your Houston Texans finish their 2009 campaign with a 1-5 record in the AFC South. That's failure.

On to the details of the latest crime against the Texans fan base:

1. The single good thing to come out of yesterday's disaster was Matt Schaub refusing to let a little thing like a dislocated shoulder keep him out of the game. Had Brett Favre been the guy who was driven into the ground, we'd be treated to a full week of praise for Favre about his grit, toughness, commitment to his teammates, excellence, and leadership. Since it's Schaub, it won't merit much talk outside of Houston and/or fantasy owners. Thus, allow me to pick up the slack on this one.

After Schaub went down on the first play from scrimmage, I never thought for a second he'd be back and was resigning myself to the remainder of the 2009 season playing out with Rex Grossman under center, followed by a stint in rehab for me come January. But then...with about seven minutes left in the first half, there was Schaub, warming up on the sideline. I couldn't believe it. From the second he went down, judging from the way he went down and then the way he was holding his arm as he left the field, I thought Schaub separated his shoulder. Remember--Schaub missed the last few weeks of the 2007 season with an identical injury. Not this time. Schaub re-entered the game and very nearly brought the Texans back. It showed a resolve we hadn't ever seen from him, and it should put to rest any questions about his resilience. If Schaub can play, he will play. People can criticize him, but not for being soft. The guy's a gamer.

2. Good thing that Schaub's a gamer, too, because Rex Grossman looked awful. I don't even want to talk about it anymore.

3. Once again, Ryan Moats shows a burst that we haven't seen from a running back all year long. And once again, I'm sure he'll be banished to the bottom of the depth chart for reasons that elude me. Can anyone explain why Moats doesn't get more carries? Anyone?

4. Of all the things that puzzled/enraged me about yesterday's game, the most puzzling/infuriating was Chris Brown being in the game on the very next series after he tried to shot-put the ball in Joel Dreessen's general direction. How is it that Kubes can bench Steve Slaton and/or Ryan Moats for turning the ball over but not apply the same zero tolerance policy on C. Brown?

5. I appreciate those of you who think the halfback pass was a good call at the time. I vehemently disagree, and I think it's just the latest example of Kyle Shanahan and/or Gary Kubiak trying to get cute. Just as I had no clue why the Texans called a pass on third down at the IND 15 with slightly more than a minute to go in the first half last week, I'll never understand why the Texans would ask Chris Brown to make that play at that point in the game. It was a truly awful decision, trumped only by even more awful execution.

6. Although he coughed one ball up that turned into an interception, I continue to be impressed by David Anderson. Seems like he very quietly is good for a big third down conversion every week.

7. The absence of Owen Daniels makes Andre Johnson's consistency that much more unfathomable.

8. I never had anything against Chris White. Until yesterday. His false start, late in the third quarter, as the Texans prepared to go for it on 4th and 2 from the JAC 9, was as back-breaking a penalty as I've seen in some time.

9. I mentioned this a few weeks back in the PGB, and I'll reiterate it now: Is anyone else amazed at how no one has taken Alex Gibbs to task this season for the performance of the offensive line? They haven't been able to run block all year, and false starts seem to occur at an alarming rate, especially during this four-game swoon.

10. Why does Frank Bush EVER put the Texans into a zone? It never works. Ever. It's the schematic equivalent of raising a white flag.

11. Judging from the way Gus Johnson was lavishing praise on Dunta Robinson, I'm firmly of the belief that (1) Gus is on Dunta's payroll and/or (2) Gus hasn't watched the Texans play at all this year. The latter possibility is particularly troubling, considering that Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker have called several Texans games this year.

12. Theory: There is not a single member of the Texans secondary who would start for a playoff team except perhaps Bernard Pollard. Agree or disagree?

13. There aren't a whole lot more depressing things as a fan than to watch your defense get gashed via the run when everyone watching knows exactly what's coming, who's getting the ball, and a stop is absolutely crucial to avoid losing the game. It's demoralizing to watch. I can't even imagine what it has to be like for DeMeco Ryans & Co. The odd part is that the Texans did a fine job keeping Maurice Jones-Drew in check all the way up until that last drive. When they absolutely needed it the most, they couldn't do it.

14. Even though the Texans managed to sack David Garrard on four (4) occasions, I never really felt like they got to him. Just like last time, Garrard made the plays when he needed to, regardless of what the numbers say.

15. The Jaguars did everything they possibly could to give this game to the Texans, and the Texans refused to do anything about it. This was the sloppiest game I've seen two teams play in a good long while.

16. The calls for Kubiak's head are getting louder and louder. Not coincidentally, each loss and absurd playcall makes defending him harder and harder. JMay wrote a great FanPost on the topic, and I'll be writing a longer piece myself in the coming days on the subject. For now, I'll leave you with this thought...if you can't get a proven Super Bowl winning coach, are you content with replacing Kubes with someone who has no head coaching experience?

The Seahawks are next on the schedule. Here's hoping that Reliant doesn't look like Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Sunday.

Texans vs Jaguars coverage

Jaguars defeat Texans 23-18 in a mistake filled game

Jonathan Loesche — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:16:15 -0000

More photos » by Stephen Morton - AP

Play of the game right here.

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Some games simply defy logic, and this game would be one of them. The Jaguars defeated the Texans in a game seemingly neither wanted to win, based on the bizarre mix of miscues and turnovers. However, all that matters is that the Jaguars are 7-5 and still in control of their destiny in the AFC's Wild Card race.

The play of the game was undoubtably Derrick Harvey sacking Houston QB Matt Schaub on Houston's first offensive play. The play resulted in Schaub seperating his shoulder and missing the majority of the first half. Backup QB Rex Grossman came in and lead the Texans offense straight into the gutter, posting a 5.6 QB rating in the process.

The Jaguars used this to their advantage and managed to build a 17-0 lead before Schaub managed to return. However, the Jaguars had their own fair share of issues. Maurice Jones-Drew was stuffed on consecutive runs at the goal line that cost the Jaguars seven points.

When Matt Schaub return to the game, the Texans offense went into high gear. He led the Texans quickly downfield and got them within 17-7 to end the half.

The second half was where the game began to turn into the surreal. Maurice Jones-Drew slipped in the Jaguars end zone resulting in a safety, and then the usually sure handed Mike Thomas fumbled a punt inside the Jaguars 20.

However, the Jaguars defense played perhaps it's best sixty minutes of the season, without Rashean Mathis no less. The Jaguars held following the Thomas fumble and forced the Texans to settle for three points. Gerald Alexander gets a game ball for playing perhaps the best game any player has had in the secondary.

The moment of the game that will be the most talked about had yet to come, though. Half way through the 4th quarter the Texans had a 1st and goal on the Jaguars four yard line. Coach Gary Kubiak decided to throw a half back pass that would be intercepted by Gerald Alexander.

Simply put, I can't explain how or why that play happened other than it's the Houston Texans. Despite the Texans getting a late touchdown, it was clear the game was over after the interception.

With the Oakland Raiders beating the Steelers, the Jaguars have a major lead over most of their other playoff competitors. This sets up a major game next week against the Miami Dolphins. A win over the Dolphins, along with a very winnable game against Cleveland to end the year, would mean at worst the Jaguars would have a winning record in 2009.

The Linc - Must win for McNabb & Jay Cutler at night

JasonB — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:15:10 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

27 days ago: FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2009 file photo, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler sits on ground after almost being sacked by the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in San Francisco. Cutler has been battered behind a struggling offensive line, and now, he is throwing about as many passes to defenders as receivers. This, clearly, isn't the way the Chicago Bears envisioned things. Their franchise quarterback is struggling and their playoff hopes are fading heading their game Sunday night, Nov. 22 against the Philadelphia Eagles. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

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Daily Herald | Cutler's pickoff propensity something he can control
You can blame Jay Cutler's league-worst 17 interceptions on any number of things.

Bears' Cutler talks about reducing red-zone picks - Chicago Breaking Sports
"We have to put ourselves in good positions and be careful with [the ball]. If we've got to take three points, we have to take three points, except in situations where we have to get a touchdown, we're down, trying to win a football game. At the end of the day, if you get down there, you want to at least get three."

Jay Cutler can be scary at night -- chicagotribune.com
In three night games this year -- all Bears losses -- Cutler has thrown 65 percent of his interceptions. And the Bears will play their fourth of at least five night games Sunday against the Eagles at Soldier Field.

Eagles Notes: Brown practices despite hamstring injury | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/19/2009
Three days after suffering a strained hamstring during the Eagles' loss at San Diego, the veteran cornerback participated in individual drills and said afterward that there was "a good chance" he'd be able to play Sunday at Chicago.

Rich Hofmann: Eagles QB McNabb calls for must win vs. Bears | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/19/2009
"I've been in the league for a while now, 11 years, and at this particular point in my career, as well as this point in the season, this is a must win for us and that's the way that we have to approach it. I wouldn't care if it's at Soldier Field, I wouldn't care if it's playing in Champaign, Illinois, or we can play in Oklahoma, it doesn't matter. This is a game that we need to win. That's the way I'm approaching it and that's the way the other guys are approaching it as well."

More after the jump

Rex Grossman's dad tees off on Chicago Bears organization; feels bad for Jay Cutler -- chicagotribune.com
Rex Grossman's dad tees off on Chicago Bears organization

Weaver Eager to Assume Heavier Workload
The Eagles’ most valuable offseason addition is neither tackle Jason Peters nor guard Stacy Andrews. It’s not safety Sean Jones. It’s neither rookie running back LeSean McCoy nor receiver Jeremy Maclin. Instead, it’s fullback Leonard Weaver.

Eagles' McCoy says he's ready for starting role | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/19/2009
Standing in front of his locker stall yesterday, LeSean McCoy was able to shrug his shoulders, apparently without dislodging the Eagles' playoff hopes. So there is that - the 21-year-old rookie doesn't appear to be in shock or overawed by the moment. "I've kind of been in this situation before, so it's not really a big difference," said McCoy, who should get his fourth career start Sunday night at Chicago.

Phil Sheridan: Eagles can't use injuries as an excuse | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/19/2009
His team went to the Super Bowl just once and has been a mediocre disappointment ever since. No wonder Lovie Smith jumped at a question about the Eagles' injury problems in order to make a point about his own team.

Steelers at Broncos Open Thread

John Morgan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:29:56 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

Kyle Orton squirms beneath the savage hand of inevitability.

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Kyle Orton is in the midst of a career season. Many predicted Orton would improve behind a better line and in a more modern system, but few thought he would improve so much. So maybe he hasn't.

Football fans know of Derek Anderson and Rex Grossman. Both quarterbacks experienced amazing career seasons that were not preceded by success and that were not followed by success.

Grossman was the most likely success of the three. He was drafted in the first round, had a 61% completion percentage in college (a 54.6% completion percentage in 2006) and that one tool that can make any quarterback great for a snap: an awesome deep pass.

Anderson was the surest to fail. He was a tools prospect that played poorly in college. He had a better completion percentage in 2007 than any of his four years at Oregon State. His rise coincided with major additions to the offensive line and run game. Anderson could not beat out Charlie Frye in the preseason, but was so entrusted to retain his ability that Cleveland guaranteed him $14.5 million over three seasons and $24 million overall.

Orton isn't too far from his norms. His completion percentage today is higher than he ever finished at Purdue and will likely drop. The system Josh McDaniels has implemented inflates completion percentage. In that light, Orton's spike is not unsustainable. His interception rate is. Orton has one interception in 231 attempts. Before Grossman and Anderson failed, they sagged in the second half. Grossman was eaten alive by sacks and fumbles. Anderson's yards disappeared when teams dropped into deep cover. He lacked the accuracy to succeed underneath. Orton will get his by way of interceptions.

Tonight marks the midway point for Orton. He faces the Pittsburgh Steelers. Seahawks fans have been horrified to see Neckbeard turn a corner and seemingly become a franchise quarterback for the Broncos. Maybe he has, but I doubt it. You don't root for the Sarlacc Pit and I won't root for the Steelers tonight. Maybe it's in bad spirit, but I do root for truth to pop the bubble of sudden, undeserving stars. It's in that spirit that I do not root against the Broncos or for the Steelers, but only for the inevitable. May truth find Orton tonight. May it find him three or four times.

NightLink: Bears/Cards One of the Most Memorable Ever?

Dane Noble — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:05:04 -0000

With a post-game press conference that will forever transcend time, the 2006 game between the Bears and the Cardinals was one for the ages. Undefeated to that point, but down 20 points at halftime, the Bears needed miracles to win that game. Of course, they got 'em. Jeff Dickerson reminisces:

Rex Grossman tossed four interceptions, but got bailed out by two defensive scores by Mike Brown and Charles Tillman, and a Devin Hester 83-yard punt return that capped the comeback.

It was an emotional roller-coaster, one which had induced me to drink more than the usual glass of milk during the game. The first half was drinking due to depression, while the second half was drinking because I thought that my drinking was causing the comeback.

Afterwards, we (or maybe it was just me, I don't remember) went out for drinks to celebrate, and I remember thinking at one point man, I hope I remember this game in the morning. Fortunately, I did remember, and I considered myself lucky to have witnessed such a magical game, with a handful of my closest friends (read: total strangers at the bar, who all benefited from my buying drinks for everyone in the second half).

It might not be the most memorable for me, but it's right near the top.

Anyhow, share your own. Where does the 2006 Cardinals game rank in your mental filing-system? What is your most memorable Bears game?

Texans Try Some Booty

Mike Kerns — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:49:11 -0000

What to make of this one? Apparently, according to The National Football Post, Houston kicked the tires today on former USC standout QB John David Booty. He wasn't offered a contract, but it is curious. Is Orlovsky or Grossman not working out as planned? Or is Houston simply doing their due diligence?

Auditing the Seahawks Roster: Running Back

John Morgan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:09:38 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Jones exhibiting his 4.51 speed.

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I have audited Seattle at left tackle, left guard and center. I have spoken extensively on Ray Willis and Max Unger, though less on Unger since he has become a pro. Today I want to talk about Seattle's running back situation.

Seattle has been without a superstar rusher since Shaun Alexander broke down. Teams that experience great success with a superstar rusher often think they need a superstar rusher to be successful. Seattle does not have a hallowed history, but running back is one position it has done well. The great Seahawks rushers have names any football fan knows: Shaun Alexander, Curt Warner and Chris Warren were all great rushers. Ricky Watters was a great back that spent a few late career years here. John L. Williams was a great running fullback.

Mike Holmgren had Alexander, Chuck Knox, Warner, and Tom Flores and Dennis Erickson shared Warren, though neither did spit with him. Jim Mora has Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Edgerrin James. Jones, Force and James will never be spoken of with Alexander or even Warren, but does it matter?

The running game lost its grasp over the NFL before I was born. The modern NFL is a quarterback's league. The leading rushers of recent Super Bowl winners have been mostly late round picks like Willie Parker, Brandon Jacobs and Terrell Davis; and talented retreads like Michael Pittman, Corey Dillon and Antowain Smith. Davis was a superstar in his short time, so the point is not about effectiveness. Most Super Bowl winning teams have had an effective run game.

The point is that Super Bowl winning teams have not typically invested heavily into their running back position itself. Seattle is on that track. Jones is 28. The Seahawks signed him to a cheap contract after he was run out of Dallas. Jones is Seattle's primary running back. He is a good pass blocker and can receive. It's been a long time since he looked like a good rusher, but it's been a long time since he could look like a good rusher. The 2008 Seahawks collapsed. The 2009 Seahawks await their starting line to take the field together.

Stats are a red herring and even tape can be difficult to decipher. How do we separate the line from the back? Here is an attempt.

Julius Jones was draft 43^rd overall in the 2004 draft. He was the fifth running back selected. Jones ran a slow 4.51 at the Combine despite being a speed back at Notre Dame. There he set records returning kicks and punts. Jones does seem field fast, but his raw speed argues he can not lose significant speed before he is no longer a viable NFL running back.

If Jones is slowing down, you would expect it to show in his stats, but Jones' rushing and receiving longs are comparable to his career rushing and receiving longs. He doesn't look slow in the open field, he just isn't reaching the open field very often anymore.

Another thing that could slow Jones or make him less agile or easier to tackle is performance decline related to injuries. Jones has been very healthy for a back. His most significant injury was a broken scapula his rookie season. His next most significant injury was a high ankle sprain suffered in 2005. Since then, Jones has been healthy, avoiding major injuries and mostly avoiding nagging injuries.

Jones doesn't seem slower and he doesn't seem hobbled by injuries. He has developed a reputation as an unremarkable back and maybe he is. But Jones blocks well, receives well and is one the cheapest starting running backs in the NFL. His brother Thomas fits the same profile and was passed around the league before he landed on a contender. Thomas Jones has never been a remarkable rusher, but he stayed healthy, kept his speed and does the little things well. No one would argue if Thomas could be the lead rusher on a Super Bowl winning team - he was a Rex Grossman away from being just that in 2006.

So C.J. Spiller is awesome, Jahvid Best is hype, Jonathan Dwyer is big, and some of the kids are likely to crash the party, but are any of them the piece that pushes Seattle closer to a championship? I don't think so. I think Seattle could do it with Jones. And if it can do it with Jones and Jones is cheap, why spend precious resources to replace him?

Chiefs S Mike Brown Talks About Big Plays and the Chargers

Joel Thorman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:24:25 -0000

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

2 months ago: Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber (24) escapes the grasp of Kansas City Chiefs safety Mike Brown (30) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

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When Mike Brown was in the NFC, he and the Chicago Bears defense faced LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers on two occasions. Combined Brown's team held LT to 33 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Not a bad average.

This time, however, Brown is with the Kansas City Chiefs and they don't have a defense capable of carrying Rex Grossman to a Super Bowl.

Brown spoke with reporters and one word kept coming up: Talent. The Chargers are consistently tabbed one of the most talented teams in the NFL. (Great, they're kings of the regular season).

"We got a new challenge ahead of us," Brown said. "A good San Diego team is coming in. We have to be able to prepare well because that's the only way we can win, is preparing well."

As Todd Haley has said before, the Chiefs almost have to be perfect to win games this season.

"They've got great players," Brown continued. "That's always a concern when you have real good players in all different spots so you can't really key in on one thing. That's what makes them so difficult to defend because they have a lot of good players that make a lot of plays for them."

The Chiefs have played a non-perfect game and still kept themselves in a position to win. The best example is the Cowboys game. The Chiefs seemingly had a chance to wrap the game up on multiple occasions....if it weren't for 59 and 60 yard receptions from Miles Austin.

"We just have to play our defense," he said, "and make sure we don't give up any big scoring plays. That's seemed to be our achilles heel is the big scoring plays. We gave up two big plays against the Skins but we kept them out of the end zone. It's important that we tackle them before they cross the goal line but we don't want to give up big plays."

Brown also said that, unlike Kansas City, San Diego can beat you in multiple ways. Maybe it's a punt return from Darren Sproles. Or a catch and run from LaDainian Tomlinson. Or a 100+ yard game from Antonio Gates.

You have to be balanced against them because they can hurt you in multiple ways," he said. "Philip Rivers is a great quarterback, has a great tight end in Gates, and they have 83 out there who makes a lot of plays on deep plays. They're a very talented team across the board."

You can tell Brown's a Haley guy because next he said as long as the Chiefs play "fundamentally sound" they can win this game.

Thursday Update. Practice Report: Houston Texans (2-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)

Kirkendall — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:44:37 -0000

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening, we'll (TRY TO) update the practice/injury chart leading up to Sunday's game. The chart is pretty self-explanatory. If the player is listed as out, they're out for the game. If they did not participate, they didn't practice. If they were limited, then they only participated during a portion of practice (typically means missing 11-on-11 drills). If the player is listed as full participation, it simply means that they practiced fully and that the only reason they're listed is because injury was an issue the week before.

Practice

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI
T Andre Smith (foot)	OUT	OUT
RB Brian Leonard (groin)	DNP	DNP
DE Frostee Rucker (ankle)	DNP	DNP
WR Jerome Simpson (illness)	DNP	FP
S Kyries Hebert (hip)	LP	FP
LB Rashad Jeanty (finger)	FP	FP
DT Tank Johnson (foot)	FP	LP
S Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring)	FP	FP
QB Carson Palmer (left thumb)	FP	FP

TEXANS	WED	THUR	FRI
TE James Casey (illness)	DNP	FP
S Nick Ferguson (knee)	DNP	DNP
LB Brian Cushing (foot)	LP	DNP
LB DeMeco Ryans (shoulder)	LP	LP
DE Mario Williams (shoulder)	LP	LP
QB Rex Grossman (illness)	FP	FP
DT Shaun Cody (illness)	--	DNP
LB Zach Diles (knee)	--	LP