SB Nation - Dominique Barber

Dominique Barber Returns To Starting Lineup

Tim — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:09:01 -0000

Dominique Barber will start at FS for the Texans this week, Texans coach Gary Kubiak just announced.

Given that this development means John Busing is not starting at free safety and makes no mention of Brian Russell somehow making the dreams of Seattle fans come true, I suppose this qualifies as a positive.

Seahawks vs Texans coverage

Texans State of the Union: Defense

Jake — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:58:02 -0000

More photos » by Jose Yau - AP

Browse more photos »

Three weeks ago the Texans were cruising. They were riding a three-game winning streak, and at 5-3 Houston was positioning themselves for a run at the post-season. Now after three divisional losses that were all squandered in the fourth quarter, the season seems lost for the Texans. Some have begun speculating that head coach Gary Kubiak will lose his job and the franchise will once again start over, while others have already started to focus on the pinnacle of the Texans' season (the draft), while another small contingent of fans cling to hope that the remaining soft schedule will allow the team to pull off a five game miracle finish to sneak into the playoffs.

The wide spectrum of feelings is understandable. The Texans have what is undoubtedly their best team ever, but despite that promise, they keep meandering around mediocrity. The game Sunday against the Colts is a perfect metaphor for the season. In the first half the Texans looked unstoppable on both sides of the ball, and then in the second half they didn't look like they belonged on the same field.

So what should we think of this colossally frustrating squad? I'm sure Tim will write a great breakdown on the train wreck for this weekend, so I want to cover what I think of the future, not just for the season but for next year as well. In an effort to break it up, I will start with the defense, then move on to the offense and finally look at the coaching staff.

Author's Note: Please don't consider this as me giving up on 2009. I will explain my opinion on what can and should be accomplished in the remaining five games, but I feel the near and far-term future go hand in hand so it's easier to explain it all at once.

The defense was the biggest focal point of the offseason. It didn't take a genius after 2008 to figure out that side of the ball needed more help. The vast majority of draft and free agent focus was spent on the defensive squad after Gary Kubiak went out on a limb to give longtime friend and colleague Fred Bush the defensive coordinator position despite having Bush no experience at that level.

- Defensive End:

- Antonio Smith has been worth the ransom we paid for him. He is one of the new additions that has created a mean streak that had been lacking last season. That emotion can be detrimental at times, but I think he is just one of those players who you have to take the occasional bone-headed play from along with his inspired ones. Smith has applied considerably more pressure than his 2 sacks suggest, and he also has been adept against the run.

- Mario Williams is seriously hurt, and his shoulder likely won't heal until the offseason. That's a shame too because he finally has a bookend supplying the kind of pressure Williams never had before when he was being singled out by protection schemes. One thing that still plagues Mario is his aggressiveness. Opponents continually allow him to rush straight into the backfield and then run the ball right by him. Williams is a gamer and will continue to give his best, but I don't think he will be back to regular form until next season, and there might even be a possibility of surgery following this year.

-Rookie Connor Barwin is just as raw as expected. His two sacks were the results of both speed and effort, which constitute the entirety of his pass rushing moves as of now. While some may argue that second round picks shouldn't be used on projects, the presence of Smith gives Barwin some time to learn his trade before he learns the tricks.

- Defensive Tackle:

- Amobi Okoye is not a bust, but he's not yet a Pro Bowler either. I'd like to think that he'll get to that level eventually, but at least he's showing that last year was more of a fluke than 2007 was. So far Amobi has been better against the run than I thought he'd be, but not as good at pressuring the quarterback as I'd expected.

- The Texans larger nose tackles have been decent to invisible, but out of Shaun Cody, Jeff Zgonina, DelJuan Robinson and Frank Okam, there isn't a single starting caliber player at the position.

- Linebacker:

- DeMeco Ryans is about as consistent as possible, which is key considering he plays a position which values that attribute above all others. Ryans isn't the type of player that will ever have an abundance of sexy stats like sacks or interceptions, but he can almost always be relied upon to know his assignments, lead the defense and plug the middle. Losing him would be an enormous blow because while he may not be the best defensive player, he is by far the defensive MVP.

- Brian Cushing has been just as good if not better than advertised. You can nitpick at his coverage technique but no player is perfect, especially a rookie. All bias aside, Cushing gets my early vote for Defensive Rookie of the Year because while Brian Orakpo has the sacks and Jairus Byrd has the interceptions; Cushing has shown the ability to do it all.

- Zac Diles has been decent at the WLB position but nothing earth shattering. Xavier Adibi has seen little of the field since his removal from the nickel package in favor of Cushing in Week Two. Both are serviceable, but added depth would be beneficial, although low, on the list of priorities.

Cornerback:

- Dunta Robinson is not a number one corner... period. I know he is still a fan favorite to some, but the tape doesn't lie--he is not good in coverage. Quick, without looking, how many pass interferences can you remember Dunta committing because he was burnt? Now how many touchdowns do remember getting thrown to his man? Now how many interceptions and pass breakups do you think he has? I will give it to him that he plays the run extremely well for a cornerback, but that's not why you pay $25 million dollars guaranteed. I would be shocked if he was re-franchised. Rick Smith won't pay him the kind of money he is looking for, so in all likelihood he has five games left in Houston.

- Glover Quin is the reason that Dunta is expendable. He plays the run just as well and in the same fashion that Dunta does. He would, however, be just as abused as Robinson if he was out in the position to cover number one wide receivers, as would Jacques Reeves. Both are pleasant surprises as a number two cornerback and nickel corner respectively, but that doesn't mean that they can move up the depth chart once Dunta leaves. A lack of a true good-to-elite cover corner is one the biggest problems for this team, and considering that they don't get to free agency very often, it will likely be a problem next year too. By the way, you might have been able to tell but I have written off both Fred Bennett and Antwaun Molden.

Safety:

- Bernard Pollard has changed this defense because of a mixture of good play on his part and complete lack thereof on all the other strong safeties prior to Pollard's assumption of the starting role. He is not a prototypical interchangeable safety that can cover deep just as well as he can play the run, but it is rare to find a safety so good at one discipline. I can understand Kansas City feeling that they didn't want to start him, but he has made them look terribly stupid for giving him an outright release. As long as he is paired with a good coverage free safety, Pollard is a huge asset against the run and I am just as in favor of re-signing him as Mike Kerns is.

- Eugene Wilson is a good coverage safety and plays well with Pollard. The problem is that Wilson has played all 16 games in just one of his 7 NFL seasons, which is probably the reason why the personnel savvy Patriots let him go. What amplifies this problem is that the depth at safety is probably the weakest throughout the entire team (offense and defense) as Dominique Barber and John Bushing are substandard.

Summation:

- After three games of sieve-like defense, Gary Kubiak was under fire for elevating Frank Bush to a position that he appeared to not be ready for. Since those first three games, however, the defense has outperformed the offense. During the four losses in the time period stated, the defense allowed an average of 12 second half points, which is counting the two pick-6 interceptions that Matt Schaub threw. These were all games that were winnable and while the defense is not without fault, the offense continually showed an inability to put games away.

- The defense's performance is admirable considering the lack of depth and talent at certain positions, and Frank Bush should be commended for it. Take for example the lack of talent at NT, which has allowed opposing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket even when pressure is being applied on the outside. To counter this, Bush has sent Cushing on blitzes, resulting in 1.5 sacks but also making the defense susceptible to outside runs as well as quarterback sneaks like what we saw against Tennessee. Another huge problem is the coverage. If zone coverage is called, tight ends like Dallas Clark and Vernon Davis eat the middle for lunch, but if you go with man coverage you either concede Dunta getting burnt or lose a player to continually helping him over the top. Both options allow for quarterbacks to know exactly where they can deliver the ball and thus avoid pressure with quick throws. It's a vicious cycle.

Future:

- This season looks good for the defense considering they face the 24th, 22nd, 21st, 12th, and 2nd (in a game that may not feature starters for too long) offenses in the remainder of the season. Not only are they unproductive, but many are one-dimensionally favored toward running, which is something the Texans have stopped lately, even if marginally so in a loss against a Titans squad that scored 20 points. I believe that DeMeco will go to another Pro Bowl, and Brian Cushing will be defensive ROY.

- The future looks bright for the Texans' D despite the current holes. Pollard, Okoye, Williams, Ryans and Cushing have all yet to play their fifth season, making the corps of the unit extremely young. Cornerback would be my first priority for the draft as it is not only the most glaring weakness but the position also typically takes at least a year or two before a player can rise to a great or even good status. Defensive Tackle and Safety are close behind with both being slightly less crucial because serviceable players currently fill those spots.

BREAKING NEWS: Texans Sign Brian Russell

Tim — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:07:52 -0000

Per the team site (with a tip o' the cap to Rivers McCown), your Houston Texans signed Brian Russell to replace the IRed Eugene Wilson:

Russell (6-2, 210), who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 21, was an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State in 2001. He spent time with the Minnesota Vikings (2002-04), Cleveland Browns (2005-06) and Seattle Seahawks (2007-08) before playing nine games with Jacksonville this season. Russell recorded two defensive tackles and one special teams stop in the Jaguars' 31-24 victory over the Texans in Week 3 at Reliant Stadium.

If you haven't already, check out Kissing Suzy Kolber and do a search for "Brian Russell." Have a trash can at the ready.

Chris Johnson: What To Do?

Tim — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:58:16 -0000

For all the wringing of hands over Vince Young's return to Reliant on Monday night, it's understood that Chris Johnson has likely earned the focus of Frank Bush & Company. 1,091 rushing yards, an average of 6.42 yards per carry, 262 receiving yards, an average of 8.73 yards per reception, 9 TDs, and quite possibly the greatest speed in the NFL tend to take the spotlight off even VY.

For all his otherworldly talents, however, Chris Johnson has been contained at times this year. Against Pittsburgh, he was limited to 68 total yards. The Jets held him to 105 total yards in Week Three. The Jags cut him off at 94 yards in Week Four, and Week Five saw CJ post a paltry 43 total yards. Keeping Chris Johnson in check is possible, if not probable.

In their prior matchup with the Titans, your Houston Texans saw Johnson trample them for an insane 284 total yards (197 rushing/87 receiving) and 3 TDs. In other words, that Week Two loss to the Texans accounted for 18% of his rushing yards, 33% of his receiving yards, and 33% of the touchdowns he's tallied on the season. He has to be licking his chops for Monday night.

In all the Chris-Johnson-For-Jebus and Vince-Young-For-Pope hoopla, the point that might not be getting as much run is that, despite Chris Johnson having his way with the Texans in Week Two (included but not limited to lining up wide with no one within 15 yards of him pre-snap), the Texans still managed to beat the Titans in Nashville. What's more, that Texans' defense did not feature Bernard Pollard or Jacques Reeves. That defense did prominently feature Fred Bennett, Nick Ferguson, and Dominique Barber, none of whom are likely to see the field on anything but special teams (at best) come Monday night. Just as VY makes the Titans' offense a different animal, the Texans' defense has evolved into something entirely different.

My question is simple: If you're Frank Bush, what do you do to contain Chris Johnson? My initial thought is that you have to spy him, but with who? Pollard? Brian Cushing? DeMeco Ryans? For those of you who saw any of the games where CJ was held in check, what did those defenses do?

We've all heard and read how teams want to shift the burden to Vince Young and the rest of the offense. Implicit in that assertion is containing Chris Johnson. How do you do it?

Titans vs Texans coverage

Take The Half-Season Poll: Most Disappointing Defensive Player For Your Houston Texans?

Tim — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:00:34 -0000

Two sides to every coin; we've already taken a look at the best, so now let's turn our attention to the other extreme. Which defensive player on the Texans has disappointed you the most thus far? Vote in the poll below and let us know why you voted the way you did in the Comments.

Poll

Who Has Been the Most Disappointing Player on the Texans' Defense Through Nine Games?

Mario Williams

101 votes

Antonio Smith

58 votes

Frank Okam

45 votes

Amobi Okoye

37 votes

Xavier Adibi

27 votes

Fred Bennett

135 votes

Jacques Reeves

6 votes

Dunta Robinson

155 votes

Connor Barwin

28 votes

DelJuan Robinson

7 votes

Dominique Barber

14 votes

Nick Ferguson

9 votes

622 votes | Poll has closed

Bernard Pollard: One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

Mike Kerns — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:05:18 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

Browse more photos »

Safety has been a position of need pretty much since the Texans inception in 2002. Eric Brown, Glenn Earl, Jason Simmons, C.C. Brown, Nick Ferguson, Dominique Barber and John Busing are just some of the names who came and didn't work out at the spot. But something odd has happened this season. Houston seems to have finally found someone who has shored up the Strong Safety position well. Extremely well.

I remember watching NFL Network right near the end of preseason for the names of all the final roster cuts for every team. There were obviously several names that I immediately put on my "Texans Wish List." One of those names was former Kansas City Chief, Bernard Pollard.

By the end of Week 1 of the 2008 season, almost everyone knew who Bernard Pollard was. While it wasn’t necessarily for his play on the field. It was more for being known as the man who ended the season of Patriots QB Tom Brady. Not that his play on the field was lackluster.

I have several co-workers at my office who are Purdue alumni, and I remember one of them mentioning Bernard Pollard while he was still playing for the Boilermakers. He was referred to as "The Bonecrusher" for his really physical play and devastating hits in college. Something that earned him honors as a first day draft pick, going in the 2^ndround and #54 overall to Kansas City.

After starting every game and leading The Chiefs with 98 tackles in 2008, I think it surprised almost everyone when his name was on the final cuts list at the end of camp this year. Especially Chiefs fans.

With us staring a year of Dominique Barber and John Busing at safety in the face, I hoped Houston would take a flyer on him. And that they did. So far, it seems to have been one of the smartest in-season pickups the Smithiak regime has ever had. Since being inserted as a starter, Houston is No. 1 in the league against the rush.

By this point, everyone is scratching their heads and wondering why Kansas City let him go. When asked about it, Pollard simply says that he was just as confused and surprised as everyone else:

"It was very difficult," he said. "You don't know what's going on. You don't know who said what about you. You don't know how they labeled you. When you don't know, that's the worst thing."

When credited for Houston’s defensive revival, Pollard is humble and gives his teammates credit by saying that he is just another piece to an already great defense.

Another Purdue alum, Jacques Reeves, says that he isn’t at all surprised about Pollard’s huge impact on the defense:

"I knew what kind of player he was and I figured he would come in here and make an impact," Reeves said. "I don't know what else went along with him being cut, but I do know he is a good player and he's playing good for us."

A month ago this guy was looking for a job. Someone to give him a shot. Most agree that he is making the most of the opportunity.

"I just want to play football," he said. "I want to be able to show management or teammates what I'm able to do. You know what they say; one man's trash is another man's treasure. I'm thankful for where I'm at."

And most Texans fans are thankful to have him here.

However, as always, there are detractors. There are some who say he will give up the big play to try to make a big hit. In fact, I even remember him on 790 AM here in Houston saying:

"You just got to establish yourself....let them know that I'm going to hit the ever-loving **** out of them. Sorry to say that, but that's how I feel, that’s how I play."

Sorry, but what fan isn’t going to like hearing a player for their team say that? Along with Brian Cushing, Pollard has given the Texans defense a swagger and a mean streak that we have never seen out of this team before.

I say lock the guy up. He is only 24 (25 in about a month and a half) and in his prime. I know there are many who are worried he is just another Will Demps. And that could be true. But you don’t want to have the fix in your hands and let him walk next season. Pollard talks about how much he likes it here and the direction the team is headed. Unfortunately, there are going to be many other contract renewals and extensions to worry about this offseason. But let Rick Smith worry about that. It’s his job, not ours. Just like Pollard’s is to keep knocking the ever-loving **** out of ‘em, and the contract will take care of itself.

Texans Safety Bernard Pollard Out With Flu-Like Symptoms

Mike Kerns — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:08:24 -0000

Remember the trainwreck the Texans defense was with Dominique Barber and John Busing starting at Safety? Well, that's the first thing that popped into my head when I heard that Bernard Pollard was sent home from practice today with flu-like symptoms.

Gary Kubiak commented on the issue that he was "optimistic" that Pollard would play this Sunday against the 49ers. Let's hope so.

UPDATE: Nick Scurfield updated via his Twitter account that Pollard returned to practice today and appears to be fine. Whew!

Texans vs. Bengals - Game Recap

Jake — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:22:29 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Browse more photos »

Hard to be a Texans fan and not be pleased with the game yesterday. Despite some lingering issues here and there, the Texans beat the Bengals in every facet of the game. I still think that the Bengals are a good team, so the fact that the boys in Liberty White were able to go into Cincinnati and get a win is impressive. Here's what I saw for the good, the bad or the significant in the third win of the season for the Texans.

Gary Kubiak/Kyle Shanahan - I wanted to start with Kubes and Baby Shan because I was critical of them in the last week. The offensive play calling was amazingly better this game. The fact that the Texans again lost the ability to run the ball after showing proficiency in the first half is disconcerting, but the offensive play calling created ways to adjust for the problems in the running game. The swing passes and screens worked extremely well especially given how aggressive the Bengals' front seven were playing. 87 yards rushing will not get it done, but at least Kubiak and Shanahan showed that they will use the weapons that are still viable if the run is not.

Matt Schaub - Matt played one of the best games I've ever seen him play in a Texans uniform. I got the distinct feeling that his ankle is still really bothering him from watching him limp between plays, which makes his performance that much more notable. If an opposing defense gets him moving laterally out of the pocket the chances of an incompletion are pretty high, but he's proving that if he can step up in the pocket he's going to make the throw whether he gets hit or not. I just wish he would quit throwing that sideline, out route throw that Johnathan Joseph almost intercepted and took to the house the same way that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie did a week ago.

Steve Slaton - Stevie Wonder looked much better than he has all season, but he is still not up to the level that he was playing at last season. One thing that I saw yesterday that I hadn't since 2008 was his ability to slip out of the first tackle and get extra yards. I would feel much better about his performance if he hadn't fumbled the ball twice. Granted, one of those he was ruled down by contact (Kubiak won a challenge!) but I would rather he not put that decision in the refs' hands and just hold on to the ball.

Andre Johnson - What can you say about this guy? He's as close to automatic as a wide receiver can be in this league. Leading up to the game I read a lot of articles lauding the Bengals for their ability to shut down elite wide receivers this year. After Andre's 8 receptions for 135 yards, I don't think they'll be writing that again next week. I hate myself already for saying this because of how superstitious I am, but as long as he stays healthy for the rest of his career I think we are watching the first future Hall of Fame inductee in Texans history.

Duane Brown - Brown is quietly coming into his own. He did give up a sack yesterday, but otherwise he was very good in protection of Schaub. What makes Brown so good though, is his ability to get out wide and block on screen plays. He made the block that sprung Slaton on his touch down reception and made several other great blocks in space throughout the game. His level of physical shape has made a huge difference this year.

Owen Daniels - Owen is proving that no matter how good Joel Dreessen or James Casey may be, he is irreplaceable. He has great receiving skills that go beyond the soft hands required to make that amazing one-handed grab in the end zone, although those are nice. There was at least one play where OD sensed the zone coverage to his right so he instinctively slid to his left so that Schaub had a chance at a completion. Not many tight ends in the league have his mix of blocking and receiving.

Jacoby Jones - I've never hated and loved one player so much. When he muffed that punt that went out of bounds, I told a buddy who was watching the game with me, "That's good. He's good for one a game, and that one went out of play so we should be good now." That's how conditioned I am to his dropped punts. On the other hand, he did tally his fourth TD of the season. Even though the dropsies are still there on punt returns, this is the most productive season by far of his short career.

Mario Williams - The lack of sacks this year is a problem (only 2), but Mario is playing the run better than he ever has. He seems much more comfortable at left defensive end against right tackles, where he played quite a few snaps yesterday. In my opinion, the Texans need a pass rush specialist to play on the right side so Mario can play on the left.

Connor Barwin - Speaking of hoping for a pass rush specialist, Barwin recorded his first NFL sack yesterday. As big as it was, he simply beat the Bengals RT with an old fashioned speed rush. Barwin shoes flashes either in coverage or on special teams, but he is still green and needs time before he can make a difference on third downs. Still nice to see him get a sack in the city where he played his college ball though.

Amobi Okoye - Yesterday wasn't nearly as good of a day for Okoye as the previous two weeks, but Amobi still let his presence be known in the middle. We tore the defensive line to shreds many a time this season, so we might as well give them credit for holding the NFL's leading rusher to 16 rushes for 44 yards. Okoye has 18 tackles in 6 games now, which is 6 short of what he tallied in 14 games last year.

Glover Quin - The more GQ develops, the more that Dunta is expendable. I by no means think that Quin is a shutdown cover corner, but neither is Robinson. Glover plays with a very similar style to Dunta as well; he may not be an absolute lock in coverage but he supports the run extremely well. He did also break up a pass in the end zone yesterday, although Cedric Benson scored a play later anyway.

Dunta Robinson - Dunta is playing better, but he is still a liability in coverage. He had two instances of pass interference yesterday, one of which was called. Carson Palmer was throwing the ball well where only his receivers could get it, but even so if the Bengals WR's hadn't dropped a couple of those passes Dunta would have been burnt a lot more. He had a couple of huge plays (blowing someone up, great open field tackle on a screen), but I still get nervous when opposing quarterbacks target him.

Bernard Pollard - To dismiss the progress the defense has made in the last three weeks since Pollard was put into the starting lineup would be unfair. He is slow to react in coverage, but he plays the run very effectively and delivers some big hits. As much as you need a complete safety in today's NFL, he's a huge improvement over Dominique Barber and John Busing who weren't playing the run or the pass very well.

DeMeco Ryans - The rookie is getting most of the attention lately, but DeMeco is still playing lights out. He led the squad yesterday in tackles (12) and had a couple of nice pressures on Palmer. What's more impressive about Captain 'Meco is how intelligently he plays the game. As Solis already pointed out, he immediately ran to Cushing after the game-sealing interception and made him go down, thus not risking any turnovers (remember Wilson's interception against Miami last year?). Why hasn't this guy been paid yet?

Brian Cushing - I've never been happier to be wrong in my life, and on the spectrum of being wrong, I was Crying Game wrong. Cushing had 9 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups and a coffin nailing interception that was so nice I'm sure it made the Bengals wide receivers embarrased for all of the drops they had. For being six games into his career, this guy is a beast. My ultimate act of contrition is coming soon in the form of a #56 Battle Red jersey.

Frank Bush - As terribly as the defense played in the beginning of the year, it seems as if they're making progress. I definitely don't like that the Texans were up 14-7 with 1:35 to go in the first half and yet found themselves down 17-14 going into the break, but other than that it was a dominant performance defensively. A lot of those holding/tripping calls being called on the Bengals were due to the fact that the Texans defenders were beating them and illegal plays of desperation ensued.

The Texans defense continued a unique phenomenon yesterday; second half dominance. The relinquished 0 points and 78 total yards in the second half to a team that had thus far been known for its late game heroics. After yesterday's outing, the defense is now averaging 7 points allowed in the second half. Not everything is fixed, and I still have nightmares about good passing teams (ahem... Colts), but I was complaining about lack of progress, and the defense is definitely making strides.

ROTB War Room: The Texans Secondary

Andrew602 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:33 -0000

Before I continue on, this is the first of a series of segments, so it's still a work in progress, and if it seems a bit disorganized, that's probably because it is. And Texans fans, please don't lash out on me, as I'm not an expert of the Houston Texans.

When the Texans take the field on Sunday, the Cardinalswill be prepared for a team they've had a chance to watch the last two weeks. There will be many keys to the game but the big factor will be how the Cardinals approach the Texans secondary. This obviously favors the Cardinals as they have Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston - and oh yeah, a two-time MVP in Kurt Warner throwing to them. So far this year the Cardinals passing game hasn't been what it was a year ago, and a large part of that goes behind bad pass protection, poor game planning, and bad play calling. A lot of what happens over the bye week is fixing areas of concern, and extensive game planning for the upcomming opponent - which happens to be the Texans. That brings us to exhibit A: The Texans secondary. They're a group that have struggled to say the least, and that's facing some weaker competition in the league. The quarterbacks that they've faced in no particular order are Kerry Collins, David Garrard, JaMarcus Russell, and Mark Sanchez. In other words, a 37 year old, a rookie, a has-been, and the worst quarterback in the NFL. Then we look at the starting wide receivers they've faced - Jerricho Cotchery, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Nate Washington, and Torry Holt. It should also be known that none of these receivers led their team in receiving when they played the Texans, and none are top tier wide receivers. Now that we've seen the competition, let's take a look at the Texans secondary.

The Texans Secondary:

The defensive backs for Houston have 23 years of experience between the four of them, which is about 5.7 years of experience each. They're all relatively young and have talent, particularly in Dunta Robinson and Eugene Wilson. What hurts this unit, is the insertion of young players, particularly in Dominique Barber and Fred Bennett, who may not be starting material just yet. Another problem that comes to mind is the lack of game-changing-plays from this unit. In four games, they have one interception and one forced fumble between the four of them. That's not the kind of explosive play that you want from your starting defensive backs. That's also something that will make fans and Kurt Warner a little more comfortable this Sunday. Looking at the individual stats(below), it's evident that this isn't a very active group. Seven passes defended doesn't scream "aggressive secondary". The lack of a big play should be a positive sign for the Cardinals, who mightily struggle when turning the ball over.

Player	Tackles	FF	INT	PD
Robinson	11	1	0	3
Wilson	5	0	1	1
Barber	16	0	0	2
Bennett	15	0	0	1

There passing-defense stats overall can also be misleading, due to the talent that they've faced so far this year. The secondary is giving up 12 yards a catch, which is 23rd in the league. They are giving up an average of 207.5 receiving yards a game, which ranks 7th in the league. On the conversion side, Texans opponents have a 3rd down conversion of 40%, which is 19th overall. The surprising stat is the 7th ranked receiving yards allowed. This means that only six other teams in the league are holding opponents to less receiving yards. Sounds like a concerning stat for a pass-first offense right? Wrong. As stated earlier, this passing defense has yet to face any real competition through the air, most notably the Raiders. If you throw the Raiders game out the window, it changes where this team ranks. They would average 231.6 receiving yards a game, which would drop them to 16th in the league. On opponents third down percentage, the Texans would be allowing a whopping 50%, which would drop them to dead last in the league. Let's just call this the "Raider-Effect".

So what does all this mean for the Cardinals offense? This means that a team featuring two pro bowl wide receivers will likely have big games, and should be at the receiving end on most 3rd downs. This also means that the Cardinals need to attack through the air early and often, to get a quick lead. Putting Anquan Boldin in the slot gives you a tough receiver in open space on the field. Another advantage is having a healthy Steve Breaston who is often the underrated player on offense. When Fitzgerald gathers a lot of the attention, it gives Steve Breaston a chance to get open, evidence being his 12 catches and 177 yards in the last two games. Next, let's take a look at the leading receivers that have played the Texans the last four weeks:

Week 1 - Chansi Stuckey 4 catches 64 yards 1TD
Week 2 - Chris Johnson 9 catches 87 yards 1TD
Week 3 - Mike Sims-Walker 6 catches 81 yards
Week 4 - Louis Murphy 3 catches 34 yards

What I can gather from those numbers is one thing - the Texans focus on the opposing teams starting receivers. Neither of the four players above were the starting receivers on their teams, but all managed to lead in receiving. That trend could continue this week as Larry Fitzgerald will see his usual double coverage. That also means big games for Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. One thing the Cardinals need to do is get back to doing what they do best. The no-huddle offense has been successful in the past and I see no reason to not use it against the Texans. I'd also like to see the occasional gadget or trick play. That's it for today - Is there anything else you'd like to see from the Cardinals against the Texans Secondary?

Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans: Who Has The Edge?

Andrew602 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:41 -0000

In week three I started a new segment breaking down position group by position group, determining which team had the "edge" to their respective groups. I could'nt have been more wrong, predicting that the Cardinals had the edge against the Colts. Although, nobody could have determined that they'd implode the way that they did, either way I was wrong. This week we break down who has the edge between the Cardinals and the Texans, and the results were very close. As I said before, I'll keep this as less bias as possible, and if I don't, feel free to sound the homer alarm. The table takes up way too much space on the home page so the results are after the jump...

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
QB		The grey beard wins this battle. Kurt Warner has played seemingly well this season despite poor protection. Matt Shaubhas also thrown the ball well when given the time.
HB		This one's close but at least Steve Slaton had over 1,000 rushing yards last season. The Cardinals lack of a rushing attack has hurt them so far.
WR		Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are both regarded as the best wide receivers in the NFL. Beyond Johnson you have Kevin Walter. Beyond Fitzgerald you have Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. Edge - Cards
TE		Owen Daniels has emerged as one of the best play-making tight ends in the NFL. The Cardinals have a carousal of tight ends but nobody that is starting material.
OL		Two below average offensive lines, but Mike Gandy and Levi Brown give the edge to the Texans line.
DL	------------	Mario Williams and Antonio Smith bookend the line for the Texans, but Darnell Dockett mans the center of the Cardinals defensive line. Too close to call.
LB		The Cardinals should get Chike Okeafor back, which will improve the pass rush. The Texans linebackers are too young to compete with Karlos Dansby, Clark Haggens, and Gerald Hayes experience.
CB		The Texans pass defense is 9th in the league and are holding opposing quarterbacks to a QB rating of 75.9. The Cardinals are ranked 30th against the pass and opponents average QB rating is 98.8. 'Nuff said.
S		Although the Cardinals pass defense has struggled recently, Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle can play great when they want to. Plus Dominique Barber and Eugene Wilson aren't exactly pro bowl material.
ST		I had to go with stats on this one because they don't lie. The Texans are averaging better kick and punt return defense. They also have Jacoby Jones returning kicks. The Cardinals only have the edge in net punting yards, which isn't enough.
Coach		Until Gary Kubiak can get the Texans into the playoffs, he won't have the edge over Ken Whisenhunt.
Edge -	Split	It's safe to say that both teams would've liked to get off to better starts this year. Both have explosive offenses with young and talented defenses.

After looking over the table several times, I'm sure that both teams have very similar styles and are in similar situations at this point in the season. Both need a win this week to avoid falling away from the division leaders. Is there any positions you feel could be changed?

SB Nation - Dominique Barber

Dominique Barber Returns To Starting Lineup

Texans State of the Union: Defense

BREAKING NEWS: Texans Sign Brian Russell

Chris Johnson: What To Do?

Take The Half-Season Poll: Most Disappointing Defensive Player For Your Houston Texans?

Who Has Been the Most Disappointing Player on the Texans' Defense Through Nine Games?

Mario Williams

Antonio Smith

Frank Okam

Amobi Okoye

Xavier Adibi

Fred Bennett

Jacques Reeves

Dunta Robinson

Connor Barwin

DelJuan Robinson

Dominique Barber

Nick Ferguson

Bernard Pollard: One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

Texans Safety Bernard Pollard Out With Flu-Like Symptoms

Texans vs. Bengals - Game Recap

ROTB War Room: The Texans Secondary

Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans: Who Has The Edge?

QB

HB

WR

TE

OL

DL

------------

LB

CB

S

ST