SB Nation User Blog: HtownJuggernaut

Why does everyone still think we need a big RB?????

HtownJuggernaut — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:47:35 -0000

I wrote this sidebar in response to a comment to Vega's post at DGDB&D at http://www.atexansblog.com/2009/04/28/i-never-second-guess-the-draught/#comments. I figured why not share all my (dubiously) glorious brilliance with the good folks at BRB, too?

Why is everyone convinced we need a big back? Because of the problems in the red zone. Let’s not forget that all we care about is improving the red zone offense — regardless of whether we use a big RB or not. We just all assumed that Smithiak would do it by improving the running back. Instead, Smithiak looks to have done it by upgrading the blocking.

We’re going to have James Casey, Chris Brown, Vonta Leach, or a random UFA RB — from Denver or not — carrying the pigskin and powering through behind the best run-blocking-TE-in-the-draft Anthony Hill. And don’t forget that no one’s going to be pushing Chris Myers back into our running backs’ knees any more, thanks to our new center, Antoine Caldwell. The new players should also bring better blocking to the red zone passing game… which will then further improve our red zone running game.

Looks like a Smithiak drafting success to me. I still don’t see why we should have spent a late draft pick to pick up a RB, especially in light of Chris’ analysis of the move for two TEs(http://www.houstondiehards.com/?p=4900#comments). But I understand where y’all are coming from. In my opinion, though, this draft day shows that the people in the FO deserve to be there. We were all — including me — calling for getting a big RB, the easy, one-piece answer to fixing our red zone woes. Smithiak and Co. took the harder path, and it looks to me like the multi-player bet will pay off far far better than a late flyer on a big back.

Poll

What do you think?

You're definitely crazy.

3 votes

You may be right.

21 votes

You're still crazy but also definitely right.

28 votes

WTF??? Why'd you put up a poll????

21 votes

73 votes | Poll has closed

The case for Bush

HtownJuggernaut — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:57:22 -0000

I'm a little surprised at the disappointment throughout the blogosphere. Here's my case for why Kubiak selected Bush without devoting much time to interviewing.

Casserly et al. lasted a while, but no more than six years. We're already entering year 4 of the Smithiak regime. Kubiak needs results on defense NOW, not three years from now, and the only way to do that is by bringing in someone who is very familiar with the defense, knows exactly what the players can do, and more importantly, knows exactly what the players can't do.

How else will the incoming DC understand precisely the holes that need filling in the off-season? Does anyone else remember Kubiak's experience with David Carr? He saw Carr tape and thought he could still turn him into a great QB. It took Kubiak until the Oakland game in 2006 before he finally came to grips with the futility of making shell-shocked Carr into a top shelf starting NFL QB. In other words, Kubiak has learned firsthand that merely watching tape doesn't give an incoming coach an accurate enough sense of the players' abilities and limitations.

Plus, this coming season is critical for the franchise. The following players have contracts expiring in 2009:

Chester Pitts,
Kevin Walter,
Will Demps (blech),
Kris Brown,
Demeco Ryans,
Matt Turk,
Ephraim Salaam (double blech),
Tim Bulman, and
Deljuan Robinson

The following players are free agents, restricted or otherwise:

Dunta Robinson,
David Anderson, and
Owen Daniels

I'd be happy to see some of these names go. But most of them, like Chester Pitts, KEVIN WALTER, Kris Brown, DEMECO RYANS, Matt Turk, Tim Bulman, DUNTA ROBINSON, OWEN DANIELS, and David Anderson represent some of the few bright spots on the team. Plus -- though no one much talks about it -- the team has to decide whether to exercise a pretty big option on Schaub. It sure would be easier to decide whether to spend this money if we move beyond 8-8 mediocrity. Otherwise, Kubiak will be hard-pressed to convince Smith or McNair that they need to open up the wallet for all of these players.

My point is strengthened still further because I believe that the team assumes it will franchise Dunta (though probably trying desperately to come up with some mutually beneficial arrangement) and rely on signing him to a contract in 2010. And Steve Slaton will likely demand a new contract to match his incredible performance, if not for 2009, then for 2010. Those are two upcoming major expenses that the regime will need to justify to McNair.

Ultimately, I just don't think Kubiak could afford to wait another year before seeing results in his defense. Heck, I think we're only two or three players on defense away from making a run through the playoffs. Hasn't anyone else seen our offense? Why aren't we crying out for a playoff team next year?

Yes, it's possible that some DC out there could have made an immediate impact during the season. Some people will point to Gibbs' experience on offense. True, by the end of the season, Gibbs had done a phenomenal job, but the running game didn't start to gell until a few weeks into the season... too late to salvage a winning season and too late to let us make a playoff run.

In the end, who has the best chance of making an immediate impact on the defense? The answer is plain and simple: Bush.

Recap of the Texans-Colts Game

HtownJuggernaut — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:36:07 -0000

4:04 - Houston's up 27-10. 17 points. 3 possessions. It's safe, right?

From ESPN: Backup Rosenfels, playing for the ill Matt Schaub, had the winless Texans (0-4) ahead by 17 points before losing two fumbles and throwing an interception. Texans fans had wanted to see Schaub replaced all season, and Rosenfels was nearly flawless for three quarters. Then came one of the most colossal collapses in the history of the young franchise.

3 turnovers by Sage Rosenfels. 21 points by the Colts. In 4 minutes. F.ck. Sage. Rosenfels.

If you use Comcast and get the NFL Network, check out the 2002 Texans hour-long profile. It spends...

HtownJuggernaut — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:26:18 -0000

If you use Comcast and get the NFL Network, check out the 2002 Texans hour-long profile. It spends a ton of time talking about our defeat of the Cowgirls, so I figure it's up every single Texans fan's alley. Enjoy.

2 free Texans training camp tickets

HtownJuggernaut — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:46:10 -0000

I've been too busy studying for the godforsaken bar exam to go get tickets of my own when they were announced. But I'm too big a fan to pass up this opportunity, so I just bought 4 Texans tickets off eBay for the Saturday morning practices on August 2nd for the ungodly sum of $5. I'm using 2 of them, but that leaves 2 up for grabs.

FYI, they're coming in the mail, so I won't have them until later this week. If you want to take them off my hands, let me know in the comments (it'll be at no charge, unless you're Tomriffic). Preference given to anyone who promises to make the transfer as painless as possible for me.