Greetings from the land of quarterback desolation. Fire away with any and all questions about our upcoming contest of wills! Yes, we are nervous about T.J. Yates being the starter. No, we are not in panic mode because the run game and the defense are our strengths. The passing game is number three in that pecking order. Having said that, we know this will likely be the greatest challenge the Texans have faced this year. A good team coming into our house and us with a 3rd stringer starting.....scary stuff!

Editor's Note: We promoted this from the FanPosts and edited it slightly so it would look better on a the main page. It's a good write-up on the game yesterday from a Texans fan. Many thanks to the writer. --bbs.

One thing I love about the SBNation blogs is the ability to interact with other fans. Sometimes, I like to do a after action report on the opposing teams blog because I think it can be helpful to hear an opinion from someone who is watching the game from the other side.

This game was pretty rough on the Colts and I have noticed quite a bit of doom and gloom from the fanbase, which is perfectly understandable given Manning's loss to the team and the subsequent drubbing in Houston. HOWEVER, I think there are some good takeaways here that should leave Colts fans with some hope.

Things that I liked about the Colts...

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In an interview on ABC 13 (posted on houstontexans.com  http://blog.houstontexans.com/2011/01/02/mcnair-says-decisions-will-come-this-week/) Sunday night, team owner Bob McNair ommented on the team's future, saying he would make a decision sometime this week.

His responses were measured and conservative, no suprise there. He DENIED having made any decision about keeping Kubiak, but some of his comments seem to reinforce that he HOPES to keep his coach and fix the team by fixing the defense.

He also denied the Wade Phillips rumors.

He said, "And the options are, quite frankly, you can go in and you can replace all the coaches or you can replace the head coach. Well, when you do that, that’s very traumatic because then they want to come in and they want to replace all the players quite often. Sometimes, they want to replace all the scouts. On the other hand, if there’s a way to solve the problem without it being so traumatic – and if you do it in a traumatic fashion, I believe it sets you back two years. So is your situation so bad that you think there’s no other recourse and the only way you can solve it is to tear up your organization and set it back two years? That’s one consideration. And if that’s what you have to do, then fine, you do it.

 On the other hand, if you think you can isolate it and it’s not that severe, it’s like the guy going into the doctor with a headache. Is he going to give you aspirin or send you in for brain surgery? You have to determine what’s really needed under the circumstances.”

That certainly sounds like he wants to keep Kubes and fix the defense.

When asked if the lockout would affect his decisions, he said:

"No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. But you know, people ask about it and say, ‘What are you going to do?’ But the first thing you have to do is identify the problem."

Oh and one other thing, he also explained (subconciously) why we had such a horrible year after going 9-7.

He said,  "We’re disappointed. I’m sorry. I know our fans are disappointed, and no one’s more disappointed than I am. But we came to win, we’re going to win, and we’re not going to quit until we do.”

And there you have, straight from the top....once we win, we're gonna quit!

(ok I know that is horribly out of context, but it is ironic in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way)

So at this point, my money is on Kubes + New DC.  I would prefer Kubes go, but if we get a GREAT DC in here, I could live with that.


What do you think?

From this article on NFL.com:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81d5cfe2/article/bush-on-tenure-running-texans-defense-it-just-didnt-work-out?module=HP_headlines

 

Bush admits that he is done in Houston.  His excuses, however, are beyond lame.  No details, just generic ramblings.  Bush says, "A lot of different things (went wrong)," he said. "We gave up plays that we probably should have made, and we lost some games in the end that were tough emotionally on our kids.  "We still feel good about our approach. It just didn't work out."

We STILL FEEL GOOD about our approach?!?

WHY?!

What on EARTH is there to feel good about?

YOUR APPROACH took a solid defense and UTTERLY OBLITERATED IT!

YOUR APPROACH produced the one of the worst defenses in NFL HISTORY.

Good Riddance!

At least we aren't the only ones who are upset.....ESPN is reporting that two fans in Houston are staging a rally this Sunday to show their desire for a change in the Texans coaching staff.  The tide is slowly rising.

I wonder if Bob McNair will even hear about it.  After all, it IS Houston.  We don't really do rallies here. Hmmmm.... I wonder if we can get Glenn Beck.......

Jaguars vs Texans coverage

Way to go Pearland!  They played agreat game (was televised last night) against a very good Euless Trinity team who were ranked number 1 in the nation!

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So, looking at the last four games of the season, here is how I see the AFC South playing out:

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Something has bothered me about the Texans for a long time now.  Specifically, the apparent lack of fire in their bellies.  Our players are stand-up guys, good people, model citizens and apparently lazy.

I want to see some fire out of someone. I want to see DESIRE to get better.

I want to see Cushing on the sideline slapping Kareem Jackson around.  I want to see Mario Williams BLINK.

I want to see that THEY CARE about winning.

Unfortunately, all I see is the dazed and confused sideline shuffle of a team with no passion.

This video (starting at the 1:30 mark) is what I want to see from our guys.  It is SAD that I have to go to a Tom Brady video for this, but it is what it is.

 Link:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81c2207f/Brady-gets-loud

If I saw Schaub do THAT, I would have faith that they were committed to turning things around.

Unfortunately, I see 53 Gary Kubiak's on the sideline.  Dispassionate faces staring blankly at the field.

What do you see?

So I decided to look at how other "elite" corners in the AFC fared early in their careers.

Want to guess what I am about to tell you?

Yep, Kareem is doing a good job for what he is being asked to do.

Antonio Cromartie did not start his first year.  That's right, he got to spend a year learning the NFL game.

Nnamdi Asomugha started only 8 games in his first TWO years.  When he finally did start for an entire season he had 14 passes defended and NO interception.

Darelle Revis did start his rookie year and had 17 passed defended and 3 interceptions.

Kareem Jackson has 5 passes defended and 1 int through 5 games. Putting him on pace for 16 PDs and 3 Ints....in other words.....He is matching Darelle Revis' rookie stats right now.

Consider also that Jackson is on a MUCH MUCH MUCH weaker defense that Revis was, and has very little support, unlike Revis.

 

Oh and Dunta Robinson this season?  3 Passes defended and no ints.....ya, just sayin.

 

Kareem is in a position that VERY VERY few rookie corners have been asked to fill, starter.

CB and QB are the two positions in the NFL where starting as a rookie is almost always a bad idea, with few exceptions.

So my point in all of this is, lay off Kareem.  He is a good player who has been the victim of a bad decision.  CBs need to sit for a year to learn the NFL game.  He does not have that luxury.

 

Yes, he is going to get burned.  The idea of a "shutdown" ROOKIE corner is not just absurd, it's criminally stupid. 

 

Kareem Jackson will likely end up being a very good CB by his second or third year, just like the other elite corners in the NFL.

 

Expecting anything more is just setting ourselves up for disappointment.

The tricky thing about the title of this post is that it could be read two ways.  So before you have a heart attack, let me clarify....NO, he has not tested positive for PEDs.   According to an article in the chronicle though, he has been tested twice during his suspension including just last week.

 

Article;  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/7226651.html

 It's a great article and gives some neat insight into his current state of mind.  Assuming he takes the field next week, I would want to be anyone on earth other than the opposing offensive players, especially the QB and Running backs.

 

I particularly loved this gem:

 "It ought to be like letting a freaking caged animal out," said Cushing's personal trainer Joe DeFranco. "He's got people that love him and a lot of people that want to see him fail and not be in shape. They're asking if he will be smaller, weaker and slower and not going to be the same player.

"He took that personally and is going to quiet all the haters. You'll see a bigger, faster stronger, more violent Brian Cushing. He is going to be like a rabid animal."

 

Having read that, it's poll time!

Poll

Brian Cushing's first game back will be:

9%

The first NFL game with a higher casualty rate than most modern wars.

15 votes

5%

The Apocalypse. (Complete with Four Horsemen, Oceans of Blood and the Whore of babylon)

9 votes

5%

Words cannot describe the awesome.

9 votes

18%

Like letting a terminator/predator crossbreed loose in a PETA Convention.

29 votes

61%

All of the above.

99 votes

161 votes | Poll has closed

Apparently Bill Polian believes that the 18 game season is a done deal at this point.  Check this article here:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AorFMY25EAnyDKnk_0QQ3fNDubYF?slug=ap-nfl-18-gameseason

 

What do you think?

 

Personally I'm ok with it as long as they get rid of two pre-season games and reduce the price of beer.  Of course, adding anothe thrity-two cheerleaders to the squad would also help....and have them serve the beer.

 

Poll

18 game season is:

13%

A good idea, the NFL is going broke and needs the money

4 votes

23%

Dumb....just dumb.

7 votes

40%

Bill Polian is a douchenozzle

12 votes

23%

Whatever, after last Sunday's game, the 4 years of upcoming misery dwarf this topic.

7 votes

30 votes | Poll has closed

 

Hopefully your first inclination is to say, "Nothing."  Unfortunately, you would be wrong.

 

As of this morning, we find ourselves in fine company.  Can you guess what we share with the Bucs and the cards?  What the common thread is?  No?  Allow me to enlighten you and make your day a festering cesspool of misery and disappointment.

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The Texans had their defining moment Sunday, after coming from behind 27-10 on the road to beat the Redskins. Winning on the road has never been easy for the Texans, but yesterday...

click the link to read more at nfl.com.  Also watch the video,Texans come in at number 1.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ab12cb/article/texans-redefining-their-identity-with-strong-start-to-season?module=HP_spotlight

Keep it up Texans

Second Installment in the continuing Secondary series:

Donovan McNabb threw for 9.7 million yards on Sunday against our young corners.  Kareem Jackson got abused more than BFD's favoite chinese buffet and Eugene Wilson dropped a pick that my 3 year old could have pulled in.

Other than that though we were SOLID!

No math this time, because I can't count that high.

 

Time for redemption against Dallas where i predict Kareem Jackson gets his first pick and Eugene Wilson defends a pass.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81aa99ba/article/texans-wr-johnson-to-have-mri-on-sprained-ankle?module=HP_headlines

 

Doesn't sound bad right now, but the RI will tell.

 

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Yes, I am linking to THAT place.  But only because the rumor is so potentially earth-shattering if true.

 

http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/9/17/1694490/rumor-peyton-manning-is-hurt#storyjump

 

Interesting......but we will know soon enough.

 

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People here, as well as many sports pundits, have tried to make a case that our "young and inexperienced" secondary got taken to school by Manning last week.

 

Really? 

 

Why don't we look at the actual numbers.

Last year Manning made 571 attempts OR 35.68 attempts per game.
He completed 393 which is roughly 69% of those passes.
He averaged 7.9 yards per attempt or 281.25 Yards PER game.

Last Sunday he attempted 57 passes.
He completed 40 OR……wait for it…..70% of those passes.
He averaged 7.6 yards per attempt

If you reduce the pass attempts to his normal 35-36 attempts per game and give him 25 completions OR 71% completion rate, he would have passed for 270-280 yards per game OR his exact average from last year.  In fact,, his yards per attemot were slightly LESS than his average.

That means that if Peyton Manning throws 57 times against ANY NFL secondary, his numbers should be exactly the same.  He threw that many times because they were being curbstomped on the scoreboard and playing from more than 1 score behind.

Additionally, we played a nickel practically the whole game and GAVE him the short pass in order to keep it in front of us.

Given those numbers and factors,  the secondary actually did a GREAT job against the BEST quarterback in the NFL.  In fact, ON AVERAGE, they played as well as any secondary Peyton faced last year.

Can they improve? You bet. But I would argue aginst them having been a weakness on Sunday.  Far from it.

The only difference in the game statistically is the NUMBER of times he threw the ball.  He did NOT get better results per attempt nor did he complete more than his average.

Accuscore has the Colts favored to win the division after last week.

 

Ok, I get that, fine.

 

But they have the TITANS favored ahead of us to both win the division AND make the playoffs.

 

Really?  The Titans?  Why?  Because they beat OAKLAND?!?!

 

Accucrap can nozzle up to my shaft.  Retards.

 

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"Are the Texans finally ready to overtake the Colts in the AFC South this season? Time will tell, but two of our three Playbook analysts (Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann) expect them to get off on the right foot by knocking off Indianapolis in Week 1. Brian Billick is sticking with the Colts....."

Here is the link:  http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/09/07/playbook-picks-texans-over-colts-in-week-1/?module=HP_spotlight3col

Pretty sure they did the same thing last year, but encouraging to hear nonetheless.

Heres the link:  http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2010/09/10_things_i_pro.html

 

Wowsers....looks like he is eating some of that crow that has been building up for so long.  I wonder what led to that?  Internal pressure at the comicle finally?  I speculate because he mentions he will be assigned to cover fewer Texans games this year.

 The article really sounds like an apology letter for being a doomsaying douchenozzle for the last few years.

What do you guys think?

So Tiki and Jason discuss their picks in the AFC.  Tiki likes the Texans potential but Jason Cole rolls his eyes (in between diabetic gasps for air) and points out AGAIN that the Texans secondary will be the lamest thing to happen to the NFL since Brian Bosworth.  Link after the jump!

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Hey Phinsiders, TF from Battle Red Blog here.  I am in Miami on business for a 3 or 4 days and wanted to get suggestions from you guys on places I should eat or attractions (other than the "attractions" I see in bikinis all over) I should go see.

 Not looking for expensive food, I want to know what some good local joints are, or some hole-the-wall places that have great food.

Also, any recommendations on places to get a drink would be good as well.

Thanks!

 

TF

Mike Florio and crew report that CJ and the Titans are close to a new deal.  Apparently they expect the deal to be in place before camp begins.  Here is the link:

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/05/titans-chris-johnson-closer-to-getting-along/

 

Good for CJ.  Good for the Titans.  If you perform above expectation, you should be able to expect that your team will come through for you as you did for them.

 

Even if it is not the $30 million that he dreamt of in his insanity, he should get more garaunteed money with a new deal.

 

Chris Johnson has apparently decided that a new tactic is called for in pursuit of his new contract.  In the following disturbing video, you will see that not only has he resorted to extortion, the apparent stress of the situation has aged him prematurely.

 

Team officials in Tennessee refused to comment pubilcly on the tape, but did issue a press release in which they say that, "We have spoken with Chris and tried to explain that he cannot, in fact, go directly to the public as source of funding."

 

When asked to coment on his side of the story, Chris Johnson said the following, "I disarama on dem foos wat dont go duffy."

 

This has lead to speculation that Chris Johnson continues to suffer from chronic stupid.

 

Judge for yourself in this shocking video:  http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=81d_1274254220

Top Ten losingest franchises across all major sports......   Yet another dubious honor.  See the list after the jump. 

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Really?  I mean REALLY?  I want my handle back. At least check the blog before you go hijacking names.

(somewhat kidding but this could cause issues)

 

75 words are needed to post this, so I would also like to express my support for beer.  Beer is good.  Do you like beer?  I hope so.  Also I like cheetohs, because they are good.  But they make my fingers Orange, and I am an Aggie at heart...so that's a problem.

So the MANAGER at Buffalo Rumblings alleged that Brian Cushing had ADMITTED to using steroids on his blog....

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