SB Nation User Blog: distant_texans_fan

Complete Fiction: Do we have a shot at the Playoffs

distant_texans_fan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:41:12 -0000

Obviously, our chance of winning a Division Title has passed. But can we still make it to the Playoffs as a Wildcard? It's a big ask, but mathematically possible.

I'm sure we'd have to win out, but theoretically, we could drop a game and make it, but all the right teams have to lose for that to happen.

First up, Can we finish second in the Division? Or can we finish third and be one of three AFC South teams in the Post season. Like Jacksonville, Tennessee and Indy were two years ago.

Secondly, who else in in the hunt and how many games do they have to drop for us to be in it?

Part One

Schedules

Texans(5-6): @Jacksonville, Seattle, @St Louis, @Miami, New England.

Jaguars(6-5): Houston, Miami, Indy, @New England, @Cleveland.

Titans(5-6): @Indy, St Louis, Miami, San Diego, @Seattle.

So while we look down the stretch and see (I hope) four winnable games and a finale against the Pats, finishing 10-6.

After us, the Jags have three more tough games. It is conceivable that Jacksonville loses to us, Indy, Miami and NE, then wins against the Browns. Finishing 7-9.

Hopefully the Titans lose in Indy this week, then drop a game against the Dolphins or the Chargers. Finishing 8-8 as well.

Part Two

Other teams in the mix. We're not sure who else will be a Division champ, so that leaves a lot of variables out there to ponder.

AFC EAST: NE(7-4) Miami(5-6) Jets(5-6)
AFC NORTH: Bengals(8-3) Steelers(6-5) Ravens(6-5)
AFC WEST: Chargers(8-3) Broncos(7-4)

Anyone else want to chip in with some thoughts. Its 2am here in New Zealand, So I'm going to try and get some sleep before work in 5 hours time.

Just for a laugh

distant_texans_fan — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:10:38 -0000

Fail Blog's, Graph Jam

In an effort to get everybody's mind off the injury to Owen Daniels. Take a break and check out the NFL ego graph on Graph Jam.

Blah blah blah blah blah, is this anywhere near 75 words yet? No, its not, I'll try typing some more before I try to post it again.

Still not long enough? Good heavens!! I'm just trying to post a funny link, its not like I have anything really important to say.

Whatever and Short. How did we do?

distant_texans_fan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:58:49 -0000

So, I know I'm not the only one screaming about this, although something tells me that Kubiak doesn't log onto BRB all that often and so he probably won't read this or anyone elses' thoughts on this subject. However, I will charge on and give you my thoughts on this.

Well, not really thoughts, just some data. My thoughts are pretty much the same as everyones.

We only found ourselves in short yardage situations 12 times on Sunday. Which was lucky, because when we did, we were stuffed.

Here they are:

2nd Quarter 5:12 3rd & 1: Slaton run, no gain

3rd Quarter 12:20 2nd & 1: Slaton run, no gain

11:47 3rd & 1: Slaton run, no gain

11:01 4th & 1: Pass to AJ, Incomplete

6:47 2nd & 2: Brown run, 1 Yard

6:09 3rd & 1: Shaub QB Sneak, 2 Yards Success

3:43 3rd & 1: Brown run, 1 Yard TD Sucesss

4th Quarter 9:07 2nd & 1: Slaton run, 2 Yards Sucesss

4:23 2nd & 2: Pass to Slaton, 9 Yards Sucesss

00:59 2nd & 1: Brown run, no gain

00:52 3rd & 1: Pass to Dresson, Incomplete

00:47 4th & 1: Brown run,no gain

So we are successful 33% of the time in short yardage. 3 from 9 runs and 1 from 3 passes. So that is pretty bad all around.

What happend to awesome plays like Shaubs QB draw from last year, 5 wide, empty backfield. Draw the Lb's out and Shaub walks into the middle of the endzone untouched.

Like everyone else in the world not named Kubiak, I can see that we struggle in short yardage situations. But reall, only when we run it. When we pass it, we aren't too bad. People HAVE to put 8 or 9 in the box in short yardage. So we MAKE them do that, then get a quick throw to someone 1on1 outside. If they only put 7 in the box, then audible a run. I know you have to keep them honest, you have to make them commit to putting those people in the box. But with less than a minute to play and the game on the line, play to your strengths.

Take the Dressen pass for example. Not a success, but that was a failure because of execution. Shaub lobbed the ball a little to high. Dressen was open, and he landed with just half of one foot out of bounds. Shaub was moving well and had little pressure. From memory, three Defensive players were between him and the goalline, but none of them wanted to drop back to cover Dressen and none wanted to come forward to attack Shaub, they were caught in the middle, right on the goalline. Another play like that would have had more chance for success than the next play up the middle.

Obviously we're wrong. Apparently its not THAT bad.

distant_texans_fan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:03:00 -0000

NFL Fanhouse lowdown.

For those of you to lazy to click the link, I'll copy it to below the bump.

So, the experts have written an article about how bad the football is in the NFL at the moment. The Texans have not even been mentioned.

So obviously, we're over-reacting, everything is fine, there is nothing for us to worry about.

MIAMI -Let's start at the bottom.

To recap: The Bucs' backup QB led them in rushing, the Titans' final 13 passes fell incomplete and the Dolphins again disproved the value of ball control. The Browns couldn't stop the run, the Chiefs couldn't stop the pass and the Rams couldn't stop a losing streak that's now the NFL's longest. Although the Lions finally won Sunday, there was still plenty of bad football around the league. Seven NFL cities are hogging the spotlight thanks to 3-0 starts. But for those with a strong stomach, the 0-3 teams deserve a closer look. There are six — the Browns, Rams, Chiefs, Dolphins, Titans and Buccaneers — a game behind the Lions. When's the last time any team could say that? "When you lose three games in a row, finger-pointing starts and you're saying, 'Why isn't this working?'" Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud said.

And when you start 0-3, your playoff chances dwindle. Since 1990, only three teams have made the postseason after losing their first three games. The most surprising cellar-dwellers are the Dolphins and Titans, both division champions in 2008. In each case, the decline has been a team effort. Against the Jets on Sunday, Tennessee's Kerry Collins misfired on his final 13 attempts, but he couldn't do it alone. Teammates dropped five passes in the second half. The Titans had the NFL's best record last year at 13-3, but since their undefeated start in 2008 ended Nov. 23 against the New York Jets, they're 3-7. The losses this year have been by a total of 13 points. "One play could make the difference in each game," defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "It couldn't be a finer line." Defending AFC East champion Miami has been creative in defeat, too, undercoming an 11-minute advantage per game in time of possession. The Dolphins are third in the league in rushing offense and third in rushing defense, yet the losses mount — quarterback Chad Pennington was placed on the injured reserve list Tuesday, ending his season. In other cities, the losing has lasted longer. With the Lions' victory Sunday over the Redskins, the Rams' 13 consecutive defeats are first in the NFL. Or last. The Browns are at nine in a row, the

Chiefs at seven. "You have to chip away at it," Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said. "There's no 20-point touchdown." With 20-point touchdowns, Mangini's crew would really be in trouble. As it is, the Browns have been outscored 95-29. The Browns' 218-yard average — that's total offense — is last in the league, as is their minus-7 turnover differential. And they've been outgained by 584 yards. Mangini waffled on choosing a QB before giving the job to Brady Quinn, who rank

s 30th in passing and is averaging 133 yards per game. Mangini benched him at halftime of the Browns' 34-3 loss to Baltimore. Derek Anderson came on and threw three interceptions in the second half. But hats off to Robert Royal, who has scored Cleveland's lone offensive touchdown in the past nine games. It came during garbage time in the season opener. The Rams have a new coach, a new general manager and the same crummy team. They're 5-30 since 2007 and getting worse. "Anything and everything that we want to accomplish this year is still in front of us," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. That could include securing the No. 2 draft pick for the third year in a row. The Chiefs have lost 26 of their past 28 games, and that doesn't count an 0-4 preseason. New QB Matt Cassel has failed to revive the offense, which is 7 for 36 on third-down conversions and not great on first or second down, either. Other winless teams are facing quarterback issues. Josh Johnson was awarded the Bucs' starting job this week after coming off the bench in Sunday's 24-0 loss to the Giants to lead the team

in rushing with 15 yards. "We made zero plays," benched QB Byron Leftwich said. That's a bit harsh: The Bucs did make five first downs. Their leading rusher this season, Carnell Williams, ranks 37th in the league, and their defense is even worse. The Redskins (1-2) aren't winless, but they deserve special mention for losing Sunday to Detroit. That snapped the Lions' 19-game losing streak that matched the second longest in NFL history. The Redskins have been so bad the home crowd booed even when they beat St. Louis. Washington has struggled against a weak schedule, scoring only 40 points in three games. Coach Jim Zorn is on the hot seat, and he might join the jeering if his team loses Sunday to Tampa Bay. "It's not college," Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot said. "Nobody is going to come in here and 'Tim Tebow' us and send us on a nine-game winning streak." At the moment, a lot of teams would settle for one win. But hang in there, Dolphins, Titans, Browns, Chiefs, Bucs and Rams — a lot of bad football remains to be played. — AP Sports Writers R.B. Fallstrom in St. Louis, Fred Goodall in Tampa, Fla., Larry Lage in Detroit, Doug Tucker in Kansas City, Mo., Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tenn., Joseph White in Washington and Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.

We must have done something right...

distant_texans_fan — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:08:52 -0000

Check out this video link.

NFL.com - Week 2s Top 5 Catches

That's right, Schaub was responsible for two of the top five catches this week. Not surprisingly, the Number One & Number Three catch!!!

Great skills by Johnson and Jones for dragging those in and making the plays and scoring the Touchdowns. But amazing vision by the Quarterback to but those balls where our guys could get them.

This sentence is just to get the word count up to 75.

Which players would you cut?

distant_texans_fan — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:02:29 -0000

Given the complete disaster that was game 1, what players would you cut? I know this is a complete knee jerk reaction, but I'm sure some of you agree that we would be better off with some rookies than the players we had today.

1. C - Chris Myers. Bring in Caldwell or White. I don't care. We knew he was going to have a tough day, but that was terrible.

2. S - Nick Ferguson. Busing HAS to start. I think he has proved that today.

Who else?

Way off topic, and something for the next off season...

distant_texans_fan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:34:44 -0000

But I just watched the Alabama vs VT game. We should totally pick up Brandon Deaderick next year.

He is a senior for the Crimson Tide, Defensive End. I know, I know. Hopefully we don't NEED another D-Lineman next year, but this guy has an attitude the exceeds that of a normal person.

http://blog.al.com/press-register-sports/2009/09/herndon_deadericks_return_from.html

http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/deaderick_brandon00.html

For those of you who didn't go to the link, he was shot on Monday, the bullet went through his arm and lodged in his hip. He played on Saturday. And played well.

Rosen-copter making a good show

distant_texans_fan — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:50:07 -0000

I'm just keeping an eye on the Vikings-Colts game and it looks like Rosenfels has the upper hand going into the season.

Not only did he start the game and play the whole first quarter, he completed 10 of 13 passes in two drives that put up ten points for the Vikings. Jackson on the other hand is only 2 from 7.

I know he's not a Texan no more, but I wish him the best and look forward to him being the starter in Minnesota.

More Ammo for Owen Daniels??

distant_texans_fan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:04 -0000

http://fantasyfootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/19/fantasy-football-cheat-sheet-top-200/#cont

With Owen pushing for top TE money (ie Kellen Winslow Jr Money), check out where NFL Fanhouse has him placed on their Top 200 Fantasy Picks. And check out who is near-by...

PS My fantasy picks could be a little hampered this year now that the main Texans weapons are being recognised. Damn it!!

And can you believe that was only 62 words long.

Dom Capers: A proven Commodity!?

distant_texans_fan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:24:00 -0000

This is an excerpt from the NFL.com, 32 in 32 segment on the Green Bay Packers....

"Dom Capers is not a passive Guy at all. Likes to Blitz, Likes to..(get after the QB). They'll be a little more tactical, a little more aggressive."

"And Dom Capers is a proven commodity. Lets face it, his track record in the NFL when it comes to coaching that 3-4 defense and getting pressure on the Quarterback is a given. He's always in demand when he's available. I think it was a good move for the Green Bay Packers"

Is this the same Dom Capers from the Texans?? Are they talking about the same guy!!!