Hit Me: Questions About The Houston Texans?
(Editor's note: I'm keeping this as the top feature for now, however, below this are the most recent pieces I'm putting up Thursday. Keep asking Tim questions).
Howdy from Houston, denizens of the Jungle. It's Tim from Battle Red Blog, the network's site for all things Houston Texan. As our two squads are set to tee it up this week, I figured I'd drop by to field any questions you might have about the opposition.
Want to know about the Texans' passing game? I'll giggle with delight until I remember that the Texans are contractually bound to turn the ball over at least once every game. Curious about how the Texans will try to pressure Fitzpatrick? I'll mumble something about Super Mario and then begin cursing DC Richard Smith. Wondering if the Texans are vulnerable? I'll nod my head, and then begin weeping uncontrollably.
So hit me, Cincy Jungle. I'm here to drop a fan's knowledge on you. Best of luck on Sunday, and here's to a clean game that sees no one get hurt.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.
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RE:
Hey guys, Tim and I are going to exchange between our sites. If you have a question about the Texans (good smart questions, not Steelers-like smack-talk), then ask away.
Also, I have a similar post on his site here. Head over there and represent this site by answering any questions that I don’t, or perspectives that you want to add.
Thanks for your help guys.
Now, ask away.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 22, 2008 12:05 PM EDT reply actions
Steve Slaton
Tim, tell us what we can expect from Steve Slaton. And how have the Texans offense have integrated the use of Slaton and Ahmad Green? Do they carry based on scenarios, downs and distances?
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 22, 2008 12:07 PM EDT reply actions
Re: Slaton
Based on his numbers and what we’ve seen so far, I think you can expect around 15 carries, 95 total yards (70ish rushing), and a TD on Sunday. He’s been unbelievable. As sad as this sounds, he’s already the second-best RB in franchise history, and he’s only six (6) games into his career.
I haven’t really seen any true pattern to Ahman Green’s use these past three (3) weeks. He’ll get about 10 carries, but it’s not like he’s playing every third series, only in goal line situations, etc.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
Re: Green
The only surefire time that Green gets used is at the end of close games (and we’ve had our fair share). It’s not an indictment of Slaton’s abilities, so much as it is a nod to Green’s tenure in the league and his late game experience.
But other than that, Tim’s right. There doesn’t seem to be any discernible pattern to the rotation.
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Texans' pass defense
With Cincy’s WRs looking to have a breakout game (against anyone, really), it’s interesting that Houston’s pass defense gives up only 216 YPG through the air (good for middle-of-the-pack 17th in the league) and nine passing TDs (T-9th), but opposing QBs have a 66% completion rate and 103.6 passer rating against them. Do you think that’s more due to who Houston has faced so far, or because of any deficiencies underneath in the secondary?
Only two teams (KC and Cleveland) have had fewer pass plays run against them this season.
Re: Pass Defense
The Houston secondary is awful. The maxim is to use the run to set up the pass, but I would come out throwing if I was an opposing offense.
Jacques Reeves can stay stride for stride with anyone, though his mind-boggling refusal to ever turn his head and/or get his hands up makes that skill nearly worthless. Petey Faggins, or “The Master of the Eight Yard Cushion,” might as well have a bullseye instead of a number on his jersey. Fred Bennett, last season’s rookie revelation at CB, has performed well enough to warrant the staff benching him in favor of Faggins, which is the equivalent of deciding you’d rather swill Drano instead of Ipecac. Our safeties are good in run support and decidedly below average in coverage. Although he’s less than a year removed from a career-threatening injury, heart-and-soul-of-the-defense Dunta Robinson returned last week; I believe he’ll transform into the Dunta of old, but it’ll take some time for that to happen and it certainly won’t be this week.
So in answer to your question, I fully expect Fitzpatrick to find Chad Johnson and Housh. A lot.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
That's good to hear :)
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 22, 2008 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Dont forget....
about SLIM! aka Chris Henry brosiff, I guarantee he has the best stats of the afternoon among our three WR, especially with Housh having lingering injury problems..
will you take it easy on the bengals please
The bengals are my team and yes we need help! We are the worst team in the league and have no chance against HOU unless they decide to take us easy! Do you think it would be too much to ask to take it easy on us??? But that will not happen my pick is that HOU will pound us by 17 pts (34-17). Get all my free picks here
http://www.CTSportsPicks.com
ct
Bro
You’re asking a starving man to give you his meal ticket to the soup kitchen… ain’t gonna happen bud.
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Houston's Preferance
My wife and mother-in-law are former Oilers fans becoming Bengals fans (my influence) after the Oilers left. Does the city prefer the hated Bud Adams Oilers over the consistantly losing Texans?
Not even close
The Texans fan base in Houston may not be as large or as zealous as it was in the “luv ya blue” days of the Oilers, but you’d be hard pressed to find fans in Houston who still support that Satan incarnate, Bud Adams.
The Texans have their loyal fans who have been with them from the beginning. When they finally become a perennial contender, you’ll start seeing the bandwagon full of people who will claim they loved the team from day one – when they beat the Cowboys. The true fans will be ones who remember the score…
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Hmm
With Schaub’s above average play last week, is there still any controversy between he and Rosenfels over the starting job? Plus, if you’ll go a little deeper, how did the Texans’ fans respond to bringing Matt in when it happened and since?
Oh, yeah, and since we’ll have the number one pick next year, who would be the worst* possible pick for us?
- the worst is assured given our owner and his meth lab of a draft/evaluation of talent squad.
by IgnatiusJReilly on Oct 23, 2008 12:37 AM EDT reply actions
No controversy
Sup Cincy – I’m another blogger at the BRB. I know Tim can get busy from time to time, so I’ll field a few for yall.
It is true that there are a small minority of people who believe that Sage is a superior quarterback, but they aren’t taken too seriously. And if there was any doubt, it was erased with the now infamous Rosencopter. Sage is your prototypical game manager. When he steps outside of that role, he finds himself in a whole heap of trouble.
I think the fan base was pretty optimistic when Matt rolled into town. Before the season started, he said the right things, did the right things, and was looking like a model QB for the franchise. After the epic failure that was David Carr, anyone this side of Ryan Leaf would have been a welcomed addition.
Truth be told, while Matt has looked fantastic at times, he still plays like a second year starter. If there is one knock on Schaub, it would be letting the heat of the moment force him into bad decsions. Schaub is at his worst when he’s facing teams with a fiercesome pass rush. Not saying he can’t make plays under pressure, but that’s when he stops seeing the entire field and starts zoning in his target – which leads to mistakes (to mean interceptions and fumbles). With that said, he has the talent. Once the game finally slows down for him, he’ll stop making so many mental errors and be recognized as one of the games better QBs.
As for your draft pick… It’s hard for me to speak to that, but I would figure that anything outside of a defensive game changer or brickhouse offensive lineman would be a bad choice. The worst possible pick would be going with a WR to “replace” 85.
BTW: Thanks for Kevin Walter. He’s been a catalyst on offense and a real fan favorite.
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What Solis Said
Schaub is especially prone to mistakes, most often via forcing a pass into double coverage, when the Texans are in the red zone. I’d say it’s gotten a bit better over time, but it’s still a definite concern.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
Re: David Carr
Was he blamed totally for his failure there or did the wet paper bag of an offensive line- like we have right now- take some of the heat? As to Schaub’s susceptibility to a “fierce” pass rush? I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he’ll probably have time to do some laundry and have a snack back there on Sunday. Pressuring the QB is not a concept familiar to us, not unless man-child Jason Shirley gets in the game…okay, that’s just wishful thinking.
by IgnatiusJReilly on Oct 23, 2008 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Re: Zoolander
David Carr, or Zoolander as he’s known around the Texans blog world, definitely deserves the majority of the blame for his and the offense’s failings during his tenure in H-Town. It really is a chicken-or-egg question, though: Was Zoolander a good QB who was rendered useless by beatings taken at the hands of a bad OL, or was he a bad QB who couldn’t have gotten the job done regardless? I’ll readily admit that the OL did him no favors his first couple of years in the league, but it’s a HUGE misconception that the line was terrible throughout his time here.
Personally, I think the evidence has shown that Carr did not have what it took to be a No. 1 QB in the NFL. His rep was that he was the last guy in to practice and the first guy gone afterward. Reading what guys like Andre Johnson said as soon as Schaub showed up and started trying to become a leader, it became pretty clear that Zoolander didn’t have the respect of all the guys in the locker room.
Your pass rush sounds like ours, save Super Mario. Without him wrecking shop, I don’t think the Houston defense would have a single sack or QB hurry.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
Hey Texan Dude:
Do you remember the rookie seasons of Odell Thurman and Demeko Ryans?
I do, cause Odell was a better prospect after it was over!
Who-Dey Miss Odell? Me-Dey :(
I'm not trying to be a dick...
But what? DeMeco was a rookie in 06 and won DROY. Odell had a good rookie year in 05 then went off to kill his career with drugs, alcohol, and violence… Where’s the connection?
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Mm-hmm...
Odell would have been DROY if not for the existence of one Shawne Merriman, but that’s pretty much where the similarity ends.
I STILL can not watch that Bootsy Collins Fear Da Tiger video (with Odell strutting around in it) without wondering what could have been, if not for all the drugs, alcohol and…violence? We’ll just settle on sheer boneheadedness.
Sure do admire Ryans, though. Good pick.
by TheWalrus1971 on Oct 24, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Re: Vilolence
Heh, it was an odd word choice, but what I meant was the dude kept finding himself in dust ups. The type of BS that has Pacman sitting at home suspended right now. He broke some clown’s jaw a while back didn’t he?
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Yup
after his latest suspension, at a freaking waterpark. Sigh.
by IgnatiusJReilly on Oct 25, 2008 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

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