Official Texans @ Dolphins Game Thread, 9/18/2011

[Keith]

The Texans go to one of their homes away from home to play the Dolphins in Miami for a shot to go 2-0 to open the season. Discuss the game action in this thread.

[HPF Bob]

The Texans are a three-point favorite on the road which doesn't happen very often. I must always temper my enthusiasm with "these are the Texans" but we stand a good chance of leading the AFC South by day's end.

[chuck]

I'm terrified of the team's getting tested by a real running game and/or a real passer. The ILBs are a concern (Cushing showed a lot of lateral speed last week at least but I worry about power running attacks wearing down the middle of the defense) and the secondary can't cover.

I can't really get all that fired up about any of the early games except Chicago - New Orleans.

[WMH]

I'm terrified of the team's getting tested by a real running game and/or a real passer. The ILBs are a concern (Cushing showed a lot of lateral speed last week at least but I worry about power running attacks wearing down the middle of the defense) and the secondary can't cover.

I can't really get all that fired up about any of the early games except Chicago - New Orleans.

A real running game? The Fins? Not sure I agree with you on that one.

Totally agree about this weeks slate of games. I was very happy to see they moved the double header to noon instead of the Cowboy game. Other than tonight, CHI v NO should be one of the better games on the docket. Wish we could see that SD v NE game too though.

Looking forward to 3PM for another step in the road. Hopefully, we can put some pressure on Henne, as NE struggled in doing so last week. I like the good guys by a TD today.

[chuck]

A real running game? The Fins? Not sure I agree with you on that one.


I should have been more clear. I'm not saying that my fears will be realized this week but that those are my general concerns. The Dolphins are offensively challenged and I'd like to think the Texans can keep them well contained.

[WMH]

I should have been more clear. I'm not saying that my fears will be realized this week but that those are my general concerns. The Dolphins are offensively challenged and I'd like to think the Texans can keep them well contained.

Gotcha. Then I defintely echo those concerns, just not necessarily this week, or really next week too much. The OAK and PIT game....that's another story. At least we have a couple of weeks for Wade to figure it out.

[chuck]

I'm generally right about most everything I take the time to analyze. That may sound nauseatingly self-congratulatory and perhaps it is. But let me shine the light for a moment on a corner where I am almost always wrong, spectacularly wrong, even. That is predicting which college quarterbacks will be good NFL quarterbacks. I thought Jamarcus Russell would be great and that Cam Newton would be terrible. Is that a good enough illustration for you?

[WMH]

Any who....

Texans inactives versus the Dolphins are Kevin Walter, Derrick Ward, TJ Yates, Brandon Harris, Derek Newton, Thomas Austin, & Garrett Graham.

[nunusguy]

I predict we see the rookie QB Gabbert the first time we play the Jags this year, as McGowan just threw his third interception in todays game and is single-handedly losing the game to the Jets.
Make it 4 - before I could complete this post, McGowan thru another one ! They are saying that Gabbert is now warming up.

[Arky]

Miami wins the toss and defers - Texans to receive.

Kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

[Big Texas]

Let's go texans...

Double Marshall and stack the box and we should win this one...

I know that was a little over simplified...

Shaub no dumb ass throws...

[Arky]

Pass in the flat to AJ good for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Pass to OD good for 10, 1st down.

Schaub is pressured and throws it away. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster for 14, 1st down.

Foster for about 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Foster for 6. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Dump off to Foster gets 3 and the 1st down.

Deep pass to JJ is tipped and caught, JJ is out of bounds at the 8 yard line.

Foster for 3. 2nd and goal at the 5.

Foster for no gain. 3rd and goal coming up.

Schaub can't find anyone open and throws it away. Texans will have to go for the FG.

Rackers 23-yard FG is off the post but good.

Texans 3, Dolphins 0

[HPF Bob]

Sloppy red zone execution but a good drive to start the game.

[chuck]

Lucky to get those three, good lord.

[HPF Bob]

James Brown calling the "Hell Mary" pass.

T-storms here in Sugar Land.

[Arky]

Hartmann's kickoff goes out of the stadium. Dolphins ball at their 20.

1st down dump pass is off the mark, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Bush gets about 2 up the middle. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Henne is sacked by Barwin! -8 yards. Dolphins have to punt.

Nice return by JJ brings it back all the to the Dolphin 44.

[Big Texas]

While i was not happy with the stall in the end zone i was happy with the two good throw aways....


Great sack welcome to the team Barwin....


Great return...

[Arky]

Pass to BJ good for 16, 1st down, ball at the Dolphin 28.

Foster TFL -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Screen to Foster only gets 3. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to AJ good to the Dolphin 12 yard line, 1st down.

Owch, little dump off barely misses OD and the TD. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster to the 5 yard line. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Foster only gets 2. 4th and 2 coming up. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 22-yarder is good.

Texans 6, Dolphins 0

4:33 left in the 1st quarter.

[HPF Bob]

Will Texans play two halves today? If this is the good half, I'm a little concerned.

[Big Texas]

Come on redzone offense...

But the pre-redzone offense looks better than last week...

[chuck]

The running game is not getting any help from the interior line. I think they're going to need to use Tate for whatever power running they plan to do.

[Nconroe]

So far everything clicking but the TDs in redvzone. Keep up the D and should be ok.

[Arky]

Dolphins bring the kickoff back to the 23 but flag on the play. Holding on Dolphins places the ball at their 11.

Henne's pass is batted down by Mario. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Marshall good for 10 and a 1st down.

Henne's deep pass to Bess goes all the way at the Texan 39 yard line. Flags on the play. Both against Texans put the ball at the Texan 23.

Flag presnap. Too many in the huddle on Dolphins -5. 1st and 15 at the Texan 28.

Henne's deep pass sails inc. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Pass to Gates goes inc. 3rd and 15 coming up.

Thomas gets about 4. Dolphins to go for the FG.

Carpenter's 42-yarder is good.

Texans 6, Dolphins 3

[Big Texas]

Our secondary gave up a 55 yd play

[Big Texas]

At least we didn't give up the TD

[HPF Bob]

Lot of Dolphin fans dressed as empty seats today.

I wondered what sort of drugs these ad execs take. Deion as a fairy...

[Arky]

Dolphin kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20. 2:25 left in the 1st quarter.

Dump off to Tate gets about 14, 1st down.

Tate runs 15 yards to midfield.

Schaub pressured, chunks it away inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Tate for no gain. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Schaub's pass to Dreessen goes inc. Holding on Winston is declined. Texans to punt.

Bess fair catches at the Dolphin 9. Dolphins ball.

[Big Texas]

Ok Kubes we have to diversify our playcalling...although our defense is playing well...we can't rely on them solely...

[WMH]

I think this Mario feller might be able to play a little OLB....

[Arky]

Bush for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

End of 1st quarter.

----------

Henne's pass is INT'ed by JJo! Texans ball, 1st and goal! Pass was initially tipped by Mario....

Foster for a couple. 2nd and goal at the 4.

Pass to OD good for the TD!

Texans 13, Dolphins 3

[Big Texas]

Back to where we were last week...defense leading to offense...

[HPF Bob]

Silence at Joe Robbie Pro Player Dolphins Land Shark SunLife Stadium...

[Big Texas]

I think this Mario feller might be able to play a little OLB....

Nothing like the motivation of a million fans saying you can't.

[WMH]

Back to where we were last week...defense leading to offense...

Beautiful thing to see.....isn't it? :D

[Nconroe]

Two tips by Mario, pretty good disruption.

Nice convert of turnover.

[Big Texas]

I hope they don't realize we're soft inside...

[Arky]

Hartmann's kickoff goes out of Miami. Dolphins ball at their 20.

Thomas up the gut for 4 or 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Thomas for 3. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Jeez, Marshall somehow comes down with the ball for a 29 yard gain, 1st down.

Thomas for about 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Screen to Thomas goes all the way to the Texan 30 for a first down.

Henne pressured, throws it away. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Thomas gets 10 on the delay, 1st down.

Thomas gets 6. 2nd and 4 coming up at the Texan 14.

L Johnson gets 2. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Bush gets 3 and the 1st down at the Texan 9, 1st and goal.

Thomas for 2. 2nd and goal at the 7.

Pass to Bess only gets 1. 3rd and goal at the 5. JJo comes off the field.

Henne's pass is off the mark. Dolphins to go for the FG.

Carpenter's 22-yarder is blocked!

Score remains:

Texans 13, Dolphins 3

7 minutes left in the half.

[Big Texas]

GQ is looking like a missile out there...

[HPF Bob]

Dodged a bullet there. That could be a turning point.

[chuck]

The Texans' secondary needs to get a LOT better before playing a decent passing attack.

That kid Watt is quickly becoming one of good old chuck's favorite players. He just does not stop. Rick Smith has done some incredibly stupid things on draft day but the decision to draft Watt does not appear to be one of them.

[Arky]

Texans ball at their 20.

Tate gets 10 but flag on the play. Flag against the Texans -10, makes it 1st and 20.

Umph, pass to wide open AJ off the mark. 2nd and 20 coming up.

Screen to AJ goes nowhere. 3rd and 19 coming up.

Quick hitter to OD gets about 11. Texans to punt.

Nice punt (69 yards) by Hartmann is returned 17 yards to the Dolphin 25.

[Arky]

5:01 left in the half.

Henne's deep pass goes inc. but flag on the play. PI on KJ, auto 1st down at the Texan 33 (41 yard penalty).

Thomas for 6.

Thomas gets 6 more and a 1st down. Ball at the Texan 21.

Marshall can't hang on to the pass in the endzone. Whew, shoulda had it... 2nd and 10 coming up.

Thomas for 6. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Henne's pass is deflected inc. by A Smith. Dolphins have to go for the FG.

Carpenter's 34-yarder is no good...

Score remains:

Texans 13, Dolphins 3

2:42 left in the half.

[chuck]

The two concerns I voiced before the game are being exposed. I have had more than enough of Kareem Jackson. He was a wasted pick and is a wasted roster spot. Why he plays at all I have no idea. Yes, I know that Joseph is dinged up at the moment.

[HPF Bob]

If I were a carpenter...

...I'd find a new occupation.

[Nconroe]

We seem to be getting lucky on these missed field goals.

[barrett]

The two concerns I voiced before the game are being exposed. I have had more than enough of Kareem Jackson. He was a wasted pick and is a wasted roster spot. Why he plays at all I have no idea. Yes, I know that Joseph is dinged up at the moment.

You're a genius chuck. You have managed to be proven right today without actually being right.

[Arky]

Foster TFL -1. 2nd and 11 coming up. Timeout Dolphins.

Pass to JJ good for 9. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Eheh, what a catch! Schaub's deep pass to AJ good for 43! Ball at the Dolphin 24.

2 minute warning.

[chuck]

You're a genius chuck. You have managed to be proven right today without actually being right.

Thanks for alerting me to the fact that what I am witnessing is not actually happening. I can't wait to experience an even more startling disconnect between my reality and yours when the team plays NO and Pittsburgh.

[Arky]

Pass to Dreessen good for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Tate gets 4 and a 1st down. Ball at the Dolphin 11.

Screen to AJ only gets 1. Timeout Texans with 35 seconds left in the half.

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

Pass to Tate loses yardage -3. 3rd and 12 at the Dolphin 13.

Schaub is sacked by Wake. Texans to go for the FG.

Timeout Texans with 2 seconds left.

Racker's 36-yarder is good by Miami had called a timeout.

Racker's 2nd attempt is also good.

Texans 16, Dolphins 3

Halftime.

[HPF Bob]

Up by 13 at half but not feeling really good about it.

The Saints ass-raped Cutler today. Hopefully, the Texans can block better than the Bears did.

[barrett]

Thanks for alerting me to the fact that what I am witnessing is not actually happening. I can't wait to experience an even more startling disconnect between my reality and yours when the team plays NO and Pittsburgh.

Your reality is not visible to anyone's chuck.

You make constant doom and gloom predicitions about every part of this team. Then when they play well you tell everyone that it is irrelevant. But when they play poorly you tell us it is relevant because you said so.

Just like today. You rip a defense that gave up 141 yards and 3 points in a half. And as proof you are right, you quote the games that have not happened yet. Do you not see the giant hypocricy here? In your convoluted logic you cannot be wrong. They play well and it doesn't count because obviously they will play poorly later. You're a joke. There was a period of time where you were a realistic fan on a board slanted toward homerism, but since Kubiak was not let go you have turned into a caricature of yourself. Go find some other way to spend your sundays or try to keep your analysis to what is happening in this game, not what is bound to happen weeks in the future because Chuck has declared it shall be so.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 16/22, 170 yds, 1 TD

Rushing: Foster 10/33, Tate 4/21

Receiving: AJ 5/63, OD 3/25, JJ 2/40, Tate 2/10, Foster 2/7

Tackles: Cushing 5, GQ 4, JJo/Manning/Watt 3 each, Mario 2

Time of possession: Texans 16:42, Dolphins 13:18

Total yards: Texans 219, Dolphins 141

3rd down conversions: Texans 3/8, Dolphins 2/6

Red zone: Texans 1/4, Dolphins 0/2

Turnovers: Texans 0, Dolphins 1

Penalties: Texans 3/66, Dolphins 2/15

1st downs: Texans 11, Dolphins 9

[Big Texas]

Redzone offense looks pathetic...

Defense looks wonderful...except for the now obvious soft interior dline...

[Arky]

Wow, Titans 26, Ravens 13 final.

SF 14, Dallas 7 at the half..

Bills are 2-0....

[WMH]

Yep, wish we coulda converted a couple of those FG's into TD's, but can't complain too much about being up 13, even if we had a couple of gifts.

Time to see some 2nd half action. Hope to see an improved run D, but if we can score a couple in a hurry, they will have to abandon the run, and give Wade another week or so to get it figured out.

[chuck]

Your reality is not visible to anyone's chuck.

That was never more evident than last year when all of you delusional homers said 10-6 and playoffs and I said no.

[barrett]

That was never more evident than last year when all of you delusional homers said 10-6 and playoffs and I said no.

Like I said, genius. You've proven it yet again.

[Arky]

Gates brings the 2nd half kickoff back to the Dolphin 31.

Thomas for about 3 up the gut. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Thomas sweeps left side for about 2. Dolphin injured on the play - Carey RG. Injury timeout. 3rd and 5 coming up.

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

Pass to Marshall gets about 8 and a 1st down. Ball at the Dolphin 44.

Timeout Texans.

Quick pass to Marshall is dropped. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Thomas for about 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Flag presnap. False start Dolphins -5. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Henne's pass is caught out of bounds, inc. Dolphins have to punt.

Punt rolls out of bounds inside the Texan 10. Texans ball.

[WMH]

Saw a tweet from Jabba - JJoe is questionable to return with an ankle issue.

[WMH]

Winston is have a ROUGH game....

[chuck]

Like I said, genius. You've proven it yet again.

I don't know why you give me a hard time for having a realistic (and almost always correct) view of the team. I hope the Texans beat the Dolphins 37-3 today but that doesn't make the obvious vulnerabilities I've pointed out (along with several others here) any less valid.

Like I've said, if the team finds itself at 10-2 you'll be welcome to remind me how overblown my concerns were and I'll be happy to acknowledge that you are right.

[Arky]

Ball at the Texan 8. 11:59 left in the 3rd quarter.

Tate gets about 10 up the gut, 1st down.

Tate for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Casey good for big gainer but holding on Winston on the play -10 yards. 2nd and 18 coming up.

Dump off to Tate gets about 8. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Schaub's pass is off the mark. Texans have to punt.

Not much on the return by Gates. Dolphins ball at their 38.

9:54 left in the 3rd quarter.

[TheMatrix31]

Not happy with what's happening out there today.

[barrett]

I don't know why you give me a hard time for having a realistic (and almost always correct) view of the team. I hope the Texans beat the Dolphins 37-3 today but that doesn't make the obvious vulnerabilities I've pointed out (along with several others here) any less valid.

Like I've said, if the team finds itself at 10-2 you'll be welcome to remind me how overblown my concerns were and I'll be happy to acknowledge that you are right.

Because you take a view that doesn't allow you to be wrong and then tell everyone how right you are. Today you are wrong but trying to spin it as being "future right."

[chuck]

Because you take a view that doesn't allow you to be wrong and then tell everyone how right you are. Today you are wrong but trying to spin it as being "future right."

I'm wrong because the Dolphins are not actually running up the middle at will and abusing the Texans' CBs or I'm wrong because they are but it doesn't matter because the Texans are winning?

[Arky]

Bush for 3 or 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Bush gets 3. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Marshall goes for 16 and a 1st down. Ball at the Texan 40.

Thomas gets about 15, 1st down.

Henne's pass off the mark to Hartline. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Thomas gets 13 on the delay, 1st down at the Texan 12.

Flat pass to Marshall is good for the TD.

Texans 16, Dolphins 10

6:37 left in the 3rd quarter.

[WMH]

That was fuggly.....

Marshall abused Allen on that one. Yikes.

[barrett]

I'm wrong because the Dolphins are not actually running up the middle at will and abusing the Texans' CBs or I'm wrong because they are but it doesn't matter because the Texans are winning?

How do you run up the middle at will and abuse CBs to the tune of 141 yards and 3 points at halftime?

[HPF Bob]

Thomas is gashing us and Jason Allen is playing way off of Marshall.

[Big Texas]

The dolphins have found our weakness and steadily exposed it.

[Arky]

Manning brings the kickoff back to the Texan 25.

Schaub gets sacked -10. 2nd and 20 coming up.

Pass to JJ good for 8. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Schaub is sacked again. Texans have to punt.

Dolphins bring the punt back to their 39.

[chuck]

How do you run up the middle at will and abuse CBs to the tune of 141 yards and 3 points at halftime?

They've started the second half. You might want to switch over from the Glee reruns you've been enjoying.

[Big Texas]

Joseph should be coming back out...

[Arky]

C'mon defense, step it up..

Ball is at the Dolphin 40.

Thomas coughs it up! GQ on the recovery! Texans ball!

[WMH]

Nice. Let's give Schaub some time and punch it in.

[Big Texas]

Oh my goodness thanks for the heads up play GQ...

[chuck]

Kareem caused that fumble. That was a nice hit.

[Arky]

Tate for 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Tate gets 6. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Tate stumbles for the 1st down. Ball at the Dolphin 43.

Schaub can't find anyone open and scrambles out of bounds for 3.

Slaton for no gain. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Ouch, deep pass to AJ just out of reach. Texans have to punt.

Bess fair catches at the Dolphin 9.

[Arky]

Pass to Hartline good for 10, 1st down.

Thomas for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Henne scrambles for big gainer. Ball at the Dolphin 42.

End of 3rd quarter.

[HPF Bob]

How the heck did Henne have all that room?

[Big Texas]

I blame the offense for the state we are in...

The dolphins have clearly caught on to the run...Shaub going to have to win this one...

Prove yourself...

[Arky]

Thomas for 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Pass to Marshall good for 4 and the 1st down.

Bush for about 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Wow, nice catch by Hartline for 25 yards. 1st down at the Texan 16.

Short pass to Bess inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Marshall too long, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass in the endzone is inc. Dolphins to go for the FG.

Carpenter's 34-yarder is good.

Texans 16, Dolphins 13

12:57 left in the game.

[Big Texas]

Come on Shaub make something good happen...

Kubiak please don't come out with the "run right...run left...incomplete pass...punt"

[HPF Bob]

The fact that they went to Slaton tells me Foster is not coming back today. I don't know if he's reinjured or the Texans are just playing extra-cautious with him.

[Nconroe]

Let's go offense, take advantage of Mannings KR.

[Arky]

Nice return by Manning on the kickoff - Texans ball at their 37.

Dump to Tate goes for 13. Ball at midfield.

Pass to AJ gets 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Tate pops it for 16, 1st down.

Tate for 4 up the gut. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Whoop! Deep pass to AJ complete for the TD! 23 yards!

Texans 23, Dolphins 13

10:06 left in the game.

[chuck]

The fact that they went to Slaton tells me Foster is not coming back today. I don't know if he's reinjured or the Texans are just playing extra-cautious with him.

The radio guys are puzzling over this, too. In other words, no one knows.

[Big Texas]

Yes sir...

That's how you lead Shaub...that's how you lead...

[HPF Bob]

That makes me feel a little better.

[chuck]

Apparently Jacoby hurt himself celebrating.

[Big Texas]

The radio guys are puzzling over this, too. In other words, no one knows.

Mcclain tweeted that Foster has reaggravated his hamstring and is questionable...

[barrett]

I like braman from west Texas A & M dropping gates from ACU and then letting him hear about it.

[Arky]

The fact that they went to Slaton tells me Foster is not coming back today. I don't know if he's reinjured or the Texans are just playing extra-cautious with him.

Pretty sure it's the latter. 10 carries, that's it....

edit: but I could be wrong...

[Arky]

Dolphins bring the kickoff back to just their 7 yard line.

Henne rushes for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Bush for 3. Makes it 3rd down 5.

Henne comes up about a yard short on the scramble. 4th and 1, Dolphins are going to go for it.... 8:36 left in the game.

Dolphins try to draw the Texans offside and then call a timeout.

Dolphins to punt.

JJ fields the punt, goes backwards and is tackled. Texans ball at their 18.

[barrett]

Sparano has a real dirtbag/jack del rio thing going for him.

[Arky]

Tate for 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Tate for 7 more, 1st down. Ball at the Texan 32.

Tate for 7 more. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Tate for about 2. Makes it 3rd and 1 coming up.

Timeout Texans. 5:17 left in the game.

[Arky]

Tate gets 3 and the 1st down.

Tate TFL -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Tate picks up about 4. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Tate for 2 so Texans to punt.

Hartmann's punt is returned about 9 yards by Bess to the Dolphin 20.

[Arky]

Henne is sacked by A Smith! Makes it 2nd and 19.

Pass to Hartline inc, out of bounds. Brings up 3rd and 19. 2:16 left in the game.

Henne's pass is batted down by Watt. Dolphins to go for it on 4th down.

Pass by Henne goes inc. but flag on the play. Holding on Dolphins is declined. Texans take over on downs.

[WMH]

Wasn't pretty, but I'll take it. A W is a W.

HUGE test coming next week. Let's hope we get healed up, and Wade can correct some of our defieciencies.

[Arky]

Texans ball at the Dolphin 11.

Tate for 1.

2 minute warning.

Tate for about 8.

Tate gets about 1. Less than a minute left in the game.

Tate gets the 1st down at the 1/2 foot line.

Schaub kneels it out.

Final Score:

Texans 23, Dolphins 13

Got hairy there for a while but the defense came up big.... Way to go fellas!

[barrett]

I'll take 13 points allowed and whatever the yardage is. Especially against a team that moved it well against new England last week. Great job today defense, I knew all along you would play great today.

[TheMatrix31]

I'll take it man. I'll take it.

[barrett]

That was my self congratulations for my vague earlier predictions.

[chuck]

That was my self congratulations for my vague earlier predictions.

Well earned.

[HPF Bob]

2-0 and all alone in first place in the division. All that with almost nothing from Foster. Can't quibble too much about that.

[barrett]

Jonathon Joseph clearly matters. Whether from how good he is or from how bad our other options, or some combination of the two, I'm not sure. But we were very different without him.

[Nconroe]

I am happy for another Texans win.

Too bad you were wrong twice Chuck. Maybe next week.

[WMH]

Jonathon Joseph clearly matters. Whether from how good he is or from how bad our other options, or some combination of the two, I'm not sure. But we were very different without him.

Amen to that x2.

[chuck]

Too bad you were wrong twice Chuck. Maybe next week.

Given the appalling state of public education in Texas I suppose I should assume that many of you will have difficulties with reading comprehension. You obviously do.

I'm terrified of the team's getting tested by a real running game and/or a real passer. The ILBs are a concern (Cushing showed a lot of lateral speed last week at least but I worry about power running attacks wearing down the middle of the defense) and the secondary can't cover.

And then:

I should have been more clear. I'm not saying that my fears will be realized this week but that those are my general concerns. The Dolphins are offensively challenged and I'd like to think the Texans can keep them well contained.

Despite barrett's ridiculous criticisms I am not being vague or arranging a scenario where I cannot be wrong no matter the result. I watched the entire game, closely. I saw much to be concerned about with respect to the two specific areas I mentioned prior to the game. Since your attention was obviously divided among the game, today's exciting Funny Car racing and live coverage of the Professional Noodling Championship on the Trailer Channel you may have missed the weaknesses I'd described. I can assure you that they will be in full view next week.

[NBT]

1. We made Henne look like a better QB than he is.

2. We better shore up that middle against the run, and do it quick, or the rest of the league is gonna run up the gut on us all day long.

3. We still need more help in the secondary than just JJo, Manning and the Mighty Quin. Will Kareem ever be any good? Allen doesn't appear to be the answer either.

4. Kubiak is too damn conservative when he has the tools to open up the offense. And I take nothing away from the running of Tate.

5. Was it just me or was Phillips not using his blitz package to good advantage? Or was it just Kubiak being conservative?

6 I'm happy that we won. I just think we made it tougher than it should have been.

[nunusguy]

It wasn't pretty, but we are still 2-0 and that feels great ! I know we've started like this before, like just last year, but hopefully it's a different kinda year for us. OK now the schedule gets tough, so we shall see ?

[barrett]

Given the appalling state of public education in Texas I suppose I should assume that many of you will have difficulties with reading comprehension. You obviously do.



And then:



Despite barrett's ridiculous criticisms I am not being vague or arranging a scenario where I cannot be wrong no matter the result. I watched the entire game, closely. I saw much to be concerned about with respect to the two specific areas I mentioned prior to the game. Since your attention was obviously divided among the game, today's exciting Funny Car racing and live coverage of the Professional Noodling Championship on the Trailer Channel you may have missed the weaknesses I'd described. I can assure you that they will be in full view next week.

Chuck, during the game you told us all how bad the Texans defense was while it was playing great. When I said something you told me you were right because of what Pitt and NO would do to the Texans. But you were charitable enough to tell me that if the Texans go 10-2 I am right and you are wrong (not that I ever said I was on board with this team, you'll never find a post close to that, all I've posted about is the first 2 games).

So what if they go 9-3, are you wrong then? What about 8-4? That is why you are vague. You are predicting doom and then interpreting that doom to mean whatever you think you see (I am not sure what you saw in a game where we allowed 13 points).

So how about you set an over/under on Texans wins after 12 games (your arbitrary time to admit you were wrong). That way, rather than ignoring facts for "what you see" while we are all all watching the wrong game, we can actually evaluate what you are saying based on what happens on the field (like 13 points allowed would allow the normal person to give the defense a passing grade).

Or you can keep pissing in everyone's cornflakes because you are bitter about the head coach not being fired (or wi-fi not being available in the stadium, or whatever other current soap box you have).

[Nconroe]

Loolks loile Chuck can't take a joke or criticism either. Just keep revising your statements, you'll get it right eventually with a little hindsight. Just relax man.

[barrett]

1. We made Henne look like a better QB than he is.

2. We better shore up that middle against the run, and do it quick, or the rest of the league is gonna run up the gut on us all day long.

3. We still need more help in the secondary than just JJo, Manning and the Mighty Quin. Will Kareem ever be any good? Allen doesn't appear to be the answer either.

4. Kubiak is too damn conservative when he has the tools to open up the offense. And I take nothing away from the running of Tate.

5. Was it just me or was Phillips not using his blitz package to good advantage? Or was it just Kubiak being conservative?

6 I'm happy that we won. I just think we made it tougher than it should have been.

Henne struggled all day. He completed %40 of his passes for under 200 yards, an interception, and was sacked multiple times.

Kubiak was plenty aggressive in a game we never trailed. If a team is worse than you and you never trail, no reason to air it out.

I think your #3 is dead on though. Whenever we don't get pressure, we struggle with making a play on the ball in the backend.

[chuck]

Chuck, during the game you told us all how bad the Texans defense was while it was playing great.

I complained about Kareem Jackson after he got torched and was called for a pass interference penalty. Maybe you think he's great. I don't. Maybe you think the secondary is good enough to stop the Saints' passing attack. I don't. Maybe you think that beating Collins and Indy and Henne and Miami is a sign that the team's defense is suddenly ferocious. I don't.

That's not black cloud pessimism; that's reality. I think a healthy Texans will win the division handily. Is that the doom and gloom you keep talking about? Winning the division or any taste of the playoffs would be a hell of a lot better than what we've experienced to date. But I don't want the team to win the division. I want the team to win the Super Bowl.

[barrett]

I complained about Kareem Jackson after he got torched and was called for a pass interference penalty. Maybe you think he's great. I don't. Maybe you think the secondary is good enough to stop the Saints' passing attack. I don't. Maybe you think that beating Collins and Indy and Henne and Miami is a sign that the team's defense is suddenly ferocious. I don't.

That's not black cloud pessimism; that's reality. I think a healthy Texans will win the division handily. Is that the doom and gloom you keep talking about? Winning the division or any taste of the playoffs would be a hell of a lot better than what we've experienced to date. But I don't want the team to win the division. I want the team to win the Super Bowl.

So no prediction on record? Just some serious fence riding where you get to attack everything, call everyone else homers, and then predict division championships?

You are a true voice in the wildernes.

[barrett]

And you did more than talk about 1 Jackson PI. You told me they ran at will and abused our CBs in a game they barely hit 300 yards and scored 13 points. But maybe you were splitting your attention between the game and dancing with the stars off your DVD (I can actually do that too and it doesn't make any point).

[chuck]

So no prediction on record? Just some serious fence riding where you get to attack everything, call everyone else homers, and then predict division championships?

You are a true voice in the wildernes.

I'm aware that I stand to gain very little by making game by game predictions but since I seem to amuse you so much it would be uncharacteristically uncharitable for me to deny you your entertainment.

9/25 at New Orleans L
10/2 Pittsburgh Steelers L
10/9 Oakland Raiders W
10/16 at Baltimore L
10/23 at Tennessee L
10/30 Jacksonville Jaguars W
11/6 Cleveland Browns W
11/13 at Tampa Bay W
11/27 at Jacksonville W
12/4 Atlanta Falcons L
12/11 at Cincinnati L
12/18 Carolina Panthers W
12/22 at Indianapolis W
1/1 Tennessee Titans W

[chuck]

And you did more than talk about 1 Jackson PI. You told me they ran at will and abused our CBs in a game they barely hit 300 yards and scored 13 points. But maybe you were splitting your attention between the game and dancing with the stars off your DVD (I can actually do that too and it doesn't make any point).

A guy who had never played in an NFL game ran for more than 100 yards against the Texans, mainly by running straight up the middle. Did you notice that at all? You may recall that I had voiced a concern about that prior to the game.

You can accuse me of not paying attention all you like but you and I both know that you're the one pretending like things that are happening in fact aren't.

[barrett]

Kind of like you just pretended the CB comment wasn't there. That kind of selective memory is the problem. Your spin doctoring could get you a job in DC.

[barrett]

The Texans played a good game on defense today. I have not seen one person claim it was a great game. But when you give up 13 in the NFL it is a good day no matter who you play. You want to act like it does not count because it is not New Orleans. Well New Orleans WILL light up the Houston secondary. Just like they lit up the GB secondary on opening night (maybe the best group in the league, all of whom have some pretty rings to show for it).

But you are acting like NO scoring in a few weeks somehow lessens the good performance by our defense today. You want to claim we were abused when we played well. Do you seriously have such a bad case of Schadenfreude that you need to celebrate the team's misfortune before it happens?

I have no problem with evaluating weaknesses after the game, in fact I love doing it. My issue is with you tearing apart our defense in the middle of the first half, maybe the best half of football they have played in years. It is sad and desperate.

[chuck]

Today's first half wasn't even the best half of football the defense has played this year. I could make a case for its being the third best half played if you wanted me to.

Look, 2-0 is 2-0 whether you're playing Collins and Henne or Brees and Brady. But I need scarcely remind you that the team has been in this position before and we all know how those seasons ended.

I want the team to be as successful as it possibly can be, not simply better than last year.

[barrett]

Today's first half wasn't even the best half of football the defense has played this year. I could make a case for its being the third best half played if you wanted me to.

Look, 2-0 is 2-0 whether you're playing Collins and Henne or Brees and Brady. But I need scarcely remind you that the team has been in this position before and we all know how those seasons ended.

I want the team to be as successful as it possibly can be, not simply better than last year.

I could quibble about best half because I think Indy was lost last week, but let me say a big +1 to your whole post.