Official Texans vs. Titans Game Thread, 1/1/2012

[Keith]

Happy New Year!

[chuck]

Lots of key inactives, Foster, Joseph, OD... The team's mailing this one in.

[Arky]

Can't believe they've got the roof closed today...

Ben Tate for 155+ today....

[Arky]

Titans win the toss and will receive.

Mariani brings the kickoff back to the Titan 20. A Titan (Otto) injured on the play. Injury timeout.

[Arky]

Ball is spotted at the Titan 8. (must've been a penalty)

Pass to Williams good for 11.

Pass to CJ good for 20.

Pass to Williams good for 10. Ball at the Titan 49.

Pass over the middle goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Washington gets 6. 3rd and 4 coming up.

3rd down pass is off the mark, inc. Titans have to punt.

Keo fair catches the punt at the Texan 10.

[Arky]

Yates is sacked -5. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Tate for 3. Brings up 3rd and 12.

Pass to Dreessen gets 15 and a 1st down.

Dump off to Casey goes for about 14. Ball at the Texan 38.

Check down to Tate gets 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Ward for about 1. Makes it 3rd and 1.

Ward powers for about 7. 1st down at the Titan 46.

Tate for 11.

Dump off to Tate gets 8 or 9. Brings up 2nd and 1.

Tate hurdles for about 4 and the 1st down. Ball at the Titan 21.

[Arky]

Ward for 8. 2nd and 2 coming up. Under 6 minutes left in the 1st quarter.

Ward sweeps left to the 7 yard line but roughing out of bounds on the Titans makes it half the distance to the goal. Ball is spotted at the Titan 4. 1st and goal.

Tate powers it in for the TD.

Texans 7, Titans 0

[chuck]

That is just manhandling some fools.

[chuck]

Yates apparently shaken up and headed to the locker room. At this point it's approaching the comical.

[Arky]

Rackers kickoff goes out of the endzone. Titans ball at their 20.

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

Pass is tipped inc. Good pressure. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Hasselbeck is sacked by A Smith! Titans have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 35. Texans ball.

[chuck]

With Garcia inactive and OD inactive the team literally has no other person to play quarterback today. Wildcat every play I guess.

[popanot]

The field looks to be in great condition today. :rolleyes:

[Arky]

Delhomme in at QB for the Texans.

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

Tate for about 3. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to KW off the hands, inc. Texans have to punt.

Mariani brings the punt back to the Titan 28.

[Arky]

CJ for 2 or 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

CJ for 3 or 4. Make it 3rd and 3.

Pass to Washington gets 8 and the 1st down.

Pass to Cook good all the way to the Texan 40. Encroachment on Barwin is declined.

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

End of the 1st quarter.

[Arky]

CJ sweeps left for big gain. 27 yards(?). Goes out of bounds at the Texan 8 yard line. 1st and goal.

CJ for maybe 1. 2nd and goal at the 7 coming up.

Dump off to Hall gets about 4. 3rd and goal coming up from the 3.

Timeout Texans with 13:13 left in the half.

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Pass over the head of Cook in the endzone, inc. Titans to go for the FG.

Bironas 21-yarder is good.

Texans 7, Titans 3

13:06 left in the half.

[Arky]

Demps brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 26.

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

Pass to Ward off the mark, inc. Illegal formation on Texans -5, still 1st down. 1st and 15.

Screen to Dreessen only gets 1. 2nd and 14 coming up.

Ward goes right side for about 1. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Pass to JJ is broken up, inc. Texans have to punt.

Mariani brings the punt back to the Titan 31 but flags on the play. Illegal block in the back is assessed against the Texans. 15 yarder. Places the ball at the Titan 46. 11:17 left in the half.

[chuck]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a block in the back assessed on a kicking team.

[Arky]

Hasselbeck is sacked by A Smith! #2. Makes it 2nd and 18.

Pass to Hawkins good for 7. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Hawkins goes for about 5. Titans have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 3.

[Arky]

Tate TFL'ed -2 (almost safety). Ball at the 1. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Tate sweeps left for about 4 but offsides Titans makes it 2nd and 7.

Delhomme hits Casey for nice gainer. 21 yards.

Ward rumbles for 14. Ball at the Texan 43.

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

Oh jeez, Delhomme is stripped/sacked. Titans recover.

[Arky]

Titans ball at the Texan 33.

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

Pass to Cook goes all the way to the Texan 5. 1st and goal.

CJ for maybe 1. 2nd and goal from the 4.

CJ to the 2 yard line. 3rd and goal.

Pass to Avery in the corner goes for the TD.

Titans 10, Texans 7

3:48 left in the half.

[Arky]

Demps downs the kickoff in the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

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

Pass to AJ good for nice gainer, 16 yards. Flag on Titans for personal foul, 15 yards. Places the ball at the Titan 49.

Dump off to Casey gets 9.

Tate for 1 and the 1st down. Under 2 1/2 minutes left.

Ward TFL'ed -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

2 minute warning.

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

Nice catch. Pass to Casey good for about 6. 3rd and 6 coming up.

3rd down pass is nearly INT'ed, but inc. Brings up 4th and 6 and the Texans will attempt a 52-yard FG.

Rackers kick is good!

Texans 10, Titans 10

1:14 left in the half.

[Arky]

Mariani downs the ensuing kickoff in the endzone. Titans ball at their 20. 1:09 left in the half.

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

Draw to CJ gets about 3.

Pass to Cook gets about 13 and a 1st down. Timeout Titans with 31 seconds left.

Pass to CJ goes to the Texan 48. 22 seconds left in the half.

Deep pass to Harper is over his head, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up with 17 seconds left.

Pass over the middle to Washington is batted away inc by McCain. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Avery goes all the way to the Texan 25. With 5 seconds left, Titans to go for the FG.

Bironas 43-yarder is good.

Titans 13, Texans 10

Halftime.

[popanot]

This defense is giving up last minute drives and points at an alarming rate.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Delhomme 6/9, 58 yards; Yates 4/4, 47 yards

Rushing: Ward 8/34, Tate 7/26

Receiving: Casey 4/51, AJ 2/21, Tate 2/17, Dreessen 2/16

Tackles: Ryans/Manning/Cush/GQ/KJ 4 each, A Smith/Allen/Demps/Mitchell 2 each

Time of Possession: Texans 15:48, Titans 14:12

Turnovers: Texans 1, Titans 0

1st downs: Texans 13, Titans 11

3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/5, Titans 3/7

Redzone: Texans 1/1, Titans 1/2

Penalties: Texans 2/20, Titans 4/33

Total yards: Texans 151, Titans 207

[nunusguy]

Why is Houston-area AFC second half TV KC @ DEN and not Ravens @ Cinci ?

[HPF Bob]

This is looking like a pre-season game, at least on our side.

I'm good with giving some of these players some live action before the playoffs spot and I'm glad to see AJ make a few catches even though what I really want to see is AJ on a go route without pulling up.

Defense is still fighting pretty hard. I'd love to see some surge from the OL like they had on the first drive.

The highlight you'll see all weekend though is the scrub who made the tackle without his helmet on.

[Nconroe]

Nice run by Tate. Lots of backup players in now.

[HPF Bob]

Why is Houston-area AFC second half TV KC @ DEN and not Ravens @ Cinci ?

Ravens-Bengals was flexed from an early game by the NFL but somehow CBS decided to show it only in the Cincy and Baltimore local markets. Most of the country is getting Denver-KC except in California which is getting Oakland-SD.

I suspect CBS will switch away from any mismatches to whatever game still has playoff implications and where the outcome is in doubt.

[Arky]

Titans 2nd half kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

Tate pops one! All the way to the Titan 24! 56 yards.

Ward for no gain. Flags down. Clipping against Texans -15. Makes it 1st and 25.

Ward goes for 11. 2nd and 14 coming up.

Tate for no gain. 3rd and 14 coming up.

Pass to JJ goes to the 18. 4th and 4 coming up. Texans to go for the FG. A Texan (Newton) injured on the play. Injury timeout.

[Arky]

Rackers is on for the FG.

37-yarder is good.

Texans 13, Titans 13

11:46 left in the 3rd quarter.

[chuck]

Bob's "scrub" just registered a cracker sack.

[Arky]

Texans ensuing kickoff goes out of the endzone. Titans ball at their 20.

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

Hasselbeck sacked by Braman and Nading! 2nd and 17 coming up.

Pass to Cook good for 8. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass deep/middle sails inc. Titans have to punt.

Keo returns the punt to the Texan 32. 10:16 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Oy, deep pass off the hands of JJ, nearly INT'ed but inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Tate for -1. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Maehl is off his hands, inc. Texans have to punt.

Nice return on the punt by Mariani but it is coming back because of a block in the back. Places the ball at the Titan 23.

[Arky]

Deep pass down the sideline is caught by Washington. 55 yards.

Pass to CJ goes for 4. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Harper for about 3. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Avery is off the mark, inc. Titans to go for the FG.

Bironas 33-yarder is good.

Titans 16, Texans 13

7:22 left in the 3rd qtr.

[popanot]

Why anyone throws away from Jackson is beyond me. The guy is simply awful.

[Big Texas]

Why anyone throws away from Jackson is beyond me. The guy is simply awful.

He reminds me of a slower Jacques Reeves.

He simply does not know what to do when the ball is in the air.:(

[chuck]

He reminds me of a slower Jacques Reeves.

He simply does not know what to do when the ball is in the air.:(

He never even knows that the ball is in the air. Comparisons to Jacques Reeves are apt but Reeves was far better than Jackson. I'm beyond being annoyed with Jackson. He is who he is. He is not good and his ceiling is distressingly low. I'm pissed at the organization for drafting the midget and for stubbornly continuing to allow him to hurt the team.

[Arky]

Demps downs the ensuing kickoff in the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

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

Flags presnap. False start Texans makes it 1st and 15.

Tate for 1. 2nd and 14 coming up.

Nice catch Casey. Good for 21.

Ward for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Casey good for 15 and a 1st down.

Tate dances for 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Tate for just 1. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Tate gets 2 or 3 and the 1st down. Ball at the Titan 25.

Nice pass to Graham goes for nice gainer, 14 yards. Ball at the Titan 11.

Ward for 2 tough yards. 2nd and 8 from the 9.

Screen to BJ only gets 2 or 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Flags presnap. Offsides Titans, 1/2 the distance. Makes it 3rd and 3.

Delhomme has all day but can't find a receiver. Throws out of the endzone inc. Flag on Texans for ineligible receiver is declined. On 4th and 3, Texans will go for the FG.

End of the 3rd qtr.

[Big Texas]

If Delhomme would've at least pretended to want to run that one in, he may have freed up some coverage.

[Arky]

Rackers on for the FG.

FG is good from 22.

Texans 16, Titans 16

14:57 left in the game.

[Arky]

If Delhomme would've at least pretended to want to run that one in, he may have freed up some coverage.

Ya, he's doing some good things, though.... Still shows good arm strength and touch....

[Nconroe]

It would be nice to see a defensive takeaway pretty soon.

[Arky]

Mariani downs the ensuing kickoff in the endzone. Titans ball at their 20.

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

CJ dropped for a loss. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Hawkins is complete and stretches for the 1st down.

CJ hammered for no gain by Alexander. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Hasselbeck pressured, throws it away. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Dump off to Harper only gets 4. Titans have to punt.

Flag presnap. Against Texans 5 yards. Makes it 4th and 1. Titans still punting.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 13.

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

Wow, looks like the Saints are resting their starters - 45-17 over Carolina :rolleyes:

[nunusguy]

A Brandon Harris sighting - thought they'd sent him back to S. FLA for the winter ? They are playing everybody today.

[Arky]

Tate for about 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

End around to Jones goes for 4. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Pass to Vickers is dropped. Texans have to punt.

Mariani fair catches the punt at the Titan 43.

[Big Texas]

Wow that play looked familiar...:(

[Big Texas]

Ya, he's doing some good things, though.... Still shows good arm strength and touch....

Yeah...I have been pleasantly surprised by how well he is playing with the 3rd team; going against the Titans' ones.

[Big Texas]

Wow...did McCain just get burnt by Avery?:D

[Arky]

Pass is broken up by Manning, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Deep pass to Avery goes inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass over the middle is nearly INT"ed but inc. Titans have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 5.

[Arky]

Time for Tate to get his 1,000......

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9:16 left in the game.

Dump off to Tate gets 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to JJ good for 6. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Dang, Tate is stonewalled for 1. Texans have to punt.

Mariani returns the punt to the Titan 44.

[Arky]

Pass to Avery is broken up, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

CJ for 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to CJ goes for 8 and half. Measurement gives the Titans a 1st down.

Pass to Avery goes for about 21. Ball at the Texan 25.

Harper for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up. Less than 5 minutes left in the game.

Pass in the endzone is complete to Washington for the TD.

Titans 23, Texans 16

4:31 left in the game.

[chuck]

That is incompetence in the defensive secondary at a level I have never before seen and only imagined. I've been saying all year that our #1 needs to be defensive secondary and I believe that now more than ever.

[nunusguy]

Texans clearly would like, perhaps even prefer to play the Titans next Sunday based upon the large number of reserves they've played and the minutes they've been on the field.

[HPF Bob]

What I am taking away from this is that our 2s and 3s are able to hang with another team's 1s - when they have the playoffs on the line and we don't. Even if we lose, I'm rather impressed.

And, before I forget, Thanks to Arky for another season of play-by-play. Great job.

[Arky]

Bironas's kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

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

Deep pass to BJ is complete but flags down. Illegal contact Titans is declined. Ball at the Titan 40.

Tate is TFL'ed for -1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Delhomme is swarmed and sacked. 3rd and 20 coming up.

Pass to Ward is batted away, inc. Texans to punt with 3:05 left in the game.

Mariani fair catches at the Titan 14.

[popanot]

Texans clearly would like, perhaps even prefer to play the Titans next Sunday based upon the large number of reserves they've played and the minutes they've been on the field.The Texans right now aren't good enough to 'choose' any opponent. It would've been nice to go into the post season with some momentum - let alone putting the Titans out of their misery. But no, these guys have to set themselves up for epic fail.

[Arky]

CJ for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up. Timeout Texans with 2:49 left.

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CJ gets about 3. Timeout Texans (#2) with 2:45 left.

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On 3rd and 5, Harper gets about 10 and the 1st down. Texans use their last timeout.

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Harper for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

2 minute warning.

[chuck]

The Texans right now aren't good enough to 'choose' any opponent. It would've been nice to go into the post season with some momentum - let alone putting the Titans out of their misery. But no, these guys have to set themselves up for epic fail.

The Texans were obviously perfectly content to lose this game which stands to reason. This is historically a loser organization and today showed nothing different.

[Arky]

Hall sweeps left and fumbles! Nading recovers! Texans ball! Hall still down on the play..... Injury timeout with 1:49 to go. Ball at the Titan 36.

[popanot]

Come on Texans. Tie it up and then send these a-holes home with an L.

[Arky]

Pass to JJ good for 20.

Dump to Tate goes to the 11 yard line. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Dreesen goes for no gain. Less than a minute left in the game. 3rd and 3.

Pass to Casey at the 5 yard line.

Spike with 24 seconds left.

Delhomme throws it away. 19 seconds left. 3rd and goal.

TD! Pass to BJ is complete! Texans to go for 2..... 14 seconds left.

Dreessen offsides. -5 yards, puts the ball back at the 7 or 8.

Bad snap! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Gameover.

Texans have to kickoff....

[popanot]

WTF?! Seriously?

[chuck]

At least get a f#cking center in there who can snap the ball you stupid rodent.

[Arky]

Titans recover the onside kick.

Titans kneel it out.

Final score:

Titans 23, Texans 22

On to the playoffs....

[Arky]

Thomas Austin just earned a spot in Houston sports folklore.... ;)

[HPF Bob]

No chance Kubiak goes for two in that situation with anything to play for. All he could see was another possible 15 minutes of risking his players to injury, so he decided to end it right away. No doubt he wasn't counting on a false start followed by a bad snap (Marciano...can we have a word with you?) but the Texans accomplished everything they needed to do, other than win the game which wasn't a big priority this week.

[chuck]

but the Texans accomplished everything they needed to do, other than win the game which wasn't a big priority this week.

Sure they did, if you count taking a three game losing streak against vastly inferior teams into the playoffs as an accomplishment.

[Nconroe]

So, do we have a QB controversy or is it TJ for sure next week.

[TheMatrix31]

TJ for sure. Unless he breaks his arm trying to open up a McDonalds bag or something

[popanot]

Looks like it will be Cinci.

[Keith]

TJ for sure. Unless he breaks his arm trying to open up a McDonalds bag or something

Word was that Yates had separated AC joint in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Still expected to play next weekend.

[barrett]

Ugly game for us. Good effort from a number of backups, but KJ looks bad even next to the scrubs. And Brandon Harris showed me on that TD why he hasn't played.

But at least we don't have a slug like chris Johnson. Worst effort guy in the NFL. Did you see his "block" on braman's sack. Pathetic.

[chuck]

But at least we don't have a slug like chris Johnson. Worst effort guy in the NFL. Did you see his "block" on braman's sack. Pathetic.

That may be but I can't count the number of times I thought we had him for a loss only to see him squirm away somehow and end up gaining six yards. Arian is pretty damn elusive but that is just crazy.

[HPF Bob]

Sure they did, if you count taking a three game losing streak against vastly inferior teams into the playoffs as an accomplishment.

Big picture, Chuck. They rested Foster. They got AJ some snaps. They got Delhomme some live action. They got the scrubs some needed action.

If they'd *wanted* to win the game, they would have kicked the extra point and gone to overtime. That's all you need to know.

The three-game losing streak is quickly forgotten if we win this coming weekend and Kubiak was coaching so as to give us the best chance of winning that game, not this one.

[Arky]

Big picture, Chuck. They rested Foster. They got AJ some snaps. They got Delhomme some live action. They got the scrubs some needed action.

If they'd *wanted* to win the game, they would have kicked the extra point and gone to overtime. That's all you need to know.

The three-game losing streak is quickly forgotten if we win this coming weekend and Kubiak was coaching so as to give us the best chance of winning that game, not this one.

Yep, everyone is 0-0 when the playoffs start....

[chuck]

Big picture, Chuck.

I understand what you're saying but I feel like I AM looking at the big picture. Today's loss is annoying but far less troubling to me than the previous two. And far less troubling than the way the team has played on both sides of the ball, starters and scrubs, over the last three games. I understand wanting to keep all your key guys healthy but I would be more comfortable if they had come out and played like a real team for more than that one initial drive. I don't see a squad that is mature or experienced enough with success to be able to start 0-0. Think about it. Do you really believe these guys can put their recent failures out of their minds and approach the Bengals as if it were really 0-0? I don't. As usual I would love to be wrong.

If the Texans come out and smoke Cincy next week I will welcome all manner of ridicule and abuse.

[Keith]

The only troubling loss is the one to the Colts. I mean, yuck. What was that?

Yates' TD drive today though was encouraging. Having Andre Johnson back made an immediate impact in the success of the running game. So long as Kubiak/Yates doesn't turtle on the offensive playcalling next weekend, I thought what we saw early on in this one was good, at least good enough to take on the Bengals, who also feature a rookie QB (one that will be playing a road playoff game in a noisy stadium, no less).

[Arky]

The only troubling loss is the one to the Colts. I mean, yuck. What was that?



Ya, the Carolina game was "the letdown game" - a forgivable loss, IMO... The Colts game was just an out and out stinker, bad loss. Today's game was "meaningless"... at least, that's how the coaching staff approached it. A win or loss would neither hurt nor advance the cause.... Somewhat of a sneaky play by Kubes to not tip his hand until the game started, but if the ploy works, the upshot is that you will probably have more fellows rested and ready to go than in recent weeks. At least as ready to go as you can be with a 3rd (or 4th) string QB at the helm.....

[HPF Bob]

I understand what you're saying but I feel like I AM looking at the big picture. Today's loss is annoying but far less troubling to me than the previous two. And far less troubling than the way the team has played on both sides of the ball, starters and scrubs, over the last three games. I understand wanting to keep all your key guys healthy but I would be more comfortable if they had come out and played like a real team for more than that one initial drive. I don't see a squad that is mature or experienced enough with success to be able to start 0-0. Think about it. Do you really believe these guys can put their recent failures out of their minds and approach the Bengals as if it were really 0-0? I don't. As usual I would love to be wrong.

If the Texans come out and smoke Cincy next week I will welcome all manner of ridicule and abuse.

If our first-round game was against the Steelers or the Patriots, I'd agree with you. Those are two teams that know how to win and the Texans don't.

But the opponent is Cincy and their recent playoff history is only slightly better than ours. They have a rookie QB and we have a rookie QB. They're coming off a loss where they did play hard and we're coming off a loss where (by design) we weren't.

I think defense and running game will be the keys and both of those favor the Texans. If we don't turn the ball over or get stung with costly penalties, I think we emerge winners, particularly with a rested Foster and a recovered AJ. Plus, we just gave them two new weapons to worry about - Ward and Casey.

There are 50 ways we could still lose but that's the playoffs. At some point, you have to trust the talent and I think ours is better.

[chuck]

But the opponent is Cincy and their recent playoff history is only slightly better than ours.

Well, they actually have a playoff history (and a recent one, at that) while we don't. Unless you count never having been to the playoffs as historic. Which it was.

Anyway, as I said a couple of weeks ago and still believe, if the Texans play a compete game I sincerely think they can beat any team in the AFC. That means no turnovers, the defense generating some turnovers and ideally some points, running the ball well, and Kubiak's not coaching the game like a mouthbreather. A tall order, I know.

Obviously you could blithely say the same thing about any team still in it. If Cincy does all these things they can beat the Pats. Of course. But the Texans have proven that they have the solid running game and the solid defense (until December, anyway) to execute this vision.

I just wish the regular season had ended more encouragingly.

And by the way, if you think that Kubiak is going to decide that today's contest indicates that Ward and Casey deserve more looks in a real game then you are nuttier than I'd credited. James Casey in particular has been criminally under-utilized this year. That was never clearer than when Vickers dropped a key first down pass today. Why Vickers at FB rather than Casey in that situation? Who the hell knows.

That and today's performance in general point to what has long annoyed me - this is a very talented, very deep team that is very poorly led.

[barrett]

If Casey was on new England they would have invented him a position and he'd catch 10 TDs. Instead we bury him. Not sure why.

[chuck]

If Casey was on new England they would have invented him a position and he'd catch 10 TDs. Instead we bury him. Not sure why.

Exactly. Casey creates such coverage mismatches. Think of a defense having to cover him and OD and AJ and JJ and Walter on one play. If they do, great, Arian has an insane amount of room to work, just what he does best. I don't know why they don't split Casey out wide. If the defense puts a corner on him the speed guy in the slot should be able to write his own script. If they float a LB out Casey will abuse him.

[HPF Bob]

Exactly. Casey creates such coverage mismatches. Think of a defense having to cover him and OD and AJ and JJ and Walter on one play. If they do, great, Arian has an insane amount of room to work,

And we would be flagged for too many men on the field (5 receivers plos Arian) but the point is made. Casey ought to get more looks.

[Keith]

And we would be flagged for two many men on the field (5 receivers plos Arian) but the point is made. Casey ought to get more looks.
Ha, good point.

The Texans ran quite a few plays with 3 TEs on the field today. I liked it. Who knew drafting all those TEs would pay off... since all 3 of those guys, plus OD, are all good pass catchers, there's bound to be a mismatch somewhere once the ball is snapped.

[HPF Bob]

The Patriots are burning up the league with their Gronkowski-Hernandez combo.

You actually can have five receivers and Arian if Arian is running the Wildcat but then how useless would those five receivers be?

[barrett]

I can't remember who it was, but someone earlier this year argued that you can't have a TE or RB as your #2 option and we need a better #2 wr. Well, New England got 2300+ yards and 25 TDs from their TEs, and new Orleans top 2 targets were Graham and sproles. We definitely have no shortage of weapons if we can get them all on the field healthy.

[popanot]

Well, New England got 2300+ yards and 25 TDs from their TEs, and new Orleans top 2 targets were Graham and sproles. We definitely have no shortage of weapons if we can get them all on the field healthy.I don't think anyone would confuse our TEs to Gronk/Hernandez and Graham, and we certainly don't have a Brees or Brady throwing to them. I could flip your comment around and say GB is doing just fine with multiple threats at WR and very little at TE this year. I like our TEs, QB play with Schaub and our running game, but to say or imply we couldn't use an upgrade at WR beyond AJ is being shortsighted, IMO. The way I see it, WR and CB are top priorities next year. Throw an OL and NT in there too.

[barrett]

I would absolutely put Daniels with Hernandez. OD is slower but runs better routes, has better hands, and blocks better. Foster is as dangerous as sproles or any rb.

If we run it 30+ times we are at our best. Then get the ball to AJ, foster, OD, and the other TEs. How many balls are left? Our problem is definitely not a lack of weapons.

[Keith]

Our problem is definitely not a lack of weapons.List of our problems:

1. Lack of healthy weapons
2. Kareem Jackson

[barrett]

List of our problems:

1. Lack of healthy weapons
2. Kareem Jackson

Jackson is on a list of his own.

And I think we have plenty of healthy weapons, we just lack a trigger man to get it to them.

[NBT]

I like all 3 of our TEs too, but I would still love to see the Team draft a more viable #2WR this year.

I sometimes wonder why Kubiak drafted all those young TEs, if he weren't going to better integrate into them into the offense.