Official Texans @ Cowboys Thread, 08/22/2008

[Keith]

Time to inflict a few Hard Knocks....

[NBT]

Well, It's still just pre-season, but I look for some improvement in the Oline run blocking, better blitz pickup by the RB's, better rush by the Dline, and better coverage by the DB's. First team will play upwards of 3/4 of the game so I look for no turnovers on offense, pressure from our defense, and some kind of gameplanning for the first time. Oh, and no injuries.

[Bull]

I would like to see Okoye and Colvin do something...............................anything.



I am beginning to worry about those two. :confused:

[coloradodude]

cowgirls suck!


No, no I don't prefer to be a mature poster right now.

[TexicanMexican]

Great return but oh crap Davis is down....eh he looks okay.

[Arky]

Great return but oh crap Davis is down....eh he looks okay.

I bet he got the wind knocked out of him....

[Arky]

Matt misses but K Brown doesn't:

Texans 3, Cowboys 0

[Keith]

I loved the little dig Phil Simms (former Giant) had on the lack of Dallas fans making noise.

FG Texans 3-0. Schaub under a bit more pressure than last week.

[Keith]

Harry Williams down, not really moving. :(:(:( Fell in headfirst with Nick Ferguson attempting to tackle Stanbeck returning a kickoff.

On a lighter note, I've seen that NFL.com fantasy commercial with Warren Sapp about a million +1 times this preseason, but I still crack up a little bit when Sapp tells his housekeeper, "Can't bring the draw on third and long, Sonya."

[Arky]

Marion Barber for some big gains.... Texans not playing the run well at present...

[TexicanMexican]

All to easy for the 'girls.

[Arky]

Crayton catches short pass for 6 pts....

Cowboys 7, Texans 3

[popanot]

I'm still waiting for Smith's defensive coordinator skills to show up. What, it's been 3 years now? Who wants to bet he won't be here next year? Will he finish this year?

[NBT]

Dallas right now is owning the offensive line. We are running around out there like a head with his chicken cut off.

[Arky]

FG Dallas

Cowboys 10, Texans 3

[TexicanMexican]

Any word of Jacoby Jones playing tonight?

[popanot]

We're getting manhandled in every aspect of the game.

[HPF Bob]

Schaub is reminding me of another #8 tonight. Cowboys just seem to be making all the plays. We can't get a break.

[NBT]

Schaub is 0 for 5 or 6 passing. He looks like a deer in the headlights. Settle down Texans, it isn't the SB, after all, it is just a pre-season game for cryin out loud. Jeez.

[HPF Bob]

Have I mentioned I hate Phil Simms?

[NBT]

I don't care for CBS.

[Arky]

Any word of Jacoby Jones playing tonight?

Dunno specifics, I imagine he'll get in at some point... Heard he was going to field punts then heard he wasn't. Problem is we can't seem to make Dallas punt...

[Arky]

Have I mentioned I hate Phil Simms?

Ya, talks too much....

[Big Texas]

We are looking downright pathetic tonight.

I figured we were gonna be tested tonight. But first thoughts are: horrible.

Shaub must be seriously rattled. And he hasnt even been sacked yet.

Wow.

[NBT]

Problem is.........we can't seem to do anything right. Dangit, wakeup out there and start playing some football. I guarantee Dallas was ready for this game. Maybe the star is dazzling them.

[popanot]

Hey, Cheerleader Playoffs are on NFLN. Tough choice...

[popanot]

Wow. We made a play.

[Big Texas]

Homo got a little big headed. No credit to diles.

[Arky]

Woohoo, Zach Diles INT!

[Big Texas]

somebody please get shaub outta there. Sage can you please save us.

[NBT]

Schaub throws another lazy floater. 0-7 passing. Hello, bring in Sage.

[popanot]

How about giving Schaub some time OL?

[Big Texas]

how much more of slaton do we need to see

[Arky]

Nice run, Slaton - about 20 yds...

[Big Texas]

Slaton looks great. The same Oline but he's picking up yards. Hmmmm

[Mike]

A wiff by Duane, Nice run by Steve.

He is not afraid to run it inside.

no Chris Brown, I think he will be all done soon with us soon

[Big Texas]

TD. See what a little running game can do for you

[TexicanMexican]

Nice drive and good to see they can capitalize on a turnover.

[Arky]

Schaub to Walter for the TD

Tied up 10-10.

[Big Texas]

A wiff by Duane, Nice run by Steve.


Its seems like Duane has been wiffing on DWare all night. But on a good note who doesnt wiff on DWare and Shaub has not been sacked.

[NBT]

See, as soon as we called for Sage, Schaub wakes up. Rookie looked good in his running. Good run over Duane Brown too. OK, now settle down and show Dallas we are not the same old Texans that they can toy with. Does anyone else think it was the newness of the 3-4 defense, and not having played against it before, (at least this year)?

[Big Texas]

I would've loved to see us beat tha living hell outta the girls but I didnt expect it.

Based on what I have seen thus far. We have had one successful drive and a good kick return.

Defense still sucks though.

[Big Texas]

Wow I forgot Okoye was still on the field!!!

Good play, son

[Mike]

How about a third down stop??

[Big Texas]

Am I the only one that wants to see Ryans
knock Barber outta his socks!!!!

[Mike]

GRRRRRRRRRR No pash rush

[popanot]

Jeezuz will somebody cover someone?!! Someone other than Diles that is?

[Arky]

Demps is making too many tackles.....

[popanot]

This defense sucks.

[Big Texas]

No coverage
no pass rush
no tackling
no 3rd down stops

Am I missing anything?

[Mike]

After these idiots score, we can run our 2 minute offense

[Big Texas]

When it looks like tha girls have twice as many lineman on tha field as us, we look bad

[popanot]

No coverage
no pass rush
no tackling
no 3rd down stops

Am I missing anything?Yeah, Richard Smith sux donkey dong.

[Big Texas]

If we can take this next possession down tha field and pick up some points I will be satisfied with our offense.

Note: Anyone wanna see what slaton can do on tha screen. Right at an overagressive DWare

[Arky]

Barber for the TD

Cowboys 17, Texans 10

[Mike]

Let's see a nice 2 minute drive here, and keep Schaub clean..

I'd like to see a screen to Slaton.

They threw it to Taylor... nice gain.

I should be an OC.

[Mike]

Dink and dunk... Matriculating down the field...

Ohhhh. C'com AD

[popanot]

Why the hell are they not going for it??? It's freakin preseason!

[Big Texas]

Note: Anyone wanna see what slaton can do on tha screen. Right at an overagressive DWare

I guess I should too.

Unfortunately it went to chris taylor. He did ok though

[Mike]

WTF is that defense

[Big Texas]

Defense still lookin horrible.

Tony Romo might as well play with no pads.

[popanot]

Nice decision there, Capers. Uh, I mean Kubiak.

[Arky]

Jeez, Dallas gets a FG

Cowboys 20, Texans 10

Our linebackers have been particularly bad so far. All of 'em...

Almost halftime.

[Mike]

Two weeks in a row no pash rush and the defense is getting absolutely shredded. I am officially concerned about this group.

They are going to need to do something, try Chaun Thompson, Kalu.. Anything.

[NBT]

I thought the regulars were supposed to play well into the second half? I saw an awful lot of 2nd & even 3rd stringers out there. Figure Kubiak is just using this as another pre-saeason game to evaluate players. Cuts are coming up real soon. Oh well.

[Big Texas]

As far as the pass rush is concerned. I am seeing penetrating moves on certain plays. (Mario, Colvin). they just seemed to be penetrating the wrong direction everytime.

I dont know if this is particularly set up by the offense or our DCoord. is just mis judging.

Whatever it is we just look horrible. Realistically it looks like our defense is just getting out coached.

[Big Texas]

What tha hell. I hope kubiak did not call that dumb A@# play after tha big run. Back to third down again.

lets be creative here.

[Big Texas]

Ragedy screen.

[Arky]

Texans kick off. Dallas fumbles. Another nice run by Slaton but team fails to convert in the redzone.

FG Brown.

Cowboys 20, Texans 13

[Big Texas]

Texans kick off. Dallas fumbles. Another nice run by Slaton but team fails to convert in the redzone.

FG Brown.

Cowboys 20, Texans 13

Due to some horrible play calling and execution

[Mike]

The tacking is bad... everyone is grabbing... grab, grab, grab.....

[Arky]

Eheh, Okam recovers the fumble inside the 10.... Knocked loose by Mario

Love the turnovers in the redzone...

[Big Texas]

Mario finally makes a play. too bad it wasnt a sack. I'll take a fumble and rocovery though

[TexicanMexican]

Defense is painful to watch.

[Big Texas]

I know its PreS. but obviously our best back is Slaton. Lets get him out there. We've had a couple of years to see chris taylor.

[Big Texas]

Taylor IS looking good though

[Mike]

Better looking run game here in the third. Tank Johnson, Brady James still in.

Chris Brown... Buh-bye.....

Nice stiff arm by Slaton, he looks like he runs with some patience.

Taylor is running OK here, Pass Pro has not been terrible in the first half.

I am ok with the offense... The defense needs some serious work

[Arky]

Big drop by Vonta. Texans kick FG:

Cowboys 20, Texans 16

[Arky]

C'mon Sage, clean this mess up.....

Darius Walker sighting..

[popanot]

Jacoby still carries the ball like it's a hand grenade.

[Arky]

FG Dallas

Cowboys 23, Texans 16

Texans have about 5 mins to make something happen....

[Arky]

Big kickoff return by JJ.... 50 yards?

[TexicanMexican]

That was a nice return.

A five receiver set but Sage throws a duck and Texans commit offensive pass interference. Nice.

[Arky]

Haha, way to show that speed, Sage..

[Arky]

Try for 2 = no good

Cowboys 23, Texans 22

~ 2 minutes left..

[TexicanMexican]

The old QB draw but fail on two. It's only preseason....

[Arky]

The old QB draw but fail on two. It's only preseason....

Yeah, in JJ's defense, the pass was a little behind him but he probably should have had it...

[Big Texas]

Wow. Jacoby. Way to show you wanna spot on this roster. "Jacoby Jones" the next Jerome Mathis.

Good thing this is only Preseason.

[Big Texas]

Who in the hell is derrick roberson?

Good way to kill hopes of a comeback. These kids must not know that cutting week is coming up.

[Arky]

Final Score:

Cowboys 23, Texans 22.

[Big Texas]

Final Thoughts:

QB: Started off a little erratic. But came along. Cant afford to start off sloppy against contenders.
HB: Slaton looked like the RB of the future against the cowboys first team defense. Taylor looked like a decent second option. So long Injury Prone scrubs (Ahman, Brown).
WR: Owen and Walter were completion monsters. AJ doubled and tripled all day. The one shot he had at a long catch or possibly a touchdown was overthrown.
OL: No sacks allowed. Kind of misleading because they were getting pushed into the back field. Decent execution of the running game though.
DL: Horrible. Romo could've played with no pads on.
LB: None existent. I didnt even know Diles or Greenwood were on the field. i only recognized diles on the interception that shouldve never been thrown.
DB: Dunta is sorely missed. Bennett is a good corner but he is still learning. Jacque is a scrub. I would almost rather petey in the game. No I take that back. They both are terrible. JReeves just has no eye for the ball. He will be in good position and just lose the ball in the air.

Overall: Slaton stepped up and showed that he does not get intimidated by competition. The defense needs alot of work. Defensive playcalling should bear the load as well.

[TexicanMexican]

Final Thoughts:

QB: Started off a little erratic. But came along. Cant afford to start off sloppy against contenders.
HB: Slaton looked like the RB of the future against the cowboys first team defense. Taylor looked like a decent second option. So long Injury Prone scrubs (Ahman, Brown).
WR: Owen and Walter were completion monsters. AJ doubled and tripled all day. The one shot he had at a long catch or possibly a touchdown was overthrown.
OL: No sacks allowed. Kind of misleading because they were getting pushed into the back field. Decent execution of the running game though.
DL: Horrible. Romo could've played with no pads on.
LB: None existent. I didnt even know Diles or Greenwood were on the field. i only recognized diles on the interception that shouldve never been thrown.
DB: Dunta is sorely missed. Bennett is a good corner but he is still learning. Jacque is a scrub. I would almost rather petey in the game. No I take that back. They both are terrible. JReeves just has no eye for the ball. He will be in good position and just lose the ball in the air.

Overall: Slaton stepped up and showed that he does not get intimidated by competition. The defense needs alot of work. Defensive playcalling should bear the load as well.

I pretty much agree with your assessment. If Owen and Walter continue to play like that hopefully open things up a bit for Johnson.

[Roy P]

1. andre johnson needs a few more reps.
2. Schaub overcame some early failures to settle in.
3. The OL needs to look at the RG position carefully. I think White is the best option (and that's not good).
4. I loved Greg Eslinger at Minnesota and wanted us to draft him, but I was wrong in my projection to this level. He doesn't get good leverage and gets pushed around too much.
5. molden should be getting more reps than reeves or faggins.
6. DE is a need. not happy with colvin, kalu, or thompson (did he even play?)
7. feeling better about RB position this week. Slaton/Walker as the starter and 3rd down back with Taylor as the short yardage and misc. back to give slaton a rest after long runs.
8. D. Brown is going to be good, he's just going to need some time to learn on the job.
9. Is Adibi hurt? I saw too much of Coley and Bentley tonight.

[jppaul]

Thoughts:

1: Andre and Schaub are rusty. That one pass should have been a touchdown.
2: The O-Line looks good at creating holes and didn't do bad in pass protection. Duane Brown has handled himself well during the preseason against some of the best passrushers in the NFL. Dumervil, Will Smith, and Demarcus Ware. The run game created some real holes.
3: The RBs look good. Is anyone else thinking that we should just cut Green? He is worthless. Walker, Taylor and Slaton all seem pretty solid.
4: Our run defense was solid but the pass defense was absolute crap and I think largely because the D-Line couldn't get pressure at all. Mario Williams pretty much got manhandled. Colvin is crap. Cut him and Anthony Weaver, keep N.D. Kalu. Who bets that we pick over the other teams cuts with the goal of finding a pass rusher.
5: Schaub was throwing high for the first quarter but got it together.
6: Walter is impressive, and are special teams were good.
7: Here is a thought. Last year JJ had an amazing preseason and a crappy season. This year he had a crappy preseason some maybe he will have an amazing season...
8: Kris Brown is money.
9:Reeves wasn't too good but then it is easy to get embarrased by T.O.
10: I was impressed with our LBs.
11: My thoughts and prayers are with Harry Williams, it was a freak accident.

[Nconroe]

a few similar thoughts
1. wishing Harry Williams well, sounds like he is moving all parts as a good sign
2. seemed Dallas OL and DL dominated 1Q, then we did better with subs
3. 1st team run defense and pass defense still needs lots of work
4. we are ok on avoiding penalties and won turnover battle tonight
5. I'd be fine with Slayton, Walker, Taylor as RBs, let Green, Brown go
6. Duane Brown and Studdard did ok on left side
7. JJ made a few plays, run back, and then muffed the game winner although it was slightly behind him and defender was right there
8. our passing offense might be really good this year, receivers looking good
9. overall ok for third preseason game against a good team
10. Special teams are looking real good
11. wondering who first 5 cuts will be?

[nero THE zero]

I was mainly focusing in on the defense tonight because that has been my biggest worry .

We have to do something about Jacques Reeves. The guy has been constantly exploited all preseason. I don't know if teams are keying on him or if he is just getting targeted because he is failing to cover his man every time; but, either way, there is no reason to think this will change in the regular season. So, if we have a CB who can't cover his guy, and we have a DL who can't get pressure on the QB, it is going to be a long long season.

That being said, my even bigger concern is our run defense. It was one of our unsung weaknesses last season, and it is an even bigger liability this season facing the likes of Adrian Peterson, Joseph Addai (twice,) Fred Taylor and MJD (twice,) Ryan Grant, Willie Parker, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, and Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas. So, it is essential that we stop the run. Denver ran all over us in the first preseason game. We contained the Saints fairly well, though they passed all over us. And tonight was a continuation of that Jekyll and Hyde performance. The first quarter looked like Barber was running at will. The second quarter we seemed more capable of bottling him up some. They were able to pass on us all game, but it seems we made some adjustments and showed the ability to stop the run a little bit. Amobi, especially, showed some nice improvement in his run defense and that was really nice to see. We can definitely stand to improve, but I like the adjustments I saw throughout the game in that department.

I also thought Petey Faggins had a nice game. It looks like he might have gotten beat on one play, but I think he was supposed to get some help over the top from Ferguson. Either way, I thought that had some nice PD and came up nicely in run support. I think he won himself a spot on the team tonight. I was also happy to see some forced TO. The interception in the endzone was clutch of Diles. That was very nice to see and it's beginning to look like our LB core is 2/3 complete. Mario also had a nice strip, but that was just Mario being Mario. I expect to see more of that this season.

And, while my main concern was defense, I would like to especially recognize Steve Slaton's play. I think he has solidified a starting position on this football team. The guy hits the hole with a burst, keeps his legs churning, and is slippery as soap. He is a great fit for this offense. He has a small frame, so hopefully he will be platooned with Brown or Taylor, but I think he will be an essential cog to this offense.

Ultimately, I just have to keep telling myself that we faced an elite offense with a vanilla, preseason defense. But, I don't see any reason to believe this year's defense is any improvement upon last year's. And, if that's the case, I think we see more blowouts against competent offenses like we saw last year in SD and Indy. I'm officially on the fire Richard Smith bandwagon.

[barrett]

The cowboys offense just whipped us. 266 yards in the first half??? I think our best (only?) defense this season will be long drives on offense.

This team is built to play with a lead and we will struggle when we don't. With a lead we can give up big chunks of yardage in the passing game and stiffen near the redzone. With a lead and long methodical drives you force an offense to become impatient when they do get the ball and it increases the chance of a turnover (two tonight in the redzone covered all the previous sins of those long drives down the field).

Playing with the lead also eliminates the run game and lets you release the hound on defense. It is not suprising we got no pressure on Dallas tonight. It is tough to pressure a team that runs the ball as well as they do. Barber is not a game breaker but he rips off 10 yard runs like nobody in the NFL and that giant line grinds on people. You can't effectively rush the passer when they are stuffing Barber down your throat every other play.

[Joshua]

11. wondering who first 5 cuts will be?

I'm guessing Jameel Cook will earn this honor.

As for the game, agree with most of the comments. The running game looked its best so far this year. Schaub started out pretty shaky but ultimately turned in a solid effort. Good to see AJ back on the field. The D was worked over.

[coloradodude]

The game wasn't televised up here nor will the NFL channel be showing it so I have a question of great concern for me.


What kind of play did we get from our center in both the run and passing game? I'm concerned that he is a little lost at times from what I saw against the Saints.

[southtexan]

a few similar thoughts
1. wishing Harry Williams well, sounds like he is moving all parts as a good sign
2. seemed Dallas OL and DL dominated 1Q, then we did better with subs
3. 1st team run defense and pass defense still needs lots of work
4. we are ok on avoiding penalties and won turnover battle tonight
5. I'd be fine with Slayton, Walker, Taylor as RBs, let Green, Brown go[/COLOR]6. Duane Brown and Studdard did ok on left side
7. JJ made a few plays, run back, and then muffed the game winner although it was slightly behind him and defender was right there
8. our passing offense might be really good this year, receivers looking good
9. overall ok for third preseason game against a good team
10. Special teams are looking real good
11. wondering who first 5 cuts will be?

I have read several posts about letting go of Green and Brown, we got a good looking rookie in Slaton, a second year player in Taylor, a second year player in Walker.....I'd keep either Brown or Green for depht and experience.

[NBT]

I have not been a supporter of DC Richard Smith, going all the way back to the old board.

We haven't really opened up things this whole preseason. So the first time we play a 3-4 team (Dallas) like Pgh's will be, we certainly are not going to show anything.

Having said all that, I was extremely dissapointed in the way our offense started off, and with the way our defense played the whole game.

[TexicanMexican]

This defense just got flat out beat. No pass rush what so ever. You can't let any NFL that much time and not get beat.

I do like that Schaub was able shake off a bad start. Slaton looked good and I'm not as worried about the run game as I was a week ago.

It's the defense that has all my concerns right now.

[Rum Runner]

We've definitely invested picks on the defensive side of the ball. At this point, I'd seriously look at a new DC if things don't come around significantly this season.

If we don't improve this season then the other Smith will gain more cupability as well.

[nunusguy]

We've definitely invested picks on the defensive side of the ball.

Any chance we've misfired with our pick of Okoye ? I heard the coachs saying he was having an outstanding TC, but not seeing much evidence of it in the preseason games ?

[southtexan]

Any chance we've misfired with our pick of Okoye ? I heard the coachs saying he was having an outstanding TC, but not seeing much evidence of it in the preseason games ?

I just posted this comment on the Chronicle blogs, Okoye is basically a kid playing against grown men, I think we should wait for his body to mature and then we can say for sure if he's a bust. Since I don't have another team to follow, I'll wait and see what happens.

[papabear]

Any chance we've misfired with our pick of Okoye ? I heard the coachs saying he was having an outstanding TC, but not seeing much evidence of it in the preseason games ?

I think all draft picks deserve three years before you can really give a fair assesment. Sure you can get a pretty good idea well before then in most cases, but I think DT is a position that any player is going to have to grow into....especially one who is 19. I don't know if he'll ever be a superstar, but not many DT's are it's just the nature of the position. I saw enough godd things last to think he will at the worst be a good player once he fully matures.

[Keith]

I posted a more in-depth post-game drive analysis than I normally write up, and I have to say that I say that I saw a lot of good things from Okoye Friday night. He abused Leonard Davis pretty good; it just doesn't show up in the stat sheet.

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2008/20080824.html

I am far more concerned with our defensive coordinator. He had the defense in a pretty lame zone a bunch, and the linebackers suffered. The coverages were way too soft, and the reads were way too slow. Smith needs to address this immediately.

[cadams]

I posted a more in-depth post-game drive analysis than I normally write up, and I have to say that I say that I saw a lot of good things from Okoye Friday night. He abused Leonard Davis pretty good; it just doesn't show up in the stat sheet.

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2008/20080824.html

I am far more concerned with our defensive coordinator. He had the defense in a pretty lame zone a bunch, and the linebackers suffered. The coverages were way too soft, and the reads were way too slow. Smith needs to address this immediately.

I agree with you 100% about Rick Smith. I realize we may not have the best talent on defense, but they all aren't a bunch of slouches. I am hoping they are working on some things that we haven't seen yet and the defense will turn around once the regular season begins, but I started to wonder Friday night about how poorly the defense looked and maybe it was the scheme and planning by the coaches as much as anything the players were doing.

[painekiller]

I am hoping they are working on some things that we haven't seen yet and the defense will turn around once the regular season begins, but I started to wonder Friday night about how poorly the defense looked and maybe it was the scheme and planning by the coaches as much as anything the players were doing.

I am hoping that we are playing vanilla in the preseason to see who the players are. Scheme can make a player look better than he is, and the coaches are trying to figure out the best 25 guys for the defense.

I maybe wrong but I want to believe the coaches and players are better than we have seen in the preseason games.

[barrett]

I don't buy that it was just due to "vanilla preseason calls." I mean, he used enough wrinkles to drop Anthony Weaver into coverage repeatedly for some reason.

I just think our defensive play calling is bad.

[Keith]

drop Anthony Weaver into coverage repeatedly for some reason.Reason = no chance at getting into the backfield.

Weaver is wasting a roster spot.

I'm really starting to hate this scheme. I haven't been much on the 'fire Smith' bandwagon, in part because this had been a developing defense, but not anymore.

The schemes just aren't any good. It doesn't help that the team needs another DE, WLB, and FS, but they should be better than they are with what they have already. Smith's zone crap is really starting to bug the hell out of me.

[popanot]

I've thought the Smith hiring was wrong when it happened and have been calling for his head for 3 years now. It's ridiculous to have this young of a defense with this many high picks and constantly be abused like they are. It's not talent or age at this point. They should have hired Bates instead of Smith when they had the chance, or, hired Gregg Williams and canned Smith's arse before TC. The DC and RB situations are going to be the downfall of Kubiak, IMO. As for RB, I can't figure out why the hell they can't get serious about it. Most teams have 2 RB's better than any of ours, although, I hope Slaton turns that around. TBD....

[painekiller]

They should have hired Bates instead of Smith when they had the chance, or, hired Gregg Williams and canned Smith's arse before TC.

Ok I was on the hire Bates bandwagon back when they where putting the staff together. But his attitude 2yrs ago and his production last year in Denver have made me rethink that move. Just leave it at Denver's defense was worse than ours last year, and Bates was canned.

I will give Smith the season, well at least a few games, before calling for his head.

[nero THE zero]

Smith's zone crap is really starting to bug the hell out of me.
I don't get this at all. We have seen a lot of zone stuff to think that's his "defensive philosophy." But, from what the coaches say, the zone stuff is a reaction to the talent on the field and not the true scheme they want to run. They sign Jacques Reeves because he is supposedly made for man-to-man, press defense. They also hired Ray Rhodes, who's known for his zone scheme.

So, they're definitely sending out mixed signals here. You've had three years to get "your personell" in place, so if your intention is to run man, the time is now. But, not only are you still running out there with zone stuff, you hired a coach who's career philosophy has been zone. Things just aren't adding up.

There's two possible explanations. One, this "it's just preseason" stuff is legitimate, and we will see a drastic turnaround come the regular season. Or, historical precedent holds true, and Richard Smith is the incompetent coordinator his tenure has shown he is. I certainly hope the former is the case, but I'm not holding my breath.

[popanot]

Ok I was on the hire Bates bandwagon back when they where putting the staff together. But his attitude 2yrs ago and his production last year in Denver have made me rethink that move. Just leave it at Denver's defense was worse than ours last year, and Bates was canned.

I will give Smith the season, well at least a few games, before calling for his head.Bates may or may not have been successful here, I don't know. But he was certainly the best qualified guy available when we were looking. Both Bates and Williams are known for their attitude, but most great DCs have an attitude or edge to them. Anyway, I won't be surprised if a change is made at DC during the season. Perhaps the Rhodes signing was the first step.

[nunusguy]

Perhaps the Rhodes signing was the first step.

I dunno, but wouldn't you expect Frank Bush be the guy to replace Smith if they make a change at DC ?

[nero THE zero]

I dunno, but wouldn't you expect Frank Bush be the guy to replace Smith if they make a change at DC ?

I don't know that either of those guys would be the answer. Bush's d-line hasn't exactly been world beaters, and I was under the impression that, due to health reasons, Rhodes was here primarily in an advisory role. I also would prefer to stay away from his zone heavy scheme.

You'd think if Smith does get fired someone like Johnny Holland would be the candidate to replace him. He has a very solid reputation. He also turned down the opportunity to be Sherman's d-coordinator to stay here in Houston in the NFL ranks. I think he is a prime candidate for a promotion, and if we're not the ones to do it another team will be. Another person, in-house, might be John Hoke who has worked magic in the secondary for the past couple of seasons.

[Nconroe]

Thanks Keith for your drive by drive review and analysis of the third preseason practice game.

While we had a rough start to the game, we seemed to have a good chance at winning the game at the end, and we got to analyze a lot of fairly young players in a new scenarios compared to prior times in this training camp. Some real hitting was going on this game.

I guess we'll see, I still think this year will be our best ever, and pretty good chance to get into the playoffs. Funny tasting coolaid.

[TexicanMexican]

I'm glad to see I wasn't off my rocker when I started calling for Rick Smith's head. I don't buy the plain vanilla preseason theory. They are supposed to be gearing up for the regular season. I can understand not unveiling the complete defense as any team already knows what the base defense is going to be from the previous season. It's the new wrinkles, coverages and stunts that I can see being held back but not the whole defensive scheme and philosophy.

[nero THE zero]

I'm glad to see I wasn't off my rocker when I started calling for Rick Smith's head. I don't buy the plain vanilla preseason theory. They are supposed to be gearing up for the regular season. I can understand not unveiling the complete defense as any team already knows what the base defense is going to be from the previous season. It's the new wrinkles, coverages and stunts that I can see being held back but not the whole defensive scheme and philosophy.

#1 reason to fire Richard Smith is...

So people stop calling for our oustanding young GM's job.

[NBT]

Maybe we'll get a peak at what we are all wanting against T.B. this Thursday nt. But I am basically with Keith, I am fed up with Richard Smith's inept use of our defense todate. :mad: