View Full Version : Official Texans @ Patriots Game Thread, 9/24/2017
The 1-1 Houston Texans travel to Foxboro, MA to play the 1-1 New England Patriots this Sunday in an early game. There's not too many scenarios where the Texans can come away with a win - most involve the defense playing a perfect game complete with pick 6's, turnovers and numerous sacks with the Texan ground game finding itself and mowing down the Pats front seven. Many more scenarios have the Patriots cruising to an easy victory....
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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon Sunday, 09/24/2017
Announcers (http://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2017&wk=3) = Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Patriots by 13½ to 14½
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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:
Yahoo!/Go90 = Sunday Morning: Baltimore vs Jacksonville (in London), Andrew Catalon, James Lofton
CBS (late) = Cincinnati @ Green Bay, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX (late) = Seattle @ Tennessee, Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis
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Prime time:
TNF = LA Rams @ San Francisco (NFLN)
SNF = Oakland @ Washington (NBC)
MNF = Dallas @ Arizona (ESPN)
Keith
09-21-2017, 12:29 PM
Interesting to flip back to the playoff loss to the Pats in January since not much has changed beyond the Texans having swapped QBs and adding Watt, and the Pats losing WR Edelman... which could all be significant changes although the Texans offense has proven thus far to be about as inept as it was with Osweiler. Gronk missed practice yesterday but was out there today.
Playoff Game thread (http://www.inthebullseye.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2064), big thanks to Arky for the commentaries.
So stopping the Pats O is about not giving up PI penalties deep and covering the RBs out of the backfield. JJo is expected to play, but can't help but notice he is losing a step. The Texans will need Kareem to cover Brandin Cooks (gulp!) and hope JJo and the others can handle the rest. Then have rookie LB Cunningham use his speed to stick with the Pats RBs. The Pats knew to pick on McKinney in coverage. Don't put him in that situation again. Doing this should help keep it close.
Offensively, letting Watson audible and generally letting him play his game is going to be both a risk and an opportunity. Osweiler's picks in the playoff killed them, so hope Watson is both smart with the ball but plays with necessary swagger. The Texans won't win a shootout - heck, can they even score 20? - but they can get first downs and eat up time of possession to keep it close.
Belichick knows how to find a weakness (like McKinney in coverage) and how to take away your best weapon (Hopkins). So the gameplan BOB comes up with must account for this. Offensively, feed Foreman and dump passes to Lamar in the flat. Get Brax involved. Let Watson dictate. Defensively, keep one safety on Cooks and keep McKinney in the box. Hope Gronk is more of a decoy but double him in the redzone.
Oh, and 4 quarters of special teams coverage shouldn't be too much to ask, right? Pats had a kickoff return for a TD (98 yds) near the end of Q1 in the playoff... that would be a death blow if it happened again on Sunday.
chuck
09-21-2017, 01:11 PM
Playoff Game thread (http://www.inthebullseye.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2064), big thanks to Arky for the commentaries.
That was pretty fun.
barrett
09-21-2017, 02:33 PM
We don't win this game without scoring 21, so we don't win this game.
But seriously, we probably need half a dozen 1st downs with our QB's legs or multiple Defense/ST scores. We also absolutely positively must play with a lead and run the ball.
If we fall behind by more than 2 scores get Savage in to be hit and let Watson watch the rest.
HPF Bob
09-22-2017, 01:50 PM
How pathetic for CBS to pick up the Bengals on the road for the dh game. Do they realize Cincy is 0-2 with all of nine points scored in their first two games? Aaron Rodgers normally gets 9 points by halftime.
Pats win the toss and defer, Texans to receive.
Irvin brings the kickoff back to about the Texan 21. Texan's ball.
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L Miller goes left side for 1.
Watson rolls out right and can't find a receiver, runs out of bounds. Loss of 2. 3rd and 12 coming up.
Low pass to B Miller goes inc. Texans will have to punt.
Amendola brings the punt back all the way to the Pat 49. Pat's ball.
13:32 left in the 1st.
Gillislee caught for loss of 2.
White caught for loss of 1. 3rd and 13 coming up.
Deep pass to Cooks goes for 44. Ball at the Texan 10.
Gillislee for no gain. 2nd and goal coming up.
Pass goes for a gain but holding on Banks makes it 1st and goal from the 5.
Pass in the end zone is broken up by KJ, inc.
On 2nd and goal, pass to Gronk too high, inc. 3rd and goal coming up.
Pass to Gronk good for the TD.
Pats 7, Texans 0
10:33 left in the 1st qtr.
Ugh, Dan Fouts....
Big Texas
09-24-2017, 12:14 PM
Excellent coverage on both passes...but again Brady with the precise passing...
Ervin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 22. Texan's ball.
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Deep pass to Hop draws the PI flag. 1st down at the Pat 43.
Pass to Anderson gets 14.
Misdirection handoff to Ellington loses 1.
Pass to Ellington goes for 5. 3rd and 6 coming up.
Watson keeps for 4 or 5. Brings up 4th and 2, Texans going for it.
Watson call a timeout. Texans going for the FG instead...
Fairbairn's 39-yarder is good.
Pats 7, Texans 3
7:22 left in the 1st qtr.
The Pats look beatable..... not sure the Texans can get 'er done, though...
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Pat's ball at their 25.
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Pass to Allen is dropped, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
White gets 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.
Pass to Hogan gets 4. Pats have to punt.
Ervin doesn't get much on the punt return. Texan's ball at their 18.
5:58 left in the 1st qtr.
Foreman for 2.
Deep pass to Anderson just a tad too long, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.
Eeesh, Watson can't find a receiver and scrambles for 6. Texans will have to punt.
Punt rolls to the Pats 6 yard line. Pat's ball.
5:17 left in the 1st qtr.
Gillislee goes for 5.
Brady trips and gets sacked at the 2 yard line. Brings up 3rd and 14.
White gets about 7. Pats have to punt.
Punt is downed at the Patriot 44. Texan's ball in Patriot territory.
2:31 left in the 1st qtr.
Opportunity knocks.....
Pass to B Miller gets 15.
Woohooo! Pass to Ellington in the end zone good for the TD!
Texans 10, Pats 7
1:51 left in the 1st qtr.
Keith
09-24-2017, 12:47 PM
Gotta like seeing Clowney get a backside sack on Brady.
Single coverage on Gronk by Corey Moore in the end zone... predictable outcome there. Not terrible coverage by Moore, but the Pats are winning that matchup every time.
Belichick picking on the new guy Banks in coverage.
Pats bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 25 yard line. Pat's ball.
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Jeminy, pass to Gronk goes for nice gain but Gronk fumbles and the Texans can't fall on it. Still Pats ball at their 47.
Brady's pass to tall for Allen, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Pass to Hogan gets 11, 1st down.
Lewis runs for 3.
Clowney with the sack! Loss of 6. Brings up 3rd and 13.
End of the 1st qtr.
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On 3rd and 13, flags come out presnap. Neutral zone infraction against the Texans, 5 yards.
Pass to Gronk is short of the 1st down. Pats will have to punt.
Ervin fair catches at the Texan 11. Texan's ball.
14:16 left in the half.
Short pass to L Miller gets 7.
L Miller goes right side for 7, 1st down.
Oy, Watson's pass is picked off and brought all the way back to the Texan 11. Pat's ball.
12:57 left in the half.
Pass to Amendola gets 6 but flag is down.... holding on the Texans changes it to 5 yards and an auto 1st down...
Brady's pass to Hogan in the end zone is good good for the 7 yard TD.
Pats 14, Texan 10
12:25 left in the half.
Texans bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 23. Texan's ball.
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L Miller goes left side for 12.
L Miller for 3.
Flags presnap, off sides Ellington, -5. 2nd and 12 coming up.
Watson takes off....7 yards but holding on X brings it back. 10 yard penalty makes it 2nd and 20.
Pass to Hop goes for 15. 3rd and 5 coming up.
Watson scrambles for just enough for the 1st down.
Pass to Hop gets nice gain... flag on the Pats for personal foul. Add 15 yards. Ball at the Pat 26.
Watson under a lot of pressure throws complete to Griffin for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Pass too high for Griffin, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.
Watson pressured, gets it out to Ervin for short gain. Texans to go for the FG.
Fairbairn's 40-yarder is good.
Pats 14, Texans 13
7:01 left in the half.
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Pat's ball at their 25.
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Pass to Lewis gets 3.
Woohoo! Brady sacked and fumbles! Clowney catches the ball midair and takes it in the for the TD!
Texans 20, Pats 14
6:15 left in the half.
Keith
09-24-2017, 01:12 PM
The Texans won't win a shootout - heck, can they even score 20? - but they can get first downs and eat up time of possession to keep it close.
I meant to ask if the Texans could even score 20 in the first half. I guess they can.
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Pat's ball at their 25.
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Gillislee goes right side for 8.
Gillislee for 3 and the 1st down.
Pass to Hogan is broken up, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Gillislee for 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.
Pass to Amendola goes for nice gain. 1st down. Flag on Pleasant for holding is declined. Ball at the Texan 47.
Texans use a timeout.
Brady has all day and finds Hogan for the 47 yard TD.
Pats 21, Texans 20
3:58 left in the half.
barrett
09-24-2017, 01:33 PM
Can we never run Lamar Miller in short yardage again?
Ervin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 16. Texan's ball.
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Pass to Hop in the flat gets 5.
L Miller for almost 4. Brings up 3rd and 1. Flag on the Texans for illegal formation, -5. Makes it 2nd and 10 coming up.
Pass to Hop gets 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.
Pass to Griffin gets the 1st down at the Texan 32.
2 minute warning.
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Watson rolls out and scampers for 4.
Watson runs for 5. 3rd and 1 coming up.
L Miller can't get a yard. Texans to punt on 4th and 1.
Punt is brought back to about the Patriot 30 yard line. Pat's ball.
1:02 left in the half.
chuck
09-24-2017, 01:36 PM
Can we never run Lamar Miller in short yardage again?
There's been quite a bit to like this half, but also quite a bit of the same old stupid bullshit.
Brady runs for about 5. Flag on KJ for holding adds 5. Ball at the Pat 41.
Brady's pass to Cooks off the mark, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Brady's pass too low over the middle, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.
White rushes for 6. Pats will let the clock run out.
Halftime.
Pats 21, Texans 20
Big Texas
09-24-2017, 01:52 PM
We started the game with a lot of misdimisdirection and counter game. We've got to continue that because our Online is simply put unpredictable.
2nd half kickoff is brought back to about the Patriot 19. Pats ball.
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Pass to Cooks gets 2.
Pass to Gronk gets a 1st down at the Pat 35.
Pass to Lewis gets 4.
Pass to Hollister gets 20. Ball at the Texan 42. Hollister shaken up on the play.
Pass to Cooks goes for the TD. 42 yards.
Pats 28, Texans 20
12:45 left in the 3rd qtr.
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Flag on the play..... Pats offsides on the kickoff. Add 5 yards. Ball placed at the Texan 30.
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Flat pass to Hop gets 4.
L Miller gets 5 yards. 3rd and 1 coming up.
Watson keeps for about 5 and the 1st down.
Watson sacked and fumbles but the Texans fall on it. Loss of 7. Brings up 2nd and 17.
Play clock runs out. Make it 2nd and 22.
Watson pressured, throws back to Griffin for big gainer. Ball at the Patriot 31.
L Miller for about 9.
L Miller for 2 and the 1st down.
Short pass to Griffin gets 3.
Pass to Ellington is off the mark but flag on the Pats for illegal contact, 5 yards and an auto 1st down. Ball at the Patriot 12.
Watson pressured, throws inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Pass to Griffin in the end zone is good for the TD!
Pats 28, Texans 27.
7:12 left in the 3rd qtr.
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Pat's ball at their 25.
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Gillislee for 7.
Gillislee caught for a loss of 3. 3rd and 6 coming up.
Pass to White gets 11 and the 1st down.
Gillislee for 4.
Lewis for 2. 3rd and 4 coming up.
Flags presnap, too many men on the Texans, 5 yards and a 1st down.
Pass to Gronk goes the Texan 35. 14 yards.
White for 1.
Brady sacked and fumbles! Pats hop on it though, still Pat's ball. Loss of 7. 3rd and 16 coming up.
Brady sacked and flips the ball to Gronk. Gronk gains a few yards.... OB challenging that Brady was down before he flipped the ball to Gronk. Play stands as called, completed pass. Pats have to punt.
Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Texans will have the ball at their 20.
1:42 left in the 3rd qtr.
Foreman for 3.
Watson's pass off the hands of Ellington, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.
Pass to Ellington gets 7 and the 1st down.
Ervin for about 4.
Foreman for 5. 3rd and 1 coming up.
End of the 3rd qtr.
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On 3rd and 1, Foreman powers for 4 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 43.
Foreman for 3.
Flat pass to Foreman goes for 34 yard catch and run. Ball at the Pat 20.
Foreman for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.
Foreman for about 2. Makes it 3rd and 3 coming up.
Watson's pass to Anderson in the end zone is too high, inc. Texans to go for the FG.
Fairbairn's 31-yarder is good.
Texans 30, Pats 28
12:13 left in the game.
Need a turnover, defense....
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Pat's ball at their 25.
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Gillislee for 5.
Gillislee for 4. 3rd and 1 coming up.
Gillislee is stopped! Pats have to punt.
Punt is brought back to the Texan 13. Texan's ball with 10:28 left in the game.
L Miller for almost 5.
L Miller for 3. 3rd and 2 coming up.
Watson on the QB draw for 7 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 28.
Pass to Hop over the middle gets 13.
Watson's pass too tall for B Miller, inc.
On 2nd and 10, Watson is pressured but throws it away, inc. Brings up 3rd and 10.
Pass is too tall for B Miller, inc. Texans have to punt.
Punt is fair caught at the Patriot 6 yard line. Pat's ball with 7:32 left in the game.
Keith
09-24-2017, 02:48 PM
Three straight pass plays. When the Pats D was exhausted and time needs to run.
O'Brien calling an unusually strong game up until then.
Turnover here would be nice......
Short pass to Amendola gets 4.
Flare pass to Lewis gets 5. 3rd and 1 coming up.
Pass to Gronk is broken up, inc. Pats have to punt.
Punt is brought back to the Texan 33 by Ervin. Texan's ball with 5:55 left in the game.
Run it down their throats, fellas.....
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Pass to Griffin gets 13 or so but PI on Griffin backs it up. 1st and 20 coming up.
Watson goes Houdini and passes to Foreman for a big gain! Penalty on the Pats for holding is declined.... Ball at the Patriot 46.
L Miller for 1.
Pass to Ellington gets nice gain, 18 yards, 1st down.
L Miller for 6. Ball at the Patriot 21.
On 2nd and 4, L Miller gets 3. 3rd and 1 coming up.
L Miller for no gain. Pats use timeout #2. Texans to go for the FG.
Fairbairn's 36-yarder is good.
Texans 33, Pats 28
2:24 left in the game.
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Pat's ball at their 25.
DEfenSe!
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Pass over the middle is broken up by Hal, inc. Hal shaken up on the play.
On 2nd and 10, pass to Cooks is broken up, but flag on the Pats for holding....-10 yards. Makes it 2nd and 20 coming up.
Pass over the middle to Gronk is good for 8. 3rd and 12 coming up.
2 minute warning.
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On 3rd and 12, pass to Gronk goes for 15 and the 1st down.
Pass to Cooks gets 18.
Brady stripped by Gilchrist! Still Pats ball.
Dang Cory Moore. Had the deep INT but lost it. Still Pats ball. 3rd and 18 coming up.
Texans use a timeout with 54 seconds left in the game.
Pass to Amendola goes to the Texan 25.
Pass to Cooks in the end zone goes for the TD.
Play is under review..... It will surely stand in New England...
Play stands, Pats going for 2.
Brady hits Cooks for the 2-point conversion.
Pats 36, Texans 33
23 seconds left in the game.
The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.
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Pass to Hopkins gets 21. 3 seconds left in the game.
Hail Mary is INT'ed by the Pats in the end zone.
Final score:
Pats 36, Texans 33
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Well, shoot. Teasingly close loss.
chuck
09-24-2017, 03:23 PM
What a bunch of goddamned retards.
barrett
09-24-2017, 05:11 PM
I've been pretty negative the last year or so. And there was enough to complain about if I wanted to, but that was a heck of an effort by the Texans.
We looked like an NFL offense for once. Our terrible WRs other than Hopkins looked competent with a competent QB. Our patchwork OL even looked competent when the defense had to deal with a little fear and uncertainty. Our defense was not the 85' Bears, but that's 59 really good minutes against Tom Brady in Foxboro. The sack where Watt and Clowney converged from opposite sides and Mercilous came late up the middle was a thing of beauty.
But this is the NFL and it's a QB league, and for the first time in 5 years we didn't look like we brought a knife to a gun fight. We looked like we were trying to win games instead of trying to steal them. Watson did incredible things and he did them all without taking much punishment. His scariest moment was a non-contact cut he made. He did enough with his arm, mind, and legs to show a ceiling much higher than any Texans QB ever. The play he made to Foreman was amazing and there haven't been a dozen guys in NFL history that could have done that.
Losing a week 3 game in Foxboro won't hurt us (although it would have made up for the week 1 embarrassment). And for the first time ever I actually think we could go win that game 4 months from now in the playoffs.
Early line (http://www.footballlocks.com/early_nfl_odds.shtml) for next week has the Titans favored by 2½.
Get some sunglasses because the future looks bright......
chuck
09-25-2017, 12:40 PM
I thought Deshaun was incredible. The first touchdown throw I said Touchdown! just as he released it. Although you could see a very small part of the field, it was just blindingly obvious that he saw someone open and that he was throwing it to the end zone. By the way, how typical is it that the team has thrown all sorts of picks at the WR position and the best receiver on the team not named Deandre is a guy they signed off the street?
Despite some egregious clock management issues and some typically terrible play calling, I thought the game plan was more or less exactly what it needed to be. Play action worked great, the roll outs were great and I'd like to see more of them, you can do a lot with the split back sets and I'd like to see them use that formation more both for pass protection and for rushing plays. Other than the first possession we didn't see much running towards the sideline, and I think with Watson's legs you can use an option pitch out of the split back set to great effect once or twice a game.
In a similar concept to isn't it amazing how much smarter your father gets as you go from 17 to 25, isn't it amazing how much better the OL gets when you employ a decent game plan? Sure NE's front seven is at best nothing special, but still.
The bad news is the team's secondary is horrific. The good news is most teams don't have Tom Brady to exploit it.
barrett
09-25-2017, 01:08 PM
I thought Deshaun was incredible. The first touchdown throw I said Touchdown! just as he released it. Although you could see a very small part of the field, it was just blindingly obvious that he saw someone open and that he was throwing it to the end zone. By the way, how typical is it that the team has thrown all sorts of picks at the WR position and the best receiver on the team not named Deandre is a guy they signed off the street?
Despite some egregious clock management issues and some typically terrible play calling, I thought the game plan was more or less exactly what it needed to be. Play action worked great, the roll outs were great and I'd like to see more of them, you can do a lot with the split back sets and I'd like to see them use that formation more both for pass protection and for rushing plays. Other than the first possession we didn't see much running towards the sideline, and I think with Watson's legs you can use an option pitch out of the split back set to great effect once or twice a game.
In a similar concept to isn't it amazing how much smarter your father gets as you go from 17 to 25, isn't it amazing how much better the OL gets when you employ a decent game plan? Sure NE's front seven is at best nothing special, but still.
The bad news is the team's secondary is horrific. The good news is most teams don't have Tom Brady to exploit it.
I almost think Kareem Jackson should skip safety and move straight to LB. The guy is an amazing tackler. He made a beautiful tackle on a wide run that made me shout for joy, and then like 2 plays later he was called for holding. The past 2 weeks I've seen him up near the LOS so often and he's been awesome. But he still can't find the ball when it's in the air if his life depends on it. Make him a Nickle ILB like they used to do with Glover Quinn.
And yes, Watson is very talented. It's almost as if the QBs drafted early in the draft are more talented than if you sign an unwanted veteran backup.
The second guessing post-game has been through the roof on radio, TV and internet.
"Get better each day." "An improvement league." "Gotta coach better." "Gotta do a better job in that situation." While these mantras are OB's go-to expressions in post-game pressers, one assumes that one has a basic level of competence to start with.... So, hearing these mantras repeated over and over, it really gets annoying when Coaching 101 errors are made.... OB has been on the job for three years and change, now, so when he says, "it's on me", you better believe it......
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Would have been quite a feather in Watson's cap to be the one rookie who defeated the Pats at home. Next time the Texans play the Pats, win or lose, I hope they beat 'em up....
Bottom line: The game vs the Pats could have gone either way. The Pats just had the lead when time expired....
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Good news: We got a QB and (so far), a FG kicker.
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Three home games scheduled next: Titans, Chiefs (SNF) and Browns and then the bye. I'd take 3-3 before the break, of course, 4-2 would be better. I had no hope of a winning record after Week 1 but that now may be achievable....
chuck
09-25-2017, 01:59 PM
And yes, Watson is very talented. It's almost as if the QBs drafted early in the draft are more talented than if you sign an unwanted veteran backup.
You know what, I'm starting to lean in that direction.
KJ has always been very good in the slot and terrible outside. Ha- I was going to rehash what we could be doing if we had a competent GM but I won't bother; we all know.
Arky makes a good point I've been meaning to make - the team's coverage has yet to give up a long return when Fairbairn kicks off and the ball goes out of the back of the end zone. That's another weird rule that as a Texans fan I was previously unfamiliar with.
Keith
09-26-2017, 09:48 AM
some typically terrible play calling
There of course was some typically terrible playcalling. That series in the middle of the 4th quarter with three straight pass plays, at a time when it was unseasonably warm and the Pats D was gassed, at a time when the Texans finally had a late lead and you knew you didn't want to give Brady extra time, just inexcusable. Keep pounding with Foreman.
Honestly, I was pleasantly shocked until then at how the offensive playcalling was going. It accentuated Watson's talent. I really never thought O'Brien would open it up as much as he did in - gasp - the rookie's second start. As Watson's downfield accuracy improves, he will really elevate this team. It made everything look better on Sunday, from the OL to the running game.
But yes, some typically terrible playcalling might have cost the Texans the opportunity from winning.
barrett
09-26-2017, 11:16 AM
There of course was some typically terrible playcalling. That series in the middle of the 4th quarter with three straight pass plays, at a time when it was unseasonably warm and the Pats D was gassed, at a time when the Texans finally had a late lead and you knew you didn't want to give Brady extra time, just inexcusable. Keep pounding with Foreman.
Honestly, I was pleasantly shocked until then at how the offensive playcalling was going. It accentuated Watson's talent. I really never thought O'Brien would open it up as much as he did in - gasp - the rookie's second start. As Watson's downfield accuracy improves, he will really elevate this team. It made everything look better on Sunday, from the OL to the running game.
But yes, some typically terrible playcalling might have cost the Texans the opportunity from winning.
I don't have a big problem with the 3 passes other than it didn't work. I like being aggressive there. I would have had a bigger problem with 3 straight runs in that situation. And I have a much bigger problem running Lamar Miller on 3rd and 1 and then kicking the FG on 4th and 1.
Keith
09-26-2017, 03:54 PM
It was an interesting strategy given how conservatively O'Brien called plays down the stretch in Cincinnati. I expected he would do something similar at New England once he had the lead to maintain time of possession, especially since it seemed like a 3-headed rushing attack of Watson, Miller, and Foreman would be tough to contain.
As for running Miller on 3rd and 1, agreed. Either run Foreman on that play or perhaps throw something short, esp if you plan to go for it on fourth down anyway.
I was absolutely in favor of kicking the FG though. What Brady had to accomplish to win that game was not a given; it was not easy. In fact, he nearly blew it if Corey Moore hangs on to that pick. And I'm still not sure the scoring catch is still ruled a catch outside of Massachusetts. The odds are in the Texans defense's favor to keep the Pats out of that end zone.
barrett
09-26-2017, 04:35 PM
It was an interesting strategy given how conservatively O'Brien called plays down the stretch in Cincinnati. I expected he would do something similar at New England once he had the lead to maintain time of possession, especially since it seemed like a 3-headed rushing attack of Watson, Miller, and Foreman would be tough to contain.
As for running Miller on 3rd and 1, agreed. Either run Foreman on that play or perhaps throw something short, esp if you plan to go for it on fourth down anyway.
I was absolutely in favor of kicking the FG though. What Brady had to accomplish to win that game was not a given; it was not easy. In fact, he nearly blew it if Corey Moore hangs on to that pick. And I'm still not sure the scoring catch is still ruled a catch outside of Massachusetts. The odds are in the Texans defense's favor to keep the Pats out of that end zone.
Against any team other than NE I kick the FG.
As for running Miller on 3rd down I cannot come up with any reasonable explanation. He's a terrible short yardage runner. Run Foreman or simply spread them out and go QB lead. But why run the guy who hates contact into the middle of the line on the biggest play of the game? That to me is far worse than staying aggressive and putting the ball in Watson's hands 3 times after he just marched down the field.
Sure miss Arian Foster. On short yardage plays, he always seemed to find a weak crack to dive through....
chuck
09-26-2017, 10:57 PM
Sure miss Arian Foster. On short yardage plays, he always seemed to find a weak crack to dive through....
At the time we all knew he was great but still I think he was incredibly underrated. A lot of that is his having only four great years, and a lot of that was his own fault having jerked around in college so much. Had he had his act together and come out of a big school after his junior year, who knows what he might have done. He was old enough his rookie year that you had to wonder if he'd spent time on a Mormon mission in Papua New Guinea or some shit. Good luck with that, by the way, Devin. Let's see you pedal that Schwinn through the jungle mud when Septugon and Iriputiz are hot on your trail, spears in hand.
barrett
09-27-2017, 08:00 AM
At the time we all knew he was great but still I think he was incredibly underrated. A lot of that is his having only four great years, and a lot of that was his own fault having jerked around in college so much. Had he had his act together and come out of a big school after his junior year, who knows what he might have done. He was old enough his rookie year that you had to wonder if he'd spent time on a Mormon mission in Papua New Guinea or some shit. Good luck with that, by the way, Devin. Let's see you pedal that Schwinn through the jungle mud when Septugon and Iriputiz are hot on your trail, spears in hand.
There have not been many more complete backs in NFL history. I can't think of anyone who was as good at so many things (running, catching, blocking, big plays, short yardage, route running, etc). And he was huge in the playoffs. He carried Matt Schaub teams to victory in two playoff games. Over 650 total yards and 6 TDs in 4 playoff games. And all against loaded boxes and good defenses (Bal, Cin, NE).
chuck
09-27-2017, 03:06 PM
He wasn't that big but you could always count on him picking up a tough yard if you needed one. He wasn't insanely fast but I don't remember any corner ever running him down. He was great at blitz pickup. But I think my most lasting memories involve that Kubiak bootleg where the defense for some incomprehensible reason lost track of Arian and let him get 30 yards downfield, in the MIDDLE of the field, for a huge gain.
I remember the first time they ever ran that play. I somehow knew where all the receivers were and what they were doing. Schaub's rolling out and suddenly he launches one down the middle of the field. Who the hell is he throwing that to??? Then I see Arian, running completely unmolested, no one anywhere near him.
barrett
09-27-2017, 03:10 PM
He wasn't that big but you could always count on him picking up a tough yard if you needed one. He wasn't insanely fast but I don't remember any corner ever running him down. He was great at blitz pickup. But I think my most lasting memories involve that Kubiak bootleg where the defense for some incomprehensible reason lost track of Arian and let him get 30 yards downfield, in the MIDDLE of the field, for a huge gain.
I remember the first time they ever ran that play. I somehow knew where all the receivers were and what they were doing. Schaub's rolling out and suddenly he launches one down the middle of the field. Who the hell is he throwing that to??? Then I see Arian, running completely unmolested, no one anywhere near him.
Kubiak had a stretch that season where he used wrinkles in the bootleg to create a downfield passing game. Throwback posts, TEs leaking out, Arian going deep. That was Kubiak's high mark stretch of creativity for a guy who most of the time looked like he was incapable of going off script.
nunusguy
09-28-2017, 08:45 AM
Had to make one comment about the Pats game before the thread is closed out. Was out of town and watched the game from a sports bar in the small mountain town of Dillon, Montana.
I was so excited and I was going to buy the bar of strangers a round if the Texans won the game because I knew if they did the Chuckster would go out and bet every dollar (and peso) he has that they'd win the Super Bowl and I couldn't be out done. Silly me, nobody outdoes the Chuckster.
Anyway what a game and I honestly think we've finally got a QB - the kid played a great game. Now I'm really pumped about the Titans game.
Oh BTW, screw Duane Brown, i've had it with him. Let's get whatever pick or picks we can and let him go on his way.
chuck
09-28-2017, 02:07 PM
You know what, I'm not much of a gambler. My brother lives in the Vegas area and he bets the NFL every weekend. I go up there from time to time and once in a great while I'll put a little money on a game for the hell of it but usually not. I'm not all that smart but I am smart enough to know that I can't be dispassionate about sports gambling, and that's a terrible handicap in that particular activity.
Craps is my casino game. I don't play it very much anymore but if I were to play a casino game I would play craps. I've done very, very well at some craps tables over the years. There are some locals casinos in Vegas that give the odds I need to play. There's one decent place on the Strip that gives good odds. I can't remember the name, it's newish and over by the Linq. There are a million casinos here but they give shit odds and I know from experience that they get their panties in a twist if you set the dice so whenever I go to casinos here, which is less frequently than I go to Vegas, really, I tend to eschew the tables and spend my time drinking beer and chatting with the Colombian hookers of which there typically is no lack.
I was in Vegas a number of years ago when my national team was playing a futbol game against hated Mexico. I just had to bet on that, you know. I was out with my poor wife and my poor mother and I dragged them over to the Hilton. They call it something different now I think, but the sports book over there will take action on any damn thing and I knew they'd have odds on the futbol. And they did, of course. There was no one in the sports book at the time and really only a couple of windows open. I wandered up to one and had a couple of questions about how the futbol odds work. As I mentioned, I'm not a tremendously experienced sports bettor and while I understand football gambling just fine the futbol with its draws and whatnot was a little unfamiliar to me. So I clarify things with the fine fellow there and I place my modest wager and I get my slip (and my drink tickets, of course) and I turn around to see that my wife and my mother are staring at me in horror. At first I have no idea what their problem is. I walk over to them and their expression does not change, just mouth wide open amazement. I turn back to look at the window and I see that without realizing it I'd wandered up to the $1,000 minimum window. The guy at the window didn't say a word to me about my bullshit bet, of course. It was kind of like the few times I've ever gone into a gay bar by mistake. The dude knew I was an idiot and rather than raise a fuss he'd just take my bet and assume I'd quickly get the hell out of there and not bother him anymore. Which is what happened, of course.
But my wife and my mother didn't know this. So once I figured out what they were so shocked by I slowly turned back around and gave my best Barney Fife style deep sniff and said, Yeah, well, sometimes you've got to go big, and walked off.
We lost that game, needless to say. 2-1 if I recall correctly.
But you know what, nu? I'm going to be in Vegas next month and maybe, just for you, I'll throw a couple of sawbucks at the Texans as Super Bowl champs. Say, now that I think about it, I'm surprised you're not boycotting the NFL.
barrett
09-28-2017, 03:11 PM
Vegas of course doesn't keep building casinos because they lose.
My brothers both live in southern california with the rest of my family and they go to Vegas a lot. My wife and I go sometimes and I almost always resist the urge to bet on anything sports or cards or dice.
But a few years ago I was there during the opening weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament and it couldn't be helped. I made a modest bet but wanted big returns so I went with a 6 team teaser on the late games that afternoon/evening.
I hit the first 5 and was in a sports bar with my wife and brother watching the 6th and it was going my way. That is until the University of Texas lost at the buzzer on a beyond half court shot.
Moral of the story is Vegas doesn't build casinos because they lose.
HPF Bob
09-29-2017, 08:21 PM
Foster, IIRC, was recruited by some college and then transfered to Tennessee, which means he sat out a year. He also waited until his senior year to enter for the draft so that counted an extra year. Did he not also take a redshirt year for an injury?
As for picking up that tough yard, I remember differently. Yes, he was good at stretching for the first down. But on 3rd-and-1, we ran an off-tackle to the left so many times that we might as well have announced it on the PA before the ball was snapped. Foster didn't get many first downs on that play but it wasn't his fault since blind sisters of the poor could have forecasted Kubiak's play call.
And as for Vegas - flew there once in 2008 to hook up with an old friend who was flying in from out of the country. I even forgot it was Election Night and hundreds of union thugs stampeded through the casino chanting "Obama! Obama! Obama!" Didn't matter since I wasn't there to gamble. My lady friend and I holed up in her room until all the commotion died down and got caught up on old acquaintances. Next night, I was flying back to Texas and she back to Japan. Hadn't flown again until last week.
Did a minor amount of gambling at the airport but didn't win once. FWIW, the casinos in Lake Charles were more fun.
Oh, and Duane Brown. If we won't/can't sign him, let's see if we can find someone willing to part with a first or second-day draft pick next spring to trade him to. We don't have to worry about caps now until next spring.
I went back through the game thread and looked at all the 3rd and 1 situations for the Texans:
Watson kept for 5 and the 1st down.
Foreman went for 4 and the 1st down.
L Miller stopped.
L Miller stopped. (yes, that would be twice)
Also of note:
On a 3rd and 2, Watson did a QB draw and got 7.
On a 2nd and 1, L Miller got 2 yards.
Conclusion: In this small sample size, give it to anyone but L Miller on 3rd and 1.
I can remember complaining (last year?) here about how the Texans must lead the league in 4th and 1. Seems to happen too much in OB's offense....
barrett
09-29-2017, 10:47 PM
I think I heard Bob say he'd prefer the reverse to Kevin Walter to another Lamar Miller 3rd and 1.
HPF Bob
09-29-2017, 10:58 PM
I think I heard Bob say he'd prefer the reverse to Kevin Walter to another Lamar Miller 3rd and 1.
Nope. For one, Walter is no longer with the team. For second, if they ran one, the opponent's team picture would be there to stop him by the time his slow white ass reached the line of scrimmage.
chuck
09-30-2017, 12:53 AM
I tell you what, if I had a nickel for every time I've been in a Las Vegas casino raided by union thugs chanting upsetting slogans I would have, well, I'd still have to pay my own way to make a bet for nunu.
Say, Buford, you work for the federal government. Doesn't that count as a union? Are you by chance one of those dreadful union thugs?
HPF Bob
09-30-2017, 12:48 PM
Say, Buford, you work for the federal government. Doesn't that count as a union? Are you by chance one of those dreadful union thugs?
Worse, I'm a contractor so I can get fired like a private sector employee. The union thugs where I work make twice the income and do half the work because they know management doesn't want any grievances filed and will never fire them. I know one who doesn't even show up for work anymore so he can run his own private business. Just dials up online every now and again to justify his 90k salary. Another starts and ends her work day whenever she feels like it.
When a union thug screws up, management looks for the closest contractor to blame. I liken it to a master with an indoor dog and an outdoor dog. When the master finds poop on the sofa, he goes out and whips the outdoor dog and then tells the indoor dog "good boy".
chuck
09-30-2017, 01:49 PM
That's what you get for being adamantly anti-union, sleep outside chained to a tree. If you were union you could spend all afternoon at Sam's Boat flirting with Sweetcheeks, call in every couple of days.
HPF Bob
10-01-2017, 09:21 AM
That's what you get for being adamantly anti-union, sleep outside chained to a tree. If you were union you could spend all afternoon at Sam's Boat flirting with Sweetcheeks, call in every couple of days.
Yup. Which is how we get to soldiers waiting months for badly-needed medical treatment. No wonder the "drain the swamp" mantra gets so much traction.
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