Official Texans vs. Lions Thread, 10/19/2008

[Keith]

Been a good weekend for me so far, Texans. Please don't **** it up.

TIA.

[TheMatrix31]

There's no reason this game shouldn't be 41-10.

So basically, I expect a loss or a game we win by one point.

Is Dunta playing?

[Big Texas]

according to their home page dunta will be playing about 20-30 reps. He has been progressing better and better every practice since wednesday.

I expect him to make a tremendous impact.

I know there will be a moment to back into the scheme of things on the part of Dunta. But what better time to do that than with the Lions.

[TheMatrix31]

Great news.

I'm kinda upset though. I was drinking last night so I didn't realize that today's game was at 1pm, not 10am. I could have slept a bit more.

Oh well.

[Big Texas]

the game actually starts at 3

[Big Texas]

make that 3 central standard time

[TheMatrix31]

Yeah, I'm in Los Ang-hell-es though.

[coloradodude]

I realize we disagree on certain things and that's gonna happen with thte different personalities.

What I really would like to see is the defense actually step it up today. The one thing I haven't seen is a consistency of swarming to the ball by the LB's. They are making some very good plays at times but at other times it's like they are not even on the field, invisible.

Hopefully Reeves has been told to turn his head and look for the ball when the receiver does the same thing. So far, it looks like he's racing the receiver as opposed to covering him.

And for the offense, I look for Schaub to have a career day by spreading the ball around to all our playmakers..

[Big Texas]

Yes, if somehow or another we could get our scrub dcoordinator to get Reeves to turn his damn head around. This could be a great game for us. It defeats the purpose for you to be running step for step with the receiver and still let him catch the ball.

I dont care what anyone says and I know I will get some disagreements but in the Indy game he was in perfect position to either bat that ball down in the endzone. Its as if someone is just teaching him how not to let the wr get behind him. "just stay next to him and make the tackle".

On a good note he is fast and can run step for step with some good ones.

Side Note: I would love to see DRob come out strong.

[nunusguy]

I to am looking forward to D-Robs return to action, but I think those who might be looking for a big performance today from the little corner have their expectations set way too high. Afterall he's coming off of a very severe multiple injury that some thought might actually end his career and he hasn't seen any game, even preseason/exhibition-game action for a year.
I just hope he doesn't do anything to reinjury himself or damage his confidance. Anything else is icing on the cake for me.

[Arky]

Following are the inactives for the Texans' matchup with the Detroit Lions at Reliant Stadium.

Texans inactives are:
26 CB Eugene Wilson
27 RB Chris Taylor
34 S Dominique Barber
52 LB Xavier Adibi
64 G Kasey Studdard
87 TE Mark Bruener
97 DT Frank Okam
94 DE N.D. Kalu
78 T Rashad Butler

Changes to the Texans' starting lineup: DeMarcus Faggins will start at left cornerback for Fred Bennett.

Lions inactives are:
12 QB Drew Henson
16 WR John Standeford
21 CB Travis Fisher
63 G Manny Ramirez
64 G Edwin Mulitalo
91 DT Chuck Darby
93 DE Corey Smith
98 DT Landon Cohen


Changes to the starting lineup: Shaun Cody will start at nose tackle for Chuck Darby. Brian Kelly will start at left cornerback for Travis Fisher. Damion Cook will start at left guard for Edwin Mulitalo. George Foster will start at right tackle for Gosder Cherilus.

http://www.houstontexans.com/gameday/GameInactive.asp?game_id=118&team=y

[TheMatrix31]

Oh Dunta.....how do I miss thee? Let me count the ways.

[Arky]

Lions kickoff. Texans start at their own 25.

Couple of short passes then Slaton breaks one for 37 yds.

[popanot]

Want to see Schaub protect the ball today. His way too frequent boneheaded turnovers are getting old.

[TheMatrix31]

Slaton with a 37 yard gash.

[Arky]

AJ rec to the 2 yd. line...

TD pass to Owen Daniels!

[TheMatrix31]

What a DRIVE!

7-0 Texans!

[Arky]

Could really, really use a good game from the defense...

[Arky]

A Zac sack

Lions 3 and out - have to punt

Whoa, JJ - hang on to the ball! I think that was minus yds on the return....

[Arky]

Texans move right down the field and then a pass intererence on AJ in the endzone puts the ball at the 1 yd. line.

AG runs it in for the TD.

Texans 14, Lions 0

[TheMatrix31]

We should be 4-2 after this week. Instead, we'd end up being 2-4.

Ugh.

[Arky]

Lions get one 1st down then have to punt.

JJ not much on the return. Texans set up at their own 27 yd line.

[Arky]

Texans march down the field running and passing at will...

Slaton runs it in from the 1 yd. line.

Texans 21, Lions 0

It's not supposed to be this easy... :eek:

Let's have a clean game from here on out....

[Big Texas]

I am loving everything that is going on. But I am not a fan of a game where the other team just did not come to play at all.

But I guess we deserve to be on the other end of the 21-0 scoreboard for a change.

Go Texans

I believe the tuff schedule we have just came out of has made this game what it is at this point.

Lets just continue to increase the intensity. Lets blow these scrubs out.

Go Texans

[Arky]

Detroit puts together a decent drive and attempts a FG from 54 yds. FG is good.

Texans 21, Lions 3

[Arky]

Matt Schaub with the obligatory fumble 10 yds from paydirt.. Lions ball - 45 seconds left in the half..

[nunusguy]

But I am not a fan of a game where the other team just did not come to play at all.


Speak for yourself Big-T, I'll take it any way I can get it.

[Arky]

Calvin Johnson catches the 58 yd hail Mary but doesn't score. Clocks runs out.

Halftime:

Texans 21, Lions 3

Stats:

Schaub: 16/18, 178 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1 fumble

Rushing: Slaton 9/72 (8.0 avg), Green 5/25 (5.0 avg.)

Rec: Johnson 8/95 (11.9 avg.), Daniels 5/65 (13.0 avg.)

Leading Tacklers: Demps and Ryans 4, Diles 3 (1 sack)

Time of Possession: Texans 18:33, Lions 11.27

[Arky]

Lions receive 2nd half kickoff and have a 3-and-out. Punt bounces to about the Texan 23 yd line. Texans ball.

[Arky]

Texans have a 3-and-out, lose yardage and Turk punts from the endzone. Lions fair catch in Texan territory...

Don't let off the gas, fellas...

-----------

Whelp, Kevin Smith runs it in from 26.

Texans 21, Lions 10

[popanot]

Great... Let's fk'off and let them back in the game. Some needs to beat into Schaub's head the importance of holding onto the ball when he gets hit. He's a wuss in that regard.

[nunusguy]

The brotha momentarily forgot he wasn't in MoTown - good nocall by the
officials.
But those Texans, they wanta make it interesting for us it would seem ?

[Arky]

Lions challenge Schaub's QB sneak on 4th down @ the 2 yd line.

Looked like he got right on the 1st down line to me....


----------

1st down!

[Arky]

Schaub 1 yd. TD pass to OD....

Texans 28, Lions 10

[TheMatrix31]

We're "OD"ing on OD today.

It's about freakin' time.

[Arky]

Lions go 3-and-out, have to punt. Fair catch by JJ.

Texans set up at their own 33 yard line.

Start of 4th quarter.

[Arky]

Texans get a first down or two and then have to punt. AD downs the ball inside the 5. Lions ball with a long field.

1st play, Orlovsky hits C Johnson for 96 yards. Petey gets beat.

Lions go for two and PI on the Texans. Ball spotted at the 1 yd line.

Toss up for 2 points to C Johnson.

Texans 28, Lions 18

My goodness.

[Arky]

Texans get a first down and have to punt. Again, AD downs the ball inside the 5. Roughing on Turk not enough for the 1st down so Lions takeover inside their own 5.

About 9 minutes left in the game.

[TheMatrix31]

If we blow this, I'm blowing my brains out.

[NBT]

Texans are enough to drive you crazy. Again they seem to take 1 1/2 steps forward and then one backwards. The defense in particular with Faggins coving Calvin Johnson and gives up a damn 96 yard TD! Did I mention I hate Richard Smith?!

[popanot]

A better QB would be tearing us up today.

[popanot]

DRob is DRusty. I can't believe this team is sucking against the worst team in the league! Penalties, no pressure, blitzes suck!

[Arky]

Bulman with the sack!

But Detroit kicks another 54 FG.

Texans 28, Lions 21

Protect the ball!

[popanot]

This is just a dumb team. From HC on down. Ridiculous the Lions have a chance here.

It's over, but I'm conviced with more time the Lions would have tied it up.

[Arky]

Texans have to punt and Turk punts the ball inside the 5 again.

10 seconds left in the game.

---------

Lions try the pass/lateral stuff but the ball goes out of bounds. Game over.

Final score:

Texans 28, Lions 21.

Yeesh, it's not supposed to be this hard. :eek:

[NBT]

Anybody else besides me having a heart attack over this one. This is not the way to win a ballgame when you are leading at the half 21-3! I cannot believe they let Petey cover Calvin Johnson, and then he gives up a 96 yard TD when we had them backed up to the 4 yard line after the punt. When are we going to show some life in this damn defense?

[nunusguy]

This is just a dumb team. From HC on down.

AKA trickle down.
I'm sorry I know Kubiak is popular with all the natives, but this team is just,
well like popanot says, dumb. And it all starts with him at the top.

[Big Texas]

when you are not used to winning. You dont know what to do when you are. case in point todays game and the indy game. Had that been Manning behind center we would have lost. Had that been any decent qb we would have lost.

Thanks Kubiak for getting us over the hump. Now lets get someone in here used to winning who can take us to the next step.

Obviously he's not used to it.

[NBT]

UUhhh, I beg to differ. He won 2 SuperBowls while he was offensive coordinator for Denver. That doesn't sound like he doesn't know how to win to me. No, what he needs to do is get rid of that lousy Richard Smith and let Frank Bush take over the DC responcibilities for the rest of the year. I don't know what it is going to take for Kubiak to wake up to this. The defense couldn't play much worse than it did in the last half of today's Detroit game, so what's to lose? Nothing, and everything to gain.

[TexicanMexican]

My buddy noticed that Brown was out and Salaam was in. Anything mentioned on TV or radio? We were at the game and I didn't see anything in Comical's write up.

[Keith]

I think Salaam was rotating, in for Brown every third series or so. I didn't catch onto this until late in the game, so I might be wrong here.

As for Kubiak... for a guy willing to stick his neck out on a pick like Mario over Reggie, he seems slow to react to problems on defense. I think sometimes someone needs to remind him to get more involved on the other side of the ball.

That said, as I am watching highlights of the Rams kick the 'wagon... think back to our alternatives for a HC when Kubiak was hired - two were hired elsewhere (that I can think of offhand), Cam Cameron and Scott Linehan, and both have since been fired already. I shudder to think where the Texans might be had they hired either of them in place of Kubiak.

...I also wonder about Jerry Gray though. I think he might be an intriguing candidate for someone. Since leaving as Buffalo's DC, he went to the Skins to coach up what seems to be a pretty effective secondary. In no way am I suggesting Hoke has been inadequate, but Gray seems to have been a bit overlooked by the league imo.

[nunusguy]

As for Kubiak... for a guy willing to stick his neck out on a pick like Mario over Reggie, he seems slow to react to problems on defense. I think sometimes someone needs to remind him to get more involved on the other side of the ball.

Honestly, isn't it really possible Gary is in over his head ? And I don't dislike him, I only want whoever the Texans HC is to succeed. He could be a very capable Offensive coordinator and that's it. You know, the old "Peter Principle".
And no he's not bashful about making decisions about the D. Remember he not only decided to take Mario instead of a very popular offensive player(but to Kubiaks credit, a player he correctly recogonized as overrated), if you recall he made the decision to switch to the 4-3 from the Capers 3-4 ?
But one of Gary's problems IMO is that he has a tendency to be just too loyal to a coach or player.
And I've always thought it was very strange that Gary was incapable of wathcing a field-goal attempt in a tight game ? And he's also admitted looking away on other key plays down by the goal-line. Strange for a HC !

[NBT]

It's possible, but with 2 SuperBowl wins behind him as an OC, I find it more than a little hard to believe. The problem, as I see it, is we are better in the second half, 4th quarter having to come from behind. The defense, for whatever reason, cannot hold a lead or put up aggressive numbers. So this week we ran up a big lead, then the offense seemed to sit on it with the exception of the one 3rd quarter TD. The D played out of position, took bad angles, and generally underperformed. The party line was that we need to learn how to finish. Well yes, that is true, but the poor defense is the result of poor coaching as much as personnel. To me the most puzzling question is why hasn't Kubiak shook up that defense?

[Big Texas]

If by shake up you mean fire R.Smith. Then Ok. But so far he has:

benched faggins on a couple occasions

brought him back into the starting lineup.

He called out Travis Johnson practically when he first got here.

he has dropped Okoye to passing downs only.

He's brought bulman, cochran, and the Deljuan Robinson into the rotation.

He brought in "the blind roadrunner" Jacque Reeves

Got rid of the always out of position Glenn Earl, brought in Will Demps

brought in, started, then benched again F. Bennett

Decided to start Z. Diles

Somehow nothin on this list jumps out at me. Until this list improves we will continue to be where we are. A defense with no identity. What are we trying to create here. Or are we just putting square pegs in round holes. Lets pick a defensive identity and create it.

[cadams]

they need a headhunter on defense that receivers have to worry about when they are crossing the middle. big hits rattle receivers and fire up the rest of the defense.

[papabear]

A defense with no identity. What are we trying to create here. Or are we just putting square pegs in round holes.

You can definitely say that we have no identity on defense. There have been plenty of attempts to shake up the defense...more than just the personnel moves. They have blitzed more recently. I saw Diles blitz several times (it worked once). A few weeks ago they tried to do some Zone blitzing. They played a lot of Zone early....Sun they were in a lot of man. The corners have also been playing closer to the line of scrimmage lately....yes even Petey.

Maybe that's the problem. We keep trying new things and never do them long enough to get really good at them. I don't know if that's the only problem, but I a least see effort there to try new things.