Fisher gives Texans an Early X-mas Gift

[painekiller]

Talk about bad coaching moves, attempting the field goal should be investigated by the US Senate, Fisher had to be take and the Senate should get to the bottom of it. Maybe Al Gore could champion a new cause?

OK I'll take the gift. The Texans have their 1st ever 4 game win streak (in a single season). This is a team that is so close.

BTW what was Kubiak thinking challenging the punt hitting Faggins head? We need a new coach in the box that understands replay that can advise Kubiak.

[Nconroe]

Four in a row, man we beat the titans, it wasn't a gift.

[HPF Bob]

That was a real head-scratcher. Bironas has made tougher kicks than that one and Collins hadn't been particularly sharp all day. Nice to see the other side blink for once.

[NBT]

Well, Schaub had been moving the team well all game, so Fisher figured a 4 point lead wouldn't hold up with only something less than 4 minutes to go. He decided to go for it. Thank goodness the pass was too high. We took over the ball, Slaton made one good run to get us out of the hole, the Tacks then ran out of timeouts before they could get the ball back. For once it was the other guy on the short end of the stick. We didn't whip their a**, but I'll take the win none the less, thank you.

[Mike]

Well, Schaub had been moving the team well all game, so Fisher figured a 4 point lead wouldn't hold up with only something less than 4 minutes to go. He decided to go for it. Thank goodness the pass was too high. We took over the ball, Slaton made one good run to get us out of the hole, the Tacks then ran out of timeouts before they could get the ball back. For once it was the other guy on the short end of the stick. We didn't whip their a**, but I'll take the win none the less, thank you.

I guess he was scared of the whopping 3 points we scored in the second half.:rolleyes:

[TexicanMexican]

Post game Fisher said the wind was against the kick so he opted to go for it instead of attempting the FG. I didn't really notice any wind at the game. Did anyone?

[Keith]

The weather was a little unusual for this game. It was at times rainy, sunny, breezy, cool and muggy. While there might have been some wind, I never really thought it was much to impact a FG, but from 50 yards out, who knows.

Some postgame quotes on the decision:
(on if [Kubiak] was surprised that Tennessee didn’t kick a field goal at the end) “No, I wasn’t, because that wind was a factor down there. With (K) Kris (Brown), and just talking to him throughout the game, that would have been a 54 or 53 (yard field goal) or something like that had he tried it. It was a pretty long field goal. I thought they might try to draw us offsides and then come out and kick the field goal, but they did not do that. I think it would have been a very difficult field goal today with the breeze.”

I find it kinda funny Kubiak calls it a "breeze", as if there maybe was a little wind, but not much. From Fisher:


(on his thoughts about the game) “I told the players, 'I’ll take this one.' I should have taken the wind in the fourth and not the third, and that’s exactly why I decided not to let (K) Rob (Bironas) kick. It was not within his range. I knew exactly what his range was, and I just felt that we would get things going into the fourth quarter that it wouldn’t be a factor. So that’s why we went for it on fourth down. It was not a good coaching decision.

(on what K Rob Bironas’ range is) “I know he was about five yards outside his range. He made attempts before the game and couldn’t get them close, and we were outside his range with wind a factor and wind was clearly a factor in here.”

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5008

Bironas can kick from 60. To me, this was a sign of (depending on your perspective) disrespect towards the Texans or of respect for one's own team. As a 12-1 team, I can understand it some if Fisher thinks his team is maybe blessed this year, but I don't think he goes for it like that against say the Steelers or Colts, do you?

[Arky]

Well, some are saying (me for one) that Fisher didn't want to make the FG and give the ball back to the Texans with just under 2 minutes remaining cause he knew the Texans were well and capable of driving for their own FG. If he'd have is druthers, he'd would have loved to pick up the first down, waste the clock running the ball and then kick the game-winning FG as time ran out.

The Texans may be developing a little rep as a good "last drive" team: see Green Bay/Miami games so that may have been rolling around in his noggin as well - no doubt Fisher watched the Green Bay game..... When Fisher said "this one is on me" I believe him to be telling the truth but as far as the "wind/out-of-range" comments go, pure coachspeak, IMO... He's not gonna say what he was really thinking other than to give a fragment...

[Dave]

Alot of talk about the decision not to kick the FG (and, rightly so) but, Fisher's biggest sin was the absolutely RIDICULOUS decision to play arguably the best receiver in the game today one-on-one; and with a nobody like Cortland Finnegan no less.

I have alot of respect for Fisher (despite the fact that he looks EXACTLY like your local Domino's Pizza manager). He's been doing more with less for about 15 years from now. He's a tremedous motivator. But, really, is he that great and "X's and O's" guy? Yesterday, he flat got outcoached.

[nunusguy]

Not only deciding against attempting the FG, but the play he called to pick up a mere 3 yards was strange IMO ?

[papabear]

I didn't get why he went for it either, but it was windy at times. We ended up taking down our tent at the tailgate because it was blowing around a lot....and it wasn't raining or hot so we didn't really need it. So there were some big wind wind gust. If Fisher says that Bironas was coming up short from that end of the field from that far out then it makes more sense than I thought. Couple that with the fact that that would have left us plenty of time on the clock, and it wasn't as bad as a move as I thought.

[Joshua]

Fisher said that before kickoff Bironas was trying 50 yard attempts at that end of the field and was coming up well short. This was why he didn't try. Peter King's MMQB has the quotes. However, like Keith said, the weather changed throughout the game and I'm not sure the wind at the end of the game was a strong as the wind before the game. As I sat there stunned that Fisher didn't try a kick, I looked at the ribbons attached at the top of the goalposts and they were barely moving at that time.

I disagree that Fisher was scared to give the Texans the ball back with 2 minutes left. I suspect having his defense on the field with a 2 point lead is something Fisher would be completely happy with.

Finally, I agree that playing press man coverage against Johnson all day was a bad call. However, I wouldn't call Finnegan a nobody. He should be going to the pro bowl. He is a really good corner (although he makes bonehead unnecessary roughness plays way too much).

[Keith]

Alot of talk about the decision not to kick the FG (and, rightly so) but, Fisher's biggest sin was the absolutely RIDICULOUS decision to play arguably the best receiver in the game today one-on-one; and with a nobody like Cortland Finnegan no less.

QFT. Fisher is a 46 disciple, and those guys love to stack the box and let their corners play man on an island. It was a bad idea yesterday since Angry Dre had something to prove after his drops in Nashville earlier this season.

But, really, is he that great and "X's and O's" guy? Yesterday, he flat got outcoached.
He's always conservative offensively, but I'm surprised he abandoned the run as much as he did yesterday since Vodka Collins was so inaccurate most of the afternoon. LandWhale was questionable entering the game and didn't get many touches, so maybe that was a factor, but I would have fed Chris Johnson more one way or another. Dude is a weapon. Credit to the Texans D-line though for an outstanding performance.

[barrett]

QFT. Fisher is a 46 disciple, and those guys love to stack the box and let their corners play man on an island. It was a bad idea yesterday since Angry Dre had something to prove after his drops in Nashville earlier this season.


He's always conservative offensively, but I'm surprised he abandoned the run as much as he did yesterday since Vodka Collins was so inaccurate most of the afternoon. LandWhale was questionable entering the game and didn't get many touches, so maybe that was a factor, but I would have fed Chris Johnson more one way or another. Dude is a weapon. Credit to the Texans D-line though for an outstanding performance.

Isn't this one of the signs of the appocalypse?

[papabear]

Isn't this one of the signs of the appocalypse?

Behold the pale horse....

[painekiller]

Alot of talk about the decision not to kick the FG (and, rightly so) but, Fisher's biggest sin was the absolutely RIDICULOUS decision to play arguably the best receiver in the game today one-on-one; and with a nobody like Cortland Finnegan no less.

I have alot of respect for Fisher (despite the fact that he looks EXACTLY like your local Domino's Pizza manager). He's been doing more with less for about 15 years from now. He's a tremedous motivator. But, really, is he that great and "X's and O's" guy? Yesterday, he flat got outcoached.

On TV it appeared to me that Andre was doubled with a safety most of the game. Yes He had some one on ones, but he was beating the safety on what Spencer Tillman called a "Banjo"Coverage.

The Titans mixed their coverages pretty well, AJ just schooled them with his will.

[HPF Bob]

Beyond passing up the field goal, the play call on 4th and 3 was also questionable. If they make the first down, wouldn't they just use more clock and force a closer FG try?

The play call I would have used would have been a play-action screen. You know the D is going to push upfield to stop the run. A veteran QB could have faked the dive play, faked a quick throw in one direction and finally looked the other way for Johnson or a tight end like Scaife. It wouldn't take that long to set up and the Texans would have likely ran themsleves out of position selling out to the dive play.

[kravix]

actually the play call was good.. it was the bad throw from Collins that killed them. He was off all day and had that been a better QB we would be moaning about another close loss to Tenn rather than a win because of a questionable call.

[Arky]

actually the play call was good.. it was the bad throw from Collins that killed them.....

Yes, I agree with this. I think Fisher just got too cute for the situation....

The old Packers (60's) used to do something like this on 3rd and 1. Everybody in the stadium is expecting run or short pass and boom! (/Madden) fly pattern for 6 points....

[Joshua]

actually the play call was good.. it was the bad throw from Collins that killed them. He was off all day and had that been a better QB we would be moaning about another close loss to Tenn rather than a win because of a questionable call.

But if he had been "off all day," why is it a good call to have him throw a fairly low percentage pass?

In any event, Texans won and happiness reigns.

[cadams]

actually the play call was good.. it was the bad throw from Collins that killed them. He was off all day and had that been a better QB we would be moaning about another close loss to Tenn rather than a win because of a questionable call.

And what makes you think that the Texans wouldn't have been able to score the go ahead if the Titans had scored? The Texans drove down the field at the end of the game running out the clock. Maybe you are right, but I am going glass half full at this point, mostly because that's all we've got.

The Texans dominated that game much more than the score showed, of course that exact phrase could be said about several games this season (particularly Indy) and is a big part of why they aren't still in playoff contention.

[popanot]

And what makes you think that the Texans wouldn't have been able to score the go ahead if the Titans had scored?Because if Collins hits that play and the WR goes down the Titans run down the clock leaving very little time left. On a side note to this, Kubiak got saved from that bonehead challenge and waisted timeout.

[papabear]

But if he had been "off all day," why is it a good call to have him throw a fairly low percentage pass?

In any event, Texans won and happiness reigns.

exactly my point...although my guess was they had other options on that play. The coverage we went too dictated that read by Collins. So for a change of pace, an aggressive defensive call forced the opposition into a low percentage play....he was wide open though.

If Fisher says Bironas couldn't make it from that end in warm-ups then I have no problem with the call...although the Titan fans will never accept that if they end up losing on the road in the playoffs :D