Official Texans @ Raiders Thread, 12/21/2008

[Keith]

Let's get it on!

Anyone know a good place in north Dallas to watch the game?

[HPF Bob]

There's got to be some good sports bars around there or some establishment with Sunday Ticket. Be sure to crow "How 'bout them Cowboys?" periodically. :D

[Arky]

Following are the inactives for the Texans' matchup with the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Texans inactives are:
42 CB David Pittman
27 CB Matterral Richardson
47 SS Will Demps
52 LB Xavier Adibi
63 C Chris White
78 T Rashad Butler
87 TE Mark Bruener
97 DT Frank Okam

Changes to the Texans' starting lineup: Weakside linebacker Morlon Greenwood will start for rookie Xavier Adibi.

Raiders' inactives are:
16 QB Andre Walter (third QB)
39 CB Darrick Brown
41 RB Louis Rankin
57 LB Ricky Brown
69 T James Marten
71 C John Wade
89 WR Ronald Curry
97 DE Greyson Gunheim

Changes to the Raiders' starting lineup: Wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins will start for Ashley Lelie, who was placed on the reserve/injured list. Wide receiver Chaz Schilens will start for Ronald Curry.

http://www.houstontexans.com/gameday/GameInactive.asp?game_id=128&team=y

[Arky]

Texans kick off. Raiders bring it out to their own 37.

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

Raiders move the ball down the field and go up top on 3rd and 1 for a 20 yd. TD pass.

Raiders 7, Texans 0

[Arky]

Raiders kick off. AD brings it out to the Texan 29.

Schaub hits OD for 20 yds on the first play and then comes right back to OD for about 34 more yards.

Next play, K Walter on an end around puts the ball at the Raider 3.

-----------

3rd down at the 1..... Vonta Leach punches it in.

Texans 7, Raiders 7

[Arky]

Texans kick off. Oakland brings it out to their own 34.

----------

Again, Raiders move down the field with ease but the defense finally comes up with a stop on 3rd down. Raiders to go for the FG. 33 yd FG is good.

Raiders 10, Texans 7

[chuck]

Dunta just got his bell rung.

Reeves, the team's best cornerback, is getting toasted. As always.

[popanot]

Looks like our old defense is back. :rolleyes: It would be nice if Kris would make some deeper kickoffs. The Raiders are starting from their ~35.

[chuck]

Let's get it on!

Anyone know a good place in north Dallas to watch the game?

When I'm on the road I always like to look for a Buffalo Wild Wings. They show all the games and they have free wifi which usually takes my mind off of the reliably deplorable service.

[chuck]

Looks like our old defense is back. :rolleyes: It would be nice if Kris would make some deeper kickoffs. The Raiders are starting from their ~35.

The short kick of the Raiders seems to have worked fine for them.

Marciano is a joke.

[Arky]

Raiders catch the Texans napping with an onside kick! Raiders ball at their own 44.

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3rd and 4 ..... Raiders convert for a 1st down.

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Ball presently at the Texans 20.

[popanot]

The defense is napping. They're making the Raiders look like they actually belong in the NFL. I'm wondering if we can get within 10 yards of their WRs with our "coverage".

[chuck]

The refusal to blitz paired with only one DL with any push is a disgrace. The Raiders' third down conversion percentage is off the charts.

[Arky]

Raiders fail to convert on 3rd and 2 so on comes the FG team. 30 yd FG is good.

Raiders 13, Texans 7

[Arky]

Raiders kick off. AD brings it out to the Texan 27.

End of 1st quarter.

--------

Time of possession: Raiders 12:20, Texans 2:40

[Joshua]

For reasons unknown, we are always terrible when we are the favorite. You would think that as infrequent as this is, the Texans wouldn't take it for granted. However, it seems like every time we're favored, they act like they won the game just by getting off the bus.

For the life of me, I don't understand why teams like the Patriots can keep their intensity up for 16 weeks as the favorite but we think we're God's gift to football after winning a couple games and can just go through the motions.

[Arky]

Texans go 3 and out and have to punt. Ball rolls to the Raiders 28. Raiders ball.

-----

Raiders have 3rd and 9 near midfield. Pass is incomplete. Raiders to punt.

----------

JJ fair catches at the Texans 9 yard line.

[chuck]

That's what happens when you get a little pressure from the DTs. Hell yeah. Two no-names, too. Our first rounders are AWOL.

[Arky]

Texans run a QB sneak on 4th and inches from their own 40 yard line and pick up the 1st down.

-----------

Schaub hits OD for a good gainer to about the Raider 35. 1st down.

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3rd and 10..... Pass too high for Slaton. Texans to try the 53 yard FG. FG is good!

Raiders 13, Texans 10

[chuck]

That was one of the strangest looking kicks I've ever seen. It looked like Hiram Eugene had leaped over the line somehow and blocked it. The kick itself fluttered along like it had been blocked, and then the next thing I know the officials are signaling 'good.' Wow.

[Arky]

Texans kick off. Raiders bring it out to their own 26.

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

Raiders go 3 and out and have to punt.

--------

JJ fumbles the punt but J Reeves there to recover it..... man...

Texans ball at their own 19.

[chuck]

Reeves does something positive for a change.

I bench Jones' ass for the rest of the year. I am sick of that crap.

[chuck]

Hey, I've got an idea. Let's throw it to #80 just for the hell of it.

[Arky]

Hoo, hoo....... Schaub hits David Anderson on 3rd down and Anderson gets big YAC for a 65 yard gainer.

Ball presently at the Oakland 11. How 'bout a red zone TD, fellas?

-------

Nope, Brown on for the 24 FG. FG is good.

Texans 13, Raiders 13

:38 till halftime.

[Joshua]

I bench Jones' ass for the rest of the year. I am sick of that crap.

Agreed. Turnovers on special teams are absolute killers. What is that, 3 straight weeks he's fumbled a punt?

[chuck]

This team's red zone play calling is an absolute disgrace. Kubiak should be ashamed of himself. In fact, he should just turn over red zone play calling to Gibbs or someone who knows what he's doing. Or even someone who doesn't. It wouldn't be any different from Kubiak's leadership.

[popanot]

WTF is with Kris Brown today?? F'ing kick the f'ing ball!!!! As for Jacoby, his career with the Texans may have ended with that fumble and injury.

[Arky]

Texans kickoff and Raiders are nearing midfield with :25 seconds left....

-----------

Raiders at the Texan 44 with 11 seconds left....

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Time runs out. Halftime.

[chuck]

WTF is with Kris Brown today?? F'ing kick the f'ing ball!!!! As for Jacoby, his career with the Texans may have ended with that fumble and injury.

That idiotic squib kick is a called play. It's not Kris Brown, it's Marciano. I believe I've made my thoughts on Marciano clear. He just gave the Raiders three points.

On another note, Russell is as good as I thought he'd be. What a colossal f-up by the Raiders playing hardball with him and wasting an entire year.

[Joshua]

WTF is with Kris Brown today?? F'ing kick the f'ing ball!!!! As for Jacoby, his career with the Texans may have ended with that fumble and injury.

They are clearly worried about Johnny Lee Higgins. He has ran 2 or 3 kickoffs back this year.

[popanot]

They are clearly worried about Johnny Lee Higgins. He has ran 2 or 3 kickoffs back this year.I understand that, but I think I'd take my chances rather than constantly giving them great field position.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 6/12, 139 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

Rushing: Slaton 10/33

Receiving: Daniels 3/69, Anderson 1/65

Leading Tacklers: Ferguson - Greenwood - Bentley - Du Robinson all with 4.

3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/6, Raiders 5/9

Time of possession: Texans 12:53, Raiders 17:07

[popanot]

That idiotic squib kick is a called play. It's not Kris Brown, it's Marciano. I believe I've made my thoughts on Marciano clear.That last one was definitely Marciano. However, the first two KOs went right to the guy who they're apparently trying to stay away from. Even worse, they went to him at ~15yd line.

[barrett]

That idiotic squib kick is a called play. It's not Kris Brown, it's Marciano. I believe I've made my thoughts on Marciano clear. He just gave the Raiders three points.

On another note, Russell is as good as I thought he'd be. What a colossal f-up by the Raiders playing hardball with him and wasting an entire year.

Worst case of patting one's own back I've ever seen. The guy is terrible and you are so out of touch you will actually publicly congratulate yourself for 'knowing how good he'd be'.

[Arky]

Raiders kick off. Texans bring it out to their own 36.

1st play, Schaub is sacked back to the 27.

Walter for 4. 3rd and 16.

Screen to OD gets stuffed. Texans to punt.

Higgins brought down at the Raider 26. Raiders ball.

[popanot]

Ugh... Our OL is sucking it up today. No running game and the Raiders are getting constant pressure. The only play really working is the misdirect rollout to OD.

[chuck]

Worst case of patting one's own back I've ever seen. The guy is terrible and you are so out of touch you will actually publicly congratulate yourself for 'knowing how good he'd be'.

Russell is good; his team is terrible. He is young and raw, but he will be a very good quarterback. Get back to me in five years and let me know where we are. If I'm wrong I'll be happy to admit it.

But you'll excuse me for not having a tremendous amount of faith in your evaluation of talent.

[Arky]

Raiders moving the ball on the ground.

Ball is presently a the Raider 46.

-----

McFadden for two big gainers....

Ball at the Texan 29.

--------

Raiders hit the deep pass for 6 pts.


Raiders 20, Texans 13

[Arky]

Raiders to kick off.

----

Leach brings it out to the Texan 30 yard line.

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This team doesn't seem hungry today - not like the last few weeks.... Some are playing hard, others not.....

[Arky]

Texans can't go anywhere so they have to punt....

And there he goes.....

80 yard punt return by Higgins.

Raiders 27, Texans 13

[chuck]

When you are punting from midfield why the F^&* do you punt the ball down the middle of the field??????????

[Joshua]

When you are punting from midfield why the F^&* do you punt the ball down the middle of the field??????????

I don't know why, but Turk rarely (if ever) directional punts.

[Arky]

Raiders kick off. AD brings it out to the 30....

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Texans near midfield. 4:23 left in the 3rd quarter.

[Big Texas]

This is why I have not been so easily impressed by our teams recent success.

2 Reasons:

1. We can never seem to beat the hell outta the teams we are supposed to.
(We shut down the top rushing tandem in the league last week and now we are getting killed by the worst team in the league this week).

2. We seem to always play to the level of our competition. Not the characteristics of a winner.
(We are in no better shape than we were at the beginning of the season.) Still doing the same dumb sh@t.

[Big Texas]

I dont know if the muddy field is a factor but slaton cannot cut as well as he normally does.

In the meantime our O-Line is getting exposed. They are getting pushed 3-4 into the backfield every running play. Results: a loss.

[Big Texas]

Johnny lee Who?

This is why we havent pushed to that next level. We make superstars outta nobodies.

[Big Texas]

Kubiak is overcoaching himself.

[Big Texas]

The pressure of finally having a winning season is too much I guess.

AJ misused Finnegan all game last week. Now we wont even take a chance on Asumougha. (or however you spell his name). 1 pass thrown to all game.

[Arky]

Texans have to punt. Raiders fair catch at their own 13.

Time for a turnover.....

---------

3rd and 4 for the Raiders..... McFadden makes a tough catch for the 1st down...

[Big Texas]

We beat the best team in the league last week and now we are gonna lose to one of the worst this week. Wow what a story line.

Well I guess we're back to no respect on the national level, now. I can see Deion now.

[chuck]

This refusal to blitz a team that absolutely collapses under a blitz is just inexcusable.

[Big Texas]

raiders 3rd conv. % on season 25%

Against the Texans 7-10 70%

wow.

[Arky]

Raiders have to punt. Punt goes into the end zone.

Texans ball at the 20.

Walter gets a 13 yard catch on 1st down.

End of 3rd quarter.

[Arky]

Texans have 3rd and 7 at the Oakland 44....

Complete to Daniels to the Raider 30.

--------

AJ finally gets a catch - good for 8 yards.

AJ another catch to the Raider 10.

[Arky]

Texans mess it up with a penalty and Walter has a catch knocked loose for an incomplete, so Brown comes on for the FG. FG is good

Raiders 27, Texans 16

9:55 left in the game...

[Arky]

Texans kick off. Raiders bring it out to their 27.

--------

Big, big turnover. Russell is sacked and Bentley recovers the fumble.......

[HPF Bob]

We traditionally play the Raiders well. I guess they just aren't bringing it today.

I can't watch it (stuck with Redskins-Eagles at work), so I'm just going by the always dubious GameCenter.

[Arky]

Texans ball at the 14.

1st down, Slaton runs for 9.

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3rd and 1 for the Texans ........ Pass is broken up.

Texans to go for it on 4th and 1.....

[chuck]

That third down play call with just inches to go was a disgrace. It's like Kubiak is playing some sort of elaborate joke that I'm just not getting.

[Arky]

Pass on 4th and 1 is incomplete. Raider take over.

What a call.... one of the lousiest run defenses in the league.....

[TheMatrix31]

THROWING on fourth and inches?!

[chuck]

I'm serious, this is unreal. If I owned this team I would walk down there and fire his dumb ass right now. What an unbelievable idiot. Good god, what a moron. Incredible.

[Arky]

Raiders have 4th and 1 and have to punt.

----------

Nice return by JJ puts the ball in Raider territory.

4:23 left in the game.

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1st play, Schaub INT'ed.....

[TheMatrix31]

It's just not our day.

Go out there next week against Chicago and pray for 8-8.

[Big Texas]

The story of this game. The story of our season.

[Arky]

It's just not our day.

Go out there next week against Chicago and pray for 8-8.

It's ironic that several weeks ago, people were thinking this (Oakland) would be our only win left in the year....

[Big Texas]

THROWING on fourth and inches?!

Thats how we do it here in houston.

They didnt even stack the box as if they were scared of the run. he would've done a better job just pullin it down and trying to run for the first.

[Big Texas]

The only thing we are good at is being unpredictable. What a game.

[chuck]

Hey! Two blitzes in a row! Outside blitzes are useless against runs up the middle of course.

[Big Texas]

Chris Johnson playing inside coverage on AJohnson. We are down by 11. Why are we forcing the ball across the middle?

:eek::eek::eek:

[Big Texas]

7 guys blitzin 5 oline, where are the extra two guys?

:eek:

[Arky]

Raiders moving the ball.

2 minute warning.....

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Texans take over on downs.

1:05 left in the game.

[Big Texas]

If we couldnt beat one of the worst teams in football right now. I can really see a 7-9 season. Wow.

Most people say dont lose faith after one loss. Buts its not one loss its been 8. So last weeks win in Tennessee meant nothing.

it just proved we have playoff potential. Something we been having since...

:eek::eek::eek:

[Arky]

Texans have 4th and 7....

Pass to Daniels picks up the 1st down.

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:17 seconds left.

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Schaub sacked. Game over.

Final score:

Raiders 27, Texans 16

A real stinker.....

[Big Texas]

The commentator said we took a step back today. going from beating the hottest team in the league to losing to one of the worst. I think thats more than one step back...

[Nconroe]

not much to say . I guess Slayton being our Texans leading all time rusher is a good thing. lots of blown chances on offense. poor defense and special teams in the mud. on to next week.

[chuck]

The next time I hear Kubiak admit to making a mistake will be the first. He's more stubborn than George Bush and about as smart. I think that's what bothers me most about him, that he doesn't seem to have any awareness of when he f's up.

[barrett]

Russell is good; his team is terrible. He is young and raw, but he will be a very good quarterback. Get back to me in five years and let me know where we are. If I'm wrong I'll be happy to admit it.

But you'll excuse me for not having a tremendous amount of faith in your evaluation of talent.

Don't rely on my evaluation of talent, just on how terrible he has played for two years. It is your evaluation that must be taken entirely on faith.

As for the Texans, they layed an egg today. We have desperate need for a short yardage back. Slaton is plenty tough to run inside on 1st and 10 but it is unfair to ask him to carry it on 3rd and 1. This should be a priority in the offseason.

[Big Texas]

lots of blown chances on offense. poor defense and special teams in the mud. on to next week.


Very well and optimistically put. It was far worse than that. We were playing the "Raiders"

[chuck]

We have desperate need for a short yardage back. Slaton is plenty tough to run inside on 1st and 10 but it is unfair to ask him to carry it on 3rd and 1. This should be a priority in the offseason.

I agree totally, but the team doesn't. They have made it clear that their system demands a one-cut back, and I fully expect them to draft a Slaton clone in the 4th or 5th. If they draft or acquire a short yardage back I will be astonished.

[Big Texas]

Slaton is plenty tough to run inside on 1st and 10 but it is unfair to ask him to carry it on 3rd and 1. This should be a priority in the offseason.

On 4th and inches. We couldve fell over the first down marker if the right play were called. But playaction into triple coverage was not the right play.

[Big Texas]

There was triple coverage on Walter and double coverage on AJohnson. So who the hell was on the LOS.

[barrett]

On 4th and inches. We couldve fell over the first down marker if the right play were called. But playaction into triple coverage was not the right play.

and yet everyone complained about the play call on 3rd and 1 near the goal line in the first half when we gave it to slaton and he got stuffed (without even getting those inches you get for free when you fall down).

You can fault the play calling there, but it doesn't change the fact we don't have a back who can carry it for short yardage.

[barrett]

I agree totally, but the team doesn't. They have made it clear that their system demands a one-cut back, and I fully expect them to draft a Slaton clone in the 4th or 5th. If they draft or acquire a short yardage back I will be astonished.


Hopefully the red zone performance this year convinces them otherwise. If not, we'll continue to go for 400 yards and 23 points a game. Running down near the goal line you have to beat people, not misdirect them. Our line is not built for this and that is fine, but you can still have a back who is. Denver always had good power backs who offset the small lineman down near the goal line (davis, anderson, droughns, etc...).

Either way, as suprising as it is to me...we really missed Ahman Green today.

[Big Texas]

and yet everyone complained about the play call on 3rd and 1 near the goal line in the first half when we gave it to slaton and he got stuffed (without even getting those inches you get for free when you fall down).

You can fault the play calling there, but it doesn't change the fact we don't have a back who can carry it for short yardage.

I dont contend the fact that we need a short yardage back. My "beef" is the same as that of everyone else. If you cannot convert 4th and inches on the "Raiders"!!! Come on. It shouldnt matter who your back is. "COACH thats what you get paid to do"

[chuck]

Hopefully the red zone performance this year convinces them otherwise. If not, we'll continue to go for 400 yards and 23 points a game. Running down near the goal line you have to beat people, not misdirect them. Our line is not built for this and that is fine, but you can still have a back who is. Denver always had good power backs who offset the small lineman down near the goal line (davis, anderson, droughns, etc...).

Either way, as suprising as it is to me...we really missed Ahman Green today.

I really, really hope the team doesn't fall in love with Slaton's numbers (good as they are) and ignore the team's wretched performance in the red zone. They need a bruiser, a guy who can pick up two yards running behind a FB when everyone knows what play you're going to run. Green was great at that role when healthy. I desperately hoped that Chris Taylor would grow into that role.

[Big Texas]

We need to target a bruiser and go and get him. Not settle for anybody and try to turn him into a bruiser.

[nunusguy]

Texans flat and Raiders hungry. But they kept giving us opportunities to get back in the game except Kubiak kept coming up with wierd play calls that makes one wonder if he's really ready for prime-time ?
Anyway, it's hard for our guys to get up for a game that really has no meaning for the rest of the season, especially since we've been doing just that for about 3 or 4 weeks.
The most important things are that nobody got hurt bad and we improved our Draft position for April.

[Big Texas]

The most important things are that nobody got hurt bad and we improved our Draft position for April.

We been improving our draft position since our inception. When are we gonna start making those draft choices pay off.

[NBT]

We reverted back to the old ho hum defense of the first part of the season. You can't win like that, and I don't really think Kubiak wanted to! So come on with the flames. I have never seen a more uninspired football game.

[barrett]

I really, really hope the team doesn't fall in love with Slaton's numbers (good as they are) and ignore the team's wretched performance in the red zone. They need a bruiser, a guy who can pick up two yards running behind a FB when everyone knows what play you're going to run. Green was great at that role when healthy. I desperately hoped that Chris Taylor would grow into that role.

I couldn't agree more. To me Slaton is a better version of what Julius Jones was for the cowboys two years ago. That is not a knock. It is not to say he can't be one of the best RBs in the league. It is just meant to say why ask a guy to do things he doesn't do well.

Slaton clearly is tough enough and physical enough to run between the tackles and to carry it 25+ times a game, but this doesn't mean he is a short yardage back. Short yardage is a unique skill that is less about size than about pad level and how quick and hard a guy hits a hole. Marcus Allen and Emmitt Smith are the two best short yardage guys I've ever seen and neither was big, but they knew how to get low and burrow for the yard. Slaton does a ton of things well (speed, cutbacks, breaks tackles, moves the pile on downfield runs, catches the ball well). But he's just bad on short yardage.

I'd love to see us pick a short yardage runner in the draft (not necessarily a big runner though it could be). I wouldn't spend more than a 2nd or 3rd since we're talking about a part-time back, but I still think it's one of our biggest priorities this offseason (and the biggest on offense). Almost every great running team splits time with two or more GOOD backs. Of the top 7 rushing attacks (minnesota, tennessee, NE, Baltimore, New York Giants) all 7 have a #2 RB that plays an important role in the offense.

[chuck]

Slaton clearly is tough enough and physical enough to run between the tackles and to carry it 25+ times a game, but this doesn't mean he is a short yardage back.

Bingo. As I type this I'm watching Brandon Jacobs bull his way up the middle into the end zone when everyone in the stadium knew what they were going to do. Then an effective play-action to a WR who'd slipped the man coverage for an instant. Both of these teams are incredibly effective in the red zone, partially because of their personnel and partially because they have OCs who are not brain dead. Man, this is fun to watch.

[barrett]

Bingo. As I type this I'm watching Brandon Jacobs bull his way up the middle into the end zone when everyone in the stadium knew what they were going to do. Then an effective play-action to a WR who'd slipped the man coverage for an instant. Both of these teams are incredibly effective in the red zone, partially because of their personnel and partially because they have OCs who are not brain dead. Man, this is fun to watch.

I agree. Jacobs is awesome. And I'll add that Jacobs would look just as bad if they asked him to be steve slaton as a player in space and a receiver out of the backfield.

Point is don't ask a guy to do what he can't do. Unfortunately right now we have 1 RB. We need another good one in the offseason.

[chuck]

We need another good one in the offseason.

Which brings us back to what we were talking about initially. From what I've read and observed they won't specifically look for a bigger back. I am aware that this is a team that kept Ron Dayne on the roster long after his expiration date. We'll see.

[popanot]

I'm certainly not blaming Richard Smith for yeserday's pathetic performance because everyone had a role in that suckitude. However, to me, it just validates that we still need to jettison his ass and hire someone who knows what the hell they're doing. I'm a fraction away from feeling the same way about our HC. The only thing missing yesterday was one of his bonehead challenges.

[nunusguy]

The only thing missing yesterday was one of his bonehead challenges.

Actually Kubiak missed the opportunity to make a valid challenge of that pass that AJ caught just a fraction of an inch above the playing surface that was ruled incomplete.

[nunusguy]

As I type this I'm watching Brandon Jacobs bull his way up the middle into the end zone when everyone in the stadium knew what they were going to do.

It's not just that we don't have Jacobs. We don't have an OLine like the Giants have either. Our OLine, relatively small to include very smallish TEs, is built for ZB which features quickness & finesese/backside & second-level blocking schemes and not power-blocking.

[Big Texas]

It's not just that we don't have Jacobs. We don't have an OLine like the Giants have either. Our OLine, relatively small to include very smallish TEs, is built for ZB which features quickness & finesese/backside & second-level blocking schemes and not power-blocking.

This is another valid point. Our oline is not in any shape form or fashion bulldozers. It was very simple what oakland did. They said to hell with trying to get penetration on our running plays. (which is what we would have preferred so slaton could do what he does best and cutback on the penetrating lineman.) They didnt even let our Oline get into their zone to block, they just bullrushed our smaller weaker Oline into the backfield while the LB waited for slaton to try and bounce outside. Knowing this, like 11 prior teams, we should have adjusted, call some sweeps or screens (actually to the RB) to take advantage of the DLine that wasnt even looking for the RB, just looking to push the pile backwards.

I dont profess to have all the answers but if you are the HC,OC, or DC halftime is for adjustments not potty breaks.

[Joshua]

I'm a fraction away from feeling the same way about our HC. The only thing missing yesterday was one of his bonehead challenges.

Was anyone else remembering the first Titans game when Kubiak refused to take fieldgoals which would have put the game in reach? I simply don't understand why he refuses to take the points. Particularly when we're such a terrible short yardage team. Like everyone else has been saying, it would be one thing if we had Brandon Jacobs, but with no go-to short yardage guy, why wouldn't you take the points and get it within 8. This then led to the predictable INT when Schaub pretty much had to force the issue since they were down by 11.

[chuck]

I simply don't understand why he refuses to take the points.

Because he is stubborn and stupid. In my experience this is a dangerous combination.

[Keith]

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2008/20081222.html

When I'm on the road I always like to look for a Buffalo Wild Wings. They show all the games and they have free wifi which usually takes my mind off of the reliably deplorable service.

Yeah, last time I got stuck in Addison, I dialed up a BW3. This time I wandered into the bar at a BJ's pizza. By the way, for a pizza restaurant, you'd think they'd know the difference between deep dish and pan pizza, and they're serving the latter there, not the former, in spite of what their menus say. Too bad the Bears can't bring some real Chicago deep dish down with them this Sunday.