IntheBullseye.com - Official Texans @ Ravens Game Thread, 10/16/2011

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Wonder how the MRI on Schaub's hip went this morning. Scahub is getting knocked around plenty this last few weeks for sure.

Physically, Carr was one tough son of a gun. Bradford has always seemed a bit fragile to me.

As for a possible Kubiak firing, don't forget the Texans have a veteran former head coach on the sidelines now who has taken over teams at mid-season before although I really hope this doesn't happen. Wade Phillips isn't any better as head coach than Kubiak.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrett (Post 27220)

Definitely not a whipping. We are down a score inside of 5 minutes. We just got beat by a better team today. The truth is that we played really well and caught some breaks in the turnover game just to be in this one (2 TO and one of ours turning into our own TD). I didn't see a 4th quarter collapse, I saw a shorthanded bunch hold it together with ducktape and twine for 3 and a half quarters before the better team won. We simply aren't winning at Baltimore without AJ.

As for our offense, I will make it all about AJ being out. The most interesting thing to me is how bad our running game has looked without him. the announcers today mentioned how Randy Moss's coaches talked about how he was worth 5o ypg in the run game just by standing on the field. Well, after 2 weeks, AJ is worth at least that much in the run game. Not to mention the more obvious value in the passing game.

We are not an elite passing offense. And we are also not an elite rushing offense. But when all hands are on deck we are probably the most well balanced team in the NFL. That is clearly our strength. How all the pieces fit and compliment each other. Without the lynchpin (AJ) we are seeing that the other players are complimentary and not guys who are just going to whip people in the 1-on-1 battles (our OL especially). So with a very mortal running game and nothing to scare anybody in the passing game, and an OL that struggles to protect on straight drop passes without the PA game working, and an imobile QB who is a sitting duck without the moving pocket that a great run game provides...

Add it all up and you have the 2011 Houston Texans. A team that should win between 6 and 10 games (most likely 6 with our coach). Add AJ back to the equation and you are looking at 9 wins minimum considering our remaining schedule. He is worth at least that much. He is our Peyton Manning and there should no longer be any doubt that he is worth more than any 2 of our other players.

One of the best assessment I have read on the Texans.

Yep. People say "if your team is based on one player, its not that good of a team."

No, Andre Johnson is just THAT good.

He's one of the best players I've ever seen in my life, and means THAT much to this offense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMatrix31 (Post 27241)

Absolutely. Andre Johnson is a once in a lifetime player. We are very, very unlikely to see another wide receiver like Andre play for the Texans again.

I know you don't necessarily follow all the Houston teams but for those of us that do he is to me comparable to Hakeem and Bagwell in that regard.

And in all honesty that is a large percentage of the reason I sometimes get so bent out of shape with the Texans. I can take losing, I promise I can. I'm a lifelong Astros fan for god's sake. (Lifelong or until they get strongarmed into the AL...) I think it is tragic that the team lucked into this Hall of Fame lock (they were going to take McGahee until he got hurt, remember) and are going to waste his entire career due to staggering and aggressive incompetence at the top of the organization.

People are starting to complain about Andre's injury in the context of "oh unlucky us", we are having our typical bad luck when our key player is out
(now reportedly 6 weeks). Hey, he's in his ninth year in the league and 30 years old. Durability and resilience falls off in the NFL by the time players hit the big three-o. He's been a tremendous player, best we've ever had, but his career can not go on indefinitely.

I thought Andre was saying it is not yet 100% today but improving quickly.

Didn't close the door to playing this week although doubtful.

Six weeks was a maximum out time, not a most likely date as I was listening this morning to the live interview with Andre on 610.

This is his first hamstring injury, but he has been injured before and recovery time increases as one ages. He still looked pretty dominant up to this injury.

Injuries and referee calls seem to be the two bad luck excuses going around for the moment.

Saying AJ is the best player the Texans have ever had is like calling someone the best actress in a cheap movie. There hasn't exactly been a lot of excellence at Reliant Park.

And, Chuck, I echo the sentiments about the Astros. I just can't support an AL team, particularly the way this deal is going down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPF Bob (Post 27254)

And, Chuck, I echo the sentiments about the Astros. I just can't support an AL team, particularly the way this deal is going down.

Well, whaddaya know, you and I finally find something we can agree wholeheartedly on. The whole thing disgusts me more than I can possibly express. I don't know what I'm going to do but if the Astros get pimped out to the AL to be Nolan's bitch I don't see how I can support that in any way.

And I'll just ad that AJ is a superior player no matter what sort of team he plays for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPF Bob (Post 27254)

Andre would be a HOF, all-time level player no matter what team he played for. Perhaps even moreso.

No doubt AJ is an incredible player who we have a hard time winning games without. However, just to play devil's advocate, we also seem to have a hard time winning games with him as well. Not sure what to make of this other than maybe even great WRs just don't impact winning that much. I think most would agree the best 2 WRs in football the last several years were probably the 2 Johnsons. Neither team has anything to show for it.

Well, when Andre was in the lineup this year, Foster was out.

I don't think we've had Andre AND Foster for a full game so far.

Neither us or Detroit have anything to show for it but it s not exactly their fault. For Detroit, it's been Stafford being healthy to get him the ball. For us, it's been defensive woes.

Yes, Andre is the reason defenses are ganging up on the line of scrimmage daring us to run the ball. Which we can't do because we no longer have Vontae Leach for a lead blocker to take out that LB or DE. We made a mistake letting Vontae go, I think.

I would also draw your attention to the lockout period where I suggested we needed to strenthen our #2WR. I was poo-pooed yet again, but it has turned out to be I was right. With Andre out, they can double OD, and pay little, or no attention to JJ & Walter, because they are not anywhere near the threat that AJ is.