Official Texans @ Cardinals Game Thread, 8/14/2010
 

I feel the excitement rushing through my veins. You would think I was the one suiting up August 14th at University of Phoenix Stadium...

As I have silently observed training camps, read forums and blogs there has been a consistent ringing "KJax burned again". Of course he has been going up against THE BEST WR in the league (although it hasn't just been AJ). McCain has been the only one that has been considered a consistent cover and he has been labeled too short...The only word I keep hearing when it comes to our secondary is physical...I hope that is code for...will knock WRs around and make them fear coming across the middle...jamming WRs allowing time for our pass rush to get to the QB etc...

With our first two preseason games against two of the most prolific passing attacks in the league(Arizona, New Orleans), I think we will get a chance to see, at least in part, where our secondary stands-and pass rush for that matter.

Of course we know Arizona has a new field general (Leinart); Fitzgerald, Brees, and Colston wont see too many snaps. However, I am still hoping to see some hard hitting, sacks, and most importantly at least a few INTs.

Lets Go Texans...

Less than 4 days away from Texans vs. Cardinals. But who's counting? ;)

Degenerate gamblers will note that the game odds rate from a pickem to Texans favored by 1.5.

Starters will probably only be in for a series or two so we should see a lot of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th stringers fighting for a spot....

Finally at 7 PM this Saturday we get to see our Texans in a practice game against another team. I'm hoping to see a better running game and good play by our DB's. Just can't wait.

We probably won't see much of anyone important. A win would be nice for momentum sake but I don't think it is as critical as previous years when the team needed to believe in themselves.

This one's probably more critical for the draft choices and roster fodder. It will be a good test for the backup QBs though - to see if we need to start looking for a better one than Orlovsky and Booty.

Well its official according to houstontexans.com:

"- First-round draft pick Kareem Jackson will miss the Texans' preseason opener at Arizona on Saturday. The rookie cornerback out of Alabama will be in Georgia attending the funeral of his grandmother, who passed away earlier this week. Second-year cornerback Brice McCain will start opposite Glover Quin in Jackson's place. "We'll just pick up everybody else's play and get a chance to see more guys this week, and we've got to make it up with Kareem next week," Kubiak said."

My prayers go out to him and his family.

However, I sure would've liked to get a chance to see him go up against the likes of fitgerald, if not only for 5-10 plays. Well there's always week 2 against NO, another prolific passing attack.

A few questions I have going into the game:

-How long will Jacoby play?
-What does Mr. Mitchell look like in real game action?
-What will we see from BTate?
-Will there be much change in the offensive scheme without Kyle?
-Has Connor progressed from year 1 to 2?
-Is Caldwell polished enough to take our running game to new heights this year?

I probably wont get all these questions answered but I definitely will get an idea.

Thats sucks man... No K-Jack for the first preseason game. But its understandable, family comes first.

For a rookie, especially our top Draft pick and the player who is supposed to replace D-Rob as the starter at one of the all-important CB positions, this game is very important but still it's just preseason. However I've got to wonder what Jackson would do if this was the season opener against Peyton/Colts in Reliant ? He might need to make a different decision ?

He has had a hammy issue this week, so I am guessing he would have been limited in the game. So not a huge deal.

Go here for a 2-page, printer-ready list of the roster sorted by jersey number. Comes in handy when keeping up with the new guys.....

I did a Madden 11 sim of this pre season game and we won 24-17. The first group defense did give up a long TD pass on the Cards' first drive though. Let's see what happens.

It's a funeral. I wouldn't expect him to play.

"gameday thread" are two beautiful words!

Here's a list of things to watch tonight with some attention focused on the Cardinals' personnel and their strengths/weaknesses:

Texans Bull Blog

TV in Austin
 

Well, this is odd.

On the Time Warner System in Austin, the Texans-Cardinals game is not going to be available on the basic tier, but it is available on the HD tier on Channel 1525. Apparently, KXAN has the rights to the game but they are not showing it instead of the regular Saturday night programming on their main channel. Instead, they are showing it on one of their secondary HD channels.

I suspect, if you have one of those boxes to convert over-the-air HD signals, you can also get it that way. I have no idea about satellite customers but I would suggest you look in the extra channels for local stations. It appears NFL Network will have a replay of the game in the wee hours of Monday morning.

San Antonio viewers will find the game on KMYS, Channel 35.

13 more minutes , looking forward to the practice game starting.

Ol' Bob Allen on Ch 13 looks like he's been visiting Jerry Jones cosmetologist.... :eek:

Gametime!

Texans win the flip and will receive....

Holliday brings the kickoff back to the 34.

woohoo, underway

nice return by the rook.

Schaub's short pass to Dreesen is batted away. Brings up 2nd and 10.

Schaub throws complete to Walter for 16 yards. 1st down.

Foster runs for 20 off left tackle.

Foster gets about 4 yards on 1st down. Brings up 2nd and 6.

Dump to D Anderson good for about 3. Brings up 3rd and 4 at the 23.

Pass to AJ complete for the 1st down. But AJ fumbles - refs rule Cards ball. Challenge in the works?

Kubiak challenges that AJ was down. Replay seems to confirm this.

clearly we will win this challenge on fumble call on AJ. he was pretty clear down.

That wasnt even close to a fumble. Come on refs.

Refs rule Texans ball, 1st and 10 at the 12!

JJ loses about 6 on the reverse.

AJ gets about 4 on the screen. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Someone tear out the reverse from the playbook.

Easily my least favorite play evah.

Flag on the play before the play gets going. False start offense. Makes it 3rd and 15.

Foster off left tackle for about 4 or 5. Texans to go for the FG.

Brown is on for a 31 yarder.

FG is good!

Texans 3, Cards 0

Saw some good running from Foster. However same ol' Texans (Kubiak). They call a dumb ass reverse in the red zone and we settle for a field goal. Well at least KBrown made it.

reverse and motion penalty on 76 did em in. same ol story fo sure so far

Cards bring the kickoff back to their own 27.

Hightower for 2 or 3 off right tackle.

Wow, Texans hit the runner in the backfield - TFL. Fumble but Cards recover. Brings up 3rd and 19.

Mario sacks Leinart at the 3! Cards have to punt...

nice tqackle by Pollard, nice almost fumble and now sack by Mario, D looking good so far.

Holliday lets the punt go but then decides to recover it at the Texan 42. Hmmm...


Ball ends up being marked at the Cards 47. ??


Foster for 3.

Schaub hits AJ wide open down the left sideline.... deep pass of 44 yards ..... TD.

Brown's point after is good.

Texans 10, Cards 0

It's an end-around, but yes, idiotic. Good to know that the new OC does the same slapdick nonsense in the red zone that the old one did.

Get that play out of the playbook, f%#& me.

yahooo, first TD of the year, Schaub to AJ , 44 yds.

One-on-one against number 80. Guess what? That's not going to work.

Underthrown ball and he still had 3 steps on em'. I am convinced Andre is ready to go.

Good to see some football even if it's the preseaon.

Ok we know we can quick strike. I almost wish we had another chance in the red zone. But I love Andre making his presence felt early...

Cards bring the kickoff back to their own 21.

Leinart's dump off goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Leinart hits Fitz across the middle - play goes for about 16 yards.

Hightower gets about 3 off right tackle.

Brandon Kieth #72 RT for Arizona will for the remainder of the season be remembered as the guy that Mario blew up early in preseason game 1.

Yeah, I'm guessing this speaks to a lack of gameplanning for the opponent in the first game of the preseason. I don't think Angry Dre sees much 1-on-1 come September.