Official Texans vs New Orleans Fake Game Thread, 8/20/2011
 

It's still preseason and we do play NO during the regular season, so likely to be a fairly routine calls game.

Sounds like the starters will be in longer this game, so we hope everyone stays healthy.

I mainly hope our team continues to compete well in all phases and not look overmatched anywhere. But it is preseason, time for learning and trying everyone out.

A few things seem to be of interest to watch out of last week -
Defense
- how will Mario progress in his position
- will we stop runs up the middle
- can we protect against the long pass
- will Braman and Nadding continue to look good at OLB
Offense
- how will we protect against lots of blitzes
- how will Tate and Arian look at RB, and Ogbonnaya continue to look
- how about Jean and other WR's
ST
- kick returners, will this improve, although likely still backups
- and will kick coverage improve

Pretty good list for things to watch for. However, as you said, we meet the Saints pretty early in the year so I expect both teams to keep it pretty vanilla. Thus, I don't anticipate the Saints sending a lot of blitzes so you may not get a chance to see how we protect against the blitz this week.

I would also add that I'm looking for Schaub to give some indication that he is aware he is playing a football game sometime before midway through the 2nd quarter.

agree on mario, he was blocked way too much on monday by one o-lineman

don't want to see foster in this game at all.

want to see if they can continue to get pressure on the opposing qb

want to see the offense actually come out in sync at the BEGINNING of a game.

I wasn't overly concerned about Mario. He was a non-factor, but it was a very small sampling. Plus they used only 3 step drops while he was in the game. The run plays that worked were up the middle (where we may be in trouble this year unless Cushing looks like 2009).

Basically I saw nothing concerning from Mario, but if he played a whole game like that then we just turned him into a non-impact player. More plays should tell us more. And so should an offense that will drop back and pass.

Sean Payton has ran up 38 pts on the Texans in each of the last two preseason games. Should be a good test for the new defense....

Mario is a DE/DT type not DE/OLB type, so the sooner they get thru this nonsense about him playing at this new position the better. Besides we are very vulnerable up front from rushing plays with our small nose and the very smallish A.Smith ('bout 275) at one DE. Don't be surprised if the Saints with their monster guard duo (Evans & Nicks) maul us pretty bad with the hard-running Ingram up the middle. A Mario-JJ DE pairing would give us a stronger run defense and a better pass rush, especially when you move Mario up front and add another real edge-rusher to pair with Barwin.

Kickoff due in a few minutes...

Arian, Tate, AJ, Cushing supposed to play tonight..... JoJo still out...

Texans to kickoff to the Saints...

Hartmann kicks it out of the endzone. Saints ball at their 20.

Big hole for Thomas - gains about 13 yards on 1st down.

Pass good for 9 but flag on the play. Late hit on Adibi, 15 yards. Ball at the Texans 43.

Dump pass to Sproles gets about 9. Brings up 2nd and 1.

Dump pass to Sproles goes inc. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Thomas picks up the 1st down with a 2 or 3 yard gain. Ball at the Texan 33.

Ingram gets about 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Ingram tripped up by Watt for 2 yard gain. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass sails inc but flag thrown on the play. Illegal contact on GQ - auto 1st down at the Texan 20.

Thomas for 6.

Sproles for 3. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Ingram gets about 5 or 6. 1st and goal at the Texan 4.

Woohoo, Brees is sacked, coughs it up, big loss, Texans ball at their 25?. A Smith finally corralled it...

Sure, Cody and Mitchell can handle the nose, no problem. Mario can play OLB, sure, no problem.

Any team with a competent OC is going to shred this defense.

I wonder if Wade is rethinking that idea of the Cody/Mitchell combo...

Texans ball at their 28.

Dump to Foster goes for 6.

Pass to Casey gets a 1st down, plus roughing on the Saints on the tackle. Texans ball at the Saints 40.

Dump over the middle to Casey gets 8.

False start Texans -5. Makes it 2nd 7.

Pass to AJ goes to the 15 yard line and a 1st down.

Foster runs it to the 3 yard line on a 12 yard gain. 1st and goal.

Foster to about the 1.

Foster runs it in but flag on the play. Defense offsides, touchdown.

Texans 7, Saints 0

TD is under review....

Hell yeah....Now that's the offense that we ought to be seeing in the first half..

Anybody else tired of seeing our kicker make the tackle on the kickoff

TD stands after review. 6:04 left in the 1st quarter

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Saints bring the kickoff back to their 28.

Screen to Thomas gets big gainer - about 15 yards.

Dump to Sproles goes inc.

Thomas gets about 4 on the delay. Makes it 3rd and 6.

Pass to Graham gets 10 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texans 42.

Ingram for 3 or 4. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Screen pass in nearly INT'ed by Mario - goes inc.

Brees can't find a receiver and spikes it. Brings up 4th and 7. Saints to punt but call a timeout 1st. 3:12 left in the 1st quarter.

Punt goes into the endzone so Texans ball at their 20.

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

Deep pass to AJ goes all the way to the Saints 32. Nice.

Foster for 4 or 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Foster runs it in! 28 yards!

Texans 14, Saints 0

1:33 left in the 1st quarter.

Wow, 80 yards in 3 plays....

Arian Foster is so good.

Another good return on the kickoff by the Saints. Bring it out to their 30.

Thomas rushes for about 3.

Pass to Moore goes for big gainer, 19 yards.

Thomas for 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

End of the 1st quarter.

Pass to Graham goes inc. Makes it 3rd and 3.

Pass is batted down by JJ Watt. 4th down and Saints to go for it.

Pass to Colston appears to get just enough for the 1st down.

Ingram only gets 1. Unsportsmanlike on Saints away from the play -15. Makes it 2nd and 23.

Ugh, deep pass goes for 37. Allen burned on the play.

Ingram for 4. 2nd and goal.

Slant is broken up by Allen. 3rd and goal at the 4.

Sproles to the 1. Makes it 4th down and goal. Saints going for it.

Last minute timeout cancels the play. Still 4th down.

Ingram breaks the plane and gets the TD.

Texans 14, Saints 7

12:28 left in the half.

Keo brings the kickoff back to the Texan 18.

Tate for about 1.

Dump pass to Tate picks up about 12. 1st down.

Tate rushes right for a big gainer, 23 yards.

Dump pass to Walter gets 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Tate motors for 6 and a 1st down.

Wooo, pass is tipped, almost caught by AJ and then fall inc. 2nd and 10 coming up at the Saints 32.

Pass is tipped again, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Dump to JJ goes for no gain so Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 49-yarder is good.

Texans 17, Saints 7.

8:31 left in the half.

What a pleasant surprise Mr. Tate...They competition brings the best out of you. I am interested in seeing Slaton now...:D

Saints ball at their 20.

Chase Daniel in and passes for about 19 on 1st down.

Saints rush right side for about 5.

Deep pass to Morgan perfectly thrown. 56 yards, touchdown.

Texans 17, Saints 14

This a fearsome defense that Wade's installed. Ferocious.

Jason Allen and Daniel Manning

100 yards receiving and 2 TD given up by these two players alone...Not good:eek:

K Jackson didnt even bump the receiver... he just let the receiver pass by him full speed and Manning didn't have time to catch him.

Kickoff goes out of the endzone so Texans ball at their 20.

Tate for 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Tate for 3, 1st down.

Dump off to OD on TE screen goes for 8.

Tate for no gain but roughness on the Saints +15. Places the ball at the Saints 48.

Schaub's pass to KW in the flat sails off the mark. Makes it 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass over the middle to AJ is dropped. Makes it 3rd and 10.

AJ gets this one for big gainer, 21 yards.

Dump to JJ gets 11. Ball at the Saints 16.

Schaub can't find a receiver and goes down -4. 3:14 left in the half.

Tate up the gut for about 8. Makes it 3rd and 6. Timeout Texans at the 2:30 mark.

On 3rd and 6, pass complete to AJ for the 1st down at the 4 yard line. 1st and goal. 2 minute warning.

Tate runs it in, touchdown.

Texans 24, Saints 14

1:56 left in the half.

This looks like a playoff offense.

One thing I am concerned about is the depth of our playbook that we are seeing today, while NO has settled for draws and traps up the middle.

I hope we are not showing all our cards before the regular season game

Well. you got that. Texans punters have sat it out so far. Four possessions. Four scores.

This has been a pretty enjoyable first half.

Offense is really clicking, running and passing.

ST so so, still trying things with new players.

Defense, adjusting to Saints, overall, not bad other than the two big pass, and things to fix for sure .

Kickoff goes out of the endzone so Saints ball at their 20.

Daniel's pass to Sproles goes inc. but they are going to get GQ for leading with his helmet, 15 yards.

Daniel's pass under pressure sails inc. Makes it 2nd and 10.

Sproles gets about 17 yards up the middle. Ball at the Texan 48.

1st down dump pass is inc.

Daniel's deep pass goes inc - good coverage on this one.... 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass goes inc near the sideline, makes it 4th and 10. Saints to punt.

JJ fair catches at the Texan 14.

59 seconds left in the half.

Leinart in.

Tate rushes for huge gainer, 42 yards.

Pass to JJ gets about 8.

Pass to Dreessen goes to the Saints 21, 1st down.

Leinart throws it away but holding on the Saints, 5 yards, auto 1st down. Ball at the Saints 16.

Leinart's pass sails out of the endzone, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up, 20 seconds left in the half.

Ow, pass is just behind JJ and goes inc. Makes it 3rd and 10 with 17 seconds left.

Pass in the endzone can't find a home. Rackers on for the FG.

Rackers 34 yarder is no good.

Score remains:

Texans 24, Saints 14

7 seconds left in the half, Saints ball.

Saints kneel it. Halftime.

Tate is going to add an interesting dynamic to our offense.

Has Tate's performance created a competition for the number 2 RB spot?

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 12/16, 163 yards; Leinart 2/5, 22 yards

Rushing: Foster 5/47, Tate 9/95

Receiving: AJ 4/100, JJ 3/20, Casey 2/18

Tackles: Adibi 5, Allen/Barwin/KJ 3 each, Mario/Manning/Cushing/GQ/Sharpton 2 each

Time of possession: Texans 15:13, Saints 14:47

3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/4, Saints 3/7

Red zone: Texans 2/3, Saints 1/2

Total yards, Texans 323, Saints 246

Turnovers: Texans 0, Saints 1

Penalties: Saints 4/50, Texans 4/40

If Tate can stay healthy I don't see what the issue is. He has far more upside than does Ward.

I wonder if Smith can spin Slaton into anything or if he'll Aaron Glenn him.

He clearly the best of all the backups if he can stay healthy. That's a BIG if.

Once again, Special Teams are awful and make the most idiotic plays and take the most idiotic angles. Has anyone (namely, Marciano!) told Keo it's OK to down the ball on kickoffs - especially when you catch it 8yds in the endzone?

Keo brings the 2nd half kickoff back to the Texan 19.

(must've been a penalty on the kickoff)

Leinart dumps to Dreessen for about 9.

Obie (Ogbonnaya) gets the 1 for the 1st down.

Obie for about 3.

Leinart's pass is batted down. Makes it 3rd and 7 at the Texan 27.

3rd down pass is off the mark so Texans have to punt.

Maynard's punt is a little shanky, goes out of bounds at the Saints 38.

While I would agree with you if this was September, I don't agree in August. Gotta get things on film and try to put a band-aid on it.