Official Texans @ Dolphins Game Thread, 9/18/2011
 

The Texans go to one of their homes away from home to play the Dolphins in Miami for a shot to go 2-0 to open the season. Discuss the game action in this thread.

The Texans are a three-point favorite on the road which doesn't happen very often. I must always temper my enthusiasm with "these are the Texans" but we stand a good chance of leading the AFC South by day's end.

I'm terrified of the team's getting tested by a real running game and/or a real passer. The ILBs are a concern (Cushing showed a lot of lateral speed last week at least but I worry about power running attacks wearing down the middle of the defense) and the secondary can't cover.

I can't really get all that fired up about any of the early games except Chicago - New Orleans.

A real running game? The Fins? Not sure I agree with you on that one.

Totally agree about this weeks slate of games. I was very happy to see they moved the double header to noon instead of the Cowboy game. Other than tonight, CHI v NO should be one of the better games on the docket. Wish we could see that SD v NE game too though.

Looking forward to 3PM for another step in the road. Hopefully, we can put some pressure on Henne, as NE struggled in doing so last week. I like the good guys by a TD today.

I should have been more clear. I'm not saying that my fears will be realized this week but that those are my general concerns. The Dolphins are offensively challenged and I'd like to think the Texans can keep them well contained.

Gotcha. Then I defintely echo those concerns, just not necessarily this week, or really next week too much. The OAK and PIT game....that's another story. At least we have a couple of weeks for Wade to figure it out.

I'm generally right about most everything I take the time to analyze. That may sound nauseatingly self-congratulatory and perhaps it is. But let me shine the light for a moment on a corner where I am almost always wrong, spectacularly wrong, even. That is predicting which college quarterbacks will be good NFL quarterbacks. I thought Jamarcus Russell would be great and that Cam Newton would be terrible. Is that a good enough illustration for you?

Any who....

Texans inactives versus the Dolphins are Kevin Walter, Derrick Ward, TJ Yates, Brandon Harris, Derek Newton, Thomas Austin, & Garrett Graham.

I predict we see the rookie QB Gabbert the first time we play the Jags this year, as McGowan just threw his third interception in todays game and is single-handedly losing the game to the Jets.
Make it 4 - before I could complete this post, McGowan thru another one ! They are saying that Gabbert is now warming up.

Miami wins the toss and defers - Texans to receive.

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

Let's go texans...

Double Marshall and stack the box and we should win this one...

I know that was a little over simplified...

Shaub no dumb ass throws...

Pass in the flat to AJ good for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Pass to OD good for 10, 1st down.

Schaub is pressured and throws it away. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster for 14, 1st down.

Foster for about 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Foster for 6. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Dump off to Foster gets 3 and the 1st down.

Deep pass to JJ is tipped and caught, JJ is out of bounds at the 8 yard line.

Foster for 3. 2nd and goal at the 5.

Foster for no gain. 3rd and goal coming up.

Schaub can't find anyone open and throws it away. Texans will have to go for the FG.

Rackers 23-yard FG is off the post but good.

Texans 3, Dolphins 0

Sloppy red zone execution but a good drive to start the game.

Lucky to get those three, good lord.

James Brown calling the "Hell Mary" pass.

T-storms here in Sugar Land.

Hartmann's kickoff goes out of the stadium. Dolphins ball at their 20.

1st down dump pass is off the mark, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Bush gets about 2 up the middle. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Henne is sacked by Barwin! -8 yards. Dolphins have to punt.

Nice return by JJ brings it back all the to the Dolphin 44.

While i was not happy with the stall in the end zone i was happy with the two good throw aways....


Great sack welcome to the team Barwin....


Great return...

Pass to BJ good for 16, 1st down, ball at the Dolphin 28.

Foster TFL -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Screen to Foster only gets 3. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to AJ good to the Dolphin 12 yard line, 1st down.

Owch, little dump off barely misses OD and the TD. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster to the 5 yard line. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Foster only gets 2. 4th and 2 coming up. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 22-yarder is good.

Texans 6, Dolphins 0

4:33 left in the 1st quarter.

Will Texans play two halves today? If this is the good half, I'm a little concerned.

Come on redzone offense...

But the pre-redzone offense looks better than last week...

The running game is not getting any help from the interior line. I think they're going to need to use Tate for whatever power running they plan to do.

So far everything clicking but the TDs in redvzone. Keep up the D and should be ok.

Dolphins bring the kickoff back to the 23 but flag on the play. Holding on Dolphins places the ball at their 11.

Henne's pass is batted down by Mario. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Marshall good for 10 and a 1st down.

Henne's deep pass to Bess goes all the way at the Texan 39 yard line. Flags on the play. Both against Texans put the ball at the Texan 23.

Flag presnap. Too many in the huddle on Dolphins -5. 1st and 15 at the Texan 28.

Henne's deep pass sails inc. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Pass to Gates goes inc. 3rd and 15 coming up.

Thomas gets about 4. Dolphins to go for the FG.

Carpenter's 42-yarder is good.

Texans 6, Dolphins 3

Our secondary gave up a 55 yd play

At least we didn't give up the TD

Lot of Dolphin fans dressed as empty seats today.

I wondered what sort of drugs these ad execs take. Deion as a fairy...

Dolphin kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20. 2:25 left in the 1st quarter.

Dump off to Tate gets about 14, 1st down.

Tate runs 15 yards to midfield.

Schaub pressured, chunks it away inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Tate for no gain. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Schaub's pass to Dreessen goes inc. Holding on Winston is declined. Texans to punt.

Bess fair catches at the Dolphin 9. Dolphins ball.

Ok Kubes we have to diversify our playcalling...although our defense is playing well...we can't rely on them solely...

I think this Mario feller might be able to play a little OLB....

Bush for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

End of 1st quarter.

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Henne's pass is INT'ed by JJo! Texans ball, 1st and goal! Pass was initially tipped by Mario....

Foster for a couple. 2nd and goal at the 4.

Pass to OD good for the TD!

Texans 13, Dolphins 3

Back to where we were last week...defense leading to offense...

Silence at Joe Robbie Pro Player Dolphins Land Shark SunLife Stadium...

Nothing like the motivation of a million fans saying you can't.

Beautiful thing to see.....isn't it? :D

Two tips by Mario, pretty good disruption.

Nice convert of turnover.

I hope they don't realize we're soft inside...

Hartmann's kickoff goes out of Miami. Dolphins ball at their 20.

Thomas up the gut for 4 or 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Thomas for 3. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Jeez, Marshall somehow comes down with the ball for a 29 yard gain, 1st down.

Thomas for about 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Screen to Thomas goes all the way to the Texan 30 for a first down.

Henne pressured, throws it away. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Thomas gets 10 on the delay, 1st down.

Thomas gets 6. 2nd and 4 coming up at the Texan 14.

L Johnson gets 2. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Bush gets 3 and the 1st down at the Texan 9, 1st and goal.

Thomas for 2. 2nd and goal at the 7.

Pass to Bess only gets 1. 3rd and goal at the 5. JJo comes off the field.

Henne's pass is off the mark. Dolphins to go for the FG.

Carpenter's 22-yarder is blocked!

Score remains:

Texans 13, Dolphins 3

7 minutes left in the half.

GQ is looking like a missile out there...

Dodged a bullet there. That could be a turning point.

The Texans' secondary needs to get a LOT better before playing a decent passing attack.

That kid Watt is quickly becoming one of good old chuck's favorite players. He just does not stop. Rick Smith has done some incredibly stupid things on draft day but the decision to draft Watt does not appear to be one of them.