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.

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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.