Ergo The Egos
For those who bookmarked the forum link and never visit the front page, Keith has finally updated it with a new column.
The subject matter jumps between our failures in the secondary, our failure (until this year) to find a solid running game and ideas as to why the Texans annually collapse in November, never moreso than this one.
IMO, they're three separate topics but I'll address them indivisually.
1) Secondary. Oft-discussed, I was glad that the Texans did not re-sign Dunta. It's unfortunate he suffered those terrible injuries and I feared, at the time, that he'd never be as great as he was before that fateful Raiders game. To pay him like the top corners of the game would have been foolish. Robinson seemed unwilling to concede that he is, to some extent, damaged goods and while that ego is a commendable quality in a cornerback, it doesn't offset reality.
It did, however, make a glaring weakness into a hole as wide as I-10. Kareem Jackson was supposed to be the most "pro-ready" corner in the draft and he was expected to be the band-aid to offset losing Robinson. So far, that hasn't worked although I have seen gradual improvement as the season has progressed. The problem is that when you fail the early tests in the NFL, opponents will continue to abuse you until you've proven you can handle it. Part of the problem is that he seems to get no help in coverage.
Is our free safety still Matt Stevens? Just checking. The Texans have never tried to upgrade this position with anything more than roster filler and that's why the rest of the secondary has always looked more vulnerable. If we had a quality one to help in deep coverage and make tackles all over the field, I think we'd turn a corner. Letting Reeves go was a mistake, but so was drafting Molden and so was thinking a bunch of fourth-rounders and waiver claims were going to be enough to stop the pass-happy offenses of the 21st century.
2) Running back. I at least saw "e" for effort. They tried pricy free agents (Ahman Green), they tried high draft picks (Steve Slaton, Ben Tate) but finally cashed in with an undrafted - and somewhat immature - back from San Diego via the Southeastern Conference (the same footsteps as Terrell Davis). Before we slap ourselves on the back for solving the problem, remember we haven't had a back survive for more than two years around here without a serious problem and Davis, himself, had only three good years with the Broncos before suffering knee injuries.
3) Woeful Novembers. All I can tell you is that many of the Bronco teams that Kubiak coached suffered the same problem and it didn't get any better after Shanahan was fired. Is it preparation? Is it failing to make adjustments? Is it injuries? Is it a lack of toughness? If I knew the answer, I'd be down there on Kirby applying for a job.
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