Official Texans vs. Chiefs Game Thread, 09/13/2015

[chuck]

The Titans have scored 35 in the first half.

[WMH]

Less than ideal start, for sure. While the lack of a decent O didn't help, a pretty crappy performance on D was surprising. Thought they'd be solid. Really concerned with TE coverage. That dude was open all day long.

Hoyer's lack of game was not surprising. He's just not that good, and I wonder if we really traded up between he and Fitz. Hopefully, he'll give Mallett the reigns and we can see what he's all about. I'm hoping that OB's ego doesn't get in the way of a move everyone knows he should make. Not convinced Mallett is the answer, but I'm not sure if it could get much worse for a QB outing than what we saw from Hoyer today. So......why not?
.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by WMH

Less than ideal start, for sure. While the lack of a decent O didn't help, a pretty crappy performance on D was surprising. Thought they'd be solid. Really concerned with TE coverage. That dude was open all day long.

Hoyer's lack of game was not surprising. He's just not that good, and I wonder if we really traded up between he and Fitz. Hopefully, he'll give Mallett the reigns and we can see what he's all about. I'm hoping that OB's ego doesn't get in the way of a move everyone knows he should make. Not convinced Mallett is the answer, but I'm not sure if it could get much worse for a QB outing than what we saw from Hoyer today. So......why not?
.

I think that's what most of want - just a good, long look at Mallett. Let's see what he's got. Give me the slinger - I can live with an occasional INT as long as the guy is getting the ball out and with authority. The radio guys were making the point that the pacing was different with him at the controls and it was. These nervous little QB's like Fitz and Hoyer make me nervous.

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The 27-20 score belies how dominant the Chiefs were for most of the game. Even though the Texans had more first downs and yardage, it was the things like field position, too many 3 and outs and of course, the turnovers (2) that put them in the hole and kept them there. That KC punt returner was getting the ball back to midfield just about every time.....

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High expectations for the Texan defense and they end up performing so poorly in stretches.... That was the real WTF of the game to me. They were better in the 2nd half but I think KC had gone somewhat conservative by then...

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At least the Astros pulled one out of their butt today so not a totally bad day....

[nunusguy]

What kind of a day did Clowney have ? Did he play much ?

[WMH]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

What kind of a day did Clowney have ? Did he play much ?

Not sure of the snap count, but he played more than I thought he would. Didn't do anything spectacular or anything stupid. So there's that.

He did come out healthy, or at least appears that way. That's positive.

[chuck]

I thought Clowney showed some flashes. I would guess he played fewer than half the snaps but he played a good bit.

Mercilus on the other hand was just about invisible.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by chuck

It's amazing how much better a coach one becomes once you find yourself coaching one of the best three or four quarterbacks in the history of the game.

Although when I last looked they'd only notched a pair of FGs.

Not really. Kubiak is the only coach that can start with Peyton Manning and wind up with him playing like Matt Schaub. Four sacks. Off-target throws. A pick 6. Three yard passes on 3rd and 8. Starting every series with a running play (usually to the left).

Same old Kubes, just wearing orange trim now instead of red.

I couldn't figure out why Denver fans were getting so upset about scoring 35 points a game. Okay, so Seattle killed them in the Super Bowl. The offense was still great the rest of the year.

Wade Phillips will save Kubiak the first year (that defense looks monstrous) but poor Peyton is going to retire with less rings than his brother and he'll never be able to live that down.

[HPF Bob]

As for the Texans, I wanted Mallett at halftime simply because I think he is the better home run threat. Hoyer is probably the better QB is you are trying to run the clock and limit mistakes but Mallett is the guy with the fastball who can get you back in a hurry (or put you further back but, at that point, what difference does it make.

While the lady ref had our back, some of the others were terrible. The non-call in the end zone just before halftime cost us four points and one punt return by KC in the first half had a Chief riding the back of a Texan for at least five yards while the return man ran right past them and no flag came out.

If we get the PI call in the end zone and then convert it, maybe then we don't go for it on 4th-and-1 in the third quarter and kick the FG. Results: The 7 points we wound up losing by.

The Chiefs were clearly the better team today however and the defensive break downs by Houston were the big difference. Romeo clearly has some more work to do.

I'm glad HBO didn't have OB mic'ed up this week or we would have watched a non-stop blue streak during the first half that even HBO might have needed to bleep. How did this man stop cursing long enough for McNair to give him the job?

BTW, thanks again Arky for the play-by-play.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by WMH

Not sure of the snap count, but he played more than I thought he would. Didn't do anything spectacular or anything stupid. So there's that.

He did come out healthy, or at least appears that way. That's positive.

So he got thru the game without an injury ? Maybe he'll make it back and give us some help with the pass-rush. Good as JJ is somebody else needs to step up and help.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

What kind of a day did Clowney have ? Did he play much ?

He did alright. He still has some quickness. Took down Jamaal Charles from behind. Mentally, he's lacking. I'm chalking that up right now to him essentially still being a rookie, but he had an entire year as a pro when he should have been soaking up the mental aspects of the game.

Originally Posted by chuck

Mercilus on the other hand was just about invisible.

He is not good playing the run. He and Clowney don't really seem to contain the edge well, but maybe the D doesn't ask them to do this? All things considered, this will be the healthiest game Charles plays all season, and he didn't blow them up at least, especially in a game where the Chiefs had a comfortable lead almost all game.

Originally Posted by Arky

The radio guys were making the point that the pacing was different with him at the controls and it was.

I wanted Mallett much earlier. Check the ItB twitter timeline yesterday, lol.

That said, we have to keep in mind that Mallett basically entered the game in garbage time, and the TD to Hop was essentially considered as garbage time points in the fantasy football realm. The Chiefs weren't in a prevent, but they were giving out cushions bigger than Mattress Mack in the 4th quarter.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

He did alright. He still has some quickness. Took down Jamaal Charles from behind. Mentally, he's lacking. I'm chalking that up right now to him essentially still being a rookie, but he had an entire year as a pro when he should have been soaking up the mental aspects of the game.


He is not good playing the run. He and Clowney don't really seem to contain the edge well, but maybe the D doesn't ask them to do this? All things considered, this will be the healthiest game Charles plays all season, and he didn't blow them up at least, especially in a game where the Chiefs had a comfortable lead almost all game.


I wanted Mallett much earlier. Check the ItB twitter timeline yesterday, lol.

That said, we have to keep in mind that Mallett basically entered the game in garbage time, and the TD to Hop was essentially considered as garbage time points in the fantasy football realm. The Chiefs weren't in a prevent, but they were giving out cushions bigger than Mattress Mack in the 4th quarter.

It was garbage time, but the switch is far more about what Hoyer isn't. The guy completed less than 60% in college, less than 60% as a pro, less than 60% last year, and less than 60% yesterday. I don't know where anyone gets the idea he is the steady and consistent vet. He is a scattershot QB who can't throw it where he wants, and doesn't always know where he wants it (INT #1 yesterday). He is a huge downgrade from Fitzpatrick in every possible way. Last year Fitz was 63% and better than 2:1 TD:INT ratio. Hoyer was 55% and worse than 1:1. He has no business getting a starting NFL job.

This team goes nowhere with our QBs. We are wasting time. O'Brien knows he has an unlimited leash so he is apparently waiting for the QB of his choosing. There is wisdom in that, but it means we will not play a meaningful football game in 2015.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

It was garbage time, but the switch is far more about what Hoyer isn't. The guy completed less than 60% in college, less than 60% as a pro, less than 60% last year, and less than 60% yesterday. I don't know where anyone gets the idea he is the steady and consistent vet. He is a scattershot QB who can't throw it where he wants, and doesn't always know where he wants it (INT #1 yesterday). He is a huge downgrade from Fitzpatrick in every possible way. Last year Fitz was 63% and better than 2:1 TD:INT ratio. Hoyer was 55% and worse than 1:1. He has no business getting a starting NFL job.

This team goes nowhere with our QBs. We are wasting time. O'Brien knows he has an unlimited leash so he is apparently waiting for the QB of his choosing. There is wisdom in that, but it means we will not play a meaningful football game in 2015.

Sounds to me like you just made an indictment about O'briens lack of football knowledge, specifically his knowlege about QBbs which I thought was supposed to be his strength. You are saying that Mallet is not only better than Hoyers, but we already had a guy here last year (Fitzy), who was better than Hoyer. In other words, I think you are saying O'brien is in over his head.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by barrett

This team goes nowhere with our QBs. We are wasting time. O'Brien knows he has an unlimited leash so he is apparently waiting for the QB of his choosing. There is wisdom in that, but it means we will not play a meaningful football game in 2015.

You're starting to sound like the me of about four years ago. Although I'm not sure I ever ascribed wisdom to the team's head coach.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Sounds to me like you just made an indictment about O'briens lack of football knowledge, specifically his knowlege about QBbs which I thought was supposed to be his strength. You are saying that Mallet is not only better than Hoyers, but we already had a guy here last year (Fitzy), who was better than Hoyer. In other words, I think you are saying O'brien is in over his head.

You mean when this team entered the season with Hoyer as our starting QB you didn't question it?

I was very clear that I think O'Brien is biding his time, turning over the roster, and waiting for the QB he wants to come along. He feels no pressure to pick an actual QB because he has no job pressure. If you take a QB high in the draft the clock starts running and you get fired when that clock runs out. When you just punt the QB position, there is no clock and no risk to your job (assuming your owner allows you to throw away seasons without even a potential QB answer).

I think O'Brien is shrewd and doing what's best for himself by not going all in for a QB the last two years, when he apparently didn't like anything available in the draft or FA. Most teams try to force a QB just to pretend there is progress (JAX drafting Bortles last year). But our owner has no problem throwing away seasons as long as our fans keep showing up, so O'Brien gets to keep waiting for his perfect 10 to come along.

I think it is shameful for us to throw away seasons and waste JJ Watt's HOF career, but I don't blame Bill O'Brien, I am sure O'Brien was very clear up front when he was hired that he didn't like any of last year's draft class and might not like any of this year's. There is no way he is going into a season with no QB unless he knows his owner is ok with it.

[Joshua]

So all we have to do now is wait for a wart-free QB to fall to us in the draft then we're set? No one ever reaches for even wart-covered QBs in the NFL draft so this plan is fool proof and backed by years of draft history. Great strategy.

[popanot]

Well, in addition to QB, we're apparently screwed if/when Foster ever leaves or is hurt. It's becoming increasingly obvious to me that Blue is not the future. Sheesh, pick up a tough yard man!! Judging by the 2nd half and how often Grimes and Polk were in there, it looked to me like Hoyer wasn't the only one benched

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

Well, in addition to QB, we're apparently screwed if/when Foster ever leaves or is hurt. It's becoming increasingly obvious to me that Blue is not the future. Sheesh, pick up a tough yard man!! Judging by the 2nd half and how often Grimes and Polk were in there, it looked to me like Hoyer wasn't the only one benched

I don't think Blue should ever be a lead back. He does enough things well he is a great guy to have on a roster (runs, catches, plays ST). But we barely tried running the ball yesterday, and when we did we averaged over 4 ypc. We just abandoned the run due to the early deficit.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

I wanted Mallett much earlier. Check the ItB twitter timeline yesterday, lol.

What, right after the 1st qtr INT, 15 minutes after the game started? lol.

That said, we have to keep in mind that Mallett basically entered the game in garbage time, and the TD to Hop was essentially considered as garbage time points in the fantasy football realm. The Chiefs weren't in a prevent, but they were giving out cushions bigger than Mattress Mack in the 4th quarter.

Well, I think the point being, even if the coverage was somewhat loose, Mallett didn't screw it up, no? I think he moved the ball well with the only regrettable thing being the miss to Graham on 3rd and 10 (followed by the doinky Bullock FG). 11 pts. in 6 or 7 minutes really prorates nicely over 4 qtrs.....

There must be something about Mallett that doesn't fit OB's checklist of what an NFL QB should be. While Hoyer may get the start in Carolina, I bet Mallett is the one that finishes the game..... We may be 0-2 by then, though....

Video - Mallett's postgame presser

Early line = Carolina by 3

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Arky

What, right after the 1st qtr INT, 15 minutes after the game started? lol.

Couldn't get the network connection in stadium to tweet after the first snap.

Originally Posted by Arky

11 pts. in 6 or 7 minutes really prorates nicely over 4 qtrs.....

lol, I may be kneejerk fan, but isn't "on pace guy" worse?

Originally Posted by Arky

There must be something about Mallett that doesn't fit OB's checklist of what an NFL QB should be.

Yeah, pretty much all of it. Here's the checklist for O'Brien's dream QB:

1. They have to be able to throw the ball accurately. They don't have to be the greatest athletes in the world.
2. They have to be able to make good decisions. You can judge that off the field.
3. They have to be intelligent, with a great football IQ.

1. Mallett's accuracy isn't great. 54.3% for his brief NFL career. Strong-armed, but he misfires at times.

2. As seen in one of the Hard Knocks episodes, OB really seems dumbfounded at Mallett's decision making sometimes. Probably with Hoyer's too, but we're just focused on Mal right now. As for off the field, do I even need to mention the alarm clock?

3. Mal's IQ gets questioned more than anything, probably unfairly so too much, but best said, this is not his strength.

I think Mallett is the best man on the roster right now, but clearly, two years in, O'Brien still doesn't have his QB. I wonder how much he regrets passing on Bortles for Clowney.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

Yeah, pretty much all of it. Here's the checklist for O'Brien's dream QB:

1. Mallett's accuracy isn't great. 54.3% for his brief NFL career. Strong-armed, but he misfires at times.

2. As seen in one of the Hard Knocks episodes, OB really seems dumbfounded at Mallett's decision making sometimes. Probably with Hoyer's too, but we're just focused on Mal right now. As for off the field, do I even need to mention the alarm clock?

3. Mal's IQ gets questioned more than anything, probably unfairly so too much, but best said, this is not his strength.

I think Mallett is the best man on the roster right now, but clearly, two years in, O'Brien still doesn't have his QB. I wonder how much he regrets passing on Bortles for Clowney.

Yep, I saw the OB video and pretty much agree with all that you say. The thing that really opened my eyes was that scene in HK where OB was watching film of a Mallett INT and the absolute distaste/disgust with what he was seeing. IIRC, I believe he called it a "stupid decision" or something along those lines. I pretty much felt Hoyer was a lock for #1 after that....

I watched pretty much all of Mallett's college career (see my handle). He was and can still be erratic at times. He's pretty much the same guy but "pro-educated", now and (I'd like to think) a better QB. But still a ways to go.

Someone in another forum said it could be his "Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad) demeanor" that was holding him back..... I thought that was an awesome analogy...

I think OB needs to swallow his pride a bit and loosen up and give the guy a shot. Mallett's got a little swag which is not such a bad thing....

OB is already starting to get hit with some pretty big stones thrown from the media.... Brian Smith has not minced words lately....