Official Texans @ Saints Fake Game Thread, 8/25/2012

[barrett]

Originally Posted by WMH

The whole 2nd team didn't play well.

Agreed.

The middle of the defense looked bad with Cody, Cushing, and Watt out. I think Wade's penetrating defense needs a BIG bad man at MLB to clean up the gaps. Brady James is not that man. I was also disappointed I didn't see more of Dobbins. He seems to be the stoutest against the run after Cushing. We also don't swarm to the ball the same without Cushing.

The OLBs got no pressure. We are still a team/effort sack team as opposed to superior pass rushing talent. Hopefully Mercilous changes that. If he flashes big potential, I don't mind letting Barwin go at a later date. I love him, but he is an effort guy who will want to be paid like a double digit sack guy because our defense makes him look good. We already have a great effort guy to go opposite our pass rusher in Reed. 2nd contracts might have to be sparing.

The Right side of the OL struggled in the run and pass game. Foster sprung almost every time he went left though. At least the stretch to the Left is the one that matters most for our bootleg and passing game. All of the WRs looked great with the exception of Martin's fumbles. Jean really impressed. I bet it gets harder and harder for Walter to find snaps. Walter will become something of a way to play with other teams regarding tendencies. I noticed the motioned him in on one play action. The defense read it as a dead run give away. This may be the best way to get AJ deep. Who cares if our #2 WR is a blocker.

I am not worried about the run game. Everyone passes way more in the preseason. There is just so much more work to be done with the pass game and you are not really trying to win. When it counts I have no doubts about Tate or Foster.

Grimes showed up on ST. We might need to keep 4 RBs. Holliday is dangerous for everyone, friend and foe alike. He fumbled from bad mechanics (ball in wrong hand) and from generally being a soft little guy. Then he dropped a punt and avoided fielding another in traffic. He is not real confident catching it. Even his PR TD was halfway because he could not decide what to do with it and a few defenders stopped. He is just shaky on punts and kicks go out the back of the endzone.