Official Texans vs New Orleans Fake Game Thread, 8/20/2011

[Arky]

Leinart in.

Tate rushes for huge gainer, 42 yards.

Pass to JJ gets about 8.

Pass to Dreessen goes to the Saints 21, 1st down.

Leinart throws it away but holding on the Saints, 5 yards, auto 1st down. Ball at the Saints 16.

Leinart's pass sails out of the endzone, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up, 20 seconds left in the half.

Ow, pass is just behind JJ and goes inc. Makes it 3rd and 10 with 17 seconds left.

Pass in the endzone can't find a home. Rackers on for the FG.

Rackers 34 yarder is no good.

Score remains:

Texans 24, Saints 14

7 seconds left in the half, Saints ball.

Saints kneel it. Halftime.

[Big Texas]

Tate is going to add an interesting dynamic to our offense.

Has Tate's performance created a competition for the number 2 RB spot?

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Big Texas

Tate is going to add an interesting dynamic to our offense.

Has Tate's performance created a competition for the number 2 RB spot?

If Tate can stay healthy I don't see what the issue is. He has far more upside than does Ward.

I wonder if Smith can spin Slaton into anything or if he'll Aaron Glenn him.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by chuck

I wonder if Smith can spin Slaton into anything or if he'll Aaron Glenn him.

They should be calling Arizona now that their rookie is out for the season.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by popanot

They should be calling Arizona now that their rookie is out for the season.

Bingo. This stupid thing won't let me say only Bingo so there you go, Bingo.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by chuck

Bingo. This stupid thing won't let me say only Bingo so there you go, Bingo.

Hey, don't go knocking my anti-spam settings 'round here now, okay?

Thanks for the comms Arky.

So, basically, we are witnessing Mario's farewell Houston tour this season. Reed needs some time with the 1's. Barwin and Nading seem to be doing alright. Antonio Smith and J.J. Watt seem capable of handling the DE.

[Nconroe]

so, its preseason, doesn't mean much. N.O was a two point favorite coming into the game. Texans won 27-14.

in 2010 New Orleans came away with a 38-20 home victory as 1.5-point favorites

in 2009 Saints won 38-14. And Saints had 3 takeways, 2 int and fumble.

This year felt better than those past two years.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Big Texas

Has Tate's performance created a competition for the number 2 RB spot?

He clearly the best of all the backups if he can stay healthy. That's a BIG if.

[popanot]

Once again, Special Teams are awful and make the most idiotic plays and take the most idiotic angles. Has anyone (namely, Marciano!) told Keo it's OK to down the ball on kickoffs - especially when you catch it 8yds in the endzone?

[WMH]

Originally Posted by popanot

Has anyone (namely, Marciano!) told Keo it's OK to down the ball on kickoffs - especially when you catch it 8yds in the endzone?

While I would agree with you if this was September, I don't agree in August. Gotta get things on film and try to put a band-aid on it.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by WMH

While I would agree with you if this was September, I don't agree in August. Gotta get things on film and try to put a band-aid on it.

I agree totally but why they have Keo returning kicks in the first place I have no idea.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by chuck

I agree totally but why they have Keo returning kicks in the first place I have no idea.

Exactly. Maybe Kubiak doesn't want to show the Saints our 'secret weapon' on kick returns since we play them again in a few weeks.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by WMH

While I would agree with you if this was September, I don't agree in August. Gotta get things on film and try to put a band-aid on it.

I realize it's only preseason and some of these guys are not going to be playing, but come on... These guys are downright awful. Almost every time they return or cover a kick it's a negative play. It doesn't seem like the other teams we're playing are having these issues so I don't buy the "we're playing our scrubs" argument. Therer's a history of bad ST play here and it's going to bite them in the arse during the regluar season if they don't start working on it now and get it fixed.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by popanot

I realize it's only preseason and some of these guys are not going to be playing, but come on... These guys are downright awful. Almost every time they return or cover a kick it's a negative play. It doesn't seem like the other teams we're playing are having these issues so I don't buy the "we're playing our scrubs" argument. Therer's a history of bad ST play here and it's going to bite them in the arse during the regluar season if they don't start working on it now and get it fixed.

I don't recall a Texans return beyond the 20, nor do I recall an opponent's return shy of the 20. Marciano obviously has pictures of McNair in bed with a teenage boy or something similar.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 12/16, 163 yards; Leinart 2/5, 22 yards

Rushing: Foster 5/47, Tate 9/95

Receiving: AJ 4/100, JJ 3/20, Casey 2/18

Tackles: Adibi 5, Allen/Barwin/KJ 3 each, Mario/Manning/Cushing/GQ/Sharpton 2 each

Time of possession: Texans 15:13, Saints 14:47

3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/4, Saints 3/7

Red zone: Texans 2/3, Saints 1/2

Total yards, Texans 323, Saints 246

Turnovers: Texans 0, Saints 1

Penalties: Saints 4/50, Texans 4/40

[Arky]

Keo brings the 2nd half kickoff back to the Texan 19.

(must've been a penalty on the kickoff)

Leinart dumps to Dreessen for about 9.

Obie (Ogbonnaya) gets the 1 for the 1st down.

Obie for about 3.

Leinart's pass is batted down. Makes it 3rd and 7 at the Texan 27.

3rd down pass is off the mark so Texans have to punt.

Maynard's punt is a little shanky, goes out of bounds at the Saints 38.

[Arky]

Daniel's dump pass goes for 10 and a 1st down.

Taylor picks up 2 up the gut.

Saints rush for 3 more. Makes it 3rd and 4 or 5.

Quick pass over the middle gets about 10 but flag down in the secondary. Holding on Texans is declined. Saints ball at the Texan 32.

Brooks Reed on the sack and fumble! Texans pick it up and run all the way back to the Saints 27. Scooter Berry on the recovery.

[Arky]

Obie for 6 tough yards.

Obie loses 1. Makes it 3rd and 5.

Leinart's pass to Tolliver off the mark a tad and goes inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 40 yarder is good.

Texans 27, Saints 14.

9:14 left in the 3rd quarter.

[Arky]

Hartmann's kickoff is brought back to the Saint's 25. Flag on the Saints on the return puts the ball at their own 10.

Daniel can't find an open receiver and throws it away. Makes it 2nd and 10 coming up.

Saints rush left for 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Dump pass gets enough for the 1st down at the Texan 21.

Taylor for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Daniel's pass is good for big gainer. Ball at the Saints 43.

Daniel's pass is overthrown and INT'ed by McCain. Flag at the end of the play. Roughness on Demps, 15 yards. Texans ball at their 34.

[Arky]

Pass to Vickers goes inc (TV missed it).

Pass to JJ sails inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Dickerson goes for 11 or 12 and the 1st down.

Obie for 6 yards on the left side.

Obie for 2. Makes it 3rd and 2 coming up.

Obie for about 7 up the middle but flag on the play. Illegal formation on the Texans. Makes it 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Darling picks up about 9 and the 1st down. Saints are challenging that the receiver may have fumbled while stretching for the 1st down.....