Official Texans @ Ravens Game Thread, 10/16/2011

[Fonz the Boss]

Boy was I wrong about this game... Ravens put a double digit old school whopping on us. Terrible way to finish the 4th quarter. This game was competitive but the final score won't show it.

[barrett]

Definitely not a whipping. We are down a score inside of 5 minutes. We just got beat by a better team today. The truth is that we played really well and caught some breaks in the turnover game just to be in this one (2 TO and one of ours turning into our own TD). I didn't see a 4th quarter collapse, I saw a shorthanded bunch hold it together with ducktape and twine for 3 and a half quarters before the better team won. We simply aren't winning at Baltimore without AJ.

As for our offense, I will make it all about AJ being out. The most interesting thing to me is how bad our running game has looked without him. the announcers today mentioned how Randy Moss's coaches talked about how he was worth 5o ypg in the run game just by standing on the field. Well, after 2 weeks, AJ is worth at least that much in the run game. Not to mention the more obvious value in the passing game.

We are not an elite passing offense. And we are also not an elite rushing offense. But when all hands are on deck we are probably the most well balanced team in the NFL. That is clearly our strength. How all the pieces fit and compliment each other. Without the lynchpin (AJ) we are seeing that the other players are complimentary and not guys who are just going to whip people in the 1-on-1 battles (our OL especially). So with a very mortal running game and nothing to scare anybody in the passing game, and an OL that struggles to protect on straight drop passes without the PA game working, and an imobile QB who is a sitting duck without the moving pocket that a great run game provides...

Add it all up and you have the 2011 Houston Texans. A team that should win between 6 and 10 games (most likely 6 with our coach). Add AJ back to the equation and you are looking at 9 wins minimum considering our remaining schedule. He is worth at least that much. He is our Peyton Manning and there should no longer be any doubt that he is worth more than any 2 of our other players.

[TheMatrix31]

Perhaps Dennison is a problem? I don't know.

Coaches AND players are awful right now.

Front seven was AMAZING and the secondary blew. Walter and Jacoby were solid. I need to mention Cushing by name. That dude is a big game plaer.

[HPF Bob]

We got through the wicked part of our schedule, battered and bruised but still a 1/2 game out of first. If we don't go 6-4 at least the rest of the way, we should fire the coaches and start over.

I'm also beginning to give up on Schaub as a playoff-caliber QB. He racks up the stats well but he always folds in the end. I'd love to sucker some other GM into giving up a pair of first-rounders for the guy then maybe flip all three for Andrew Luck if that's possible.

[TheMatrix31]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

We got through the wicked part of our schedule, battered and bruised but still a 1/2 game out of first. If we don't go 6-4 at least the rest of the way, we should fire the coaches and start over.

I'm also beginning to give up on Schaub as a playoff-caliber QB. He racks up the stats well but he always folds in the end. I'd love to sucker some other GM into giving up a pair of first-rounders for the guy then maybe flip all three for Andrew Luck if that's possible.

Here's a thought....

If we end up truly being dismayed of Schaub, and if St. Louis sucks enough to get the #1 pick, how about we try to pull off a deal for Bradford? I cant imagine any team can pass on Luck even if they have a QB. Like what happened in SD a few years ago. Trade Schaub to a team that needs a QB, get a pick or two, then flip them to St. Louis? I don't know. Just thinking "out loud"

[nunusguy]

I thought Schaub played pretty well today, with a couple exceptions his accuracy seemed solid. Foster dropped 2 or 3 passes by himself. Speaking of Foster, I still think Tate is a better pure runner though not as versitile as Foster.
The Ravens don't have an outstanding offense, so it was disappointing that our defense folded on that last drive with 4 minutes when Rice was running crazy. When push comes to shove, apparently we still can't play with the big boys.
Hopefully there's no big boys in our division because we start our real intra-division competition next week in Nashville. No more margin for error guys.

[TheMatrix31]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I thought Schaub played pretty well today, with a couple exceptions his accuracy seemed solid. Foster dropped 2 or 3 passes by himself. Speaking of Foster, I still think Tate is a better pure runner though not as versitile as Foster.
The Ravens don't have an outstanding offense, so it was disappointing that our defense folded on that last drive with 4 minutes when Rice was running crazy. When push comes to shove, apparently we still can't play with the big boys.
Hopefully there's no big boys in our division because we start our real intra-division competition next week in Nashville. No more margin for error guys.

Tennessee is a MUST win.

I thought Schaub played well. He got his ass beat but at least he didnt make any mistake throws or anything else. He was MUCH worse against Oakland.

Can't believe Foster missed a few of those catches. There were a couple other drops too.

Secondary was beat up badly. The reason the Ravens had success on the run later in the game was that they were abusing our secondary. Other than the latter stage of the game, the front seven was unbelievable. Especially against a "smash mouth" team like Baltimore.

I really, really hope Andre's back against Tennessee. If he plays, and he and the team start to get on a roll, then he needs to get MVP consideration.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by barrett

Definitely not a whipping. We are down a score inside of 5 minutes. We just got beat by a better team today. The truth is that we played really well and caught some breaks in the turnover game just to be in this one (2 TO and one of ours turning into our own TD). I didn't see a 4th quarter collapse, I saw a shorthanded bunch hold it together with ducktape and twine for 3 and a half quarters before the better team won. We simply aren't winning at Baltimore without AJ.

As for our offense, I will make it all about AJ being out. The most interesting thing to me is how bad our running game has looked without him. the announcers today mentioned how Randy Moss's coaches talked about how he was worth 5o ypg in the run game just by standing on the field. Well, after 2 weeks, AJ is worth at least that much in the run game. Not to mention the more obvious value in the passing game.

We are not an elite passing offense. And we are also not an elite rushing offense. But when all hands are on deck we are probably the most well balanced team in the NFL. That is clearly our strength. How all the pieces fit and compliment each other. Without the lynchpin (AJ) we are seeing that the other players are complimentary and not guys who are just going to whip people in the 1-on-1 battles (our OL especially). So with a very mortal running game and nothing to scare anybody in the passing game, and an OL that struggles to protect on straight drop passes without the PA game working, and an imobile QB who is a sitting duck without the moving pocket that a great run game provides...

Add it all up and you have the 2011 Houston Texans. A team that should win between 6 and 10 games (most likely 6 with our coach). Add AJ back to the equation and you are looking at 9 wins minimum considering our remaining schedule. He is worth at least that much. He is our Peyton Manning and there should no longer be any doubt that he is worth more than any 2 of our other players.

One of the best assessment I have read on the Texans.

[TheMatrix31]

Yep. People say "if your team is based on one player, its not that good of a team."

No, Andre Johnson is just THAT good.

He's one of the best players I've ever seen in my life, and means THAT much to this offense.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

Yep. People say "if your team is based on one player, its not that good of a team."

No, Andre Johnson is just THAT good.

He's one of the best players I've ever seen in my life, and means THAT much to this offense.

Absolutely. Andre Johnson is a once in a lifetime player. We are very, very unlikely to see another wide receiver like Andre play for the Texans again.

I know you don't necessarily follow all the Houston teams but for those of us that do he is to me comparable to Hakeem and Bagwell in that regard.

And in all honesty that is a large percentage of the reason I sometimes get so bent out of shape with the Texans. I can take losing, I promise I can. I'm a lifelong Astros fan for god's sake. (Lifelong or until they get strongarmed into the AL...) I think it is tragic that the team lucked into this Hall of Fame lock (they were going to take McGahee until he got hurt, remember) and are going to waste his entire career due to staggering and aggressive incompetence at the top of the organization.

[nunusguy]

People are starting to complain about Andre's injury in the context of "oh unlucky us", we are having our typical bad luck when our key player is out
(now reportedly 6 weeks). Hey, he's in his ninth year in the league and 30 years old. Durability and resilience falls off in the NFL by the time players hit the big three-o. He's been a tremendous player, best we've ever had, but his career can not go on indefinitely.

[Nconroe]

I thought Andre was saying it is not yet 100% today but improving quickly.

Didn't close the door to playing this week although doubtful.

Six weeks was a maximum out time, not a most likely date as I was listening this morning to the live interview with Andre on 610.

This is his first hamstring injury, but he has been injured before and recovery time increases as one ages. He still looked pretty dominant up to this injury.

Injuries and referee calls seem to be the two bad luck excuses going around for the moment.