Official Texans vs. Titans Game Thread, 11/23/2009

[Mike]

I am still sick this morning. The only silver lining is that we have Thanksgiving and an extra day off. That will make the week go by faster. I will be miserable for the next few days. The only thing that is making me smile is the idiot Titan fan that would not leave his seat in section 350 last night when asked by the ushers, then got arrested by HPD. Moron.

I am not sure where to start. I am not a "Fire XYZ" guy, but now I really have some doubts.

All I can do is muster up my inner Jim Mora and say these two quotable quotes. "Playoffs, are you kidding me..playoffs." And of course..."That sucked."

All my emotional capital is spent. However, I will be drinking the kool-aid in the offseason. I can't help myself. It is a sickness.

[painekiller]

Let's go get Marty Schottenheimer. He knows how to get to the playoffs. And this team does not.

I agree with popanot, Casey and Slaton cause more matchup issues than Leach and Brown. You should design your game plan for match problems. No LB can cover Slaton, and when Casey swings out wide they defense has to account for him, unlike Leach.

I know Mario is hurt so I am not going to bust his chops, but is a hurt Mario, a one armed Mario, better than healthy someone else? The coaches should know.

When you have a roster of AJ, Andre Davis, Slaton, Walters, and can spread the defense out with this speed package, why do you stay with the package that has Brown, and David Anderson in them. Anderson is only faster then Matt Schaub, and that is it.

[Nconroe]

I really wanted to win yesterday. So very disappointed. But, I'm not sure what to say, I think some people are overreacting to losing on a last second field goal. A game we for sure could have won. Many things could have gone better. I think we can win with what we got, players and coaches, and I think we are much better than previous years even though perhaps W-L record doesn't show it yet. And while it is getting more difficult, we do still have a shot at the playoffs and a winning record overall, in these last six remaining games.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I think some people are overreacting to losing on a last second field goal. A game we for sure could have won. Many things could have gone better.

Unfortunately, this is the image McNair has allowed this franchise to become. Their motto should be "Just be competitive, baby!". IMO, last minute or not, a loss is a loss regardless if it's by 3, 7, 10 or whatever. It continues to be a case where the players can't make the plays when they need to and/or the coaches are not able to develop a scheme or put the right players in the right position in order to make a play. Both are at fault, but I don't think expecting more and asking for someone to be held accountable for 7 years of average to downright awful play is overreacting. Kubiak has shown me that, yes, he can improve a team from awful to average, but I see nothing that indicates he has the wherewithal to take it to the next level. Like they say, you can't fire the players. I expect and want more than average.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by popanot

Unfortunately, this is the image McNair has allowed this franchise to become. Their motto should be "Just be competitive, baby!". IMO, last minute or not, a loss is a loss regardless if it's by 3, 7, 10 or whatever. It continues to be a case where the players can't make the plays when they need to and/or the coaches are not able to develop a scheme or put the right players in the right position in order to make a play. Both are at fault, but I don't think expecting more and asking for someone to be held accountable for 7 years of average to downright awful play is overreacting. Kubiak has shown me that, yes, he can improve a team from awful to average, but I see nothing that indicates he has the wherewithal to take it to the next level. Like they say, you can't fire the players. I expect and want more than average.

I think you are missing his point. We have a competitive football team. We are not a dynasty, those are few and far between (and we are too young for that anyway), but we ARE a competitive team. The ball has not bounced, or been kicked, our way so far, but who's to say it won't over the next 6. All I know is after 8 years of being in that stadium this was the first time, that I can recall, that:
A - There were still a HUGE number of people in the stands for the final kick
B - With the exception of the Jets game, we have been in EVERY game we have played, again, ball hasn't bounced our way but it will sooner or later, that is what the NFL is built on
C - This is the best value that I have received for my entertainment dollar since the teams inception.

I still believe that we are capable of beating every team remaining on our schedule, but I realize that we are capable of losing to every team remaining on our schedule.

Time will tell, but I haven't heard a fat lady yet.......

[Mike]

Originally Posted by WMH

Time will tell, but I haven't heard a fat lady yet.......

No, but she is at the buffet, getting herself warmed up.

[coloradodude]

What can I possibly say that hasn't been said?


We are an embarrassment and a waste of time. A Parkinson ridden Schottenheimer can build this team into a 12 and 4 winner. Until then tickets should be half price and fans be allowed to bring their boo horns in mass.

[coloradodude]

1970: The Oilers get off to a solid 2-1 start, but weaknesses on both sides of the ball catch up with them as they only win one of their final 11 games, finishing with a 3-10-1, as Coach Wally Lemm, announces his retirement. The Oilers would go on name Ed Hughes to replace him.

1971: The Oilers get off to a dreadful start going winless trough their first 6 games, before beating the Cincinnati Bengals 10-6 at the Astrodome. The Oilers would continue to struggle losing their next three games, sealing the fate of Coach Ed Hughes. The Oilers would win their last three games to finish with a 4-9-1 record, but Hughes was still fired, and replaced by Bill Peterson.

1972: After being blowout in their first two games the Oilers stun the New York Jets 26-20 at the Astrodome. However, the win would end up being the only win on the season, as the Oilers finish with a miserable 1-13 record, while being outscored an embarrassing 380-164 on the season.

1973: To say the Oilers season was miserable would be an understatement, as Coach Bill Peterson is fired after a 0-5 start. The Oilers whose record under Peterson was a humiliating 1-18, would be the led the rest of the season by Hall of Fame Coach Sid Gilman. However, not even Gilman could help, as the Oilers lost their next two games before beating the Colts 31-27 in Baltimore for their only win of the season, as the finished the season with a 1-13 record, being outscored 447-199 on the season.

1983: The Oilers get off to a miserable 1-5 start prompting head Coach Ed Biles to resign. He would be replaced by Chuck Studley but the Oilers would not do any better, winning just two of ten games under Studley, and finishing with a terrible 3-13 record. Following the season the Oilers would make Hugh Campbell its new coach.

1984: With hopes of improving the offense the Oilers win a competitive bidding war to sign CFL star Quarterback Warren Moon. However, with Earl Campbell in full decline, the Oilers decide to cut bait and trade the star Running Back that once dominated the NFL after a 1-5 start. The move would leave a gapping hole at RB but it was the defense that was a greater weak spot as the Oilers finished with a 2-14 record, allowing 457 points on the season.

1994: Without Warren Moon the Oilers get off to a miserable start losing nine of their first ten games before Coach Jack Pardee is fired and replaced by Jeff Fisher. Under Fisher the losing would continue as the Oilers lost their next five games, before beating the New York Jets 24-10 in their final game of the season to finish with a 2-14 record.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by WMH

I think you are missing his point. We have a competitive football team. We are not a dynasty, those are few and far between (and we are too young for that anyway), but we ARE a competitive team.

I'm not asking for a dynasty. I'm asking for a team that can win and take care of business on a fairly consistent basis. And even more, show signs that it will beat the snot out of someone once in awhile. Sure we can win some and lose some and be in most games, but this fan isn't satisfied with that - as I'm sure many are not. Would I take this team over the 4-12 teams of old? Sure, but that doesn't mean I'm content with where we are. And again, I don't think this regime has what it takes to get us even close to a dynasty or even a division title or the Super Bowl. I'm having serious doubts if they can even get us to the playoffs as a wildcard.

No, the fat lady isn't singing, but she's clearing out her throat and warming up the pipes. We're actually lucky that our competitors for AFC wildcard are about as average as we are. It's frustrating that we haven't been able to take advantage of a year when we have a fairly easy schedule and perennial playoff teams like the Steelers, Broncos, Ravens, Titans and Jags are having problems.

[Big Texas]

We definitely were the better team last night; however, the better team does not always win. It takes a certain sense of confidence and swagger on the part of the Coach to be able to get wins in these situations. I kept looking at the differences between JFisher and Kubiak last night in the clutch situations. Kubiak looked as confused as I had ever seen. I almost saw flashbacks of the one who's name must not be mentioned.

I mean, Really? Chris Brown? Come on. Was I the only one like what the hell? Then he just kept coming out onto the field. Did CBrown offer him money to play against his former team?

Also are we capable of only playing good in one half of football? It seems like every game we only play good in the first OR second half. I would rather average throughout the whole game.

Also, in the redzone when Shaub took that covered shot at AJ, Casey was naked rolling to the flats.

What happened to the screen game?

Talk about missing ODaniels.

After all the mistakes, all the mishaps, all the settling, we still had a chance to win the game, or at least tie... I don't care he should have made both those field goals. He only has one job. And he has not done it 2 games in a row. Kickers don't get the benefit of the doubt. I don't care if he misses the one's where we are up by 14. What matters is the clutch kicks. He has in 2 games lost the game for us. Yes he lost it for us. He did not do his job. The team put him in the position to tie it and even win it last night. He did not.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by coloradodude

a waste of time.

Completely.

[Fonz the Boss]

I might have overreacted on my earlier post...... Im still angry but my Texans are not a joke. They played well enough to win. I dont think we will make the playoffs but right now Im only hoping for a 4-2 finish. That will still give us our first winning season with a record of 9-7.

[cadams]

Originally Posted by Mike

No, but she is at the buffet, getting herself warmed up.

No, she's actually on the bus with us. She's stuck in the sh-tter. Me and Papanot are trying to wedge her out, but we may need some assistance.

[Mike]

Pour some olive oil down the sides of her overgrown thighs and pull...

[bckey]

Originally Posted by Fonz the Boss

I might have overreacted on my earlier post...... Im still angry but my Texans are not a joke. They played well enough to win. I dont think we will make the playoffs but right now Im only hoping for a 4-2 finish. That will still give us our first winning season with a record of 9-7.

All that would do is keep Kubiak around. I really don't think he is anything more than a .500 head coach. Vinny posted on another board that Kubiak's record against the AFC is 5-16. This means he gets out coached by opposing coaches that are familiar with him.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by bckey

All that would do is keep Kubiak around. I really don't think he is anything more than a .500 head coach. Vinny posted on another board that Kubiak's record against the AFC is 5-16. This means he gets out coached by opposing coaches that are familiar with him.

???

I get 7-15 vs. AFC South....

2006 = 3-3
2007 = 1-5
2008 = 2-4
2009 = 1-3*

* in progress

[Nconroe]

well, for this year, I think the three AFC south losses were last second plays where players didn't execute, not really coaching decisions.

and previous years, those teams were better, we were worse, and they won against the league, not just us. AFC south is recognized tough division.

so, we are getting closer to our main competition, not quite over the hump, but this year isn't over.

I think this means we are trying to build our team thru the draft, we have young coaches and young players, this did start over 3.5 years ago,not eight or 40 years ago, and the improvement has been steady these four years.

well, we should have won, so hate to argue about this. not saying a last second loss is better than a 20 point loss, but well. just don't see how the stats lead to conclusion you drew.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

well, for this year, I think the three AFC south losses were last second plays where players didn't execute, not really coaching decisions.

I get this but at some point a continual failure to execute has to fall to the coaches as well for two reasons. One, your job isn't merely to call the plays, it's also to get the players to execute, particularly at the most critical times. This may mean practicing it 40 times, or simulating crowd noise during practice, or whatever else it may take. I understand that the coaches aren't on the field and can't guarantee execution, but I can't shake the belief that good coaches somehow manage to get better execution out of their players than mediocre ones. As a quick example, the Cowboys preparation and execution in Parcells' first year was 180 degrees from what it had been the year before with (I believe) Campo. Teams that are well prepared by their coaches during the week tend to execute better.

Secondly, even if you do believe execution is solely on the players, these are the players Kubiak wanted. Make no mistake, this is his team. If he put together a team with a bunch of guys who can't execute at crunch time (even assuming he is providing the best coaching this side of Lombardi), well that's still his fault for bringing in a bunch of guys who can't perform despite his excellent tutalege.

[HPF Bob]

Such anger!

It means you expect winning now and upset when it doesn't happen. Quite an upgrade from 2005.

What disappoints me isn't the failure to pull games out at the end, it's the mistakes that kept it close to begin with. If I blame Kubiak for anything, it's a lack of imagination. Why not slip in a hurry-up offense once in awhile? Why not try Casey in a wildcat just to change it up? Tennessee doesn't have to think outside the box before our offense never does (except the SWBR).

We're a team that always seems to be less than the sum of their parts and I'm not sure how you fix that except to keep adding parts.

We do need some leaders though. We need some guys who are going to take losing very personally and get in everyone's grill about it. The Ravens' D looks great most of the team because Ray Lewis won't tolerate less than 100 percent. Coordinators come and go but I think Lewis scares his own teammates into not taking any plays off.

So, I'm disappointed but not as completely pissed as some of you. We're aren't that far away but we're not that close either.

[coloradodude]

"We're aren't that far away but..."


And then there's our run game statistics.