The Halfback Pass vs. the Jags

[coloradodude]

Gadget plays are either used by a good offense and its playmakers to screw with a defensive coordinators head or are used by a bad offense to attempt to mask its inadequacies.

[gunn]

Originally Posted by coloradodude

Gadget plays are either used by a good offense and its playmakers to screw with a defensive coordinators head or are used by a bad offense to attempt to mask its inadequacies.

If I could pinpoint one reason, it would probably be because of the finesse scheme and personel on the offensive side of the ball.

[Joshua]

I'm actually not sure what is worse, the play call or the fact that they obviously weren't prepared to run the play. If you are going to have a HB option play in your playbook, you damn well better have practiced it to the point where the back knows what to do if the play isn't there. Clearly, Chris Brown didn't. He should have eaten it and just taken the loss. Trying to throw the ball while being hit is inexcusable and I blame Kubiak for not coaching them up to know what to do if the play goes astray. Just the latest in a long list of indicators that Kubiak doesn't take care of the little things and doesn't have what it takes to prepare a team to play week in and week out.

[TexanJedi]

It was a bad call with even worse execution (is it not called a half back OPTION pass?, meaning Brown has the option to not throw it), but it did not cost us the game by itself. The defense held and the Texans got the ball back and scored a TD - nice play call to the offensive machine Chris Brown on the two point conversion attempt. The Texans loss had more to do with the inability to stop the Jaguar offense when it counted the most, on 3rd down and at the end of both halves. This particular play cost us more time than anything.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by TexanJedi

This particular play cost us more time than anything.

Which brings us to another thing... Does Kubiak and his band of idiots know how the run a no-huddle, hurry up offense? These guys are two scores down with ~5 minutes left and they huddle up and/or lollygag around like they still have a quarter to play. This has occurred in numerous games whether it's the first half or second half. Sure if they stop the Jags on the last drive they MIGHT have enough time to score, but with the way this game was going and this season has gone, the probability of that happening is pretty slim. Why not go no-huddle earlier and try to have as much time as possible? Oh, that's right... Kubiak's a fk'in idiot!!

[TexanJedi]

Originally Posted by popanot

Which brings us to another thing... Does Kubiak and his band of idiots know how the run a no-huddle, hurry up offense? These guys are two scores down with ~5 minutes left and they huddle up and/or lollygag around like they still have a quarter to play. This has occurred in numerous games whether it's the first half or second half. Sure if they stop the Jags on the last drive they MIGHT have enough time to score, but with the way this game was going and this season has gone, the probability of that happening is pretty slim. Why not go no-huddle earlier and try to have as much time as possible? Oh, that's right... Kubiak's a fk'in idiot!!

Well time management is one of his glaring weaknesses as a head coach. I wanted things to change and did not want to see this team take a step back under new management, but I'm beyond that now. It's time for a change in culture.

[Mike]

Back to the play... The issue is this, he put Chris Brown in an unfamiliar situation. He put him in a bad situation, he was placed in a position to do something out of the ordinary for his position. It is like asking Antonio Smith to cover MDJ if he splits out. It is just dumb.

I know it has been said that he should have thrown it away, and that is 100% true. In the heat of the play, it is often tough to do that. That is why we pay Schaub all that money...to throw the ball, and not have Chris Brown throw it. In my past experience running that idiotic play, I was always afraid to throw the pick, so I usually just ran it and ate the ball, afraid to do with CB did.

People named Brown have now possibly cost us 5 games this year....and counting.

[popanot]

Look how Chris Brown (who has NEVER thrown a pass in a game - I wonder why?) is holding the ball moments before attempting the 'pass'.

http://www.chron.com/photos/2009/12/.../260xStory.jpg

And this brilliant staff was actually confident this play would work... Yeah, their man 'was open'. The problem was GETTING HIM THE BALL!!!!!

[TexanJedi]

Originally Posted by popanot

Look how Chris Brown (who has NEVER thrown a pass in a game - I wonder why?) is holding the ball moments before attempting the 'pass'.

http://www.chron.com/photos/2009/12/.../260xStory.jpg

And this brilliant staff was actually confident this play would work... Yeah, their man 'was open'. The problem was GETTING HIM THE BALL!!!!!

But that's why it's so genius! Who would ever see it coming? And I cannot recall ever seeing a half back option pass that close to the goal line.

In fairness, Dreesen was wide open in the back of the end zone.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

Which brings us to another thing... Does Kubiak and his band of idiots know how the run a no-huddle, hurry up offense? These guys are two scores down with ~5 minutes left and they huddle up and/or lollygag around like they still have a quarter to play. This has occurred in numerous games whether it's the first half or second half. Sure if they stop the Jags on the last drive they MIGHT have enough time to score, but with the way this game was going and this season has gone, the probability of that happening is pretty slim. Why not go no-huddle earlier and try to have as much time as possible? Oh, that's right... Kubiak's a fk'in idiot!!

I think we gave this game away and am ready to string up everyone involved, but I disagree here.

Not hurrying is exactly what you do when you are down by 2 scores with 5 minutes left. In that situation the number one goal is to get the first score no matter what since the game is over without it. Then if it took too long you still have the onsides option. We did it perfectly in that all we need to do is make three tackles and we will get the ball back with over 2 minutes left (more time than you need).

Our 3rd down defense, the TD at the end of the half, lack of tackling in the end, the HB pass, the turnovers, Jacoby flaking, etc... Our team melted down here and gave the game away a dozen times without a doubt and I hope Kubiak is unemployed as a result. But that TD drive was one of the few things we did right all game.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by barrett

I think we gave this game away and am ready to string up everyone involved, but I disagree here.

Not hurrying is exactly what you do when you are down by 2 scores with 5 minutes left. In that situation the number one goal is to get the first score no matter what since the game is over without it. Then if it took too long you still have the onsides option. We did it perfectly in that all we need to do is make three tackles and we will get the ball back with over 2 minutes left (more time than you need).

Our 3rd down defense, the TD at the end of the half, lack of tackling in the end, the HB pass, the turnovers, Jacoby flaking, etc... Our team melted down here and gave the game away a dozen times without a doubt and I hope Kubiak is unemployed as a result. But that TD drive was one of the few things we did right all game.

We'll have to disagree here then. With the way this game was going and our lack of productivity pretty much throughout, I feel you have to give yourself as much time as possible and try to keep them on their heels and keep them from shuffling in fresh players. Trying to rely on the defense making one last stop is gambling with this team. And it's a gamble I personally would not feel confident in making. I guess that's part of my problem with this staff. They're unwilling to gamble on a no-huddle (and like I said, it's not only this game), but are willing to gamble on a HB pass and our defense coming through. Of course, the defense SHOULD have come through, but history indicates the likelihood of that happening is fairly small.

[NBT]

The play didn't work because CB didn't get time to throw. The FB took the inside tackler instead of the outside one, causing the pulling guard to not have a chance to block the outside, or inside guy. If it had been blocked correctly the play had a chance of succeeding. I think Baby Shanny is the real culprit on that play.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by NBT

I think Baby Shanny is the real culprit on that play.

The buck stops with Kubiak of course, but this was my first thought even as the play was unfolding.

I'm guessing Kubiak is in heavy protect mode of Baby Shan (outside closed doors at least). Dom Capers had to learn the hard way here about protecting his assistants. It took Kubiak a year too long to replace Richard Smith as DC.

And the ironic thing is that if a defensive-minded head coach is hired to replace Kubiak (whether it is in 2010 or beyond), it seems conceivable that McNair and Rick Smith keep Baby Shan and much of the offensive system and coaches in place when showing Kubiak the door.

[TheMatrix31]

That's the thing. I don't want to lose our offensive punch. I just want to play smarter, with more polish and discipline. Our STYLE of play is fine.