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.
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10-16-2011, 07:32 PM
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