Official Texans @ Saints Fake Game Thread, 8/25/2012

[barrett]

Originally Posted by WMH

The whole 2nd team didn't play well.

Agreed.

The middle of the defense looked bad with Cody, Cushing, and Watt out. I think Wade's penetrating defense needs a BIG bad man at MLB to clean up the gaps. Brady James is not that man. I was also disappointed I didn't see more of Dobbins. He seems to be the stoutest against the run after Cushing. We also don't swarm to the ball the same without Cushing.

The OLBs got no pressure. We are still a team/effort sack team as opposed to superior pass rushing talent. Hopefully Mercilous changes that. If he flashes big potential, I don't mind letting Barwin go at a later date. I love him, but he is an effort guy who will want to be paid like a double digit sack guy because our defense makes him look good. We already have a great effort guy to go opposite our pass rusher in Reed. 2nd contracts might have to be sparing.

The Right side of the OL struggled in the run and pass game. Foster sprung almost every time he went left though. At least the stretch to the Left is the one that matters most for our bootleg and passing game. All of the WRs looked great with the exception of Martin's fumbles. Jean really impressed. I bet it gets harder and harder for Walter to find snaps. Walter will become something of a way to play with other teams regarding tendencies. I noticed the motioned him in on one play action. The defense read it as a dead run give away. This may be the best way to get AJ deep. Who cares if our #2 WR is a blocker.

I am not worried about the run game. Everyone passes way more in the preseason. There is just so much more work to be done with the pass game and you are not really trying to win. When it counts I have no doubts about Tate or Foster.

Grimes showed up on ST. We might need to keep 4 RBs. Holliday is dangerous for everyone, friend and foe alike. He fumbled from bad mechanics (ball in wrong hand) and from generally being a soft little guy. Then he dropped a punt and avoided fielding another in traffic. He is not real confident catching it. Even his PR TD was halfway because he could not decide what to do with it and a few defenders stopped. He is just shaky on punts and kicks go out the back of the endzone.

[HPF Bob]

Watched the game on DVR after it actually happened. A lot of youthful mistakes but the big problem I saw was that NO dominated both lines during the second half. The o-line and the d-line both looked helpless against the Saints.

I'm not disappointed by the loss (heck, I pretty much predicted it back at the beginning of the thread) and I think it was smart to take out the starters at halftime. It looks like the coaches will have a lot to chew on during cut-down time, not all of it good.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

the big problem I saw was that NO dominated both lines during the second half. The o-line and the d-line both looked helpless against the Saints.

That bothers me, especially since it's the second straight week it happened because the 49ers also won the LOS on both sides of the ball. The absence of Watt & Cody is a factor, but at the very least it shows how little depth we've got vs other contenders.
I dunno, but did we give the wrong back the big contract, because Tate still looks like a better pure runner than Foster to me even though Arian is more proficient on the cutbacks and a better pass receiver. And look at the swarm of capable backs the Saints have, sometimes it just doesn't seem to make good business sense to pay a single back big bucks ? Count your lucky stars Arian, and sorry about that MJ-D but I kinda agree with your owner.
And Holliday doesn't look to be such a slam-dunk to make the 53-man roster this morning does he ?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

That bothers me, especially since it's the second straight week it happened because the 49ers also won the LOS on both sides of the ball. The absence of Watt & Cody is a factor, but at the very least it shows how little depth we've got vs other contenders.
I dunno, but did we give the wrong back the big contract, because Tate still looks like a better pure runner than Foster to me even though Arian is more proficient on the cutbacks and a better pass receiver. And look at the swarm of capable backs the Saints have, sometimes it just doesn't seem to make good business sense to pay a single back big bucks ? Count your lucky stars Arian, and sorry about that MJ-D but I kinda agree with your owner.
And Holliday doesn't look to be such a slam-dunk to make the 53-man roster this morning does he ?

I don't think it's close between Foster and Tate.

Foster is clearly better in short yardage, passing game, blitz pickup, big plays, making guys miss, and it goes on...

Tate is about equal as a between the 20s 1st down runner. Those are not that hard to find.

I will base my happiness with his contract on his destruction of the AFC North in two playoff games where both teams knew they were getting Arian and could do nothing about it.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

I don't think it's close between Foster and Tate.

Foster is clearly better in short yardage, passing game, blitz pickup, big plays, making guys miss, and it goes on...

Tate is about equal as a between the 20s 1st down runner. Those are not that hard to find.

I will base my happiness with his contract on his destruction of the AFC North in two playoff games where both teams knew they were getting Arian and could do nothing about it.

OK I concede I somewhat exaggerated, but try this hypothetical: instead of re-upping Foster with the huge contract, we extend Tate who is 2 years younger than Foster with a contract that's only a fraction of what Foster got, keep both Winston and Briesel which of course would keep our OLine fully intact, and trade Foster for a player(s) and/or Draft picks ?

[Arky]

Two different styles of RB. Tate is a power runner, a bruiser... Foster tries to avoid contact. Both very effective at what they do.

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Too many "Grahams" in last nights game.

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Oy, TJ. He was rotten. In all fairness, the OL should be partly to blame but TJ was holding on to the ball too long and staring down receivers. Where was the check down guy when he was taking all those sacks (5)?

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As has been mentioned, their backups were better than our backups. Texans still have improvements to be made and coaching-up to do.

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It's bad luck to win all your pre-season games....

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by barrett

I don't think it's close between Foster and Tate.

Foster is clearly better in short yardage, passing game, blitz pickup, big plays, making guys miss, and it goes on...

Tate is about equal as a between the 20s 1st down runner. Those are not that hard to find.

I will base my happiness with his contract on his destruction of the AFC North in two playoff games where both teams knew they were getting Arian and could do nothing about it.

I would agree with most except on Tate's rushing between the 20's. Tate was pretty awesome between the 20's and it is hard to find RBs that are that good inside the 20's. He averaged 3.3 yds after contact last season for third best among NFL RBs. It will be interesting to see if Tate continues to be a dominant between the 20's rusher. Tate does not have a well rounded game, but was pretty good in red zone last night so hopefully he has added that to his game.

Tate is probably one of the least well rounded backs I've seen. He is a fast, strong, one cut RB and that is about it. Luckily, those are the biggest needs in Texans system. He'll never be Foster, but there is a very short list of RBs that I'd rather have as backup for Foster.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Joe Joe

I would agree with most except on Tate's rushing between the 20's. Tate was pretty awesome between the 20's and it is hard to find RBs that are that good inside the 20's. He averaged 3.3 yds after contact last season for third best among NFL RBs. It will be interesting to see if Tate continues to be a dominant between the 20's rusher. Tate does not have a well rounded game, but was pretty good in red zone last night so hopefully he has added that to his game.

Tate is probably one of the least well rounded backs I've seen. He is a fast, strong, one cut RB and that is about it. Luckily, those are the biggest needs in Texans system. He'll never be Foster, but there is a very short list of RBs that I'd rather have as backup for Foster.

I agree and it's what I was trying to say. Tate is a great runner in between the 20s but has so far struggled in short yardage and in all passing situations. He is also not the game breaker foster is.

Foster got a very reasonable contract that is smaller than guys he outproduces.

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by barrett

I agree and it's what I was trying to say. Tate is a great runner in between the 20s but has so far struggled in short yardage and in all passing situations. He is also not the game breaker foster is.

Foster got a very reasonable contract that is smaller than guys he outproduces.

Texans are lucky to have these two for two more seasons.

[Nconroe]

I thought Schaub looked really good this last preseason game.

But TJ not so good. TJ looked better the first preseason game.

I'm still not sure if they will keep 2 or three QB on 53 man roster.

Seems they could go with experience of Beck and put Case on PS?