We still Suck: last week was a mirage

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Texans have run the ball pretty well lately, but I don't think that alone indicates that they are physical. Physical running shows up in short yardage and in the redzone, and the Texans are horrible at both.

As for stopping the run, right now, the Texans are ranked 25th and give up 105 yards a game with a 4.5 yard average. Throw in the fact that they are one of the worst redzone defenses and I don't see how they can be characterized as a tough, physical defense. Aside from Mario and Dunta, I don't think anyone else on the team is an above average player from a physical/toughness standpoint (and I also don't think this is one of those cases where the sum is greater than its parts).

Like you said, one game doesn't make you something, and the only game I truly thought the Texans appeared to be physical was Tenn. (While Jacksonvile has historically been a pretty physical team, this year's team just doesn't bring it like year's past (middle of the road 14th against the run)).

so we are more physical than a middle of the road physical team. I agree completely. We are not a physical team, but we are not losing games because we get pushed around. We are just fine in that department. We lose games from stupid play.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by barrett

so we are more physical than a middle of the road physical team. I agree completely. We are not a physical team, but we are not losing games because we get pushed around. We are just fine in that department. We lose games from stupid play.

No disagreement from me that we lose games from stupid play, whether from the coaches or the players. I do think we have lost several games by being pushed around. Off the top of my head, we were pushed around severely by Pittsburgh and Baltimore (although they are the 2 best at it and do it to a lot of people). We also were somewhat manhandled in the first Tenn. and Jacksonville games as well as the Minnesota game. I will acknowledge that we are getting better at playing tougher. However, I'm not convinced we're there yet. And up until the second half of this season, I don't know how you could characterize the Texans as anything but a soft team.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Joshua

No disagreement from me that we lose games from stupid play, whether from the coaches or the players. I do think we have lost several games by being pushed around. Off the top of my head, we were pushed around severely by Pittsburgh and Baltimore (although they are the 2 best at it and do it to a lot of people). We also were somewhat manhandled in the first Tenn. and Jacksonville games as well as the Minnesota game. I will acknowledge that we are getting better at playing tougher. However, I'm not convinced we're there yet. And up until the second half of this season, I don't know how you could characterize the Texans as anything but a soft team.

i think we actually agree. I don't think we are a team of tough guys, I just think we are plenty tough to win in the NFL (or at least not get beat by it if we play smart). We are tougher than the colts, but they play smart football and make it their identity.

I guess my point is we can win without getting any tougher. But we can't win without getting smarter. Not many superbowls are won by the team featuring a bunch of tough guys playing intimidator and pounding their chest. Most of the time the more disciplined team wins.

If anyone disagrees I'll put money against the titans and their false bravado squad.

[NBT]

I don't like that we are characterized as "sucked". We may not meet certain peoples criteria, but we certainly don't suck! Certain players and coaches need to be weeded out, and I am sure they will be. Right now we are what we are, average. That is a heck of lot better than what we were.

[Big Texas]

Originally Posted by NBT

I don't like that we are characterized as "sucked". We may not meet certain peoples criteria, but we certainly don't suck! Certain players and coaches need to be weeded out, and I am sure they will be. Right now we are what we are, average. That is a heck of lot better than what we were.

I understand, "suck" may be a bit of an overexaggeration but mediocre, average, underacheivers, and less than par are pretty close to defining where we are right now. And as far as us being better than we were, I disagree. 7-8. We can only hope to be as good as we were last year. Because in the end it all boils down to wins.

[sinnister]

Originally Posted by Big Texas

I understand, "suck" may be a bit of an overexaggeration but mediocre, average, underacheivers, and less than par are pretty close to defining where we are right now. And as far as us being better than we were, I disagree. 7-8. We can only hope to be as good as we were last year. Because in the end it all boils down to wins.

I disagree with part of your statement. As far as record goes, you are correct in that we can only equal last year; however, I feel this team is better than last years team. The only way we would really know that is for them to play each other, and that is impossible. I do believe that this years team would win if they were to play. We have improved OL play, a better running back, and better qb play from Schaub. The D. well, talking about that makes me cry. Anyway, we can be a better team but have a 7-9 or 8-8 record. All things aren't equal since we aren't playing the same teams, injuries, etc, so I think we have to see if there is improvement or not. I feel that the Offense has made great strides, and the D has to be addressed. If we find another play maker on Offense, and someone who can help us in the red zone, we could become one of the elite offenses in the NFL. That is a long way from the Caper days. Who knows what our D could be with a great S in the backfield and a pass rusher. I am cautiously optimistic about next year.

[superbowlbound]

You're right, we're still mediocre, but we're right there on the verge of being a good, playoff caliber team. The fact of the matter is that we're a very young team with young coaches that are still learning how to win in this league. Now, no one is happy with the way the season turned out, but as we saw in the packers and tacks games, we're finally starting to make the one to three plays that turn tough losses into wins. Even in the Raiders debacle, Amobi, of all people, forced an extremely clutch turnover, only to have the wind taken out of our sails by boneheaded playcalling. I know that can easily be turned into "see? we still suck," but given our position, i see it as a positive. Even our craptacular defense is starting to make plays. How can that be anything but good? Sure, we still need help on both sides of the ball, but an offseason of work on redzone offense, a solid draft, and maybe a free agent or two on the defensive side of the ball, and we have all the tools to be a playoff team. Just a slight reversal of fortune in the early going of the year, namely the rosencopter game and the game at jacksonville, and we come into the raider game fighting for a playoff spot. There is a lot of room for optimism here, going forward, whether you like it or not. I would've liked to have success sooner as well, but we've gotta face the fact that we essentially started over. we'll get there, just be a little more patient.

[NBT]

We don't suck, we were just a very inconsitant team this year. On to the 2009 Draft, and the first playoff year.

[jppaul]

I bet we win the bears game but only if we are underdogs. If anybody expects anything out of us we are bound to fall flat on our faces