Reasons to cheer and jeer

[painekiller]

During OTAs when the league announced the suspension of Cushing for games, my already low estimate for this team dropped.

Well here we are, 4 games played, and 12 more to go, and the Texans have exceeded my expectations. They are 3-1 and in sole possession of 1st place in the AFC South with a two game lead on the Colts.

For that I cheer. I love it when my predictions of gloom are wrong.

Cheers, Arian Foster is leading the league in rushing by 126 yds, with a total of 537 yds or an average of 134 yds/gm. That is Chris Johnson territory.

Jeer, Arian Foster was disciplined for missing a meeting and being late for another. But I think he got the message.

Jeer, Matt Schaub is tied for 2nd in the league for times sacked with 11, he was only sacked 25 times all of last season. And IMO most of the sacks have been on Schaub holding the ball or not stepping up when the pressure is being pushed around him.

Cheers, the Texans are 4th in the league in scoring offense.

Cheers, the OLine is playing the best as a unit that they have played in the history of the team. Not flawless, but pretty danged good.

Cheers, Dline is tied for 9th in the league in sacks, and they are 5th in the league against the run.

Jeers the Dline still does not play with a consistent fire, they appears to take drives or the Dallas game off.

Jeers to the Reliant fans that do not know when to be quite.

Cheers, Kubiak has steered this team in a slow sustainable rise to being a power team with loads of weapons on both sides of the ball.

Cheers, the team is being talked about nationally for the 1st time.

Now add your cheers and jeers, I will bring some more later.

[cland]

Cheers for the GM: two second round picks gets you a franchise QB and an undrafted RB leads the NFL in yards.

Jeers for the pass defense. So far we make QBs look like all pros.

[Mike]

Cheers: Brian Cushing is back.

Cheers: Bernard Pollard scares the crap out of everyone, not named Gradkowski.

Jeers: Duane Brown........

Jeers: "Be a professional, Arian Foster."

Cheers: Derrick Ward being a professional and helping the young guys.

Cheers: I trust Rick Smith.

Cheers: Kubiak is in control of his team

Cheers: If I don't tailgate this week, I will have a parking spot an hour before kick-0ff.

[Bigtinylittle]

1. I see big storm warnings concerning Foster. A guy playing for a contract missing meetings? To me it shows extreme immaturity. I think things will be OK for the rest of the year but after that all bets are off. Whoever gives him a nice long-term contract may end up regretting it bigtime.

2. Schaub is definately playing a notch below where he was last year. He is holding on to ball too long sometimes and sometimes throwing to guys who aren't open. I can't figure out what's going on to cause this surprising development.

3. Jacoby Jones is still thinking too much about running the ball before he makes the reception. His running ability is almost like a curse sometimes.

4. Since Pollard is so physical, shouldn't he be used more often to blitz?

5. I think it's way too early to call Nolan a solid player. Let's wait and see.

6. I want to see Mitchell get more playing time and I'm pretty sure Kubiak is feeling the same way. He'll probably mention Mitchell today at his presser.

[nunusguy]

Cheers - Houston putting together a strong offensive performance despite missing much of their passing playmakers
Cheers - another very impressive performance by Dlineman A.Smith
Jeers - the Texans D "relaxing" in the 4th Q when up 17 points and making Grabowski look like John Elway

[Joe Joe]

Cheers
3-1
Offensive line blocking well.
All RBs using blocking well with Foster on pace to have one of the best seasons ever from a RB.
Schaub has been consistent.
AJ should be back
Cushing is back and hopefully he'll imprve the pass defense against TEs and RBs
Defense is good against the run.

Jeers
Pass defense is horrible.
Brown still out with Giants D up next.
Foster keeps himself out for over.a quarter.
AJ and JJ banged up.
Daniels still healing.

[NBT]

Cheers - SS Pollard tackles like a demon.
Jeers - Pollard allows Raider TE over 100 yards receiving.

I predict FS is Troy Nolan's best position and his ints are no fluke.

Glad to see PK back on the board and making posts.

[barrett]

I rarely saw Pollard on Miller in Sunday's game. Most of the time it was Diles. I mentioned a few games ago that I underestimated how much Cushing meant to our pass defense. He did a great job of covering TEs and Backs last year and all the rest of our LBs are weak in that area.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

I rarely saw Pollard on Miller in Sunday's game. Most of the time it was Diles. I mentioned a few games ago that I underestimated how much Cushing meant to our pass defense. He did a great job of covering TEs and Backs last year and all the rest of our LBs are weak in that area.

Well not always. That TE up in Indy really schooled our rook 'backer last year as I recall ?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Well not always. That TE up in Indy really schooled our rook 'backer last year as I recall ?

I don't think you can put that on Cushing. Clark basically ran a bunch of choice routes and caught on-time, on-target balls for manning for short to intermediate gains (with little YAC). I'd put that on the scheme if I am going to blame anyone. But more accurately I'd just say great offense beats great defense.

And whatever happened with Clark, it is clear Cushing is a huge upgrade in both our run and pass defense (provided he plays like last year). Which is a good thing since we are giving up 337 pypg.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Well not always. That TE up in Indy really schooled our rook 'backer last year as I recall ?

I agree with Barrett. Also, if you recall that game, Cushing beat the tar out of him all half and Clark played like a soft little girl in the second half. I saw him slide down two yards short of a first down a couple times late in that game. Which, if you are a 180 lb WR, is one thing... but, 250 lb TEs probably shouldn't be doing that late in a tight game.