Official Texans vs New Orleans Fake Game Thread, 8/20/2011

Nconroe · #1 08-19-2011, 12:28 PM

It's still preseason and we do play NO during the regular season, so likely to be a fairly routine calls game.

Sounds like the starters will be in longer this game, so we hope everyone stays healthy.

I mainly hope our team continues to compete well in all phases and not look overmatched anywhere. But it is preseason, time for learning and trying everyone out.

A few things seem to be of interest to watch out of last week -
Defense
- how will Mario progress in his position
- will we stop runs up the middle
- can we protect against the long pass
- will Braman and Nadding continue to look good at OLB
Offense
- how will we protect against lots of blitzes
- how will Tate and Arian look at RB, and Ogbonnaya continue to look
- how about Jean and other WR's
ST
- kick returners, will this improve, although likely still backups
- and will kick coverage improve

Joshua · #2 08-19-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nconroe

It's still preseason and we do play NO during the regular season, so likely to be a fairly routine calls game.

Sounds like the starters will be in longer this game, so we hope everyone stays healthy.

I mainly hope our team continues to compete well in all phases and not look overmatched anywhere. But it is preseason, time for learning and trying everyone out.

A few things seem to be of interest to watch out of last week -
Defense
- how will Mario progress in his position
- will we stop runs up the middle
- can we protect against the long pass
- will Braman and Nadding continue to look good at OLB
Offense
- how will we protect against lots of blitzes
- how will Tate and Arian look at RB, and Ogbonnaya continue to look
- how about Jean and other WR's
ST
- kick returners, will this improve, although likely still backups
- and will kick coverage improve

Pretty good list for things to watch for. However, as you said, we meet the Saints pretty early in the year so I expect both teams to keep it pretty vanilla. Thus, I don't anticipate the Saints sending a lot of blitzes so you may not get a chance to see how we protect against the blitz this week.

I would also add that I'm looking for Schaub to give some indication that he is aware he is playing a football game sometime before midway through the 2nd quarter.

cadams · #3 08-19-2011, 01:14 PM

agree on mario, he was blocked way too much on monday by one o-lineman

don't want to see foster in this game at all.

want to see if they can continue to get pressure on the opposing qb

want to see the offense actually come out in sync at the BEGINNING of a game.

barrett · #4 08-19-2011, 05:51 PM

I wasn't overly concerned about Mario. He was a non-factor, but it was a very small sampling. Plus they used only 3 step drops while he was in the game. The run plays that worked were up the middle (where we may be in trouble this year unless Cushing looks like 2009).

Basically I saw nothing concerning from Mario, but if he played a whole game like that then we just turned him into a non-impact player. More plays should tell us more. And so should an offense that will drop back and pass.

Arky · #5 08-19-2011, 06:33 PM

Sean Payton has ran up 38 pts on the Texans in each of the last two preseason games. Should be a good test for the new defense....

nunusguy · #6 08-20-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadams

agree on mario, he was blocked way too much on monday by one o-lineman

Mario is a DE/DT type not DE/OLB type, so the sooner they get thru this nonsense about him playing at this new position the better. Besides we are very vulnerable up front from rushing plays with our small nose and the very smallish A.Smith ('bout 275) at one DE. Don't be surprised if the Saints with their monster guard duo (Evans & Nicks) maul us pretty bad with the hard-running Ingram up the middle. A Mario-JJ DE pairing would give us a stronger run defense and a better pass rush, especially when you move Mario up front and add another real edge-rusher to pair with Barwin.

Arky · #7 08-20-2011, 07:00 PM

Kickoff due in a few minutes...

Arian, Tate, AJ, Cushing supposed to play tonight..... JoJo still out...

Arky · #8 08-20-2011, 07:07 PM

Texans to kickoff to the Saints...

Hartmann kicks it out of the endzone. Saints ball at their 20.

Arky · #9 08-20-2011, 07:10 PM

Big hole for Thomas - gains about 13 yards on 1st down.

Pass good for 9 but flag on the play. Late hit on Adibi, 15 yards. Ball at the Texans 43.

Dump pass to Sproles gets about 9. Brings up 2nd and 1.

Dump pass to Sproles goes inc. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Thomas picks up the 1st down with a 2 or 3 yard gain. Ball at the Texan 33.

Ingram gets about 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Ingram tripped up by Watt for 2 yard gain. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass sails inc but flag thrown on the play. Illegal contact on GQ - auto 1st down at the Texan 20.

Thomas for 6.

Sproles for 3. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Ingram gets about 5 or 6. 1st and goal at the Texan 4.

Woohoo, Brees is sacked, coughs it up, big loss, Texans ball at their 25?. A Smith finally corralled it...

HPF Bob · #10 08-20-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadams

want to see the offense actually come out in sync at the BEGINNING of a game.

Well. you got that. Texans punters have sat it out so far. Four possessions. Four scores.