Hey, I was on vacation last week. I turned off all computers, phones and relaxed in the great outdoors for four days. But I'm back to the rat race and my favorite hobby...The Houston Texans.
Week 7 Quick Thoughts
I watched the replay of the 49er game when I got back from vacation. I was there and it was nerve racking. I didn't realize until I read the report that it was TE Vernon Davis that scorched the Texans for the Niner's three TDs. The same play that split the zone seam.
Again it was a tale of two halves. The Texans were on the way to a blowout win leading 21-0 at half time. Yet I had that nervous feeling that something would give.
Mike Singletary pulled starter Shaun Hill and inserted former 1st overall pick Alex Smith. It proved to be a spark for the 49ers and a bane to the Texans. In the end, the Texans survived on a Kris Brown FG.
One quick thought. The players said after the game that they didn't prepare for Smith so that threw them off their game plan. I find that a bit troubling. You prepare to take the field and defend no matter who is at quarterback. You have to. Injury could have forced Smith into the game and you are telling me they weren't prepared for him? Regardless, the coaches could have tried to make some adjustments. It's inexcusable to get beat on the same play three times for TDs. It almost cost the game. It didn't and I enjoyed my vacation.
Now to the headliner.....Week 8
I say not so fast. Ryan Moats ran for 126 yards and three 4th quarter touchdowns to lead the Texans to a 31-10 rout of the Buffalo Bills. He replaced Steve Slaton who once again fumbled. Slaton has lost 5 of 7 fumbles and ominously leads the league in that category.
Slaton supposedly worked all week on learning to secure the ball. On the play, the defender hit Slaton who had the ball exposed. Instead of securing the ball against his body, Slaton held the ball with one hand and exposed. I can't even imagine the thought process. He and Kubiak both claimed he worked on securing the ball all week. Yet he comes out and repeats his mistake again.
Kubiak had no choice but to send Slaton to the pine. The game was early and still very much in doubt. Matt Schaub had already thrown one pick. The team might have been on the verge of imploding...something they've done in the past. The benching for the whole game was the right thing to do. Kubiak tried benching him for a series or two but always let him back in. I thought after his late game fumble against the Niners he should have been bench for the game. He had the short leash this game though.
Now the question is who starts next week against the Indianapolis Colts?
Moats vs. Slaton
In the euphoria of the post game celebrations, everybody I listened to on TV and radio declared Moats the starter next week. The late afternoon radio host on Sports Radio 610, not John Lopez, was the only one I heard put the Moats' game in perspective and was thinking exactly what I was preaching.
Like I stated after the Raider game, this was the freakin' Bills. The Bills boast the worst run defense in the NFL and probably college too. I'm not taking anything away from Moats. He still had to go on the field and earn his yards. Still, it was the Bills. Nothing to get to excited about.
The Case for Ryan Moats
He doesn't fumble. That pretty much sums it up. He runs hard down field. He doesn't jitter bug looking for a hole. He just puts it in gear and goes.
The Case Against Ryan Moats
He doesn't have break away speed. He's not as effective a receiver out of the backfield or on screens. Some talking heads say he isn't an effective on picking up the blitz.
The Case for Steve Slaton
Slaton is pretty much the polar opposite of Moats. He dances looking for a hole and fumbles to much. Wait this supposed to be the case for Slaton.
Slaton can run off a big play anytime he touches the ball. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case on run plays but as a motion player out of the backfield and screen receiver he is lethal. To wit the Bengals game: 102 yards and 2 TDs receiving. He's a play maker. Add in the season ending injury to TE Owen Daniels and the Texans need all the weapons they can muster.
The Case Against Steve Slaton
Fumbles. He regressed to his junior year at West Virginia where he earned the reputation as a fumbler. He fixed it his senior year and his rookie season. Now the fumblitis is back.
Part of this is on the offensive line but also on Slaton, he struggling in the run game. Contrary to popular belief, currently the Texans aren't an exclusive zone blocking team anymore. The season ending injuries to guards Mike Brisel and Chester Pitts forced the Texans to abandon the scheme for now. According to Profootball Weekly, the Texans are using more a straight on scheme with three new line players in Chris White, Kasey Studdard and rookie Antoine Caldwell.
Before the injuries the run game struggled and I was putting it all on the offensive line. Now the scheme has changed and so has personal. Now I'm wondering if Slaton just can't adjust to the straight on scheme and still looks for the one cut back. Maybe the scheme is better suited to Moats style of downhill running.
And The Winner Is?
Despite his big day against the defenseless Bills, Moats will start. My reasoning? It's a big game. It's against a divisional rival who has only lost once to the Texans. Ever. The Texans can ill afford to let Slaton fumble against Payton Manning. That's just giving Manning and Co. free air time.
So what then with Slaton? Time for Gary Kubiak and Kyle Shanahan to drink coffee, stay up into the early morning hours, break out the crayons and get creative with the play book. Utilizes his strength as a receiver off screens and motion.
Hell put him and Moats on the field at the same time. Limit Slaton's touches some to decrease the fumble problem but enough to keep the Colts wary of him. Despite the fumbles, defenses still have to account for his play making ability. If the Texans can establish a run game with Moats and it may open things up for Slaton receiving...and like I said before, someone needs to step up for Daniels.
Final Thoughts
In a way, the running back problem highlights how far the Texans have progressed. This time last year they were 3-5 and not looking like a playoff team. Had Slaton shown his fumble problem at this point last year I doubt he would have been benched as long as he was on Sunday. This year at the halfway point, the team is still in competition for the wild card spot. It's the first time the Texans will try to play meaningful games late into the season. If that means Slaton needs to sit in order to advance then so be it.
I'm glad I'm not Kubiak.
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