Houston 17 Pittsburgh 10 - Good Old Fashion Football

No updates due to personal matters but I haven't missed a minute of Texans football.

In this day and age of high flying offenses, it was refreshing to attend a football game where some serious ball control and hitting going on.

The Opening Drive
The Texans dominated the opening drive. The best way I can describe it? A thing of awesome beauty. Of things I've seen in person, it ranks up there with the Grand Canyon and the Vatican.

The Texans started the drive on the 5 yard line and drove the length of the field to go up 7-0. The amazing part was the time consumed. Time of possession on the drive was under 11 minutes. I was at the game but I watched the replay the other night. A few times the camera panned to Fat Ben Roethlisberger. As the drive progresses, it looked to me that Fat Ben got more restless and antsy.

On the field, the Texans dominated. Mixing up pass and run perfectly, the Texans kept the Steelers on their toes. Arian Foster carried the ball nine times for 41 yards and back up Ben Tate chipped a 20 yard scamper. Matt Schaub threw seven times while completing five for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Amazing things happen when the run game succeeds. On goal to go, Texans ran play action with Foster and the offensive line going right. Owen Daniels sold the play and slipped pass the line of scrimmage. Schaub floated the ball to him and Daniels hauled it in uncovered for about the easiest six the Texans ever scored.

Things went so right on that drive that even a few penalties did nothing to slow them down. They came out with a script and executed the plan perfectly.

The Defense
Two things always impressed me with Fat Ben. Because he is Fat Ben, he is hard to bring down. In spite of being Fat Ben, he scrambles well to buy time and more often than not complete a play.

Pittsburgh brought a patchwork line to Reliant Stadium. It showed.

Wade Phillip's 3-4 constantly harassed, hit and terrorized Fat Ben. On the stat sheet, the Texans defense sacked Roethlisberger five times and delivered eight QB hits. They also limited Mike Wallace, on a six game 100+ yard game streak, to 77 yards.

Things are working right when Pittsburgh is held to 9 possession that ended in punt, punt, blocked FG, TD, punt, punt, turn over on downs, interception.

The Texans defense had a brief lull coming of out of half time. Despite the makeshift offensive line, the Steelers had their way in the opening possession. The Steelers came out throwing with short completions and a few long passes before Rashard Mendenhall punched in the ball on a student body right play for a TD.

Again the Texans seemed flat footed on the Steelers second possession. Isaac Redmen just molested the defense. In consecutive plays, Redmen ran for 18, 6, 2 and 5 yards. Mewelde Moore spelled Redmen after the 5 yard run and took the ball for 15 yards.

The Texans managed enough of a stop to hold Pittsburgh to a field goal but the Steelers flipped the time of possession table on the Texans. Houston held the ball for a total of one minute and 38 seconds in the 3rd quarter.

The 4th Quarter
With the game knotted at 10, Gary Kubiak lit into the offense before the start of the 4th. I don't know what he said but it worked.

It took five plays and under three minutes but the Texans took control away from the Steelers. Foster followed up a Schaub 30 yard pass to Daniels with a 42 yard touchdown.

Given the lead, the rest was up to the defense. After the touchdown, the Steelers, due mainly to the Texans offense going three and out, possessed the football four more times.

The first post TD possession key play was a sack of Roethlisberger. The distance mandated a pass down field. Cornerback Jason Allen separated Hines Ward from a first down catch with a wallop.

With time becoming a factor, the Steelers had no choice but to go down field. When you have an offensive line in shambles that makes for a bad situation. At crunch time the Texans defense held and ended the game by Allen picking off a deep pass.

What To Like
The game opening drive is the way all football should be played.

The defense coming up at the end and keeping the Steelers off the board in the 4th quarter. That more than likely would not happen last year.

Arian Foster is back and healthy.

155 yards rushing on any Steeler defense is an accomplishment in any decade.

What Not To Like
Andre Johnson going out. Foster's running keeps teams off Johnson and make him a dangerous weapon. The same the other way. Teams have to play Foster or Johnson will make them pay. The team stepped it up while Foster was hurt...now they have to do the same for Angry Dre.

Penalties. Joel Dressen had two holding penalties that set the offense back in the opening drive. Fortunately the offense overcame them but they could have been drive killers.

The biggest killers were the illegal block in the back on the blocked field goal. Why Danieal Manning hit the place holder once Johnathan Joseph had the ball is beyond me. The punter would not run Joseph down and the penalty took a TD off the board.

The second penalty wasn't JJ Watt's fault as he appeared to be blocked into Fat Ben's knees. Some say as the rule is written, the ref had no choice but to call it. Another blog I read pulled out the rule book and quoted scripture. By the letter of the law, if a player is pushed into the quarterback then it is not a penalty. One more score was erased on that play.

Man of the Match
Arian Foster - the hammy is officially healed. Foster carried 30 times for 155 yards including his 42 yard TD.

No Quarter - Texans 34 Colts 7

Make no mistake about it. The Texans did what they were expected to do. The Colts came to town with octogenarian Kerry Collins. For the first time in Texans vs. Colts history, Peyton Manning didn't answer the bell. Nursing what I consider a career threatening injury, Manning's streak of 277 game started ended.

The Colts limped into town primed for a thrashing. They crawled back to Indianapolis after a 34-7 battering. A couple of second half turnovers saved the Colts from a 40 point beat down.

From start to finish, the Texans physically abused the Colts. The offense moved the ball at will. The Colts best defense was the Texans offense making mistakes and turning over the ball. Defensively the Texans blitzed early and often. Even special teams got in on the act.

How bad was it for the Colts? They knew exactly what the Texans were going to do on both sides of the ball. The Texans did everything but email the playbook and game plan to Jim Caldwell. Even if they did, I doubt Caldwell would know what to do with it.

The only bright spot for the Colts? Reggie Wayne is still Reggie Wayne. Wayne produced 106 yards and the single Colt touchdown.

3-4 Unveiled

The Texans unleashed the new 3-4 front to devastating results. Two early turnovers gave the offense two early short fields. Without Manning, the Colts huddled up. Collins lost a fumble during a sack and also dropped an exchange from center. The results put the Colts in an early whole and they never recovered.

Mario Williams abused TE Dallas Clark on two plays that resulted in two sacks. Rookie JJ Watt and Antonio Smith wreaked havoc on a makeshift Colts offensive line. With the front seven chasing the aging Collins, the Colts offense never really settled into any rhythm.

Joseph Addai scratched out 39 yards and the Colts only managed 69 rushing yards. Collins passed for 172 yards.

The Colts were an abysmal 1-9 in 3rd down conversions.

Foster Lite
Rushing champ Arian Foster sat the game out with a hamstring injury. Last season, he destroyed the Colts defense with over 200 yards rushing. No Foster, no worries. Derrick Ward started the game but left the game injured. No Ward, no problem. Insert second year running back Ben Tate. Even lost man Steve Slaton briefly jumped in on the action.

The Texans racked up 167 rushing yards with Tate leading the way with 116. Interceptions aside, Matt Schaub used rollouts effectively and to flow away from Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and the speed of the Colts defense. Andre Johnson finished with a strong 95 yards receiving and a touchdown. He caught a tipped passed on a play action that fooled even the camera man. He's simply an amazing athlete.

The defense applied the body blows with blitzes. The offenses delivered the head shots with touchdowns. The special teams and Jacoby Jones delivered the knock out blow. Jones ran back a punt 79 yards for a touchdown that finished off the Colts and any hope of salvaging the game. The Texans went into the locker room with a 34-0 lead.

What To Like
The Texans pretty much telegraphed the game plan on both sides of the ball. Blitz defense, run and rollouts on offense. The Colts were helpless.

Schaub managed the game and made long throws down field to keep the Colts on their heels. The offense played hard and did not change the plan to run. Coach Gary Kubiak committed to the run despite Foster not suiting up. Ward and Tate filled in effectively.  Johnson continues to show why he is an elite wide receiver.

The defense thrashed and abuse the Colts offensive line.  When there was a mismatch, the Texans punished the Colts for it.  Either stupidly or by mistake, Clark had no business taking on Williams one on one.

What Not To Like
Turnovers. Schaub threw two picks and Tate fumbled once. They need to take care of the ball better. In close games, turnovers kill and there will be some close games this season. Clean it up.

Again some of the play calling blows the mind. On one possession inside the 20, Kubiak calls some pass plays when you want to kill the clock and get out of the half. Yes you want touchdowns but you also want to keep the opponent's offense off the field and give the defense some extra rest before the half.

James Casey = Nasty
Before the season, I doubted the idea of Casey at fullback. As the preseason progressed, I started to come around to the idea. Casey adds another dimension a potent offense. He presents match up problems. He can stay and block at fullback or he can motion out to the slot, halfback, TE or even WR spot.

I imagine as the season progresses they will add more to his already full plate. Make no mistake about it, Casey is a football player but also a scholar. As much as I think rice is insignificant, it is one of the few college teams where student athletes must meet same academic requirements of the student body. No free passes or easy classes.

Now for the nasty.




On Tate's TD run, Casey lines up at fullback. Watch how he blows up #41 Antoine Bethea. Casey completely takes Bethea out of the play and Tate runs in untouched.

There is another play later in the game where Casey lines up at fullback. He runs down field full speed, lowers his shoulder and wipes out a linebacker. Without missing a beat, Casey keeps running his route. It was so effortless that I don't even remember the result of the play.

Just nasty on both plays and hopefully we will see more as the season progresses.

Man of the Match
Without a doubt, Ben Tate takes this week's award. Third on the depth chart, he moved up to second with Foster out and then took the load fulltime when Ward went out injured. He put up great numbers for a third back. As a result the Texans never abandoned the game plan.

Conclusion
The Texans did what they had to do. They beat a bad team. The Colts were built for Peyton Manning on both sides of the ball. Offensively the Colts expect to play with the lead early due to Manning and a potent offense. Due to an early big lead, they know teams throw to catch up so they defend with speed not size.

The Texans instead imposed their brand of football. They attacked early, forced turnovers and build a big lead. In turn, they ran the ball to against and a speedy but smaller than usual defense.

The Texans now must keep up the intensity defensively next week against Miami. Chad Henne put up over 400 yards on offense. Brandon Marshall will test the secondary. Can the Texans handle success and a team better than the one they whipped last Sunday?

The Future of Peyton Manning?

The saying goes "To be the best, you have to beat the best." What is left unsaid is "To be the best, you just have to outlast the rest."

I hate Peyton Manning as the signal caller for the Colts. Why? Really? Manning only owns the Texans. Yet as much as I hate Manning, I respect the hell out of him for the way he approaches the game. Also I hate that if he leaves the NFL it's on an injury and not his own terms.

Manning commands the field like no other player I've seen live. His presence on the field is absolutely commanding. Manning isn't a quarterback...he's a field marshal. He commands, he directs, he analyzes the defense, he attacks. Of course, Colts management surrounded him with talent to do that. However if the skills aren't there the Manning couldn't do.

Despite all that, Manning is still human. As super as he maybe, age respects no one. Manning is 35. He had trouble with his neck this offseason and again had another procedure done on his neck. At this point it becomes a fair question...is Manning done?

I don't know if Manning will play another down. The media reports that he may play late in the season. My question is why? If the Colts are in the playoff race down the stretch, I might consider it if I were the Colts brain trust. If the team is totally out of it, why risk Manning? Why risk a more serious injury?

My View on the Situation
The goal in football isn't to beat the best. The goal is to win every game. If Peyton Manning isn't lining up tomorrow under center, I don't care. The Texans must go out there and take advantage of his absence. The goal right now is to win the division and make the playoffs. What better time to start than striking against a weakened enemy?

Every team wants to win the Super Bowl. What you do is beat the team that lines up across from you. You show no mercy. Spare them not just because they don't have their best player...you for all the marbles and you do it now at the expense of your enemy.

So all the naysayers who say if the Texans win it's a cheap win...I say no it's not...it's outlasting your enemy.

An Off Season of Change and Hope - Part 1

From training camp open, hope springs eternal. The revamping of the defense, both in personnel and philosophy, adds to the hope.

The Texans fired defensive coordinator Frank Bush and hired Wade Phillips to lead the defense.

Defense dominated the draft for the Texans. JJ Watts, Brooks Reed and Brandon Harris look to bolster the defensive line, linebacking corp and a scorched secondary at their respective positions.

Once the free agency period opened, the Texans jumped on the best cornerback not named Nnandi Asomugha in Johnathan Joseph. The also added more secondary help in safety Danieal Manning.

What all this adds up to is a sea of change and the goal of playoffs. This year is Gary Kubiak's make or break season. Short of a fluke reason (11-5 record but no playoffs), if the Texans don't make the playoffs, Kubiak and GM Rick Smith will be run off.

The big question for me right now is how quick can Phillips mold the defense. Will the pieces fit his scheme? In this series I'll try and explore the defensive changes and additions to the Texans.

2nd Best Isn't Bad At All

The Texans were allegedly in hot pursuit of Nnamdi Asomugha. I've already stated my position on Asomugha and it made no sense on so many levels for him to play for the Texans. Yet it was reported that the Texans, along with the Jets and 49ers, were in the top three in pursuit for Asomugha's services.

Instead the Texans went for a more reasonable decision in agreeing to terms with former Cincinnati Bungles Johnathan Joseph. According to an ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted and the Houston Chronicle's John McClain also reported that Joseph agreed to a five year deal valued at $48.75 million that includes $23.5 guaranteed with a $12.5 million signing bonus.

Joseph brings more talent to the table than the Texans have on the roster. At age 27, barring injuries, he has upside and potential than trying to bring in another rookie or young corner. Joseph's best year was 2009 season. He had 20 passes defended, 6 INTs with one returned for a TD and also forced one fumble.

2010 he had some injury issues and only started 12 games. Given the Texans horrible defense last year even 12 games out of Joseph would have had an effect.

The bottom line is the Texans added a significant upgrade to the defense at a reasonable cost. They did pay a high price but not in the stratosphere where Asomugha's salary will reside. It also leaves money to pursue more defensive help. According to the McClain's article, the Texans are now involved in the hunt for safety Danieal Manning.

In other Texans news, defensive tackle Amobi Okoye and wide receiver David Anderson were informed they were free to seek trades to other teams. If they cannot find a trade, I expect they will be cut to clear up cap room for another signing or two such as make a serious run at keeping fullback Vonta Leech.

Nnamdi Asomugha Is Not Going To Be A Texan

There is the delusional and then the realistic. Then there are the flipping idiots. Jerome Solomon was slowly crawling out of my list of hacks. I still don't like most of what Solomon writes but I can get it. Then he writes this sensationalistic piece of garbage that "Texans Need To Go After Asomugha." Really? Come on, Jerome. That was just National Enquirer material.

On the previous post, I promised an article on why Asomugha won't be a Texans. Solomon forced my hand while I was still thinking about the article.

First, the salary cap under the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) makes it cost prohibitive. Asomugha is going to command mad money and the Texans don't have the cap space for it. In order to fit him under the cap two things need to happen. First management needs to gut the team of players. The team has enough depth problems without cutting the players necessary to sign Asomugha. Next the team will ask some of the remaining players to take pay cuts. Andre Johnson signed a new contract last year. You really think he will agree to a pay cut? Matt Schaub and DeMeco Ryans also going to take one for the team? Not going to happen.

Even if the Texans successfully sign Asomugha they handicap future signings. Mario Williams contract is up after this season. With a devastating Asomugha contract, Williams walks. Other key players due raises? If Arian Foster puts up another big season he'll be due. What about Brian Cushing? He eventually will either out play or finish his rookie contract. You think the Texans aren't players on free agent market now. Wait until they tie up cap money on Asomugha.

Finally, why would Asomugha sign with the Texans? He played his entire career with Emperor Palpatine and the Oakland Raiders. In his time, they never reached the playoffs. Whoever signs Asomugha will back up the Brinks truck. He will get paid no matter where he lands. So the second factor he will consider is can he win a ring. Scratch the Texans off that list for the immediate future. Time is a factor for Asomugha. He turned 30 this summer. A drop off in skill will happen sooner than later.

Lockout On The Verge of Ending, Texans on Verge of Something

Long time no post because really no news to post about. I avoided commenting on the Wade Phillips hire or the draft on purpose. Besides working ton of overtime and looking for a new house, I viewed any commentary an exercise in futility. With a labor dispute and season in jeopardy, I decided not to spend precious time on the NFL and Texans until things were settled. I kept my comments on the NFL labor dispute over on the Untitled Sports Blog.

Barring major meltdown, according to multiple reports, a tentative agreement on most major issues had been reached. Player reps will vote on Wednesday to approve a deal and owners are expected to ratify their end of it on Thursday.

According to same reports, free agency will be a mad dash to the finish. Teams will have the initial 72 hours to negotiate exclusively with their own free agents (Vonta Leach and Jacoby Jones?). I'll comment more on the specifics of the labor agreement once it becomes public and the details are verifiable.

In preparation for the labor dispute ending, I did a little bit of research into the Wade Phillips 3-4. I'll present my research in a future post. After reading on how Phillips runs a 3-4, I'm a bit more comfortable with Mario Williams move to outside linebacker and drafting J.J. Watt. I knew the role of nose tackle wasn't the same as that of a space eater like in the Steelers/Ravens style of 3-4.

The secondary and linebacking corp remain the glaring question marks. Brian Cushing is coming off a subpar year after a four game PED suspension. DeMeco Ryans is returning from a nasty season ending injury. Kareem Jackson is still smoldering from the scorching he received all season long. Bernard Pollard is gone. Grover Quin is moving to safety leaving Jackson as the the most experienced starting corner (crap). Connor Barwin is supposedly penciled in at linebacker spot opposite Williams. Never mind that Barwin never played linebacker and is coming off a season ending injury nastier than Ryans.

Hopefully a deal will be in place by Thursday. The two biggest questions going forward for me at this time is when is the damn underwriter going to let me close on the house and where to go for lunch today?

Coming soon: Why Nmandi Asomugha won't be a Texan and my understanding (or lack thereof) of a Wade Phillips 3-4 scheme.

2011 Texans Schedule Released and A Few Words

HOUSTON TEXANS 2011 SCHEDULE

PRESEASON

Day Date Opponent Time (CT) TV
Monday 8/15 NEW YORK JETS 7:00 p.m. ESPN
8/19-21 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS TBA KTRK
8/26-28 at San Francisco 49ers TBA KTRK
9/1-3 at Minnesota Vikings TBA KTRK

REGULAR SEASON

Day Date Opponent Time (CT) TV
Sunday 9/11 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Noon CBS
Sunday 9/18 at Miami Dolphins 3:15 p.m. CBS
Sunday 9/25 at New Orleans Saints Noon CBS
Sunday 10/2 PITTSBURGH STEELERS Noon CBS
Sunday 10/9 OAKLAND RAIDERS Noon CBS
Sunday 10/16 at Baltimore Ravens 3:05 p.m. CBS
Sunday 10/23 at Tennessee Titans Noon CBS
Sunday 10/30 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Noon CBS
Sunday 11/6 CLEVELAND BROWNS Noon CBS
Sunday 11/13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Noon CBS
Sunday 11/20 BYE WEEK
Sunday 11/27 at Jacksonville Jaguars Noon CBS
Sunday 12/4 ATLANTA FALCONS Noon FOX
Sunday 12/11 at Cincinnati Bengals Noon CBS
Sunday 12/18 CAROLINA PANTHERS Noon FOX
Thurs 12/22 at Indianapolis Colts 7:20 p.m. NFLN
Sunday 1/1 TENNESSEE TITANS Noon CBS

That's the plan if the labor dispute is resolved before the season.

To be honest, it's to early to make any predictions about the season. A new 3-4 defense installed. More rookies on defense. Will there be any free agent additions? How will Arian Foster follow up his break out season?

As Yoda once said,"Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future." That's how I view all things Houston Texans and NFL right now.

My Hiatus Is Over - A Tid Bit of Info

Interesting article about how the Scouting Combine actually became a combine and the scouting services employed by NFL clubs.

From Draft Daddy, the article is Who Are BLESTO And National?.

NFL teams don't do all their own scouting. They actually hire one of two outside firms to do all the preliminary footwork on underclassmen. BLESTO and National are two scouting firms formed by various NFL teams and are now subscription based services. Twenty five teams subscribe and the others don't.

It makes sense for teams to share information on underclassmen and collate it into a usable database. Basic economics dictates that teams subscribe or share preliminary information on the thousands of college players available.

The article explains in further details the basic inner workings of the services and how teams use them.