This constant running on 1st down and 2nd down and passing on 3rd down is hurting our offense. If we know the play call, then the opponents know the play call! Mix in some screen passes, quick outs, MIX IT UP Caley!
It is the Slowik system continued. Think about it, two inexperienced OC's in a row. With a "rookie" QB. Somebody is not smart or wise. Also, have you listened to Caley's pressers? He is Mr. "word salad." He babbles.
Could it be that Ryan's, Caley don't fully trust CJ and we're running the ball to shorten the game? They trust the defense will win games for them. So far this formula has worked for them this year.
I think Stroud is fine except when teams blitz the house. I don’t know if it’s CJ or Caley, but they don’t seem to have a plan for it. I wouldn’t wait until later in the game if I was on the opposing side. I would do it every passing down until the Texans prove they have an answer for it.
It's the QBs responsibility to see the blitz and audible to a different play in this system. Recognition is the key. CJ doesn't deal with pressure well unfortunately so there's that too.
As much as I talked **** about Bobby Slowik I kind of miss those screens to Nico. I don’t recall Nico catching a screen all season. As dynamic as he is he should have way more than 3 or 4 touches a game.
I think the top down, “organization-wide” approach is to game manage on offense, and let the defense win games for you. I think every one has bought into this approach from the head coach on down. Makes for a frustrating watch as a fan, but hard to argue w/ the results
Having a QB that struggles to read defenses and struggles to get the ball out on time and accurately is hurting our offense. I feel like they feel they have to keep it conservative and basic so Stroud isn't eating 15 yard sacks and throwing picks.
Well yeah but that doesn't have anything to do with being predictable on first downs. You game manage by moving the chains. Easy first down completions matter much more for that. Texans strategy in the 2nd half was to run out the clock. I just don't think you can win a super bowl that way. You have to take shots and you have to be aggressive and convert. That said, maybe with our historic defense it's possible, but you still are more effective doing that if you pass on 1st down and make it 2nd and 5 instead of 2nd and 9. For instance, a pass/run/run is more effective than a run/run/pass. 1st down: pass for 5 yards 2nd down: run for 1 yard 3rd down: run for 4 yards (surprises the defense) instead: 1st down: run for 1 yard 2nd down: run for 2 yards 3rd down: incomplete pass for 7 yards (defense is expecting it, they are coming with a blitz)
Yup, spot on. They are happy with boring wins and play to their strength. My worries are what happens - if they get behind early and have to comeback with this iteration of the team, or - the opposing team gets a gift/fluke score in a close game because the Texans didn't extend their lead due to ineffective drives, can they turn it back on? Guess the Astros haven't been able to flush all the #HoustonSportsFan out of me!
Remember CJ's "low" score on the test at the combine? I think his response was "I play football." Obviously, the test was predictive. He doesn't process as fast as he needs to. When he has a clean pocket and time, he can be quite effective. But when he doesn't, he isn't. It didn't take DC's long to figure him out. To be effective, he needs more time to process. Personally, I like CJ, nice kid. BUT, I would not max him out.
They have good reason not to fully trust CJ, but why then did they have CJ throwing the ball deep in our own territory up 14-3 with 30 seconds remaining in the half? Why? Dumb. It's not all on CJ. I remember a LB run right by Schultz and CJ had to imnediatedly throw it away. Too many times there are defenders who run right by or through our OL and force CJ into split-second decisions. Our pass-blocking has improved but we do NOT have a good pass-blocking OL.
It's not all CJ. We have a POOR OL. It's improved, but it's still a bad line. It's been refreshing to see our running game improve a bit with the inclusion of Jawhar Jordan at RB. Where was he all season? It's disappointing when our coaching staff cannot apparently recognize their own talent, whom they watch daily in practice.
It's mostly CJ, the o line isn't anywhere near elite, but CJ's poor performance makes it worse than it should be.
I'm not going to say you're wrong. I see so much bad from so many parts that it's hard for me to figure out which is the chicken and which is the egg. It's undeniable that the OL is bad and a bad OL definitely messes up a QB. It's also undeniable that CJ misses A LOT of throws. The rookie sensation has all but disappeared. I'd like to watch another deep dive film study on him now, because the guy who seemed to read defenses so well and make throws with anticipation feels like a memory.
CJ is currently rated by PFF as the 20th best QB in the league. They rate our OL #23. Our running game is also poor. I'd say that CJ'S production is commensurate to the talent and scheme around him. It should also be noted that losing Tank Dell has had a major impact on CJ and our offense. Higgins and Noel are decent, they're not on the same level that Dell was on. CJ will produce better results when we get a better OL, running game, and better weapons.
I agree that there's blame to go around but I just feel like the o line and o coordinator takes a lot more than their share due to people seeking to deflect blame from CJ. If we look at the interceptions from Saturday, both were CJ just not realizing the defender was there, sure one had a d lineman get part of a finger on it, but the pass would have been intercepted no matter what. Those weren't an o line not protecting him, the o coordinator didn't force him to make those bad passes... it was just him doing a bad job. Rookie CJ didn't make those mistakes very often so this is clear regression
