I agree with you. I can't wait for the Texans to kick off next year. I'll watch every game and hope and pray that they make the playoffs... meanwhile somehow rationalizing whatever personnel moves they make until I've solidly talked myself into it. This is how it works with the Texans, Rockets, and Astros. I hated both of our deadline moves, thought we could've topped Portland's offer for Wallace, etc. but am now back in line and expecting great things from at least Dragic. I hated the Barmes trade and while I like Bill Hall, I scratched at relegating one of our best hitters to the bench... but now I scour the net for spring box scores and have convinced myself that each of those two guys will hit .275 and 20+ homers. Confusion, followed by anger, followed by rationalization, followed by acceptance, followed by hope, followed by dissapointment... there is only one champion every year. You just hope that there is some fun and excitement on that rollercoaster... 'Dre making a rediculous TD catch (or beating the hell out of a Titan CB), a Carlos Lee walkoff bouncing off the train tracks, Michael Bourn stealing a triple off the hill, a K-Mart 4-point play, Scola with a circus scoop shot, a K-Low to Budinger alley-oop... Isn't that why we watch? Because it's our own ludicrous metaphor for life? Swoly-D translation: :grin: :ll
i don't think poo poo anything they do... but if you're talking about picking up key players in free agency?? or drafting to fill holes with immediate need? yeah, then you'll have to show me first with respect to the current regime. it doesn't have to be that way forever...but the decision-makers empowered right now?? -- i don't trust them to get it right.
i hear ya...but don't mistake the criticism of the coaching staff and GM for people not rooting for the team. everyone of the guys here who is calling out the poor decision making will be rooting like hell for the guys on the field to win come week 1.
Oh absolutely... critism is essential... and I do my fair share of criticizing. I just hate the immediate pessimism, the instant "poo-pooing" as I quoted in DonkeyMagic's post. I love the debate, but hate when the vitriol enters.
I don't mind the instant poop anymore. It was annoying back in year 2, frustrating in year 3, and goddamned irritating in year 4. But now, the Texans have pretty much squandered all benefit of the doubt. Unleash hell.
Morbid humour i can relate. Poking fun and laughing at the situation is not what gets annoying. It's when people get vile that becomes too much. let the poison out of your systems people.
i didnt read the thread,but here is what I gather from offseason moves: 1.3-4 ,with blitz packages, oh boy kareem is going to get abused 2.they do this every year,talk a big game yet dont sign any major FA and ruined draft status by winning a meaningless last game of season...instead of a stud cb or von in draft ,we will be looking at a backup DT LOL. 3. Asomugha? nope. bailey? nope. bill cower? nope. FAIL 4. however,the one positive is that every new team Wade has gone to they have made the playoffs the first season, which means Texans make playoffs.I guess if Payton Manning gets injured the division IS OPEN for the taking. Jags /titans, havent improved. 5.i will say that wade> bush....but they need better talent,cb/olb/dt/fs thats alot of holes.
I completely agree with everything here, but the bolded part is what hurts the most imo. When I saw some mock drafts on ESPN that had peterson going #7 to the 49ers, it nearly broke me inside. The Texans could have had a shot at him for sure with the #6 pick. But even if he were already gone by #6, maybe Marcell Dareus, Von Miller, Nick Fairley, or Robert Quinn is still available.
The only FAs that have been available so far are players that got cut from their previous teams. The real FA season starts later, after the new CBA deal starts methinks.
This new system, as described will be very interesting. Wade supposedly doesn't care for space eaters up front and wants all 3 linemen upfield almost every down, along with the WOLB and possibly an additional blitzer. Essentially, it becomes an uber-aggressive 4-3 with a 3-4 alignment. That really puts the secondary under pressure to lock down the route runners, and the flats and seams become dangerous hot route options. Wade has said what most of us suspected for years - our secondary are clueless and will benefit from solid coaching. Let's hope that miracles happen, and that at least two above average DBs join the starting unit. I don't know that I recall them ever talking a big game regarding FA (or even the draft) - McNair has a woody for how the Rooneys run the Steelers, in particular adopting their de-emphasis on big name FA sprees. As far as the Jacksonville game, I've tried to go easy on them over that since open tanking at home simply is not common in the NFL. Plus, Kubiak had every reason in the world not to give away the game. He knew that McNair was under serious pressure to can him. A 5-win season *might* have turned the tide. And the players have pride - they don't want to lay down, and they would have had to really tank to lose to a Jax team without Jones Drew or Garrard. A fringe starter is my real concern. Another Okoye or Jackson entrenched in the lineup doesn't improve the lineup one bit. Cowher is the only guy you mentioned that was possibly in play. Texans could not contact the other two. Of course, the Texans aren't known for talking to almost anyone and shockingly didn't even show Atogwe casual interest. Pretty sure McNair has a budget freeze until the CBA is resolved. The Texans *could* make a huge leap - the offense was gummed up last year with AJ and OD in rough shape and still put on a show. Improve the defense mildly (can't be hard), give a healthy offense a couple more possessions and better field position, and the Texans could be scary. Schedule-wise, we should be facing: AFC South twice NFC South: Falcons-Saints-Bucs-Panthers AFC North: Steelers-Ravens-Browns-Bengals + Dolphins, Raiders We really did blow it two seasons ago with a cakewalk of a schedule. But this upcoming one isn't insurmountable. 4 scary teams, but everyone in the division faces them. The rest are mediocre. Steal one of the 4 toughies Go 4-2 in the division Take care of business against the Bengals and Panthers Go 3-1 against the Bucs-Browns-Fins-Raiders 10-6 Colts face Pats and Chiefs Titans get Bills and Broncos Jags get Jets and Chargers Any bonafide D-Coord beats a good LB coach that was over-promoted to a position above his capability. Sadly, the hiring qualifications were: your dad and I had lunch at the club this week, I'll tell my coach to give you a good interview. I don't hate the idea of Wade coaching the D....but I DO hate that we need to pray this marriage works out well the next two seasons...because otherwise Wade will be our new HC. No question at all. And that may be it for me and this franchise. I can't take much more abuse. If we pencil Nolan, Barwin, Sharpton, and Mitchell in as starters, that means the Texans are most under fire to find a second cover safety. Don't hold your breath that they will break the bank this offseason. Every word out of Wade's mouth seems coached to suggest that they will work with the current personnel this upcoming season.
Assuming the offense doesn't fall off a cliff (which could certainly happen - but as of right now, it's a strength), I don't see a scenario in which Phillips becomes HC (unless Kubiak leaves the organization). If Phillips is successful, then the team is likely successful and Kubiak's job is secure. If he fails, and the team fails, you're going to fire the guy who built the only part of your team that's working to promote the guy who couldn't fix the part that's holding it back? Makes no sense to me. I think it's far more likely Phillips does what he was brought here to do and parlays it into another HC job elsewhere (coughUofHcough). Now, obviously, if the offense craters and the defense ascends, all bets are off...
Several of the players were cut because of $$ not ability. Atogwe was there for the taking and he plays a position the Texans have a MAJOR need at, obviously. We sign him and he's already the best safety in the history of the organization.... The deal he signed with the Skins was very reasonable. Did we even contact the guy? Probably not.
See, this is what might be labelled "immediate poo poo." But the Texans have soooo earned this lack of faith with respect to chasing FA's.
Probably not but I heard/read that his relationship with Jim Haslett, the Skins DC and Atogwe's former coach with the Rams, was a BIG reason he signed there. I wonder if his agent told teams that he was going to Washington unless someone blew them out of the water with an offer?
Dear DonkeyMagic, The Texans don't need you sticking up for them like that. They're doing a fine, fine job on their own and can take care of themselves. signed, John McClain (supervised by: Bob McNair)
Everyone can chill-ax, the Texans owner just told Scoop Berman that Rick Smith and Kubiak will be ready once FA finally begins. This must mean owners plan a year-long lockout.
oh, whew. I'm glad you posted this. This organization has a tremendous history of backing up its comments to the press. I'm glad to know Bob let us know that Rick and Gary would be battle-fighting for FA's!!
Andre Johnson the Texans representative for the Madden 2012 cover bracket. 1 player from each team, in bracket/seed form. Fans vote and ultimately select the 2012 Madden cover man. http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2012cover
