I agree on the endzone area, I start in section 116 row 26 IIRC. Had a great time. What games do you have available and price range?
I have seats in 639 row J for sale if you are interested. $50 each for either preseason game. I have two tickets for each game. Let me know if you are interested
Jags, Browns, Falcons, Panthers and Titans. 100 per ticket. Purple section if you're referencing that seating chart.
Here are Tuesday's Texans articles: First up a piece from USAToday and Jon Saraceno on Arian Foster. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/texans/2011-08-07-arian-foster_n.htm Spoiler Second a piece on Matt Lienart by John McClain and chron.com Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/7689342.html Spoiler Third a piece by the AP on the Texan's secondary Source: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/sports/article_ac4f7d86-33f9-58b2-9edf-e76c89a0b9f4.html Spoiler Fourth an article by John McClain and sportingnews.com on JJ Watt. Source: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-08-08/houston-texans-training-camp-high-energy-watt Spoiler And finally a roster update by John McClain and chron.com Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/7689274.html Spoiler
Alright cool, thanks for the ticket advice. I got 5 tickets, Endzone 645 Row C. Texans vs Steelers! :grin:
It's so confusing having two QB's with the same name. Also, I never know if these writeups are talking about Johnathan Joseph or Joseph Vance. Or maybe I'm just cranky because football is still a week away.
It's Vance Joseph. Most articles specify who they are talking about, whether it's the corner, coach, or which QB (Schaub or Leinart) in the headline or opening sentences so not sure what the big deal is.
610 Mike Meltser interviewing Andre Johnson today, topics covered is the finger status, the new free agent DBs, KareemJ, Mario, JJ Watts, Brandon Harris, overall impression of new defense. What stuck out to me is Andre describing Mario, "He can take over this league if he wanted to, it's up to Mario." Sorta calling him out in a way. My immediate question that popped in my head is why hasn't he performed thus far in his career to where he is being discussed as the best at his position in the league like Andre is at his WR spot. http://houston.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2Fd0%2Fd0%2FdY%2FdE%2FdB%2FdW%2FYEBW_3.MP3&podcast_name=Andre+Johnson&podcast_artist=Vandermeer+and+Lopez&station_id=63&audio_link=true&config_file=config.xml&dcid=CBS.HOUSTON
He has always struck me as an "underperformer," sort of lacking the intensity necessary to excel. That may not be fair, but just the way I see it. He has all the physical skills, but seems to lack the "beast" mentality.
He's been playing hurt since 2009, and yet still is one of the tops in the league in sacks per game over the last 4 years. I don't think Mario is lacking for any beast type qualities. He gets s**t done.
He's been playing hurt since 2006. Solid player and all, but not elite. If talent and potential equalled results, then Yao would be Michael Jordan's equal and Sam Bowie would be in the Hall of Fame.
Andre plays hurt too, so what's the difference between Mario and Andre. I remember McNair saying something similar about Mario last year, so when the owner and the best player on the team make similar remarks it stands out (to me).
Link: http://texans.studiotigaapps.net/transcripts/august-9,-2011-am-practice.aspx Houston Texans Transcripts Training Camp Practice #14 (Morning) Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Head Coach Gary Kubiak: Spoiler OLB Connor Barwin: Spoiler ILB Brian Cushing: Spoiler TE Owen Daniels: Spoiler C Chris Myers: Spoiler ILB DeMeco Ryans: Spoiler DE J.J. Watt: Spoiler Speaking of the Berry children mentioned in the transcript here is an AP article on some of the Texans efforts to help them out: Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/houston-texans-donating-auction-proceeds-to-family-involved-in-fatal-crash/2011/08/09/gIQAVCXZ4I_story.html Spoiler and here is two youtube vids of Matt Schaub on ESPN's first take from this morning.... Part 1: (sorry not the best quality for both vids) <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U2TidbCI1pU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Part 2: <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7hdKa2yX5y8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Apparently not much, because when they're both healthy, they're elite at their respective positions. Andre's numbers dipped during his injury riddled seasons, just like Mario.
Andre is not just elite when healthy, he's (arguably) the best at his position. Fair or unfair, we could never say that about Mario in the past. So was Andre and McNair out of line by their comments about Mario? McNair's comments last year: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/7123595.html
Yes, we all know that AJ is better relative to his peers than Mario is to his, but I don't really see what that has to do with either of them playing hurt. Which they both do, and subsequently perform worse when doing so. Andre said Mario could take over the league if he wants, I'd say no one would argue with that. When healthy, we know Mario is one of the best DE's in the league (a position that is hard to judge regardless). He's shown such. Him saying that he can be the best if he wants to does not imply that Mario doesn't want to, not now, or in the past. McNair writes the checks, so, he can say whatever he wants. I don't put much stock in that article though. Cushing is an intense guy (I'm sure the PEDs had nothing to do with that), apparently McNair loved that rah-rah stuff (being loud/intense is something Bernard Pollard was good at, too, heh). Doesn't mean Mario doesn't try, that's just not his demeanor. He's not a loud, boisterous, demonstrative person. My issue is with solid calling him an "underperformer", as if he doesn't have the will to play and/or succeed. If what Mario has done since 2007 is "underperforming", then please, give us more underperformers.
Mario is very good, but he's only be in the top ten sack leaders twice (#3 his second year, #7 following, #16 and #24 the previous two) Part of it is playing next to such crummy tackles. Teams doubled him without fear with Okoye so easily knocked out of the play. Part of it is (your choice): he's nagging injury prone or he allows nagging injuries to affect him too much. He was poor most of last year - too many games with two tackles or less. And not just by the numbers - he was marginalized down after down. I was disappointed to see him not fight to the whistle on a lot of downs. Part of it is the burden of being a good player on a rotten defense. It kills your spirit. Not much different than Randy Moss going through the motions on a bad team. He could definitely play better. I expect that he will this year. Playing behind Watt should free him up more. He's facing a contract year after two down ones. His defensive coaches aren't misplaced Little Leaguers. He still has to adjust to standing up most downs, no easy task, but I think the potential is there. It's tough to see 2007-2008: 26 total sacks, 112 tackles, 6 forced fumbles followed by 2009-2010: 17.5 sacks, 71 tackles, 3 forced fumbles And again, it's not just the numbers - he had a FIRE to him those two years. Watching him these last two, I can't help but think some level of malaise has set in.
First ESPN Power Rankings are out for the preseason: Link: http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings/_/year/2011/week/0 And here are the rankings from Fox Sports: Link: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings
Just want to say that people who have done film studies have said this argument is simply not true. It is something said by the Texans and echoed by media members, but analysts who have studied the game tapes say that Mario is not double teamed anymore than a typical lineman.
