It just seemed like your biggest gripe was that actual gameday and in-game discussion was lost by the time kickoff rolled around, this would be a way of preventing that. Just means you have to do less babysitting by splitting random posts off into their own thread. i.e. ubi's post about schaub vs. steelers which spun off into a debate about how responsible he is for us winning or losing... just makes life a little easier on you. Those discussions tend to always tie back into the original game at hand anyway. At least this way, the actual in-game discussion won't get buried.
Perhaps the biggest issue for the Texans Sunday is can Foster stay on the field? Given the chronic nature of his hamstring problem, I doubt it. But if he can and perform well, I think he can be the difference. Obviously, there are many other factors, but he is a main one. I am hopeful, but it's the Steelers. They bring back a lot of memories, mostly bad.
We can only hope it won't be an issue anymore. They say he felt fine last week and sat him out in the 2nd half of Miami only for precautionary reasons, so that's two solid weeks where it hasn't bothered him. I'll bet you on thing, though - never again will a key player play a preseason game for us coming off of any kind of hamstring injury in camp.
NFL Network Tools for Victory video of the Texans. http://www.nfl.com/videos/houston-t...Victory-Can-the-Texans-dent-the-steel-curtain NFL Films Preview of the Steelers and Texans game. http://www.nfl.com/videos/houston-texans/09000d5d822ada82/Week-4-Steelers-vs-Texans-Preview
I think he's worse. Dude couldn't make an open field tackle if his life depended on it. People need to relax. Brees torched the secondaries of the Packers and Bears. NO is looking like a #1 or #2 seed this season.
True. If you give Brees that type of time he will torch anybody. He's putting up crazy stats with really a bunch of average receivers. The Best Kareem may ever be is a nickel corner but i'd rather give him a shot than Jason Allen. Flat out sucks.
Foster you say? But seriously, I hope he plays and is healthy. I'm pretty worried about this game. I think all this talk about matching up well is a lot of on-paper talk, but I really just don't feel it applies when you actually play the Steelers. I hope we can exploit certain match-ups and take advantage of our strengths, but often times we seem to struggle with stuff like that. I just have this terrible feeling that even though we should get plenty of pressure on Ben, we won't. And if that happens, we probably lose. I think we really need one of these next two games, and I'd really like it to be this one. I'd hate to lose to the Steelers and come back home next week with a 2-game losing streak to face the Raiders, I'd have a really bad feeling about that game. If the Texans are for real, we are going to need to win one of these games (ie: vs. Saints, Steelers, Ravens, etc.). We may not need it to win the division this year, but we definitely need it to truly be a legit team. I'll say Texans 28, Steelers 24
Objectively speaking, I think this one could go either way. Above all else, you guys need to do one thing: PROTECT THE BALL. This is a Steelers defense with only one forced turnover through the first three games. That's almost unheard of in these parts. Unheard of -- but also frustrating. Do not get this defense going. You'll regret it if you do. If I were game-planning against the Steelers, I would make Arian Foster and the running game my secondary option. The blueprint to beating this team is spreading them out and hitting them with short, quick passes (before their pass rush has time to get penetration). Then, after getting the secondary on their heels a bit you use the pass to set up the run. The Steelers D hasn't been stellar against the run this season (like in years past), but I would STRONGLY advise not using the Pittsburgh-Baltimore strategy of just trying to get physical, get ugly and run the ball down each other's throats. Pittsburgh is used to that style of play and aside from week one's blowout, they typically win when they're dared to be the biggest bullies on the field. Another thing, don't just assume that because Pittsburgh's offensive line is banged up that you have some sort of inherent advantage here. This is a problem they've had for years and one they're well equipped to handle. All I keep reading in this thread is "blah blah blah, Pittsburgh's o-line is TERRIBLE". Guess what? If you guys let Mendenhall go off for 90-100 yards and two TD's, it's not going to matter if you sacked Roethlisberger six times. Big Ben is an unconventional QB that hangs onto the ball longer than any other QB would dream. Sure, you're going to get your shots on him. Just saying, that doesn't guarantee anything though. Especially if you're not doing your job against the run. Overall, it should be an exciting game. Best of luck to ya guys. Wish I could be there.
That's fair, but when was the last time Mendenhall rushed for 100 yards and 2 TDs? It hasn't happened this season....not even close. I understand that you guys are used to bad O-Line play, but this season is different. It's not just bad....it's ATROCIOUS. 39 yards against the Colts, who have possibly the worst run defense in the NFL? 8th in the NFL in sacks given up so far this season? -9 turnover differential?? That's not something that any team can easily overcome....even the Steelers.
i just have a bad feeling that with all the grief the steelers have been taken, they will finally wake up...but part of me thinks that's just the Texan fan in me that is never too confident in a win. With their banged up o line, Big Ben better be taking a lot of hits.
Well, the counterargument to that is easy: he's due for a breakout game then, right? Mendenhall is a Pro Bowl talent. It's not like he's going to continue to average three yards per carry. Same with the Steelers defense and forcing TO's -- it's precisely why I'm cautioning you against reading too much into the numbers. But hey, that's why they play the game. And it should be a good one.
Oh, no.... Oh well....I guess 2-2 ain't so bad. We can still win the division. The schedule gets easier after this game anyway.
He's had a bad year but he's not terrible. Alot of their running woes could be due to the Oline issues. But Mendenhall does have some moves.
That particular stat line? He's done it once, October 4, 2008 against the Chargers. He's scored 2 TD's on two other occasions but didn't come close to gaining 100 yards in those games.
I'm not a big Mendenhall fan, either. The Steelers OL, even during their worst times, has always managed to provide some running room for him. But even that isn't working anymore. I'm going to be shocked if he goes over 80 yards on Sunday.
Man, I had that guy on my fantasy team for a couple of years, so I had to watch his crappy ass try to run the ball. He is not anything more than an average back..... DD
