lol @ the notion that a play making #2 Wideout at only being the 4th or 5th option on offenses. We run the ball to set up the pass, but we need to pass just as well to set up the run. They both go hand in hand. Our #2 wideouts have either been Walter or Jones. Walter could catch, but couldn't get off of coverage, and Jacoby could get open but couldn't catch. Neither of them were able to attack the ball. Neither of them were regarded as threats to take pressure off of AJ. Hopkins is a play maker through and through. He attacks the ball at it's highest point (Unlike both Walter/Jones, catches with his hands away from his body (Unlike Jones), and runs routes well enough at this point to free himself of coverage (Unlike Walter). He's already the best #2 WR we've had on this team ever, and he hasn't played a down. He does have room to grow however, and I'm not expecting a monster season from him this year. What I am expecting is for him to catch what's thrown to him, and to force deffenses to back off of AJ more unless they want to make Hopkins O-ROY. That alone will free Aj, Daniels, and the run game up more. Beyond the run game and making sure we get our carriers per game, He'll be the #2/#3 target on this team. I could see both him and Daniels getting about the same average of balls thrown and maybe the same yardage if not a little less from Hopkins. Another view of it as well is that we have the best wideout corp we've ever had. With Posey being our #3 WR and Lestar/Martin fighting for snaps I expect a lot more passing wise. We lined up with 3 or more receivers this preseason than we've ever seen before, and I believe they finally realize that we have to be more dynamic in that regard with our passing attack. They also need to be wise on how to utilize Foster. He doesn't need to carry for 350+ times a season. We can get the same production out of him on less carries with him being more healthy and rested. With both him and Tate splitting carries 60/40 this offense couldn't be stopped so long we spread the field with our passing game like we've never done before.
That is fine with me as long as Schaub is looking his way when covered 1 on 1. We need to take advantage of anyone covering Hopkins 1 on 1 while we can. If he can exploit those matchups that will open up the rest of our game. We have not had a "deep" threat besides Andre since Jacoby's mediocre 2011. Let's hope Schaub, Kubiak and Denison open up the playbook a little and allow our playmakers (Hopkins, Jean, Posey, Martin) a chance to make plays. We won't know what we have until we take some shots down the field with these guys. Schaub is good enough to make the right reads and let these guys, especially Hopkins, battlefight in the air to bring down the ball or don't let the DB intercept it.
you are literally talking out of your ass now. Check out Brady and Manning's yards per completion vs Schaub and look at Broncos and Patriots 3rd and 5+ conversion percentage compared to the Texans. Kubiak/Schaub is notorious for throwing short on 3rd and long. I just don't know if it's Schaub's lack of confidence, Kubiak being ultra conservative or our receivers suck dick.
I said vs great defenses, as in brady against the jets, Ravens and Giants D. And I really think you need to look at peyton manning's playoff stats against good Ds too. The only people talking out of their asses are the detractors that come up with absurd arguments. this is brady against the Ravens D in 2009 mind you...154 yards 2tds and 3 INTS. pass per completion 6.5! lol! http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001100nwe.htm
it's a pretty simple really and I hate to explain it to those who don't already get it because, despite it being simple it does require a train of logical thought, which is not always a strength of some people...especially the staunchest of schaub bashers. Walter was more than a viable #2 guy behind AJ and for this team before he hit the wall 2 years ago. He had solid hands, ran good routes, made the right reads, wasn't afraid to take a pop and, of course, blocked well. For this team and they way they played, that was more than adequate for his role...and it worked pretty well. The last 2 years he did clearly fall off and lose a step, which also made his production drop. The biggest problem was that no one behind him was consistent and solid enough to beat him out, outright. Jacoby had his chance (he did have more receptions and more targets) but we all know what happened there. Last year was the most painful year. Walter, while solid as a possession guy, clearly wasn't a valid #2 guy, but because there where so many other threats he could get by as a 4th or 5th guy on a pretty high powered offense. But again, there was no viable backup was able to take over. martin was disappointing, Lestar disappeared and Posey was a late bloomer. This off season, texans realized Walter no longer had a role on this team and cut ties. I don't really see what there is to debate. It's nice to have a guy with some bigger play ability and it's nice to have a WR not named AJ who can actually break into a the #3 target after AJ and Arian. But he still has to prove it on the field. With that being said, Hopkins is still probably the 4th option even with an aging OD...albeit a more dangerous 4th option than the texans have had in a while.
Because previously the drop in quality and consistency between the 3rd and 4th option was equivalent or the highest point of Reliant Stadium to 6 feet below its lowest point. I liked Kevin Walter but the fact is Kubiak or Schaub or both didn't throw to him unless he was wide open and lately he wasn't getting such. Part of that is on Kubiak or Schaub but most are hoping a fresh face will stop Matt or Gary from being so paranoid with the rock. Can't say I expect Hopkins to get anywhere near the targets Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, Arian Foster or even Garrett Graham are likely to get but who knows, maybe who ever is really pulling the strings on our passing attack will surprise us.
Too many people in this forum want to use only black or white ink and have every opinion chiseled into concrete. The NFL is *constantly* evolving – why can’t opinions? Heck yeah, I often argued Walter was mostly a 4th/5th option - know why? Because he was. AJ is, and always will be, #1. In 2010-11, Foster and Daniels were clearly, in whatever order you’d prefer, Schaub’s 2nd and 3rd options on almost every play. Foster caught 119 passes those two years. Daniels 92 (and he missed 6 games those two years). Walter? 90. Is someone going to argue Kevin Walter *wasn't* the 4th or 5th option? Last year, two things happened: 1) time finally completely caught up to Walter; he was no longer a viable NFL starter and it had nothing to do with being hurt. He was simply old; 2) Arian Foster became a non-factor in their passing game. I’m not sure why – but he only caught 40 balls last year and averaged less than 6 yards/reception. A third, important element, btw: Owen Daniels is almost certainly playing his final season as a Texan, and I would guess there was a stretch where the Texans had to wonder if he had playED his final season as a Texan. And lastly, at some point, Andre Johnson will be past his prime. I know it’s all ubigred has – bringing up ages-old opinions of his that finally see the light of right through sheer attrition. But for the rest of us – it’s not terribly difficult to see how this has evolved. And it certainly doesn’t invalidate a 2-3-year old argument that is, you know, 2-3 years old. The Texans ranked 11th in passing in 2012; 11th in 2011 (based on the pace Schaub set for 10 games; 18th overall with Yates starting 6 games – and keep in mind, AJ missed significant games, too); 4th in 2010. There’s a reason “Walter SUCKS!!!!!” posts fell on a lot of deaf ears: the Texans have always had a very good passing attack.
