love you kevin but you were one of the biggest hold backs to this team. there is a reason andre looked like he was running uncovered because he can't be covered one on one and the chargers had to do that because of viable catching AND speed threats on the other side. it does wonders for the whole offense including schaub
I remember you used to pass it to Maxwell with ONE HAND on a breakaway after a free throw all the time. I loved your passing, OT.
There was one play, a 3rd and long (19?) where Andre went up for the catch and came down with the first down. On the replay you could see that Hopkins was also past the marker. But Hopkins was covered and Andre wasn't. Having Hopkins out there definitely helps. Walter's single game high in receptions last season was 6 for 54 yards. In his first game as a rookie, Hopkins had 5 for 55 yards.
I was going to make the same comment. It was obvious that Hopkins drove the deep men back far enough to give Andre the cushion he needed. OD looked good, too. The Texans just need the running game to re-emerge. Now if only they had a WR that could block downfield. Maybe Walter is available. I kid. I kid. (about the WR blocking part, the run game does need to improve)
A quarterback decision making (on who to try to throw to) is just as important as the coverage the defense is showing. Schaub has a pretty decent history of throwing to the open guy. In the past, the open guy was usually not going to be a game-breaker... Owen Daniels, Joel Dreesen, Arian (while AJ80 was covered). Even Walter gets the occasional check-down, but almost reluctantly. Two legit mid to deep threats really stretches the field... Schaub merely needs to continue to make the right decision on which guy is open, and no need to force it.
Love having Hopkins there...makes me feel good on the inside. I'd like to keep giving him some jump balls because Im pretty confident he can bring it down consistently in one on one situations.
Hopkins was fantastic. I'd love to see him get some more red-zone opportunities, though. OD and Arian are not going to cut it against a veteran D
It's so tough for rookie receivers to succeed at the start of their careers, yet Hopkins really helped the Texans last night. The awesome part is that Hopkins will only continue to get better as he becomes more comfortable with the playbook and lets his natural talents take over.
I agree Hopkins is an upgrade over Walter but Walter was still a fantastic reciever and Andre looked no better last night than at any point in his career, his 1500 yards last season back that up. I'd still take Walter over any of the 3,4 and 5 recievers on the Texans
I wouldn't. IMO Walter has the experience advantage no doubt, and probably is a better WR overall. But, Martin, Jean, and Posey have playmaking potential that Walter just doesnt have. Granted that potential is still untapped, however I think that will change this season. Kubiak is showing a willingness to open things up thus far, and these young receivers will only stand to benefit greatly from that - In a way that Walter just couldn't have done this season or the last. I was a big supporter of Walter until last season, it was just time for him to go. And unfortunately OD's time is winding down as well.
Interesting timing, given that OD had a monster game...and my guess is, it'll be his best season in his career.
