Its allowing an 80+ yard drive every game this year. Its the complete ineptitude of stopping a team from scoring a TD once they're in the red zone. If they just cut down some of those TD's to the average FG scoring clip, they would look a whole lot better. Its the lack of consistent QB pressure, which often does play a role in forcing turnovers. The one thing this Texans defense should be good at is getting to the QB... and they're not doing that with any level of consistency. Take that away, and they're decidedly below average in all other facets (weak secondary, weak LB core). Not even going to get into the countless bone-head penalties they've gotten... its been at least 1 per game. This defense took a big hit last year after Cushing went out... and it hasn't gotten better since he's been back. Last time they were truly elite was 2011.
Defense will return to form with Keenum confidence. Watch them dominate Sunday. This move is a spirit lifter for the team.
Actually, the Cowboys are a fluke but everybody not named Jones understands that. Not sure what a 6-0 juggernaut looks like but in my mind the won-loss record of their opponents is immaterial to what's coming on Sunday. I am uncomfortable with this line of thought that infers some sort of fakeness or inferiority to the Chiefs because their opponents have a poor combined record vis-a-vis those of the Texans who sport a 21-15 combined record. The "easier" schedule is no doubt due to the fact that the Chiefs were 2-14 last year. They are simply doing what the Texans aren't which is taking care of business. BTW, are you feeling more optimistic about Sunday now that Case Keenum has been named the starter for the KC game?
The way I see it. Yates starting = automatic loss Injured Schaub starting = 85% chance of losing Keenum = 60% chance of losing
We win 21-17, with one of our scores coming as a result of a good defensive play. Kubiak says he's proud of the boys for pulling together and says Keenum did a heck of a job out there, but he also talks about the importance of taking the bye to reevaluate Schaub. These comments hint at Keenum being just a one-time thing, even though most of the city is now clamoring for him to take over the starting spot. Sura faints.
Nope - check the 49er boxscore: 34 points and SF's longest scoring drive was 69 yards. Regardless, fair point - but it's an offensive-driven league; the 49ers - generally considered an elite defense - have given up an 80+-yard scoring drive in four of their six games. The Seahawks, another elite defense, gave up 5 of 'em in just two games (against the Colts and Texans). And, to be fair (and underscore my point), the Texans have given up scoring drives of 14 yards, -6 (not a mistake), 0, 32, 4 and 2. Opponents are averaging 23 passes a game against the Texans; far and away the lowest total in football. Pittsburgh is second with 31. The few times teams are dropping back to pass, the Texans are actually very effective at getting to the QB - they rank third in sack percentage behind KC and Blatimore. And I can't find the exact numbers, but I recently read/heard that they were a league leader (or league leader) in QB hurries (%-wise) - but that was, IIRC, before the Ram game. Again, no one is arguing elite. But below average? No way. It's an above average defense being hampered by a definitively below average offense.
We'll know right from Game 1 if Case is special. Boy, I really hope he is. Enough of this middling QB stuff. It won't get the job done. Schaub experiment failed and now Schaub 2.0 is going through the same stuff in Cincinnati .
I really hope the teams defense and confidence is back at an all time high, because Keenum will need it. I don't want this game to be a waste for Keenum. --- % that Keenum will be starting QB after bye week IF he does awesome and wins chiefs game? sadly, I am feeling that Keenum will never play again. I blame Kubiak for that. But I'll stop assuming and hope for the best...
You could probably dissect any defense and find some strong points about them. The Texans, this season, have NOT been a good defense. The above point you mentioned, where the drive was only 69 yards instead of 80, included 3 or 4 long third down conversions. If that doesn't keep them on the field, penalties have done so as well. They couldn't get off the field against the Rams either. Right now, they're not passing the eye test, and no offense fears them. The game-plan is out there to beat Wade: 1. Double/Triple team Watt and force Smith/Mitchell/Crick to beat their defenders one-on-one. 2. Run the ball away from Cushing. 3. Let Reed/Mercilus run past their defenders and have the QB step up in the pocket to avoid their presence. 4. If its one-on-one coverage with Kareem Jackson, throw up a catchable ball and you'll see flags. 5. As the Texans always run man coverage, throw it to whoever the mis-matched safety or LB is attempting to cover. 6. Third and long might as well be third and short... don't expect much blitz pressure, but also expect large gaps in the coverage. I'm not buying into all the yardage stats that don't take into account penalty yardage. I also know they've been put in a bad situation in terms of field position. However, they've given up plenty enough long drives this year to prove they can't be relied upon to get crucial stops when needed. They're not 2010 bad, but they're nowhere close to being as good as their yardage stats are saying.
Special teams won't get better till they get better quality depth players. I believe scouts have said that with the lack of quality players Houston has on ST, it will be impossible for them to field an elite group, no matter who's coaching. That's what you get when you're capped out, your late-round draft picks don't pan out, and scrape the bottom of the barrel for replacement level ST players.
It's all on Case to solve the Texans case of problems. I hope he's a relaxed dude and plays worry free on Sunday. Because he really has nothing to lose because Schaub hasn't set the bar high at all. I expect Keenum to play remarkably. Texans win 35-20.
With the exception of the Rams game, they haven't been a bad defense - probably slightly above average. They give up about 14 points per game on their own merits. Generally about 2 big long drives a game and then mostly a shutdown the rest of the game.
They've been closer to the team that looked bad in the first half against the Chargers, than they have been to looking good. They've let them, the Titans, and the Seahawks get them for 90+ yard drives (not exactly juggernaut offenses). Also, factor in their inability to create turnovers or sack the QB. Also add the penalties in, usually the long PI variety or personal foul (that J-Jo taunting against the Ravens that extended an early drive was really crippling...). Lastly, they are awful in the red zone... not sure they have a decent idea of what they want to do there. The last game, having Kareem play 5 yards off the receiver WHEN THEY'RE AT THE GOAL-LINE was really dumb. Not sure if that's individual stupidity, or bad coaching, or both. Their best collective game was the Seattle one... where the defense fell apart and allowed Wilson to extend drives with his legs, after Cushing left with a concussion. I'd say average to below average. Other than Watt and Cushing, there's nobody you really have to game plan against or respect. Brooks Reed is a below average OLB out there. The secondary is nothing special. Wade's blitz packages have become pretty transparent and teams are reading them before the snap. The last game really irked me... letting Sam Bradford march the team down effortlessly on TD drives in your house.
Defense gets a TD Arian gets a TD Tate gets a TD Kicker hits 28 yrd game winner Texan fan talk about how they won DISPITE Case Keenan #VYTreatment LOL Rocket River
Which scouts said this? I'd like to see that. Special Teams can most definitely be fixed with coaching.
