The Steelers are not loaded offensively. They are Antonio Brown. Being able to have an effective 4 man rush with Clowney and Watt seems plausible. Stick two deep safetys and neutralize the long ball.
Ben has a 100.1 QBR and Bell averages 5+ yards/rush. Those two plus Brown and a very competent supporting cast (Wheaton, who, like Brown, is a guy that can KILL the Texans; Blount, Miller...) is pretty doggone loaded. Brown might be the best WR in football right now. Oh, is that all?.......
We don't have two "deep safeties." LOL The past two weeks there have been deep balls down the field that a safety was there for because he was playing over the top and he just fell down trying to keep up with a WR.
Lewis fell because his feet got clipped. But a long td is a long td. You are correct. We do need a better cover safety.
I kinda feel like Ed Reed ruined it for Champ Bailey. I think he'd have found work as a safety by now if Reed hadn't been so awful last year everywhere he went.
haha it's sad that we are talking about the likelihood of a 24-0 1st quarter deficit or fitzpatrick being fitzpatrick. love it.
You do realize this team almost lost to the Jags. Got blown out by the Ravens and lost to the power house known as the Buccaneers. Texans aren't getting scorched by the Steelers. Rothlisberger isn't the same as before and he still holds on to the ball way too long.
But WHICH Clowney will they be getting? So far the sophomore year Clowney has yet to make an appearance and that's the Clowney everyone is expecting to see. I still believe that he's playing out of position as a linebacker and that impacts his effectiveness but he's only played what, 2 qtrs? So I am taking a wait and see approach not only for Clowney but the entire team. I've learned not to place too much blind faith in Houston teams but rather judge them by results. And so far, I see a 3-3 team which fits in with my initial expectations of a team finishing somewhere in the range of 6-8 wins.
Atlanta game, first series in the preseason, TFL first game. Having Clowney on the field makes a world of difference.
But a series does not a game make. You really can't use his play in a single series to predict his impact for a entire game. The key thing to watch for Clowney will be how he responds once teams start game-planning for his presence. They do so now for JJ and his superior effort and level of play has enabled him to overcome whatever they throw at him. We simply haven't seen the same thing from Clowney because he's been on the field for so little time due to injury. The last time he looked all-world was his sophomore year in college. IF he does come back and play the way you and everyone else expects, then it would be fair to say that his presence completely changes the dynamic in our favor on defense. We're still doomed offensively however...
The thing about that is that JJ Watt will still be on the field, how do you gameplan for Clowney without making it easier for JJ Watt or leaving someone absolutely unblocked?
cleverly disguised week 7 thread! we will be in it to win it on our final drive against the steelers. can't guarantee we won't screw it up though. =)
First preseason game. TFL-blew up RB in backfield by beating LT. Second game-TFL blew up RB(via Whitney Merciless style vs the Colts), beat LT on speed rush to outside. First game- Got in backfield multiple times, contained edge well on runs, and caught D. Jackson on a reverse. All in 44 snaps. Colts ran 82 plays last night. You are remaining skeptical which is fair, but you need to acknowledge that he played better than what you are giving him credit for. Draft experts(multiple) were predicting 15 sacks his rookie year. I have a feeling that having JJ around will make his life much easier. No secret how disruptive the defense was when he was on the field. Very little throwing down field which is a staple in Washington's offense.
Ah, but Clowney, unlike JJ, is playing out of position at LB. As such, he has looked lost out there whenever he's been asked to cover a receiver. Not saying that he won't eventually master his position but he still hasn't played enough to get the hang of it just yet. Opposing teams will see this and make plans accordingly - they know that if he just lines up and rushes the QB, he's a monster so I expect them to run pass plays his way to make him drop back into coverage. Teams did this to DeMarcus Ware when the Cows put him at OLB and it took him time to adjust.
Not being skeptical of his ability because as you have aptly shown, he has that in spades. Rather, I am reserving judgement until I can see that he's mastered his new position. For the record, if his attitude and work ethic is as good as JJ's, then the sky's the limit for Clowney and the Texans will have themselves one kickass of a defense.
