As recently as a year ago, this guy was my all-time favorite Texan. I was never one of those fans who had any illusion of him being a top tier CB, but I loved his attitude and he always gave it 100%. And hit like a Mack truck. Unbelievable how far his stock has fallen. We all know about him not showing up to OTA’s (even though Ryans and OD were in similar situations but still showed up) and the “pay me Rick” incident, but he’s been getting flat out abused all season long. Now it’s to the point where the only way he can cover anyone is tackling them before they catch the ball. But this was the last straw. He makes a big hit on Addai on the 15-yard line, then walks all the way to the 3-yard line to celebrate, even though Addai held onto the ball……. Meanwhile Manning quick-snaps the ball and proceeds to throw a 30-yard completion due to DR (and half the defense) being too busy celebrating only giving up 5 yards to bother getting set up for the next play. Spoiler
I rather have a CB that stops the opposing wideout from actually catching the ball than a CB that hits hard after the opposing wideout catches the ball.
It doesn't look like ANY of the Texans players are ready for that play. They are all looking over to the sideline!
and that's leaving out the fact that he routinely grabs and holds his man because he can't stay with #1 receivers anymore. Chad Johnson made him look like a complete joke.
exactly right! it's on Dunta and all host of others in that picture. they were completely caught off guard by that.
True, but they were following his lead. Why do you even celebrate a hit when the guy you just hit still holds onto the ball for a 5-yard gain??
oh, trust me..i'm not arguing with you. he was celebrating and they were right there with him. they all looked foolish. ball is being snapped and 3/4 of the secondary is looking at the sidelines.
Coaches should have called a time out... Dunta has been horrible all year, but that play is not only on him. Most of the defense was out of position, and as soon as the coaches saw Manning run up to the line, they should have called a time out. Glover Quinn, and Brice McCain are playing well so seeing Dunta leave will have nothing but positive effects on this defense, only negative is that I will have to burn my 23 jersey.
I can live with that. Robinson has not been our best cover corner this year. Actually I dont thikn there has been a game he played in that he was actually the best corner. Its almost always the other corner be it Reeves or Quinn.
This looks like another prime example of bad discipline on the behalf of the Texans coaching staff. Players should line up immediately after a play is ruled dead.
Definitely. In regards to Dunta, though, he struggled all game. The Manning-Wayne combo is a very difficult guard, but Dunta seemed to get beat regularly, got called for interference, and was part of the problem on this one play in question. I think the two pass interference calls on the one drive were ridiculous, and the turning point in the game. The first one was one of the worst calls I've seen in a while, and the commentators said as much. The second one in the end zone, the commentators thought was a good call, and it was probably how it is being called these days, but on replay there actually wasn't much contact, and the contact that was there was initiated by the offensive, who was trying to keep defender from running into him. Of course, they still played solid defense and got it to third down again, and then Dunta was burned on the corner throw to Wayne. I don't know football well enough, or how cornerbacks are supposed to play it, but it looks like Dunta turned to keep Wayne from running an inside post, thus giving him a step to the corner, which Manning hit. When Wayne is the only receiver on that side of the field, wouldn't you as a corner try and do the opposite and make the receiver turn inside where there may at least be some linebacker help?
Cushing's abilities have really made Demeco Ryans less valuable. He's still a fantastic player, but with Cushing playing at a Pro Bowl level you don't worry as much about losing him as opposed to overpaying him. I think the Texans top priorities in the offseason should be getting a coach who isn't a bowl of vanilla ice cream, resigning Daniels and shoring up the secondary.
Ryans is the glue that holds this defense together. Pay the man; he's great. As far as Robinson: wouldn't it be great if a bunch of fans printed "Pay Me Dunta" shirts and wore to the last couple home games?
I don't think its early talking draft and free agency. I actually wonder how far we are talent-wise. The team needs help on both lines, in the secondary (a #1 cover CB, and depth both at CB and safety), and they really do need to draft a big RB. Heck, perhaps even a kicker and backup QB. I really think the only positions they are set at is LB and WR. Seeing that list... should we really be that worried about brining in a new coach with a new system?
I thought this thread was going to tally the amount of times Dunta fell during the game. Leg tackles, shoulder blocks, not-even-close dives, you consistently see him steps behind and out of camera shots of the catches being made. There's few absolutes in a Texan's game, but you can always count on a Duane Brown false start, and a Dunta pass interference.
