Yep. We need to add a solid WR this off-season. Another tight end wouldn't hurt either Sign. Here's to another long off-season.
I don't think Owen Daniels has been healthy since the start of the season. Even when he was going in and out of the line up, he didn't have a major impact. People really underestimate his impact. You can't replace him with Casey or any of the other tight ends we have. He was a great safety blanket and always knew where to go on the field when everyone was paying so much attention to Andre. Not to mention he could catch just about anything.
This is the NFL. You can never have enough weapons to your disposal and you have to account for injuries. Obviously, we need to add talent on D. That'll hopefully be addressed properly though the draft and free agency. Getting Barwin and Demeco back will help but I'm nervous about their play coming off huge injuries.
This loss wasn't on the coaches in my opinion, guys. I think the coaches have just become the go to scapegoats, for any loss. The coaches did fine, in my opinion. There were a couple questionable calls (like 2 draws on second and longs), but overall, I thought the coaches handled the gameplan, play calling, etc. pretty well. Frank Bush, I thought, did an excellent job for once scheming up blitz packages. I mean, I actually saw a couple! Pollard played well when it came to rushing the passer and stopping the run. He had a chance to make a couple plays in the passing game and couldn't (including the one that, in my opinion should have been an offensive call for I believe Celek launching himself into Pollard as he almost made an interception near the goal line). Overall, the game was a roller coaster of emotions. It was a pretty good game, which nobody thought it would be. We had several chances to win, and couldn't, which is why we're not near the level, record-wise, that the Eagles are. They have winners on their team, and they expect to win. I was very disappointed with the following: Horrible announcing from NFL Network. I mean, Jamal Brown (Duane)?!?! C'mon, that's not even close. At least Adrian Foster (granted, he leads the NFL in a LOT of things, and you should know his name...) is fairly close. Horrible officiating. They blew I think two facemask calls against Mario. They blew probably three pass interference calls that should have gone the Texans way (One as Andre tried to catch a 10-15 yard pass on the left hash comes to mind in particular). They blew the hit to Schaub's face near the end. They blew Celek launching himself at Pollard (questionable, but I feel had it been Celek trying to catch that ball, and Pollard hitting him, it's a definite call). In my opinion, the first down at the five with Celek, it more than likely should have been inconclusive. I guess I'm a homer... Horrible play from Schaub at the end of each half. I think this is what ultimately cost us the game. I was kind of disappointed that Kubiak never tried to get more of a screen game going. I mean, Foster only had 2 catches. Had he had around 8 receptions or so, especially as Philly was bringing 8 people or whatever on blitzes. I think we might have had more success late. What I liked: Andre made a few plays, even though he went an entire quarter looking nonexistent. He gets tons of credit for playing hurt, though. The guy is the greatest. Imagine what it'd be like if Larry Fitzgerald becomes a free agent and we could sign him.... Our defensive play calling was so much better than it's been all season, in my opinion. It looks like Bush finally starting trusting our guys, because he actually let them play some man coverage, which is odd, considering we were playing the fastest receiving corps in football. I thought our secondary played okay. And by okay, I mean, better than it has for most of the year, but still about average to slightly below average by NFL standards. While I agree that in the late part of the game, we did get away from what was working in the middle two quarters, I still think it was a decent effort. You have to remember that it's the Eagles, you're playing. They're one of the top 3 offenses, in the league, easily, in my opinion. It was improvement, though! We had some blitzing packages! I wish we could have spyed Pollard on Vick a little more, but we took some shots at Vick, and kind of had him hurting, which makes him more hesitant to run. Overall, we held their offense in check more than I thought. Our run defense once again proved to be pretty decent, as they had only an average night. (If you can hold Mike Vick under five yards a carry, that's pretty good) Unfortunately, we drew two of the better teams in the NFL in a row, and it's now do or die time. Had we pulled this one out, we would have still been in the driver's seat, of sorts. Now, if we lose to the Ravens, we're done. Hell, we're probably done now, but I'll keep cheering till next season. This team definitely is starting to show it's improvement. The defense is starting to mature, and I'm growing fairly content with it. We're only a couple players away, I think. In my opinion, we're about a shutdown corner, a ball-hawking safety (which I almost feel Troy Nolan could be..give the kid more playing time for Christ's sake! See if he is what we think he is), some improved linebacking play (give us time and Demeco), and I think we're there. Not only that, but we have Connor Barwin coming back (hopefully healthy) next year. I hope we we keep Mark Anderson (who in my opinion, has been underrated), and Jason Allen (another good pick-up). The running game should only get better next year, with (once again, hopefully a healthy) Ben Tate coming back. Now that's a three-headed monster: Foster, Tate, Ward. I would say with those three, you've resolved the goal line issues (actually with Foster alone you have) I will also say this now: If we do not make the playoffs this season, the first season we actually do make it, I think you're going to see us have Texas Rangers-like success. I just wish this team could somehow translate it's in-season free agent pickups (which have been some of the best in football the past two years) to the off-season.
The Texans have rallied to tie or take the lead after being down 14 points on 5 different occasions this season. Their defense has sucked enough that they've still gone on to lose 3 of those games. Rule of 30 strikes again. Saying that the only way you can win is if your offense, on the road against Philly, goes in and puts up 5 TD's is just ridiculous. Suggesting the offense failed the team because it was unable to do that is ludicrous. The defense can't keep the other team off the field...and can't keep them from putting up big point totals...aside from Rusty Smith. It's HISTORICALLY bad. We quibble over whether it's as bad as the 1981 Colts...or the 2008 Lions...who collectively won 2 games. That's the story of the 2010 Houston Texans season. Last night effectively ended it.
It is what it is- The starting secondary lacks speed, the safties struggle in coverage, K. Jackson is average and a rookie, there is just not any playmakers out there in the secondary except for some flashes from Quinn and an occassional in the box big hit from Pollard. Our secondary has been burned badly all season. The linebackers do not tackle well- except for Cushing and Demeco (out) The defensive line is smallish and not disruptive. They have some quickness but too often get locked up with OL Mario doesn't show enough moves to collapse the pocket, the interior linemen rarely get any push on the pocket. Our overall defensive talent is pretty weak. Our special team return game stinks. Our coverage team stinks. Schaub has not played spectacular, Andre is nursing the ankle, and Jacoby, Walters have been non playmakers We need a great draft in the spring or this is going to get worse- I think we might split finishing- 7-9, the key game is next week a win against the Ravens will put us in position to go 8-8
would you be opposed to drafting a QB? I just don't think Matt is the answer any more. I know he arm is weak as 00's hip hop but he used to be acurate. Not any more it seems.
Maybe a late draft pick but not any early ones on a QB. I don't think any rookie QB is going to come in and do any better than Matt. Better receivers and corners should be our main concern.
I'd look for one as early as the 3rd round, defense should 1 and 2 but after that i'd take a gamble. Cam Newton would look good in a Texan uniform, understanding he wouldn't see the field for 2 years while studying under Schaub.
Christ, are people really considering using a draft pick on a QB? Of all of the problems with this team, from the coaching staff on down... QB is what you think we should focus on? Really?
the game was at times good and gave us hope, then reality set in...These are the Kubiak coached Texans of course... I thought the put some pressure on Vick, but he's so athletic and the Texans secondary played decent at times, but the lack of talent shows... very disappointing...
The NFL Network announcers are by far the worst I've ever seen or heard. In a national game, could you at least attempt some form of objectivity? Theisman is terrible. Why do people keep hiring Matt "Let's draft another WR in the first round" Millen? The constant knobslobbing over the Eagles coaching staff was pathetic.
Matt is a good QB but it's obvious by now he isn't great,and won't be,so why not go out and see if you can draft one to groom? Matt's contract ends in 2012 and that can give you enough time to see if he can take this team to the playoffs. Facts are he has put up some dam good stats but also made some REALLY bad mistakes at crucial times, we let it slip last year because he had no running game but this season he has no excuses. Focus on "D" in the draft but don't be scared to look this direction in the middle rounds.
Schaub isn't the problem so I wouldn't focus on it or search out a QB but I'm just not sure he is the "guy." He looks the part but last night he had a chance to put the team on his shoulders and lead them to a fantastic victory and he folded badly. The guy has had some great combacks but also had some bad clunkers and he is 4-13 against playoff teams, so its an interesting question that should at least be explored.
Say what u want about it not being on Schaub.....and im not insinuating that it was ALL on him....but the guy threw the ball last night like he needed Tommy John surgery
