<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>"I can promise you there's accountability. If I think on our football team something needs to be done, then I'll do it" Kubiak says. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) <a href="https://twitter.com/taniaganguli/statuses/387315558561382400">October 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sure... fine, "good" teams should be able to hold those leads. Texans have blown two of those types of leads this season... both at home. Not a good sign of a team only plagued by a "kicking" issue.
The issue is not only his technique but it's his mental makeup too. Firstoff, when all you do is kick should there really be any issue doing the same thing you've done for the last 10+ years. His misses are not just outside or off the crossbar, they miss the net. He slices and hooks them worse than any kicker I've seen in the pros, college, and even high school. You can also tell quite a lot by his body language and facial expressions, he's worried and scared because he doubts himself. Confidence is just as important as leg strength or accuracy. Speaking of body, what other kicker is short and chubby? The body would be less flexible and more prone to injuries. As far as just being a a rookie and needing to grow, he's essentially a second year player and look how many first and second year guys are almost automatic and essentially pro bowlers. It's a moot point given the season is over, but he's a wasted pick and roster spot. He won't improve and the fact the Texans still stand by him is the reason I rant out of frustration.
Why is Bullock being the least of our problems a reason to be fine with staying pat on him? Any step made in the direction of improving the team, if even just to show accountability on the lowest level, should be welcome. I guess you can call having kicker tryouts akin to putting Bullock on notice. But most of the fanbase who familiar with this FO would probably say that was more of a PR move than a real attempt at a roster shakeup.
That same logic was applied to keeping David Carr. "QB is least our of problems..we need to address other issues." Didn't change the fact that you still had to make a change at QB.
Serious question - specifically who do you guys think should be our kicker instead of Bullock? That's the thing. Not a lot of alternatives out there. And we don't have a backup kicker waiting in the wings like every other position. I get the larger point about accountability everyone is talking about, and I totally agree with it. But who's to say all the retreads we brought in didn't stink it up worse than Bullock?
Yea I enjoyed it, jvg basically started by saying how it would be nice to have a kicker that can make kicks when it's your job. Tirico said something like "I see you have your complaints about the houston texans". Then jvg said it would be like having a designated free throw shooter that can't make free throws. Doesn't make any sense.
i have a hard time imagining that Shayne Graham (sp?) or Rackers wouldn't be an improvement over what we've seen with Bullock.
But David Carr isn't a fair comparison - I don't think anybody advocated cutting him after his ninth NFL start. He was jettisoned after his fifth season. Generally speaking, I agree with your point - there is absolutely an accountablity void with this organization/regime. But cutting Randy Bullock, IMO, sends the wrong message - two wrong messages, really. It's akin (in my mind) to slapping a star player on the wrist if he gets a DUI, but getting all, "zero tolerance" on the practice squad guy who commits the same offense. Is anybody on this team really going to take notice of them going hard knocks on a position that tends to already be a revolving door with most teams anyway and garners very little respect from most of the roster? More so, do we want to be an organization that quits on young players nine games into their careers? I'm not arguing he doesn't deserve it - I just think that might play terribly in the locker room (as opposed to serving as a wake-up call). To me, the right/strong move would have been to fire Marciano - that (to me) sends a much stronger message. Or benching Schaub after the Seattle game. Again, that’s a move that’ll get attention. Or firing your head coach with little regard for a giant health concern – again, if you want to instill accountability, the more cutthroat the better (IMO).
If you want to win football games, it seems to me you're going to put yourself in a better position to do with a kicker who is of NFL caliber. If winning isn't important, then keep on keeping on. We're not talking about a kicker who has just been below average...or even just "bad." We're talking about historically bad....in a season where the braintrust thought they were preparing a title run. I'm with you on Marciano...guy should have been fired ages ago. But to me...if you want to win a football game...you don't keep throwing Bullock out there.
Hey guys, I found our next kicker: Spoiler Fat'n Hairy Trevor <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oregon State kicker has a look poised to take over the world <a href="http://t.co/38lXLE7Zpn">pic.twitter.com/38lXLE7Zpn</a></p>— SportsHumor (@SprtsHumor) <a href="https://twitter.com/SprtsHumor/statuses/406608853460353024">November 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Seriously? The best he can do this season is earn himself a spot to compete for the job next year. I'm glad that he's making FGs for a 2-10 team eliminated from the playoffs, but his early season catastrophe in multiple critical games looms large.
ignore Xlrocket, he is either related to Randy or is Randy himself. One of the most annoying schticks on here.