by now, it's another mental hurdle. Carr starts slow. He's done it the entire preseason and the first 2 games. We need to start with a 2 minute drill tempo, with scripted plays. 1. The 2 minute drill tempo and mentality is ingrained in all pro football players. Carr's problem is mental and the body follows the mind. Well, we need to trick his mind and running the 2 minute drill with scripted plays is the best way I can think of to start him off fast, but limiting risk with a script. 2. we're at home. there should be minimal risk of pre-snap penalties, but the mind boggles at the levels of incompetence we're capable of. 3. This minimizes the time that Carr has to think. I guarantee you, he thinks of 2 things: (1) I'm going to set sacked, hence happy feet; (2) I gotta avoid another slow start, a negative thought, which leads to hesitation, quick frustration and poor play. 2 minute drill - act, react, not think.
I don't disagree with the premise, but the first drive of the season may have been their best drive ever, so it's not like it can't be done. I don't think it's how he starts or how he finishes or how he plays in between... it's how he, and the whole team, do ALL of the above. And it's a problem almost all bad teams have across every sport - consistency. The Texans need to find it, offensively and defensively.
We got off to a pretty fast start against Philly. We marched down the field the first drive and scored. Then things started too stall... I know this is a broken record by now and people have made up their mind about Carr, but right now he is not the problem. We ABSOLUTELY have to be able to run the ball. Period. We can be a winning team with Carr at QB if the rest of the team is up to par. Whether or not Carr will ever be a championship caliber QB, and that is ultimately what it is all about, remains to be seen. Let's get a running game going and a top ten defense first before we worry too much about Carr.
I attribute a lot of the slow starts to the running game. Our running game has been non existant in the first 2 games. In the NFL if you don't have a running game it is very difficult to get your passing game going. We need to have Lundy, Dane, or Gado get us off to a good start and that will make the defense put more defenders close to the line so that the passing game can open up. I say if we have any sort of a running game early we can go up early on the Redskins and David will be able to sustain drives by mixing in some passes to go with the runs.
DH Rocket and Jay, I'm not ignoring that first drive vs Philly. That was an aberration compared to the rest of the 1st quarter and Q1 vs Indy and the other Q1's in the preseason. The quicker tempo would probably help the rest of the offense for the same reasons I mentioend for Carr. I'm torn on Carr. The guy doesn't show many intangibles or leadership, and I ding him for that. On the other hand, he may be the kind of guy that needs some modicum of success before making a quantum leap. he has physical skills and has gotten off the mat every time. You can see the frustration on his face and it appears earlier and earlier each game when a negative event happens. It's the "goddammit, here we go again" look. I don't blame him, just an observation. I'd rather have a guy that says, fine, screw it, I'm going down shooting, in a blaze of glory. Maybe that's unrealistic, and nobody in the history of the nfl has taken the beating that he has, so maybe nobody could have reacted that way. Not montana, marino, aikman, farve, whoever.
The key to getting Carr off to a fast start is protecting the hair. Any misplacement of hair by the wind, blindside hit, or sweat throws Carr's game completely off.
Allowing QBs to play an uptempo/hurry up offense is one of those things like the half-back pass, or like the wide receiver reverse run play used to be (now it is used more frequently), or even like a fake field-goal attempt. They all seem to work pretty well but coaches are always reluctant to draw them up, for some reason. All evidence points to Carr being able to play better and call better plays in the hurry-up on his own than in a normal offense.
Well, he did show us he can lead an initial position TD drive already but, consistency is what we need to see. Maximize your possessions. Be more efficient. If we do a better job with time of possession then, clearly Carr can help somewhat improve the defense. I want to see Kuby when the game is on the line, let Carr go win the game. Something Capers rarely did.
I sort of agree with you. Carr does seem to play better in an up tempo style. Probably less time to over-think things, instead playing more using his instincts. Mike K.
