I'm trying to keep perspective... There are going to be growing plans whenever a new coach brings in a new system. It's amplified when that coach is a first-time play caller. And then amplified more in our current era where teams essentially punt on the preseason and used the first quarter of the regular season to get their teams up to speed. It's why I never would've hired a rookie OC - but it is what it is, and I'm inclined to throw the first three games out, in terms of making any judgments. After that, against more favorable competition (new offense, with new play caller, opening with Rams, Bucs & Jags is less than ideal), the offense got better, steadily, week-to-week. And just as it seemed to be hitting its stride... they lost Stroud for 3.5 games. Last night, they played a desperate team, on the road, in frigid temperatures, with a generational defensive coordinator throwing the kitchen sink at them because the Chiefs' offense had no answers. However good Caley may be - he's not outmaneuvering that. And I didn't think he had a *bad* game. Team left too many points on the field. They'll get two get-right games against the Cards and Raiders before they face the Chargers and Colts. I suspect the offense will be peaking as the playoffs start. I'm incredibly optimistic.
I’m as optimistic as you are… and yet there were several sequences last night where I would have been fully comfortable with them punting on 3rd down. Them not turning the ball over is a huge reason why they won that game (amongst all the other factors). And them actually winning the game is going to mitigate some of the issues yesterday… otherwise they were dead in the water (offensively) until Reid went for it on the 4th and 1. I think I literally almost threw-up (or broke my device) when they had the red zone movement/false start/illegal procedure all in one penalty (right before the Stroud to Marks TD improvised throw). Collinsworth-Tirico also didn’t mince words that you can’t do those sorts of things in ANY NFL game, let alone when you’re trying to be a contender.
They do some incredibly dumb things, like not playing Noel all game and then putting him in the backfield on a critical third-and-short... an infant could've diagnosed that. I also *hated* them putting Dare in cold and immediately giving him a gigantic red zone carry. Worked out! But it wasn't terribly smart. But! The Texans also leave big plays and points all over the field. Caley is scheming guys open. But Stroud isn't fully up-to-speed and I still think they could use upgrades at two OL sports (LG/RT and C), TE and RB (either to spell Marks or relegate Marks to more of a change-of-pace back). Having subpar options there makes everything harder. I'm hopeful these are the stumbles of a first-time play caller. I've never had anything specifically against Caley - by all accounts, he's very bright and, again, we've seen him scheme some great stuff up. And the offense *is* getting better - he was handicapped losing his QB for 3.5 games. But this team is probably 10-3/9-4 if they had hired a Wade Phillips-like OC.
Historically great…look at those numbers defending the pass and consider how much more frequently we throw the ball around today in the NFL. Made an all time great and last year’s MVP look like David Carr. Great thread, @Marshall Bryant ! Thanks for starting it!!
That’s sincerely inane. I know some of you see glass half empty all the time and I can’t even imagine how you get out of bed each morning….but I hope you’re having fun watching this, because it’s really special and rare.
The offense needs to pick it up. The Super Bowl is wide open, if our offense was better with this defense we would be favorites.
