I would have laughed at this a couple of weeks ago. In fact, I think I actually DID laugh at it. Now, after seeing how awful the Giants looked the other night, anything less than 5-1 at the bye would be a disappointment. I can't believe I just typed that.
Kubiak's a loyal guy that's been slow to change his starters, even if they're obviously struggling badly: Faggins, Bennett, Ferguson, CC Brown. Pressure had to come from on high for him to finally let go off Richard Smith, who was an abject disaster as DC. My guess is that it would take an injury for Nolan to get a shot, and Barber (ugh) is more likely to get the PT. Is Nolan ready? I have no clue at all. I'd need to see him out there. Cover safety is a position that demands some serious IQ and feel, coupled with the ability to cover major ground with lightning reflexes. I'm fairly sure that he could lay more effective hits than Wilson at this point, and his 4 in height advantage doesn't hurt. But if he were to trot out there and was as over his head as Can't Cover Brown and Nick Ferguson were....then you're just spotting points to the other team.
Great post, thanks. I agree that it'd be tough to just throw out a first year player into a tough position (albeit one that's been watching game tape for a whole season). I really hope he turns out to be the future of the position. Seems like drafting free safeties are a bit of crap shoot, and it'd be nice if our eventual starter was already on the roster. The above quotation totally made me want to vomit. Barber is fine right where he is... special teams.
Was hoping they'd stay ahead of my projections with a win, but that's how it goes. Need to go 8-5 the rest of the way for 10 wins and a playoff spot. IMO, that makes a 5-1 record at the bye critical. If Vick continues to play at such a high level, the game in Philly will be brutal to get through. Some sad stats: If you took the Texans opponent QB numbers, he would have 6/0 TD:INT, be #2 in QB rating, #2 in completion %, and #1 in yards per game. Texans defense ranks dead last in passing yards given up per game and are one of only 3 teams to not have an interception on the year. Washington saves us from being dead last in total yards given up....by less than a single yard (0.7). Painful. But I'm not going to pile on the players. Cushing and Barwin are gone, and they were our most able pass rushers behind Mario. Texans brass knowingly brought in Pollard and Jackson, secondary guys that are all tackle, no ballhawking. They also stayed pat at the other safety, despite Eugene Wilson getting to spots about as fast as Travis Johnson and hitting like Phillip Buchannon. Hopefully the return of Cushing, possible addition of Schobel, and potential emergence of Nolan come save the day after the bye. Evan
and every QB we've faced has been a Pro Bowl QB....one of them is among the greatest QB's of all time. two of them have taken their teams to the Super Bowl. i'm not suggesting the defense doesn't need to improve...the pass defense in particular. it does. but we're super young in the defensive backfield. through 3 games last season, we looked like the worst run defense team i had EVER seen. seriously, historically bad. by the end of the season, we were among the best at stopping the run.
You have them losing to the Giants and @ Jax, both look like last place or third place clubs at best. You also had us losing to SD @ home another team struggling although I do think they will rebound but still not a great team this year. Vick looks fantastic but again has played two last place teams so I'll hold off calling him great yet. Tennessee looked okay yesterday but the Giants ran up and down the field on them, just couldn't hold on to the ball. To many variables still to playout, Texans probably aren't elite but this schedule doesn't appear to be as tough as projected.
Now, that's encouraging, really. What if the defense puts it together like that again, what with the "addition" of Juice Cushing? Last 13 games of 2009 the Texans were 8-5. If they do that this year, that's 10 wins.
I totally agree things can turn around. As far as the 3 QBs, McNabb's QB rating in his two other games this year has stayed below 80. Against us? 119. He threw more yards on us than he has in the two other games combined. Romo's QB ratings: 89....78.....128 (us) Manning's QB rating has been stellar all 3 games, but hasn't otherwise come within 100 yards of the 433 he lit us up with. Manning I can excuse...it's Manning. But not the other two. You can't win handicapping the other team with 350+ passing yards and a few long TDs. Hopefully we can bolster the pass rush with Schobel and Cushing, and if we're really lucky Nolan might save the day at free safety. Remind me how the Cowboys looked coming into this game? Re: Jax - for the division games, I automatically marked all as home wins and road losses. Texans are 4-14 within the last 3 years of the division, so 3-3 would be a nice change. Re: Giants - they're right behind us as a passing offense, and we just made McNabb and his weak receiving corps look like the Montana 49ers. Their defense has given up a bunch of points, but I don't think they're the sad sack everyone's so quick to list them as. You want to say I'm too quick listing losses, I'll say you're too quick dismissing teams as threats. Difference of opinion. And all that said, I WANT them to beat out my predictions. I'd sell my car to see them make it to the Super Bowl. But I won't predict a super rosy optimistic prediction schedule until they demonstrate to me they won't keep laying turds on the field like they did yesterday.
Cowboys defense looked pretty good, it was their offense that looked crappy but we ALL knew those guys had tons of talent and it would only be a matter of time before they turned it around...those who said they sucked were just hating on them. I thought we would win but the lose didn't shock me by any means. Jax has looked horrible against anyone with a pulse, only beating an 0-3 Denver team by 7 @ home, sorry but if the Texans are as good as I think they are then that is a must win. NYG's defense has been bad and while they have been able to pass the ball, those recievers don't scare me. Eli is an average QB at best and the Texans should be able to stop Bradshaw and make them one deminsional. I just believe this team is a good squad with one MAJOR weakness, now don't get me wrong if they don't fix that weakness then this team will struggle against better passing offenses but they are not a sub .500 team IMO. Worst case scernio is 4-2 going into the bye but I fully expected a 5-1 record and a matchup with Indy for the division in week 7.
At least we are 2-1. Its like the total polar opposite of last year...after three games we were dead last in rush defense...this year after three games we are dead last in pass defense....bring back Cushing, start Nolan and sign Schoeble...then maybe we can at least come back and be middle of the pack.
Quarter season mark. I'm more hopeful that we can steal a few extra wins and make the playoffs with 10 wins.
Still on course....but sadly, that means on course for 7-9. 10 wins will slip away quickly if this team can't get fired up for its freaking home games.
texans cracked against a real defense. where are all the bandwagon fans now? We could easily be 2-3 if that redskins game went the other way. Texans aren't prime time; they are at most a bubble team.
If we see more of the same, I'm predicting we go only 4-7 the rest of the way as well. If that happens, Kubiak should be fired.
That tightness you feel is the noose around the neck of the Texans' shot at 10 wins and a postseason berth. Pressure's on. Have to sweep Jacksonville, have to at least split with Titans. Have to take care of business against Denver and beat either the Chargers (doable if good Schaub returns) or in Philly off a short week (difficult). Oh, and go back in time and fire Kubiak at the end of last year like we should have.
The thought of watching our DL try to tackle Vick or our DBs try to cover Djax-Jmac makes me want to punch kittens.
You just saw how well prepped Kubiak had the team after 14 days off. This game he'll have 3. Schaub versus the Philly blitz (21 sacks on the year). One of the most hostile places to play in the NFL. I don't like the look of this game one bit.
