Pollard can tackle and hit you but is a liability in pass coverage. Sort of like Roy Williams with the Cowboys.
'81 2-14 Colts are regarded by many as the worst defense of all time. 5 games in, they did what we've yet to do: hold an opponent to less than 24. They did it twice that year. Allowed 533 points and nearly 6800 yards. Bar is set, Texans. (on pace for: 457 points and 6554 yards allowed)
You know... i can't help it: We keep talking about this team being so close and yet... we're having to reach into the depths of awfulness to pull out a comparable unit. How can a team "close" have a histroically all-time bad defense? I don't think this team is close. And, again: I think the focus of our ire should be on Kubiak the GM.
"This defense couldn't stop Betty White from throwing for 300 and two scores." --JeopardE In reference to the above awesome quote, I propose the D's new nickname to be: Betty White's b****.
Same thing happened with the previous regime. Bad free agent signings and, especially, bad drafts will eventually come back to haunt you. It happens right before your very eyes but you never seem to catch it until it’s too late. Because of the terrific ’06 class, and the solid contributions of Brown, Slaton and Cushing, I think we were all blinded to how many “day one” picks Kubiak has wasted on projects. Some have worked (Brown, the two 2s they dealt for Schaub) – but too often, too early in the round, this regime was drafting on potential rather than production. A perfect example of their (failed) approach is Amobi Okoye. He had a very nice college career – not spectacular - nice; but at just 19, scouts drooled over his potential. Drafted a spot later was Patrick Willis, who was a beast in college – a 2-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year. But scouts assumed Willis was probably at his ceiling already – he projected as a safe and predictable pick who would have a nice NFL career. But Okoye offered limitless potential; he was just scratching the surface of his ability and he was already pretty good. Ugh. The Texans did this over and over the past several years. Between ’07 and ’09, the Texans had 10 day one picks. Those picks have generated one bona fide starter (Schaub), a DROY (Cushing), an OROY candidate (Slaton, who looks finished) and a solid starting LT (Brown). That’s 4 out of 10, and Slaton is quickly turning into a flash-in-the-pan non-factor. That’s a terrible return, and the exact thing that doomed Casserly’s regime. And very nearly all of the guys they picked were projects: Schaub was an unknown back-up; Okoye was 19; Jacoby and Molden were from small schools; Brown and Kareem Jackson this year were considered “reaches”, Barwin was a converted end… Kubiak put his faith in inexperienced GMs, coaches and players, and fell too much in love with potential over production. It will seal his fate, I'm afraid.
...and worse, Kubiak is incredibly reluctant to let go of his failed picks. Okoye, Jackson, Slaton last year, Jacoby Jones, etc....he can't quit them. He pointedly refuses to look for a better option.
I'll see your "worse" and raise you: reluctant to let go, incapable of finding better alternatives. (Note: Let's ease up a bit on Jackson; he might eventually be OK.)
Eventually yes, today he should be on special teams. I don't know how many coaches would be this adamant about keeping him in there as a starter.
I dont remember who it was or what thread it was in, but thought someone asked "Has a team ever allowed 24+ points in each of it's first 8(now 9) games?" Just found this on ESPN and to no one's surprise:
Perhaps not as good as the one in the OP but another "Whiner line" call regarding the Texans, heh. http://cbskiltam.files.wordpress.co...00&backgroundColor=0xFFFFFF&guid=52277ED39643
was there a link for this??? EDIT: no worries..I found it: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/17930/kubiak-sees-no-reason-for-stagnant-defense Holy crap, this is bad. Again...I'm not sure everyone fully appreciates just how bad this defense is. It's a marvel, actually...it just replaced the Hanging Gardens as one of the 8 Wonders. Link to follow.
I just read the following Chronicle story and completely forgot that Ray Rhodes was on the Texans' staff. What cave has he been hiding in this entire time, and why isn't he taking over for Frank Bush?! http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/7296036.html
