Probably. Kubiak is much better suited as an OC IMO. He has never stuck me as a big time motivator. More of an Ex's and Oh's type. Texans need a guy who is going to come in and kick ass and take names.
I forgot which game I was watching on Thanksgiving where the team had 3rd and short, and the team ran the ball and picked up the FIRST DOWN by a full yard and the defender was celebrating his tackle that came two yards too late. I've never been a fan of celebrating anything other then a score or change of possession.
I can handle a sack on third down or tipping away a touchdown pass. But yes, you dropped the runner for a loss of 1 on 1st down. Now, dont let em get a big gain on 2nd down. Otherwise, it doesnt matter what you did on first down.
You could see it coming after the broken leg and coming back in pursuit of a long term contract and more moolah. He knew his skills weren't back to what he had in his first few years and he was trying to get what he could while he could. Too bad for him, he was a great hitting CB for his size and went all out on the field.
He played better before the spotlight was on him. Now that he pulled his act in the offseason, he knows everyone is watching him and he has failed miserably because of it. He's been so bad this year it's almost as if he is playing bad on purpose. That would make absolutely no sense to do that in a contract year, but I just can't believe how utterly bad he's been. I'd trade the occasional big hit for better hands and better coverage skills. That INT that he dropped vs. TEN could have been the game changer we needed. He also gets at least 1 interference call every single game.
I'd be fine with cutting him today. I'm tired of seeing big play after big play against the defense happening with Dunta getting burned to a crisp. He is not a shut down corner. Teams are attacking him. In other words, they think he's a weak link.
Agreed. You can't let the leader of your defense walk. Just because Cush fills the stat sheet better, doesn't mean Ryans is suddenly expendable.
Lance Z? Anyways, as far as Dunta being rotated to a safety, I don't know if he's big enough... That being said, in the first round, I hope we draft either Taylor Mayes, Eric Berry, or the best wide receiver available. It may seem redundant to get another receiver, but think about it this way: If we had another top tier receiver, our offense, with OD, would be absolutely unstoppable. Plus, if for some reason, Daniels ever went down again, we would still be okay. I was kind of making a push, as draft day crept closer, for us to draft Harvin. I couldn't be more pleased (and couldn't have been more wrong about) with Cushing, but I think a play-maker at receiver, in the Harvin mold (or actually, someone that I think would really fit us, would be Lee Evans), in my opinion, would make this team unstoppable. After that, we still need O-line depth, and I think, with development figured in, this team has as much or more talent as 90% of the teams in the league. We just need some good, motivational coaching.
Our offense is only unstoppable when the running attack is a threat. That hasnt been the case this year, which means the offense is doing it the hard way. Another stud WR would simply make the hard way, a bit easier. Offensive line help would help this team more than another WR. That or a stud RB.
I agree that offensive line help would help this team immensely. I don't know the draft all that well yet, but I don't think there will be a plethora of stud lineman this year (like there was last year), so I was suggesting a WR. The thing about running backs is this: if Kubiak stays, I cannot see him taking a running back in the first round, no matter who it is. I think that Slaton was the type of back that the Kubiak/Shannahan system is known for. He's a great fit for the system. Therefore, I think your point about the o-line is even more valid. I think o-line is something that for once, needs to be addressed through free agency. I say for once because we need to go after quality name guys that can start, instead of just pure quantity.
Ryans, Cush, Mario, Pollard. These are the only guys that I can really say we have to hold on to defensively. Dunta was just above average before this whole mess. It seems he's fallen from there. Certainly not worth top corner money.
To be fair though, we are missing our starting guards. Including one who started every game for the Texans until his injury this year.
Chester Pitts is a nice fit for this team. Brisiel(sp?), I don't think I'm sold on him. I think the football Gods have a curse on Houston Texans offensive lineman, in general.
Dunta should be behind Reeves and Quinn on the depth chart. I think ive seen him make about 2-3 good defensive plays this year...otherwise, he is consistently letting his man catch a solid 8-12 yard pass...he gets called for PI, and he just hasnt shown any sort of covering skills that I would want in my CB. He just isnt a good corner, plain and simple. I cant believe how much he has dropped off. And I agree, Ima, that play where he hit Addai...gimme a freakin break...If I hit someone, the last thing I would do is jump around like a cocky animal if they held onto the ball. You obviously didnt hit him hard enough, Dunta. Get back and play the freaking game...its one thing if you are kicking ass on the field, but when you are repeatedly getting burned all game, dont be a cocky ass when you think you made one good play, towards the end of the game. And Im all for wearing "Pay Me, Dunta" shirts. I want him off my team.
Negative, none of the Defense was ready. The fact that he was still in a 3-point stance proves that. He was standing there motionless, if you look the ball is already nearly to Peyton Manning, if he was "Ready" he would have fired off the ball and already been in contact with the O-Line. That play was a microcosm of the season, just a little bit behind the eight-ball all year.
It'd be a bad decision to have him as the last line of defense between a stop and a score. His open field solo tackling is almost as suspect as his coverage.
Before we get there, I think they should start working in Jacoby Jones more in the offense. He's got 4 total TDS compared to Walter/Anderson/Davis combined ONE TD between them. Even if he's just a vertical threat or mistake prone, that hasnt stopped them from working Slaton. And he was a higher round pick thats supposed to be that complimentary weapon. Might as well see what our poor man's Lee Evans can do. I agree with needing more football identity at the head positions. The Texans are like the reverse of the Rockets, maybe too many good guy professionals leading to blandness. Could possibly stand to have a bombastic star personality to stir things up and create an identity.
