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The Optimism Thread

Discussion in 'Houston Texans' started by jbasket, Dec 31, 2012.

  1. jbasket

    jbasket Member

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    For clear and legitimate reasons, there is a lot of pessimism about the nearby playoffs. After the game, like most of us, I was really mad and not thinking things through of course. But there are some reasons to put aside the concerns.

    1) Record against winning teams/playoff teams: (from ESPN schedule)
    The Patriots have beaten the Broncos, the Colts, and the Texans: 3 winning teams and 3 playoff teams.
    The Broncos have beaten the Ravens and the Bengals: 2 winning teams and 2 playoff teams.
    The Bengals have beaten the Redskins, the Giants, and the Ravens* (both teams resting players, so asterisk by this game): 3 winning teams and 2 playoff teams.
    The Ravens have beaten the Bengals, the Patriots, and the Giants: 3 winning teams and 2 playoff teams.
    The Colts have beaten the Vikings, the Packers, and the Texans: 3 winning teams and 3 playoff teams.
    The Texans have beaten the Broncos, the Ravens, the Bears, and the Colts: 4 winning teams and 3 playoff teams.
    The low strength of schedule for the Texans is misleading: they have beaten more teams with winning records and playoff teams than anybody else in the AFC playoffs. Combine with the fact that the losses have been to four playoff teams, the Texans have played top notch competition. The reason their strength of schedule is low is because of the Jaguars with their 2-14 record. Denver is on a winning streak, but their only significant win is Baltimore, whom the Texans dominated. The Texans have shown they can beat the top competition and that potential does not just disappear.

    2) Special teams: We have been terrible on special teams. But I am sure Donnie Jones will continue punting excellently and Shayne Graham has proven he can hit the 50 yarder sometimes. What we are sure of is that he will not miss below 40 yards, which is a nice reassurance that Baltimore wishes they had last year, or the Eagles two years ago with Akers. Considering they gave up a touchdown return yesterday, it is doubtful they give up one during the playoffs. But for every touchdown return, there is also a blocked punt by Bryan Braman. I would not be surprised if he makes a play on special teams, or just our special teams make a play in general. It is unlikely our special teams give the other team points directly. It is really hard to find optimism with this group: Marciano needs to go after the season.

    3) Defence: I am here to say that our defence will show improvement in the playoffs. First off, we have JJ Watt, who changes games and he is just making plays that stops drives. There would be no reason for him to have a drop-off. Maybe he will intercept Dalton at the LOS again. In the playoffs, the key is to have a good pass defence, obviously going up against Dalton, Brady, and Manning. Our defensive line is set. But our defence has actually pretty good against the Colts and Vikings. The defence gave up 21 points to the Colts. Take out that Quintin Demps is a dumb###, its 14 (which I feel like he will be benched because of that play). The Colts also had much better field position due to turnovers. Same could be said about the Vikings. People have not noticed, but JJoe and Kareem Jackson are playoff ready. They have been on near lockdown the past couple games and JJoe has shaken off the injuries and turning back into his all-pro self. In addition, due to injuries, Barrett Rudd is playing, and from what I have seen in his playing time, he has executed some excellent pass defence (Detroit, Vikings, and Colts games). Our safety play has struggled, but has improved the last two games as well, coinciding with our defensive improvement. The major weak point is Brandon Harris and his 50 pass interference penalties per game and Bradie James' coverage skills. Also, having Brooks Reed back will help. What we are due for on defence are turnovers: we can and have forced a lot of them and are due for some more after this recent slump of them.

    4) Offense: It is rare to see Shaub play two bad games in a row, can you name any time in the past two/three years he played two bad games in a row? He is due for a bounce back because he is still a top 10 quarterback in the league. AJ is playing great and that helps a huge amount. We need to see more out of OD, but our passing game improves as Devier Posey improves. From an article on BRB (http://www.battleredblog.com/2012/12/27/3809800/the-film-room-warning-may-cause-heart-palpitations) is a film breakdown on how Posey actually played well against the Colts, got a lot of separation, and ran good routes. This is huge, as he has been playing WR2 in front of Walter actually, and can bring another element into our passing game. If the writer sees this on the film, you bet Shaub does as well. Our O-line has played terrible recently, which has stalled the whole offence. This includes Duane Brown and Chris Myers, whom have both given up sacks and missed run-blocking assignments. I find it hard to believe two legitimate pro-bowl line man will continue sucking when they have been so good for so long. For our offence to flourish, we need to get James Casey and Arian Foster more involved in the passing game. Our run game stalls in the red-zone: it has for the past four games, and it is, quite frankly, predictable. Run the play-action pass to Foster/Casey and our redzone deficiencies will turn around.

    I might be missing a couple ideas, and might have some mistakes in this post, but feel free to challenge, criticize, or compliment.

    tl;dr Special teams is not all terrible, the defence has actually improved, the offence will find rhythm, and the Texans have beaten the most winning/playoff teams among all AFC playoff teams.
     
  2. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    Take care of business at home next weekend, then we are 2 games from the Super Bowl.

    Anything can happen!

    We still have Andre, Watt, and Foster.
     
  3. Summer Song Giver

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    I'm all out of optimism, last year was our shot and injuries and Jacoby Jones ****ed that to hell.
     
  4. jbasket

    jbasket Member

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    Last year was last year: we will be missing Mccain, Cushing, and maybe Reed, Sharpton, and Dobbins. As I said, I don't expect much of a drop off with Rudd because he has played pass defence well. The only key player is Cushing, which will hurt if we play the Patriots because of Gronk and Hernandez.
     
  5. tmacfor35

    tmacfor35 Member

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    Let's hope Matt Schaub has an inner Eli Manning.
     
  6. desihooper

    desihooper Member
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    1) Texans have never lost a home playoff game.
    2) Texans have never lost to the Bengals in the playoffs.
    :)
     
    1 person likes this.
  7. jbasket

    jbasket Member

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    Eli Manning was not considered elite until he won two superbowls. Before then, he was considered a decent quarterback kind of like Shaub is now. The Giants are a good example of a team who TWICE fully put it together once playoffs started after the two inconsistent regular seasons. The Texans can do the same. Who did Eli beat twice in the superbowl? Brady. It can be done.
     
  8. SWTsig

    SWTsig Member

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    shove your optimism up your a$$, jbasket!
     
  9. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Sorry . . . I got deja vu from last week

    Rocket River
     
  10. jbasket

    jbasket Member

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    So friendly. Care to say why we should lose to the Bengals, who have only been able to beat one playoff team that had its starters playing?
     
  11. conquistador#11

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    To save us from the embarrassment of getting our arses kicked at gillete stadium,duh!

    PS:
    Number one texans fan since 2011, here! when i'm not shopping for stripped cardigans and trying to lose my virginity, I stay cheering for my texans, unless they go through a bad stretch of games!
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. jbasket

    jbasket Member

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    And how is that working for you? ;)
     
  13. HR Dept

    HR Dept Member

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    My optimism is based in reality. And the reality is that the Texans have been in a downward spiral since the Jax OT game. I don't have a good feeling at all going into Saturday.

    Can they turn it around? Sure, but it will require a LOT of turning. And I do think that a statement win against Cincy will be just what the Dr. ordered. Then again, a win in Indy yesterday was desperately needed as well.

    This team hasn't shown the resilience that it had last year. And this weekend is the going to be the biggest measure of it this season. I really hope they can put it togther. Hope... I have that. Optimism? Well, we'll see on Saturday.
     
  14. rolyat93

    rolyat93 Member

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    He's got the derp look already.:grin:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  15. jbasket

    jbasket Member

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    Our offence has played at a high level nearly all season, and our defence has already started turning around. To say the texans this year have not shown resilience like last year before the playoffs started is not a correct statement. Most of the resilience of last year was shown in the playoffs, from holding the Ravens on four downs, crushing Cincy, etc.
     
  16. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Membar
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    Damn man, can't rep, but you've been on fire lately.
     
  17. JunkyardDwg

    JunkyardDwg Member

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    Today is a new day and a new season. Whatever happened the last 17 weeks is completely irrelevant now. I'm gonna just keep believing they have saved their best football for the playoffs. Hell that's what they did last year.
     
  18. Classic

    Classic Member

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    12-4

    Not bad.

    Remember when Arizona & Houston were both 4-0?
     
  19. HR Dept

    HR Dept Member

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    Apparently you've forgotten about the whole 'Next Man Up' montra from last year. They earned thier stripes well before the playoffs last season.

    Look, I want a SB run for this team and this city like I want my next breath. And I had all the optimism in the world until last week against Minn. But I just can't act like I don't see the deficiencies. They look bad on the field. Really Bad.

    For the first time this season the Texans aren't front running. Why? Because they've failed to respond while the X was on they're backs. And in tragic fashion. The only thing to be optimistic about, IMO, is that there is still hope.

    Saturday will be a defining moment. Every excuse Texans supporters including myself have made to this point will no longer be valid. Resiliency will be winning on Saturday, and addressing thier obvious deficiencies.

    I hope that they do it.
     
  20. jbasket

    jbasket Member

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    Yes, fully aware of the "next man up" mantra, but they earned their stripes in the playoffs: it was only a matter of time before we clinched that crappy division. So you are thinking negatively of a texans team this year that has not had as many injuries, therefore a better record, but less resilience because of that? The resilience will be found in the playoffs like it always should be for contenting teams. Of course we are not the frontrunner, but it is refreshing to be the underdog now, and honestly, I think people like the Patriots will overlook us now.

    So what exactly looked bad against the Colts? The special teams, Demps, and offensive penalties. You know what can be fixed easily? Two of the three. And special teams for all NFL teams RARELY give up touchdowns in consecutive weeks. Lets not forget about Bryan Braman: he is a special teams playmaker.
     

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