Let's help Case Kennum stay alive. Here is what I know, please add to the list. 1. Screen pass 2. Draw 3. Shift receivers, running backs, lineman 4. Audible another play. 5. flank the QB with two blockers 6. Take a deeper snap 7. roll out
Now the obvious question: did the coaching staff of the Texans employ any of these strategies in any of the four games to help Keenum? Well, did they? We are just fans, we don't know anything. They are the "experts." Again, did they? I am trying to recall, help me.
Short/underneath routes are there. Keenum naturally looks downfield for routes that take time to develop. Also, he probably doesn't want to make a mistake/pick-6 by throwing too quickly, and wants to see the open guy before he throws. Sometimes, you gotta make the throw and lead the receiver before he's even there. All of this is correctable, and all of this takes time to develop in most young QB's. The more he looks bad against the blitz, however, the more teams are going to go to it when they need a stop.
Nick, but the issue is time; how do you put your QB into the position to see and make the pass to underneath routes? On several occasion Keenum was hit when he received the ball. No time. Did they make adjustments to give him more time? I saw two draws with Schaub, none with Keenum.
FLY route DEEP pass STRONG ARM ^ Keenum's strengths solid thread is solid. THANK YOU, sir. EDIT: Rollout is only UNDER CENTER, 18 rollout, never on a shotgun formation, FYI. Wouldn't work.
remove newton from the line up and replace with a true right tackle. Then, your rb, something wishy washy has never been able to do very well, know which guy to block. Thirdly and fourthly, safety blankets. Owens playing the qb position in a previous life always seemed to know where to be.
Just watch opposing teams' offenses against the Texans' D. The Bulls on Charade have been getting burned while blitzing all season long.
On a lot of Keenum's sacks, he either isn't recognizing the pressure or he's not getting it out quick enough. Then there are sacks that are unavoidable and are a product of poor blocking/missed assignments/good designs by the defense. The first play in Arizona (sack/fumble/TD) was an example of Keenum waiting for a route to develop and not feeling the pressure (even though it was coming from his right side). Those are the types of sacks he needs to avoid, or get the ball out quicker on. You're presuming that Keenum is doing everything right on these plays, and the team needs to adjust for him. Its going to have to be a mutual adjustment. Also, don't discount not having a decent RB who is a credible threat out of the backfield... Tate is only playing hurt now to get a big contract for next year. He's not helping this team by doing that, but there are really no other viable options.
That's because their blitzes take longer to develop/generate pressure than most team's base defenses. The culprits?... Mercilus/Reed. Neither showing any sort of speed off the end that the offensive tackles find trouble handling (or get help doing so).
