CloakNNNdagger
10-31-2009, 08:52 AM
The secondary have improved from the beginning of the season, but picks are disappointly low for a D which was going to "rattle" and disrupt quarterback play.
THEIR initial concern was simply to stop embarrassing themselves.
Seriously. After the first three weeks of the season, finding the right gaps and making a play every now and then was a legitimate goal for the Texans' defense.
Dreams do come true.
The Texans have moved from last in pretty much every meaningful statistical category to near the top of the bottom third in the NFL in those stats. (Hey, the front of the welfare line is better than the back of it.)
Now we wonder if the Texans' defense can move from OK to pretty good. A middle-of-the pack defense with this offense should mean a winning season.
“It's about making plays. We have to put them in the right position, and they need to make plays,” Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush said before the season.
Looks like he is doing his job.
But for the Texans' defense to take the next step, the defensive backs are going to have to start making plays on the ball.
Entering Sunday's game at Buffalo, which will mark the halfway point of the season, the Texans are near the bottom in the league in interceptions with four. (There are five teams tied for last with three picks and four others matching the Texans' four, but don't get too distracted by those numbers.)
The Texans (4-3) and the Cowboys (4-2) are the only two teams in the bottom 10 in the league in interceptions with more than two wins. Of the teams that have played seven games, only three (Washington, Kansas City and Cleveland) have fewer interceptions than the Texans.
Despite playing six teams that are among the top 10 in interceptions thrown, no Texans cornerback has an interception this season. Safety Eugene Wilson has two interceptions. John Busing, who saw early action at safety, has one and linebacker Brian Cushing the other.
The Texans haven't had two interceptions in a game since Brady Quinn and David Anderson were giving thanks and interceptions to them last November.
The only other time last season that the Texans had two picks in a game came against the then-woeful Bengals and their backup quarterback.
The Bengals' backup quarterback on that day was Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will start for the Bills on Sunday because Trent Edwards is out with a concussion.
How important are turnovers? The Texans are 17-2 under Gary Kubiak when they have won the turnover battle, including 14 straight wins.
This might be the appropriate time to mention that the Bills have given up 21 sacks, the fifth-most in he NFL.
Sitting on a goose egg
If the Texans get Fitzpatrick on the run, this could be a game their cornerbacks get their hands on a ball or two.
Jacques Reeves isn't exactly a ballhawk, but he did have four interceptions last year after grabbing just one in his first four years in the league. He doesn't have a pick this season.
Robinson has been better than good while focusing on the opponent's top receiver all season. But he doesn't have a pick.
LINK (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6696037.html)
THEIR initial concern was simply to stop embarrassing themselves.
Seriously. After the first three weeks of the season, finding the right gaps and making a play every now and then was a legitimate goal for the Texans' defense.
Dreams do come true.
The Texans have moved from last in pretty much every meaningful statistical category to near the top of the bottom third in the NFL in those stats. (Hey, the front of the welfare line is better than the back of it.)
Now we wonder if the Texans' defense can move from OK to pretty good. A middle-of-the pack defense with this offense should mean a winning season.
“It's about making plays. We have to put them in the right position, and they need to make plays,” Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush said before the season.
Looks like he is doing his job.
But for the Texans' defense to take the next step, the defensive backs are going to have to start making plays on the ball.
Entering Sunday's game at Buffalo, which will mark the halfway point of the season, the Texans are near the bottom in the league in interceptions with four. (There are five teams tied for last with three picks and four others matching the Texans' four, but don't get too distracted by those numbers.)
The Texans (4-3) and the Cowboys (4-2) are the only two teams in the bottom 10 in the league in interceptions with more than two wins. Of the teams that have played seven games, only three (Washington, Kansas City and Cleveland) have fewer interceptions than the Texans.
Despite playing six teams that are among the top 10 in interceptions thrown, no Texans cornerback has an interception this season. Safety Eugene Wilson has two interceptions. John Busing, who saw early action at safety, has one and linebacker Brian Cushing the other.
The Texans haven't had two interceptions in a game since Brady Quinn and David Anderson were giving thanks and interceptions to them last November.
The only other time last season that the Texans had two picks in a game came against the then-woeful Bengals and their backup quarterback.
The Bengals' backup quarterback on that day was Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will start for the Bills on Sunday because Trent Edwards is out with a concussion.
How important are turnovers? The Texans are 17-2 under Gary Kubiak when they have won the turnover battle, including 14 straight wins.
This might be the appropriate time to mention that the Bills have given up 21 sacks, the fifth-most in he NFL.
Sitting on a goose egg
If the Texans get Fitzpatrick on the run, this could be a game their cornerbacks get their hands on a ball or two.
Jacques Reeves isn't exactly a ballhawk, but he did have four interceptions last year after grabbing just one in his first four years in the league. He doesn't have a pick this season.
Robinson has been better than good while focusing on the opponent's top receiver all season. But he doesn't have a pick.
LINK (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6696037.html)