Steelers beat writer: Texans will win

[HTown2ATX]

FWIW.....my dad who lives in Houston is from Pittsburgh and is a die hard Steeler fan as you would expect and also likes the Texans too.

He reads the paper up there online and is pretty good at following them and predicting the outcome of the Steeler games.

So, FWIW he is calling for Texans win by 7+ when I talked to him last night.

Also as an aside, thankfully the Texans look good right now and the Steelers kind of down so I haven't been getting the "recruiting" calls from him to join the dark side lol.

[silentassassin]

Originally Posted by HTown2ATX

Also as an aside, thankfully the Texans look good right now and the Steelers kind of down so I haven't been getting the "recruiting" calls from him to join the dark side lol.

Once a fan, always a fan!!!

[b0ng]

I just think this one will boil down to whether that elite Steeler defense shows back up or not. That offense is alright, it's not at it's peak right now either.

[drs23]

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[thunderkyss]

I know most people aren't giving us any credit for the win over the Colts. Peyton Manning don't play defense.

But that's ok... they have valid points... Peyton puts up points, they play with a lead.... blah, blah, blah..... even though we've put the Colts down 20+ points & still had them come back to beat us more than once.

Anyway, there ain't going to be any excuses this time. The Steelers D is the Steelers D & they allow Ben & the offense to get away with crap.

They'll be motivated to play & they don't like to lose 2 in a row.

[silentassassin]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

I know most people aren't giving us any credit for the win over the Colts. Peyton Manning don't play defense.

But that's ok... they have valid points... Peyton puts up points, they play with a lead.... blah, blah, blah..... even though we've put the Colts down 20+ points & still had them come back to beat us more than once.

Anyway, there ain't going to be any excuses this time. The Steelers D is the Steelers D & they allow Ben & the offense to get away with crap.

They'll be motivated to play & they don't like to lose 2 in a row.

Well it's a good thing they won last week!

In all seriousness, I agree. I don't think you can put anything past them and this offense will have its work cut out. It was encouraging to see the offense get creative against the Saints by using AJ in screens and end-arounds and getting innovative with Casey. I honestly feel like they don't stand a chance if they don't get as creative as they did last week, but I think they will.

[disaacks3]

Originally Posted by The1ApplePie

Romo bitched out the whole offense Monday night and got things turned around.

Brady does it all the time

Brees does this as well

Don't see enough Packers games to know if Rodgers does it.

It is all part of being a leader.

I've never seen a great QB who didn't. Elway, Montana, Marino, Bradshaw, Staubach, etc.

This isn't an office full of cubicles, it's a violent sport played by VERY athletic men. Yelling will always be part of that picture.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by silentassassin

Well it's a good thing they won last week!

In all seriousness, I agree. I don't think you can put anything past them and this offense will have its work cut out. It was encouraging to see the offense get creative against the Saints by using AJ in screens and end-arounds and getting innovative with Casey. I honestly feel like they don't stand a chance if they don't get as creative as they did last week, but I think they will.

You're right, I was hoping the Steelers lost (I know the Colts are in our division) but I wanted to see the Texans against a pissed off Steelers' team. Hopefully they're pissed off enough because they've been getting some bad press off of their unimpressive win.

The thing I liked about that screen to Andre, is that the Texans finally did something different That play worked once a long time ago. After that, if Andre turns to face the QB, the CB is coming at 100 mph. More recently, when that play has worked, Dre has to fight through a ton of defenders to gain 10 yards. It's like everyone knows it's in our playbook & they are just waiting for it. That's why you can't run the reverse with Andre... There's a minimum of 3 guys watching what he's doing on every single play, they'll be waiting for him on the other side.

But Sunday, what they did, was Andre took a step, like he was going to run a route. The 3 people assigned to Andre took a step back, which allowed our blockers to get into position & BAM!! magic.

Whoever thought up that one step thing... genius.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by disaacks3

I've never seen a great QB who didn't. Elway, Montana, Marino, Bradshaw, Staubach, etc.

This isn't an office full of cubicles, it's a violent sport played by VERY athletic men. Yelling will always be part of that picture.

If it's who you are & you've earned that kind of capital then you bet. But if you don't have that kind of relationship with your team, it isn't going to work.

It's the same with you & your coworkers, if they do something that screws up your ability to do your job, how would they react when you go ape****?

I'm surprised that center didn't just roll over after Romo went off on him.

Then there are some guys you can say anything to, anyway you want & you'll get the results you're looking for.

All I'm saying is, I don't give a **** if you call it PC or what ever, there's a right way & a wrong way to handle people, & it's different for everybody. Our team may not respond to Matt acting like an ***** on the field. Matt probably has it under control.

But personally, when I see a QB/Coach act like that, I don't like it. I don't care what the results are. I don't like it & I like that coach/player a little bit less.

[The1ApplePie]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

If it's who you are & you've earned that kind of capital then you bet. But if you don't have that kind of relationship with your team, it isn't going to work.

It's the same with you & your coworkers, if they do something that screws up your ability to do your job, how would they react when you go ape****?

I'm surprised that center didn't just roll over after Romo went off on him.

Then there are some guys you can say anything to, anyway you want & you'll get the results you're looking for.

All I'm saying is, I don't give a **** if you call it PC or what ever, there's a right way & a wrong way to handle people, & it's different for everybody. Our team may not respond to Matt acting like an ***** on the field. Matt probably has it under control.

But personally, when I see a QB/Coach act like that, I don't like it. I don't care what the results are. I don't like it & I like that coach/player a little bit less.

That may not be in Matt's DNA. I can agree with that.

Schaub reminds me of Jay Culter, Eli Manning, and Daunte Culpepper (with a better brain but weaker arm) in how he goes about the game. Great talent without the overeaching personality.

The only question I have about Matt is if he can elevated the talent around him or if he is dependant on that talent to elevate him.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by The1ApplePie

The only question I have about Matt is if he can elevated the talent around him or if he is dependant on that talent to elevate him.

FWIW (and you would expect teammates to compliment him) when Cushing was on TV yesterday he was asked how Matt was as a leader. My impression was he gave more than a generic "Matt's a good leader, he keeps the O focused and together" or some such he kind of went out of his way and said something to the effect of "Matt's a great leader not just for the offense but the defense as well, he inspires and motivates the whole team." He made some other comment about it but I can't remember what it was.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by The1ApplePie

That may not be in Matt's DNA. I can agree with that.

Schaub reminds me of Jay Culter, Eli Manning, and Daunte Culpepper (with a better brain but weaker arm) in how he goes about the game. Great talent without the overeaching personality.

Ouch... WTF, he's not that bad is he?

Originally Posted by The1ApplePie

The only question I have about Matt is if he can elevated the talent around him or if he is dependant on that talent to elevate him.

Manning makes everyone better, because you don't need to be WAO to get the ball. You don't have to be a super-acrobatic toughsumbit to make a catch. He leads you away from defenders. He reads defenses & if you get to the spot he tells you to get, all you have to do is catch & run. For an OL, he gets rid of the ball quick.

Matt can do that.... he hasn't done it as consistently as Manning has, but he can do it. Heck, if Matt can get around on those bootlegs faster to get the ball out ahead of AJ, or whoever, he'll make them look much better than they do now.

[The1ApplePie]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Ouch... WTF, he's not that bad is he?

Not meant as an insult. I am a fan of Culter and Eli. Their manner on the field seems similar to me. Eli is a very good leader by all accounts, he just doesn't show it in a way cameras can see.

They aren't hot heads like Rivers or high-risk-high-reward gunslingers like Romo, but are just as talented (maybe even more skilled).

[hradhak]

My feeling is that Texans have already faced their toughest opponent for the enitre season with the Saints. Still, I'm wary of ever calling a game against the Steelers a victory. The Steelers have problems on offense no doubt, but that defense keeps them in games. Even if the Steelers offense can't get it done, the defense can score points and shut us out in the red zone.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by hradhak

My feeling is that Texans have already faced their toughest opponent for the enitre season with the Saints. Still, I'm wary of ever calling a game against the Steelers a victory. The Steelers have problems on offense no doubt, but that defense keeps them in games. Even if the Steelers offense can't get it done, the defense can score points and shut us out in the red zone.

I'd put the Ravens right there with the Saints. Their offense isn't as consistently potent, but they're dangerous just the same. Like us, they can score 30 on any given day. Their defense is leagues ahead of New Orleans, which makes them just as tough. They may actually be able to stop us from scoring...... with our redzone issues, they most likely will.

The Steelers.... the good Steelers (who may very well show up Sunday) are just as dangerous.