ESPNs Mike&Mike on the Texans

[J-Man]

I caught ESPNs Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg this morning going thru a preseason run down of teams (2 teams per day...that type of thing). They had a phone interview with Charlie Casserly as well, CC mainly outlined the changes and updates on the defensive side of the ball.

When it came down to prediction time Golic and Grennie both basically said the Texans would be lucky to get 5 wins this year. They made the case that we haven't picked up big time free agents to help out the "struggling team". They also made the statement that we had no playmakers on offense.

I was pretty surprised at this...normally Golic in particular is a pretty down to earth commentator that is pretty accurate. I was pretty dissapointed on this...it looked like they were just using this as filler to get to something else and put no effort in looking into the situation in Houston.

[V Man]

Someone in another thread mentioned that they had talked about the Texans. It is a shame, I use to really like their show, (like J-man said Golic was really down to earth) but now they seem like most of media, mindless follow the masses ideas.

[Vinny]

Why is this so shocking? They have to pick SOMEBODY to win 5 games. If you go to every message board in the NFL you will see that every single team is slated to finish either 10-6 or 12-4. On balance we seem to be driven to joyful mania when someone likes us, and then dump down in to rage when someone in the media doesn't. The bottom line is that the NFL is a tough league and we were the worst offense and the worst defense in the NFL last year statistically. You get a reputation in the NFL by winning. We will get one when we start winning. Not sooner. These shows are based on opinions. Every team can't win 10 games. The media types have to make a call, and until we can do something on the field I don't know why they must share our up-close and personal optimism.

[V Man]

For me, the most shocking or disappointing is the 5 game prediciton and picking up no big free agents. We did pick up 3 good players, yes they may not be big time like TO or Bailey but they will help this team improve and that alone should let them see or pick us to win at least 6 games and give us some credit for moving in the right direction unlike other teams (San Fran and Chicago).

[Blake]

Its not the 5 win thing that is annoying. I know you have to pick some teams to lose, and why not the 3rd year texans.

Its the "haven't picked up big time free agents to help out the "struggling team". They also made the statement that we had no playmakers on offense."

Havent picked up any big time free agents? Thats just ludicrous.

And no playmakers. Also far fetched. A thousand yard back, and 950 yard 1st year WR arent playmakers? Glenn and Sharper?

[Vinny]

Doesn't bother me, or Cinderella.

[TexanExile]

Vinny has a point here, and one that's been bugging me for several days. Nearly everyone in the media's picking the Colts to go to the Super Bowl or close to it. They're also picking the Jags as the "dark horse" Super Bowl contender. Few have expressed any doubt that the Titans will remain a strong team. All three of these teams play each other AND the Texans, obviously...someone's gonna have to lose games.

In a "Contender vs. Pretender" segment with Sean Salisbury early this week on ESPN, I noticed something REALLY unusual in the midst of all this weird Jag-loving going on. Salisbury marked them as "pretender" and said the team has too many holes; he did point out they'll be a contender in 2005. BUT, he also identified the TEXANS as a "contender," saying they'd make the playoffs as a well-balanced, well-coached team with an underrated defense and good offensive talent.

I was torn on this. I agree that the Texans will win more than the pessimists say, but I don't know if 9-7 (or even 10-6!) gets an AFC South team into the playoffs this year. (Or will the AFC South teams beat each other up to the point where it will?) So while I appreciated Salisbury's optimism, I thought it was a bit over the top. Same way I felt about Ditka's *****ic and underinformed negative comments on the Texans a while back. But likewise, media hacks (and rabid fans) can't go around expecting everybody to win 10 games. The math just doesn't work.

I was just grateful to hear somebody say something realistic about Jacksonville. I still fail to see why people think that team can get through this division and all the other strong AFC teams to make it to--uh, home--for the Super Bowl.

[edo783]

IMO, it's pretty clear that the only playoff spot that we or the Jags would likely have a real chance at as thing stand at this point in the season, would be a wildcard spot. However, with the AFC South expected to be so competative, I suspect that we will beat each other up so bad that only the division winner will get to the playoffs and all the others will have records somewhere around 8-8 give or take a game or two.. Most likely will be the Colts winning the division, but who knows.

[chicagotexan]

C'mon people, why are you all hoping for respect from these clowns. We ain't gonna get it. Do we really need it? These goofs were talkin out of thier a**es. I don't need respect for my team from these jagoffs. I'd rather smack a few teams around (especially the ones we according to these geniouses have no business beating) and sit back and smile. We're on our way up, that's all I need to know. For now....

[Diehardtexan]

The only reason we think our team is going to win more games this year is because we are Texans fans and we know how they did last year even though we had too many injuries. This year we are a much better team than last year's healthy team. Almost every one picked Carolina to not do well last year. And most writers said that New England blew it last year when they released Melloy and lost big to The Bills. They really don't know what the hell is going on.

[Mistril48]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Why is this so shocking? They have to pick SOMEBODY to win 5 games...

I can't disagree with you comments about media attention, but I would add that I believe the WORST team in the NFL won 4 games last year. I understand that isn't always the case, but I feel the Texans are much improved in that they are healthy (so far), didn't lose any big free agents (see Titans with Kearse and the Baire), added quality, young, experienced players (Wade & the Baire) and predictably have young, talented players, many of whom will likely improve (Carr, Johnson ...).

I think G&G are half wits for their predictions. If they had the rest of their wits they would see we are going to win 10!

[TexansTailg8r]

I partially agree with Vinny in the fact that you have to start winning before you get the respect that you so desparately want, but I do understand how some in the media that have made comments about Houston not improving and having no play makers are ruffling feathers and are appearing that they have not done their homework. It wasn't just the injuries last year(although they were bad), according to the stats we and the Bills tied for having the toughest schedule in the NFL not just the AFC. In addition, it took us several games to realize that we had a 1000+ yard back setting on the sideline. Although Smith and Wade were not the flashiest of names on the free agent block this past off season, they are just what this team needed. When I hear comments by the media such as the ones that have been referenced here, I just smile and make sure I know where to send them an e-mail when the Texans prove them wrong.

[El Tejano]

We will prove them all wrong. Just like everyone who thought they could come and just simply beat us without a fight and got sent home with a big fat L.

[ArlingtonTexan]

Most of the national "experts" are fairly conservative (lazy) in their predictions. In fact, most national magazines and talk shows get there stuff from a handfull of people and amazingly most of the time, except for like one or two "hot" teams, this years forcasts look amazing like last year's standings.

Also, remember that a ROT and non-pass rushing DE are not "sexy" signings and can easily get lost in the shuffle, if you are not a fan of the team.

[OzzO]

Pfft, their opinion.... doesn't matter to me. Never really could get into their style anyway.

[powda]

you want respect? you want attention? as vinny said the only way to get it is to win. not just win mind you...win those important games. the games in wich everyone in the media will be watching (and yes i buy into a west coast east coast bias). win those games against former playoff teams and win those games when we get national attention.

from where we sit now i think our most crucial "respect game" is :

11-21 green bay. (national tv and a playoff team last year)

followed by both indy games and the kansas city game. one could argue for the titans games and the vikings games as well.

if the jets should happen to do really well this season that could also garner the attention you guys seem to crave so badly ,because of the market and the fact that the game is late in the season.

personally, i'd perfer the texans to play cinderella as long as i dont have to listen to knuckleheads like ditka outright trash our team.

on a side note, i think of our team in terms of players sometimes.....namely seth wand. this year is like wands rookie year. good talent...a lot of tools that could be better then average if he matures just right...we're brimming with raw potential...but we are still unpolished ,unrefined, unproven. i think of the team next year as wand is now. wand has his starting oppurtunity and we should finnaly have enough players who will have evollved enough to reach their prime to begin next year. i think our team should have a legit shot at the playoffs next season. this year im trying not to get caught up in all the message board hype. i'll take 8-8 this year and consider 10+ next year attainable.

[BornOrange]

I agree with Vinny. The only way a new team is going to get any respect is to start stringing together wins. If the offense continues to progress and if the defense stays fairly healthy, the Texans could be a playoff contender. If Payne, Walker and Glenn struggle with age and injuries on defense and if Davis can't handle a full season of pounding on offense another five win season is not out of the question.

[WWJD]

I agree also. A team can look very good at practice, on paper, on film and if they don't win it means nobody in the league will care or give you props.

Close games get the other team's attention till their plane takes off. Wins get them nervous that you did and can beat them again.

[TexanExile]

Neither of the ultimately Super Bowl-bound teams got a lot of favorable press in the early part of the season last year...and they did fine without this "respect" buzzword. (Which, by the way, I'm TRULY getting sick of, in sports contexts)

I don't care very much what's said by talking heads about the Texans, as long as it's grounded in fact or well-informed opinion. That's why Ditka's comments bugged me, and that's why these 2 guys disturbed me a bit too. To call the Texans a weak team or a longshot is pretty understandable. To say they didn't do anything in the offseason, or to say that they're not improving, is just dumb.

[Oilers/Texans]

Preseason predictions and all that, there are many different opinions on the same team. Two guys say a team is ready for a Super Bowl run, while three other "experts" say that the same team will be lucky to win 8 games. It all means nothing except for good sports talk radio. But, even knowing that, it still makes you mad to hear someone trash your team. That's just a natural reaction.