Lack of Andre

[hou059]

Is it me or did Andre Johnson's numbers drop off as the season went on. I mean he numbers Sunday were like 3 catches for 20 yards or something. This is what I don't understand, why isn't he used more. I know he is our number one guy and teams douuble team him but so what, that's what is expected. That doesn't stop T.O from making plays or Chad Johnson and it should definetly open things up for Gaffney or Bradford but there is no one stepping up! Por Que? WHY?

[the wonger need food]

Originally Posted by hou059

Is it me or did Andre Johnson's numbers drop off as the season went on. I mean he numbers Sunday were like 3 catches for 20 yards or something. This is what I don't understand, why isn't he used more. I know he is our number one guy and teams douuble team him but so what, that's what is expected. That doesn't stop T.O from making plays or Chad Johnson and it should definetly open things up for Gaffney or Bradford but there is no one stepping up! Por Que? WHY?

Play calling, bad game planning, Carr's lack of ability, offensive line breakdowns... lots of reasons.

[hou059]

Yeah I think it is the play calling. I don't understand why Andre isn't used more. He had monster games in K.C and against Minnesota and heas covered up the whole game and you saw what he did. I sometimes question Chris Palmer's calls.

[F-minus67]

living in ct i don't get to see many texan games, but how many times do they throw to andre a game? also with a weapon like andre, how does he only get two catches against the browns??

[the wonger need food]

Originally Posted by F-minus67

living in ct i don't get to see many texan games, but how many times do they throw to andre a game? also with a weapon like andre, how does he only get two catches against the browns??

I believe he dropped 2 and had about 2 more thrown his way. Definetely did not see the ball enough the second half of the season. Carr was a deer in headlights and was more worried about scrambling than getting the ball to his receivers.

[hou059]

Exactly, it seems as though when the season started he was getting more passes thrown to him but as the season went on, his numbers decreased. It's like the Texans coaches took what was given to them. They double covered 'Dre and they took it, they didn't try and throw to him and allow him to make plays. Against the browns he was non-existant. Like I said before, he will be double covered through out the game but that doesn't mean you
stop throwing him the ball.

[hou059]

We have a very vanilla offense and at this point the Texan's Offense doesn't execute as much as it should to run that sort of an offense. Moxing things up couldn't hurt. Line him up at running back or TE or something. i say when in trouble throw it to 'Dre, double covered or not I'll take my chances! He is too strong and too fast for corners in this league and Palmer needs to find ways to keep him in the game.

[redlion]

I agree, you gotta give the guy chances to make the plays. the excuse they used this year of he was double teamed most of the games doesnt cut it. Theres always a way to get the ball to the guy, just gotta try. Like stated above, the offense seems too conservative to try anything "crazy" , of course Carr getting killed one second after the snap doesnt help either.

[Grid]

from the chronicle

Andre gets the ball thrown his way a lot more than you might think. He has been the intended receiver on 124 passes, good for fourth in the AFC and seventh in the NFL. The only receivers targeted more than Johnson are Laveranues Coles (144), Chad Johnson (138), Darrell Jackson (134), Joe Horn (129), Derrick Mason (125) and Eric Moulds (125). On average, the Redskins throw to Coles 11 times a game, so you're 15-20 range is way high. Also notice that Terrell Owens, arguably the best receiver in the league, doesn't even rank in the top seven. Sometimes, it’s not about how many opportunities you get, but what you do with them.

Why would you force Andre the ball in double coverage when you may have one-on-one elsewhere? Jabbar Gaffney and Derrick Armstrong have gotten more thrown their way and have experienced more success because of Andre siphoning off coverage. No, the problem is the inability of the line to protect Carr. If the Texans had decent pass protection, Gaffney, Armstrong and Bradford would be catching more passes and forcing the defense to become more spread out again, hence giving Andre more openings. Then you'd see more of this in the end zone:

[hou059]

True, you have a point but when he is gettingthe ball it is on little curl or hitch routes, Guys like Horn and Walker stretch the field. The playcalling for the Texans calls for the smaller routes, hoping that Andre Johnson can break it up field, if that's going to be the case, just line him up as a RB and throw screens to him. Yes, 'Dre see the ball alot but not down the stretch of the season. Defenses keyed in on him and forces the Texans to look else where...and no one stepped up!

[Grid]

he led the league in yards after the catch. so yah.. if its safer to throw a little hitch or curl.. and he consistently makes something happen after the catch.. whats the problem? its playing to our strengths.. isnt that what yall want?

[hou059]

Your missing the point, I never said he deosn't get the ball, I said he has lacked production down the stretch of the season. In the last month of the season 'Dre avg. 4 receptions for 59 yards a game. He also only had 1 TD in that month and the reason he avg. that much is due to his big game against the Jets. Two recpetions for 13 yards against the AFC's worst team, The Browns? That's leading the league in ****! C'mon, I figured the Texans would have torched that secondary. Two receptions for 13 yards? That is not playing to our strengths!

[Grid]

thats not johnson.. that is the oline. carr cant throw when he doesnt even have time to pull the ball back before hes being pressured.

[hou059]

Well okay, again I am not knocking Andre Johnson. In previous games where Carr has had time to throw the ball he doesn't throw it enough to Andre. Double covered or not, he is still Carr's best receiver and needs to be used more often. The Cleveland game was a bad example, he didn't have time to throw it to anyone downfield.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Grid

thats not johnson.. that is the oline. carr cant throw when he doesnt even have time to pull the ball back before hes being pressured.

Exactly! Games are won and lost in the trenches. Football 101.

I do remember a couple of passes that AJ should have caught last Sunday. One of them was a deep pass with man coverage, and the ball went right through his hands. If he had caught that one, it would have been huge, and maybe even a TD since he was in stride (I remember thinking that most ProBowl WR's would have caught that one, so maybe it wasn't his day).

He also got called on an offensive interference, which was a total BS call.

But, next year I think we will see a 100+ reception season by AJ. Once this O-line is reinforced and gells as a unit, Carr will have the pocket protection he needs to give the receivers time to develop their routes.

And once Carr can TRUST the O-line, I think we will see one of the best QB's in the league start to shine.

[Grid]

ok.. in last game it was the oline.

in previous games.. see the above quote.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by hou059

In previous games where Carr has had time to throw the ball he doesn't throw it enough to Andre.

Let's compare 1st half of the season and 2nd half

AJ
1st half--45 rec., 693 yds, 4 TD's
2nd half--34 rec. 449 yds, 2 TD's

If the 1st half performance had continued at his 1st half pace he would have had 90 rec. (3rd most by a WR in the AFC) 1386 yds (1st in AFC) and 8 TD's.

Based on the 1st half of the season IMO it is unreasonable to think they are going to get the ball more to AJ looking at how it would have placed him compared to the rest of the AFC--would have been an amazing result for a conservative run oriented team. So the real issue is what happened in the 2nd half of the season--one thing is certain, the pressure on Carr sure did.

1st half Carr sacked 2.5 times per game (still bad but better than...)
2nd half Carr sacked 3.6 times per game

To make that even worse:
1st half Carr 250 passing attempts--sacked on 8% of attempts
2nd half Carr 216 passing attempts--sacked on 13.4% of attempts

Biggest question of the season IMO--why did the pass protection go down hill instead of get better like the run blocking did?

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I do remember a couple of passes that AJ should have caught last Sunday. One of them was a deep pass with man coverage, and the ball went right through his hands. If he had caught that one, it would have been huge, and maybe even a TD since he was in stride (I remember thinking that most ProBowl WR's would have caught that one, so maybe it wasn't his day).

From my angle at the game (this play occured very close to in to me with AJ heading my direction on our side of the field)--DC was just a foot too long or so on that one and AJ looked like he was already flat out. DC has had a consistant problem with putting his long balls a little too long IMO.

[hou059]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing on the long pass, it looked as though Carr over threw the pass. Okay, many things are linked to the drop of 'Dre's numbers. But I sometimes get the feeling that plays are not called for Johnson because he is double covered...way too conservative. That's like putting eight men in the box and The Texans not running the ball because the defense is trying to stop you. Not throwing the ball to your receivers because they are double covered is playing into the defense's hands. Yeah it is an obstacle but we shouldn't fold because they try and and stop our strength's. It shoukd be expected that our best WR will be double covered, the cordinators have to find a way to work with it!