The bell tolls

[Texanmike02]

OK. Let me start this off by saying that was embarrassing. Damn embarrassing. I was sick.


This doesn't fall on Kubes. It doesn't fall on the Coaches. This falls on the players. That was the most lackluster effort I've seen all year. From the matador OL to the QB to the DB's and DL that was the most pathetic display I've seen from this team since the Pittsburgh game. I don't know if they were reading their own press clippings. Maybe they were reading this board.

That said, it was one game. It was an easy trap game and given that we're not going to the playoffs it might be something this team needed. Once you arrive its just that much harder. Teams like the Raiders get up to play you. Yeah we're only 7-7 but we're the upstart team in the league. A team like the Raiders gets up to play us.

Here's the thing. Now we get to see what this team is made of. How do they handle this loss. Do they mail it in again. If they come out and light the world on fire, you're looking for this team to go far next year. If they bomb. Uh oh.

This game wasn't a measuring stick. It was more like a fork in the road. Where do you go from here. We've seen what this team can be. Both good and bad. This last week, you have a chance. you make a choice.

Matt: Do you gather your OL together, smash some heads and then go throw a hundred different passes to each receiver. Do you fall asleep in the film room? Or do you shrug it off as a bad game and go about your way. It better be the first.

AJ: Do you go get in your QBs face and tell him that won't happen again? Do you tell him you aren't going to be held to two catches again. Or do you start looking for another team? Better be the first.

Steve: Do you decide you're going to have to pick up the blitz if no one does?

OD: Do you go ask your coach for tips on how to avoid getting beat?

Mario: Are you happy with Hawaii? Better not be.

Ryans: Do you pull the LB's together? Do you crack some skulls?

Daunta: Seriously. You bring the wood. Are you going to require this of the rest of the guys?

The danger of relying on young leadership? They have to learn to lead. This is the next step. It would be nice to think that you arrive w/o being tested. It would be nice if they could have marched through their last 6 weeks unscathed. Man I would have liked to ride a 6 game winning streak off into the sunset, finish 9-7 and talk about playoffs.

I tell you honestly, if I get to instead talk about the disaster that almost was. If I talk about the maturation of Ryans and Daunta and Mario and Slaton. If I get to talk about Schaub Rallying the troops for one final game. if Kubes brings it and AJ catches it. Then its worth it.

You may disagree. This season has had its share of failures. But the difference between this and last year is this has been about how we've responded. Three years ago, at 0-4, they mailed it in. Three years ago, Green Bay and Tenn games were talks about what could have been. Four years ago, there was an eerily similar game to this one played at Cleveland. This time, we have one last chance to answer.

Come on Kubes... come on Texans. The bell tolls at 3:05 pm Sunday. Your place. Your field.

How do you answer?


Mike

[Tedc]

You lost me on the first sentence in the second paragraph.

Knowing that against the rush, the Raiders gave up 157 yds. per game coming into the game, how did we only rush the hottest running back in the NFL only 18 times??

Third and inches with the hottest running back in the NFL against the Raiders run defense??


Fourth and inches against the RAIDERS DEFENSE (remember coach, 157 yds. a game) with one of the hottest running backs in the league??

Andre Johnson 2 catches???

The coach did not play to the Raiders weaknesses. He played them backwards, against their strengths. The team was not put into position to win but we still had a chance when the defense made the play late in the game. Coach Pubes put the brakes on that hope and burned a timeout in the process, just for good measure.

[HJam72]

Ultimately, I think it does fall on the coaches for not having them ready for a bad team on the road. They've apparently been thinking about the Tennessee game all week, and it's too late to start thinking about Sunday on Saturday morning.

That said, we have only one coach who's job could be in jeopardy, and I hope this one cost him his job. It would be great if we could win a shootout next week and then send him packing.

[Texan_Bill]

As much as I would love to pin this on the coaching (*ahem* Richard Smith in particular and Kubes decision to throw on 4th down), this is on the players. These aren't high school or college kids. These guys are paid professionals. Do YOUR FREAKIN jobs, show up and play. Where was Mario? DeMeco? Did anyone on "D" have a 'good' game? How about offensively?

[Tedc]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

As much as I would love to pin this on the coaching (*ahem* Richard Smith in particular and Kubes decision to throw on 4th down), this is on the players. These aren't high school or college kids. These guys are paid professionals. Do YOUR FREAKIN jobs, show up and play. Where was Mario? DeMeco? Did anyone on "D" have a 'good' game? How about offensively?

I understand that the players make the plays. Please do me a favor and tell me, based on what you saw yesterday, what our game plan was.

Based on the way the Raiders had played all year, what would you think our gameplan would be?

[texasguy346]

This was a classic trap game, and the Texans walked right into it unprepared. Hopefully this game eats at them all offseason & keeps them focused on winning games like this next season. I think there is plenty of blame to go around for this loss. The coaches & players both screwed the pooch on this one. Between the lackluster performance that the players gave & the poor coaching decisions & game plan put forth by the coaches there were still ample opportunities for the Texans to get out of Oakland with a win. What did they do? Squander those opportunities, and just pretty much fail in every phase of the game. They should be ashamed of the way they performed. We'll see how they respond next week, but despite the outcome against the Bears I think we'll still have all the same questions about this team that we did to begin this year. That's not my idea of progress.


Interesting note: The only two teams to defeat the Titans this season have both lost to the Oakland Raiders. The Jets lost to them in OT, and the Texans got pounded by them.

[maddogmrb]

IMO, this team hasn't experienced enough success to be in the mindset of a "trap" game. Trap games happen to good teams who are having successful seasons and are in danger of cruising thru a game. If the coaches and/or players had ANY thoughts like that they are sadly disillusioned.

Yes, I'm sorry, the coaching staff, especially Kubes has to take a lot of responsibility for this loss. Yes, the players didn't execute at times and they are to blame, also.

[maddogmrb]

Originally Posted by texasguy346

This was a classic trap game, and the Texans walked right into it unprepared.

Interesting note: The only two teams to defeat the Titans this season have both lost to the Oakland Raiders. The Jets lost to them in OT, and the Texans got pounded by them.

...... and the Raiders went into Denver and beat the Broncos and Russell has been playing much better lately than he did early in the year ......... and so how in hades can anybody consider this a "trap" game for the Texans?? The Texans are not yet good enough and have not yet experienced enough success to have "trap" games.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by Tedc

I understand that the players make the plays. Please do me a favor and tell me, based on what you saw yesterday, what our game plan was.

Based on the way the Raiders had played all year, what would you think our gameplan would be?

Just thinking 'based on the way the Raiders have played all year' is a trap in and of itself. I told 'muscle head' before kick-off yesterday that we were going to lose that game. He didn't believe me and asked why I thought that..... Classic set-up game. One team comes in feeling pretty damn good about themselves and thinks that they can go through the motions to win while the other team (who are professionals too) take a little pride and enjoy playing for their interim head coach. And by the way have more talent than what they are given credit for.

Our game plan was pretty evident on the opening drive. Unfortunately, their defense adjusted well to everything that our offense had any success with. Meantime our defense got used and abused worse than a hooker in Times Square.

[Hooston Texan]

Yesterday was a weird, weird day in the NFL. Heck, our stink-bomb did not even make the top 3 in a list of horrific performances from the five late-afternoon games yesterday. Philly, Denver and the Jets had everything to play for and barely showed up against teams who are probably getting new coaches in January. Now, all three of them are in the deep stuff regarding their playoff hopes.

We played a terrible game against a terrible team and got what we had coming. Nobody aside from Kris Brown and (perhaps) Owen Daniels gets a pass for this. And it looks to me like we are a poorly constructed team for a muddy track.

But anyone who cannot see the difference between this year's team and the Texans' previous teams (i.e. those who are barking "Same old Texans. They stink as much as ever. 'Nuff said.") either are not paying attention now or weren't back then.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by Hooston Texan

Yesterday was a weird, weird day in the NFL. Heck, our stink-bomb did not even make the top 3 in a list of horrific performances from the five late-afternoon games yesterday. Philly, Denver and the Jets had everything to play for and barely showed up against teams who are probably getting new coaches in January. Now, all three of them are in the deep stuff regarding their playoff hopes.

We played a terrible game against a terrible team and got what we had coming. Nobody aside from Kris Brown and (perhaps) Owen Daniels gets a pass for this. And it looks to me like we are a poorly constructed team for a muddy track.

But anyone who cannot see the difference between this year's team and the Texans' previous teams (i.e. those who are barking "Same old Texans. They stink as much as ever. 'Nuff said.") either are not paying attention now or weren't back then.

It wasn't weird...all the teams in the league have talent as proven by yesterday, once again.

Originally Posted by texasguy346

This was a classic trap game, and the Texans walked right into it unprepared. Hopefully this game eats at them all offseason & keeps them focused on winning games like this next season. I think there is plenty of blame to go around for this loss. The coaches & players both screwed the pooch on this one. Between the lackluster performance that the players gave & the poor coaching decisions & game plan put forth by the coaches there were still ample opportunities for the Texans to get out of Oakland with a win. What did they do? Squander those opportunities, and just pretty much fail in every phase of the game. They should be ashamed of the way they performed. We'll see how they respond next week, but despite the outcome against the Bears I think we'll still have all the same questions about this team that we did to begin this year. That's not my idea of progress.


Interesting note: The only two teams to defeat the Titans this season have both lost to the Oakland Raiders. The Jets lost to them in OT, and the Texans got pounded by them.

only good teams have trap games pards...sorry, but we are 100+ games into our franchise and never had a winning season...there are no trap games for that kind of a franchise. You have to be a winner to have a trap game.

[Joe Texan]

Bears are mean lates skin the bears

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Joe Texan

Bears are mean lates skin the bears

TB?

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

TB?

Skin the bears. Skin as in flay.

flay

Main Entry: flay
Pronunciation: \ˈflā\
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English flen, from Old English flēan; akin to Old Norse flā to flay, Lithuanian plėšti to tear
Date: before 12th century
1 : to strip off the skin or surface of : skin
2 : to criticize harshly : excoriate
3 : lash 1b <the wind whipped up to gale fury, flaying his face — Richard Kent>

[281]

Originally Posted by Texanmike

The danger of relying on young leadership? They have to learn to lead.

this is very true.

[SheTexan]

NOT the coaches fault???!! LMFAO! AGAIN we were not only out coached, our guys were totally UNprepared for what the Raiders had to dish out. Unacceptable!!!

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by SheTexan

NOT the coaches fault???!! LMFAO! AGAIN we were not only out coached, our guys were totally UNprepared for what the Raiders had to dish out. Unacceptable!!!

Sorry but when are the players going to be held accountable for their poor performances on the field?? Where was Mario yesterday? Where was DeMeco? Jacoby muffs another one. Schaub threw some horrible passes and should be lucky that he actually only threw 1 pick. Coaching can't stop players from getting punched in the mouth. You (as a player) take the a$$ whoopin, or you start punching back. It's obvious what the Texans did yesterday and now they have bloody lips and black eyes.

This isn't college or high school for that matter. These players shouldn't need all the rah-rah stuff to be ready to play. Their paychecks should be enough. All tey did yesterday was go through the motions. They knew what was at stake and stunk the place up with their play anyway...

[Brando]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Sorry but when are the players going to be held accountable for their poor performances on the field?? Where was Mario yesterday? Where was DeMeco? Jacoby muffs another one. Schaub threw some horrible passes and should be lucky that he actually only threw 1 pick. Coaching can't stop players from getting punched in the mouth. You (as a player) take the a$$ whoopin, or you start punching back. It's obvious what the Texans did yesterday and now they have bloody lips and black eyes.

This isn't college or high school for that matter. These players shouldn't need all the rah-rah stuff to be ready to play. Their paychecks should be enough. All tey did yesterday was go through the motions. They knew what was at stake and stunk the place up with their play anyway...

The only thing that I put on Kubes is the 4th and 1/2 that we should have kicked the FG and made it a one score game. The offensive line play was horrible. WTF was with Chester "Clubber Lang" Pitts? That didn't help matters when we were so close to the goal line. 15 yard penalty is unacceptable in that situation. Kubes wasn't there to tell him not to give a left cross.

[Texecutioner]

Originally Posted by texasguy346

This was a classic trap game, and the Texans walked right into it unprepared. Hopefully this game eats at them all offseason & keeps them focused on winning games like this next season. I think there is plenty of blame to go around for this loss. The coaches & players both screwed the pooch on this one. Between the lackluster performance that the players gave & the poor coaching decisions & game plan put forth by the coaches there were still ample opportunities for the Texans to get out of Oakland with a win. What did they do? Squander those opportunities, and just pretty much fail in every phase of the game. They should be ashamed of the way they performed. We'll see how they respond next week, but despite the outcome against the Bears I think we'll still have all the same questions about this team that we did to begin this year. That's not my idea of progress.


Interesting note: The only two teams to defeat the Titans this season have both lost to the Oakland Raiders. The Jets lost to them in OT, and the Texans got pounded by them.

I love how people try putting on the "SPIN FACTOR" in situations trying to make excuses for their teams calling them "TRAP GAMES".

There is no such thing as a trap game. That is about the most ridiculous thing I've heard.

You either show up on Sunday and execute your game plan better than the other team does no matter who you are playing. The Texans are not some great team and never have been, so there is absolutely no reason to be over confident against any team in the NFL when you're attempting to make your first run at a season over 500 and the Raiders are one of the teams that are in your path to do that. This team couldn't have had an easier match up for that. They should have been focused and ready to tear them apart, and the coaching staff should have had them in position to be successful more than they were.

You either show up on Sunday or you don't and if you don't you lose. Ask Billicheck if he believes in TRAP GAMES. No matter what happens with his his teams, he always has them prepared and focused. He doesn't make excuses and call them Trap Games and soak it up to that. That is the kind of mentality that winning teams have. They don't believe in trap games. That is ridiculous. You either show up to play and execute or have the other team execute better than your team.

[IlliniJen]

Originally Posted by SheTexan

NOT the coaches fault???!! LMFAO! AGAIN we were not only out coached, our guys were totally UNprepared for what the Raiders had to dish out. Unacceptable!!!

How do the coaches not use Slaton in space against the 31st defense against the run in the Raiders?

Players can fail, but this was a game where the coaches CLEARLY put the players in the position to fail, in not preparing for this game mentally and not calling good plays.

Heads need to roll. Keep making bad decisions and where does that take us? Infinite mediocrity for the next couple of years? Next season will just be like "Groundhog Day." It will begin with plenty of hope and playoff talk and end in 7-9, 8-8 or 9-7. Rinse and repeat.