Where Have All the Touchdowns Gone?.......

[CloakNNNdagger]

.............far, far away. Remember a song like that?.........although they were singing about "flowers" then. Now that our team has turned into a body of strength equal to flowers, I have to ask, what is it going to take a team that at the beginning of the season relied on getting close to 30 points a game and now being lucky to produce a touchdown or two, to turn things around? We used to count on producing high TD numbers through passing alone. This gave us more leeway to our D. Our running game has not improved to any perceptible extent. Opponents have figured this out and have been able to increasingly and successfully concentrate most of their efforts our passing game. With our O producing less, our D is being called on more to keep opponents to lower numbers. However, our D continues to be praised with empty "almost gotcha's," with embarassingly sparse numbers of sacks. Our D has had a very difficult time of handling a balanced opposing offense, let alone a high powered passing game. With a faltering running game, an unreliable kicking game, an inconsistent Red Zone play, a decreasingly productive O and a D, with notable whiffers, demonstrating unpredictable reliability with predictable wear down.........our flowers are wilting..........they are no longer photogenic..........they're now downright ugly. The coaching staff tells us that they are "fertilizing" their flowers, but it seems that this has only become a euphemism for covering them with manure. So now, they not only just look bad, they stink too.

Now, that ends my pre-Colts game "pep talk." May the manure rejuvenate the once beautiful budding flowers to produce some blooms with sweet smelling and tasting fruit.................in other words, a WIN, for those who couldn't quite follow my rant.

[TheRealJoker]

The touchdowns left with OD

I hope now that Schaub and the coaches have had 2 games and a bye week without OD they can come up with some way to keep drives alive and score tds in the redzone through the air. We aren't gonna get it done in the running game. We lost that chance when Pitts/Brisiel went to IR and Slaton got the sophomore slump. We've gotta get it done through the air and its even harder without OD.

We need someone other than AJ to step up. KW hasn't been getting as many touches this year, I thought that would change when OD went to IR. But even with OD and Jacoby out he only managed 4 rec and 46 yards against a weak Titans secondary. The other Andre has been basically nonexistent on offense this year. David Anderson has risen to the challenge and been our biggest threat on 3rd downs but we need somebody to make big plays other than AJ in the passing game. I think that guy is Jacoby...lets hope he's up to the task down the stretch.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Okoye has be ill all week and did not practice at all on wednesday, thursday or friday and is questionable. Good new is that JJ fully participated on those same days and is probable.

[Texans_bull]

I think its the lack of aggressiveness in or OC and Coach. they need to be prepared to throw the ball and quit trying to mix up the run. The colts know they cant run so what do they do they pass the ball 80% of the time. Its sucks when we have all that talent in a receiving core and they don't use them. the coaches need a good swift kick in the A**.

[TheRealJoker]

Originally Posted by Texans_bull

I think its the lack of aggressiveness in or OC and Coach. they need to be prepared to throw the ball and quit trying to mix up the run. The colts know they cant run so what do they do they pass the ball 80% of the time. Its sucks when we have all that talent in a receiving core and they don't use them. the coaches need a good swift kick in the A**.

In theory it would be nice to just throw the ball 80% of the time with all of the talent at the skill positions. But in practice its very difficult to throw the ball that much when our interior OL is one of the worst in the league at the moment, if not the worst. Schaub would get creamed if we did that and he already gets hit quite a bit now. Our QB is making a lot of progress right now but he's still not up to Peyton Manning level when it comes to identifying the blitz and getting rid of the ball ASAP. If we decided to just air it out with no regard for a running game he's gonna either get injured or we'll David Carr him and make him shell-shocked from all the hits he's taking.

Not to mention this offense's bread and butter is the play action pass. Schaub is excellent at selling the play action, he's even able to sell it with the pedestrian running game we have right now. If we decided to abandon the running game to the extremes you propose then it will not matter how well Schaub sells it...nobody's gonna buy it. Say goodbye to our bread and butter!!!

[Hervoyel]

If Steve Slaton doesn't come back to life you can pretty much forget about having another kick-ass second half of our season. Admittedly this isn't entirely about him. As Joker points out our offensive line is not getting the job done. Still our offense stands on three legs and two of them are gone right now. If we don't start running the ball effectively we'll be lucky to sniff .500 this year.

Alex Gibbs has been here three years correct? That is more than enough to time to put an effective offensive line in place. Injuries are acknowledged here but I can't believe that in three years THIS is what Kubiak/Gibbs/Shanahan have put in place. These are their players. This is their depth. These guys are playing the way they have been coached.

Frankly I expected more from them then what we've been seeing all year.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

If Steve Slaton doesn't come back to life you can pretty much forget about having another kick-ass second half of our season. Admittedly this isn't entirely about him. As Joker points out our offensive line is not getting the job done. Still our offense stands on three legs and two of them are gone right now. If we don't start running the ball effectively we'll be lucky to sniff .500 this year.

Alex Gibbs has been here three years correct? That is more than enough to time to put an effective offensive line in place. Injuries are acknowledged here but I can't believe that in three years THIS is what Kubiak/Gibbs/Shanahan have put in place. These are their players. This is their depth. These guys are playing the way they have been coached.

Frankly I expected more from them then what we've been seeing all year.

Kubiak has announced that Chris Brown and Steve Slaton will be sharing carries against the Colts. Not very publicized, but Steve Slaton was kept out of practice Wednesday and limited Thursday for a neck injury. He is expected tol play Sunday.........the answer to the question at what level, becomes more elusive.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Kubiak has announced that Chris Brown and Steve Slaton will be sharing carries against the Colts. Not very publicized, but Steve Slaton was kept out of practice Wednesday and limited Thursday for a neck injury. He is expected tol play Sunday.........the answer to the question at what level, becomes more elusive.

I haven't read anything about a neck injury? Can you post your source? I get mine from the houstontexans.com quotes. I felt that Kubiak specifically stated that Slaton's shoulder was the issue. A neck issue can never end well. It'd explain a lot as to why Chris Brown has been getting carries over the last two games.

I'm sick of this elusive stuff. Just say what it is, Kubiak and the team doctors. Also a little worried about DeMeco Ryans. Hope his ankle's ok!

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by NitroHonda

I haven't read anything about a neck injury? Can you post your source? I get mine from the houstontexans.com quotes. I felt that Kubiak specifically stated that Slaton's shoulder was the issue. A neck issue can never end well. It'd explain a lot as to why Chris Brown has been getting carries over the last two games.

I'm sick of this elusive stuff. Just say what it is, Kubiak and the team doctors. Also a little worried about DeMeco Ryans. Hope his ankle's ok!

This Injury Report posted after today's practice is my source for this:
http://www.houstontexans.com/gameday/InjuryReport.asp


Another source from Rotoworld

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Friday that he plans to start Steve Slaton again in Week 12 against Indianapolis. Slaton (neck) practiced fully on Friday and is listed as probable for the game.

However, Kubiak didn't say so until pressed, and reiterated that Slaton will "split time" with usual short-yardage back Chris Brown. While this does confirm that Slaton's neck injury won't threaten his availability, he's not a good bet for more than 15 touches Sunday. He's only an option in PPR leagues.

Source: Nick Scurfield on Twitter

[mexican_texan]

The touchdowns left with some chubsters that went on IR early in the season.

[Big Lou]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Kubiak has announced that Chris Brown and Steve Slaton will be sharing carries against the Colts. Not very publicized, but Steve Slaton was kept out of practice Wednesday and limited Thursday for a neck injury. He is expected tol play Sunday.........the answer to the question at what level, becomes more elusive.

What the heck happened to Moats. He fumbled (Well not a technical fumble) and we never hear from him again. I think he has been the most effective RB, and one fumble see ya. Brown fumbled once, and we all know about Slaton, so what's up with that??????

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

This Injury Report posted after today's practice is my source for this:
http://www.houstontexans.com/gameday/InjuryReport.asp


Another source from Rotoworld

Rotoworld source appears to be broken. I hope it's just an error and it's the shoulder because nothing good can come from neck issues for a professional football player. Nothing! Just our team being vague as usual.

Man, did you see how many Colts players are on that list! Same with the first time we faced them. Yet they keep winning... 19 strong. Sunday is going to suck.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by NitroHonda

Rotoworld source appears to be broken. I hope it's just an error and it's the shoulder because nothing good can come from neck issues for a professional football player. Nothing! Just our team being vague as usual.

Man, did you see how many Colts players are on that list! Same with the first time we faced them. Yet they keep winning... 19 strong. Sunday is going to suck.

Nitro, here's a working link to the Rotoworld source.

[CloakNNNdagger]

The NFL.com injury report also lists lists Slaton's injury as neck. (Today, they report that Okoye is listed as a change from questionable to probable, evidently recovering from his "illness.")

How could a neck injury relate to shoulder problems? FYI: An injury to the ligaments or muscles in the neck, such as a sprain or strain. may result diffuse muscle spasms with aches and stiffness that spread to the upper arm, shoulder, or upper back. If this is accompanied by shooting pains down the arm into the hands and fingers, it usually implies more significant impingement of nerve roots coming out between injured vertebrae.

[Maddict5]

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

If Steve Slaton doesn't come back to life you can pretty much forget about having another kick-ass second half of our season. Admittedly this isn't entirely about him. As Joker points out our offensive line is not getting the job done. Still our offense stands on three legs and two of them are gone right now. If we don't start running the ball effectively we'll be lucky to sniff .500 this year.

Alex Gibbs has been here three years correct? That is more than enough to time to put an effective offensive line in place. Injuries are acknowledged here but I can't believe that in three years THIS is what Kubiak/Gibbs/Shanahan have put in place. These are their players. This is their depth. These guys are playing the way they have been coached.

Frankly I expected more from them then what we've been seeing all year.

two years. last year was fine, injuries have ruined the run game this season.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by Maddict5

two years. last year was fine, injuries have ruined the run game this season.

The run game was not working before the injuries this year. Something's gone horribly wrong. It's been evident since the first preseason game.

[Runner]

I did a couple of quick calculations of the correlation coefficients of the number of Slaton's rushes vs team TDs scored and number of Slaton's rushes + reception vs team TDs scored (for this season). I realize this ignores many other variables, but I wanted to do a quick look. Now, it has been a while since sadistics* class, but I do know correlation does not necessarily equal causation. With that caveat:

There is a positive correlation between Slaton's rushes and team TDs: 0.56.
There is a positive correlation between Slaton's rushes+receptions and team TDs: 0.57

Keeping in mind that the correlation coefficient varies between -1 and 1, I might rephrase the original question:

If a reduction in touches by Slaton leads to a reduction in the number of touchdowns the Texans score, why reduce Slaton's workload?

Whether Slaton is "effective" in the eyes of the fans or not, keeping Slaton's touches at his normal level when being the featured back seems to lead to a better operating offense. I think defenses have to account for him more than the other Texans running backs.



*I mean, statistics

[TheRealJoker]

Originally Posted by NitroHonda

The run game was not working before the injuries this year. Something's gone horribly wrong. It's been evident since the first preseason game.

We were missing Pitts and Myers the majority of the preseason...

[TheRealJoker]

Originally Posted by Runner

I did a couple of quick calculations of the correlation coefficients of the number of Slaton's rushes vs team TDs scored and number of Slaton's rushes + reception vs team TDs scored (for this season). I realize this ignores many other variables, but I wanted to do a quick look. Now, it has been a while since sadistics* class, but I do know correlation does not necessarily equal causation. With that caveat:

There is a positive correlation between Slaton's rushes and team TDs: 0.56.
There is a positive correlation between Slaton's rushes+receptions and team TDs: 0.57

Keeping in mind that the correlation coefficient varies between -1 and 1, I might rephrase the original question:

If a reduction in touches by Slaton leads to a reduction in the number of touchdowns the Texans score, why reduce Slaton's workload?

Whether Slaton is "effective" in the eyes of the fans or not, keeping Slaton's touches at his normal level when being the featured back seems to lead to a better running offense. I think defenses have to account for him more than the other Texans running backs.



*I mean, statistics

It was obvious that Slaton was far more productive when he got the ball than Brown...yet they kept giving it to Brown

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by TheRealJoker

We were missing Pitts and Myers the majority of the preseason...

Myers is still MIA as far as the running game.