Perception...

[J_R]

around the league. Former Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets LB Larry Izzo was on SR610 this morning.

Among the topics discussed, they asked him what is the perception around the league on Houston. Maybe not so surprising things said but still interesting imo.

-Not a physical team

-Jets got hold of offseason S&C program of the Texans and told them about it night before Jets-Texans game last year.

-Rex Ryan told them "We've outworked these guys on the field and in the weight room"

-This is a team you can find your edge against

-They listen to much on what's on the outside

-Offensively, can play with anyone. Got playmakers on D but they need to make plays.

-"Don't get me wrong, they got tough players but as the overall philosphy, finesse."

-Frontrunners when things are good, fall in the tank when things are bad but think they are moving away from this(looks at the comeback wins against Washington, KC)

-Says the fans should have a little more faith in the team. Says he was at the KC game and with 10 minutes left or when they were down 10(don't remember which one he said), he said saw many fans leaving


Anyhow, that's about it. Will post the link to the podcast if/when available.

UPDATE: http://kilt.cbslocal.com/2010/10/21/...d-john-102110/

[Talks about what he is up to these days]
...
[Talks about the helmet to helmet hits and his thoughts]
...
[Talks about his situation again]
...
[Talks about what it's like playing for Bill Belicheck]
...
[Talks about former teammate N.D. Kalu at Rice]
...
[Talks about Rex Ryan and whether or not Rex is "putting on a show".]
...
[Talks about the Texans] As follows:

Host: What is the league-wide perception of the Houston Texans? Perception of this team from afar?

Larry Izzo: You put me in a tough position.

Host: Let it rip!

Larry Izzo: I was at the game the other day. Ex-teammates on Chiefs so I was pulling for them but hard to beat Texans in their own house. I've come to the belief that the league wide perceptions is

1. They aren't as physical. When you play them, that is where you get your edge. When we played them last year, the Jets, we opened up at home, Rex Ryan, the night before the game, they might have addressed this at some point within the organization, but the night before the game, somehow got a hold of their offseason strength and conditioning program, left it up, his big point of emphasis that 5 minutes before snack was we outworked these guys from the time we started this offseason program to where we are now to open the season, we have outworked them, not only in the weight room but on the field and we are a tougher team and we went out the next day and showed that and I think they might have gotten rid of their strength coach, I dont know.

Host: Yeah they did.

Larry Izzo: Bottom line, you know, that type of team, also because they have not had success you know, from my perception of things, last year was more evident but they listened too much from what's on the outside as opposed to focusing on what they're doing. Last year I think that hurt them but this year, I think they kinda learned from that and have gotten off to a good start. Offensively, they can play with anyone. They got a good ST. Defensively, they got playmakers but they need to step up and make plays and take pressure off some of those young DBs who probably arent as good as you'll find across the league.

Host: As a team, when you believe you're a tougher team, tougher than your opponent, you gotta be it don't you?

Larry Izzo: That's one of the things. Still gotta prove it. They got tough players, don't get me wrong, tough players but as a overall philosophy, it's...that comes from being an offensive team.

Host: Quote on Quote finesse.

Larry Izzo: Finesse. It seems like they're proving the theory they're frontrunners, because when things are good, they're doing great, when things not going well, they go in the tank. I think they are going away from that, you see the Washington game and last week. They're still in their process. Houston fans need to chill out a bit. They tend to overreact. I was at that game, 10 points down in 4th quarter, 10 minutes left, people are leaving. It's like have a little faith in your team. Give them a chance to go out there...if you're gonna be disappointed and break your heart, right now is not the time. It's still early in the year. They were writing it off as we lost this game, we're leaving. I looked around, and said this thing can turn around quickly. I would say have faith in these guys, young team, still in the building the program type thing, and they'll be good for awhile here and they just need to get over the bump here.

[Yankee_In_TX]

Thanks, good post.

As for fans needing to chill out, I've said on here before - when you come home and kick the dog most nights after work, after a while the dog will start hiding when you walk through the door. (actually, I think last time I used a cheating wife)

[Hagar]

Good post, but there's nothing here we don't already know. This is a weak team, both mentally and physically.

[nero THE zero]

Why was he in town? I haven't read anything about the Texans working him out, but ND Kalu tweeted that he thinks it would be a good idea for the Texans to bring him onboard.

NDKalu

Larry Izzo would be a great addition to the Houston Texans. I hope they give it serious consideration.

With the injuries at LB and the troubles with our ST, it's hard to argue with that.

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Why was he in town? I haven't read anything about the Texans working him out, but ND Kalu tweeted that he thinks it would be a good idea for the Texans to bring him onboard.


With the injuries at LB and the troubles with our ST, it's hard to argue with that.

New thread started in 3...2....1....

[Mr teX]

The finesse philosophy comes with the territory when you're an aerial attack team like we & Indy are. You only get the tough label if your team is a defense dominant team like the ravens or if your offense is a running dominant or both....like the titans. Doesn't mean that on any given sunday, you can't get an identity transplant...

[J_R]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Why was he in town? I haven't read anything about the Texans working him out, but ND Kalu tweeted that he thinks it would be a good idea for the Texans to bring him onboard.


With the injuries at LB and the troubles with our ST, it's hard to argue with that.

I think he is from here.

[DexmanC]

Originally Posted by Mr teX

The finesse philosophy comes with the territory when you're an aerial attack team like we & Indy are. You only get the tough label if your team is a defense dominant team like the ravens or if your offense is a running dominant or both....like the titans. Doesn't mean that on any given sunday, you can't get an identity transplant...

Never heard anybody publicly call Indy "soft."

[m5kwatts]

I hope Kubiak plays that interview to the team the week before the Jets game week 11.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Why was he in town? I haven't read anything about the Texans working him out, but ND Kalu tweeted that he thinks it would be a good idea for the Texans to bring him onboard.


With the injuries at LB and the troubles with our ST, it's hard to argue with that.

Maybe because he went to Rice (actually both he and ND went to Rice)? Maybe they have some sort of event??

[noxiousdog]

Originally Posted by DexmanC

Never heard anybody publicly call Indy "soft."

Sure they have. That was the big calling card on NE vs. Indy.

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Why was he in town? I haven't read anything about the Texans working him out, but ND Kalu tweeted that he thinks it would be a good idea for the Texans to bring him onboard.


With the injuries at LB and the troubles with our ST, it's hard to argue with that.

Izzo went to McCullough High School (now named The Woodlands High School) and is currently a resident here with his wife and son (named Boston).

His mother told me he's been rehabbing his knee and is waiting for a phone call. He would not be a full time starter, more of a special teams ace.

[BullNation4Life]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Why was he in town? I haven't read anything about the Texans working him out, but ND Kalu tweeted that he thinks it would be a good idea for the Texans to bring him onboard.


With the injuries at LB and the troubles with our ST, it's hard to argue with that.

He was in town for the Rice vs UH Bayou Bucket game. He and ND went to Rice together....

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Hagar

Good post, but there's nothing here we don't already know. This is a weak team, both mentally and physically.

Really? We're mentally weak? I can sort of understand physically but mentally weak teams fold over like tents when the going gets tough, and if our team was mentally weak, we'd be sitting at 2-4 right now looking at mock drafts.

[buddyboy]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Really? We're mentally weak? I can sort of understand physically but mentally weak teams fold over like tents when the going gets tough, and if our team was mentally weak, we'd be sitting at 2-4 right now looking at mock drafts.

That's the stigma we have from years and years of losing. Remember the games at Indy last year when the players said they felt like the Texans were playing not to lose and the Colts were playing to win?

This year seems slightly better, but they're still inconsistent. I agree that this year they have shown some mental strength: pulling out the win in Washington and KC. We need to keep it up to break the stigma.

[powerfuldragon]

can someone rep OP for me? some of the most compelling reading on texanstalk in a quick minute.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by TEXANS84

He would not be a full time starter, more of a special teams ace.

Ya, that's his M.O.

We could use him in that role.

Also interesting about the Woodlands. I live in that neck of the woods and didn't even know that.

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Ya, that's his M.O.

We could use him in that role.

Also interesting about the Woodlands. I live in that neck of the woods and didn't even know that.

This thread needs to be mailed to:

Gary Kubiak
Houston Texans
2 Reliant Park
Houston, TX 77054

With a handwritten note that says "Please, Please, Please place this on the bulletin board in the locker room and do what ever you can to make sure the players understand what people think of them."

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Also interesting about the Woodlands. I live in that neck of the woods and didn't even know that.

Yes, class of 92'. He was the running back when he played here, also played safety.