This ain't your dad's Texans. This wasn't the perfect game. Catches were dropped, field goals missed, blocking assignments blown and blocking assignments missed. That wasn't the problem with this team though. This wasn't about what was done wrong. This was about how we reacted. For the longest time this franchise has won the games that they played well. When an NFL team plays a perfect game, they win. That's a given.
This game was the constant changing of the field. This was the DT knifing into the backfield to tackle for a loss. For once this year, a win wasn't about the offense, but rather about the defense. Your Texans aren't supposed to win games when they only score 13 points. They are supposed to get blown out. Especially against a team that can run the ball like the Titans can. This game was scripted. This was going to be another tough loss. We were going to talk about the final 3 minutes, how we had the lead and blew the game. Instead, somebody flipped the script. They threw in Okoye and Johnson and Ryans and Slaton.
The kids are starting to carry this team... that's dangerous. This team just put the league on notice, you heard it hear first. One of the problems with this team has been the fact that our leaders weren't home grown. Until the last 3 years we had only drafted two leaders to this team. Now we've added Ryans and Mario and Slaton. The kids are growing up. We were always looking for outside talent, guys who for one reason or another weren't a good enough value on their old teams. And then looking to them to be the leaders. Not any more.
It has been easy to dismiss our wins this year. We didn't beat good teams. We didn't have what it took when we went against the league's best. You can't say that now. It has taken some time. It has taken a lot of time. It took some injuries too. Who knew that our young players would step in like they have. Oh and that guy Robinson? I might adopt him. He doesn't "make plays", he pushes. Collins wasn't right all game, and a big part of that was the pressure in his face. Robinson was collapsing the pocket from the top all day. I'm telling you, get a "Haynesworth" and you might be headed somewhere next year.
Here's how I see us set up next year.
Schaub is your guy. No question.
On the OL, you keep the tackles and Pitts. You are looking for a new C and RG.
In the backfield. Get a bruiser. Don't sleep on Slaton though. He is a legit every down guy. Spell him and get him 17+ touches a game. Every time he touches the ball he's a threat to break it for the distance.
WRs. You're set. Don't touch them, I love this mix. Same with TE.
DL. Mario is good, I like Okoye for what he does too. Get a game changer at DT. A Big guy that can push people, collapse the pocket and disrupt the run. (can you spell Haynesworth?). I'm not opposed to getting a DE but I'm not as desperate as some. I think if you can force the QB back a few yards we have the depth and talent on this team to find a DE here at home.
LB. Coming into this season I thought we needed to run out and get one. I thought we didn't have enough. But I like Bently. I like Adibi. I like Ryans. I like Diles. You're drafting for depth here.
DB. I want a big league safety. Another CB would be nice but with the personnel change we've recently made I'm a lot more comfortable.
A note on smith. I don't know what you think about him. I argued early in the season that we didn't have the personnel to do much on defense. I thought we didn't have the speed. I think the injuries have allowed us to see some guys that can play. I think we're a few pieces short, but this is a team that is on the cusp of winning 12+ games.
By the way. That was the proverbial turn. We took a right, and went around id.
Mike
This game was the constant changing of the field. This was the DT knifing into the backfield to tackle for a loss. For once this year, a win wasn't about the offense, but rather about the defense. Your Texans aren't supposed to win games when they only score 13 points. They are supposed to get blown out. Especially against a team that can run the ball like the Titans can. This game was scripted. This was going to be another tough loss. We were going to talk about the final 3 minutes, how we had the lead and blew the game. Instead, somebody flipped the script. They threw in Okoye and Johnson and Ryans and Slaton.
The kids are starting to carry this team... that's dangerous. This team just put the league on notice, you heard it hear first. One of the problems with this team has been the fact that our leaders weren't home grown. Until the last 3 years we had only drafted two leaders to this team. Now we've added Ryans and Mario and Slaton. The kids are growing up. We were always looking for outside talent, guys who for one reason or another weren't a good enough value on their old teams. And then looking to them to be the leaders. Not any more.
It has been easy to dismiss our wins this year. We didn't beat good teams. We didn't have what it took when we went against the league's best. You can't say that now. It has taken some time. It has taken a lot of time. It took some injuries too. Who knew that our young players would step in like they have. Oh and that guy Robinson? I might adopt him. He doesn't "make plays", he pushes. Collins wasn't right all game, and a big part of that was the pressure in his face. Robinson was collapsing the pocket from the top all day. I'm telling you, get a "Haynesworth" and you might be headed somewhere next year.
Here's how I see us set up next year.
Schaub is your guy. No question.
On the OL, you keep the tackles and Pitts. You are looking for a new C and RG.
In the backfield. Get a bruiser. Don't sleep on Slaton though. He is a legit every down guy. Spell him and get him 17+ touches a game. Every time he touches the ball he's a threat to break it for the distance.
WRs. You're set. Don't touch them, I love this mix. Same with TE.
DL. Mario is good, I like Okoye for what he does too. Get a game changer at DT. A Big guy that can push people, collapse the pocket and disrupt the run. (can you spell Haynesworth?). I'm not opposed to getting a DE but I'm not as desperate as some. I think if you can force the QB back a few yards we have the depth and talent on this team to find a DE here at home.
LB. Coming into this season I thought we needed to run out and get one. I thought we didn't have enough. But I like Bently. I like Adibi. I like Ryans. I like Diles. You're drafting for depth here.
DB. I want a big league safety. Another CB would be nice but with the personnel change we've recently made I'm a lot more comfortable.
A note on smith. I don't know what you think about him. I argued early in the season that we didn't have the personnel to do much on defense. I thought we didn't have the speed. I think the injuries have allowed us to see some guys that can play. I think we're a few pieces short, but this is a team that is on the cusp of winning 12+ games.
By the way. That was the proverbial turn. We took a right, and went around id.
Mike