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
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