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Rank the Texans Defense among the NFL

B

Big Lou

Hall of Fame
As of last week we had the 21st ranked defense. (Bases on yards allowed) Now I know Buffalo doesn't have much offense, but we only gave up 204, and 40 something of those were from the prevent.

If the season started over today were would you put the Texans D compared to the rest of the league?


I'd say we have to be top 15 now. What say you?????
 
Big Lou said:
As of last week we had the 21st ranked defense. (Bases on yards allowed) Now I know Buffalo doesn't have much offense, but we only gave up 204, and 40 something of those were from the prevent.

If the season started over today were would you put the Texans D compared to the rest of the league?


I'd say we have to be top 15 now. What say you?????
Click to expand...

We have played great recently, but none of it matters if we can't at least slow down the colts.
 
I think most everyone felt that the Texans defense would improve as the season wore on. I don't think many thought they would play so poorly at the start. I doubt many saw Brian Cushing becoming a dominant force this quickly, if at all.

Still, the litmus test for the defense is Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. That's where the rubber meets the field turf. I'm not convinced the Texans can stop the Colts offense. I do believe they have the personnel to contain the Colts. That's if the Texans offense can stay away from the turnovers and convert in the red zone.
 
jppaul said:
Its top ten, not number one but it is quality. Pass D still has to improve though.
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It's a matchup issue. This defense will be successful against Miami, but it's going to really struggle at Indy, IMO. I think a defense needs more experience and deception to play well at INDY. Still, I think we have a shot to get them at home in a few weeks... We're fighting for the wildcard anyway. Only a P.Manning injury gives us a chance at the division.
 
Wait a second...didn't we just give up 21 points in a half to ALEX FREAKING SMITH!?!?!?!?!?!

Top 15? Top 10?

Madness
 
We're average. We aren't bad. We aren't good. Just average. 13-17 range. As bad as our defense has been over the years, average is pretty good!
 
dalemurphy said:
It's a matchup issue. This defense will be successful against Miami, but it's going to really struggle at Indy, IMO. I think a defense needs more experience and deception to play well at INDY. Still, I think we have a shot to get them at home in a few weeks... We're fighting for the wildcard anyway. Only a P.Manning injury gives us a chance at the division.
Click to expand...

That can be arranged........ Muhahah, Muuuhahahaha, MUUUHAHAHAHAHHHHAHAHA!!!!!!!
 
Big Lou said:
It was conservative Defensive play calling, we were up 21 points.
Click to expand...

I like how Frank Bush kept the pressure dialed up on the Bills ALL GAME
LONG. Did you guys see that delayed blitz, when he sent Cushing in
late to SMASH Fitzpatrick? It was a thing of beauty. I think our
defense is gonna have fun next week. If Richard Smith's sucky defense
gave us a chance to win last year, then we DEFINITELY have a shot
this year with this defense.
 
I would rank the Texans 15th in scoring defense, 16th in yards, 14th against the pass and 21st against the run.

But maybe that's just me. :headhurts:
 
DexmanC said:
I like how Frank Bush kept the pressure dialed up on the Bills ALL GAME
LONG. Did you guys see that delayed blitz, when he sent Cushing in
late to SMASH Fitzpatrick? It was a thing of beauty. I think our
defense is gonna have fun next week. If Richard Smith's sucky defense
gave us a chance to win last year, then we DEFINITELY have a shot
this year with this defense.
Click to expand...


I think all of you are excited over a lot of nothing. We haven't played consistently all year. I also think that all of you are mad if you trust our defense to hold a lead. I don't. Been burned too many times. This defense that you are raving about...do you remember what Chris Johnson did to us???????

This same damned defense gave up 3 td's to vernon davis, and forgot to cover CJ. Top 10??????? The level of delusion on this message board is frightening me sometimes. Buffalo and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't manning, it isn't aaron rodgers, its not even MJD and Jacksonville. Today did nothing for me. Its fantastic to win...but I cant ride this roller coaster where each week we go from the greatest of all time to the crappiest team to ever put on cleats. Just not going to do it anymore.
 
Lucky said:
Still, the litmus test for the defense is Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. That's where the rubber meets the field turf.
Click to expand...

This is a team that is currently undefeated and has won a minimum of 12 games over the last six straight seasons. This is a team with a total of 21 losses spanning seven seasons. Help me understand how stopping this team, one of the most offensively prolific teams in the history of the NFL, is considered a litmus test of a "good" defense, since no one has been able to stop them consistently for essentially the entire time the Texans have been in existence?

Not that I don't think the Texans defense can make a good effort, but Indy doesn't rush the ball that well (no single rusher over 65 yards all season) and Manning has only thrown for less than 300 yards once in seven games. Their offensive scheme is the absolute worst situation that our defense can expect, because our d-line rush is non-existent and the word "suspect" would get offended to be used in describing our pass defense.

To say it is a litmus test of the organization as a whole for beating Indy in Indy, that I can say is true. But it is completely unreasonable expectations to say the Texans defense can't be labeled as a good defense unless they shut down or contain Manning. Especially when as constructed, the don't stand a chance in hell of doing that. Lucky breaks and an offense that is running on all cylinders is the only prayer we have against Indy.
 
swtbound07 said:
I think all of you are excited over a lot of nothing. We haven't played consistently all year. I also think that all of you are mad if you trust our defense to hold a lead. I don't. Been burned too many times. This defense that you are raving about...do you remember what Chris Johnson did to us???????

This same damned defense gave up 3 td's to vernon davis, and forgot to cover CJ. Top 10??????? The level of delusion on this message board is frightening me sometimes. Buffalo and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't manning, it isn't aaron rodgers, its not even MJD and Jacksonville. Today did nothing for me. Its fantastic to win...but I cant ride this roller coaster where each week we go from the greatest of all time to the crappiest team to ever put on cleats. Just not going to do it anymore.
Click to expand...

news_january01_jaded1.jpg
 
swtbound07 said:
I think all of you are excited over a lot of nothing. We haven't played consistently all year. I also think that all of you are mad if you trust our defense to hold a lead. I don't. Been burned too many times. This defense that you are raving about...do you remember what Chris Johnson did to us???????

This same damned defense gave up 3 td's to vernon davis, and forgot to cover CJ. Top 10??????? The level of delusion on this message board is frightening me sometimes. Buffalo and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't manning, it isn't aaron rodgers, its not even MJD and Jacksonville. Today did nothing for me. Its fantastic to win...but I cant ride this roller coaster where each week we go from the greatest of all time to the crappiest team to ever put on cleats. Just not going to do it anymore.
Click to expand...

Basically the way I see it, we have a chance to win every week. If our team shows up, we got a good chance. If it doesn't we don't. That means we are an average team overall. Defense will have its hands full next week, but everyone has their hands full with Peyton!

After suffering through the Domn Caper years, being average isn't so bad!
 
awtysst said:
Basically the way I see it, we have a chance to win every week. If our team shows up, we got a good chance. If it doesn't we don't. That means we are an average team overall. Defense will have its hands full next week, but everyone has their hands full with Peyton!

After suffering through the Domn Caper years, being average isn't so bad!
Click to expand...

They said something on the broadcast today that I've been searching to find out where this stat is...they said that we were the #1 team in producing 3 and outs on defense. Anyone know where this stat is kept?
 
swtbound07 said:
I think all of you are excited over a lot of nothing. We haven't played consistently all year. I also think that all of you are mad if you trust our defense to hold a lead. I don't. Been burned too many times. This defense that you are raving about...do you remember what Chris Johnson did to us???????

This same damned defense gave up 3 td's to vernon davis, and forgot to cover CJ. Top 10??????? The level of delusion on this message board is frightening me sometimes. Buffalo and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't manning, it isn't aaron rodgers, its not even MJD and Jacksonville. Today did nothing for me. Its fantastic to win...but I cant ride this roller coaster where each week we go from the greatest of all time to the crappiest team to ever put on cleats. Just not going to do it anymore.
Click to expand...

If anyone can expose the weaknesses on our defense (there are quite a few) its going to be the Colts but why no mention of the legitimate strides we have made against the run? What about holding down Benson and Gore? Do you really believe that CJ is going to have another field day against us?
 
dalemurphy said:
It's a matchup issue. This defense will be successful against Miami, but it's going to really struggle at Indy, IMO. I think a defense needs more experience and deception to play well at INDY. Still, I think we have a shot to get them at home in a few weeks... We're fighting for the wildcard anyway. Only a P.Manning injury gives us a chance at the division.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily more deception. The D-line needs to play like they
did today passrush-wise. Occasionally, blitz Demeco and Cushing.
I see the Texans playing off Reggie Wayne most of the game. If
they miss on the 5-yard chuck, it's a touchdown.

We also have a few cards to play offensively, and i see both teams scoring
around 25-30 points. However, the Texans defense has been much improved,
and Indy now has the #1 defense in the NFL!
 
If the NFL's defenses are in tiers I'd put it like this:

Best:
Pittsburgh
New Orleans

Great:
Denver
Indianapolis (this year yes so far)
Atlanta
New England
Baltimore

Good:
Houston
Cincinnati
New York Jets
San Francisco
Minnesota
Green Bay
Philadelphia
New York Giants
Dallas
Arizona

Questionable every week:
Chicago
Miami
Jacksonville
San Diego
Washington
Seattle

Dreadful:
Everyone else
 
sandman said:
This is a team that is currently undefeated and has won a minimum of 12 games over the last six straight seasons. This is a team with a total of 21 losses spanning seven seasons. Help me understand how stopping this team, one of the most offensively prolific teams in the history of the NFL, is considered a litmus test of a "good" defense...
Click to expand...
Maybe taking the time to actually read my post will help?
Lucky said:
Still, the litmus test for the defense is Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. That's where the rubber meets the field turf. I'm not convinced the Texans can stop the Colts offense. I do believe they have the personnel to contain the Colts...
Click to expand...
This just in: The Colts are good. Very good. They aren't irrepressible. The Jags defense played them well on opening week. The Niners did a good job on Manning and the Colts today. The Texans defense, a Richard Smith-coached-Cushingless defense, did a number on Manning in Reliant last season. And every year, save for 2006, a defense has put the clamps on the Colts in the playoffs.

If the Texans are to become a winning team, a playoff team, the defense will have to slow down the Colts offense. It has been done. It can be done. It needs to be done. Why not next Sunday?
 
Would be nice for Mario to make some big plays next week againts the colts, granted 49ers did a job with them yesterday, i havent seen any footage but by all accounts it seemed a close game for what ever reason.
 
regardless what the stats say... we've still got a lot of work to do on that side of the ball. We're solid... but we don't have any "play-makers" on defense. We don't force/cause any turnovers.
 
Let's see how we do against Indy, then revisit how good our defense is.

I'm not taking anything away from our defense, we did a good job against the Bengals, so I know we can play good defense against a good offense. But we have to beat Indy if we are going to make the playoffs.
 
dalemurphy said:
Brian Cushing?
Click to expand...

Brian Cushing, Demeco Ryans..... Mario Williams.

They all make plays. Even Dunta...... if the play is there, they'll make it.

But they don't "make plays". Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, James Farrior, James Harrison, Troy Palamalu...

Cushing may eventually become a "Play Maker", but right now, we don't have any play makers.
 
Thorn said:
Let's see how we do against Indy, then revisit how good our defense is.

I'm not taking anything away from our defense, we did a good job against the Bengals, so I know we can play good defense against a good offense. But we have to beat Indy if we are going to make the playoffs.
Click to expand...

I think we have a good shot against Indy at home but I certainly don't think we have to win against Indy to make the wildcard. As a matter of a fact, I'd say the game at Miami is likely much more important for the playoff chances. 10 wins almost surely gets us there this year. In theory, we could lose both games to Indy and another one (maybe not Miami because of tiebreaker though).

Regarding the defense, I'm not going to use the game at Indy as a litmus test for this defense anymore than I would the home game versus Oakland. We're a year away from having a chance to be a great defense. Clearly, we're a pretty good defense but I think we may be a little too transparent and get exposed this Sunday.
 
thunderkyss said:
Brian Cushing, Demeco Ryans..... Mario Williams.

They all make plays. Even Dunta...... if the play is there, they'll make it.

But they don't "make plays". Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, James Farrior, James Harrison, Troy Palamalu...

Cushing may eventually become a "Play Maker", but right now, we don't have any play makers.
Click to expand...

What is a playmaker then? Cushing forced 3 fumbles in one game! He's intercepted two passes to seal two victories. He makes tackles behind the line of scrimmage on short yardage plays. He leads the team in tackles. He has a couple sacks. That's a lot of plays made in 8 games... I'm going to need a definition.
 
Lucky said:
Maybe taking the time to actually read my post will help?

This just in: The Colts are good. Very good. They aren't irrepressible. The Jags defense played them well on opening week. The Niners did a good job on Manning and the Colts today. The Texans defense, a Richard Smith-coached-Cushingless defense, did a number on Manning in Reliant last season. And every year, save for 2006, a defense has put the clamps on the Colts in the playoffs.

If the Texans are to become a winning team, a playoff team, the defense will have to slow down the Colts offense. It has been done. It can be done. It needs to be done. Why not next Sunday?
Click to expand...

I understand that you didn't say the Texans could/would shut down/stop the Colts' offense. I was more questioning that if we are debating whether or not this defense has become "good", if a game against a Colts team that is built for exposing our weakness was the proper litmus test. That disagreement wasn't personal, friend.

Personally, I think they have (and I hate using this phrase) turned the corner and started to gel as a defensive unit. But I am fully expecting to give up some yardage and points to the Colts on the road. But I would still consider them a good defense if they do. Not great. But in the lower tier of the upper half of the league good. Quite frankly, I don't care if we give up 40 points. As long as we score 41.
 
I think we will end up a top 15 defense not good enough for the top 10 at this point we don't get enough pressure on a consistant basis.
 
On the ride into work this morning, the 610 broadcasters were saying we have the 16th ranked defense in the league. I don't figure that is too bad considering how we started the first 3 games.
 
thunderkyss said:
Brian Cushing, Demeco Ryans..... Mario Williams.

They all make plays. Even Dunta...... if the play is there, they'll make it.

But they don't "make plays". Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, James Farrior, James Harrison, Troy Palamalu...

Cushing may eventually become a "Play Maker", but right now, we don't have any play makers.
Click to expand...

lol what are you talking about?

A playmaker on the DL gets sacks, forces fumbles, and tackles for loss. Mario does all of those things.
A playmaker at the LB position gets sacks, forces fumbles, tackles for loss, and INTs. Cushing does all of those things

Cushing has 3 FFs, 2 INTs, and leads the team in tackles. He has accounted for more turnovers than any of the guys you listed---he has as many INTs as polamalu or Reed
 
gtexan02 said:
lol what are you talking about?

A playmaker on the DL gets sacks, forces fumbles, and tackles for loss. Mario does all of those things.
Click to expand...
Both starting tackles for the buffalo Bills were second string or lower. This should have been a Mario Williams coming out party. I've got nothing against Mario, I'm glad he's on the team.. but there were several games Mario should have had a much bigger day, dictating to the offense.
gtexan02 said:
A playmaker at the LB position gets sacks, forces fumbles, tackles for loss, and INTs. Cushing does all of those things

Cushing has 3 FFs, 2 INTs, and leads the team in tackles. He has accounted for more turnovers than any of the guys you listed---he has as many INTs as polamalu or Reed
Click to expand...

Zac Diles was leading out team in tackles from the same position last year. It's probably more of a position thing. Besides, I said Cushing may be a play maker...... it's too early to tell now.
 
PHAROAH said:
I think we will end up a top 15 defense not good enough for the top 10 at this point we don't get enough pressure on a consistant basis.
Click to expand...

What is your definition of consistent? - every play, 90%, where is the cut-off. Going in to today's game the Texans pass rush had sacked, hit or pressured the QB on 71% of passing attempts.

thunderkyss said:
it's too early to tell now.
Click to expand...

Yeah the guy is in consideration not for DROY but ROY because it is to early to tell he is a play maker. LOL
 
i'm not sure you guy's realize how good this defense has been over the last 5 games. I took the last 5 games and ave them out and here is where we rank against the other teams.(the other teams averages are from all season). so if we would have played our first 3 games like these last 5 here is how we would rank for the year.

we are giving up 260.4 yards per game over the last 5 games. that would put us with the number 1 defense in the league. we are giving up 58.2 yards rushing per game. that would put us as the number 1 rushing defense in the league. passing is 202.2 for 13th in the league. points per game is 16.4 for
4th in the league.

couple of things to think about. while our passing defense is not as good as the run defense. most of the better defense in the league (pitt/baltamore) are in the top at rushing defense and that is our strength as well. good passing defenses does'nt seem to cooralate with a good overall defense. the other thing to consider is that we have a dominate offense that takes a lot of pressure off our defense. that may make our defensive stats look better.
 
markbeth said:
good passing defenses does'nt seem to cooralate with a good overall defense.
Click to expand...

Teams that either shut down the run or play from a lead force other teams to pass which even with a good passing D will result in more passing yards per game.
 
I thought this was kinda funny. D-Ryans on the Bills offensive scheme.

Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans joked about how simple it was to contain Buffalo's popgun attack.

"It was easy," Ryans said. "They kind of had the same formations, they didn't give us a lot of motions and things. So it was a simple offense to go against."
Click to expand...

Ryans then joked about how good it was sipping Gatorade on the sideline watching the offense take over.
Click to expand...

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009110101/2009/REG8/texans@bills/recap/full-story
 
From what I've seen;

One great defensive end, one solid one
Not getting much from the defensive tackles
Maybe the best trio of linebackers in the league
Good cornerbacks
Poor safeties

That all equates to top 15, maybe around top 10 - its hard comparing it to others but its good. Unfortunately I don't think it will be quite good enough to stop Peyton.
 
infantrycak said:
Yeah the guy is in consideration not for DROY but ROY because it is to early to tell he is a play maker. LOL
Click to expand...
3 seasons ago we thought another DROY candidate was a play maker as well. While DeMeco is solid, he isn't exactly a playmaker. & though Cushings rookie season has been aruably better than DeMeco's it's still too soon to tell.

Remember many here thought Diles was our answer at SAM because of his great start last year. & we've gone from playmaker to dud back to playmaker on Jacoby Jones. & SS Steve Slaton may very well start the Colts game on tje bench.
 
Kal said:
From what I've seen;

One great defensive end, one solid one
Not getting much from the defensive tackles
Maybe the best trio of linebackers in the league
Good cornerbacks
Poor safeties
That all equates to top 15, maybe around top 10 - its hard comparing it to others but its good. Unfortunately I don't think it will be quite good enough to stop Peyton.
Click to expand...

I don't think you can deconstruct a defense that way. You may want to refer to our safeties as "poor", but Pollard's presence back there makes the LBs better in the run game. It's a group effort and the difference in the team now is the chemistry more than talent. As a group, it is very good against the run and average versus the pass... I don't think you can credit or blame one group on why that is.
 
BigBull17 said:
If we started over, we are top 5 vs the run. Nobody has gotten above 60 yards in 5 games.
Click to expand...

No mulligans. You can't cherry pick our best games, and dump our three worst without giving the same benefit for everybody else.

The Texans were good against the run 90% of the time in the first 3 games. It was that 1 in 10 horrifyingly terrible play that killed them. They weren't giving up those big runs over the past few weeks, but we saw glimpses that it's still there against Buffalo. We'll see how much has changed when we face CJ again after the bye week.
 
Goatcheese said:
No mulligans. You can't cherry pick our best games, and dump our three worst without giving the same benefit for everybody else.

The Texans were good against the run 90% of the time in the first 3 games. It was that 1 in 10 horrifyingly terrible play that killed them. They weren't giving up those big runs over the past few weeks, but we saw glimpses that it's still there against Buffalo. We'll see how much has changed when we face CJ again after the bye week.
Click to expand...

cherry picken would be take the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th game and go with those stats. when you take the first 3 games out and see what we did over the last 5 games thats called improvement. and how do you see a glimpse of a big run, you either have a big run or you don't. we held buffalo under 100 yards rushing, thats a good job.
 
Cjeremy635 said:
On the ride into work this morning, the 610 broadcasters were saying we have the 16th ranked defense in the league. I don't figure that is too bad considering how we started the first 3 games.
Click to expand...


NFL.com stats have us at 16th in total yards which breaks down to:

14th against the pass
20th against the run



I think if the season started over we would be 14th against the pass and top 10 against the run, which I think would put us just outside the top 10.

The Colts are 17th against the past, but Bob Sanders bieng out may of had something to do with that.


Based on the way we played Indy last year minus the Rosencopter incident, I like our odds. Kubes should give some kind of win one for the gipper speechs for OD to get the team going.
 
Kal said:
From what I've seen;

One great defensive end, one solid one
Not getting much from the defensive tackles
Maybe the best trio of linebackers in the league
Good cornerbacks
Poor safeties

That all equates to top 15, maybe around top 10 - its hard comparing it to others but its good. Unfortunately I don't think it will be quite good enough to stop Peyton.
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree with you except I think Wilson has been above average-pretty good in coverage. He just can't make a tackle to save his life. I sometimes think we would be better off Leaving Diles on the field and pulling Pollard in nickle situations. :ahhaha:
 
Kal said:
From what I've seen;

One great defensive end, one solid one
Not getting much from the defensive tackles
Maybe the best trio of linebackers in the league
Good cornerbacks
Poor safeties

That all equates to top 15, maybe around top 10 - its hard comparing it to others but its good. Unfortunately I don't think it will be quite good enough to stop Peyton.
Click to expand...

We don't have to stop Peyton.
Our game plan has always been to try to limit his team to FGs as much as possible, keep Peyton off the field as much as possible, and let the offense does its part.

Most of our players are so used to playing him in the same defensive system, we can be efficient enough against Peyton and the Colts.
We just need to be sure that those who aren't familiar with Manning don't get put in difficult positions too often.
 
swtbound07 said:
Wait a second...didn't we just give up 21 points in a half to ALEX FREAKING SMITH!?!?!?!?!?!

Top 15? Top 10?

Madness
Click to expand...

to be fair to Alex and you guys, there was no preperation for his playing style and Alex is finally being able to be comfortable back in the system he excelled at in college that earned him the #1 overall pick.

I bet he turns out to be a good NFL qb.

If Alex had started and you guys prepared for him, it wouldnt have been like that IMHO
 
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