Talent, Schedule, Mentality and Winning

I don't post much but here goes:

1. The Texans have enough talent to make the playoffs. It's simple. Much less talented teams have managed to get into the playoffs in a shorter period of time, so talent isn't the issue.

2. I'm tired of people crying about the schedule. It is what it is.

3. Winners don't think about the schedule. The good teams in this league have a mindset of dominating or flat out beating whoever has the misfortune of being in their way on Sunday.

4. IMO, the biggest thing missing from the Texans is that winning mentality - not to just compete, or to be in a position to win. I'm talking about going for the throat and believing that we can utterly defeat the opponent.

- I'm encouraged that the Defense is showing signs of swagger, and you cannot emphasize enough the importance of Pollard, Cushing in that area. It also appears that Frank Bush is allowing the Defense to attack, so we hit people, not just tackle them. You see defenders swarming to the ball, looking like we intend to impose our will on the opposition.

- The offense is efficient and potentially explosive. However, I think the big step we need to take is to cut it loose and become unstoppable. I'd like to see us open things up and basically say, you cannot stop our passing attack. I'm not calling for us to abandon the run. But I want our offense to be feared and we have the skill players to do it. We can run run opportunistically. I fear that it is Kubiak's conservative mentality that is holding back the offense and the team overall.

Unless there is a significant injury, I don't think there are any excuses. We are talented enough to win and make the playoffs, and make a run in the playoffs.

Very nice post! I think the one thing that stood out to me the most from the Glazer interviews when Mario said the difference this year is the team is not listening to what others are saying they should do, but they are calling for it themselves. This team has bonded very well, and knows that it will take all of them.
Another key point Mario said was that this year, the role players have to step up and do their job, and everyone was being held accountable by the other members of the team. No longer is it about what one individual can do, it is about all doing all they can. This team is more of a team than any we have had here since the Luv Ya Blue days. I'm excited as hell for this season.

ToxicButt said:

I don't post much but here goes:

3. Winners don't think about the schedule. The good teams in this league have a mindset of dominating or flat out beating whoever has the misfortune of being in their way on Sunday.

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The Colts' schedule is the same as ours. Biggest difference, is they play 2 games against the Texans, where we play two games against the Colts.

We play Baltimore & the Jets

They play Cincinnati & the Patriots.


I bet the Colts fully expect to win 12 games.

JB said:

Very nice post! I think the one thing that stood out to me the most from the Glazer interviews when Mario said the difference this year is the team is not listening to what others are saying they should do, but they are calling for it themselves. This team has bonded very well, and knows that it will take all of them.
Another key point Mario said was that this year, the role players have to step up and do their job, and everyone was being held accountable by the other members of the team. No longer is it about what one individual can do, it is about all doing all they can. This team is more of a team than any we have had here since the Luv Ya Blue days. I'm excited as hell for this season.

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This.
This is why we WILL win!!

thunderkyss said:

The Colts' schedule is the same as ours. Biggest difference, is they play 2 games against the Texans, where we play two games against the Colts.

We play Baltimore & the Jets

They play Cincinnati & the Patriots.


I bet the Colts fully expect to win 12 games.

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nice observation. if we cant beat balt and the jets in the regular season along with the colts then why bother with the playoffs.

JB said:

This team is more of a team than any we have had here since the Luv Ya Blue days. I'm excited as hell for this season.

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I'd rep ya for that JB, if I could.

It is true this year is the best Texans team to wear the uniform. I hope like hell they show it.

I certainly agree with everything said here. This is a team that certainly has the talent. I think the team has built up a much better mentality on the field. DeMeco spoke with Bob Allen on the sideline and his comments were focused not on winning games, but dominating teams. In previous years, I've never heard that much confidence in his voice. He's always said the same things, but now I believe it.

From an outsiders point of view. Granted my obvservations mostly come from Colts / Texans match ups and I don't much see them in other games other than the results of those games. But the Colts are the hurdle for Houston so...

I think those saying it is mental toughness thing are spot on. Two things stood out to me in the game in Houston last year. One was play in the 2nd half someone lit up Joe Addai on play deep in Colts territory and then celebrated with a couple of teammates like they just won the Super Bowl. Manning notices the extra celebration, gets the Colts to the line quickly and then hits Collie for a 30 yard gain while some players were not in position. Just get back and play. That other stuff is nonsense.

Secondly, once the Colts took the lead there was no doubt in my mind that Indy would win. I noticed players, particularly Schaub, that had this vacant look on their face that just said, "we got no chance" to me. Instead of being pi$$ed at the big lead they gave up, they looked defeated.

The talent very clearly there. The scheme seems just fine as well. But they have to develop the space between their ears to become a playoff team. My money is that they do it this year.

Just my two cents...

From Kuharskys blog:

For Texans, maybe it's not about personnel

By Paul Kuharsky

METAIRIE, La. -- Standing with an old friend who covers the Saints as New Orleans and Houston practiced against each other Wednesday, I was struck when he said he felt like the Texans have better overall personnel.

It immediately made me think: In many ways, 2010 won’t be about players for Houston. It will be more a referendum on coaching and scheme and cohesion.

The Texans have some holes and some areas that lack sufficient depth. But Houston stacks up well in young stars department with Andre Johnson, Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans, Matt Schaub and Owen Daniels.

The Texans have had time to supplement that six pack, they’ve had time to figure out how to maximize the effectiveness of those talents.

For years they’ve been a popular breakout pick, yet they still await their first playoff berth.

It may boil down to their ability to build off what they’ve done to this point. I think they need to find a killer instinct. I think they need to have a moment, relatively early in the season, that allows them to say, “That’s it, we’re different now, there is no way we don’t finish this season having met the postseason goal.”

....http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/14060/for-texans-maybe-its-not-about-personnel

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As has been pointed out many times, this team had the most starters in the NFL under the age of 30 last year. Not to mention the recognition a few back in regards to having the top talent aged 25 and younger. To me, this is where alot of our inconsistencies are coming from.

Indy Skinnz said:

From an outsiders point of view. Granted my obvservations mostly come from Colts / Texans match ups and I don't much see them in other games other than the results of those games. But the Colts are the hurdle for Houston so...

I think those saying it is mental toughness thing are spot on. Two things stood out to me in the game in Houston last year. One was play in the 2nd half someone lit up Joe Addai on play deep in Colts territory and then celebrated with a couple of teammates like they just won the Super Bowl. Manning notices the extra celebration, gets the Colts to the line quickly and then hits Collie for a 30 yard gain while some players were not in position. Just get back and play. That other stuff is nonsense.

Secondly, once the Colts took the lead there was no doubt in my mind that Indy would win. I noticed players, particularly Schaub, that had this vacant look on their face that just said, "we got no chance" to me. Instead of being pi$$ed at the big lead they gave up, they looked defeated.

The talent very clearly there. The scheme seems just fine as well. But they have to develop the space between their ears to become a playoff team. My money is that they do it this year.

Just my two cents...

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The hit on Addai (and subsequent 30 yard gain) were both the products of Dunta Robinson, and have been discussed quite a bit on this board.

Interesting timing on that comment. John and Lance were discussing mental toughness this morning (although in this case it was John Harris, not Granato) (Which is an improvement), and they mentioned some of the Texans who'd been around for a while just developed a "We're gonna lose" mentality. They also mentioned it's a very difficult mindset to change once it's been established. They specifically mentioned a comment Jerome Solomon said he'd overheard a player make when something had gone wrong. That comment was "Here we go again", and that player was Dunta Robinson.

With Dunta gone, literally the only players left from the Capers/Casserly era are Kris Brown, and Andre Johnson. I don't think anybody's worried about Andre, and this may be the best argument I've seen for making a change at kicker (regardless of the empirical results of the competition).

Indy Skinnz said:

From an outsiders point of view. Granted my obvservations mostly come from Colts / Texans match ups and I don't much see them in other games other than the results of those games. But the Colts are the hurdle for Houston so...

I think those saying it is mental toughness thing are spot on. Two things stood out to me in the game in Houston last year. One was play in the 2nd half someone lit up Joe Addai on play deep in Colts territory and then celebrated with a couple of teammates like they just won the Super Bowl. Manning notices the extra celebration, gets the Colts to the line quickly and then hits Collie for a 30 yard gain while some players were not in position. Just get back and play. That other stuff is nonsense.

Secondly, once the Colts took the lead there was no doubt in my mind that Indy would win. I noticed players, particularly Schaub, that had this vacant look on their face that just said, "we got no chance" to me. Instead of being pi$$ed at the big lead they gave up, they looked defeated.

The talent very clearly there. The scheme seems just fine as well. But they have to develop the space between their ears to become a playoff team. My money is that they do it this year.

Just my two cents...

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Welcome.

That play was Dunta Robinson, acting like a fool. He got so happy he started running down the field celebrating. *****.

That play was embarrassing, but it also made me realize what a sheer, utter, genius Peyton Manning is.

Indy Skinnz said:

I think those saying it is mental toughness thing are spot on.


The talent very clearly there. The scheme seems just fine as well. But they have to develop the space between their ears to become a playoff team. My money is that they do it this year.

Just my two cents...

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This is bull$4it..... I should not be giving rep to an Indy fan. Can someone please insult this guy, so he would act erratically, & defensively??

PLEASE???

thunderkyss said:

This is bull$4it..... I should not be giving rep to an Indy fan. Can someone please insult this guy, so he would act erratically, & defensively??

PLEASE???

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Don't feel bad, TK. I repped his ass, too. lol!

This is a very good post, my thoughts exactly.

thunderkyss said:

This is bull$4it..... I should not be giving rep to an Indy fan. Can someone please insult this guy, so he would act erratically, & defensively??

PLEASE???

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Don't give me too much credit. I think the Texans earn one of the wildcards but still trail Indy in the division.

Indy Skinnz said:

Don't give me too much credit. I think the Texans earn one of the wildcards but still trail Indy in the division.

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As long as Peyton's out there you might be right. This time around though I wouldn't be suprised if it turns out differently. I look forward to seeing the game.