Blast from the past... Speak up!

Has there been a gag order placed on the players? We are now satsified with pathetic offensive performances and are happy about losses in year 4? Why hasn't Gary Walker or someone elsed stepped up and said what needs to be said???

December 12, 2004

Blast from the past

"We got beat again," defensive end Gary Walker said after the Texans' fifth loss in six games — this time, 23-14 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

"It's getting old," Walker said. "I don't understand why. The things we do to beat ourselves, it's frustrating. It's time for a change."

Don't tell Walker the Texans held the high-powered Colts to their lowest point total of the season.

Don't tell Walker about avoiding a blowout such as the 35-point loss the Colts handed the Texans in Week 10.

"I don't care if they're the hottest team in the league and we held them to the lowest score of the season. It's time to start winning," he said. "We talk every week about all the positive stuff we can take from losses. You can take positive stuff from a win, too. Let's talk about winning."

Walker doesn't garner much respect form his teammates - he talks too much and produces too little. However, calling out the offense when he's injured would be just his style.

Other than Walker though, you're right. A player who is respected needs to speak up and break this group out of their lethargy. Someone on the offense needs to take the offense to task, someone on the defense must do the same for the defense. One unit calling out the other would just fracture the team, since they are both playing so poorly.

Walker is well respected actually. He is one of the 5 best players on this team. After Drob and AJ you can make a case for a few players but there aren't many players on our team that play as well at their position as Walker does. I think he is candid and refreshing. I wish we had more players with his temperament.

Interesting. What are obviously different sources certainly have different opinions of people. Just like any other business, I suppose.

Let me amend my comment to say that many players don't respect Walker. Maybe many do, too.

EXACTLY! Where is the pride and leadership on this team? I'm beginning to realize they let their leadership go when they released Sharper and Glenn. Obviously they are content with losing because they sure haven't made any legitimate efforts to improve their output. The defense played better, (thanks to the benching Toasty Buchanon ) but still not good enough to win. Our offensive line is the worst in the league and shows no signs of improving (I say bench all of them also). We have arguably the best young reciver in the game and we can't manage to get him the damb ball! Would somebody in the locker room please step up and be a leader and start making some plays! Please! :brickwall

Vinny said:

He is one of the 5 best players on this team. After Drob and AJ you can make a case for a few players but there aren't many players on our team that play as well at their position as Walker does.

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Do others agree with this? I was stunned when I first read this but then when I started trying to think of players to place ahead of him I hit a wall. I guess it boils down to how you define "play as well at their position as Walker does". Does Chad Stanley count? How about Kris Brown? If Walker is in the top 5 then we're certainly in trouble but then again we're 0 - 3.

Runner said:

Let me amend my comment to say that many players don't respect Walker. Maybe many do, too.

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Walker is fully liked and respected by his teammates. You can bank on that.

Remember, only one other Texan on that team has been to a pro-bowl besides Andre, and that's G-Funk.

chuckm said:

Does Chad Stanley count? How about Kris Brown? If Walker is in the top 5 then we're certainly in trouble but then again we're 0 - 3.

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Chad Stanley and Kris Brown are kickers, they don't count.

I agree with the rest!

chuckm said:

Do others agree with this? I was stunned when I first read this but then when I started trying to think of players to place ahead of him I hit a wall. I guess it boils down to how you define "play as well at their position as Walker does". Does Chad Stanley count? How about Kris Brown? If Walker is in the top 5 then we're certainly in trouble but then again we're 0 - 3.

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No, I don't. He may have been when he joined the team, but not anymore. Age, injuries, schemes, coaches, whatever.

I just get tired of arguing about who is good and who isn't when any topic is brought up. Seems like half the board now thinks Dre is bad, more than half think Carr is a waste of a uniform number - wait till Dunta misses two tackles in a row and falls down on a play and he'll be a waste too. We called for Peek and his attitude to play a lot more last year, now we like to see him benched for that attitude.

The point is we need vocal leaders who are respected, and who lead by example. Personally, I think a team pretty much needs one for each unit (O-line, D-line, receivers, DBs, etc) because football teams are just too big for one guy. This also isn't "leading" by spouting off in the press, it can (should?) be kept internal. Furthermore, having defensive players complain about the offense and vice versa is just devisive, especially if your own side of the ball is not in order.

Well, Peek got in trouble for being an *****, not for attitude. He needs to save the headbutting for when he's trying to run people over on his way to the QB, not 20 seconds after the play ends.

Offtopic somewhat, but why do we play a ton of LB coverage when 3/4s of them are former DEs? Isn't that basically what Greenwood was drafted for, and the others should be harassing the QB?

ledzeppelin269 said:

Well, Peek got in trouble for being an *****, not for attitude. He needs to save the headbutting for when he's trying to run people over on his way to the QB, not 20 seconds after the play ends.

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OK about Peek. Just looking for quick examples. Does anyone want to discuss this point? It was meant to be the meat of my post:

The point is we need vocal leaders who are respected, and who lead by example. Personally, I think a team pretty much needs one for each unit (O-line, D-line, receivers, DBs, etc) because football teams are just too big for one guy. This also isn't "leading" by spouting off in the press, it can (should?) be kept internal. Furthermore, having defensive players complain about the offense and vice versa is just devisive, especially if your own side of the ball is not in order.

Runner said:

Furthermore, having defensive players complain about the offense and vice versa is just devisive, especially if your own side of the ball is not in order.[/I]

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I would be happy if someone would complain. It sounded like there were a lot players patting themselves on the back after the game yesterday. I've never read more positive and upbeat quotes after a game where one unit (offense) was so absolutely pathetic.

If this was year 1 it would be understandable, but to be happy about a losing performance when you got 250 yards of total offense and gave up 7 sacks against an average defense, is absolutely mind-boggling!

G-Funk on the DL. Umm, Peek makes some boneheaded plays that could be described as passion but he needs to produce a little more on the field to still be considered a leader. DRob should easily be the vocal leader, and of course you have the vet Coleman who is probably more lead by example. Our offense really doesn't have any leaders. Carr, kind of, but fans aren't really going to pay attention to him as being a leader until they see a little more on-field production. All of our WRs are pretty quiet. DD ran his mouth about 2000 yards, but I wouldn't call that leadership. Our TEs barely exist. McKinney babbles a lot on 610, but it really doesn't do anything on the field. And our coach is too busy breathing and writing on his notepad to really get vocal.

the wonger need food said:

I would be happy if someone would complain. It sounded like there were a lot players patting themselves on the back after the game yesterday. I've never read more positive and upbeat quotes after a game where one unit (offense) was so absolutely pathetic.

If this was year 1 it would be understandable, but to be happy about a losing performance when you got 250 yards of total offense and giving up 7 sacks against an average defense, is absolutely mind-boggling!

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This reminds me of my junior year of HS when me and my friends were all doing terrible in Pre-Cal. Our teacher had some deal where if you improved by 10 points from one quiz to the next, you got your name on some little board. Well, one week I got a 30 on the quiz and the next week I got a 40, so hey I got a little apple on the wall with my name on it for an improved grade. But that didn't change the fact that the 40 was still a piss poor quiz grade.

Trust me every player was pissed after the loss yesterday, but they did feel like they were finally in a game. The last three games (inc Cleveland) we had a team that was rebelling against itslef. We have started to turn the corner. I mean yesterdays game we could not get out of our own way to win it, but it is finally nice to see players who are trying to win a game not just collect a pay check.