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Looking ahead

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
So Now it's September. Our next game will be in Oct.

I generally like to look at a season as four 4 week periods. We've just got past week three so this is still a bit early. But I couldn't help but look at our upcoming opponents.

Titans, Vikings, Colts, Denver, Detroit

Since week one of the preseason I've looked at this team & thought they were on track to be a competitive team by Thanksgiving. Until Thursday night. & that's just one game, but... it got me thinking.

We have to do well in the first half of the season, or it won't matter what you do after Thanksgiving. We've already got two wins before the bye. Can we make it to five?


I don't think there are any gimmie games. We're still young offensively, have problems running the football, have problems in the red zone, have problems on special teams.

Monday night against the Broncos... I'm not totally sold on Osweiler, but man... I sure as heck hope he is ready for that game.
 
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ROO

Tweak the offense already!
We were all excited about the speed that was added on the offense and rightfully so. We envisioned L. Miller with the ball out in space, whizzing through defenders for big gains. We couldn't wait to see some creative play calling and taking advantage of the strengths of our personnel.

Then OBrien thinks we need to be a power running team when the OL is suspect? WTF is that? I hope this coaching staff gets their head outa their asses and comes up with some plays/gameplan that accentuates the team's strengths.

After all, the speed was why we thought the Texans would be a good team this year. But instead of seeing Miller catching screen passes and making some outside runs, Obrien runs him up the guard's ass 20 times.

Here's hoping that Thursday night was a wake-up call for the damn coaches.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
We were all excited about the speed that was added on the offense and rightfully so. We envisioned L. Miller with the ball out in space, whizzing through defenders for big gains. We couldn't wait to see some creative play calling and taking advantage of the strengths of our personnel.

Then OBrien thinks we need to be a power running team when the OL is suspect? WTF is that? I hope this coaching staff gets their head outa their asses and comes up with some plays/gameplan that accentuates the team's strengths.

After all, the speed was why we thought the Texans would be a good team this year. But instead of seeing Miller catching screen passes and making some outside runs, Obrien runs him up the guard's ass 20 times.

Here's hoping that Thursday night was a wake-up call for the damn coaches.

Agreed. You'd think you'd see Fuller in the slot attacking safeties & LBs every once in a while. Something.
 
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Malloy

Hall of Fame
Personally, what irritates me the most is the turtle-like Kubiaksque attitude to playcalling, not only against NE, but also in the first two games of the season. Insisting on running it up the gut even when personnel is not optimal for this.

Use your personnel for what they're best at, and dont change a thing until someone figures you out. Scared of interceptions? That **** happens when you throw it alot... TDs also happen alot when you throw it. Do it, stick to it... live or die by it.

As several others have commented in other threads, the Miami game last year sorta woke the team (coaching in particular) up, and it pisses me off that the lessons learned from that game apparently needs learning once more.

Be one-dimentioned if need be, it's up to other teams to stop you.. It's been working fairly well for the Colts for.... quite a while now :)
 

chicagotexan2

Easterby = Little Finger/Cal = Fredo Corleone
So Now it's September. Our next game will be in Oct.

I generally like to look at a season as four 4 week periods. We've just got past week three so this is still a bit early. But I couldn't help but look at our upcoming opponents.

Titans, Vikings, Colts, Denver, Detroit

Since week one of the preseason I've looked at this team & thought they were on track to be a competitive team by Thanksgiving. Until Thursday night. & that's just one game, but... it got me thinking.

We have to do well in the first half of the season, or it won't matter what you do after Thanksgiving. We've already got two wins before the bye. Can we make it to five?


I don't think there are any gimmie games. We're still young offensively, have problems running the football, have problems in the red zone, have problems on special teams.

Monday night against the Broncos... I'm not totally sold on Osweiler, but man... I sure as heck hope he is ready for that game.
After the debacle in NE the only games I'm confident the team can win are TN and maybe DET. Indy hasn't been any good, but it's an important one and I don't like the way the team plays those must haves. MN and DEN look too strong. I hope I'm wrong though.
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
Hopefully after being embarrassed on every aspect of the game vs the Patriot, Godsey and O'Brien will not go vanilla again. Their game planning needs to step it up 100 notches against stout defenses. The Vikings and Broncos defenses are top notch. They will get after our QB so I beg them to run more screen plays, quick slants, utilize the middle of the field better, and have Brock on the move. Oh throw in some freaking rub routes for the receivers.

If we do that I can see us going 4-1, but realistically speaking 3-2.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Be nice if we can go on another 5 game win streak.

I know you don't see it. I don't see it. Seriously question our ability to beat Tennessee. But I didn't see the little run we went on after Miami drudging, or the 5 game streak we went on (not counting play offs) after the Buffalo trouncing.

Man... we get out asses handed to us a lot.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
I wonder if Bob McNair had meeting with his coaching staff after the game? Probably should have been today rather than Friday so the coaches would have opportunity to clean the poo poo from their ears and put some Prep H on their nether parts.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
The Colts are not good. They are beatable. Especially if turnover machine Luck gives up a few interceptions and fumbles

There is absolutely no reason the Colts won Sunday. No logic to it at all. There's no way to logically conclude that we (or any team) can beat them.

I'm not saying they're going undefeated the rest of the season. Win or lose, it's just going to be one of those things that can't be explained... like crop circles.
 
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ROO

Tweak the offense already!
As I watch other teams, I will see things like a receiver get open on a slant route, the QB leads him with the football, it is caught in stride, and the receiver picks up another 20 or 30 yards after the catch. And I think to myself, why does that hardly ever happen with the Texans?

Seems it has hardly ever happened since Obrien has been here. And I have to wonder, is there something to Obrien's offense that precludes YAC? Or am I being fair? Do the Texans get as much YAC as other teams?

For example, the Colts game yesterday. As much as they are sucking right now, they still had several plays where the pass was maybe 10 yards, but then BOOM and the receiver rolls off another 40 yards after the catch. Plays like that are sweet to watch.

So is the Texans scheme the problem? Or is Osweiler simply not finding the open receiver on any given play? Whenever our receivers catch a pass, seems they are immediately surrounded by 2 or 3 defenders. The only "pretty" play I remember from the Texans this season was the Fuller WR screen that he took in for a touchdown.

Am I being overly hard on the Texans' offense about this? Do my eyes deceive me?
 

santo

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
There is absolutely no reason the Colts won Sunday. No logic to it at all. There's no way to logically conclude that we (or any team) can beat them.

I'm not saying they're going undefeated the rest of the season. Win or lose, it's just going to be one of those things that can't be explained... like crop circles.
They won because Rivers couldn't connect on several passes. Plus the fact that the rookie tight end managed to fumble right at the end of the fourth.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
As I watch other teams, I will see things like a receiver get open on a slant route, the QB leads him with the football, it is caught in stride, and the receiver picks up another 20 or 30 yards after the catch. And I think to myself, why does that hardly ever happen with the Texans?

Seems it has hardly ever happened since Obrien has been here. And I have to wonder, is there something to Obrien's offense that precludes YAC? Or am I being fair? Do the Texans get as much YAC as other teams?

For example, the Colts game yesterday. As much as they are sucking right now, they still had several plays where the pass was maybe 10 yards, but then BOOM and the receiver rolls off another 40 yards after the catch. Plays like that are sweet to watch.

So is the Texans scheme the problem? Or is Osweiler simply not finding the open receiver on any given play? Whenever our receivers catch a pass, seems they are immediately surrounded by 2 or 3 defenders. The only "pretty" play I remember from the Texans this season was the Fuller WR screen that he took in for a touchdown.

Am I being overly hard on the Texans' offense about this? Do my eyes deceive me?
my 2 cents..last season Hopkins 1500+ yards works the sidelines and end zones where he pulls in incredible catches but do not offer room for YAC. Strong a similar type player developed late in 2015 but I see him increasing YAC. Fuller should be guy for this. When we have a receiver averaging 20 or so per catch, I am okay with it
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
As I watch other teams, I will see things like a receiver get open on a slant route, the QB leads him with the football, it is caught in stride, and the receiver picks up another 20 or 30 yards after the catch. And I think to myself, why does that hardly ever happen with the Texans?

Seems it has hardly ever happened since Obrien has been here. And I have to wonder, is there something to Obrien's offense that precludes YAC? Or am I being fair? Do the Texans get as much YAC as other teams?

For example, the Colts game yesterday. As much as they are sucking right now, they still had several plays where the pass was maybe 10 yards, but then BOOM and the receiver rolls off another 40 yards after the catch. Plays like that are sweet to watch.

So is the Texans scheme the problem? Or is Osweiler simply not finding the open receiver on any given play? Whenever our receivers catch a pass, seems they are immediately surrounded by 2 or 3 defenders. The only "pretty" play I remember from the Texans this season was the Fuller WR screen that he took in for a touchdown.

Am I being overly hard on the Texans' offense about this? Do my eyes deceive me?

No you are not being hard at all. Those are legitimate questions/concern. I tend to ask my boys those same questions a lot. It surely seems like ever catch is hard earned LOL.
 
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badboy

Hall of Fame
Hopkins and Strong are perfect WRs for Osweiler NOW. As he snaps in, Fuller and Brax will allow him to get even better. My $ is still on Os and this team..for now; same with Crennel and O'Brien, not so sure about Godsey and ST coach.
 
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Porky

Hall of Fame
We were all excited about the speed that was added on the offense and rightfully so. We envisioned L. Miller with the ball out in space, whizzing through defenders for big gains. We couldn't wait to see some creative play calling and taking advantage of the strengths of our personnel.

Then OBrien thinks we need to be a power running team when the OL is suspect? WTF is that? I hope this coaching staff gets their head outa their asses and comes up with some plays/gameplan that accentuates the team's strengths.

After all, the speed was why we thought the Texans would be a good team this year. But instead of seeing Miller catching screen passes and making some outside runs, Obrien runs him up the guard's ass 20 times.

Here's hoping that Thursday night was a wake-up call for the damn coaches.
This. :goodpost:
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Seems it has hardly ever happened since Obrien has been here. And I have to wonder, is there something to Obrien's offense that precludes YAC? Or am I being fair? Do the Texans get as much YAC as other teams?
I haven't seen significant YAC on this team since we ran Jacoby out of town.


May have been more related to Andre clipping that hamstring...
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
No you are not being hard at all. Those are legitimate questions/concern. I tend to ask my boys those same questions a lot. It surely seems like ever catch is hard earned LOL.
Right. It seems like the field is much smaller when we are on offense. They always have two or three guys close enough to assist & tackle.

It's pretty much the same theery as any other position. Adding Fuller helps, but it's not going to stop teams from bracketing Hopkins. Two deep safeties & let the front 7 stop the run.

If we're not a particularly good screen team, there's no reason to defend the flats. If we're not going to attack the deep middle, safeties can bracket the receivers.

There's a lot of field defenses don't need to defend because we're not good in the flats, don't attack the deep middle, & we can't run the ball.
 

DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Just rewatched the NE game for the 1st time. No need to panic. The Texans got outcoached by the best in the biz and manhandled in the trenches on the OL side of the ball. Turnovers and special teams cost this game.
 

ROO

Tweak the offense already!
TK, I think you nailed it. The lack of creativity in play-calling and not using all parts of the field frees the defenders up to be where the ball is going.

One play got my attention in Thursday night's game, I think it was in the 2nd quarter, probably was a first and ten for the Texans. Not sure on all that, but the Texans were still in the game at that point. The Patriots had stacked the box. I took a quick count and there were 9 defenders there. NINE. Seriously. I am thinking "pass pass pass". What do the Texans do? Run it up the middle for no gain. Good grief. It was that play that inspired my avatar. I call it the "OBrien Special." There are 2 versions of it so the defense can be kept guessing - "OBrien Special Left" and "OBrien Special Right."

Does Oz have the freedom to go to a different play in that situation?
 
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