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AFC South Standings!

They have tried to get better, unfortunately the Football Gods do not want us hanging with this big dawgs. We're just a unlucky franchise at this point, cursed by a higher power for whatever reason I don't know of. Do anybody know the reason why we are cursed by the Football Gods?

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If the Texans had taken as long as the Jets, they would have won it after the 2010 season.

On the otherhand, if they take as long as the Steelers to win a Super Bowl (or NFL Championship), it will be 2043 when it's won, but the good news is, they've already made the playoffs as many times as the Steelers prior to their first Super Bowl season.(and it might be worth noting that the owner at the time of that first Super Bowl win was the same person who owned the team when founded).
I was meaning since the Jets won one. lol
 
Man I just want to experience some winning football. Some competitive football and a good chance of rep'n the city of Houston in the Superbowl.

I know some fans are more patient than others. There's a lot of truth in the growth processing expansion teams have to face. But let's remember some of us were big time Luv U Blue/ Oilers fans. And it would be great to see our team win it all before we leave this wonderful green earth.

Amen!
 
Oh, ok that makes a lot of sense...

focus on the negatives for the improvement of mankind :lol:
The negativity is where you think it is.

People keep trying to steer toward constructive criticism; you declare it as negative.
 
On the cool what difference does it matter. Dude is one of the worse quarterbacks in the NFL. If you compare him to only those that actually started more than 8 games, you will see him in the bottom 5. But since we are being technical Fitzpatrick is the worse QB in the NFL.
True, he has not looked good, but he is improving.
I can't help it if I want him to succeed, for the sake of my team.
I have a feeling his ceiling may be good Schaub.
That may not come for another year or two, but if it happens that way, he may eventually be good enough to take the Texans to the promised land.
 
And all this has to do with the AFC South standings how?
One big Brock thread wouldn't be very practical -- so we need several different threads to at least start to talk about something else before we all start talking about Brock again (this is much more practical).
 
True, he has not looked good, but he is improving.
I can't help it if I want him to succeed, for the sake of my team.
I have a feeling his ceiling may be good Schaub.
That may not come for another year or two, but if it happens that way, he may eventually be good enough to take the Texans to the promised land.

I think Brock was in a precarious situation early I the year. he looked fine in the preseason when teams play with nothing on the line. Vanilla, less than 100%, straight forward base defenses.

When the season started, it was obvious that reading defenses was a skill he & his receivers needed to work on. add to that our star receiver is a star because he's good at grabbing 50/50 balls & not getting open, not getting YAC... there was a lot of blame to go around.. a lot.

I think Brock's composure has improved greatly & has looked good since the Denver game. not that he's played particularly well, but he wasn't that awkward, hurried guy trying desperately to get the football out of his hands.

I think he looked as good as Carr did when we played them. Carr wasn't brilliant against our defense. Brock looked as good as Rivers when we played them. Brock looked as good as Rodgers when we played them. The main difference being those guys were playing a top 10 passing defense, Brock was playing a bottom 10 passing defense.

So... y'know.

I expected something more tangible by now, & if you look at it the right way you could build a case that we're close. a lot of ifs, ands, & buts that could go either way.

But I've honestly seen nothing that would make me want to bench him. We spent $37M on this guy so far. I understand it's been 13 games, but... it's only been 13 games. He's not throwing the ball in the dirt anymore. he's not missing wide open receivers, & he's throwing some pretty sweet passes when we need them (well, not every time, but enough).

I'm definitely not satisfied with what we've seen so far. I hope to see him play well enough to get to the AFCCG... but the team around him has to play as well, if not better, than they did Sunday. Defense has to get turnovers, get short fields. we need to get big chunks of yards out of the running game, & the OL has to pass protect better than they did Sunday.

We're running out of time. I know that. that's why I'm watching so intently.
 
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I think Brock was in a precarious situation early I the year. he looked fine in the preseason when teams play with nothing on the line. Vanilla, less than 100%, straight forward base defenses.

When the season started, it was obvious that reading defenses was a skill he & his receivers needed to work on. add to that our star receiver is a star because he's good at grabbing 50/50 balls & not getting open, not getting YAC... there was a lot of blame to go around.. a lot.

I think Brock's composure has improved greatly & has looked good since the Denver game. not that he's played particularly well, but he wasn't that awkward, hurried guy trying desperately to get the football out of his hands.

I think he looked as good as Carr did when we played them. Carr wasn't brilliant against our defense. Brock looked as good as Rivers when we played them. Brock looked as good as Rodgers when we played them. The main difference being those guys were playing a top 10 passing defense, Brock was playing a bottom 10 passing defense.

So... y'know.

I expected something more tangible by now, & if you look at it the right way you could build a case that we're close. a lot of ifs, ands, & buts that could go either way.

But I've honestly seen nothing that would make me want to bench him. We spent $37M on this guy so far. I understand it's been 13 games, but... it's only been 13 games. He's not throwing the ball in the dirt anymore. he's not missing wide open receivers, & he's throwing some pretty sweet passes when we need them (well, not every time, but enough).

I'm definitely not satisfied with what we've seen so far. I hope to see him play well enough to get to the AFCCG... but the team around him has to play as well, if not better, than they did Sunday. Defense has to get turnovers, get short fields. we need to get big chunks of yards out of the running game, & the OL has to pass protect better than they did Sunday.

We're running out of time. I know that. that's why I'm watching so intently.
Brock is slowly progressing and this is a result of familiarity with the scheme and with his teammates.
He is not an instant success which is what people are so down on him about.
I admire his gumption in sticking to his task through the constant criticism and negativity.
If he works at his game as hard as he says he does, then further progression must come.
Obviously he is no Tom Brady, but those are kinda hard to come by.
 
He's not throwing the ball in the dirt anymore. he's not missing wide open receivers, & he's throwing some pretty sweet passes when we need them (well, not every time, but enough.)
I just wish he would actually lead a receiver - actually hit one in stride for a change.

Okay, he has actually done that a couple times this season, but more often than not, the receiver has to break stride and slow down. Irritates the piss out of me. High school, college, pros, surely he should be able to do this by now?
 
I see a plan with Os.
Can you expand on this? I'm not being adversarial, I'm just interested in other's take on this. Prior to the season, I expected us to be a passing team by the end of the year complimented by a fairly good running game w/ the addition of LMiller (understanding that certain games may call for more of a running game plan depending on the defense). I'm guessing most of us thought this by the way that the board back then spent a lot of time discussing all the different ways that we would be able to use the speed that had been added to the team. I felt like BoB was working towards this and we had gotten there with the Raiders game where I thought Brock showed he was ready for the next step. But since then I feel like our game plan has reverted back to a run first team.

My own take is that BoB originally intended to move towards this type of offense but OL and WR injuries combined w/ Brock not picking things up as quickly as BoB had hoped has led him to call the game he feels gives us the best chance to win the game at hand -- a run focused game plan. My criticism of BoB has been that we could have built on the passing game we showed we were capable of vs Raiders but BoB hasn't dictated the pass game progression but rather taken a more short sighted approach leaving us without a proven passing game come playoff time (if we get there). It feels like the plan with Os has been abandoned until next year.
 
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Understand what you're saying Max, but OB/Godsey haven't been doing a good enough job to make any evaluation of what the plan may have been. I wonder why they aren't taking advantage of things as they should. They've had the league set up for weeks with their ridiculous play calling. When are they gonna exploit that? On 2nd and long, a play action pass against 8 in the box? A quick slant now and then?
 
OB/Godsey haven't been doing a good enough job to make any evaluation of what the plan may have been.
I really feel like there is something to this. Earlier in the year, I commented that BoB looked like a first year qb where things were moving too fast for him and he wasn't prepared for little things in games that make a big difference (Lechler having to tell him to challenge a call because he's talking to a player, clock management, etc). In a similar sense, I don't think things have slowed down enough for him to step back and have a sense of the bigger picture and how to develop a team to where he wants it as the year goes on. I do think that this is something that can be learned and I'm hopeful that he's growing as a coach. My biggest concern is that I'm misreading what I see as him not developing the team out of inexperience, for him being too conservative. I don't see him growing out of being ultra conservative by nature (if that is the case) and it's a possibility that I've begun to question about him.
 
Man, our WR group went from deep/promising to Hopkins, Fuller, Mumphrey and ???? just like that. That passing game you speak of may take an even bigger back seat now.
Understood. WR injuries have no doubt slowed our pass progression. And maybe BoB hasn't had any choice but to turn back to the run -- I'm sincerely hoping that this is the case and given a healthy receiving corp next year, the passing game opens up. I'm just doing my best to figure out what type of coach we have in BoB. It's not easy to pinpoint with all of the factors that go into assessing him -- much like Brock's situation.
 
My criticism of BoB has been that we could have built on the passing game we showed we were capable of vs Raiders but BoB hasn't dictated the pass game progression but rather taken a more short sighted approach leaving us without a proven passing game come playoff time (if we get there). It feels like the plan with Os has been abandoned until next year.

I'm not feeling that at all.

I feel like this is more of a one off kind of thing more than the way we'll run this offense from here on out. I think this is the way we should have been running this offense all along. Miller should be the focus of this offense.

By this time of the season it should be clear that we're going to get the ball into Miller's hands. Teams should be worried about the many ways we can get the ball to him... screens, tosses, wheel routes, check downs.

Getting Miller, Ervin, Hunt, & Grimes the ball in space should be giving DCs nightmares by now, instead they know we don't use or backs like that. even though we've been very successful the times that we have.
 
We're talking about different things.
You're happy to stay with status quo.

I now DEMAND better.
It's how a team can get better.

You need to cultivate a stronger approach than just to support the local team.

It's not unrealistic.

First, I would appreciate you quoting that post I made where I said I was happy with the status quo.

Second, I need to cultivate a stronger approach? What the ****? They don't sign my paycheck. My family and our life isn't improved by them going 16-0. It's ******* entertainment.
 
Can you expand on this? I'm not being adversarial, I'm just interested in other's take on this. Prior to the season, I expected us to be a passing team by the end of the year complimented by a fairly good running game w/ the addition of LMiller (understanding that certain games may call for more of a running game plan depending on the defense). I'm guessing most of us thought this by the way that the board back then spent a lot of time discussing all the different ways that we would be able to use the speed that had been added to the team. I felt like BoB was working towards this and we had gotten there with the Raiders game where I thought Brock showed he was ready for the next step. But since then I feel like our game plan has reverted back to a run first team.

My own take is that BoB originally intended to move towards this type of offense but OL and WR injuries combined w/ Brock not picking things up as quickly as BoB had hoped has led him to call the game he feels gives us the best chance to win the game at hand -- a run focused game plan. My criticism of BoB has been that we could have built on the passing game we showed we were capable of vs Raiders but BoB hasn't dictated the pass game progression but rather taken a more short sighted approach leaving us without a proven passing game come playoff time (if we get there). It feels like the plan with Os has been abandoned until next year.

Firsts, let me say that bringing in Brock showed me they had an idea of what they wanted to do with this offense. Step up pocket passer with a big arm. I never felt that they had any game plan other than get back to winning seasons right now when they brought in Fitz, Hoyer or Mallett. They let Jones and Brooks walk without offers, then went to the draft and FA to address the Oline. They brought in a complimentary back in Miller. Had a cadre of young WR's that finally included a bit of speed. That was a plan.

Second, I really agree with everything that you said, especially the part about OL and WR injuries totally derailing what they wanted to do. Now is seems instead of a long term system install, they are back to trying to keep winning seasons going after the injury bug hit. Brock isn't where they wanted him to be. The patchwork OL is getting some success in the run game. Go with what works to win games. That seems to be the approach right now in Week 15, but starting the season they clearly had a plan/system that they were trying to install.

I have a really hard time saying everyone failed to do their jobs when so many key players are on IR. Brock doesn't get a pass. He gets told that despite the situation he needs to be better and has one more year to prove it. I think if anyone needs to be shown the door at the end of this season, it's Godsey.
 
Understood. WR injuries have no doubt slowed our pass progression. And maybe BoB hasn't had any choice but to turn back to the run -- I'm sincerely hoping that this is the case and given a healthy receiving corp next year, the passing game opens up. I'm just doing my best to figure out what type of coach we have in BoB. It's not easy to pinpoint with all of the factors that go into assessing him -- much like Brock's situation.
If one can believe what O'Brien says, then he places a lot of importance on the running game as well he should - it's a basic part of any offense.
I hope he doesn't place too much importance on it because it will make you more predictable.
Yes, you must be able to pound the rock to be a good offense, but you must also be able to pass the ball efficiently if you want to compete at the very highest level and we are still trying to get to that point.
(I'm just talking offense here.)
 
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And all this has to do with the AFC South standings how?
Poor quality of play (at times), weird play calling (at times), and suspect officiating (at times) are why we aren't running away with this weak division. Crappy QB play is why we lost to the Chargers. We could have won in Mexico City but we got jobbed out of that Raiders game. I wasn't expecting a lot up in snowy GB so that loss doesn't bother me as much as the other two.

So when you think about how we ought to be two games up on everyone in the division, the conversation naturally turns to who folks think should be shown the door.
 
Teams should be worried about the many ways we can get the ball to him... screens, tosses, wheel routes, check downs.

Getting Miller, Ervin, Hunt, & Grimes the ball in space should be giving DCs nightmares by now, instead they know we don't use or backs like that. even though we've been very successful the times that we have.
Screens, wheel routes, check downs are all part of the passing game -- I've long felt like they need to do much more of this as well but I've felt like this should be in an effort to get Brock into a rhythm and to get our passing game going. Regardless of where we differ on where the offense should be at, you're 100% correct that we're missing this aspect of our offense. From your other posts and this one, I feel like I understand where you're coming from on what our offense should look like -- I've just felt like we're not capable of being a Broncos team of last year with this type of offense because our defense isn't at that level where our pass rush is w/out the blitz. I think we're going to need to air it out in certain games down the stretch and we don't have that in our toolbox so our game plan is hamstrung. At this point, I would be satisfied if we were at where you feel our offense should be -- so in your opinion, why aren't we there?
 
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I have a really hard time saying everyone failed to do their jobs when so many key players are on IR. Brock doesn't get a pass. He gets told that despite the situation he needs to be better and has one more year to prove it. I think if anyone needs to be shown the door at the end of this season, it's Godsey.
Agreed w/ your entire post, especially the quoted and bolded.
 
Screens, wheel routes, check downs are all part of the passing game -- I've long felt like they need to do much more of this as well but I've felt like this should be in an effort to get Brock into a rhythm and to get our passing game going. Regardless of where we differ on where the offense should be at, you're 100% correct that we're missing this aspect of our offense. From your other posts and this one, I feel like I understand where you're coming from on what our offense should look like -- I've just felt like we're not capable of being a Broncos team of last year with this type of offense because our defense isn't at that level where our pass rush is w/out the blitz. I think we're going to need to air it out in certain games down the stretch and we don't have that in our toolbox so our game plan is hamstrung. At this point, I would be satisfied if we were at where you feel our offense should be -- so in your opinion, why aren't we there?

Our coaches are the smartest guys in the room, that's why. Instead of looking at & featuring the things we're good at, they're going to prove Brock Osweiler is/isn't a franchise QB. Never mind that our WRs can't get open. Never mind that our OL struggle in pass protection. Never mind that Lamar Miller is banged up. Never mind that Hunt & Grimes look like they break off 15 yards every time they touch the ball.

I see too much square pegging & instead of feeding the play makers, we try to force our "stars" to be stars.
 
Our coaches are the smartest guys in the room, that's why. Instead of looking at & featuring the things we're good at, they're going to prove Brock Osweiler is/isn't a franchise QB. Never mind that our WRs can't get open. Never mind that our OL struggle in pass protection. Never mind that Lamar Miller is banged up. Never mind that Hunt & Grimes look like they break off 15 yards every time they touch the ball.

I see too much square pegging & instead of feeding the play makers, we try to force our "stars" to be stars.

There is no way to prove it, but it just *feels like things are opened up more when OB is calling plays. But he seems to be square pegging Godsey as well, trying to force him to be a good play-calling OC. IMHO and all that caveat crap. Maybe I'm fooling myself and seeing what I want to see.
 
Our coaches are the smartest guys in the room, that's why. Instead of looking at & featuring the things we're good at, they're going to prove Brock Osweiler is/isn't a franchise QB. Never mind that our WRs can't get open. Never mind that our OL struggle in pass protection. Never mind that Lamar Miller is banged up. Never mind that Hunt & Grimes look like they break off 15 yards every time they touch the ball.

I see too much square pegging & instead of feeding the play makers, we try to force our "stars" to be stars.
Is the offense that you've advocated for because you think Brock isn't capable of being a 'franchise' qb (meaning he isn't capable of operating the pass first offense I've discussed)? If so, did you feel this way pre-season or just as you've seen more of him as the season progressed?

I'm trying to get a sense of if you feel that the offense you've described should be the ultimate goal of this offense under Brock or if you feel that the 'plan' has had to have been curtailed because of a permanent ceiling on Brocks abilities that your offense now makes sense because of his short comings? (hopefully you understand what I'm trying to ask).
 
Is the offense that you've advocated for because you think Brock isn't capable of being a 'franchise' qb (meaning he isn't capable of operating the pass first offense I've discussed)? If so, did you feel this way pre-season or just as you've seen more of him as the season progressed?

I'm trying to get a sense of if you feel that the offense you've described should be the ultimate goal of this offense under Brock or if you feel that the 'plan' has had to have been curtailed because of a permanent ceiling on Brocks abilities that your offense now makes sense because of his short comings? (hopefully you understand what I'm trying to ask).

In the post you quoted, he didn't describe any offense...
 
Our coaches are the smartest guys in the room, that's why. Instead of looking at & featuring the things we're good at, they're going to prove Brock Osweiler is/isn't a franchise QB. Never mind that our WRs can't get open. Never mind that our OL struggle in pass protection. Never mind that Lamar Miller is banged up. Never mind that Hunt & Grimes look like they break off 15 yards every time they touch the ball.

I see too much square pegging & instead of feeding the play makers, we try to force our "stars" to be stars.

My things is WHY. I mean is the prize at the end of the rainbow suppose to be a SuperBowl ring?. So why are they playing silly games like that. You wasn't trying to make Fitzpatrick, Hoyer or the host of others that got the luxury of playing in this complicated supposedly system. They made sure they played to their strengths and they got the ball to their playmakers. So I have asked WHY?
Are they that petty to the point of throwing a supposedly great chance to be a representative in our on back yard. The Superbowl is here correct? Do they not know how pump the City of Houston will be? Do they not know the revenue of such festivity, especially if we were to win it.

By now they should know that you can't fit a square peg into a triangle. But hey they keep trying I see. Lol
 
Is the offense that you've advocated for because you think Brock isn't capable of being a 'franchise' qb (meaning he isn't capable of operating the pass first offense I've discussed)? If so, did you feel this way pre-season or just as you've seen more of him as the season progressed?

I'm trying to get a sense of if you feel that the offense you've described should be the ultimate goal of this offense under Brock or if you feel that the 'plan' has had to have been curtailed because of a permanent ceiling on Brocks abilities that your offense now makes sense because of his short comings? (hopefully you understand what I'm trying to ask).

Looking at Brock individually I don't get the feel that he is holding the team back. I see WRs who fail to get separation & an OL that doesn't give them time to get open.

Of course a little anticipation &/or better ball placement/accuracy would help out a lot. however those are usually advance skills that take time on the field to develop.

& if teams are focusing that much on our receivers, our backs out of the backfield should have some opportunities. Miller, Hunt, Ervin have all looked like match up problems when they get the ball in space.

But as been said more than once, when we see things that work, our coaches seem to put those away & continue to focus on the things we struggle with.
 
Looking at Brock individually I don't get the feel that he is holding the team back. I see WRs who fail to get separation & an OL that doesn't give them time to get open.

Of course a little anticipation &/or better ball placement/accuracy would help out a lot. however those are usually advance skills that take time on the field to develop.

& if teams are focusing that much on our receivers, our backs out of the backfield should have some opportunities. Miller, Hunt, Ervin have all looked like match up problems when they get the ball in space.

But as been said more than once, when we see things that work, our coaches seem to put those away & continue to focus on the things we struggle with.

It's really hard to judge an offensive staff when the QB can't throw accurately. It looks to me like they're just trying to win games, and it often revolves around playing safe football. Osweiler misses regularly. I can't imagine how hard it is to gameplan when you know your QB is slow at reading and also inaccurate.
 
With the Texans beating the Jaguars, the Titans winning in Kansas City and the Colts destroying the Vikings, this is how the division looks now.
The Texans are still tied with the Titans with the tie breaker going to the Texans because of division wins. The Texans hold the best division record in the NFL at 5-0 in their division.

Texans 8-6
Titans 8-6
Colts 7-7
Jaguars 2-12

The Texans will take on the Bengals at home, the Titans will travel the Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in a divisional game and the Colts will travel to Oakland to take on the Raiders.
The Texans should hold on the the division with a win over the Bengals. The Titans will likely beat the Jaguars even though we'd like to see the Jaguars beat the Titans to give the division to the Texans. The Colts will likely fall out of the division race by losing to the Raiders. After this week, this is likely how the division will look like.

Texans 9-6
Titans 9-6
Colts 7-8
Jaguars 2-13

The Texans will have to win out to win the division if this is how things transpire after week 16. Let's hope the Jaguars can play spoiler and beat the Titans to give the division to the Texans so the last game against the Titans in week 17 won't mean anything.
 
I expect the Jags to come out flat next weekend vs the Titans after a tough loss yesterday and their HC getting fired.
Stunned the Titans won in single digit temps yesterday in KC as they now have beat the defending SB champ Broncos & Chiefs in two straight weeks and have us at their place for the regular season final so they are in the "drivers seat".
 
Understood. WR injuries have no doubt slowed our pass progression. And maybe BoB hasn't had any choice but to turn back to the run -- I'm sincerely hoping that this is the case and given a healthy receiving corp next year, the passing game opens up. I'm just doing my best to figure out what type of coach we have in BoB. It's not easy to pinpoint with all of the factors that go into assessing him -- much like Brock's situation.

It seems to me these same messages could have been applied to Kubiak when he was here. Since he was here, the players have changed, the head coach has changed, some assistants have changed. The one constant is Rick Smith. That needs to change before we win.
 
It seems to me these same messages could have been applied to Kubiak when he was here. Since he was here, the players have changed, the head coach has changed, some assistants have changed. The one constant is Rick Smith. That needs to change before we win.

You mean win more. Rick Smith has a +.500 record as a GM (discounting first season because he was not involved in draft/FA), winning seasons 6 out of the last 8 years and a team cusping on its fourth playoff appearance in six years. Not saying he is in the GMOTY contention, but we need to give credit where it is due.

What we want is for the team to win MORE, as in deep playoff runs and be a legit contender. Maybe someone needs to come in and "Gruden" him.
 
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With the Texans win over the Bengals, The Jaguars beating the Titans and the Raiders beating the Colts, This is what our division now looks like.

Texans 9-6
Titans 8-7
Colts 7-8
Jaguars 3-12

The Texans WON the DIVISION!
The last game against the Titans no longer means anything. That's a good feeling.
However, The last week of the year could go this way.
The Texans will travel to Tennessee to take on a Titans team that lost their starting quarterback for the season with a broken leg, and the Colts will play the Jaguars at home. It's all divisional this week. The Texans could go into Nashville and beat the Titans and the Colts should beat the Jaguars.
Just for grins and giggles, this is what the division could look like after this week.

Texans 10-6
Titans 8-8
Colts 8-8
Jaguars 3-13

Not that any of this matters, but it would be a nice way to end the regular season on a winning note to go into the playoffs on a winning streak for our wild card game against who ever we play.
 
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