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Takeaways from the Bucs game.

badboy

Hall of Fame
I too am frustrated about Will Fuller staying injured but as poorly as we play without him the last thing I want is to get rid of him. He will be another Jacoby Jones, he'll go off and win a Super Bowl for somebody.

He's kinda like our Bo Jackson, dangerous weapon that we only have access to part time, instead of baseball its injuries. We should just save him for after baseball season for playoff runs if he can only play 9 games every year, just save him for when you really need him.
If you let Fuller go the plan should be to replace him with somebody better
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
Ehh, spare me the “ I’m an old Houston football fan” diatribe. Fact is dominating and looking good winning in the regular season has never guaranteed a championship or even a deep playoff run. Having an exciting team to watch offensively ALSO hasn’t guaranteed a deep playoff run for teams. And in that regard you don’t have to look any further than the Rockets and Astros and the many many many many times over a half century for each when everyone thought or they were “supposed” to win and they failed.

Gets tiresome coming to this once great message board only to see it being overrun with front-running whiny fans; a lot of which have no perspective and would rather see this team lose than win just to say “I told u so”.

Reminds me of UT/Aggie football fans who think that if they just throw a lot of money at the latest new hot HC/OC every few years, then they’ll be competing for championships every year...why? Well, b/c we’re Texas that’s why!

Nope , we don't want to say "I told you so" …. We want more than just Division "Champions" , we want a real "Championship" , you know a Lombardi Trophy.

We believe that with the current staff calling the shots , we don't get where we want to go and have 6 years of history showing that this guy isn't good enough.

We have little hope in next season with the same guy calling the shots - we expect another division "championship" next year and another early out in the post season due to the same old reasons "I need to coach better".
Your damn right OB , you need to coach better , you need to manage the clock better , you need to call plays better …. better yet , you need to retire because at this point , no one in their right mind expects you to suddenly get better at what you do.

The way forward for this franchise is without OB - the means to that end was missing the playoffs. Winning he last two weeks was bad , long-term for the franchise ….
Sorry if that hurts your feelings … but OB isn't part of the solution , he's part of the problem and the results the last two weeks did nothing but cement him for another year and guarantee us Texans Fans a repeat of the last 6 years.

I'd take 2-14 to have some hope for the future. Of which , right now I have very little.
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
5:50 2nd Qtr
3rd & 13

View attachment 5196

What is Watson waiting on here? I know we like to blame BO'b for everything, but that's Hopkins at the line to gain breaking in. Watson is thinking. The ball should be gone, if he reads the safety who hasn't left the hash. That's a first down right there

Or he could throw the ball to Hyde who has all kinds of green in front of him. Maybe he picks it up. Maybe he doesn't.

Instead he dances for a little bit then throws the check down to Duke to the right. He's got a man 3 yards in front of him, has to juke one guy & beat another to the corner.

Tunsil gets called for a hold after Watson should have gotten rid of the ball.
We've pointed out plays like this all year long ….

But then we are bombarded with …. Jesus in cleats , Its all OB's fault. Watson's handcuffed by OB ....

The reality is , both of them need to be better and Watson misses an awful lot of opportunities.

One of the main reasons I'd like to see Watson with another HC / OC before backing up the Brinks truck to the tune of $35m a year , maybe another staff can help him be more consistent.
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
There will be 20 teams that won't be participating in the postseason that wish they had the opportunity.
I'm hoping the Texans can appreciate the moment and play their best ball.
If they do, they will be competitive and win or lose can hold their heads up high.
Only one team will win the grand prize so 31 fan bases will be disappointed.
How would you like to be a Rams fan right now?
At least we played better than our original projections so far so there is that.

Normally , I'd agree with you here - a lot of teams / fanbases would be thrilled to be where we are …. but we are where we have been since 2015 & 2016 with no realistic expectations of progression beyond that …. and that was with Brian Hoyer and Brock Osweiler at QB.

Now …. we have a much better player under center in Watson yet the ceiling appears to be the same.

So …. what do you do to raise that ceiling ?! Division Champs aint cutting it after 6 years.

Don't forget they traded the top half of the draft away already ….
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
Normally , I'd agree with you here - a lot of teams / fanbases would be thrilled to be where we are …. but we are where we have been since 2015 & 2016 with no realistic expectations of progression beyond that …. and that was with Brian Hoyer and Brock Osweiler at QB.

Now …. we have a much better player under center in Watson yet the ceiling appears to be the same.

So …. what do you do to raise that ceiling ?! Division Champs aint cutting it after 6 years.

Don't forget they traded the top half of the draft away already ….
It all depends on the offense. The D is up to the task and moreso if the O is scoring and ST is playing well also.
The Jekyll and Hyde stuff can't happen in the Post season - they need to get back to that scoring formula and stick to it.
 

otisbean

Veteran
Contributor's Club
Winning division titles are important for 1 reason and 1 reason only, it guarantees a home playoff game. They shouldn’t be celebrated the way we do as a team. If I coached the team I would never let my guys where division champ hats/shirts, those are for fans. After winning the division I’d let my guys know they did a great job on Step 1, and we now need to switch our focus to Step 2 winning the AFC so we can get to Step 3 winning the SB
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Pancake Logic: hand out grades of C or worse to most of the team, and somehow wind up giving the overall an A ... LMAOOOOO ... this guy is such a homer its incredible. Im going to question anyone who uses his takes as some sort of springboard.

 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
We did and I can't remember him playing one snap all season.
The only play with a FB, I can recall was against Carolina on the play Hopkins threw the interception. Is it any wonder the Panthers knew the play was coming based on the little used formation?

 

badboy

Hall of Fame
I made suggestion in the offseason not to go with FB and use TE when needed. That seems to be happening some but we usually go empty or with Hyde blocking a bit. I don't think Duke blocks much..even if it is the assignment.
 

Mr teX

Hall of Fame
Nope , we don't want to say "I told you so" …. We want more than just Division "Champions" , we want a real "Championship" , you know a Lombardi Trophy.

We believe that with the current staff calling the shots , we don't get where we want to go and have 6 years of history showing that this guy isn't good enough.

We have little hope in next season with the same guy calling the shots - we expect another division "championship" next year and another early out in the post season due to the same old reasons "I need to coach better".
Your damn right OB , you need to coach better , you need to manage the clock better , you need to call plays better …. better yet , you need to retire because at this point , no one in their right mind expects you to suddenly get better at what you do.

The way forward for this franchise is without OB - the means to that end was missing the playoffs. Winning he last two weeks was bad , long-term for the franchise ….
Sorry if that hurts your feelings … but OB isn't part of the solution , he's part of the problem and the results the last two weeks did nothing but cement him for another year and guarantee us Texans Fans a repeat of the last 6 years.

I'd take 2-14 to have some hope for the future. Of which , right now I have very little.
Wanting “Hope” for the future is your problem, not the teams, coaching staff or even this message board’s. You want all the hope for the future you could ever want? Go be a jags, raiders or cardinals fan. They seem to have that aspect down pat with the way they switch coaches b/c they’re sucking to high heaven every year.
 

mws

Rookie
Wanting “Hope” for the future is your problem, not the teams, coaching staff or even this message board’s. You want all the hope for the future you could ever want? Go be a jags, raiders or cardinals fan. They seem to have that aspect down pat with the way they switch coaches b/c they’re sucking to high heaven every year.
For 2 out of 3 it seems to work a hell of a lot better than what the Texans are doing. Both the Jaguars & the Cardinals have been to a Conference Championship during the last 5 years while the Texans have only one playoff win.

Jaguars - 2017 AFCCG
Cardinals - 2015 NFCCG

Hell even the lowly Raiders have won a Super Bowl since the Texans have been in the league.

Raiders - 2002 Super Bowl

The Cardinals also went to the Super Bowl in 2008.

For future reference here are the 8 teams that have not made a conference championship since 2002.

Bengals
Bills
Browns
Cowboys
Dolphins
Lions
Redskins
Texans
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
For 2 out of 3 it seems to work a hell of a lot better than what the Texans are doing. Both the Jaguars & the Cardinals have been to a Conference Championship during the last 5 years while the Texans have only one playoff win.

Jaguars - 2017 AFCCG
Cardinals - 2015 NFCCG

Hell even the lowly Raiders have won a Super Bowl since the Texans have been in the league.

Raiders - 2002 Super Bowl

The Cardinals also went to the Super Bowl in 2008.

For future reference here are the 8 teams that have not made a conference championship since 2002.

Bengals
Bills
Browns
Cowboys
Dolphins
Lions
Redskins
Texans

Ouch. Out of that "loser" list .. Cincy, Buffalo, Dallas, Miami, Washington can all boast making a Super Bowl if not winning one in the last 20-30 years.

I've always found it amusing to watch guys latch on to mediocrity and then somehow tout it as a positive. "Hey at least we're not "bad" like such and such they say" its just a bad case of survivorship bias.

I'd much rather have a team that actually goes ALL IN when they say they do, being able to cheer for your team in a MEANINGFUL game, even if it would mean in a year or two they would be bad. Our issue is that we're not bad enough to garner high enough picks to change the team significantly, and we arent good enough to be taken serious as a landing spot for top tier free agent talent, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST CAP SPACE IN THE LEAGUE.

Mediocrity is a lonely mistress.
 

ROO

Tweak the offense already!
If you let Fuller go the plan should be to replace him with somebody better
Been thinking about this. Fuller has to go. And Texans should draft the best WR available when their pick finally comes around.
 

76Texan

Hall of Fame
5:50 2nd Qtr
3rd & 13

View attachment 5196

What is Watson waiting on here? I know we like to blame BO'b for everything, but that's Hopkins at the line to gain breaking in. Watson is thinking. The ball should be gone, if he reads the safety who hasn't left the hash. That's a first down right there

Or he could throw the ball to Hyde who has all kinds of green in front of him. Maybe he picks it up. Maybe he doesn't.

Instead he dances for a little bit then throws the check down to Duke to the right. He's got a man 3 yards in front of him, has to juke one guy & beat another to the corner.

Tunsil gets called for a hold after Watson should have gotten rid of the ball.
He wanted to, but he saw the WLB in the hook zone about 10 yd deep. That would be right in front of the deep-in that Hopkins was running.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Been thinking about this. Fuller has to go. And Texans should draft the best WR available when their pick finally comes around.
Yes. 5th year $10 m cap at 26 YOA I can only hope we can get something for him or include him in a trade. Bottom line we have to cut him. If I were a team needing a 2-3rd WR and I had a great O scheme that could use him I would not trade for his cap unless he agreed to extend and lower 2020 $ and spread cost over non guaranteed back end years to lower my risks.
 
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dream_team

Hall of Fame
Ouch. Out of that "loser" list .. Cincy, Buffalo, Dallas, Miami, Washington can all boast making a Super Bowl if not winning one in the last 20-30 years.

I've always found it amusing to watch guys latch on to mediocrity and then somehow tout it as a positive. "Hey at least we're not "bad" like such and such they say" its just a bad case of survivorship bias.

I'd much rather have a team that actually goes ALL IN when they say they do, being able to cheer for your team in a MEANINGFUL game, even if it would mean in a year or two they would be bad. Our issue is that we're not bad enough to garner high enough picks to change the team significantly, and we arent good enough to be taken serious as a landing spot for top tier free agent talent, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST CAP SPACE IN THE LEAGUE.

Mediocrity is a lonely mistress.
Unfortunately, this IS the season we went "All In".
 

powda

The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Ouch. Out of that "loser" list .. Cincy, Buffalo, Dallas, Miami, Washington can all boast making a Super Bowl if not winning one in the last 20-30 years.

I've always found it amusing to watch guys latch on to mediocrity and then somehow tout it as a positive. "Hey at least we're not "bad" like such and such they say" its just a bad case of survivorship bias.

I'd much rather have a team that actually goes ALL IN when they say they do, being able to cheer for your team in a MEANINGFUL game, even if it would mean in a year or two they would be bad. Our issue is that we're not bad enough to garner high enough picks to change the team significantly, and we arent good enough to be taken serious as a landing spot for top tier free agent talent, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST CAP SPACE IN THE LEAGUE.

Mediocrity is a lonely mistress.
I'm ready to run through a wall right now. Well ******* said.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
If u think that either of those guys can replicate what WFV does for this offense, then u haven’t been paying attention.

its Not simply replicating “downfield” plays, its his route running ability..its him being able to win downfield and create that win fast as hell, it’s the spacing he creates, it’s the chemistry DW4 loses without him on the field, it’s the threat of him on the field that allows your 3rd guy in Stills/Coutee to see 1 on 1 when all 3 are on the fieltogether..

you may be able to make some of those things up without him on the field and the other guys in his place, but not all of them at the same time...like u would have WITH him.

THAT is the total impact.
Going with 80 on this one. I like Fuller but Stills can do same plus he can play a game on field not sit on bench or be a limping decoy; not Fuller's fault OBrien will not let him heal. IMO Fuller gets most of his production only because of focus on Hop. We've seen recently what Kenny S. did with that vs Titans and what Carter could have done [2 targets-2 catches- 44 yards! Why only two targets?]
 

Double Barrel

Texans Talk Admin
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Ouch. Out of that "loser" list .. Cincy, Buffalo, Dallas, Miami, Washington can all boast making a Super Bowl if not winning one in the last 20-30 years.

I've always found it amusing to watch guys latch on to mediocrity and then somehow tout it as a positive. "Hey at least we're not "bad" like such and such they say" its just a bad case of survivorship bias.

I'd much rather have a team that actually goes ALL IN when they say they do, being able to cheer for your team in a MEANINGFUL game, even if it would mean in a year or two they would be bad. Our issue is that we're not bad enough to garner high enough picks to change the team significantly, and we arent good enough to be taken serious as a landing spot for top tier free agent talent, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE THE MOST CAP SPACE IN THE LEAGUE.

Mediocrity is a lonely mistress.
All O'Brien has to do is get this team to win the "championship" of the weak AFC south division to ensure annual job security. His sights do not have to be any higher, and as long as he does that - or at least is perceived as competitive in trying to accomplish it - he's going to be McNair's "Tom Landry". Because the McNairs have never demanded greatness, and they will settle for a guy that always seems to give them the potential to catch lightning in a bottle. That's two decades of history.

As far as this game, I get that a W is a W. I'll take it.

But, let's not be dishonest in our analysis or be blinded by pom pom waving or some imaginary metric of measuring "fandom".

This team has clearly been inconsistent all season. And they are about to entire a buzzsaw of teams that won't beat themselves like the Bucs and Titans. I do not doubt the sincerity of anyone that wants to ignore those flaws, but I also do not doubt the integrity of those that clearly see the flaws and are willing to call them out.

It's tough to be a blind optimist when you're pragmatic.
 

powda

The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
All O'Brien has to do is get this team to win the "championship" of the weak AFC south division to ensure annual job security. His sights do not have to be any higher, and as long as he does that - or at least is perceived as competitive in trying to accomplish it - he's going to be McNair's "Tom Landry". Because the McNairs have never demanded greatness, and they will settle for a guy that always seems to give them the potential to catch lightning in a bottle. That's two decades of history.

As far as this game, I get that a W is a W. I'll take it.

But, let's not be dishonest in our analysis or be blinded by pom pom waving or some imaginary metric of measuring "fandom".

This team has clearly been inconsistent all season. And they are about to entire a buzzsaw of teams that won't beat themselves like the Bucs and Titans. I do not doubt the sincerity of anyone that wants to ignore those flaws, but I also do not doubt the integrity of those that clearly see the flaws and are willing to call them out.

It's tough to be a blind optimist when you're pragmatic.
You guys should be doing pregame speeches.

It's time to get this dog and pony show moving like a knife through butter. I want the AFC championship game. Nothing less is acceptable for me.
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
Going with 80 on this one. I like Fuller but Stills can do same plus he can play a game on field not sit on bench or be a limping decoy; not Fuller's fault OBrien will not let him heal. IMO Fuller gets most of his production only because of focus on Hop. We've seen recently what Kenny S. did with that vs Titans and what Carter could have done [2 targets-2 catches- 44 yards! Why only two targets?]
It's just another example of the shortsightedness and inflexibility of this offensive staff. If they are going to rush Fuller back from his injuries, the TEs, Coutee and Stills should be leveraged to limit his snaps. Instead, Fuller is coming off an injury and in his first game back, he plays over 90% of the snaps against the Titans.

Coutee might be making mental mistakes and running the wrong routes. However, instead of deactivating him, can they identify what plays he runs well and put a weekly package of plays together? Isn't that what we are suppose to be seeing with this mythical game plan offense?

This isn't rocket science and is really inexcusable that O'Brien and his staff cannot create better personnel groupings to maximize the TEs, Stills, and Coutee.
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
Wanting “Hope” for the future is your problem, not the teams, coaching staff or even this message board’s. You want all the hope for the future you could ever want? Go be a jags, raiders or cardinals fan. They seem to have that aspect down pat with the way they switch coaches b/c they’re sucking to high heaven every year.

6 years in …. 6 years of mediocrity. You expect OB to suddenly catch fire ?

History has shown us he's not the guy - we've invested more than enough time in mediocrity.

Its time to move on.
 

mws

Rookie
As far as I know we are 10-5 right now. It's possible we go 11-5 but with the LWWL pattern predicting loss I would not bet on it.
 

FuzzyLogic

Mathematically Possible
He wanted to, but he saw the WLB in the hook zone about 10 yd deep. That would be right in front of the deep-in that Hopkins was running.
Still seems to me he needs to trust what he is seeing - if he throws when he cocks his arm I still think it's a completion. Also not a fan of the route combo Carter and Hopkins are basically going to end up in the same space (Carter should have stayed more shallow, in front of the backer), and Hyde still would have been a good option the first or second time he looked for the ball.

 

76Texan

Hall of Fame
Still seems to me he needs to trust what he is seeing - if he throws when he cocks his arm I still think it's a completion. Also not a fan of the route combo Carter and Hopkins are basically going to end up in the same space (Carter should have stayed more shallow, in front of the backer), and Hyde still would have been a good option the first or second time he looked for the ball.

It may look that way, but the risk of a pick-six is just too great.
The WLB was definitely ready to jump that route.
 

76Texan

Hall of Fame
Still seems to me he needs to trust what he is seeing - if he throws when he cocks his arm I still think it's a completion. Also not a fan of the route combo Carter and Hopkins are basically going to end up in the same space (Carter should have stayed more shallow, in front of the backer), and Hyde still would have been a good option the first or second time he looked for the ball.

To me, it's 3rd and 13.
The defense is likely dropping back in cover 3 or cover 2.
(In this case, they dropped back in cover 3).
I think it's probably better to have the RB goes up the hook zone to draw the WLB up rather than out to the flat.
Maybe?
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
Neither Houston franchise has made a championship game since 1979. There are 40yr olds who have never seen a Houston NFL team play for the right to go to the Super Bowl. Its sad.
If the Texans lose in the AFC Championship game, will fans fill NRG to welcome them back home?
 

TheMatrix31

Hall of Fame
Wanting “Hope” for the future is your problem, not the teams, coaching staff or even this message board’s. You want all the hope for the future you could ever want? Go be a jags, raiders or cardinals fan. They seem to have that aspect down pat with the way they switch coaches b/c they’re sucking to high heaven every year.
I hate to break it to you, but the Texans are on the level of those clownshow organizations. We are not even close to viewed as being in the same class as historically-successful franchises. We are in the Browns, Lions, Redskins, etc tier of terrible, underachieving, garbage franchises. The comical franchises that can never get out of their own way or fulfill potential on years they somehow, someway even have potential. We're a joke. Nobody respects this team. And why would they? We have proven what we are---time and time again. And there's literally nothing to indicate that will change anytime soon. Unless you count *finally* beating the Patriots a couple weeks back.

Oh by the way, the Cardinals made the Super Bowl in the last 10 years and almost won it if not for a couple of miracle plays and had a pretty sustained run of success over a decent stretch. The Raiders are closer to being back a legitimate franchise than we are with Jon Gruden's leadership at the helm and are moving to a city which requires the franchise to be successful on the field so that it is successful off the field otherwise it will crash and burn, and the Jaguars are terrible and suck nutsacks but even they were a couple of terrible plays away from making a Super Bowl just a couple years ago.

And we're six years in with our dicks in hand waiting for the viagra to kick in.
 

Big Lou

Hall of Fame
My question to Big Lou was in direct relation to this game. Handily beating the Bucs by 30 would not get us any closer to a bye week.
You are absolutely correct, even if we had hung ten touch downs on the Bucs the playoff picture is the same. The issue isnt this one sloppy win, it’s all the sloppy wins, losses to poor teams, and slow starts. Sure there were some big wins but looking at the year in total indicates another one and done playoff run capped by most likely what will be an embarrassing beat down.

Add in the fact that future improvement look unrealistic after spending so much draft stock. There is a very narrow path for continued improvement, possibly even just trying to stay even, but time will tell.

I hope I’m wrong. Honestly if we got to the AFC Championship I would be thrilled because it would at least be another step forward versus same old same old. The mold of this team is basically “slightly above average”, but it’s just rearranging the tools every year, but never a step forward.

Lastly I will say it could be worse, hey we could be the Bengal or Lion fans. One playoff appearance followed by five or more grueling years. However I don’t root for just a winning season, what’s the point? The point is to have a legitimate chance on winning it all that’s what makes it fun and not just going through the motions. Technically we have a chance because we made the playoffs, but we all know the odds.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
He wanted to, but he saw the WLB in the hook zone about 10 yd deep. That would be right in front of the deep-in that Hopkins was running.
My point is the ball should be out before thay snap shot. Hopkins or Hyde are better options than the one he settled on.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Also not a fan of the route combo Carter and Hopkins are basically going to end up in the same space (Carter should have stayed more shallow, in front of the backer),
I have never played organized football. I have never coached anything more advanced than fast pitch softball (8U).

But, I think the play "design" is over when Hopkins & Stills cross the 30. Watson should have made a decision by then.

Speaking of which, great job posting the gif, now I'm even more upset. Stills would have been just as good an option as Hopkins.

Hopkins, Stills, or Hyde were better options to convert 3rd & 13 than Duke.

Duke did convert, but Tunsil committed a hold which took it away. I blame Watson partially for not getting the ball out on time. But Tunsil could have & should have done better.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
So just before the half we get the ball back inside of two minutes. O'Brien calls a play designed to get Stills open on a skinny post.

& Stills gets behind the defense on the skinny post. If the ball is thrown in front of him it's a 50+ yard TD. The score would be 24-10... Texans fans would be happy. They would see dominate performance they wanted to see.

But, even though O'Brien called a dagger of a play, Watson throws the ball behind the receiver, where the DB has better claim to the ball than the WR.

Maybe Stills was supposed to run a go route? Maybe Watson put the ball where it was supposed to be. But the point is O'Brien called the right play.

Or maybe Watson checked to it from the line. Who knows?
 

Rich Schmidt

Myopicone
So just before the half we get the ball back inside of two minutes. O'Brien calls a play designed to get Stills open on a skinny post.

& Stills gets behind the defense on the skinny post. If the ball is thrown in front of him it's a 50+ yard TD. The score would be 24-10... Texans fans would be happy. They would see dominate performance they wanted to see.

But, even though O'Brien called a dagger of a play, Watson throws the ball behind the receiver, where the DB has better claim to the ball than the WR.

Maybe Stills was supposed to run a go route? Maybe Watson put the ball where it was supposed to be. But the point is O'Brien called the right play.

Or maybe Watson checked to it from the line. Who knows?
Polo's got to call it, jersey's need to execute. Hard to know unless they share later, but indeed, he had a 1 on 1 deep shot to a trusted receiver who had a step inside. Put a little more blame on the throw from my perspective, but cannot be sure
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
So just before the half we get the ball back inside of two minutes. O'Brien calls a play designed to get Stills open on a skinny post.

& Stills gets behind the defense on the skinny post. If the ball is thrown in front of him it's a 50+ yard TD. The score would be 24-10... Texans fans would be happy. They would see dominate performance they wanted to see.

But, even though O'Brien called a dagger of a play, Watson throws the ball behind the receiver, where the DB has better claim to the ball than the WR.

Maybe Stills was supposed to run a go route? Maybe Watson put the ball where it was supposed to be. But the point is O'Brien called the right play.

Or maybe Watson checked to it from the line. Who knows?
This was before the half.

We start the 3rd qtr with a drive that gets us inside the 10, thanks to amazing plays from DW4. Then on 2nd down the pocket breaks down Watson attempts a jump pass to Duke which would be an easy TD. Score should be 31-10 as the Polos called it.

But the throw is off. 3rd down another poor throw on a would be TD pass... we settle for a field goal.

It's 20-17 instead of 31-10 to start the third.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Still seems to me he needs to trust what he is seeing - if he throws when he cocks his arm I still think it's a completion. Also not a fan of the route combo Carter and Hopkins are basically going to end up in the same space (Carter should have stayed more shallow, in front of the backer), and Hyde still would have been a good option the first or second time he looked for the ball.

this is the play I mentioned. I'm not sure why Hyde looked around to left then to the right but was wide open. Watson seemed to have no clue his RB was open. Why? If 23 didn't remain in to block why did he drift around left side? I can understand wanting a receiver deeper but #4 had time to check down. This is a major concern I have for our QB.
 
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