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Texans random thought of the day

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Random thought and question. If you don't have an offensive identity and on a weekly basis, you simply try to attack the defenses based on what they do. Don't knowledgeable DCs know the weak spots in their own defenses and can easily look at what you did in previous games and counter what they expect you to attack? For example, if I'm a DC running a 4-3 with heavy Cover3 tendencies, based on the Texan's tendencies, don't I know the areas the Texans are likely to attack?

The reason for my random thought. I was reading the article below and this quote stands out, “It’s a game-plan offense so we’re gonna look at who we play and say, "Here’s what they do on defense, and here’s what we’re going to do to try to attack that."

https://www.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2012/01/post_154.html
Theoretically you bring out a decent point. However, there are many defenses that maintain their same plan from week to week, with some adjustments. They will usually stick to a plan, many times throughout a season, that they believe based on strength of roster to be able to work consistently. It's not that easy to make major changes to a defense. The same can be said for offenses on a lesser scale. All you have to do is look at the old Shannahan offense.................run it over and over and over again............and hope your strength allows it to work.

Football is a complicated game, and few have the magic key to "open or close the door" consistently.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Random thought and question. If you don't have an offensive identity and on a weekly basis, you simply try to attack the defenses based on what they do. Don't knowledgeable DCs know the weak spots in their own defenses and can easily look at what you did in previous games and counter what they expect you to attack? For example, if I'm a DC running a 4-3 with heavy Cover3 tendencies, based on the Texan's tendencies, don't I know the areas the Texans are likely to attack?

The reason for my random thought. I was reading the article below and this quote stands out, “It’s a game-plan offense so we’re gonna look at who we play and say, "Here’s what they do on defense, and here’s what we’re going to do to try to attack that."

https://www.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2012/01/post_154.html
A successful team should say "you know what we might do not when; now try stop us."
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
Random thought and question. If you don't have an offensive identity and on a weekly basis, you simply try to attack the defenses based on what they do. Don't knowledgeable DCs know the weak spots in their own defenses and can easily look at what you did in previous games and counter what they expect you to attack? For example, if I'm a DC running a 4-3 with heavy Cover3 tendencies, based on the Texan's tendencies, don't I know the areas the Texans are likely to attack?

The reason for my random thought. I was reading the article below and this quote stands out, “It’s a game-plan offense so we’re gonna look at who we play and say, "Here’s what they do on defense, and here’s what we’re going to do to try to attack that."

https://www.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2012/01/post_154.html
Indeed brother.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Texans future power ranking is #23. It’s impossible to predict just where a team will be 2 years out and further but it’s not wrong to say the Texans have some areas to address and diminishing assets to address them. 2021 is going to be pretty tough on Texans fans.

regardless of power ranking preseason, we seem to end up annually in the mid 20s for drafting (win/loss). This season I want to be no worse than fourth best team in NFL. Several things have to go right especially health but that is true for all teams.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Also NFL owners have offered to eliminate all preseason games as players Association had wanted. I suggested this as allowing more time to gather info and prepare. The players are giving owners grief on social media but IMO no one knows what to do. I also suggested pushing regular season back two months. We might not have a better grasp then but IMO it would make players and fans think better about owners.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Texans have officially promoted Tracy Smith to ST coordinator, replacing Seely. He worked with Seely through the last 11 years with 3 different franchises. The Texans had also interviewed former NFL players Josh Cribbs and Sammy Morris for the job. It's interesting to note that Smith is the son of Texans offensive consultant/QB coach Carl Smith.
 

ShinobiMusashi

Waterboy
Also NFL owners have offered to eliminate all preseason games as players Association had wanted. I suggested this as allowing more time to gather info and prepare. The players are giving owners grief on social media but IMO no one knows what to do. I also suggested pushing regular season back two months. We might not have a better grasp then but IMO it would make players and fans think better about owners.
This whole season is going to be a wash I'm afraid, pushing the start back and/or condensing it seems like the smart move. Push training camp back until like October-November, maybe December and just do a single elimination 32 team tournament spread out over 5 weeks in January/February, once a team loses their season is done, go home and quarantine until 2021 season. This would minimize the risk of NFL players catching/dying from Covid and still give us some football/a Super Bowl. If they try to do a full season I'm thinking there is a lot that can go wrong and the whole thing is just going to be a disaster.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
This whole season is going to be a wash I'm afraid, pushing the start back and/or condensing it seems like the smart move. Push training camp back until like October-November, maybe December and just do a single elimination 32 team tournament spread out over 5 weeks in January/February, once a team loses their season is done, go home and quarantine until 2021 season. This would minimize the risk of NFL players catching/dying from Covid and still give us some football/a Super Bowl. If they try to do a full season I'm thinking there is a lot that can go wrong and the whole thing is just going to be a disaster.
Agree but when have you seen sports team owners and athletes as a group turn down eggs that keep plopping from that mythical bird? Some were stunned at Mahomes recent "half billion" yet yesterday I heard a baseballer received a $400 million offer for 12 years? I continue to think the NFL works a plan. Several options as you suggest could be in the running.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
I have always thought that the slot receiver was a very important factor. But, after reading this piece, I truly appreciate how important.

*****************************************************************************************

In the 2019 regular and postseason, per Pro Football Focus data, slot receivers regardless of position (receivers, running backs, and tight ends) accounted for 32% of all targets, 31.6% of all receptions, 32.3% of all receiving yardage, and 34.3% of all receiving touchdowns. In a league where the three-receiver set is by far the default formation (it happened on 69% of all snaps last season, per Sports Info Solutions), having a versatile and productive slot receiver is an absolute necessity in the modern passing game.

Moreover, there is no one kind of slot receiver in the modern NFL. It used to be that you wanted the shorter, smaller guy inside, and your bigger, more physical receivers on the outside. Then, offensive coaches started to realize that by putting bigger receivers and tight ends in the slot, you could create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller slot cornerbacks. Teams countered this by acquiring linebackers built like safeties, eager to do more than just chase after run fits, and also by moving their best cornerbacks into the slot in certain situations.

Now that offensive and defensive coaches have worked hard to create as many schematic and personnel ties in the slot as possible, the best slot receivers are the ones who consistently show the ideal characteristics for the position. These receivers know how to exploit defenders who don’t have a boundary to help them — they’ll create inside and outside position to move the defender where they want him to go. They understand the value and precision of the option route, and how you can hang a defender out to dry with a simple “if this/then that” equation based on coverage rules. They know how to work in concert with their outside receivers to create route combinations which create impossible math problems for defenses. And they know how to get open in quick spaces.

But don’t automatically assume that slot receivers are just taking the dink-and-dunk routes — they’re actually tasked to catch everything from quick slants to vertical stuff down the seam and up the numbers. Last season, per PFF data, the NFL average for yards per completion for outside receivers was 11.28. For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets.

LINK
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
I have always thought that the slot receiver was a very important factor. But, after reading this piece, I truly appreciate how important.

*****************************************************************************************

In the 2019 regular and postseason, per Pro Football Focus data, slot receivers regardless of position (receivers, running backs, and tight ends) accounted for 32% of all targets, 31.6% of all receptions, 32.3% of all receiving yardage, and 34.3% of all receiving touchdowns. In a league where the three-receiver set is by far the default formation (it happened on 69% of all snaps last season, per Sports Info Solutions), having a versatile and productive slot receiver is an absolute necessity in the modern passing game.

Moreover, there is no one kind of slot receiver in the modern NFL. It used to be that you wanted the shorter, smaller guy inside, and your bigger, more physical receivers on the outside. Then, offensive coaches started to realize that by putting bigger receivers and tight ends in the slot, you could create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller slot cornerbacks. Teams countered this by acquiring linebackers built like safeties, eager to do more than just chase after run fits, and also by moving their best cornerbacks into the slot in certain situations.

Now that offensive and defensive coaches have worked hard to create as many schematic and personnel ties in the slot as possible, the best slot receivers are the ones who consistently show the ideal characteristics for the position. These receivers know how to exploit defenders who don’t have a boundary to help them — they’ll create inside and outside position to move the defender where they want him to go. They understand the value and precision of the option route, and how you can hang a defender out to dry with a simple “if this/then that” equation based on coverage rules. They know how to work in concert with their outside receivers to create route combinations which create impossible math problems for defenses. And they know how to get open in quick spaces.

But don’t automatically assume that slot receivers are just taking the dink-and-dunk routes — they’re actually tasked to catch everything from quick slants to vertical stuff down the seam and up the numbers. Last season, per PFF data, the NFL average for yards per completion for outside receivers was 11.28. For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets.
LINK
Good post. For years we kept hearing the Texans need a slot WR. Seeing how Edelman and Welker have been an integral part of the Patriots' offense, I'm amazed that O'Brien has not been able to find a productive slot WR.

Random thought. Who has been the most productive slot WR during O'Brien tenure with the Texans?
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Last season:

This comes after Hopkins was deemed the No. 4 most targeted receiver in the league across all routes run. He ran a total of 584 routes and was targeted 146 times — exactly a 25 percent target rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

The three receivers listed ahead of him in that category are Thomas (599 routes run, 180 targets, 30.1 percent target rate); Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams (427 routes run, 124 targets, 29 percent target rate); and Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (572 routes run, 149 targets, 26 percent target rate).

When lined up in slot situations, however, Hopkins was even more dominant. He was the second-highest targeted player in the NFL in those moments, behind only Thomas. On 211 routes run in the slot, Hopkins was targeted 57 times, a 27 percent target rate.
LINK
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
Last season:

This comes after Hopkins was deemed the No. 4 most targeted receiver in the league across all routes run. He ran a total of 584 routes and was targeted 146 times — exactly a 25 percent target rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

The three receivers listed ahead of him in that category are Thomas (599 routes run, 180 targets, 30.1 percent target rate); Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams (427 routes run, 124 targets, 29 percent target rate); and Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (572 routes run, 149 targets, 26 percent target rate).

When lined up in slot situations, however, Hopkins was even more dominant. He was the second-highest targeted player in the NFL in those moments, behind only Thomas. On 211 routes run in the slot, Hopkins was targeted 57 times, a 27 percent target rate.
LINK

Top of the line info Doc. Great find and post.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
But of course...


patrick (@PatDStat) Tweeted:
The #Texans reported that TE Geoff Swaim visited today. Tomorrow he is now set to take a physcial as @TomPelissero
Reported. Texans veterans are set to take physicals on Tuesday.

Actually a pretty interesting pick. He is mostly known for his physicality as a blocking TE, something that in this new offense could come in pretty handy. Nov 2016, he suffered a torn pec and was IR'ed. In the 2017 offseason, he suffered a Jones fracture while working out on his own. In 2018, he came back strong and took Jason Witten's place as starter, and looked great................solid as a blocker, and demonstrated commendable hands as a receiver (he actually had a career high 55 receiving yds against us) the first 9 games after which he suffered a wrist fracture for which he was placed on IR. The Jags took him on as a backup last year. He again ended up on IR mid Dec after suffering a grade II lateral ankle sprain and a concussion.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Actually a pretty interesting pick. He is mostly known for his physicality as a blocking TE, something that in this new offense could come in pretty handy. Nov 2016, he suffered a torn pec and was IR'ed. In the 2017 offseason, he suffered a Jones fracture while working out on his own. In 2018, he came back strong and took Jason Witten's place as starter, and looked great................solid as a blocker, and demonstrated commendable hands as a receiver (he actually had a career high 55 receiving yds against us) the first 9 games after which he suffered a wrist fracture for which he was placed on IR. The Jags took him on as a backup last year. He again ended up on IR mid Dec after suffering a grade II lateral ankle sprain and a concussion.
Seems like he will fit right in.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
This whole season is going to be a wash I'm afraid, pushing the start back and/or condensing it seems like the smart move. Push training camp back until like October-November, maybe December and just do a single elimination 32 team tournament spread out over 5 weeks in January/February, once a team loses their season is done, go home and quarantine until 2021 season. This would minimize the risk of NFL players catching/dying from Covid and still give us some football/a Super Bowl. If they try to do a full season I'm thinking there is a lot that can go wrong and the whole thing is just going to be a disaster.
I would not be interested in that nor do I think would be many others. After one game 50% of the league is out? 5 weeks of football? Nah
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame

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Marshal's lower limbs have taken a real beating...........his drop off in the last 3 seasons were due to severe MCL Tear, severe high ankle ligament tears requiring extensive surgery, and most recently a mysterious knee injury which I discovered was a severe knee deep bone bruise ..............cumulatively which has severely handicapped his ability to perform for the last 3 seasons.
 
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Texansballer74

The Marine
View attachment 6468

Marshal's lower limbs have taken a real beating...........his drop off in the last 3 seasons were due to severe MCL Tear, severe high ankle ligament tears requiring extensive surgery, and most recently a mysterious knee injury which I discovered was a severe knee bone bruise ..............cumulatively which has severely handicapped his ability to perform for the last 3 seasons.
Ouch
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
View attachment 6468

Marshal's lower limbs have taken a real beating...........his drop off in the last 3 seasons were due to severe MCL Tear, severe high ankle ligament tears requiring extensive surgery, and most recently a mysterious knee injury which I discovered was a severe knee bone bruise ..............cumulatively which has severely handicapped his ability to perform for the last 3 seasons.
Is he healthy now?
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Hey Doc any info on what issue is or impact to season? It's allegedly not Covid related as he is on different list.
It is DEFINITELY NOT COVID-related, or he would have been placed specifically on the newly designated COVID-19 list. It also isn't an injury since he has not been placed on the Non Football Injury list. He has been placed on the separate Non Football Illness list............this can be due to any MEDICAL condition which was discovered when he came into TC (existing prior to TC), such as gastroenteritis, an eye infection, vertigo, ulcer disease, etc............or even a condition that ended up with Marcus Cannon in 2011 being placed on this list (chemotherapy for a newly diagnosed Non-Hodgkins lymphoma). Since he was placed on the "active" version of the Non Football Illness list, the team expects (although not a guarantee) him to be re-instated sometime before the beginning of the season (much like players on the PUP active list).
 
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