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The all encompassing DW4 good plays thread

Texansballer74

The Marine
True. Also, by the time Watson gets to the top of his drop, too many times Howard is already in the backfield and almost running into Watson. As fast as he seems to be able to back pedal, I wonder if Howard can take some snaps at DB?

This is what I don’t understand, we all see the issues this entire line and running backs are struggling with. Even Tunsil gets driven back into the backfield quite a bit. Watson’s elusiveness is one of the main reasons why he’s graded high. So my question again is how do you improve under that type of condition?
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
This is what I don’t understand, we all see the issues this entire line and running backs are struggling with. Even Tunsil gets driven back into the backfield quite a bit. Watson’s elusiveness is one of the main reasons why he’s graded high. So my question again is how do you improve under that type of condition?

You don't
True. Also, by the time Watson gets to the top of his drop, too many times Howard is already in the backfield and almost running into Watson. As fast as he seems to be able to back pedal, I wonder if Howard can take some snaps at DB?
I'm hoping that Heck develops into a starting RT and they move Howard to either LG or RG. Also I hope Scharping develops properly now that Devlin is leaving the building.
 

Speedy

Former Yeller Dweller
Good question. They have invested in the OL. If it's not coaching, they have totally screwed up evaluating talent. Even on running plays they seem to be pass protecting. No movement, no push. Shoot, most times, they are 2-3 yards behind the LOS on running plays.
I think a big part of it is coaching. This OL has never been able to execute a screen pass, for crying out loud. Yeah, those things get blown up from time to time because defensive players are good too, but to almost never get it executed? That's coaching.

Of course it could be a talent evaluation problem too, because it's not like that's never been an issue the last 7 years. But that's not the player's faults. Talent evaluation and/or where to put that talent. How many here have said Fulton is out of place and would be better off at center? It's looking to me like Howard needs to move inside. I mean, they've just seemed to never have a clue, never seem to get it right. And name one player who's improved from being drafted by the Texans. Hell, most guys come here and start regressing. It's absolutely coaching
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
It’s coaching and the scheme that’s being applied. We have 7 years of data to support this claim. This unit has been together for going on 2 years and they have regressed. We’ve talked about the importance of chemistry and cohesiveness. They showed potential of this last season, especially early on in the running game. Unfortunately they still lack the basic communication that’s needed to be a top notch offensive line unit. Therefore I’m leaning towards coaching not being able to drive home their specific concepts for the offensive play book.
 

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
Good question. They have invested in the OL. If it's not coaching, they have totally screwed up evaluating talent. Even on running plays they seem to be pass protecting. No movement, no push. Shoot, most times, they are 2-3 yards behind the LOS on running plays.
I really think OB/Devlin has them waiting a count after "GO" to reduce the false start penalties (Martin) ... why Tunsil had so many false starts last year
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
I think a big part of it is coaching. This OL has never been able to execute a screen pass, for crying out loud. Yeah, those things get blown up from time to time because defensive players are good too, but to almost never get it executed? That's coaching.

Of course it could be a talent evaluation problem too, because it's not like that's never been an issue the last 7 years. But that's not the player's faults. Talent evaluation and/or where to put that talent. How many here have said Fulton is out of place and would be better off at center? It's looking to me like Howard needs to move inside. I mean, they've just seemed to never have a clue, never seem to get it right. And name one player who's improved from being drafted by the Texans. Hell, most guys come here and start regressing. It's absolutely coaching
On he offensive side of the ball I agree.

There's a lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball.
 

dream_team

Hall of Fame
Under the BOB regime, I think if we ever wanted to see the offense reach its full potential, we needed better OL coaching. If we were trying to model after the Pats, the one constant they had (besides Brady) was the best OL coach in the league.

Watching Houston football, we've seen some of the best offensive lines in the league. The run & shoot days w/ Munch & Mathews, then the Kubiak days. Watching this group, I know they're not playing to their potential.
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
Did you see the post I made recently on the OL getting the blame for blown assignments by the RB/TE ?
I have made at least a dozen posts complaining about Fells who came here with a reputation as being a good blocker and has been a sieve. Duke is a terrible blocker and it's one of the reason why he cannot be a full time RB.

The RB/TE are blowing their assignments. However, IMHO, the OL might not be blowing assignments, but they are not consistently doing a good job with their assignments and have been a bigger disappointment than even the defense. At least with the defense, we knew they were going to be terrible.

I would like the offense to abandon this blocking technique. Why can't they just motion the TE instead of having him try to block a blitzer this way? Here is Fells missing another block. For a minute there, I thought Johnson might have injured Howard's knee.

I don't know where to start and have so many questions. It's one yard. How many of the OL have even driven their man one yard downfield? Why does the OL seem to get so little push? Even if this was a play action, look at Fells getting beat again.

Is it coaching or talent? Exactly what blocking scheme are they using on this play? Man or zone? Why do we have so many of these slow footed guards pulling?
Before joining the Texans, Fells had a reputation for being a good blocker. Last season, I heard an interview where he mentioned because of his limited experience at TE, he knew his career would be as a blocking TE and worked with an OL coach to improve his blocking. He joins the Texans and has led the NFL in missed blocks by TEs.

Now we have Pharoah Brown who is known as a blocking TE. I saw him whiff trying to block a DB. Go figure.
 
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OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
I see Tunsil, Scharping, Howard, Qvale, Heck, Mancz, and an UDFA IOL as the OL going into 2021. I would consider it a major positive if the Texans came away from the draft with OT- Faalele, Minnesota and OG/C- Owens, Alabama.

Hopefully with a new OL Coach and a better offensive scheme.....this young group could be molded into a healthy unit going forward.
 
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CWTexansFan

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Contributor's Club
I have made at least a dozen posts complaining about Fells who came here with a reputation as being a good blocker and has been a sieve. Duke is a terrible blocker and it's one of the reason why he cannot be a full time RB.

The RB/TE are blowing their assignments. However, IMHO, the OL might not be blowing assignments, but they are not consistently doing a good job with their assignments and have been a bigger disappointment than even the defense. At least with the defense, we knew they were going to be terrible.
Well said, the whole team is shitty.
 

maverick512000

Hall of Fame
Watson is more Young than Lamar is. Lamar is a RB who can throw. :stirpot:
I’ve said all along, and this is as a Ravens fan, that Lamar is Newton 2.0. If it wasn’t that the offense was custom built for him and around him he would not be considered the elite QB he is. He has improved over the years but I don’t really think the Ravens will have long term, continuous success with him. He’s just to limit in his ability and to much of a one trick pony like Cam is/was.
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
Watson had a lot of great plays today, particularly in the first half

The offense looked as good as it has since Watson took over in the first half .... second half was meh.

It is the PR team. Their job is to spin everything and make everything as much in the Texans favor as possible.
Pretty tough job doing that for a 3-7 franchise.
 

otisbean

Veteran
Contributor's Club
The offense looked as good as it has since Watson took over in the first half .... second half was meh.



Pretty tough job doing that for a 3-7 franchise.
It looked like they were trying to burn the clock in the second half by running the ball more often. With our running game that’s a recipe for short drives and 3 and outs. I’d love to see DW with a legit running game. Hyde was solid last year but I want to see us with a Derrick Henry/Dalvin Cook/Josh Jacobs level runner.
 

Speedy

Former Yeller Dweller
It looked like they were trying to burn the clock in the second half by running the ball more often. With our running game that’s a recipe for short drives and 3 and outs.
They only had 4 possessions in the 2nd half. 2 ended in FGs, one was a 3 and out, the other was a 3 and out trying to end the game with 3 straight runs. They only had 6 run plays in the half before that last drive, and Watson had 2 of those. Of course they only ran 25 plays in the 2nd half.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
It looked like they were trying to burn the clock in the second half by running the ball more often. With our running game that’s a recipe for short drives and 3 and outs. I’d love to see DW with a legit running game. Hyde was solid last year but I want to see us with a Derrick Henry/Dalvin Cook/Josh Jacobs level runner.
Agreed, but they have to find another way.
 

dream_team

Hall of Fame
I think Watson played just as well in the 2nd half.

1st series - Fuller drops a pass on 2nd down that would have been close to a 1st.
2nd series - They had to settle for a FG, but I think it was a good drive by Watson.
3rd series - Should have been a TD, but the Pats got away with tripping a wide open Akins for a TD.
4th series - Basically killing the clock.

You also have to factor in losing BOTH Cobb & Stills for the whole 2nd half.
 

Decim8

Veteran
I think Watson played just as well in the 2nd half.

1st series - Fuller drops a pass on 2nd down that would have been close to a 1st.
2nd series - They had to settle for a FG, but I think it was a good drive by Watson.
3rd series - Should have been a TD, but the Pats got away with tripping a wide open Akins for a TD.
4th series - Basically killing the clock.

You also have to factor in losing BOTH Cobb & Stills for the whole 2nd half.
What happened to Cobbs and stills? Had no idea they were out
 
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