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2021 Texans Schedule

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
The same in “as it’s a fucked up situation” but would still choose a football X’s and O’s coach who understands the game forward and backward schematically than a rah, rah change the culture guy. But hey if it works for Houston I’m all for it, just doesn’t impress me one bit.
Unfortunately, as of now, we don't know which is which.

Does Rex Ryan know defense? Is John Harbaugh a better HC?

We don't know Culley's coaching style, or Staley's for that matter. At best we know what we see at press conferences.

The point though, as others have stated, we could have brought in the 2nd coming of Bill Walsh & the next two/three years would be meh...
 
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beerlover

Hall of Fame
Unfortunately, as of now, we don't know which is which.

Does Rex Ryan know defense? Is John Harbaugh a better HC?

We don't know Culley's coaching style, or Staley's for that matter. At best we know what we see at press conferences.

The point though, as others have stated, we could have brought in the 2nd coming of Joe Walsh & the next two/three years would be meh...
Have never seen this before, but it’s a local Texan you tube source that seemed to like hiring of Staley-
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
I believe Culley was the HC choice to usher in a new culture within the locker room. Again, Culley is only the HC and the thing I like are the position coaches he’s surrounded himself with to help get these players coached up and prepared for competition. There are plenty of HoF NFL HC’s who touted the position coaches they surrounded themselves with versus their ability to try and micromanage every facet of the team. If Culley allows his coaches to do their job while he keeps the players focused and positive so he can focus on game management.....then this just might be the right fix for the short-term. Culley focuses on the team and Caserio focuses on the overall stewardship of the Texans while slowly working their way through the shite-show left behind by OB.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
Unfortunately, as of now, we don't know which is which.

Does Rex Ryan know defense? Is John Harbaugh a better HC?

We don't know Culley's coaching style, or Staley's for that matter. At best we know what we see at press conferences.

The point though, as others have stated, we could have brought in the 2nd coming of Bill Walsh & the next two/three years would be meh...
See this is what happens if you don’t remove yourself completely from familiar surroundings. Took me awhile, like I said two years to divorce myself from the Texan way of thinking. My favorite players, who I thought would be here to finish careers JJ Watt, Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, Duane Brown, Clowney, Kareem Jackson and Honey Badger all gone. For what? A bag of rocks?

Cully is a new direction, that’s for sure. He is not off the Belichick tree, your right about that (Andy Reid) regardless he’s a yes man, to Caserio/Easterby.

Staley we know he will use same two high safety scheme, disguise his coverage and use more DB’s than LB’s and edge players will be more downhill, just like the Rams and he already has the personal to run it. Far as offensive it’s the Sean Payton New Orleans style Joe Lombardi brings, so will be a lot quicker sets/reads and ball will be spread out to multitude of weapons.

I really like the selection of Davis Mills. Outstanding 3rd round selection regardless the outcome and Pep who was Herbert QB coach with Chargers last season did miracles with him so expect same for Mills. Should be Texans starting QB sooner than later. First was very disappointed they released him, then Staley replaced him with Shanahan’s QB coach from 49ers, Shane Day, and one thing Staley does better than anybody is he gives them ownership. From players to coaches, he lets them be their self and brings out every ounce of talent. Expect Herbert to be even more refined and developed going into year two.

Its not rocket science but you do have to take a break and not stand so close to the flame.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
See this is what happens if you don’t remove yourself completely from familiar surroundings.
I believe I’m more objective.

We have no idea how either of these guys will do as HC. We’ve seen OC/DCs that everyone thought would succeed fail. We’ve seen head scratchers selected as HC go on to success.

To me, the secret to success is coaching coaches. If they spend too much time developing players & not enough time developing coaches, they’re not going to succeed.

Hopefully Staley took ownership of the coaching taken place under him as a DC.

hopefully Culley has been a mentor for the young coaches he coached with.

I’m in no way saying Culley was the right pick. Only that I’m happy Caserio didn’t just grab a coordinator.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
I believe I’m more objective.

We have no idea how either of these guys will do as HC. We’ve seen OC/DCs that everyone thought would succeed fail. We’ve seen head scratchers selected as HC go on to success.

To me, the secret to success is coaching coaches. If they spend too much time developing players & not enough time developing coaches, they’re not going to succeed.

Hopefully Staley took ownership of the coaching taken place under him as a DC.

hopefully Culley has been a mentor for the young coaches he coached with.

I’m in no way saying Culley was the right pick. Only that I’m happy Caserio didn’t just grab a coordinator.
Then, exactly what did he grab?

27 years proves exactly what?

In regards to you being more objective, please elaborate? I’m still a Texan but also a Charger. Almost 20 years with one and on off 50 years with Chargers. Seen a lot. Enjoy both message boards. Each have their mods and know it all’s which I am neither. Similar threads and responses both full with good people passionate about their respective teams. Will always lean towards Texas over California but that doesn’t mean this will stop me from following Herbert/Staley Chargers, just right now, other than location and tradition Texans are in a pickle, that’s being objective.
 
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Speedy

Former Yeller Dweller
I believe I’m more objective.

We have no idea how either of these guys will do as HC. We’ve seen OC/DCs that everyone thought would succeed fail. We’ve seen head scratchers selected as HC go on to success.

To me, the secret to success is coaching coaches. If they spend too much time developing players & not enough time developing coaches, they’re not going to succeed.

Hopefully Staley took ownership of the coaching taken place under him as a DC.

hopefully Culley has been a mentor for the young coaches he coached with.

I’m in no way saying Culley was the right pick. Only that I’m happy Caserio didn’t just grab a coordinator.
Of course we don’t know how it all plays out. None of us are time travelers. But we can take the information we have available to us and formulate solid opinions on that information. I mean, Vegas didn’t just grab a 5 win season for us out of their ass. They’re basing that on something. Of course that doesn’t mean they’ll be right either, but they at least put their money on their opinions.

If this is about Culley vs Staley, or whoever else the Texans could have brought in, understand that whoever came to the Texans was inheriting a disaster. I don’t believe anyone would win here in less than 2-3 years, especially with our QB situation. Staley, Bieniemy, Culley, whoever.

As far as Culley being here vs say a Staley in LA, well, Staley goes to a team in a lot better shape than the Texans are. Again, we’re not time travelers so we don’t really know, but the information available should tell you one has a better chance to succeed than the other.

That’s all this really is. What conclusions do you come to with the information you have. Personally, mine are more in line of what Vegas thinks. I can sit here and hope Lovie has a Son of Bum affect on the defense, but I don’t really believe it.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
27 years proves exactly what
IMO, it proves that the good old boys were even more adamant about genetic qualities needed to run an offense.


In regards to you being more objective, please elaborate?
I’m not projecting how either will turn out. I’m acknowledging HCs have come from coordinator roles & position coaches roles & neither is more likely to be more successful than the other based on that alone.
 

Number19

Hall of Fame
Of course we don’t know how it all plays out. None of us are time travelers. But we can take the information we have available to us and formulate solid opinions on that information. I mean, Vegas didn’t just grab a 5 win season for us out of their ass. They’re basing that on something. Of course that doesn’t mean they’ll be right either, but they at least put their money on their opinions.

If this is about Culley vs Staley, or whoever else the Texans could have brought in, understand that whoever came to the Texans was inheriting a disaster. I don’t believe anyone would win here in less than 2-3 years, especially with our QB situation. Staley, Bieniemy, Culley, whoever.

As far as Culley being here vs say a Staley in LA, well, Staley goes to a team in a lot better shape than the Texans are. Again, we’re not time travelers so we don’t really know, but the information available should tell you one has a better chance to succeed than the other.

That’s all this really is. What conclusions do you come to with the information you have. Personally, mine are more in line of what Vegas thinks. I can sit here and hope Lovie has a Son of Bum affect on the defense, but I don’t really believe it.
Great post.

However...

Vegas represents nothing more than the collective opinion of betters across the nation, most of whom actually know little or nothing more than what they have been told by the news media or betting "experts".

Anyone locally, if they stay on top of what is actually happening, should be capable of a more reasonable and intelligent analysis of the team.

Nationally, people mostly only see the headlines, and last year's statistics. The Texans got rid of Hopkins, Watt, Fuller, the Watson fiasco, the organizational and coaching changes, etc.

But do you think nationally, and in Vegas, people are aware just had bad Mike Devlin has been as our OL coach; or what replacing him with James Campen represents.

They may know the Texans defensive rankings from last year, but do they realize just what replacing Anthony Weaver with Lovie Smith means for this coming season.

Few, nationally, deeply analyze our acquisitions. They just see we have a 55% turnover. But we can study each new player, see how they performed in the past, what their injury status has been and their current status, and, most importantly, how they will fit into the new schemes.

Today I just purchased Lindy's Pro Football Preview. They are projecting Mercilus as our starting OLB in Lovie's Tampa 2 defense, which is absolute rubbish, but is indicative of how outsiders are seeing the Texans.

Nationally, the "experts" are projecting the past into the future; whereas we have the capability of analyzing based on the latest state of, and news of, the team.

We need to wait and see, and the Texans need to prove themselves on the field of play, but I can't wait for training camp. Six weeks to go.
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
Anyone locally, if they stay on top of what is actually happening, should be capable of a more reasonable and intelligent analysis of the team.
Sure. And plenty of those people see the headlight of the oncoming train.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Of course we don’t know how it all plays out. None of us are time travelers. But we can take the information we have available to us and formulate solid opinions on that information. I mean, Vegas didn’t just grab a 5 win season for us out of their ass.
My only point is we can only speculate what kind of HC Staley/Culley would be.

As far as Culley being here vs say a Staley in LA,
I don’t believe anyone would win here in less than 2-3 years, especially with our QB situation. Staley, Bieniemy, Culley, whoever.
Yup, exactly what I said.
 

Thorn

Dirty Old Man
As crappy as they are they’ve been better than half the NFL teams over the last decade.
To me, constantly mediocre teams are the same as bad ones. And I'm sure there are worse teams in the NFL than the Texans. We've had two NFL teams in a row that do nothing but pile up disappointments. The only good times in Houston I've seen over the past two decades were the Schaub/Foster/AJ era and the Roughnecks.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
F
As crappy as they are they’ve been better than half the NFL teams over the last decade.
First decade they had a slew of high picks including two number ones not including the 3rd #1 before trading picks away to win it all now. All for what, 2 AFC South Championships? That’s bare minimum in my book as opposed to what they could have achieved.
 
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Texian

Hall of Fame
F


First decade they had a slew of high picks including two number ones not including the 3rd #1 before trading picks away to win it all now. All for what, 2 AFC Championships? That’s bare minimum in my book as opposed to what they could have achieved.
When were those two AFC Championships? I must have missed them.
 

Texian

Hall of Fame
As crappy as they are they’ve been better than half the NFL teams over the last decade.
For the last decade they played in the weakest division in the NFL and for the most part were one and done. Unless they played a team with a QB with a broken leg or Cincinnati.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
For the last decade they played in the weakest division in the NFL and for the most part were one and done. Unless they played a team with a QB with a broken leg or Cincinnati.
Yes. The NFL is full of crappy teams

Far as I can remember they were one & done twice.
 

Number19

Hall of Fame
Culley is the antithesis of O'Brien, to be sure. Smiling. Upbeat. Friendly. Will the change be for good? Bad? Rearranging the deck chairs on the RMS Texan?

Not sure. I'd be on the lookout for icebergs, though.
Reports from from OTA's are that the players are very receptive to and responding positively to the new regime. It was also pointed out that this will carry over through training camp and to start the season, but to have a lasting impact through the season, the makeover will need to have a positive impact on the field with improved play and wins. As one commentator on 610 put it, Culley needs to catch lightning in a bottle.
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
But what I've noticed, none of these people back up their negatism with specific details or analysis. They just make broad, generalized statements.
There's plenty of posts containing sound logic as to why the Texans are staring at an abysmal season. You don't care to acknowledge them, that's on you.
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
They may know the Texans defensive rankings from last year, but do they realize just what replacing Anthony Weaver with Lovie Smith means for this coming season.

Few, nationally, deeply analyze our acquisitions. They just see we have a 55% turnover. But we can study each new player, see how they performed in the past, what their injury status has been and their current status, and, most importantly, how they will fit into the new schemes.
Let's talk about the new players. The Texans currently have 15 players on the roster listed as defensive linemen.


Auzoyah Alufohai98DL6-4320242West Georgia
Ross Blacklock90DL6-3290222TCU
Maliek Collins97DL6-2310266Nebraska
Brandon Dunn92DL6-2310286Louisville
Jonathan Greenard52DL6-3263242Florida
Jordan Jenkins50DL6-3260266Georgia
Jaleel Johnson91DL6-3316265Iowa
Shaq Lawson93DL6-3267266Clemson
Roy Lopez79DL6-231823RArizona
Jacob Martin54DL6-2242254Temple
Whitney Mercilus59DL6-42583010Illinois
Charles Omenihu94DL6-5280233Texas
Derek Rivers95DL6-5250275Youngstown State
Vincent Taylor96DL6-3311275Oklahoma State
DeMarcus Walker

Collectively, these 15 players accumulated a total of 25.5 sacks in 2020. Now, not all 15 of these guys will make the team. Only about 8 or 9. But let's say the guys who make the team will get 25.5 sacks on the year. That would still be one of the most anemic pass rushes in the NFL. And there is no stud pass rusher to scheme for. Walker led this group with a grand total of 4.5 sacks in 2020.

That's the kind of talent on the 2021 Texans. Expansion team type talent. And that's why this will look like an expansion team.
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
Let's talk about the new players. The Texans currently have 15 players on the roster listed as defensive linemen.


Auzoyah Alufohai98DL6-4320242West Georgia
Ross Blacklock90DL6-3290222TCU
Maliek Collins97DL6-2310266Nebraska
Brandon Dunn92DL6-2310286Louisville
Jonathan Greenard52DL6-3263242Florida
Jordan Jenkins50DL6-3260266Georgia
Jaleel Johnson91DL6-3316265Iowa
Shaq Lawson93DL6-3267266Clemson
Roy Lopez79DL6-231823RArizona
Jacob Martin54DL6-2242254Temple
Whitney Mercilus59DL6-42583010Illinois
Charles Omenihu94DL6-5280233Texas
Derek Rivers95DL6-5250275Youngstown State
Vincent Taylor96DL6-3311275Oklahoma State
DeMarcus Walker

Collectively, these 15 players accumulated a total of 25.5 sacks in 2020. Now, not all 15 of these guys will make the team. Only about 8 or 9. But let's say the guys who make the team will get 25.5 sacks on the year. That would still be one of the most anemic pass rushes in the NFL. And there is no stud pass rusher to scheme for. Walker led this group with a grand total of 4.5 sacks in 2020.

That's the kind of talent on the 2021 Texans. Expansion team type talent. And that's why this will look like an expansion team.
No we don’t have an elite pass rusher therefore, either someone will have to step up or they do it collectively.

They’re playing in a new scheme so ole Lovie will have to coach this unit up.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
From all the years I’ve watched football the one thing I know for certain......just dam near every offensive and defensive scheme can be highly successful provided they have the right personnel to execute the playbook.

I still believe that had the Run-N-Shoot of the 80’s had the WR’s and TE’s of today......it could absolutely be the best scoring show on the market. It’s weird that no team has thought to give it a whirl with the available talent in today’s game.
 

Thorn

Dirty Old Man
From all the years I’ve watched football the one thing I know for certain......just dam near every offensive and defensive scheme can be highly successful provided they have the right personnel to execute the playbook.

I still believe that had the Run-N-Shoot of the 80’s had the WR’s and TE’s of today......it could absolutely be the best scoring show on the market. It’s weird that no team has thought to give it a whirl with the available talent in today’s game.
Technically, the run-n-shoot doesn't use TEs. The Roughnecks, who ran a hybrid run-n-shoot, didn't have any TEs on their roster. The Gamblers didn't have any TEs. I don't think you could do that in the NFL, but I would love to see someone try just to see what happens. Lots of teams have play designs built into their systems that are, in essence, a run-n-shoot play or formation. They just don't use it all the time.
 

Speedy

Former Yeller Dweller
Technically, the run-n-shoot doesn't use TEs. The Roughnecks, who ran a hybrid run-n-shoot, didn't have any TEs on their roster. The Gamblers didn't have any TEs. I don't think you could do that in the NFL, but I would love to see someone try just to see what happens. Lots of teams have play designs built into their systems that are, in essence, a run-n-shoot play or formation. They just don't use it all the time.
The Oilers tried. We saw what happened.
 

Number19

Hall of Fame
Let's talk about the new players. The Texans currently have 15 players on the roster listed as defensive linemen.


Auzoyah Alufohai98DL6-4320242West Georgia
Ross Blacklock90DL6-3290222TCU
Maliek Collins97DL6-2310266Nebraska
Brandon Dunn92DL6-2310286Louisville
Jonathan Greenard52DL6-3263242Florida
Jordan Jenkins50DL6-3260266Georgia
Jaleel Johnson91DL6-3316265Iowa
Shaq Lawson93DL6-3267266Clemson
Roy Lopez79DL6-231823RArizona
Jacob Martin54DL6-2242254Temple
Whitney Mercilus59DL6-42583010Illinois
Charles Omenihu94DL6-5280233Texas
Derek Rivers95DL6-5250275Youngstown State
Vincent Taylor96DL6-3311275Oklahoma State
DeMarcus Walker
Collectively, these 15 players accumulated a total of 25.5 sacks in 2020. Now, not all 15 of these guys will make the team. Only about 8 or 9. But let's say the guys who make the team will get 25.5 sacks on the year. That would still be one of the most anemic pass rushes in the NFL. And there is no stud pass rusher to scheme for. Walker led this group with a grand total of 4.5 sacks in 2020.



That's the kind of talent on the 2021 Texans. Expansion team type talent. And that's why this will look like an expansion team.
This is what I mean, a defense of your position, and something which can be responded to.

I'm only going to address 4 players, my projected starting four, Mercilus (RDE), Omenihu (DT), Lopez (NT), Lawson (LDE).

What I am taking into account is the Texans moving to a Tampa 2 defense.

Mercilus was played out of position in the old 43 and will be moving to his natural position at DE. In a 34, defensive linemen are responsible for multiple gaps; in a 43 a lineman is responsible for only one gap. So both Mercilus and Omenihu will have less responsibility and will be able to tee off on the QB. Throwing out the one season he was injured, Mercilus averaged about 7 sacks a season in the 34. Omenihu had 4 sacks last year, his second.

Lawson also was played out of position by the Dolphins, playing OLB whereas he was playing DE with the Bills. In 2019 with the Bills, he had 6.5 sacks playing 15 games with no starts. His production fell to 4 sacks when the Dolphins moved him to OLB where he had 7 starts in 14 games played. This difference between the 34 and the 43 is what I'm talking about.

Allowing for the move to the 43, and being conservative, I'll project Mercilus to have 8 sacks (although I'm expecting double digits) and Omenihu to increase his total by only one to 5 sacks.

I'll project Lawson to return to his Buffalo Bill's at DE and have 7 sacks.

I'll project zero sacks from the NT position.

So, I'm projecting 20 sacks from only our starting front four, and I really think this is low balling it. Last year the team total was only 34 sacks.

The 43 Tampa 2 defense will allow the front four to have run responsibility for only one gap, with their primary responsibility being to tee off and get after the QB.
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
This is what I mean, a defense of your position, and something which can be responded to.
Geez, take a look through the numerous threads on the Texans offseason, and you'll find plenty of analysis on their moves by myself and many others. Your narrative that everyone is only bitching and complaining is false. And whatever bitching and complaining that has occurred has been trumped by cheerleading and false optimism.

Mercilus was played out of position in the old 43 and will be moving to his natural position at DE
Lawson also was played out of position by the Dolphins, playing OLB whereas he was playing DE with the Bills.
Mercilus has never played DE in a 43 base defense. He has sucked holding the edge, even in his younger years. Now, he doesn't hold up against the run or create a pass rush. I would hope one of the other half dozen DE candidates could emerge as a better option than Mercilus.

Lawson should be better in the 43. Ditto, Blacklock. Blacklock's development is the key to this unit becoming somewhat respectable.

Greenard and Martin will be out of position in this defense. I can see Greenard getting cut. O'Brien and then Crennel gave him minimal opportunities. Basically, still a rookie. That now has to learn a new NFL defense, playing under a coaching staff and front office that did not select him. I don't care for his odds on being in a Texans uni this fall.

Bottom line, this unit contains a bunch of has beens, JAGS, and unknowns. If you can find a worse overall d-line group in the NFL, I would be surprised.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
See this is what happens if you don’t remove yourself completely from familiar surroundings. Took me awhile, like I said two years to divorce myself from the Texan way of thinking. My favorite players, who I thought would be here to finish careers JJ Watt, Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, Duane Brown, Clowney, Kareem Jackson and Honey Badger all gone. For what? A bag of rocks?

Cully is a new direction, that’s for sure. He is not off the Belichick tree, your right about that (Andy Reid) regardless he’s a yes man, to Caserio/Easterby.

Staley we know he will use same two high safety scheme, disguise his coverage and use more DB’s than LB’s and edge players will be more downhill, just like the Rams and he already has the personal to run it. Far as offensive it’s the Sean Payton New Orleans style Joe Lombardi brings, so will be a lot quicker sets/reads and ball will be spread out to multitude of weapons.

I really like the selection of Davis Mills. Outstanding 3rd round selection regardless the outcome and Pep who was Herbert QB coach with Chargers last season did miracles with him so expect same for Mills. Should be Texans starting QB sooner than later. First was very disappointed they released him, then Staley replaced him with Shanahan’s QB coach from 49ers, Shane Day, and one thing Staley does better than anybody is he gives them ownership. From players to coaches, he lets them be their self and brings out every ounce of talent. Expect Herbert to be even more refined and developed going into year two.

Its not rocket science but you do have to take a break and not stand so close to the flame.
Great post
 

Number19

Hall of Fame
Geez, take a look through the numerous threads on the Texans offseason, and you'll find plenty of analysis on their moves by myself and many others. Your narrative that everyone is only bitching and complaining is false. And whatever bitching and complaining that has occurred has been trumped by cheerleading and false optimism.



Mercilus has never played DE in a 43 base defense. He has sucked holding the edge, even in his younger years. Now, he doesn't hold up against the run or create a pass rush. I would hope one of the other half dozen DE candidates could emerge as a better option than Mercilus.

Lawson should be better in the 43. Ditto, Blacklock. Blacklock's development is the key to this unit becoming somewhat respectable.

Greenard and Martin will be out of position in this defense. I can see Greenard getting cut. O'Brien and then Crennel gave him minimal opportunities. Basically, still a rookie. That now has to learn a new NFL defense, playing under a coaching staff and front office that did not select him. I don't care for his odds on being in a Texans uni this fall.

Bottom line, this unit contains a bunch of has beens, JAGS, and unknowns. If you can find a worse overall d-line group in the NFL, I would be surprised.





Mercilus played defensive end at Illinois and in his draft profiles you find comments such as:"May not fit in a 3-4 defense as well as a 4-3" and "He looks like a natural right defensive end in a 4-3 defense"

You are correct that Greenard and Martin have played LB since college. Both however played DE in high school. In Greenard's draft profile I found these comments: "Plays well against the run and can live as a left defensive end" and this, "There's starter upside here as a 4-3 or 3-4 rusher."

Mercilus, Greenard and Martin were all three moved to DE in OTA's and all three will benefit from the move to Lovie's Tampa 2 where they will be tasked to rush the passer.

The Tampa 2 will allow Blacklock to return to his natural attacking style of play which he was so good at playing for TCU.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Great post.

However...

Vegas represents nothing more than the collective opinion of betters across the nation, most of whom actually know little or nothing more than what they have been told by the news media or betting "experts".

Anyone locally, if they stay on top of what is actually happening, should be capable of a more reasonable and intelligent analysis of the team.

Nationally, people mostly only see the headlines, and last year's statistics. The Texans got rid of Hopkins, Watt, Fuller, the Watson fiasco, the organizational and coaching changes, etc.

But do you think nationally, and in Vegas, people are aware just had bad Mike Devlin has been as our OL coach; or what replacing him with James Campen represents.

They may know the Texans defensive rankings from last year, but do they realize just what replacing Anthony Weaver with Lovie Smith means for this coming season.

Few, nationally, deeply analyze our acquisitions. They just see we have a 55% turnover. But we can study each new player, see how they performed in the past, what their injury status has been and their current status, and, most importantly, how they will fit into the new schemes.

Today I just purchased Lindy's Pro Football Preview. They are projecting Mercilus as our starting OLB in Lovie's Tampa 2 defense, which is absolute rubbish, but is indicative of how outsiders are seeing the Texans.

Nationally, the "experts" are projecting the past into the future; whereas we have the capability of analyzing based on the latest state of, and news of, the team.

We need to wait and see, and the Texans need to prove themselves on the field of play, but I can't wait for training camp. Six weeks to go.
It would help if Mills is proven to be a franchise QB. Then most of the gloom and doom posters around this place would suddenly realize there's more talent on this offense than there's been in yrs.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Technically, the run-n-shoot doesn't use TEs. The Roughnecks, who ran a hybrid run-n-shoot, didn't have any TEs on their roster. The Gamblers didn't have any TEs. I don't think you could do that in the NFL, but I would love to see someone try just to see what happens. Lots of teams have play designs built into their systems that are, in essence, a run-n-shoot play or formation. They just don't use it all the time.
The reason TE’s were never used in the old R-N-S....they just were not the same as the TE’s coming out of college today. Today’s TE’s are bigger, stronger, and faster than the TE’s of the 80’s. In the right setup today.....a R-N-S offense could incorporate 1 or 2 TE’s with 4 or 3 WR’s. Imagine the damage a group consisting of Andre Johnson, Deandre Hopkins, William Fuller IV (Healthy), Rob Gronkowski (Prime), and Travis Kelce could do in a Run-N-Shoot offense. Give this group Warren Moon or Patrick Mahomes......hell, even Case Keenum and there could be substantial damage leveled against defenses. Crap, forgot to throw in Arian Foster as the RB who might’ve had even bigger seasons within this type of offense. It would be a crazy dream to wonder the kind of damage Earl Campbell could’ve inflicted on defenses once he got past the box. Like I said.....personnel could make any system pretty dang tough.
 

Texian

Hall of Fame
Had to for own sanity and love of the game. Two years without football, Draft process the whole thing, O’Brian killed it for me. From Oregon, so was a big time Fouts fan then he was drafted by the Chargers in 73 and followed them until he left. Excited to come to Houston and actually have a team and thought the Oilers were great, then they left town. Now another QB from Oregon was drafted by the Chargers and that returned my interest. Still don’t know much about them, fired they’re Head Coach Lynn long after Texans let Bill go. Had no idea who Staley was other than the Rams Defensive Coordinator. They guy is brilliant, compelling and different than any head coach I’ve heard talk football. Everything doesn’t have to come out of New England, memo to Cal. Fan base seems split on Telesco the GM but most feel he knocked it out of the park in the draft so is safe for now, again credit Staley for that turnaround.
So I consulted the Crystal Ball this morning. Sorry to say it is going to be a very long dark and dismal next 5 years for Texans fans. However there is good news. Come 2025 Nick Caserio, Jack Easterby and the McNair Family will all be gone. The new owner will exorcise all things New England and hire a GM and/or HC that is a true leader and knows how to WIN more than most. And with the 1st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, The Houston Texans select QB Arch Manning from Clemson.
 
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TexansBull

Hall of Fame
So I consulted the Crystal Ball this morning. Sorry to say it is going to be a very long dark and dismal next 5 years for Texans fans. However there is good news. Come 2025 Nick Caserio, Jack Easterby and the McNair Family will all be gone. The new owner will exorcise all things New England and hire a GM and/or HC that is a true leader and knows how to WIN more than most. And with the 1st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, The Houston Texans select QB Arch Manning from Clemson.
LSD is a helluva drug.
 
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