Justice in the Chronicle - I gotta know

[Hervoyel]

Ok, I'm sure most everyone here has or will read this article in todays Chronicle. Would all of you do me the courtesy of telling me what you think about it here on this thread?

 

[Rightnow]

Bill Simmons said any team the Capers coaches will underachieve. I think he is right.

 

[PapaL]

The biggest thing that stands out to me is:

Yet on Sunday, Carr said the three-step drop - the quickest release, the one that might have negated the Buffalo pass rush - was called only "two or three times."

Spend all offseason working on things, and only use them 2 or 3 times? Makes no sense.

 

[cuppacoffee]

"Johnson was escorted out of the interview area after using some form of the word embarrass three times. He was allowed to answer just eight questions."

Our elite players will bolt the first chance they get. There are always ways to force a trade.

 

[AcresHomesTexan]

Honestly, there have been a handful of people (Vinny for one) stating this difference for a couple of years. Palmer has a history in wide-open attacks and Capers is from a ball control with deep play action passing back ground. It is obvious that Capers has the last say in the matter.

 

[TEXANS84]

What I'd like to know is where they hid the offense from the Vikings game.

 

[beerlover]

Justice hit the nail on the head :brickwall preaching to the choir

 

[Hervoyel]

That struck me as strange too. If that's completely the truth then what is going on here? The entire article rang true to me. The team, at least on offense, does feel divided and pulled in two different directions.

I'm not apologizing for Carr but he wasn't this flaky when he got here. I think we made him what he is now. We destroyed his confidence and let the rest of the NFL destroy his body in a record setting beating that's still in progress.

Whatever he might have been able to become we'll never know because we can't start over with him from the beginning. That baggage he's carrying around will be there for the rest of his career and I would not be the slightest bit surprised if that career grinds to a halt right here in Houston this season or next.

 

[rittenhouserobz]

Honestly, there have been a handful of people (Vinny for one) stating this difference for a couple of years. Palmer has a history in wide-open attacks and Capers is from a ball control with deep play action passing back ground. It is obvious that Capers has the last say in the matter.

They should have picked Peppers instead of Carr. He would have served the purpose of the head coach. I am not saying I don't want a QB that can throw, but maybe Peppers would have been better for this team than Carr. IMHO.

 

[beerlover]

where the Texans failed this year started in the draft by not getting their WR (Williamson) then not addressing the #2 slot WR position in free agency by doing whatever it took to sign Derrick Mason. its apparent to me at least this is killing Carr and the offense because teams stack the box against the run which also increases pocket pressure and tripple coverage on Andre :brickwall

 

[Hervoyel]

"Johnson was escorted out of the interview area after using some form of the word embarrass three times. He was allowed to answer just eight questions."

Our elite players will bolt the first chance they get. There are always ways to force a trade.

Me too. It sounds like the team is afraid that given enough time one of their stars will say what's on his mind and they'd rather we not hear that. Carr, despite what's become of his game is 100% class in terms of the kind of person he is and I think the team feels "safer" letting him speak at length with the press. He's not about to point fingers or call anyone out at this point. By the end of the year they may be keeping him limited to 10 or fewer questions. Who knows.

 

[PapaL]

They should have picked Peppers instead of Carr. He would have served the purpose of the head coach. I am not saying I don't want a QB that can throw, but maybe Peppers would have been better for this team than Carr. IMHO.

I've been thinking the same thing.

 

[TheOgre]

The offense is stale and predictable. I think Chris Palmer and Greg Davis (Texas Longhorn's Offensive Coordinator) went to the same school. It is very aggravating.

I personally believe that Carr can be a good to great QB, but not with the current setup.

 

[Errant Hothy]

"That's as hopeless as I've felt in the pocket," he said

That's a very damning statment, espically coming form Carr.

Has Carr regresed? Yeah I think so. Does he have the talent and knowledge to succed in teh NFL? I think he does, but I doubt we'll ever see it with the current regime; and if Capers is over riding Palmer's attemtps to open up the game, which is what Justice is implying, then Dom's time is up.

I never thought I'd be sayign these things but yesterday's performance may be these team's worst yet, and I fear for Carr next week.

 

[SBTexans08]

"That's as hopeless as I've felt in the pocket," he said
I fear for Carr next week.

Yup...me too...that's why the webmasters of this MB chose this image of Carr for the forums banner/header image. :brickwall

Run Carr, RUN!!!!

 

[V Man]

They should have picked Peppers instead of Carr. He would have served the purpose of the head coach. I am not saying I don't want a QB that can throw, but maybe Peppers would have been better for this team than Carr. IMHO.

Could have done that and got Clinton Portis in the second round instead on Gaffney. Hindsight in 20/20 they say.

 

[SBTexans08]

Could have done that and got Clinton Portis in the second round instead on Gaffney. Hindsight in 20/20 they say.

You're right. Anyhow....Clinton Portis wouldn't have Clinton Portis type numbers anyhow...not with this O-line.

 

[bckey]

Herv, that article says it all. It is kind of disturbing in a way. I have never liked or wanted Capers as our hc. It feels like we have wasted 3+ years because of him at the helm. If the Texans continue to play the way they played in Buffalo then it could get ugly at home games. We saw a little of the ugliness at the Cleveland game last year. I think McNair would be forced to make a change even if he doesn't really want to.

"I never had so much protection in my life," Losman said.

"That's as hopeless as I've felt in the pocket," he said. (Carr)

Johnson was escorted out of the interview area after using some form of the word embarrass three times. He was allowed to answer just eight questions.

Carr hung around longer. When he did leave, he bent down to pick up a box lunch.

He needed two tries. He groaned the first time and straightened up. He reached a second time, picked the food up and walked unsteadily out of the stadium.

"That's as hopeless as I've felt in the pocket," he said.

He didn't take a shot at Palmer or anyone else. But he came close.

"We've got the players," Carr said. "We've got talent. But they (the Bills) were on everything. Everything we did, they jumped. There's no other way to put it. We just didn't get it done."

"It just feels like the first year," he said. "I sat on the sidelines for five minutes after the game. I was totally in disbelief of what just went on."

 

[V Man]

You're right. Anyhow....Clinton Portis wouldn't have Clinton Portis type numbers anyhow...not with this O-line.

I know the O-line isn't the best, but they have helped DD to back to back 1000 yard seasons. (Portis would have been fine, especially if we haven't wasted 3 2nd rounders in 3 years on projects, instead on O-line help like they should have been used for) Hard to run block with 8 or 9 in the box like the article said.

Also O-line can't take the blame for it all, our backs couldn't pick up a blitz if the knew exactly where it was coming from.

 

[SBTexans08]

I know the O-line isn't the best, but they have helped DD to back to back 1000 yard seasons. (Portis would have been fine, especially if we haven't wasted 3 2nd rounders in 3 years on projects, instead on O-line help like they should have been used for) Hard to run block with 8 or 9 in the box like the article said.

Also O-line can't take the blame for it all, our backs couldn't pick up a blitz if the knew exactly where it was coming from.

It was a joke. Having allowed for a back to gain over 1,000 yrds in back to back seasons nullifies my statement. I didn't mean it all.

 

[TexanTom]

"That's as hopeless as I've felt in the pocket," he said

That's a very damning statment, espically coming form Carr.

Has Carr regresed? Yeah I think so. Does he have the talent and knowledge to succed in teh NFL? I think he does, but I doubt we'll ever see it with the current regime; and if Capers is over riding Palmer's attemtps to open up the game, which is what Justice is implying, then Dom's time is up.

I never thought I'd be sayign these things but yesterday's performance may be these team's worst yet, and I fear for Carr next week.

Along the same lines - out of Len Pasquarelli's Morning After over on espn.com

Observations on the Week 1 action from one AFC scout and from a former NFL personnel director:

"The clock has got to be ticking on [Houston offensive coordinator] Chris Palmer or [quarterback David] Carr, doesn't it? I mean, that was just a pitiful display of offense [at Buffalo]. And Carr just looks like he's suddenly regressed. It was like he was trying to read a foreign language. They've got way too big an investment in the guy for him to be playing that lousy."

Now, I've never really been on the 'Fire the coaches!' bandwagon and I'm DEFINITELY not on the 'Start Ragone' bandwagon. The coaches didn't fumble the ball or throw the INT's; the coaches didn't jump offsides every time a blitz was called on a passing down in the first half; it was too painful to try and rewatch to see if some of the truly questionable play calls were audibles or what; but I was downright embarassed as a Texan's fan. I think as the year progresses we'll find out the Bills were a pretty good team, but if the play doesn't improve from what we saw this week you can pretty much guarantee some coaches will be gone whether they deserve it or not.

 

[Lucky]

...if Capers is over riding Palmer's attemtps to open up the game, which is what Justice is implying, then Dom's time is up.

I didn't get that from the Justice article. Look at these quotes:

Around the NFL, some believed offensive line coach Joe Pendry had a big hand in the offensive changes. He's a former offensive coordinator and a man who probably sees offensive football the way Capers sees it.

Palmer still calls the plays. And coincidentally or not, the Texans didn't do the things they'd done the past six months in practice. Carr was sacked five times.

Yet on Sunday, Carr said the three-step drop — the quickest release, the one that might have negated the Buffalo pass rush — was called only "two or three times."

Reads to me as if Palmer thumbed his nose at Pendry's short passing game. Maybe because the execution was so poor during the preseason. Maybe because he doesn't like Pendry moving in on his turf.

I don't know what the answer is. But Capers is the head coach, and he deserves to sink or swim with his style of football. Maybe it's time to hand over the play calling duties to Pendry? I don't expect it to happen now, but maybe over the bye week. I don't see how it could hurt.

 

[OzzO]

I think it earily reminescent to what some of our departed players have said concerning leadership. Maybe not exact words, but similar in a way as well.

If it is two different styles of leadership - there's a major issue (obviously). It's hard working for multiple managers, much moreso when the managers have different expectations. Seems all want to do their thing with some relation to the "team goal", but no real commonality between expectations.

Typing that - it seems to come down to el GRANDE McNair to inform Capers it's time for the focus... whatever that may be. Then for Capers to close the mouth except when stating to the others (including Casserly) - THIS is how we're going to do it. Then if it fails once more... it's on Capers for not being the sideline leader.

Capers apprently informs Casserly what guys he wants in the draft - either that's not true, or there's a breakdown in that communication.

 

[nunusguy]

""That's as hopeless as I've felt in the pocket," he said.
"We've got the players," Carr said. "We've got talent. But they (the Bills) were on everything. Everything we did, they jumped. There's no other way to put it. We just didn't get it done."
***********************************************
Remember Billy Bibbit in "One Flew over the Cukoo nest " ? You know, the
poor sap that Nuse Ratchett bullied into being so insecure about himself that he stuttered badly with every sentence he spoke. I swear that's who I thought of when I saw Carr on TV being interviewed after the game.

 

[HardKnockTexan]

I hate to say this, because i want to have faith in my team, but I believe that the coaching staff may have ruined a potentially amazing QB's carreer. The inablity to provide any kind of protection for Carr has made him so quick to scramble that he's not trusting the system and doing what it takes to make the progress an elite NFL QB needs to making. Even if our line has gotten better, it's tough to tell because the moment he feels a bit of pressure he's on the run. He doesnt trust his teammates to pick up the pass rush the second before they get to him. When i was watching manning and the colts last night, i saw the difference trust in your teammates can make on how good you perform. Manning would feel heavy pressure but he trusted his linemen enough to believe that they would pick up the rush before they got to him. Manning will hang in the pocket long enough to make his reads where the second carr feels the heat he's on the run, destroying any kind of chance of executing the called play.
This is the worst i've ever felt after a game. Even after last years opening day loss, i could see signs that we improved as a team. Yesterday showed me no progress. I've always supported our team, coaching staff and QB, but after yesterday, thoughts i didnt want to ever have started creeping into my mind. With bassically the same offense on the field as last season there is NO excuse for not showing signs of improvement... I'm so disapointed...

 

[Fiddy]

Bills safety Troy Vincent, who had two of the three interceptions, said Carr looks at some receivers too long before delivering the ball.

We will have a problem with this offense until Carr fixes the locking on WRs and especially locking down on Davis.

I read something in my Sporting news mag about the quick drops with Carr. It said he threw too many INTs in practice with the quick drops and that's why they probably dont call it. That was re-affirmed in the Tampa Bay game. Palmer and Capers dont trust Carr with the quick drops because it would greatly increase the chances for INTs.

 

[Double Barrel]

I'm not apologizing for Carr but he wasn't this flaky when he got here. I think we made him what he is now. We destroyed his confidence and let the rest of the NFL destroy his body in a record setting beating that's still in progress.

Whatever he might have been able to become we'll never know because we can't start over with him from the beginning. That baggage he's carrying around will be there for the rest of his career and I would not be the slightest bit surprised if that career grinds to a halt right here in Houston this season or next.

Man, you hit the nail on the head of my gut feelings watching the game yesterday.

The old "what if" game comes up: what if Carr had been taken by an established team, would he be the NFL QB stud? I think so. He's definitely got the talent and smarts for it.

So what if the beatings of the last three years, the lack of protection, the constant fear and lack of trust in his line...what if all of this has formed into reactions that cause him to make bad decisions?

These formative years are so important to an NFL QB. He is developing flight tendencies from our team's inability to provide him with consistent protection.

If we had chosen Joey Harrington, I am convinced that he would be developing the same way.

 

[Hervoyel]

Happy feet, some quarterbacks have them, some don't, and some develop them right before your very eyes.

 

[eriadoc]

If we had chosen Joey Harrington, I am convinced that he would be developing the same way.

If we had chosen ANY quarterback, they would be developing this same way. The sad thing is, people will be calling for us to draft another QB soon, and all that will do is ruin another QB's career chances. We need to fix the O-line and offensive philosophy first.

 

[Double Barrel]

Happy feet, some quarterbacks have them, some don't, and some develop them right before your very eyes.

Love the new avatar, man! I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to e-mail a copy of it to a couple of Texans buddies that are bummed out about the team. They don't come to the forum to get all the happy feelings like I do.

 

[ComstockLode]

If we had chosen ANY quarterback, they would be developing this same way. The sad thing is, people will be calling for us to draft another QB soon, and all that will do is ruin another QB's career chances. We need to fix the O-line and offensive philosophy first.

ding ding ding we have a winner

 

[OzzO]

I nominate Hervoyel as official quality Avatar maker! Classic. Can we get one with the playbook noting:

page 1 - 1st down - run
page 2 - 2nd down and 8 - pass
page 3 - 3rd down and 15 - run

Sorry - I guess off topic.

Back on - is it becoming clearer then what our true needs are?
- Capers, offensive coaches, and Casserly are not truly on the same page and the players are suffering for it? Something (someone) needs to be adjusted.
- Carr has been "trained" for the quick hit, therefore has "lock on or run" syndrome? How long would it take to re-estabilsh the trust, if at all, even if we improved the line today (with either players or that "better scheme").

I do know, that if we do go on some winning streak this season... better not see some friggin "Caper's movie night" after that... there's a ways to go before movie time should pop back up in Texans-land.

 

[Hervoyel]

They're welcome to it Double Barrel. I'm going to do most of my venting through avatar design in the coming weeks so keep your eyes open and you might find some more you like.

 

[Fiddy]

May be a little off topic, but really didnt see the need for another thread.

I'm also tired of empty promises from this coaching staff. Last year it was we are going to get Hollings touches in the game. This year it is, we are going to give Morency about 10 touches in the game. I dont think he got one. We will blitz more. Nope. Quicker routes. Didnt see those. Carr seeing the field better. Uh-uh. And the list goes on.

 

[DatTexBoy]

The offense is stale and predictable. I think Chris Palmer and Greg Davis (Texas Longhorn's Offensive Coordinator) went to the same school. It is very aggravating.

I personally believe that Carr can be a good to great QB, but not with the current setup.

You stole the words right out of my mouth. Texas almost lost that game due to the repeating of plays that was just not working.

Memo to Palmer:

You need to stop snacking in the booth and start paying attention to what the heck is going on with this team. Explain to me why commit your entire offseason to 3 step drops and then use it three times.

Insane: we all heard this one...doing the same thing trying to get different results.

Keep Capers and send him to the Defensive coord.

Fire Casserly and Palmer

Convince Andre Johnson to stay and extend his contract since that is in style these days.

Trade Dom Davis before he fumbles his value away.

Cut Bradford, and stop signing guys because they go to church and won't talk bad (tell the truth) about the organization.

Okay I am ranting but com'n can you seriously believe that this team/management are doing what they "say" they were going to do.

Game one is understood but I have seen 3 straight games like this. Not just one.

 

[texan0305]

palmer needs to go i'm sick and tired of seeing him ruin the texans, enough is enough, he's been calling the same plays for 4 years, u could give me a week with an nfl defense and i could stop the texans offense right now, thats how sad his play calling is....

 

[BigBull17]

Did you notice Carr looked hurt in the second quarter? He threw like he couldnt extend right.

 

[Keldar]

Ok, I'm sure most everyone here has or will read this article in todays Chronicle. Would all of you do me the courtesy of telling me what you think about it here on this thread?

Sadly.......and I mean it literally, SADLY, Justice was right on the money about every point. I could definitely sense the frustration through his keyboard that we all feel, and are afraid to say after only the first game.

 

[Vinny]

Ok, I'm sure most everyone here has or will read this article in todays Chronicle. Would all of you do me the courtesy of telling me what you think about it here on this thread?

Herv,

I've spoken about this time and time again over the years and I think this offense is a product of Capers and will probably not open up until he is fired. I don't think that Palmer is the right guy to point a finger at (although he should take his share of the blame for sure) since he had a fantastic offense at Jacksonville with Jimmy Smith and Mark Bruenell, but nobody wants to hear that so I just stopped speaking about it because I just don't want to argue a point that is so debatable and with so much random hysteria attached to it here. The Palmer Jags were one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and Brunell never played better than he did under Palmer (In Brunells 12 year career, the 2 of Brunell’s highest QB rating years came under Palmer). I'd say the same thing about Bledsoe. Bledsoe had his best years under Palmer and once Palmer left Bledsoe hasn't produced the same way. I have a few more thoughts on this but will probably relay them as this season unfolds. Palmer is not the guy who wants an ultra conservative, ball-controll offense. That man is Capers.

 

[Hervoyel]

I appreciate you telling me what you think about that article. Question for you Vinny and if you would rather not open a debate on it out here then IM me with the answer. Do you think that the Texans would be better off if (and I know exactly how unlikely this is) Capers took the fall on this right now and if, over the objections of the entire Palmer hating world, Chris got promoted to interim head coach?

The howling would be heard for miles I bet and fans everywhere would be leaping out of windows but I wonder if the change might not be for the better.

And for the record I'm not rabidly after firing Palmer despite what my sig says. I just thought it was funny.

 

[Vinny]

I gave some rep for that quote the other day. Hilarious.

I'll PM you after I finish watching the game and post my thoughts on the Bills game....It will be a few hours since I have a bit of real work to do too.

 

[PapaL]

Here is what Palmer and Capers have done as a HC in the NFL: pro-football-reference.com
Palmer:
+--------------+----------+
| Reg. Season | Playoffs |
+----------+--------------+----------+
| Year TM | W L T | W L |
+----------+--------------+----------+
| 1999 cle | 2 14 0 | 0 0 |
| 2000 cle | 3 13 0 | 0 0 |
+----------+--------------+----------+
| TOTALS | 5 27 0 | 0 0 |
+----------+--------------+----------+
Team rankings
PT = points, Y = yards, A = attempts, YA = yards per attempt

+----------+--------- Offense --------------+-------- Defense --------------+----+
| |- TOT --|--- Rush --|--- Pass --|- TOT--|--- Rush --|--- Pass --| OUT|
| Year TM | PT Y A Y YA TD A Y YA TD | PT Y A Y YA TD A Y YA TD | OF|
+----------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------+----+
| 1999 cle | 31 31 31 31 20 22 28 29 28 20 | 29 31 31 31 30 31 13 11 11 5 | 31 |
| 2000 cle | 31 31 31 30 30 26 24 29 29 30 | 27 28 31 29 19 30 7 13 21 11 | 31 |
+----------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------+----+

Capers:
+--------------+----------+
| Reg. Season | Playoffs |
+----------+--------------+----------+
| Year TM | W L T | W L |
+----------+--------------+----------+
| 1995 car | 7 9 0 | 0 0 |
| 1996 car | 12 4 0 | 1 1 |
| 1997 car | 7 9 0 | 0 0 |
| 1998 car | 4 12 0 | 0 0 |
| 2002 hou | 4 12 0 | 0 0 |
| 2003 hou | 5 11 0 | 0 0 |
| 2004 hou | 7 9 0 | 0 0 |
+----------+--------------+----------+
| TOTALS | 46 66 0 | 1 1 |
+----------+--------------+----------+
Team rankings
PT = points, Y = yards, A = attempts, YA = yards per attempt

+----------+--------- Offense --------------+-------- Defense --------------+----+
| |- TOT --|--- Rush --|--- Pass --|- TOT--|--- Rush --|--- Pass --| OUT|
| Year TM | PT Y A Y YA TD A Y YA TD | PT Y A Y YA TD A Y YA TD | OF|
+----------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------+----+
| 1995 car | 25 27 15 20 30 21 18 25 25 25 | 8 9 18 10 4 27 23 17 7 4 | 30 |
| 1996 car | 7 23 4 15 24 22 24 20 11 15 | 2 12 3 8 24 4 22 18 11 7 | 30 |
| 1997 car | 27 26 19 15 14 18 14 25 27 21 | 13 13 25 22 17 18 6 8 12 8 | 30 |
| 1998 car | 12 19 25 28 25 17 19 11 11 9 | 27 30 25 26 25 23 12 26 28 30 | 30 |
| 2002 hou | 32 32 21 31 32 32 32 32 30 32 | 20 18 32 28 14 15 6 8 13 21 | 32 |
| 2003 hou | 28 31 22 23 21 15 31 30 21 29 | 27 31 30 31 22 23 12 31 31 21 | 32 |
| 2004 hou | 21 15 10 13 23 7 24 16 11 27 | 15 23 7 13 23 1 24 24 23 30 | 32 |
+----------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------+----+

 

[Vinny]

Those '99 and '00 years are two expansion years on a team less talented than the Texans. Couch had a better rookie year than Carr fwiw.

 

[texasguy346]

Happy feet, some quarterbacks have them, some don't, and some develop them right before your very eyes.

Very true. Look at Ramsey when he first came in with the Redskins. He had good pocket awareness, and he would make sure his feet were set before he fired a pass off. He doesn't look like the same QB now after having taken a beating under Spurrier, and repeatedly being pushed aside by Gibbs to put in Brunnell. He's got the same problem that Carr has although I doubt he's been sacked anywhere near the amount of times Carr has been.

 

[Vinny]

One of Carr's knocks in College was holding on to the ball too long and locking on to receivers. He hasn't gotten any better.

 

[Corrosion]

Capers and Palmer Can Not Co-exist .... The systems they each want to operate within are too different . This may have something to do with the way this offense looks on the field .... Because on paper they have very good players at the skill positions .

The O-line is primarily made up of good run blockers who are better serverd with a run between the tackles offense . The O-line takes a lot of heat for poor pass protection , They shoulder a lot of that criticism but part of it is the fact they are in 2nd-3rd and long much of the time .... DD picking up blitzing LB's is difficult when you are the safety valve ....
Capers needs a back like Jerome Bettis or Stephen Davis , big bruiser type backs that are best between the tackles .

The skill position players are MUCH better suited to playing in space .... DD is at his best out of the back-field , in space not staying in to pick up the blitzing LB . Carr is better rolling out .... AJ is ... well , AJ . Carr isnt very good at the play action fake .... He just doesnt SELL the run and thats a big part of Capers passing attack .

As far as Capers wanting to run to set up the pass .... thats fine . Only problem is that every team in the NFL knows what Capers WANTS to do and they stack the line with 8 in the box ..... You just cant run between the tackles against that . Which leads us back to 3rd and long .... when the D-line again knows whats coming .... In Capers offense if you cant run .... you cant pass .

Capers is probably the WORST coach in the NFL when it comes to making OFFENSIVE adjustments . He will not waver from his game plan period...

A possible solution would be to line up in the shot-gun with split backs .... DD and J.Wells or Moran Norris and 3 recievers . Or just DD as a single back and 4 recievers to spread the field ..... But this leads us back to the fundamental differences between Capers and Palmer . :brickwall

 

[SESupergenius]

Herv,

I've spoken about this time and time again over the years and I think this offense is a product of Capers and will probably not open up until he is fired. I don't think that Palmer is the right guy to point a finger at (although he should take his share of the blame for sure) since he had a fantastic offense at Jacksonville with Jimmy Smith and Mark Bruenell, but nobody wants to hear that so I just stopped speaking about it because I just don't want to argue a point that is so debatable and with so much random hysteria attached to it here. The Palmer Jags were one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and Brunell never played better than he did under Palmer (In Brunells 12 year career, the 2 of Brunell’s highest QB rating years came under Palmer). I'd say the same thing about Bledsoe. Bledsoe had his best years under Palmer and once Palmer left Bledsoe hasn't produced the same way. I have a few more thoughts on this but will probably relay them as this season unfolds. Palmer is not the guy who wants an ultra conservative, ball-controll offense. That man is Capers.

Not really arguing your take on Bruenell and Bledsoe, but last I looked, Palmer never got them to the promised land. Pick a card, any card, there's plenty of those blame cards to go around.

 

[HJam72]

I'll say this:

If Johnson asks for a trade, we ask him, "Who can we bench or fire to make you want to stay?" That's what our owner should be thinking. I know that's highly irregular, but of all the staff and players we have right now, AJ and Robinson are the only people that I am certain that nobody wants to see them go. OK, CC Brown's looking pretty good too and I'm sure he's cheap.

If things don't change soon, I want somebody fired. I'm not sure who, but I want to see that McNair knows there's a problem and is doing something about it, or Casserly (whoever does that, lol), and I'm not sure Casserly is so safe either. Not at all.

 

[shinerbock_girl]

"Johnson was escorted out of the interview area after using some form of the word embarrass three times. He was allowed to answer just eight questions."

Our elite players will bolt the first chance they get. There are always ways to force a trade.

Once we lose Andre, its over...He has too much talent to be wasting every year on hopes....

 

[disaacks3]

One of Carr's knocks in College was holding on to the ball too long and locking on to receivers. He hasn't gotten any better.

The really bad thing is that his "College Critique" DIDN'T mention happy feet! That's something he's learned while with the Texans. It's bad in (at least) a couple of ways:

A) He doesn't trust the Texans line to keep him from getting crushed; he's no longer as willing to take the hit in the pocket in order to give the play time to develop. He's convinced (unless there's completely blown coverage) that the play never WILL develop.

B) Now he "locks on" to a receiver while fleeing towards the sideline and rarely throws across his body. This makes it FAR easier for the DB to cover (less area to cover) and more likely that we'll end up with an incomplete or an Int.

C) It makes him even MORE prone to NOT following his progressions. He "hears the footsteps" almost as soon as the ball is snapped now. He looks for his 'outlet' receiver (usually a close-in RB) and forgets the rest of the designed play in favor of living to fight another day.