My musings on the status thus far

[Bobo]

Capers is gone. Doesn't matter anymore whether it would or wouldn't have worked out (although i think the fact that he didn't even get seriously considered for any of the head coaching vacancies out there this year should say plenty about what other organizations feel about him). But he is gone.... and he isn't coming back. And as far as all this stuff about being a true fan and whether that means you can cheer for a loss or not. Well people need to get off this high horse of 'a loss is never a gain' and realize in real life....in life other than 'inspirational poster world'....losing that last game gained us 100x more than winning it ever would have. So by that token, i consider myself a fan because i'm smart enough to know what is best for the team long term, and winning wasn't best for the long term....hell it wasn't even best for short term. Did you get a look at the player's faces and interviews after that game, to say they were completely distraught would be a lie. They were pissed about going 2-14....but they sure did have a certain look of relief and the key word here - 'hope.'

I do recall that Capers was indeed seriously considered for one or more HC positions this year. The fact that he is gone and isn't coming back doesn't mean it wasn't a huge mistake and just as good as any reason to be unhappy with the team in general. Losing that last game means the Texans got to make one pick before another team. Big deal. And for you to say that the Texans were OK with losing -- well, that's plain garbage. No NFL team that is performing on the field for people who are paying to see those two teams perform to the best of their ability would ever go out there and then "not care" about losing. And I'm sure there "hope" would be just as strong if they won that game.

 

[Bobo]

Capers is gone. Doesn't matter anymore whether it would or wouldn't have worked out (although i think the fact that he didn't even get seriously considered for any of the head coaching vacancies out there this year should say plenty about what other organizations feel about him). But he is gone.... and he isn't coming back. And as far as all this stuff about being a true fan and whether that means you can cheer for a loss or not. Well people need to get off this high horse of 'a loss is never a gain' and realize in real life....in life other than 'inspirational poster world'....losing that last game gained us 100x more than winning it ever would have. So by that token, i consider myself a fan because i'm smart enough to know what is best for the team long term, and winning wasn't best for the long term....hell it wasn't even best for short term. Did you get a look at the player's faces and interviews after that game, to say they were completely distraught would be a lie. They were pissed about going 2-14....but they sure did have a certain look of relief and the key word here - 'hope.'

I do recall that Capers was indeed seriously considered for one or more HC positions this year. The fact that he is gone and isn't coming back doesn't mean it wasn't a huge mistake and just as good as any reason to be unhappy with the team in general. Losing that last game means the Texans got to make one pick before another team. Big deal. And for you to say that the Texans were OK with losing -- well, that's plain garbage. No NFL team that is performing on the field for people who are paying to see those two teams perform to the best of their ability would ever go out there and then "not care" about losing. And I'm sure there "hope" would be just as strong if they won that game.

 

[swtbound07]

this whole arguement is sort of ridiculous anyways....because if you are big sports fan in general like myself....well you like several different teams in several different leagues in several different sports. There are some that you hope prevail over others when they are playing against eachother....but you still can be a fan of both teams. Its impossible to define....and trying to force your personal defintion and 'fan agenda' on someone is ludicrous.

But it wasnt a case of "I like this team vs. I like this team too". Its a case of...well it fits my agenda to say 2-14 was better than 3-13 for the Texans, and I for one am calling BS. You want the number one pick??? You want your team to finish worst in the league? Reggie is THAT MUCH better than the other prospects in the draft...give me a freaking break.

 

[Bobo]

this whole arguement is sort of ridiculous anyways....because if you are big sports fan in general like myself....well you like several different teams in several different leagues in several different sports. There are some that you hope prevail over others when they are playing against eachother....but you still can be a fan of both teams. Its impossible to define....and trying to force your personal defintion and 'fan agenda' on someone is ludicrous.

Most of the times I simply find myself rooting for the underdog -- no matter who it might be -- because I like to see surprises and experience a little something different. But of course I don't stand up and yell my lungs out and scream for the underdogs to win like I used to do for the Texans for the first four years. After having teams yanked out from under me (the Cincinnati Royals, the Cleveland Browns and to a lesser extent the Oilers) I have found that the fan thing is very overrated and, yes, you can turn the fan thing on and off like you would a water faucet. If you don't like what they are doing, you can simply say, "Hey, forget them, I'm simply not going to get emotionally involved in them anymore." This is especially true in the mobile society we live in nowadays where people might move to several different cities in their lifetime and dump teams in order to adopt new ones or move to cities that don't have teams (like LA) and then simply watch the games for the heck of it.

 

[JAXwithanX]

My point is on Capers mostly is he just isn't here anymore. I mean....he isn't in the equation of this team. I mean sure he can and should be discussed because its a free country and free board....but i mean it really relates to current Texan football zip. Apparently you don't know the schematics of the draft and how that all is decided....but we weren't risking dropping just one spot....it could have been several. For instance the 49ers not being in the #2 spot are they? And to say 'Big Deal'....thats just stupid....you can ignore the logic all you want but if it just wasn't a big deal....people would be swapping them back and forth for fun. If it wasn't a 'Big Deal' then no one would give a **** about trading up and down and all that stuff. You can't just say 'Big Deal' and expect anyone to completely forget the fact that having the Number 1 compared to the Number 3 or 4 is a HUGE deal. I could at least see what you were saying a little more say if it were from 3 to 5 or something like that....but the Number 1 means you are in the driver seat....you get not only your pick but loosely determine the way everyone else after you has to draft (at least for the top 10). And also, you can deny human nature as much as you want to view this fairy tale perception that nothing is won through losing....but every single Texan that walked off that field (with the exception of thoise who realized the new NUmber 1 pick might take their spot) understood the fact they did in fact GAIN a huge deal for next year. I'm not saying they won....but they sure did GAIN...and what would they have gained at all from one more win at the end of the year....don't say momentum! They would have realuized maybe they could have beat as team as ****ty as they were? Its not like we were playing the ****ing colts.

 

[JAXwithanX]

Most of the times I simply find myself rooting for the underdog -- no matter who it might be -- because I like to see surprises and experience a little something different. But of course I don't stand up and yell my lungs out and scream for the underdogs to win like I used to do for the Texans for the first four years. After having teams yanked out from under me (the Cincinnati Royals, the Cleveland Browns and to a lesser extent the Oilers) I have found that the fan thing is very overrated and, yes, you can turn the fan thing on and off like you would a water faucet. If you don't like what they are doing, you can simply say, "Hey, forget them, I'm simply not going to get emotionally involved in them anymore." This is especially true in the mobile society we live in nowadays where people might move to several different cities in their lifetime and dump teams in order to adopt new ones or move to cities that don't have teams (like LA) and then simply watch the games for the heck of it.

I agree with that. thats why i'm just trying to sort of get across the idea of this euphoric die-hard fan ideal that swtbound has. A fan should be described as someone who wants their team to win....but also do the best and be in the best position possoible to win. And losing that game wouldn't have done a damn thing for us....I mean maybe you could argue this if we were at least playing a team at .500....but winning that game wouldn't have given the players a damn thing to look forward to in the offseason.. No guy would have gone in the locker room and said 'WOW guys...great win....now lets build on this domination over a 2-13 team like ourselves for next year!"

 

[Bobo]

BTW - if would have had one ounce of a feeling that the organization or even the player's were going to be devastated over that last loss (somehow like the 13 before weren't just as bad).....well i would maybe feel a little different. i think everyone was on board by that last game....that we had way more to gain by losing. and since no has or can write the rule on what makes a fan a fan....i want to say my personal def. is someone who cheers for whats in the team's best interest towards the progress of getting wins.

Hogwash. Fans don't root for their teams to lose -- ever. These unknowledgeable folks who root against their team may think that they are showing more intelligence "than the average bear," but actually they are simply showing their ignorance about what a fan really is. If you are a true, dyed-in-the-wool fan, you NEVER, EVER root against your team. And you definitely do NOT stay at home with tickets you have already purchased. If you do root against them, then you simply aren't a fan of that team. I remember when I was a Browns fan. I don't care how bad their record was, I rooted for them to win. There was NO WAY I would root for them to lose, no matter what was at stake. There is a certain pride the team takes with them out on the field and that pride is rewarded with a win -- not a loss. Real fans share in that pride, and if you don't, well, you simply aren't a fan of that team. There's no sin in that, of course. But don't go around saying you are a Texans fan and then root against them. Folks will think you are real, real confused.

 

[JAXwithanX]

Im not trying to say that wanting to win was stupid or anything....i'm just saying that i believe and quite frankly...very easily believe you can still be a dedicated hardcore fan...and have wished they lost the last game. Just because that it is a FACT that winning that ONE game...against the 49er's....wouldn't have done one more thing for morale in that locker room that knowing you at least secured the Number 1 pick in the draft. Which no matter what you say and the varying opinions of how important it is....you can't argue that it has 'no importance or value'. Thus meaning they only had something to gain...by losing. I know....it really does sound ****ty. But it is the truth.

 

[swtbound07]

My point is on Capers mostly is he just isn't here anymore. I mean....he isn't in the equation of this team. I mean sure he can and should be discussed because its a free country and free board....but i mean it really relates to current Texan football zip. Apparently you don't know the schematics of the draft and how that all is decided....but we weren't risking dropping just one spot....it could have been several. For instance the 49ers not being in the #2 spot are they? And to say 'Big Deal'....thats just stupid....you can ignore the logic all you want but if it just wasn't a big deal....people would be swapping them back and forth for fun. If it wasn't a 'Big Deal' then no one would give a **** about trading up and down and all that stuff. You can't just say 'Big Deal' and expect anyone to completely forget the fact that having the Number 1 compared to the Number 3 or 4 is a HUGE deal. I could at least see what you were saying a little more say if it were from 3 to 5 or something like that....but the Number 1 means you are in the driver seat....you get not only your pick but loosely determine the way everyone else after you has to draft (at least for the top 10). And also, you can deny human nature as much as you want to view this fairy tale perception that nothing is won through losing....but every single Texan that walked off that field (with the exception of thoise who realized the new NUmber 1 pick might take their spot) understood the fact they did in fact GAIN a huge deal for next year. I'm not saying they won....but they sure did GAIN...and what would they have gained at all from one more win at the end of the year....don't say momentum! They would have realuized maybe they could have beat as team as ****ty as they were? Its not like we were playing the ****ing colts.

No draft pick is worth a texans win. I would trade 2-14 and the number one pick RIGHT NOW for 3-13 and the 6 or 7. Why? Because we would have earned it. Because our franchise wouldnt have been accused on national television of throwing games for a stupid draft pick. Because its GOOD when your team wins. Its not a fairy tale perception. Its called being a fan. Your trying to watch football and rationalize it into your little box to make it okay for you to root for your team to lose. Fine, be my guest. But as far as Im concerned, its sick. Moreso than that, it's stupid. Now here is my question for you. We went 4-12 our inaugural season, yes? We were going to draft a wide reciever. We lose one more game, we are picking in the #2 spot instead of number 3....where a young man named Charles Rogers sat. Would you rather have the win and the draft pick we got, or would you prefer a loss and Collarbone Rogers. The draft isn't a lock. We've done fine picking from the 3 spot, and fine picking from the 10 spot. We would have been fine at the 6 or 7 spot. The day you start rooting for your team to lose to get this player or that player is the day you arent a fan anymore.

 

[JAXwithanX]

Hogwash. Fans don't root for their teams to lose -- ever. These unknowledgeable folks who root against their team may think that they are showing more intelligence "than the average bear," but actually they are simply showing their ignorance about what a fan really is. If you are a true, dyed-in-the-wool fan, you NEVER, EVER root against your team. And you definitely do NOT stay at home with tickets you have already purchased. If you do root against them, then you simply aren't a fan of that team. I remember when I was a Browns fan. I don't care how bad their record was, I rooted for them to win. There was NO WAY I would root for them to lose, no matter what was at stake. There is a certain pride the team takes with them out on the field and that pride is rewarded with a win -- not a loss. Real fans share in that pride, and if you don't, well, you simply aren't a fan of that team. There's no sin in that, of course. But don't go around saying you are a Texans fan and then root against them. Folks will think you are real, real confused.

so how exactly are you going to prove that. please god....prove to me that your idea of a fan is the only way to think of it. you act like you can....like you have some kind of rationale....but my rationale is the team did whats best for them in the long run...that makes me the best ****ing fan in the world now.....as a matter of fact....there....you can only be a fan if you cheer for whats best for your team....and if you don't you are not only not a fan....your are a close minded, impatient idiot. this can go either ways all night all day and for the rest of sports as we know it. neither of us can prove it either way.

 

[swtbound07]

I agree with that. thats why i'm just trying to sort of get across the idea of this euphoric die-hard fan ideal that swtbound has. A fan should be described as someone who wants their team to win....but also do the best and be in the best position possoible to win. And losing that game wouldn't have done a damn thing for us....I mean maybe you could argue this if we were at least playing a team at .500....but winning that game wouldn't have given the players a damn thing to look forward to in the offseason.. No guy would have gone in the locker room and said 'WOW guys...great win....now lets build on this domination over a 2-13 team like ourselves for next year!"

Cheering for your team to win every game is an ideal?? A fan should be described as someone who cheers for their team to WIN. Winning that game would have done something for us. It would have made us 3-13. If you dont see the value in that, then there isnt anything else i can say. Can i also say, you have no idea how the players would have reacted to a win. Maybe if we had won that last game in cleveland two years ago this year would have gone differently. Maybe winning against san francisco would have saved us from Reggie Bush. Who knows what would have happened. If you derived one ounce of pleasure from any texans loss this year, you got no heart.

 

[BigDTexansFan]

Good stuff overall. I can't quite get fully onboard with your 4/3+Weaver+Cowart =fixed defense. I think we have a long ways to go, but I think we will see some real progress on D this year.

From everything I heard Weaver was constantly double teamed freeing up DT or LB to blitz, as to Cowart the position he plays is QB of the defense and I think with Wong not likely to be ready for opening day we need experience in that slot

 

[aj.]

I think it's very likely that the Texans take a MLB on Day 1 - probably at 65 or 66. I don't think DQ slips that far but Hodge might.

 

[gtexan02]

I would gladly take either, but if came down to DQ + Colledge or Eric Winston +Hodge, I'd take the DQ

And on another note, to swtbound07, if you'd like to sit on your high horse and preach to us inferior fans about what you believe in, thats fine. In fact, if it makes you feel better about yourself to dictate to others that they can't be fans, thats fine too. I love football, and even more than football, I love Texans football. There is absolutely nothing more exciting to me than the prospect of us winning, as I'm sure if you'd read anything but half of one sentence of the first post you'd have understood. Last year was the most frustrating season of a sports team I have ever seen. There were times midway through games that I would simply turn the tv off because I was so pissed at how inept our coaching staff was. At how lousy the effort from the players was.

So how does this matter? If the coaches aren't going to care, if the players aren't going to try, then do you still cheer for them or not? All those fans that left games really early and didn't care whether we won or lost or not, all those fans who didn't even show up to the game because they no longer wanted to watch a team with no effort get demolished, are they still fans?

What you are doing here is making up a defintion of "real fan" that you are using to exclude a random few people on this messageboard from being considered fans of the Texans. OK? Done? Feel better? Now according to you, there are less "real fans" than before. Thanks for that. It sure is helping make this board a better place. You are the almight real fan, we inferior fans are not worthy. *we're not worthy!!!* is that what you were going for?

Seriously, what were you trying to accomplish by bringing this huge debate up again? This topic was supposed to bring confidence to people. I wanted to cheer us on, congratulate the coaches, inspire the fans, etc. You on the other hand, simply take half of one sentence and try and invalidate everything else I"ve said. Why? Just to be a jerk? Just so you can feel superior to a few people who wanted the Texans to have a higher pick? I don't see what you are accomplishing. Anyway, "real super true fan" I hope you're happy that you've successfully hijacked what was supposed to be a fun discussion of the changes weve made, and turned it into this petty argument about something that actually has NOTHING to do with football, and really, after its over, doesnt matter anyway. I know who I cheer for and your "super fan rhetoric" isn't going to change my mind to pack up my bags and root for the Titans, so whats the point?

 

[gtexan02]

Who knows what would have happened. If you derived one ounce of pleasure from any texans loss this year, you got no heart.

PS this is the type of things I'm talking about.

 

[whiskeyrbl]

A.) Capers was sticking with the folks he had, hoping they would gel together. You have to give them time to come together -- you can't just mix everything up whenever something doesn't go right. They needed some time. Obviously, they never did gel, but Capers went about doing what he should have by giving them time. Then again, I am amused by how "Texans fans" were yelling and screaming about how Capers needed to change the OL around and then when he did, the same folks yelled about how he was moving people "out of their natural positions." B.) You, like everybody else who bashes Capers, refuse to even look at how Capers led this team from its infancy to within one game of .500 in just three years. Your blasting of him is just as unwarranted as it would have been if it was directed at Holmgren and Cowher when they had bad years with their respective teams. To call Capers a failure is to call Cowher and Holmgren failures when they had bad years. C.) You aren't an enthusiast if you are rooting for a team to lose. That's a simple fact. For you to argue otherwise flies against common sense. D.) I have said many times that FA will not help a team anywhere when all you do is pick up folks nobody else wants -- which is the case in most FA acquisitions. E.) I only post here once a day every three or four days for the most part. Trolls get on the message board every day and purposely write things to stir people up and then are constantly on the board seeing if they succeeded. I could care less about that. F.) I am definitely not the only person to say these things about the Texans offseason. There are a lot of people who have said the same thing. Some of those folks on KILT have basically said the Texans offseason has been pretty mediocre. G.) Why do you think I care what people call me? I personally think it's kind of funny when folks call me a Titans fan when I never even cared for them when they were in Houston. I have found in the normal course of life that there are lots of people who try to stereotype others so they can within their mind's eye put them in a little box and believe that they have them all figured out so they won't have to deal with the truth they present. Hence, the expression, "Oh, he's just a liberal Democrat" or "Oh, he's just a conservative Republican" which allows that person to dismiss everything the person says, no matter how true it is. So now you can see how amused I am when people try to call me a Titans troll. It only shows me that folks like you are trying to find a way to deny the facts I am serving up.

Unfortunately you are serving up your own guesses, not facts! There is NO WAY to tell how this team will do till they start practicing this new offense. If you listened to the players last year THEY didn't like the plays that were called or the way they were used in schemes.I personally like the moves that have been made and am looking forward to a stellar draft. I think it is you that is going to be surprised.

 

[Bobo]

So how does this matter? If the coaches aren't going to care, if the players aren't going to try, then do you still cheer for them or not? All those fans that left games really early and didn't care whether we won or lost or not, all those fans who didn't even show up to the game because they no longer wanted to watch a team with no effort get demolished, are they still fans?

The coaches and players ALWAYS care -- and so should the fans, if they are real fans, of course! If a player or coach doesn't care, they are quickly found out and shipped away. And yes, those people who bought tickets but didn't even bother to show up for the games aren't real fans. Real fans stick with the team through thick and thin -- like I did last year when some of these same so-called "fans" laughed at me for doing so, then said that I was really dyed-in-the-wool simply because I wanted to use what I had already purchased. As I have said many times before, I have basically lost my allegiance to this team and have given up on them due to the stunts they have pulled in the last three months. I don't have to drink the Kool Aid and accept their boneheaded moves, so I choose not to follow a team that is bound and determined to commit intellectual suicide and run itself into the ground for the forseeable future. It's one thing to do everything you can to win. It's another thing to wedge yourself firmly into the cellar for years to come due to your own stupid decisions and that's exactly what is happening here. I freely admit I am no longer a Texans fan -- at least compared to what I was last year. The excitement and the electricity that was here when Capers was in charge just isn't there anymore for this team and I doubt it will ever return. I don't care about attending the Texans Draft Day -- I haven't even thought about it. I'm already thinking about who I can give my preseason games to -- of course, nobody I know really wants them anyway. Everytime Kubiak comes on the radio or TV, I turn it off. That's just the way it is. I am sorry that happened because I enjoyed going out to Reliant and yelling myself hoarse for the Texans. However, that is now a thing of the past. But even though I don't really consider myself a fan of the Texans anymore, I certainly am more of a fan than these other folks who don't even go to the games they have paid for. If I am more than a fan than they are, what does that make them?

 

[Vinny]

I freely admit I am no longer a Texans fan

not a shock...most of us figured this out a long time ago.

 

[Bobo]

Unfortunately you are serving up your own guesses, not facts! There is NO WAY to tell how this team will do till they start practicing this new offense. If you listened to the players last year THEY didn't like the plays that were called or the way they were used in schemes.I personally like the moves that have been made and am looking forward to a stellar draft. I think it is you that is going to be surprised.

I look at this team from a completely unemotional view and, like many others who see things as I do, this team isn't going anywhere. Some unbiased observers say they win six games, tops. I don't see them doing even that well since I don't see six wins on the sked. Oh, sure, they may come out and surprise the Eagles who aren't all that great a team at this point either. But over time, this team will simply be mediocre at best and will miss the playoffs until Peyton Manning retires. The sooner folks realize that, the quicker they can adapt and adjust to this team as "lovable losers," just like the Mets were embraced in 1962. Unfortunately, the unrealistic and overexpecting so-called Houston "fans" pretty well dashed those hopes when they unfairly demanded Capers' ouster, having completely forgotten how far he took this team in the first three years. Now the only thing that will satisfy them will be a playoff appearance -- something totally unrealistic for a team in their position for the forseeable future. Seems to me like Houston fans are doomed to years of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations -- but they just bring it on themselves.

 

[Bobo]

not a shock...most of us figured this out a long time ago.

Sounds like some folks didn't get the news, though. Just because I have lost the excitement and electricity for this team doesn't mean I hate them, though. I just really don't care much about them anymore -- and in a way, for the Texans management, that's even worse than hating them.

 

[CoachJim]

I freely admit I am no longer a Texans fan

Then why oh WHY do you frequent this board? ... Ya see that lil red dot on the right side of every post you make? It means your opinion around here isn't worth much to most of us. I'll go out on a limb & use a quote I read on another board:

"If football acumen were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to drive a piss-ants motorcycle halfway around a gumball"

 

[Bobo]

Then why oh WHY do you frequent this board? ... Ya see that lil red dot on the right side of every post you make? It means your opinion around here isn't worth much to most of us. I'll go out on a limb & use a quote I read on another board:

"If football acumen were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to drive a piss-ants motorcycle halfway around a gumball"

Sounds to me like you've taken the Kool Aid and are in denial about a 2-14 team that has a green coach, a green assistant staff and has had a questionable offseason. That's OK, I can understand that. Been there, done that. But no more. I post on this board because I have gone to the Texans games for the past four years now as a season ticket holder and will continue to do so -- just as I will continue to post here since I believe my purchase of season tix at least gives me the right to post my honest assessment of this team and give a perspective that isn't just the company line. I don't think that's hard to fathom. There are a lot of folks out there right now who may not be posting on this board who used to be real fans but have lost their enthusiasm for this team and have not had the excitement return just because an inexperienced coach with as much NFL head coaching experience as I have shows up. I don't really care about the Texans that much anymore, but I do care about NFL football and will continue to buy the season tix because I enjoy the NFL experience -- and I don't care if it's the Arizona Cardinals and the SF 49ers who are playing in Reliant Stadium. I don't care about the teams, but the NFL is boss. Unfortunately, many folks aren't like me and their enthusiasm for the NFL isn't big enough to ignore their apathy toward this team. And seeing that this team isn't headed for the playoffs in the forseeable future, then McNair should be very, very concerned because sooner or later, the fan base will dry up as will his season ticket waiting list. Then he'll be left with getting people into the stands with gimmicks -- like hiring big-name coaches or bringing in future HOF players on the verge of retirement in hopes of giving season tix sales a shot in the arm. Last year it was proven that the Houston Texans fan base is a mile long but an inch thick. This football team was basically abandoned by the city as a whole midway through the season by so-called Houston "fans." Just think what it will be like after another few more years of losing seasons.

 

[TexansLucky13]

Then why oh WHY do you frequent this board? ... Ya see that lil red dot on the right side of every post you make? It means your opinion around here isn't worth much to most of us. I'll go out on a limb & use a quote I read on another board:

"If football acumen were gasoline, you wouldn't have enough to drive a piss-ants motorcycle halfway around a gumball"

He gets pleasure out of stirring up 2 entire pages of conflict on every thread. He is also proving that he does not pay attention to what he writes, and is more closed-minded than one of those Islamic Jihad guys. He has his "opinions" and he will not rest until all of us have presented factual evidence to the contrary of his bias. He acts, talks and smells like a troll. Case closed.

Anyways.... I would also like to see a MLB in the 1st day. Greenwood sure didn't do what we wanted him to do, and that position is very important for a defense. Only my opinion, of course.

 

[Vinny]

Bobo, you can post here but if you continue to just insult the fans (trolling), we have ways to deal with it without your approval.

 

[PapaL]

Anyways.... I would also like to see a MLB in the 1st day. Greenwood sure didn't do what we wanted him to do, and that position is very important for a defense. Only my opinion, of course.

Greenwood was never a MLB until he got here, that position was manned by Zach Thomas in MIA. Greenwood should be a better player for us this when he moves back to OLB. Hopefully Cowart/Wong can hold down the fort at MLB until we get some young guy in there.

 

[Vinny]

Greenwood was never a MLB until he got here, that position was manned by Zach Thomas in MIA. Greenwood should be a better player for us this when he moves back to OLB. Hopefully Cowart/Wong can hold down the fort at MLB until we get some young guy in there.

If Cowart makes the team he will be a situational MLB. He will play in running downs and come out in passing downs. I suspect Greenwood would move inside in nickel packages or other defensive passing packages.

 

[Bobo]

If Cowart makes the team he will be a situational MLB. He will play in running downs and come out in passing downs. I suspect Greenwood would move inside in nickel packages or other defensive passing packages.

This is interesting. I have been hearing for weeks how great an acquisition Cowart was. Now somebody actually says, "If Cowart makes the team." Must be another Texans non-fan.

 

[Bobo]

Bobo, you can post here but if you continue to just insult the fans (trolling), we have ways to deal with it without your approval.

Then to be fair, you'd have to do the same thing to folks who have insulted me just because I expressed an unbiased opinion.

 

[gtexan02]

Greenwood was never a MLB until he got here, that position was manned by Zach Thomas in MIA. Greenwood should be a better player for us this when he moves back to OLB. Hopefully Cowart/Wong can hold down the fort at MLB until we get some young guy in there.

#1, Wong won't be ready until at least 6-8 weeks into the season
#2 Wont played much better as an OLB in my mind
#3, Cowart has had some injury questions about him

Therefore I hope we spend our 1st pick of the second round on a MLB. Its my top position of need aat the moment

 

[Vinny]

Then to be fair, you'd have to do the same thing to folks who have insulted me just because I expressed an unbiased opinion.

I've banned members for insulting you...and taken grief for it...but I like to think I'm fair. Just remember, THIS IS A TEXANS SITE and this board is moderated by Texans fans as this forum is dedicated to Houston Texans Football. This is our house so while we love to host fans of all kinds, if you want to come in here just to insult the fan base in our house…well, put two and two together. I deal with our fans as much as rival fans....trust me.

 

[PapaL]

#1, Wong won't be ready until at least 6-8 weeks into the season
#2 Wont played much better as an OLB in my mind
#3, Cowart has had some injury questions about him

Therefore I hope we spend our 1st pick of the second round on a MLB. Its my top position of need aat the moment

I completley agree, with injuries and age a concern at MLB I would love to see our 2nd pick be a MLB. Wasnt Wong complaining about playing MLB last year and that he wanted to play OLB? (Or did I get those backwards?) Well maybe not complaining, but said he prefered to play the other spot.

 

[swtbound07]

I would gladly take either, but if came down to DQ + Colledge or Eric Winston +Hodge, I'd take the DQ

And on another note, to swtbound07, if you'd like to sit on your high horse and preach to us inferior fans about what you believe in, thats fine. In fact, if it makes you feel better about yourself to dictate to others that they can't be fans, thats fine too. I love football, and even more than football, I love Texans football. There is absolutely nothing more exciting to me than the prospect of us winning, as I'm sure if you'd read anything but half of one sentence of the first post you'd have understood. Last year was the most frustrating season of a sports team I have ever seen. There were times midway through games that I would simply turn the tv off because I was so pissed at how inept our coaching staff was. At how lousy the effort from the players was.

So how does this matter? If the coaches aren't going to care, if the players aren't going to try, then do you still cheer for them or not? All those fans that left games really early and didn't care whether we won or lost or not, all those fans who didn't even show up to the game because they no longer wanted to watch a team with no effort get demolished, are they still fans?

What you are doing here is making up a defintion of "real fan" that you are using to exclude a random few people on this messageboard from being considered fans of the Texans. OK? Done? Feel better? Now according to you, there are less "real fans" than before. Thanks for that. It sure is helping make this board a better place. You are the almight real fan, we inferior fans are not worthy. *we're not worthy!!!* is that what you were going for?

Seriously, what were you trying to accomplish by bringing this huge debate up again? This topic was supposed to bring confidence to people. I wanted to cheer us on, congratulate the coaches, inspire the fans, etc. You on the other hand, simply take half of one sentence and try and invalidate everything else I"ve said. Why? Just to be a jerk? Just so you can feel superior to a few people who wanted the Texans to have a higher pick? I don't see what you are accomplishing. Anyway, "real super true fan" I hope you're happy that you've successfully hijacked what was supposed to be a fun discussion of the changes weve made, and turned it into this petty argument about something that actually has NOTHING to do with football, and really, after its over, doesnt matter anyway. I know who I cheer for and your "super fan rhetoric" isn't going to change my mind to pack up my bags and root for the Titans, so whats the point?

You miss my point in this dont you? Im not trying to be better than anybody else....and kindly stop referring to my posts as "rhetoric". You happen to have hit on a very sore spot of mine, and the fact that you refer to it as a petty arguement fuels it even more. If we cant agree on such a base thing as wanting your team to win, then what can we agree on? Im not saying dont be glad we've got the number one pick...be excited about that, okay fine. But wanting your team to lose just to get there is ridiculous. Do you not remember when we didnt HAVE football in Houston? Do you not remember how that felt? Im not trying to get you to pack up your bags and move anywhere bro.....the point is to get you to stop and think about what a slippery slope you are on when you start rooting for your team to lose.

 

[gtexan02]

You miss my point in this dont you? Im not trying to be better than anybody else....and kindly stop referring to my posts as "rhetoric". You happen to have hit on a very sore spot of mine, and the fact that you refer to it as a petty arguement fuels it even more. If we cant agree on such a base thing as wanting your team to win, then what can we agree on? Im not saying dont be glad we've got the number one pick...be excited about that, okay fine. But wanting your team to lose just to get there is ridiculous. Do you not remember when we didnt HAVE football in Houston? Do you not remember how that felt? Im not trying to get you to pack up your bags and move anywhere bro.....the point is to get you to stop and think about what a slippery slope you are on when you start rooting for your team to lose.

On and on.... Oh well. Yes, we cannot agree on how we feel about the last game of last season. Im pretty sure we can agree on most other things. I fail to see how they are related? And as such, I fail to understand why this is such a sore spot for you. If you really care about all the Texans fans so much that when you see some of them start to slip, you try to bring them back, then I have grossly misjudged you and I'm sorry for that. If thats the case, then please know that hoping for one loss isn't going to change my allegiances, no matter how slipperly the slope. I really feel that this is not the case, however, as seen from the agressive tone throughout all your previous posts. In fact, I really do think that you are trying to draw some sort of imaginery line in the sand where you can split up people and say "We are REAL fans, and you are not" Why, I still don't know, but again, I may be misinterpreting you.

Now then, here is what the post was SUPPOSED to be about:

1. We have a high pick, Im excited
2. No matter who we choose, we will get someone who could be allpro
3. Our new coaching staff has a new take on things that the players are responding to
4. We improved our offense through additions of Sherman as OL coach, Flannagan at center, Putzier at TE, Moulds at WR and the depth we got at OG
5. We improved our run defense with the addition of Weaver at DE, Cowart at MLB, and the move back to the 4-3

The season is still months away, and we are already shaping up to be competitive. I know you said you can't agree with me, but if you don't agree with any of those, you are either A) Bobo, or B) Not a real fan, no matter who you cheered for during the 49ers game. (just kidding, lets please not start another debate)

 

[Runner]

I think it's very likely that the Texans take a MLB on Day 1 - probably at 65 or 66. I don't think DQ slips that far but Hodge might.

scroll ... scroll ... scroll ... post by AJ? read ... scroll ... scroll




Sorry - was that out loud?

 

[the wonger need food]

A.) We didn't have a need at TE. The TE is needed to stay in for pass protection. A pass-catching TE only makes things worse. B.) WR wasn't a need either. None of the WRs produced this year because there was no protection for Carr. Gaffney would have been just fine if he would have been given time to complete his routes. He did a good job filling in for AJ when he was out.

Hey coach Capers... this is exactly why you will never get another HC job and your boy Pendry is on the unemployment line.

 

[bad]

...If you derived one ounce of pleasure from any texans loss this year, you got no heart.

That's a bit harsh, but I understand where you're coming from. I played a lot of sports growing up (mostly football) and losing always sucked hind leg. You never want anything to do with losing, ever, for any reason.

Fans who have never competed in sports may see things differently, but it should be universally accepted that as professional football players, you always play to win from snap to whistle. Personnel is down the hall, two doors to the right.

The only good loss is the one you hang on your opponent.

 

[sprtsfanatic]

Hogwash. Fans don't root for their teams to lose -- ever. These unknowledgeable folks who root against their team may think that they are showing more intelligence "than the average bear," but actually they are simply showing their ignorance about what a fan really is. If you are a true, dyed-in-the-wool fan, you NEVER, EVER root against your team. And you definitely do NOT stay at home with tickets you have already purchased. If you do root against them, then you simply aren't a fan of that team. I remember when I was a Browns fan. I don't care how bad their record was, I rooted for them to win. There was NO WAY I would root for them to lose, no matter what was at stake. There is a certain pride the team takes with them out on the field and that pride is rewarded with a win -- not a loss. Real fans share in that pride, and if you don't, well, you simply aren't a fan of that team. There's no sin in that, of course. But don't go around saying you are a Texans fan and then root against them. Folks will think you are real, real confused.

Then according to you then there are not many "fans" in Houston. If I remember correctly channel 13 had a poll on during that last game and it was well over 87% of the local "fans" that wanted the Texans to win the "Bush Bowl"....personally I think swt 07 over there in florida has some serious issues with his "fan" dilema, and that this entire arguement of what/who is a real fan is ridiculous....oh and as a side note....Capers blew as a hc, and really was not fit for this team....to coach a team to keep it close till the 4th qtr and hope your within striking distance in the final minutes is NO WAY TO COACH AN EXPANSION TEAM. Did he think that such a young team if allowed to run up a score would let it get to their heads??? Wait....isnt that what we wanted?? Wasnt that the purpose of trying to get a winning streak going??? Under his strategy it would have been better to lose the next game after any win.

 

[southtexan]

As stated on this board on numerous occasions, most unbiased observers believe this type of assessment is nothing but the exclamations of homers wearing rose-colored glasses. Until the offensive line starts blocking somebody to keep Carr from having to run for his life and until the defense can actually prevent opposing RBs from running up team records, then all of this "awesome" talk is nothing more than whistling in the graveyard. The OL is still a mess and unproven and the defensive improvements are minimal at best. How you can describe this offseason as "awesome" is beyond me.

Personally I've to be realistic about the Texans this coming season, I've no idea how many games they're going to win or how good of a draft we're going to have, but I've to be optimistic. We've no other way to go but up, we should have a better team.

 

[touttail]

I don't know where you get this "excitement is in the air with our team" I don't feel any and the unbiased observers don't sense any either. If you put out the same team with the same coach this year, they'd probably be better than 2-14. Heck, they were 7-9 the previous year. I would rather they have kept Capers. He had the team going in the right direction. Yes, he had a bad year last year. But both Cowher and Holmgren had bad years and look where they ended up this past season.

By excitement, I am speaking of our FA pick ups. We casterated our defense last year and got PBuc and Greenwood. Big deal!
We have gotten some decent FA's this year and that's pretty exciting to me. Maybe not to others, but is pumps me up that they got a new coach and trying to do something postitive for this team.

Bobby 119C

 

[touttail]

One thing thats curious to me, is that Bobo advocates for Capers to stay, but then claims we haven't changed enough. I guarantee you if Capers had stayed, we would have A) Made even less changes and B) Performed even worse than last

I'LL DRINK TO THAT !!!!

Bobby 119C

 

[touttail]

Umm, try a Pro Bowl alternate who only played three games in 2004 due to patella tendinitis in his left knee that required season-ending surgery and missed two games last year because of a sports hernia (credit: Wisconsin State Journal). But I am sure that as this injury-prone "Pro Bowler" is only 32 years old and is basically just a rookie since he's only in 11th year in the NFL and is getting younger and younger, the picture is only getting rosier and rosier for this OL. Yeah, right. Another record year in sacks allowed and a bunch of single-game rushing records against this defense looks more like it.

Maybe not a super bowler or a multi pro-bowler, but man you got to start somewhere when rebuilding. Caper and crew just wanted to shuffle players, not try new ones. Yeah we all remember Boselli, but what if this guy got healthy and was a kick butt OLineman. You gotta play the numbers and at least give it a shot. You either will be a hero or a zero. Alot of coaches don't have the cojones to put themselves in this position. I feel Kube does!

Bobby 119C

 

[touttail]

A.) Capers was sticking with the folks he had, hoping they would gel together. You have to give them time to come together -- you can't just mix everything up whenever something doesn't go right. They needed some time. Obviously, they never did gel, but Capers went about doing what he should have by giving them time. Then again, I am amused by how "Texans fans" were yelling and screaming about how Capers needed to change the OL around and then when he did, the same folks yelled about how he was moving people "out of their natural positions." B.) You, like everybody else who bashes Capers, refuse to even look at how Capers led this team from its infancy to within one game of .500 in just three years. Your blasting of him is just as unwarranted as it would have been if it was directed at Holmgren and Cowher when they had bad years with their respective teams. To call Capers a failure is to call Cowher and Holmgren failures when they had bad years. C.) You aren't an enthusiast if you are rooting for a team to lose. That's a simple fact. For you to argue otherwise flies against common sense. D.) I have said many times that FA will not help a team anywhere when all you do is pick up folks nobody else wants -- which is the case in most FA acquisitions. E.) I only post here once a day every three or four days for the most part. Trolls get on the message board every day and purposely write things to stir people up and then are constantly on the board seeing if they succeeded. I could care less about that. F.) I am definitely not the only person to say these things about the Texans offseason. There are a lot of people who have said the same thing. Some of those folks on KILT have basically said the Texans offseason has been pretty mediocre. G.) Why do you think I care what people call me? I personally think it's kind of funny when folks call me a Titans fan when I never even cared for them when they were in Houston. I have found in the normal course of life that there are lots of people who try to stereotype others so they can within their mind's eye put them in a little box and believe that they have them all figured out so they won't have to deal with the truth they present. Hence, the expression, "Oh, he's just a liberal Democrat" or "Oh, he's just a conservative Republican" which allows that person to dismiss everything the person says, no matter how true it is. So now you can see how amused I am when people try to call me a Titans troll. It only shows me that folks like you are trying to find a way to deny the facts I am serving up.

Is Capers your Dad or Uncle??????

Bobby 119C

 

[dalemurphy]

You miss my point in this dont you? Im not trying to be better than anybody else....and kindly stop referring to my posts as "rhetoric". You happen to have hit on a very sore spot of mine, and the fact that you refer to it as a petty arguement fuels it even more. If we cant agree on such a base thing as wanting your team to win, then what can we agree on? Im not saying dont be glad we've got the number one pick...be excited about that, okay fine. But wanting your team to lose just to get there is ridiculous. Do you not remember when we didnt HAVE football in Houston? Do you not remember how that felt? Im not trying to get you to pack up your bags and move anywhere bro.....the point is to get you to stop and think about what a slippery slope you are on when you start rooting for your team to lose.

Fans always want their team to "win". However, it's apparent that fans define winning differently. By midseason I considered anything a win that would expedite major changes in the coaching staff, for instance. I have season tickets and live in Austin. I also have three young children. It isn't the easiest thing to do- making trips to Houston on Sunday to watch the games. I do it because I enjoy it and am a fan of the team.

I made the trip for the Cleveland game and derived no satisfaction from it. They played horribly. The style of football was boring and uninspired despite the fact that they won. If God would have offered me a deal that day:
1. Houston beats Cleveland but things remain the same with the team next year
or
2. Houston loses to Cleveland today but it leads to a more interesting and improved team next year... I would definitely have taken the Cleveland loss.

Would you say that means that I'm not a "real" or a "good" fan? When fans say they were rooting for the team to lose, that's all they mean- that perhaps a loss will bring quicker improvement to the team. I never rooted for the team to lose in 2002, 2003, or 2004, despite the fact that I knew they weren't playoff bound. Last year's team, however, needed to be blown up! and I was willing to suffer a couple of extra losses to make sure that happened.

 

[OzzO]

I've just got to say wow. This has been one helluva ride for me, and hopefully its not ending here. I mean, this has been the best offseason I've ever experienced as a Texans fan.

It all started with that SF 49ers game. I don't like to be a "cheer for the loss" kind of guy, but in this case, I was.

Next came the Rosebowl. VY, Bush, Leinart, Lendale were all doing their best to raise their draft stock. After the game, I realized how amazing our draft position was.

Then the Free Agents/Trade. The Weaver signing would have been enough (based on my old expectations) but then we go out and get Putzier, Flannagan, Moulds, Cowart, and Kalu.

The pro days were next on the agenda, and again, our draft position was only made more valuable.

Now we've got articles and stories on the revamped team. 30th ranked run defense? 4-3 + Weaver + Cowart = fixed! (hopefully). 30th ranked offense? Kubiak + Cook + Moulds + Putzier + Flannagan + Motivating Carr = fixed!

And lastly, with the players we've brought in for interviews, how can anyone not be excited. The three players we're negotiating with: Bush, Williams, Young. All 3 could be superstars in the NFL if they live up to their hype.

Here it is in summary form: We tank the 49ers, the rosebowl showcased some 1st round talent, we had countless holes on both sides of the ball that we actually filled with decent players, the coaches and players express confidence in their new schemes, and the worst player we will bring in on April 29th could be a rookie probowler. Awesome!

So, back to regularly scheduled post after a few pages of what defines fandom....

Have to agree, an intesting offseason to date with the previous coaching staff shown the door and a new one brough in place. Have yet to see a down with the new staff, but I don't think it was "change for change's sake" that resulted in the new staff. I think the previous crew brought the Texans as far as they could go with their scheme, and if they wanted to go further a new system had to be installed (Texans ver 2.0) The rumblings throughout last year of buzzers and executing and gelling (like Magellin) and faster 3 step drops, complicated plays, read and react, audible to a run, and on and on..... it just wasn't gonna end well.

As for the Niners game - didn't really root for a loss, was kinda more indifferent to see how they would end the season. Now, when the loss happened, yeah - I was exstatic for the first pick and knowing changes would happen with the dismal season. Guess that makes me an indifferent exstatic fan now? Ah well.

As for the FA picks - generally excited for what we got because we didn't break the bank on any and we filled a few holes (at least temporarily) with some proven players so we can focus a little more on BPA in the draft and not have our picks forced because we have immediate openings needed.

Glad we switched to a 4-3 as well, with the previous coaches - I would've thought we could've handled and selected the appropriate players for a 3-4, but didn't seem to happen.... but we only had in place for a couple of years, correct... maybe 3? However, the 4-3 seems to make the players excited, coaches used to it, GM's able to pull more from colleges with similar positions...

Yeah, I'm excited for the Texans this year (as I optimistically am every year... indifferent exstatic optimistic fan for those keeping score at home) but it seems just a little moreso this time around - at least since the 1st two offseasons cause there was a needed change this time around, and personally - I think it was a change for the better.

 

[kingh99]

Capers? Capers?? The only Capers I remember were the ones your mom used to put in dad's martinis.

​

 

[Bobo]

>One thing thats curious to me, is that Bobo advocates for Capers to stay, but then claims we haven't changed enough. I guarantee you if Capers had stayed, we would have A) Made even less changes and B) Performed even >worse than last

A.) The criticism is the changes haven't been in the right places, not that the team hasn't changed enough. No changes necessary in skill positions -- changes are obviously needed in OL and defense. Hey, haven't I said that a million times before? B.) I believe if Capers was given another chance you might have seen a turnaround like Holmgren/Cowher experienced. Capers was a fine coach for the first three years. He didn't get stupid all of a sudden. His dismissal was way, way too hasty. But then again, I've said that a million times before as well.

 

[HJam72]

Sharper, Glenn, and DD kept Capers from looking like a fool. He was a great DC, but, as a head coach, he trusted Fangio way too much and wouldn't let Palmer run his offense. Then, he fired Palmer (his one decent coach, besides Mariucci) and promoted Pendry, who has been the entire organization's biggest problem since day 1, and Pendry went on to TOTALLY screw up the offense. Your're certainly right that the O-line has been this team's biggest problem, but Pendry is most likely the biggest single reason that the O-line sucked in the first place.

 

[Grid]

#1, Wong won't be ready until at least 6-8 weeks into the season
#2 Wont played much better as an OLB in my mind
#3, Cowart has had some injury questions about him

Therefore I hope we spend our 1st pick of the second round on a MLB. Its my top position of need aat the moment

Alot of mocks have us taking Gerris Wilkinson in the 3rd. I like that pick.

 

[gtexan02]

>One thing thats curious to me, is that Bobo advocates for Capers to stay, but then claims we haven't changed enough. I guarantee you if Capers had stayed, we would have A) Made even less changes and B) Performed even >worse than last

A.) The criticism is the changes haven't been in the right places, not that the team hasn't changed enough. No changes necessary in skill positions -- changes are obviously needed in OL and defense. Hey, haven't I said that a million times before? B.) I believe if Capers was given another chance you might have seen a turnaround like Holmgren/Cowher experienced. Capers was a fine coach for the first three years. He didn't get stupid all of a sudden. His dismissal was way, way too hasty. But then again, I've said that a million times before as well.

2-14 season = not too hasty. You list me a team that went 2-14 and/or worse in the coaches 3rd or later year and didn't fire their coach and I'll be very surprised.
Just for your own knowledge, since you seem to be utterly confused, here are Cowher's stats with the Steelers:
Year Team G W L T PCT
2005 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 11 5 0 .688
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 15 1 0 .938
2003 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 6 10 0 .375
2002 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 10 5 1 .656
2001 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 13 3 0 .813
2000 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 9 7 0 .563
1999 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 6 10 0 .375
1998 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 7 9 0 .438
1997 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 11 5 0 .688
1996 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 10 6 0 .625
1995 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 11 5 0 .688
1994 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 12 4 0 .750
1993 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 9 7 0 .563
1992 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 11 5 0 .688

The worst he's ever done is 6-10, and other than those 2, he's had significant winning seasons to surround those

And Holmgren:
Year Team G W L T PCT
2005 Seattle Seahawks 16 13 3 0 .813
2004 Seattle Seahawks 16 9 7 0 .563
2003 Seattle Seahawks 16 10 6 0 .625
2002 Seattle Seahawks 16 7 9 0 .438
2001 Seattle Seahawks 16 9 7 0 .563
2000 Seattle Seahawks 16 6 10 0 .375
1999 Seattle Seahawks 16 9 7 0 .563

Again, only 6-10, and only once. And he had a winning percentage before coming into Seattle with GB, going 11/5, 13/3, 13/3, and 11/5 before coming to seattle.

Secondly, there have been many changes on both OL and DL. Here are the ones I know of:
1) Hiring Sherman as OL coach
2) Signing Flannagan
3) Signing Peko
4) Shuffling OL to suit our needs
5) Switching to the 4-3
6) Moving Peek/Babin back to their traditional spots
7) Moving Smith and TJ back to DTs
8) Signing Weaver
9) Signing Kalu

How is that not "significant changes" to the lines exactly?

 

[JAXwithanX]

If Eric Winston is there in the top of the second....and we don't pick him....i'm going to ****. OUr line will improve because of Sherman, Flanagan, and the fact people get to play in their normal spots now.....but to think we have an adequate LT is not debatable....its laughable.

MLB is a need and hope we address it very soon in the draft (hell both our 3rd round picks)....but Cowart is a better stopgap there right now than we have at LT....we can't keep ignoring the fact that protecting your QB's backside makes so many more aspects of your offense better.