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Preseason Game #1. Observations

On that onside kick by Kris Brown did you see when he went back to the sidelines Jason Bell was just ripping him I know he said "what was that, the was horrible" and he kept on talking. And then when Kris left you could see the coaches and Jason crack up and laugh. That was funny. :tomato:
 
The one thing I would like to see out of our next preseason game is a few more "pocket" passes from Carr. I like the rollouts because they offer easy protection for Carr, but I'd like to see if our OL can protect Carr in the pocket and also if Carr looks comfortable in the pocket.
 
Ibar_Harry said:
But injuries are starting to put us in a deep hole once again and we have little if any depth in certain areas.
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Ibar what injuries are you talking about?

Back down from the ledge the sky is not really falling.
 
:yahoo: At last! We threw the ball down field and got a pass interference call. I believe that is the first one we got in 2 seasons? I know enough of that. I thought our first teams played well, but I'm not gonna read too much into anything. I thought P-buc got lost, but that is ok. This is the reason we play preseason games, so that the coaches can correct or answer any problems that the players might have. I have no reason to believe that Hoke can't fix that. Of course I would have like to see Carr play more, but like in Chicago dam&^% if you do dam&^% if you don't. I really am optimistic this year!
 
I was at the SOAD concert on Sat night so missed the game :/

I am Hoping to find someone who will be gracious enough to loan or burn me a copy of the game so I can watch it myself. It is pre-season so i'm not that overly concerened.

On to the Game : From the sounds of all the commentary and highlights - the Texans played much like I saw at practice last week - Sloppy

I'm hoping the injuries were not too bad esp Weigert - that one could really hurt in the long run if he's out several weeks. I heard about J. Wells maybe having a torn tendon in his finger too that didnt sound good along with BJ's separated shoulder.

The Good : I like what I heard about the first team's Offensive drive, the O-line play being better, good blocking and time to throw [not counting the goaline enigma]. That certainly seems a lot more promising than before. Riley was doing well at practice so this may be the start of somethign good at LT. I liked hearing that most of the rookies all got good minutes.

The Tossup - Backup QB's - I still have hope for Ragone and think from the sounds of things he was having some jitters and started off with a few bad series and got into a rhythm later. IMO he looked really decent in practice this week against the Denver D whereas Banks looked like a disaster. I think he will see more minutes thru Pre-season and we will get a much better idea/look at him as for backup potential then. Symons - Sorry to hear about the injury to him, but honestly as I said last week after practice - I thought he would be cut before the season anyway as he looked really bad in practice and it seems the results from the game werent any better.

The Bad : The only thought I have on this is the comments about the sloppy Play of the team - That didnt change from practice and I was hoping to hear better.
 
This 1st preseason game gave me really no reason
to change my prediction of a 13-3 season.
I was pleased with what our starters did in the 2
series that they played (though Carr only played 1).
Against a team who's offense and defense ranked in
the top five last year we outgained them 118 yards
to 13 yards for them.I like rolling Carr out,it keeps the
defense from just pinning back their ears and makes
them play the running lanes on passing downs.
Somethings didn't work so well, like using d-lineman
as fullbacks.I never have liked that.But it's better
that they get that out of their heads now than to decide
during the season to try it.If the boat don't float it's
better to find out before your in the middle of the
ocean.
As expected we didn't see too much of the starters
as this game and the next game against Oakland will
be more about evaluation of players than of winning.
I expect to see the starters play most of three
quarters on the 27th against Dallas.That will be our 1st
real opportunity to see how well they execute when
they have to stay on the field and how well they
make adjustments at halftime.
 
All in all, it was a typical Texans game with inconsistency on both sides of the ball.

On offense, much like last year, the receivers were blanketed. Hopefully there will be a cure for the anemic passing game this year. Aside from the one TD pass from Banks, the passing game was abysmal. They did run the ball really well with the first and second string units.

Defensively, there was good pressure upfield from the line. The secondary looked lost in the zone coverages and left receivers wide open on many occasions. (How many times did we see a Texan's receiver wide open?) Way too many missed tackles, especially on the long TD to Devoe which was embarrassing at best. Nice run defense for the most part. Travis Johnson made some nice plays, but took too many plays off. Hopefully the good plays will make up for this in the regular season.

As always, keeping it close was more important to the coaching staff than winning the game. Winning begets winning, and this coaching staff has yet to instill this mentality into the team.

The sky isn't falling yet, but I just don't see any improvement comparing this game to last year's first pre-season game.
 
the wonger need food said:
Travis Johnson made some nice plays, but took too many plays off. Hopefully the good plays will make up for this in the regular season.
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Other than reciting something from a draft notebook, what did you see specifically that made you think TJ took a play much less too many off?
 
infantrycak said:
Other than reciting something from a draft notebook, what did you see specifically that made you think TJ took a play much less too many off?
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There were several, mostly when he was getting doubled, that he kind of stood up and didn't make a lot of effort to get low and make a push. More than likely he was tired (he played a lot of downs). He did get that rep in college. I'm guessing that it is mostly due to the fact that he is very talented and people expect him to get upfield every play. Either way, it was just an observation after watching him closely on 20 or so plays.
 
the wonger need food said:
There were several, mostly when he was getting doubled, that he kind of stood up and didn't make a lot of effort to get low and make a push. More than likely he was tired (he played a lot of downs). He did get that rep in college. I'm guessing that it is mostly due to the fact that he is very talented and people expect him to get upfield every play. Either way, it was just an observation after watching him closely on 20 or so plays.
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Well I didn't see that at all. IMO he had a very high effort but neither DLmen nor the OLmen have the same assignments nor try the same things every play so he got mixed results. As with all rookies he has some technique issues as well. Basically I saw a high motor rookie with a rookie's rawness, not a refined player being a slacker.
 
infantrycak said:
Well I didn't see that at all. IMO he had a very high effort but neither DLmen nor the OLmen have the same assignments nor try the same things every play so he got mixed results. As with all rookies he has some technique issues as well. Basically I saw a high motor rookie with a rookie's rawness, not a refined player being a slacker.
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His motor was revving on several plays. He had one in the 4th quarter where he split a double-team and was on the QB with suddenness. But he also had several, on pass plays, where it seemed that the effort was lacking.
 
the wonger need food said:
His motor was revving on several plays. He had one in the 4th quarter where he split a double-team and was on the QB with suddenness. But he also had several, on pass plays, where it seemed that the effort was lacking.
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He also said after the game that he was gassed and had to come out for a breather. Might just be playing his way in to NFL type of game condition.
 
Can you blame him?
I was immensly impressed because he was pushing NFL caliber lineman into the backfield. One of my concerns was he wouldnt be able to disrupt things as dramatically as he did in college that the penetration shown on film was not against top tier talent.

I only got to see the first half then my girlfriend forced me to go out. Id also like to say kudos to NFL networks break down and movement between games. We looked great and i didnt read anything into the 1 yd plunges, if we wanted to score, we couldve easily pitched it and let DD just out run the D to the corner. All in all i thought the progression was excellent for everyone cept weigart. Id really like to see Weary possibly step up and really fill in well for zach while he is out. It makes me wonderif mckinney could move to RG, and wasington to C where would wiegart play?
 
what i liked:

first team offense and defense
reggie swinton and the rest of the special teams

what i disliked:

a. domanick davis not able to punch in a TD from a yard away with 3 or 4 opportunities.
b. the fact that carr only got in 2 passes.
 
i wouldn't read too much into DD not being able to punch it in from less than 2 yards away 4 times. we had robaire in playing fullback and while he hit whoever he hit hard, it wasn't always the right guy to hit. i think having norris in there wold have been a different story, but this was just an experiment. i mean we ran it 3 times to the right in the same spot.
 
i have a question, all of the preseason games i saw most of the teams had their starters in for at least one quarter and a couple of drives, why is it that the Texans only use them for like one drive because of injuries but why do the other teams leave them in.
 
Str8tupg42k1 said:
...why is it that the Texans only use them for like one drive because of injuries but why do the other teams leave them in.
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You have to remember that the Texans starters got a lot of work in last week against the Broncos 1st team defense. One drive in the lights was all they needed, considering that it was more or less a "successful" drive. Other teams don't necessarily get the opportunity to work against an opponent in practice prior to the preseason game.
 
infantrycak said:
Other than reciting something from a draft notebook, what did you see specifically that made you think TJ took a play much less too many off?
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Dont try and make it sound like he is spewing notes from an online mockster.

TJ took off 2 plays that I specifically watched him. And maybe a couple that I didnt see.

But make no mistake, he took off a few.

Ball is snaped, he is stood up, and going backwards real slow, and you can tell that there is no fight going on.

So save me the "reciting something from a draft notebook"
 
Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I didn't see that in the game and also do not automatically interpret different results to mean different effort levels. Payne gets pushed back some plays (by the way going backwards real slow for a DLmen is better than going back real fast) and no one has ever questioned his effort level. And by the way, plenty of people do just regurgitate things they have read on the internet.
 
gtexan02 said:
Haha, Well I was sitting in section 131 if anyone else knows what I am talking about. I don't think it was one of the twins. Anyway, baasically her pants were a bit low for the 2nd half so she had some undergarments showing. The cheerleader coach came over to her once or twice to ask her to retuck.
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I wasn't able to make it to the game but if the cheerleader in question was Emily I will be very upset I missed it.
I did watch the first half of the game on tv and wasn't very impressed with our boys but I keep telling myself there's nothin wrong with saving up our whoop ***** for the steelers.
 
Str8tupg42k1 said:
i have a question, all of the preseason games i saw most of the teams had their starters in for at least one quarter and a couple of drives, why is it that the Texans only use them for like one drive because of injuries but why do the other teams leave them in.
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Some teams (like the Cowboys) have a lot of questions about
their starting lineup's while some aren't happy with what their
starters did so they leave them in trying to get them to click.
Houston's starters not playing tells me they are comfortable
with who they have starting and didn't need to see more of
them or risk getting them hurt.
As for TJ taking plays off, I'm sure part of that was just being
winded.Even pro-bowl players take a play off now and then.
The difference is they know how to pick their spots and they
don't have everyone watching hoping to catch them.
On goal to go plays this year I expect to see Carr rolling out
more this year in a run pass option.
I don't put much stock in winning or losing in the preseason
except for game 3.That's the game the starters really get
to go out their and work.
Not too many superbowl winners have gone undefeated in
the preseason.
Motor City,here come the Texan's !!! :piano:
 
infantrycak said:
Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I didn't see that in the game and also do not automatically interpret different results to mean different effort levels. Payne gets pushed back some plays (by the way going backwards real slow for a DLmen is better than going back real fast) and no one has ever questioned his effort level.
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Thats exactly why I said "and you can tell that there is no fight going on."

He looked like he was doing a walk thru.

=================================

But other than those few plays, he gave a great effort, and I really enjoyed watching him.
 
infantrycak said:
Other than a roster saying Wells weighs 30 more pounds, what has he ever done to hint he would be a better goalline runner? He has never run as hard as DD and hasn't demonstrated any greater ability in short yardage situations over the past two years. Kudos to Wells for running much harder last season and yesterday, but he has been playing catch up to run anywhere near as hard as DD in the 1st place.
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Please look at the game film when we played Oakland, Tenn in Tenn, and Jacksonville at home. Not saying he runs harder than DD, but he does let out some frustration in the short yardage situations.
 
Did it ever occur that sometimes the nose tackle in a 3-4 will occasionally slip back a "bit" in coverage to bring an offensive lineman out a bit so that the two inside linebackers can scoot in the holes? I think that is what you saw.
 
I am not, nor have I ever been, a Wells fan. I will give him credit for learning how to 'fall forward' in the preseason, but that is, in general, against backup/roster depth players, not starters. Wells was our starter in 2002 and was a 3rd round pick. DD was a 4th round pick and took the job away from Wells. And rightfully so, IMHO.

Wells will get credit for learning how to be a 'bruising RB' from me, when he does it, consistantly, against other starting D's. Until then, he still has alot to prove and EARN back. The guy has the build to be a punisher, yet he plays like a prima-donna, IMHO.

Watch most of the game tapes from last year, DD gets hit, doesn't go down till the second tackler gets there, and still manages to fall forward. Wells turns his back to the tackler about the same time that the tackler gets to him.

I think Wells being moved to FB is an indication of the team trying to find a roster spot for him, and basically admitting that he is NOT what we are looking for in an every down type RB, but he MIGHT be what we are looking for in short yardage situations as a decoy perhaps more than anything else.
 
El Tejano said:
Did it ever occur that sometimes the nose tackle in a 3-4 will occasionally slip back a "bit" in coverage to bring an offensive lineman out a bit so that the two inside linebackers can scoot in the holes? I think that is what you saw.
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That's actually called the 3-4 Dagger where the 2 ILB blitz towards the center and the NT holds his spot and doesn't push into the backfield.
 
thegr8fan said:
I am not, nor have I ever been, a Wells fan. I will give him credit for learning how to 'fall forward' in the preseason, but that is, in general, against backup/roster depth players, not starters. Wells was our starter in 2002 and was a 3rd round pick. DD was a 4th round pick and took the job away from Wells. And rightfully so, IMHO.

Wells will get credit for learning how to be a 'bruising RB' from me, when he does it, consistantly, against other starting D's. Until then, he still has alot to prove and EARN back. The guy has the build to be a punisher, yet he plays like a prima-donna, IMHO.

Watch most of the game tapes from last year, DD gets hit, doesn't go down till the second tackler gets there, and still manages to fall forward. Wells turns his back to the tackler about the same time that the tackler gets to him.

I think Wells being moved to FB is an indication of the team trying to find a roster spot for him, and basically admitting that he is NOT what we are looking for in an every down type RB, but he MIGHT be what we are looking for in short yardage situations as a decoy perhaps more than anything else.
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you can't compare what wells did in 2002 with what Davis did in 2004. The Olines were different and our starting FB was Baxter. I know Wells isn't Davis and never will be, both are totally different types of backs, but Wells has played alot better against first team defenses the longer he plays. There were a few games last year where Wells got the job done and ran some nice runs off. I think Wells being tried as a FB shows his versatility on this team, not them trying to find a roster spot. this is the NFL, you don't just find a roster spot for some guy, he earns it, and Wells has earned it with better play and versatility on the team. I admit, i was a Wells hater back in 2002 and 2003, then last year he surprised me alot. He's progressing and playing better every year, and thats what you want. Draft order doesn't really matter in the NFL, its what you can do. Hollings was a 2nd round pick, I still think Wells is better, and DD was a 4th rounder who'd the best of the group.
 
El Tejano said:
Please look at the game film when we played Oakland, Tenn in Tenn, and Jacksonville at home. Not saying he runs harder than DD, but he does let out some frustration in the short yardage situations.
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Well there isn't really any need to look back at those games when you agree he doesn't run harder than DD. That was the original point--why put Wells in over DD in short yardage situations when he has never demonstrated an inclination or ability to run harder than DD? Has he gotten better than his rookie season?--yes, but he hasn't gotten better than DD in his rookie season.
 
texansfan88 said:
Denver had 10 for 95 yards and we had 12 for 84 yards... I dont catch your reasoning?
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Thanks for the clarification. It did not seem Denver had that many penalties. By the time I posted, I could not find a box score to get the numbers.

Penalties have been a problem since the beginning (my perception anyway). 12 in the first pre season game still tells me this is a potential problem. I hope I'm wrong.
 
Davis is clearly a better goal line back than Wells is. Wells has very little ability to find creases and explode into them. Davis does have a good nose for the end zone....Wells obviously doesn't run low or hard....that's why he is being tried at FB.

TJ looked fine to me. I watched the game again and don't really have anything to say about him other than, 'he sure looks good for a rookie'. His intensity and quickness is impressive.
 
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