Patience has nothing to do with it. Well.. I take that back. Im patient enough to sit through 5 more years of growth if thats what it takes to become a good team.
But the key word there is GROWTH. Our offense hasnt looked that bad since 2002. Even in our WORST LOSSES the last two seasons, our offense has not looked so inept. We havent taken a step backwards, we took a LEAP backwards.
We designed this offense to get the ball out of Carr's hands quickly so that he avoids getting pummeled again. He got sacked 4 times.
We designed this offense to create mismatches with Johnson and get the ball into his hands more. He had 2 receptions for 7 yards.
We designed this offense to run the ball effectively with Domanick Davis. He had 14 carries for 48 yards.
We designed this defense to have a better passrush and better coverage abilities from our inside linebackers. We got 1 sack and no real pressure.. and Buffalo's rookie QB picked our ILBs (and our CBs for that matter) apart.
This game was a complete failure in every phase of the game.. and this is the first time we have had no good excuse for it. We have always come out ready to play the first game of the season.
What bothers me isnt that we lost. Its that we showed NOTHING positive, we looked terrible no matter what we did, it was never even CLOSE.. we never even had a chance of coming back.. our only score came on a phantom unnecessary roughness penalty.
We were supposed to come out this season with something to prove. We were SUPPOSED to show that we have progressed to the point that you may actually mention our name and playoffs in the same sentence.. but we came out stale and confused. I just dont see how we can expect to make any strides this season (let alone the playoffs) when we cant even get fired up and prepared for the first game of the season.
I refuse to let the Texans become the Oilers.. or the Bengals.. or the Cardinals... or the Saints or Lions... You can tell a good team when you see one.. they go out there, not on "any given sunday" , but on "every freakin sunday" and play the game like they are supposed to. Win or lose, they do their thing and after 60 minutes you cant say "well they obviously didnt come to play". A good example is the Colts v. Ravens game tonight. The Ravens didnt score a single point till the 4th quarter, but at no point in the game did they look inept or beaten.
If we are going to avoid 20 years of wasted seasons.. then nip this problem in the bud now. Spend a little bit of money and get some coaches that you KNOW can make a difference.
When I say "you know can make a difference", just look at who we have. We have a collection of "second chancers". Our OC was the OC for a dismal Browns team. Our DC was the DC for the Colts.. one of the worst defenses in the league while he was there. Capers was a DC when we hired him because he had been fired from Carolina after they got their 10 minutes in the sun. All of these guys are failures that we took in. Im all for giving guys a second chance, but they have had it their chance and now its time to find a coaching staff that can win games.
McNair wants to be like the Steelers. He wants his coaching staff to stick around for years because that kind of "steadiness" makes for a good football team. But dont just take the first guy that walks through the door and make him your "franchise coach". If you want someone who we can keep around for decades.. then make SURE that it is someone who can take your team to where you want to go. Are YOU sure that capers is that guy? Im not.. matter of fact.. im pretty sure he isnt. And im DAMNED sure that Fangio and Palmer arent.
Fix the problem now so that we wont have to have this conversation for the next 4th of a century.