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Texans' additions not enough to dethrone the Colts in the division

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Texans' additions not enough to dethrone the Colts in the division
By Mike Wells | ESPN.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Houston Texans have been a handful to deal with for the Indianapolis Colts because of do-everything-defensive star J.J. Watt.

Now Watt is about to get the type of help that will make stopping him even tougher for quarterback Andrew Luck and the Colts.

The Texans signed mammoth defensive tackle Vince Wilfork earlier this week to help stop the run and clog the middle of the line. Wilfork brings experience to the Texans. He won two Super Bowls during his 11 seasons with the New England Patriots.

And the Texans will have defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in 2014, back after he only played four games last season.

So Watt, who had four sacks and a touchdown in two games against the Colts last season, is on one side making things tough for Colts tackles Anthony Castonzo and likely Gosder Cherilus. Wilfork pushing Khaled Holmes back to get to Frank Gore. And Clowney will rush the passer on the other side.

The Texans also added safety Rahim Moore to their roster.

There’s no need to panic, though, the Texans still aren’t better than the Colts, so you don't have to worry about them dethroning the back-to-back AFC South champions from the top of the division. The Texans have never won in Indianapolis and the Colts are 12-0 against AFC South opponents the past two seasons.

Houston still has significant questions on offense.

Starting at quarterback.

Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett will compete for the starting job, but neither are franchise quarterbacks capable of keeping up with Houston’s defense or leading them to a division title.

You know new Colts receiver Andre Johnson will be motivated both times he faces his former team next season. Speaking of receiver, the Texans have a talented one in DeAndre Hopkins. There are questions about the position after Hopkins. The Texans signed former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts to go with Hopkins.

Luck and the offense will have to worry about where Watt and Clowney are, but the road to the AFC South title still goes through Indianapolis.
"TY Hilton is the new owner of that stadium down in Houston."

:bat:
 
Mike Wells
ESPN Indianapolis Colts reporter


typical espn bs journalism
 
meh.....just more uninformed football journalism to keep you interested in the off season. You'll probably learn more from our BBQ thread in here.
 
That's why they play the game on Sunday all, this, talking and predicting does not matter all that, matters is, how, u play in, those 60 mins

so why can't we win the divison. ....???? I say we can win the divison. We just got to rack up them W's
 
You know new Colts receiver Andre Johnson will be motivated both times he faces his former team next season.

Reading that made me feel worse than any of the rest of the article. It's going to take a while for it to really sink in for me.
 
Where are we weaker than the Colts?

QB ... OK. However, jury is still out on Mallett. He may have more potential than realized.

Other than that what?

TE? Maybe. Yet to be seen how our young guys progress this year.

RB? Nope.

WR? Nope (not in my opinion) Hopkins > Hilton, and a yonger more athletic Shorts could = an old fumbling, no longer sure handed Johnson.

Def? Nope.

ST? Maybe, but who cares, because it wont single handedly win them the division.

I do not see the Colts having a huge advantage over us.

We have an EXCELLENT chance to take this division this year ... IF we get good QB play.
 
AA1TJHQ.jpg
 
He failed to mention that we still got Foster and that even with our QBs they still couldn't come in and kick our butts....they got lucky the 2nd time around too.

I'm not scared of the Colts...
 
Where are we weaker than the Colts?

QB ... OK. However, jury is still out on Mallett. He may have more potential than realized.

Other than that what?

TE? Maybe. Yet to be seen how our young guys progress this year.

RB? Nope.

WR? Nope (not in my opinion) Hopkins > Hilton, and a yonger more athletic Shorts could = an old fumbling, no longer sure handed Johnson.

Def? Nope.

ST? Maybe, but who cares, because it wont single handedly win them the division.

I do not see the Colts having a huge advantage over us.

We have an EXCELLENT chance to take this division this year ... IF we get good QB play.

Without speculating on Mallett with a bong in your hand the categories the Texans win until proven otherwise are RB and Def. QB, TE and WR clearly go to the Colts.

They should be dubbed the favorites overall right now which is not the same as we have no shot because we do IF Mallett is legit.
 
He also forgets how many games they escaped with a win this year (barely beating Cleveland, and us..) This division race was closer than they think.
 
meh.....just more uninformed football journalism to keep you interested in the off season. You'll probably learn more from our BBQ thread in here.

He is neither a reporter nor journalist. He is a cheerleader with a sports coat and keyboard.

edited - I forgot the Century
 
If, and this is a REALLLY big if, all our defensive players were healthy and ready to go, there's not a lot of teams we couldn't beat. Some, yeah, but not a whole lot.
 
We are the underdogs and rightfully so. We have been swept by the Colts the last two seasons and they just added the best player in Texans' history.

But the Texans never have handled being the favorite well. Lets embrace the underdog role and kick their teeth in this season! Along with anybody else in the Texans way!!!
 
Mike Wells
ESPN Indianapolis Colts reporter


typical espn bs journalism

Yeah, dig skin deep and make a diagnosis.

Most sports journalism (and not only sports) is alarmingly low quality. All it takes is for you, the reader, to encounter a subject that you are much more interested and involved in than the journalists tasked with covering it, and it becomes obvious how poorly most of them do their job.
 
Yeah, dig skin deep and make a diagnosis.

Most sports journalism (and not only sports) is alarmingly low quality. All it takes is for you, the reader, to encounter a subject that you are much more interested and involved in than the journalists tasked with covering it, and it becomes obvious how poorly most of them do their job.

yup, it's not journalism anymore, it's blogging your own brand of bs and hope a few people click on the headline
 
Where are we weaker than the Colts?

QB ... OK. However, jury is still out on Mallett. He may have more potential than realized.

Other than that what?

TE? Maybe. Yet to be seen how our young guys progress this year.

RB? Nope.

WR? Nope (not in my opinion) Hopkins > Hilton, and a yonger more athletic Shorts could = an old fumbling, no longer sure handed Johnson.

Def? Nope.

ST? Maybe, but who cares, because it wont single handedly win them the division.

I do not see the Colts having a huge advantage over us.

We have an EXCELLENT chance to take this division this year ... IF we get good QB play.
We are weaker in 3 enormous phases of the game: favoritism of the officials, performance of backup players, and coaching. It's enough to insure that we're not going to take the division crown from them.
 
I have sent a Trojan horse Curse to to each and every Colts member..........expect the Colts and Co. to all crash and burn this season. It may taste good to the Colts as it goes down.........but it will leave a horrible taste as they methodically go down the tubes. :spy:

TheCurseRaspberryBlueIce.png
 
We are weaker in 3 enormous phases of the game: favoritism of the officials, performance of backup players, and coaching. It's enough to insure that we're not going to take the division crown from them.

lol seriously? Pagano is a TERRIBLE head coach. I have many friends who are Colts fans who would agree with me.

be prepared: this media slobbing of the Colts nether regions will only get worse as the off season progresses. I have faith O'Brien wont quote them word for word but I do believe one of his first comments to the team going into training camp will be: "No one thinks you are worth a ****!"
 
lol seriously? Pagano is a TERRIBLE head coach. I have many friends who are Colts fans who would agree with me.

This may be a wishful thinking more than anything because I hate them, but it felt like they've been extremely lucky in the way they've played the last two seasons. Playing in the AFC South hasn't hurt them either. Always feels to me like they're an inch away from from a disaster season if a few key plays go against them during the season.
 
This may be a wishful thinking more than anything because I hate them, but it felt like they've been extremely lucky in the way they've played the last two seasons. Playing in the AFC South hasn't hurt them either. Always feels to me like they're an inch away from from a disaster season if a few key plays go against them during the season.

You're absolutely correct. The run of luck has been insane! For all their moves this off season they still have not corrected their two biggest issues for the past 3 years: crappy defense and that o line.

You saw in that second game last season that our defense was finally starting to "get" what Rac wants. Crennell was notorious while in NE at giving Peyton Manning fits vs the Colts. By jamming WR'ers at the line and mixing up zone coverage's and blitzes. I have no doubt this season Luck will struggle in both games.
 
I've been thinking this is the year we beat the Colts for a long time. This time of year, yeah... I always think we'be added enough. & it never turns out that way.

So screw'em I don't care if we beat them or not. We just need to win more games than the other 2nd & third place teams to get to the play offs.

Then, anything can happen.
 
AJ just doesn't scare me. The Texan's D faced him every day in practice. I like the fact that they can now slobberknock him and create more fumbles.

Let's play the games and see what's what. I'll give the Dolt's the preseason division. Gotta play the games.
 
One 30 something vet for each side of the ball. Yeah......what ails those two units is not being fixed by one player

They get to talk the talk until we walk the walk... don't matter what we think, our team has to prove it on the field for once
 
They get to talk the talk until we walk the walk... don't matter what we think, our team has to prove it on the field for once

Agreed.

I just don't see it happening. This weird run of good fortune they have has to end some time. History has shown going out and signing a bunch of aging free agent vets never works in this league.

1 + 1 =2.
 
Nobody knows how the coming season will turn out. The Texans could be a serious surprise if everything goes the way they hope and it could be a complete disaster just as easily. The last time I knew we had the division locked up this early in the year we won two games and the whole damn team fell apart in the process.

The same thing applies to the Colts too. Gore and AJ aren't the sure things that everyone talks about and all it takes is one awkward hit and Andrew Luck is watching the season from the sidelines. I am not wishing for that by the way. I'm just pointing out that AJ and Gore went to Indianapolis to play with a great QB and that's just another thing that can turn out differently than everyone expects.

I think we take the division this year and I think we win in Indianapolis for the first time ever. We would have won there last year if they hadn't broken Fitz's leg.
 
Nobody knows how the coming season will turn out. The Texans could be a serious surprise if everything goes the way they hope and it could be a complete disaster just as easily. The last time I knew we had the division locked up this early in the year we won two games and the whole damn team fell apart in the process.

The same thing applies to the Colts too. Gore and AJ aren't the sure things that everyone talks about and all it takes is one awkward hit and Andrew Luck is watching the season from the sidelines. I am not wishing for that by the way. I'm just pointing out that AJ and Gore went to Indianapolis to play with a great QB and that's just another thing that can turn out differently than everyone expects.

I think we take the division this year and I think we win in Indianapolis for the first time ever. We would have won there last year if they hadn't broken Fitz's leg.

Or one well timed leg whip :bat:
 
Nobody knows how the coming season will turn out. The Texans could be a serious surprise if everything goes the way they hope and it could be a complete disaster just as easily. The last time I knew we had the division locked up this early in the year we won two games and the whole damn team fell apart in the process.

The same thing applies to the Colts too.

Yes and no. They have their clear cut franchise QB, who just happens to be the next great QB in the league (by everybody's estimation).

Gore and AJ aren't the sure things that everyone talks about and all it takes is one awkward hit and Andrew Luck is watching the season from the sidelines. I am not wishing for that by the way. I'm just pointing out that AJ and Gore went to Indianapolis to play with a great QB and that's just another thing that can turn out differently than everyone expects.

That dude is built like a tank. He can take a hard hit and just shake it off. Not that he can't get hurt, but he just doesn't look like someone that injuries will be a problem for.

I think we take the division this year and I think we win in Indianapolis for the first time ever. We would have won there last year if they hadn't broken Fitz's leg.

Sure hope so.
 
The article was spot on. We didn't do enough.

But that's okay. They have an elite QB. We don't have a clue what the hell we got at QB, and until we do know that we won't be beating Luck as they'll very likely improve from last year. The Colts have the best chance to make it to the SB in AFC next year in my opinion.

The Texans didn't have a bad FA period though. We filled a few holes for contracts that weren't to bad. I think we'll be competitive next year.


Anyone thinking that we'll take the division from the Colts next year though is dreaming. We'll have to take the wild card to make it to the playoffs. Unless Luck gets hurt, or their team has a flurry of injuries all over the place, the Colts will take the division.
 
The article was spot on. We didn't do enough.

But that's okay. They have an elite QB. We don't have a clue what the hell we got at QB, and until we do know that we won't be beating Luck as they'll very likely improve from last year. The Colts have the best chance to make it to the SB in AFC next year in my opinion.

The Colts have what seems to be the least turbulent transition of their squad from last season to next in AFC (among teams that matter). But I don't really care who is anointed as a SB champion in March. Free agency isn't over. Draft hasn't happened. None of this means much yet, IMO.

The Texans didn't have a bad FA period though. We filled a few holes for contracts that weren't to bad. I think we'll be competitive next year.


Anyone thinking that we'll take the division from the Colts next year though is dreaming. We'll have to take the wild card to make it to the playoffs. Unless Luck gets hurt, or their team has a flurry of injuries all over the place, the Colts will take the division.

Of course I'm dreaming. That's what being a fan is mostly about. Being a fan of a professional sports team is kind of silly to begin with for a grown adult if you really think about it, so in that context, there is nothing wrong with dreaming.
 
Forget the Texans, Colts fans need to be worried about their ceiling against tier 1 teams. Look at their point deficits from 2014.

1) Eagles, 3 points.
2) Broncos, 7 points.
3) Steelers, 17 points.
4) Patriots, 22 points.
5) Cowboys, 35 points.

Remember that 12-4 Texans team that would get exposed when they played Green Bay or the Patriots? That's what the Colts are now.
 
Forget the Texans, Colts fans need to be worried about their ceiling against tier 1 teams. Look at their point deficits from 2014.

1) Eagles, 3 points.
2) Broncos, 7 points.
3) Steelers, 17 points.
4) Patriots, 22 points.
5) Cowboys, 35 points.

Remember that 12-4 Texans team that would get exposed when they played Green Bay or the Patriots? That's what the Colts are now.

That's kind of how it feels, except with one major difference - Andrew Luck. He will learn and get better.
 
Forget the Texans, Colts fans need to be worried about their ceiling against tier 1 teams. Look at their point deficits from 2014.

1) Eagles, 3 points.
2) Broncos, 7 points.
3) Steelers, 17 points.
4) Patriots, 22 points.
5) Cowboys, 35 points.

Remember that 12-4 Texans team that would get exposed when they played Green Bay or the Patriots? That's what the Colts are now.


How are the Eagles tier 1 team? They're in the same situation as we are. No QB. Then they traded away the rest of their offense.
 
Where are we weaker than the Colts?

QB ... OK. However, jury is still out on Mallett. He may have more potential than realized.

Other than that what?

TE? Maybe. Yet to be seen how our young guys progress this year.

RB? Nope.

WR? Nope (not in my opinion) Hopkins > Hilton, and a yonger more athletic Shorts could = an old fumbling, no longer sure handed Johnson.

Def? Nope.

ST? Maybe, but who cares, because it wont single handedly win them the division.

I do not see the Colts having a huge advantage over us.

We have an EXCELLENT chance to take this division this year ... IF we get good QB play.

IF Mallett/Hoyer can stabilize the QB spot, a speed WR/Pass rusher are added and the team can stay healthy (Watt/Wilfork/Foster/Cushing) this is a playoff team. Those are big ifs but it could happen and if Clowney can be 90% of what he was athletically look out this team could be special in a couple of yrs.
 
i think all 4 teams in the AFCS have gotten better

don't count out the jags n titans I think its going to be hard games even more so in the divison this year
 
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