I'm pretty sure it's because they invested heavily in their OL in the middle of the season.
Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍
Texans random thought of the day
- Thread starter Wolf
- Start date
I'm pretty sure it's because they invested heavily in their OL in the middle of the season.
ATXtexanfan
Hall of Fame
He's looking solid. But yeah they fixed that oline. Dude isnt getting pressured let alone sacked. Eagles offense not the same without Reich as well
Scooter
Funky
Yeah how did that happen? lol. From nothing since a brief moment of Quin and Manning, to all of a sudden Badger comes here cheap, Hal develops pretty well, Reid impossibly falls to us, and Kareem is finally allowed to be more than emergency DB.
PapaL
Loose Screw
The scariest part is that Reid could end up being the best one of the bunch. I’m amazed at these guys. They’re all playing well.
Texansballer74
The Marine
Luck is also getting the ball out a lot quicker. Play calling is a major factor in that equation as well.
Scooter
Funky
Absolutely, but I think it's Badger that may be making the biggest impact. Not specifically with his play, but his versatility is allowing others (like Reid) to excel in roles that fit their strengths. Kareem can play roles that fit him, Hal can sub in seamlessly, Reid has his defined roles and able to practice on them, coordination between safety and corner is MUCH improved. He appears (to me at least) to have become a hub for the secondary to work around.
Our linebackers made a holy mess of coverage today, and much like backup QB's we seem to be at a massive disadvantage against backup offensive linemen, but the secondary I thought played extremely well due to these guys.
frethack
Rookie
Let's hope next season we are saying the same about the oline
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
Cant stand that they invested in their OL the last 2 offseasons and are predictably having success.
I taped the game but only got to watch a few plays of this game. I will watch it tomorrow. I had a childhood friend over who's a Cowboys fan, so we mostly watched that game.
Tell me how did the OL in general look and Davenport in particular.
amazing80
Hall of Fame
OL looked bad. Davenport in particular. The first few drives were ok then both Fulton and Kelemente went down and the entire unit suffered.
I can't stand how that's your answer for everything. If that were in fact the biggest reason for their improvement then that improvement would have been evident since the beginning of the season.
Most people believe the difference in the Colts, between the beginning of the season & now is that Luck continues to get healthier. Back then he wasn't throwing anything outside of 10 yards. Now, he has no limitations.
I mentioned earlier I didn't get to watch the game either as I was on the road. I'm watching it now. The Yexans first two drives look pretty good, even with Mancz replacing Fulton.
Davenport had been primarily on his own, holding his own. Whiffed on a couple of run blocks.
Texans starting their third possession now.
Scooter
Funky
Offensive line is THE priority, and we're short a solid corner unless we allow Kareem to play outside full time (weird that our coaches do everything possible to avoid that), but ILB needs to be in that top 3 as well IMO. McKinney and Cunningham when healthy are at best 'solid'. We've FINALLY got our safeties in order, the next part of the defensive core (up the middle) is an elite linebacker. We run mostly a 4-3 over with a little 3-4 mixed in as far as I can tell. Mercilus is kinda like the FB position on offense, he doesn't have a role because his talent is a standing edge rusher, but that job is filled by Watt and Clowney, so he's moving all over the place just to keep his talent on the field. McKinney is better suited for that SOLB position to mid/sideline zone and hold the edge, sub out in passing situations. Cunningham is a Will and nickel. Scarlett is a bit like Mercilus, but could be used to backup McKinney. Peters is a special teamer. We need a true elite Mike linebacker. As much as our new secondary has changed the defense for the better, it would be twice that with a young (pre-injuries) Demeco Ryans or Bryan Cushing in the middle.
Scooter
Funky
Can't argue that. Veteran Probowl corner takes a hometown discount and All-Pro Safety signs as a free agent for less ... it kinda points in one direction. I want to play for that guy. Maybe even banging the table for Reid as everyone else inexplicably passed on him.
BTW, It took the Colts OL 3 games to come together. Since then they've been one of the best OL's in the NFL. Luck may or may not be healthier, I noticed in game 4 against the Texans he threw a couple of beautiful deep balls, so he must've been healthy then. The biggest difference is Luck hasn't been sacked in 3 games and Mack returned to give then balance in the run game. This happened because of the improved/invested in OL and makes their below avg defense look better because,
1. They are playing with a lead and Ballard also drafted pass rushers with the bounty of picks he got in the trade with NYJ's.
2. Since the defense is fresher they play better.
In other words the Luck and the OL are the foundational pieces of the Colts. Ballard built this team correctly within 2 yrs. He's a reason the Colts will be formidable for yrs to come. BTW, Ballard is from Texas City.
Thorn
Dirty Old Man
The Texans seem to be consistently rated in the "top ten" of the NFL by those who rate teams. Bleacher Reports has us at 6 after yesterday. They have won 7 games in a row. Yet some of us (myself included) still think the Texans don't meet the "eyeball" test of a good team, that we are not the team everyone thinks we are.
Isn't this kind of odd?
Isn't this kind of odd?
People on this board think we should have at least 22 all-pro's starting and probowl backups
Hyperbole of course (to fit in)
Thorn
Dirty Old Man
It would seem the Texans should have proven themselves to folks like me, but I still view them with mistrust when it comes to winning games. Two motes in my eye are the o-line and OB, which I can't seem to get past. Perhaps that's it. Or, like the Astros, I simply won't believe it until I see it. I didn't think the Astros would win the series, then they did. This season I thought they would win the series, but they didn't make it that far, but I was still very happy with them.
I don't know. But we had better not ******* lose to Blaine ******* Gabbert next week or the termites will really be coming out the woodwork.
Shishkabob
All Pro
The way the Colts are looking right now, and them playing a similarly easy schedule we might be only able to drop 1 game to still win the division. Andrew Luck fully back, with an o line that knows how to block scares me
I agree... I think one of the reasons for the disparity on how we and outsiders view the Texans is that we get to see all their warts on a weekly basis
Number19
Hall of Fame
No, not if you have tunnel vision. "Those who rate teams" are presumably analyzing the league as a whole, and ranking the teams against each other. Are you simply looking at the Texans and seeing our warts without having a good understanding how our warts compare to the warts of the other teams?
But I think the primary reason for our ranking is Watson, and our defense. With these two strong points the Texans stack up favorably against all but the most elite teams.
It really seems to naw at the guts of some on this forum to realize we have an excellent chance to go 12-4 when they were wanting the team to fall on its face so badly.
michaelm
vox nihili
Texans can clinch the division by winning the next three games which are all at home
Shishkabob
All Pro
There has been 3 times that I remember where we have ran a similar play inside the 10, of a PA pass with Griffen coming back across to block the backside DE, all 3 times he has whiffed, and all 3 times Watson got sacked for a very sizable loss. Why not try that with your 6-7 270 lb rookie TE?
Scooter
Funky
Why not block with someone on that side of the formation? That cross block is more of a trap for run plays to get the free rusher upfield, not for protecting your quarterback by giving a rusher an unobstructed head start.
Honestly I want Griffin off the team. He is the worst blocker I have ever seen at the TE position. During the stretch that Fulton missed and Mancz played our running game looked good, a lot of guys were saying it was all Mancz, BUT Griffin missed those games as well. There was also a great post by Wade Smith in response to Baldinger lambasting the OL saying that Griffin messed up the blocking scheme on the play. If he were a lights out receiver then maybe I could see overlooking his incredibly poor effort blocking but he I would say he’s adequate at best in that department
With Davenport playing LT it's not odd at all.
delete
Last edited:
I only see the Jets as a 'book it' win.
The Browns are playing better and, as folks have said, Luck and the Colts look reborn.
Both are winnable
but.....
kiwitexansfan
Hall of Fame
What I'd say about the Texans and OB in particular is that they have a nose for the win. They have proven effective at winning football games. All this while not playing attractive football.
The Texans have been built and conditioned to win ugly. Fans don't like rooting for an ugly unimpressive football team that deep down they now don't have the horses to compete with the winning and attractive teams.
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
Someone tell why the offense is having such a hard time scoring TDs in the red zone.?
We are last in the league in the red zone.
That should seem like a priority to fix.
My math may be wrong but scoring 7 points is better than 3, and he who scores the most points win.
We are last in the league in the red zone.
That should seem like a priority to fix.
My math may be wrong but scoring 7 points is better than 3, and he who scores the most points win.
I think it been discussed and the formula as I have read is
Offensive line ability/play + RB skill + QB mistakes + OCs scheme and play calling =Poor Red Zone effectiveness
Bunches of opinions on the weight each of those aspects carry from what I can read.
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
but a 'nose for the win' would indicate that they are doing things to sway the outcome. In reality they have just been fortunate that the opponents coach, QB or kicker have missed game winners and otherwise lost the game for their respective team. 4 games that the Texans 'won' by missed kicks, wierd decision making and the worst QB to ever play the sport giving them a pick 6 to ice another. I'd be more onboard with this sentiment if we were winning games like the Pittsburgh Steelers, now they are winning ugly games, but they win games, they dont hope the other team loses them.
Perhaps your opinion ain't all you think it is
Better lucky?
bigmck
Rookie
Several years ago, we got an All-Pro DB from Baltimore who was a Bum. What was his name?
sandman
Brexit Advisor
The Steelers have 7 wins, only two of which were ugly wins - Bengals and Jags. They were up big on both the Bucs and Ravens before letting them back in the game, and had blow out wins against the Falcons, Browns and Panthers. They've hardly been the hardscrabble team on their 6-game win streak.
badboy
Hall of Fame
mathieu see Texans as best way to get a huge contract somewhere all we did was sign him. Hal responding almost miraculously but I'm still concerned about CnnnD's info on procedure Hal undertook. He had been performing well pre diagnosis so this guy is a positive to drafting (7th round) and coaching. Reid had very positive critiques pre-draft so plus to GM and coaching; I wish our coaching on other side of ball was as good. KJ? It could be a contract season or move to safety although he has played corner very well. I don't have time nor urge to differentiate between his stats at each position but it would be interesting and up his contract position.
I really cant figure out why Griffin is on the team. He isn't a very good blocker and is a below avg pass catcher. They need to cut im and get a blocking TE. Then give Thomas/Akin some run. I would say right now Thomas is a better blocking TE than Griffin is.
Speedy
Former Yeller Dweller
It's because they're not very efficient. It doesn't take a genius to see they're not playing the same sport the Chiefs, Saints and Rams are. They are, however, doing enough to win NFL football games. That's something.
The rankings I usually put more credence in is the Aikman Effieciency Ratings. I don't remember all the metrics but it takes into account things like red zone efficiency, yards per play and turnovers, among a few other things, and puts them into a QB rating type formula. That rating had the Texans coming in at #18 before Sunday. I'd say it definitely feels they should be in that range instead of any top 10. Of course that same formula has the Bears #1, ahead of the Rams, Chiefs and Saints. So there's that.
It's not the end all be all because they do have the Bears #1, Chargers ahead of the Rams, Colts #8 and the Browns at #19, one spot behind the Texans, but like I said, I put more credence in that than some of these random lists that are all over.
Rich Schmidt
Myopicone
Just bothering me, is there any reason why BOB does not cover his mouth when calling plays? Watching other games you see them cover with their sheet all the time. We are not that creative to start with, but I have to think others can glean plenty if they try. Anyone ever hear him answer that? I guess if you send in play 43 and that is changed each week on the wrist no big deal, but seems with verbage sent more is happening
michaelm
vox nihili
Anyone watching him closely enough to read his lips will be hypnotized by his third eye, aka butt chin
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
You sure his mouth isn't the decoy b/c I'm very confident he's been calling plays via his arse....gotta find that spare hardest that's missing the mic.
