Official Texans @ Buccaneers Game Thread, 9/05/2009
 

We likely will see a lot of Rex Grossman to see if he's a solid third QB in this one.

Some time for the injured returners.

And then all the bubble guys get to play.

I guess there are atleast 8-10 guys trying to get the last four spots on 53 man roster.

I'm hoping Grossman looks good and makes the team.

If Schaub goes down from injury, I would feel a whole lot better with a Grossman/Orlovsky tandem...... If one of them doesn't have it on a particular day, then stick the other guy in....

Outside linebacker Brian Cushing, the Texans' first-round draft choice, will not play in the last preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday.

Tight end James Casey, the fifth-round pick, will start but at fullback in place of the injured Vonta Leach.
Coach Gary Kubiak is resting many of the starters, opening the door for players like Casey to get their most playing time of preseason.

Cushing, who hasn't played in preseason because of a sprained knee, worked out hard during and after practice today.

"I'm 100 percent, but I don't think I'll be playing," Cushing said. "I feel great, but I think we're going to rest my knee one more week. I'm working at full speed. I'm putting the pads on. I don't feel any pain. I'm happy about how I feel.I'm 100 percent."
Leach has a bruised knee but even if he had been healthy he wouldn't have played.

"I'm excited about this opportunity," Casey said. "It's a great opportunity for me. The game is one day before the final cuts are made, and it's like my Super Bowl.

"I feel comfortable with my assignments at fullback. I'm excited about playing tight end, too. Even though a lot of starters aren't going to play, it's still against NFL players."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/6599541.html

Looks like there may be some chaos in Tampa. They just fired their offensive coordinator.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

It looks like Tampa is going to be in full blown rebuilding mode this year. Hopefully our defense can perform well (those who are actually playing this week) and get some confidence going into week 1.

Gametime!

12:44 left in the 1st qtr.

11:11 Bucs drive down and go for the FG. FG is good.

Bucs 3, Texans 0

Bucs kickoff and JJ brings it out to about the 22.

Orlovsky in.

D Anderson on the reverse for about 6.

Moats for 4 yds and the 1st down.

Pass over the middle to Hill gets knocked loose - Hill shaken up.

Moats takes the dump off for about 3.

Orlovsky sacked. Texans to punt.

Bucs moving down the field.

Bucs get stopped about the Texan 45 - Molden defends against the pass. Bucs to punt.

Fair caught by JJ at the Texan 17.

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Catch by JJ good for about 21.

Moat for about 11 - Texans at their own 49.

Pass is deflected right to D Anderson for about 12 yards.

Dan-O's pass to Hill bounces off Hill for an INT - Bucs ball.

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Ball currently at the Texan 48. Bucs fail on 3rd down - sack credited to Barwin. Bucs to punt.

Punt rolls out at the 10 yd line. Texans ball.

Grossman in.

Foster for a couple.

Eheh, bombs away Grossman to a wide open JJ for 87 yds and the TD.

Texans 7, Bucs 3

and the sex cannon unloads. boom goes the dynamite

Bucs take the kickoff and set up at the 27.

Penalty backs the Bucs up to the 18.

3rd and 16 coming up.

Pass goes incomplete. Bucs to punt.

Darnell Jenkins returns the punt a couple of yards to the Texan 43.

Nice run Foster for about 30-35 but holding on the play. Ball comes back.

3rd and 8.

Grossman's pass sails but Bucs with the PI. 1st down Texans @ the 42.

Grossman's deep ball slow getting to Jenkins in the endzone - batted away at the last second...

Foster for 9.

Foster gets tripped up but gets the 1st down.

Grossman's pass to DA out of bounds.

Foster for about 4. Ball at the Buc 29.

Grossman's 3rd down pass sails but there is roughing the passer on the play - automatic 1st down Texans.

Texans inside the 15.

Hall for about 5.

Hall for about 4. 3rd and 1.

False start Casey = -5 yds.

Grossman hits Casey over the middle for the score!

Texans 14, Bucs 3

It's too bad Grossman isn't as sharp as he was on that TD pass to Casey. That was nice. I was more impressed with that throw than the bomb to Jacoby on the first TD.

Of course, if he was, he probably would be starting somewhere else and not hoping for Kubiak to keep him as the 3rd QB on the roster this season either.

Texans kick off. Bucs bring it out to the 26 but holding against the Bucs, puts the ball back at their own 8.

Bentley INT - deflected pass!

Foster about 4 to the 10 yd line.

Casey short pass to the 5. 3rd and 1.

Foster runs for the 1st down. Ball at the 2.

Foster to the 1.

Foster stopped.

3rd down, Grossman throws it away.

Texans kick the short FG.

Texans 17, Bucs 3

Ya, that's been Grossman's curse. Playmaker but inconsistent as all hell....

Ugh, another successful screen against the defense.

If I were the Jets OC watching this game, I'd call about 35 screen passes with Leon Washington in Week 1 against the Texans.

Frank Bush needs to get that figured out.

I just tuned in. 17-3, already. :)

Neuter the Pewter!

Bucs ball.

Freeman scrambles for 11 and a 1st down near midfield.

3rd and 1 coming up for the Bucs.

Bucs rush for the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 34.

Pass deflected off Busing but caught by the Bucs.

O'Neal breaks up pass. 3rd and 6 at the 30.

Holding against Buster makes for a 1st down.

3rd and 8, Freeman hits for the TD over the middle.

Texans 17, Bucs 10

8 secs left in the half.

It's too bad the Texans can't play the Chiefs and Bucs more often this season.

Halftime stats:

Passing: Orlovsky 5/7, 51 yards, 1 INT; Grossman 4/7, 107 yds., 2 TD's

Rushing: Foster 10/32, Moats 3/16, Hall 2/

Rec: JJ 2/108, Anderson 2/18, Casey 2/16

Tackles: Barwin 5, Bentley 4, B Davis & Adibi 3, Busing & Okam 2

Time of possession: Texans 16:58, Bucs 13:02

Texans kickoff. Bucs bring it out to the 26.

1st play, Busing INT! Brings it all the way back to the 1.

Hall jumps it in for the score.

Texans 24, Bucs 10

INT takes it to the doorstep and Andre Hall pole vaults over the goal line.

Texans kickoff. Bucs bring it out to the 20.

Bucs moving the ball down the field..... Deltha O'Neal with the daily double (penalties) - presently at the Texans 15.

Josh Johnson scrambles for positive yardage.

Ball at the Texan 5.

Okam with nice TFL. Ball at the 6.

Johnson scrambles to the 1. 3rd down.

Bucs offsides -5.

Tip almost INT'ed by Harrison.

Bucs kick the FG.

Texans 24, Bucs 13

Bucs kickoff. Jenkins brings it back to the 17.

Grossman still in.

Pass to Martinez good for 7.

Hall rushes for the 1st down.

Grossman hits Martinez over the middle for about 25 (?) yds.

Hall for nice gainer about 8 or 9.

Hall for the 1st down. Ball at the Buc 34.

Grossman's ball just out of JJ's reach in the endzone.

Deep sideline pass to JJ inc. 3rd and 10.

Short pass to Casey comes up a couple of yards short of the 1st down.

45 yd attempt by K Brown is good.

Texans 27, Bucs 13.

Texans kick off. Bucs return it to the 21.

Barwin hits Johnson as he passes. Initial ruling, Leonard (Hawaii) INT.

Challenge on the play.....

INT overruled. Still Bucs ball, 2nd and 10.

Johnson scrambles for a 1st down.

Great play by Barwin anyway but you knew it would be overturned. Guys in the booth were yelling for the Texans to hurry up and snap the ball.

Bucs have a 4th down coming up and elect to punt.

Fair caught by Jenkins at the 12 - Texans ball.

Foster for a couple.

Foster for about 5. 3rd and 3

End of 3rd qtr.

Foster comes up short on 3rd down so the Texans to punt.

Buc receiver muffs the punt - Busing recovers, Texans ball!

Texans moving the ball. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Hall gets stopped for no gain. 4th and 1.

Texans go for it. Grossman's pass is batted down.

Bucs ball.

The naked boot on fourth down is fking idiotic. The sooner Shanahan realizes this the better. Maybe it's starting to dawn on him. I hate that play in that situation and hate what it says about the attitude of the offense.

Barwin looks like a world-beater against the scrubs, especially when he doesn't have to care at all about the run. He has a LOT of work to do but boy is he active. His athleticism is going to cause problems for a lot of tackles.

Bucs moving the ball. Near midfield.

Bucs rush for 10 yds. Verdell hurt on the play.

Bucs presently at the Texan 14.

Johnson floats in a pass for the score.

Texans 27, Bucs 20.

Against scrubs or not.....Rex needs to be the #2.....Period. If Kubes wants to develop Orvlosky, fine, but Rex is much better suited for what we need.

We play the Bucs in Tampa seemingly ever preseason and I don't think we've ever beaten them. Now Grossman hooks up with Jacoby Jones. Two guys fighting for their NFL lives.

Bucs kickoff and Jenkins brings it out to the 27.

Grossman's pass to JJ good for about 40 yards.

Holding on Texans - 2nd and 20.

Pass to Jenkins good for about 10.

Grossman's 3rd down pass goes inc.

Texans to punt. 5:14 left in the game.

Orlovsky's making six million and Grossman's making six hundred thousand. Orlovsky's #2, period.

I agree with you, though. When Schaub inevitably gets hurt based on what I've seen I'd bring in an experienced Grossman rather than an experiment in Orlovsky in a heartbeat.

Bucs ball at their own 11.

1st down pass good for 10.

Short pass over the middle good for another 1st down.

Ball at the Buc 35.

Bucs rollin' - another pass complete over the middle in Texans territory. Ball at the Texan 35.

Pass complete to the 20 yd. line.

2:12 left in the game.

Johnson scrambles to the 10.

Jameel Cook (!) to the 4.

We pull it out at the end! Texans win!

Pass goes inc. - 3rd and goal.

Good defense by Richardson on the pass - 4th and goal.

Johnson nowhere to go - Campbell/Okam trap him for the sack.

Texans ball at the 7.

Foster for 3.

Foster for about 5.

Texans kneel it out.

Final score:

Texans 27, Bucs 20.

Yep, there is that....I said needs to be, not was going to be. However, I am not 100% sure that Kubes will let a couple of mill get in the way of what he wants/needs to get done though, especially since its his a$$ on the line, not his money. If Orvlosky does begin the season as the #2 on the chart, I would bet money that he has a very short leash with Grossman on the pine. IMO.

My vote, even though it doesn't amount to much, is give the #2 spot to Rex, keep Orvlosky around, and let him develop to be the #2 next year. Rex plays well when/if Schaub goes down, he is long gone in 2010.

There will be 3 QBs IMO and while Rex may be listed as the 3rd, if we are close to the play offs he will likely be in. It REALLY doesn't matter who is listed as #2 or 3. Dan O is the MUCH better prospect and may wind up being a real find. However, Rex may wind up being more valuable short term. The thing that scares me about Rex is his Jeckle & Hyde play.

I dunno why do people keep talking about DanO as a guy who's new to the league with a lot of potential who requires patience and care to develope ?
It's not like he's a rookie or even a 2nd or third year player, this is now his 5th year in the NFL.
On the other hand Grossman at 29 is on the right side of 30, and of course many QBs don't have their most productive years until they are well into their
30s. And he's just a year older than Schaub.