Mr. McNair on passion

[Nconroe]

Here's another article by Richard Justice interviewing Mr. McNair.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/7123595.html

Seems the main lesson after 8 years , beyond strategy, consistency, building through the draft, good people, is you have to have passion.

And many Texans players, coaches, fans have lots of passion.

They weren't really called out, but Mario Williams and Amobi Okeye were mentioned as young and needing perhaps to improve passion demonstrated.

---------------------------------
My thought is , first I think Mariio has shown plenty passion and hard work, maybe just not as vocally as a few others. Second, Amobi, maybe he shows it if he is successful , but generally, he is just working hard. Maybe the showing it is something we could all learn and comes with success.

One thing I've observed during my life , everyone of us is different, some are out front leaders and others, still contribute on the team, but are more followers.

[Arky]

Health. Can we get one year where key players stay fully healthy?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Arky

Health. Can we get one year where key players stay fully healthy?

Interesting quote from TexansChick's blog on chron.com

Steph interviews Bill Barnwell, managing editor of Football Outsiders , this is one small part of that article.

They have a tough schedule, one we expect to be ninth in the league. The Texans had the league's fifth-easiest schedule a year ago. Although I certainly believe that Houston has a lot of young talent on defense, the parts haven't added up to anything valuable yet -- even with the eighth-healthiest unit in football last year, the Texans' defense was 18th in the league in DVOA. They're going to suffer more injuries this year (even without including the Cushing suspension), and our projection system thinks the increase in injuries will be more important than the growth of Houston's young players.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Interesting quote from TexansChick's blog on chron.com

Steph interviews Bill Barnwell, managing editor of Football Outsiders , this is one small part of that article.

Ya, I read her blog right after I posted that. Can't say I agree with FO. Predicting more injuries in 2010? A bell curve centered on 5.6 wins? Just a 30% chance of winning of more than 6?

Vegas predicted 8 wins. They've got more cred than FO, IMO.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Arky

Ya, I read her blog right after I posted that. Can't say I agree with FO. Predicting more injuries in 2010? A bell curve centered on 5.6 wins? Just a 30% chance of winning of more than 6?

Vegas predicted 8 wins. They've got more cred than FO, IMO.

I said 6 wins back when the schedule came out, so I don't think he is far off.

IMO the running scheme we use is not effective anymore, and the OL we have is not a strong unit. That is going to be our undoing.

BTW I hope I am wrong, I usually am.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I said 6 wins back when the schedule came out, so I don't think he is far off.

6 wins? Sounds like you and FO think we're in for a disaster season....

So, I guess I gotta get ready to watch a train wreck..... I thought I might be watching the blossoming of a young Texans team...

Back on topic, McNair did a video interview over at chron.com.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Arky

6 wins? Sounds like you and FO think we're in for a disaster season....

So, I guess I gotta get ready to watch a train wreck..... I thought I might be watching the blossoming of a young Texans team...

Back on topic, McNair did a video interview over at chron.com.

Did you miss the part where I am usually wrong?

[Arky]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Did you miss the part where I am usually wrong?

Nah, I just wanted you to say it again. j/k

6 wins is definitely a possibility. But I think most are going to forecast a little higher number... Ya know, this is arguably (on paper, for now) the best Texans team ever.....

[TheMatrix31]

No way we only get 6 wins (barring a true disaster). Hell, just our offense alone will be good enough for most of the wins. We're forgetting that if it wasn't for just a few very unlucky/mishaps/brainfarts/displays of stupidity, we would have had about 3-4 more wins than we ended up with in 2009.

I think 9-10 wins is realistic with this schedule. If that's enough for WC, we'll see.

[Nconroe]

since it is my optimistic time of year, glass half full of Texans Kool-Aid,

assuming defense of last 12 games was top 5 overall is what we get in 2010 , not the one over sixteen games,
and
Oline and RB of last two games is what we will see in 2010-11, or even better
and
most of that tough schedule is based on last year and perhaps past four years and those teams are now older and slower and not really as tough as Texans
so
we can likely go 11-5, with lot of passion.

and Amobi will make probowl since he is now an elderly, more mature 22 years old. Mario will have his best year by far.

not betting on that, just speculating what I'd like to see. and could be.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

we can likely go 11-5, with lot of passion

If by "passion" you mean "a notable lack of red zone slapdickery" then I am with you in the thought that the Texans might win some games. But if you seriously think they can go 11-5 then you my friend are a lunatic.

[HPF Bob]

I could see very possibly that the Texans have the most talented roster in their brief history and *still* go 6-10, particularly if Schaub misses any significant time.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I could see very possibly that the Texans have the most talented roster in their brief history and *still* go 6-10, particularly if Schaub misses any significant time.

Absolutely. This is plainly and by far the best team the Texans have ever fielded but if the schedule plays out like expected a 9-7 season will be quite an achievement and significantly fewer wins is a real possibility especially in the event of key injuries.

[NBT]

Yes, we have a very tough schedule. Yes, we have to avoid the injury bug. But at some point, all young teams have to grow up and accept the burdens. So you can count me as one of the loonies who think we are going to take over the asylum!

[Arky]

Originally Posted by chuck

If by "passion" you mean "a notable lack of red zone slapdickery" then I am with you in the thought that the Texans might win some games. But if you seriously think they can go 11-5 then you my friend are a lunatic.

That's a little harsh. 11-5 is certainly a possibility just like 5-11 is a possibility. Many of the "experts" will be predicting 10-6 and that is not that far removed from 11-5. Today's Texans really should be able to hang with anybody on their schedule..... Colts? The Texans proved last year they could hang with them - they just haven't figured out how to get over the hump and win a few.... Cowboys, Jets, Ravens, Chargers, Jags(!) and Titans? Not really all that scary.... I heard a Schaub radio interview the other day speak on the schedule - he's not scared..

It is possible about the time Cushing comes back that the defense has started to come together and plays a whole notch higher than last year. Then again, there could be devastating injuries across the board..... but I think they are too deep now to really crater to 4-6 wins and that includes an injury to the QB position... Not unless they set some kind of record for "tough losses", I just don't see it...

[Mike]

This is the most talented team we have ever fielded. Our offense if it gets any kind of running game should be one of the best in the league.

Antonio, Bernard, Cush, Demeco play with passion on defense. The Frank Bush defense was very good after the first month last year.

It is simple as this IMO. Is it time these guys come together and stop letting the AFC south steal their lunch money? The kids on Kirby HAVE to grow up and prove that they belong. Listen to Pollard, I know he is going to bring the intensity and passion. Is this the year we make it to the playoffs? I don't know, but besides the Meadow Muffins in Dallas, I don't think the NFC east is as good as perceived and those all are winnable games. Actually, there is not a team that I see that the Texans cannot beat. Will they come together and earn those wins? Stay tuned. Let's hope it is a fun ride.