Official Texans @ Saints Game Thread, 8/21/2010

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by Arky

Yep, definitely the defense should have stepped up. I'm just questioning practicing throat stomping in a pre-season game... Shades of NCAA run-'em-up coaches...

One thing coaches like to do in the pre-season is get things on film that they want the rest of the league to see and fret about. If they had three different fourth down plays, opposing coaches are now going to have to prep for all three plays whereas if they only saw one, the coach might assume that one was their go-to play on fourth down. Personally, I'd show them three plays I *won't* use during the season but now have to make my opponents game plan against.

There are two types of trick plays - the ones you work on for the rest of the league to see and the ones you want to spring as a total surprise (like the "Music City Miracle"). Personally, I think the Texans need a total new set of trick plays because they haven't run a good one since, well, ever.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

One thing coaches like to do in the pre-season is get things on film that they want the rest of the league to see and fret about. If they had three different fourth down plays, opposing coaches are now going to have to prep for all three plays whereas if they only saw one, the coach might assume that one was their go-to play on fourth down. Personally, I'd show them three plays I *won't* use during the season but now have to make my opponents game plan against.

There are two types of trick plays - the ones you work on for the rest of the league to see and the ones you want to spring as a total surprise (like the "Music City Miracle"). Personally, I think the Texans need a total new set of trick plays because they haven't run a good one since, well, ever.

Bob I've got to agree with you on your theory about why the Texans did what they did last night. I think Kubiak had a plan to trick his opponents into being overconfidant when they play the Texans, and I think he executed his plan very well last night.

[Keith]

It's preseason. We talkin bout preseason, man. I mean, how silly is that? What are we talkin about? Preseason.

Texans had a 2-game road trip. For the guys that matter, they essentially went 1-1. With these guys, I'll take a 4-4 road record this year. The Saints were at home for the first time since winning a Super Bowl. Think about that... New Orleans. How would you expect the stadium in Houston to be for fans and players in their first game at home after winning a Super Bowl? A little amped up, right?

I thought last year's Texans home record was a bit of a fluke... they typically play better at home, so let's see how they come out against Dallas.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Keith

It's preseason. We talkin bout preseason, man. I mean, how silly is that? What are we talkin about? Preseason.

Texans had a 2-game road trip. For the guys that matter, they essentially went 1-1. With these guys, I'll take a 4-4 road record this year. The Saints were at home for the first time since winning a Super Bowl. Think about that... New Orleans. How would you expect the stadium in Houston to be for fans and players in their first game at home after winning a Super Bowl? A little amped up, right?

I thought last year's Texans home record was a bit of a fluke... they typically play better at home, so let's see how they come out against Dallas.

I could care less who wins a preseason game. Makes no difference to me if we finish 0-4 or 4-0 in the preseason. But I do care how our our starters perform in preseason games, and that's the problem with last night. Very disappointing.

[NBT]

If we are talking about "intensity" here, we have started out the season pretty much all through the Kubiak era with a decided lack of intensity. Maybe we need to be more intense in these pre-season games so it will roll over to the real season.

[dalemurphy]

I was mortified by the lazy effort on Saturday night. It was unenjoyable, which is not good when I'm spending my leisure time watching it.

However, other than Okoye and Cody getting owned by an excellent interior line, I don't feel that the performance is a result of ability... which is somewhat comforting. Also, I was surprised to see Kubiak's attitude during his presser yesterday. Normally, he seems confused and concerned when they get beat. Yesterday he was simply pissed at the players for the poor performance. I am oddly encouraged by that.

We put together our weekly analysis of Kubes' presser. This one has some amusing video that captures his mood, I think: Texans Bull Blog

[Nconroe]

No excuses for a poor performance all over Saturday night, and particularly defense against the run. Perhaps some was they were trying new combinations of plays and players to get film on. And N.O. did out hustle them in that pactice game. And maybe Hollidays fumble putting them down 14-0 didn't help.

Today team didn't practice, just looked at film, so I guess they did get to hear about mistakes, what was changing, perhaps being simplified, so they get back to what they were doing good the last thirteen games of last year.

Still optimistic we'll be ready for Indy on Sept 12 which is about three weeks from now and a home game, and then a good season.

You can learn from a bad experience and I think this team will learn and be better for it.

And it would be appropriate if Kubiak applied some of that speech from the "Bull Durham 'In the Shower' Scene".

Well, I guess we should be looking for the new expanded offense playbook, for in the red zone. We were up to 2 of 3 end zone successes .