Official Texans vs. Titans Game Thread, 11/23/2009

[Nconroe]

well, for this year, I think the three AFC south losses were last second plays where players didn't execute, not really coaching decisions.

and previous years, those teams were better, we were worse, and they won against the league, not just us. AFC south is recognized tough division.

so, we are getting closer to our main competition, not quite over the hump, but this year isn't over.

I think this means we are trying to build our team thru the draft, we have young coaches and young players, this did start over 3.5 years ago,not eight or 40 years ago, and the improvement has been steady these four years.

well, we should have won, so hate to argue about this. not saying a last second loss is better than a 20 point loss, but well. just don't see how the stats lead to conclusion you drew.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

well, for this year, I think the three AFC south losses were last second plays where players didn't execute, not really coaching decisions.

I get this but at some point a continual failure to execute has to fall to the coaches as well for two reasons. One, your job isn't merely to call the plays, it's also to get the players to execute, particularly at the most critical times. This may mean practicing it 40 times, or simulating crowd noise during practice, or whatever else it may take. I understand that the coaches aren't on the field and can't guarantee execution, but I can't shake the belief that good coaches somehow manage to get better execution out of their players than mediocre ones. As a quick example, the Cowboys preparation and execution in Parcells' first year was 180 degrees from what it had been the year before with (I believe) Campo. Teams that are well prepared by their coaches during the week tend to execute better.

Secondly, even if you do believe execution is solely on the players, these are the players Kubiak wanted. Make no mistake, this is his team. If he put together a team with a bunch of guys who can't execute at crunch time (even assuming he is providing the best coaching this side of Lombardi), well that's still his fault for bringing in a bunch of guys who can't perform despite his excellent tutalege.

[HPF Bob]

Such anger!

It means you expect winning now and upset when it doesn't happen. Quite an upgrade from 2005.

What disappoints me isn't the failure to pull games out at the end, it's the mistakes that kept it close to begin with. If I blame Kubiak for anything, it's a lack of imagination. Why not slip in a hurry-up offense once in awhile? Why not try Casey in a wildcat just to change it up? Tennessee doesn't have to think outside the box before our offense never does (except the SWBR).

We're a team that always seems to be less than the sum of their parts and I'm not sure how you fix that except to keep adding parts.

We do need some leaders though. We need some guys who are going to take losing very personally and get in everyone's grill about it. The Ravens' D looks great most of the team because Ray Lewis won't tolerate less than 100 percent. Coordinators come and go but I think Lewis scares his own teammates into not taking any plays off.

So, I'm disappointed but not as completely pissed as some of you. We're aren't that far away but we're not that close either.

[coloradodude]

"We're aren't that far away but..."


And then there's our run game statistics.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

We're a team that always seems to be less than the sum of their parts...

This is a fantastic way to put it.

As for not being that far away, well, CD points out that the team can't run the ball. I assume he also points us to the run defense, which is awful. And just for the hell of it I'll throw in the pass rush, which I cannot call bad because it simply does not exist. So, yeah, other than that, and the special teams and the idiot coach and the stupefying play calling and horrible clock management and the clueless owner we're RIGHT THERE. Yep. We're pulling on the old Bum Phillips boot and preparing to kick the son of a bitch in. Sure we are.

[idymoe]

The run defense has been very good lately, up until the last game. I think the whole defensive game plan was off for the Titans. There was no pressure on VY. He had plenty of time to wait on his receivers and do that little wristy pass with his feet planted. I think they should have had Cushing blitzing with man coverage and put some pressure on Vince to get rid of the ball quick. Of course, 20 points is not a huge amount to give up.

I really believe that Studdard and Meyers are ruining the offense. They get a good downfield block occasionally, but you can't run between the tackles with those two. I think the Texans needed more underneath routes against the Tits for ball controll, with no running game. Especially in the 2nd half.

I'm disappointed in the loss, but seriously, how much hysterical whining do we have to wade through after every loss. I get so tired of the "its a message board, you are supposed to express your opinion" crap. Ok, my opinion is discuss the game, but if you're so upset, grow a sac and keep the girlish hysterics to yourself.

Bring it on, Nancys.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by idymoe

The run defense has been very good lately, up until the last game. I think the whole defensive game plan was off for the Titans. There was no pressure on VY. He had plenty of time to wait on his receivers and do that little wristy pass with his feet planted. I think they should have had Cushing blitzing with man coverage and put some pressure on Vince to get rid of the ball quick. Of course, 20 points is not a huge amount to give up.

I really believe that Studdard and Meyers are ruining the offense. They get a good downfield block occasionally, but you can't run between the tackles with those two. I think the Texans needed more underneath routes against the Tits for ball controll, with no running game. Especially in the 2nd half.

I'm disappointed in the loss, but seriously, how much hysterical whining do we have to wade through after every loss. I get so tired of the "its a message board, you are supposed to express your opinion" crap. Ok, my opinion is discuss the game, but if you're so upset, grow a sac and keep the girlish hysterics to yourself.

Bring it on, Nancys.

I hear ya.

People complaining about mediocrity/.500? Eh, there's a whole lot worse things than .500.....

In some circles, another adjective for .500 is "respectable" - but I'm in the glass half full camp....

Last year, at one point, the Texans were 3-7 with much wailing and crying. But they went 5-1 down the stretch and had it going (except for the blip that was the Raiders game)....

There's still a lot of season left - 6 games.... Maybe they can do it again.. maybe not.... we'll see...

There were a couple of Oiler years where they had a problem in the close games - terrible record when the game was decided by a touchdown or less. They eventually overcame it and prospered...

[chuck]

Listen, I'm not going to get into who's ponied up season ticket and PSL money and who hasn't and who rearranges his schedule to come to Houston to attend the games and who doesn't. And, by extension, who has the footing to be disappointed when the ceiling is mediocrity and to demonstrate this displeasure in a financial manner and who doesn't.

All I can say is that I am surprised that some of you seem to be content to be fans of a team that occasionally elevates itself to the lofty heights of mediocrity. VERY occasionally, actually.

Maybe if I used Texans football as a three hour weekly foil for my real passion - watching fat people eat purple cotton candy on the Food Network - I'd be more sanguine. Or maybe if I were a fan of another NFL team and used the Texans to guinea pig my ideas and emotions I'd be a lot less hostile to the fact that the franchise clearly has no purpose, leadership, vision or future.

But I'm not.

[Big Texas]

Originally Posted by idymoe

The run defense has been very good lately, up until the last game. I think the whole defensive game plan was off for the Titans. There was no pressure on VY. He had plenty of time to wait on his receivers and do that little wristy pass with his feet planted. I think they should have had Cushing blitzing with man coverage and put some pressure on Vince to get rid of the ball quick. Of course, 20 points is not a huge amount to give up.

I really believe that Studdard and Meyers are ruining the offense. They get a good downfield block occasionally, but you can't run between the tackles with those two. I think the Texans needed more underneath routes against the Tits for ball controll, with no running game. Especially in the 2nd half.

I'm disappointed in the loss, but seriously, how much hysterical whining do we have to wade through after every loss. I get so tired of the "its a message board, you are supposed to express your opinion" crap. Ok, my opinion is discuss the game, but if you're so upset, grow a sac and keep the girlish hysterics to yourself.

Bring it on, Nancys.

Me personally I think our defense has been pretty decent over the last 4-5 games. However, a pass rush is something that we have been lacking for a long time. Either our execution is terrible or the blitz packages are terrible. However you look at it our pass rush is pathetic. Our dbs damn near have to cover the receiver for 10 seconds for us to get a sack.

I have noticed that teams are using Mario's aggressiveness to their benefit. They allow him to accelerate off the LOS while the qb is prepared to just step up into the pocket (where our DTs are putting no pressure). I say blitz the Cushing in the same gap as Mario. This could at least fill that gap, however it would make us highly susceptible to screens. Execution is key.

While I have the opportunity let me add. Alot of people were really down on DRob for getting beat by Britt (I believe), me included. However I can not put that solely on him. This team was geared towards stopping the big play. (which subsequently they gave maybe once) I do not blame DRob for looking into the backfield on those play action plays. CJohnson demands that sort of attention. Sure he could've played better but I am not gonna say he sucks.