Official Texans @ Cardinals Game Thread, 8/14/2010

[chuck]

Let's get Slaton out there and feed that idiot the ball and see if he can hold onto it.

[Arky]

Pass to JJ goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass Casey - Casey stretches for the 1st down. 1st and goal at the 6.

DanO can't find anyone open and chunks it out of the endzone.

[chuck]

OK, James Casey wants to play.

[Arky]

Tate tackled in the backfield. Studdard got whipped. 3rd and 11.

Dump to Tate picks up about 6. Rackers on for the FG.

24 yarder is good.

Texans 13, Cards 0

:51 seconds left in the half.

[Big Texas]

Studdard just made Tate's first NFL rush look horrible...

[Arky]

Cards bring Rackers kick back to about the 28 but flags on the play. Cards with the block in the back. Ball is placed at the Cards 11 yard line.

Dump over the middle picks up about 11.

Short pass to Williams gets about 8.

Timeout Cards. :20 seconds left.

[Arky]

Sideline pass gets about 5 and the 1st down.

Pass over the middle sails inc.

Deep pass down the left sideline goes over everybody. 3 seconds left.

Pass over the middle goes inc. Good coverage by McCain. Halftime.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 5/6 78 yards 1 TD, DanO 7/11 74 yds.

Rushing: Foster 4/31, Slaton 10/22

Receiving: AJ 3/59, Casey 2/30, many with 1

Tackles: Sharpton 4, Mario 3 (2 sacks), GQ 3, Diles and McCain 2 each, many with 1

Turnovers: Texans 1, Cards 1

Time of possession: Texans 17:04, Cards 12:56

3rd down conversions: Texans 2/7, Cards 1/5

1st downs: Texans 10, Cards 7

[TexicanMexican]

Nice play for Bing to come up and force the QB to throw the ball away

[barrett]

1st Half thoughts

The first string offense looked very good. I think it can't be over estimated how valuable continuity is in the NFL. I think it is a huge part of the Colts success. Especially on offense.

Foster looked good but was running on 1st and 2nd downs and in long yardage situations. He is obviously great for the stretch and the counter and the "slow to the hole" running game. He also looks very good in the 2nd level. I am disappointed we never got to see him tonight in anything like short yardage.

Dreesen is a big drop from OD. He is a solid #2 TE who can block and catch well enough to not tip off what the play is, but our offense would suffer with him in a big role. Casey looked very good against the 2s. I'd love to see Casey with the 1s and Schaub if OD is not back next week.

The OL did exactly what can be expected of it. Small creases in the running game that will work against 6 and 7 man fronts. Solid pass blocking and great blitz pick up on the TD. Also watch the running plays and you will see why Walter will start of JJ no matter how dangerous JJ is. Walter comes in motion and cracks better than anybody in the NFL and makes the counter a great play for the Texans. And the counter is probably the best play to Play action off of.

The Defense hit hard and hit often. I would be fine with that as a calling card even if we learn later that we still can't cover anyone. Pollard and Cushing are so physical.

Okoye played tough. He is clearly suited to playing forward on the snap. He went right by Faneca to knock down Leinhart's pass on one play. I honestly was doubting he would ever amount to much, but maybe it was more a case of there is only one scheme he really has value in.

With the 2nd string guys I will just say that Orlovsky is a terrible fit for our offense. He is so clumsy that he struggles to make the handoff on the outside zone (our base running play). And he also can't boot or throw on the run. So basically he lacks the ability to do the basic elements of our system. He's not terrible, just terrible for us. Someone in the pro scouting department blew it big time on this guy.

And Okam is useless out there. His first play in the game ended with him pushed a good 8 yards off the LOS. And that wasn't the exception for his time out there. I don't understand how a guy his size could be bad at holding his ground in the middle of the line, but he is.