Official Texans vs. Chargers Game Thread, 11/7/2010

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

Gentlemen, I am well aware that the Texans have four division games remaining and that the division is indeed wide open. I am also aware based on what I have seen and what I know about the team that the team is very, very unlikely to take advantage of the opportunity that is miraculously still in front of them.

This is the worst NFL defense I have ever seen. Their arrogant decision not to resign Dunta is going to affect the franchise in a similar way to their decision to release Aaron Glenn. The Glenn decision led directly to the darkest days of the franchise. I'm not sure that the Texans are in danger of being a 1-15 team next year but the defense is definitely reeling and is the worst in the NFL.

The Texans move the ball well in between the 20s. They have a great deal of trouble getting into the end zone in the red zone. Friends, that is why they lost yesterday. Sure, they could have used better play from Jackson, a couple of guys paid to catch the ball could have caught the ball, apparently there were some questionable calls. But the team failed to score touchdowns, what, six times in the red zone? That is inexcusable. There is plenty of blame - dropped balls, bad play calls, strange officiating decisions - but at the end of the day a good team scores seven points when they are inside the ten yard line and the Texans just don't do that. With this defense you won't beat Carolina with that sort of red zone performance.

In short, the defense is not going to get any better and I simply do not see a Kubiak-led offense performing in the red zone.

I don't think things are as broken as they seem. This team is very close. I just don't think we'll get there.

The redzone has not been a problem this season. They showed a stat during sunday's game that we had 11 TDs and 3 FGs in 14 goal to go opportunities. Foster has largely solved the goalline issues (except when we don't run him). Struggling yesterday does not equal a problem (unless you mean a coaching problem).

The defense is an issue for sure. It is atrocious. I can't believe that our front office and coaching staff could watch our secondary everyday and then say, "Yeah, we're good to go and I'll stake my job and our playoff hopes on these guys."

But even with the defense in a better state, I still think we aren't a potential superbowl team. We have always added up to less than the sum of our parts under Kubiak. He is a well meaning and capable guy, just not a winner. I said he should have been fired last year since he has defined mediocrity. I bet when it is all said and done we are mediocre again this year and manage to win 7-9 games. I just hope McNair stops buying into the idea that we are close.

The NFL is a very talent leveled league and the head coach may be the single biggest factor in determining a team's success (unless your head coach plays QB like Peyton manning and then you can have a carboard cutout for a head coach and still win). We will never win big with Kubiak so the move can't be made soon enough in my opinion. Especially since we have enough talent to contend right now if someone can get it to show up on Sundays.