Texans vs. Patriots Pre-Game Discussion

[popanot]

Originally Posted by chuck

By the way, I don't recall a single pass to anyone out of the backfield last week. Am I wrong? Hang on. Nope. I don't understand why RBs aren't more incorporated into the passing game, especially given BO's many limitations.

Maybe BOB has held out those RB screens all year waiting for this one game. Shock the Pats!!! Ah, hell, who am I kidding... It's probably more due to the fact BO has no touch and fires fastballs on every throw.

[barrett]

I would not start Grimes. Miller is the better back. But there is no reason for Miller to get 31 carries. He doesn't get better as the game goes on. He doesn't wear down a defense. And he doesn't like hammering away on inside runs. So give Grimes 5 carries and Blue/Hunt/whoever's active 5 carries. Then Miller can carry it 20Xs and that might leave him fresh to make a few catches.

Who knows why Ervin is even rostered at this point. I actually hope it is a draft position thing, because stubborn is slightly more forgivable than cluelessness.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by popanot

Maybe BOB has held out those RB screens all year waiting for this one game. Shock the Pats!!! Ah, hell, who am I kidding... It's probably more due to the fact BO has no touch and fires fastballs on every throw.

Yep, instead of a nicely setup screen pass we get the fastball to the wideout with just the slot guy for blocking.

Who needs those big fat playbooks when you can put your entire game plan on a Post-it?

OK, I'm done.....

[chuck]

I'm strangely optimistic about the game today. I'm not predicting a win or anything but I think our guys will keep it close. Of course, I'm widely hailed for my relentless optimism.

[Keith]

I'm optimistic to the point where I think this could be a one possession game very, very late. And that's where I get pessimistic. There's been very little to make me think that O'Brien is going to out-strategize Belichick in both game and clock management in the latter half of the fourth quarter.

The Texans are going to have to get out of their comfort zones to make this upset happen... yes, limiting Osweiler turnovers is important, but that does not mean a run-run-pass-punt offensive approach. Hop will be double-teamed, so read the options and don't force the throws.

And on defense, they will need to blitz the A gaps, not just rely on Clowney and Mercilus to come from the edges. They cannot keep giving these cushions to the Pats receiver as Brady will eat them up in small bites all game.

And rookie returners on special teams is usually a bad idea (Ervin), but maybe give one of them (Fuller) a shot again on punt returns.

[Arky]

Can't wait. What's the old saying? "In order to be the best, you have to beat the best".....

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Man, the disrespect (for the Texans) is strong out there in TV land.... Lots of love for the Patriots, no love for the Texans..... Michael Irvin, many more,.... most recently Terry Bradshaw predicting a crappy game and he wasn't talking about the Pats....

Sure wish the Texans would shut them up......

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Give 'em hell, boys.....