Official Texans @ Steelers Game Thread, 10/20/2014

[popanot]

It's sad wTching Cushing. He has no wheels left. I just hope it's one of those 2-years to recover things, but it's not looking good. Not looking good for our cap either.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by popanot

It's sad wTching Cushing. He has no wheels left. I just hope it's one of those 2-years to recover things, but it's not looking good. Not looking good for our cap either.

Ya, it reminds me of that year DeMeco was "recovering". He was an unproductive slug that year but no one was going to get him (DeMeco) out of the line-up. He insisted on playing and no one was going to tell him different. I hated that. Being a leader only goes so far - you gotta produce.....

[Nconroe]

Originally Posted by popanot

It's sad wTching Cushing. He has no wheels left. I just hope it's one of those 2-years to recover things, but it's not looking good. Not looking good for our cap either.

I think Texans will be fine on the cap next year, most likely, even keeping Cushing. Quite a few already coming off the books next year plus cap is going up now.

Cushing - I hope makes it back but he certainly doesn't have the body control and strength we are used to seeing for now.

AJ obviously loves the Texans, but if he wants to find a competitive team and good trade for Texans let him do it.

[chuck]

Rick Smith or whoever was in charge took Cushing over Clay Matthews. Once again, they were picking a position of need (when you have so many needs annually you can do this pretty much every year...) and once again they made the wrong choice.

[Nconroe]

Originally Posted by chuck

Rick Smith or whoever was in charge took Cushing over Clay Matthews. Once again, they were picking a position of need (when you have so many needs annually you can do this pretty much every year...) and once again they made the wrong choice.

Both guys have been injured at various times, and both are impact players at various times.

Productivity this week likely not related to draft position several years ago.

Might be interesting how LBs line up once Clowney comes back.

[barrett]

Did Cushing have injury red flags coming out? I honestly have no idea. If he did then it's on Smith.

If he didn't then I won't blame Smith for picking an amazing player who was destroyed by the harsh reality of injuries in NFL football. When Cushing was healthy in 2011-2013 he flew around the field and changed everything about how both teams played. Everyone had to be aware of him. One of my favorite Texans to watch when he was right. That's what makes it so sad to see him out there as a shell of himself with none of the fire he used to have. He obviously knows how limited he is and does not have much fun being mediocre.

[HPF Bob]

Same old Oilers.

Can't blame it on Bud Adams. Can't blame it on some Indian curse supposedly haunting the Astrodome. Can't blame it on Capers or Kubiak.

But dang does this city never get tired of producing teams that lose in exceptionally gut-jerking ways. I was really hoping this franchise would be different than the rest of them but they have become just as adept at losing in unexpected ways as the old Astros and Rockets did (unlike the new Astros who just lose and then tell everyome how smart they are).

[Keith]

Originally Posted by barrett

Did Cushing have injury red flags coming out? I honestly have no idea. If he did then it's on Smith.

Iirc, he was basically healthy enough to play his final season at USC, but prior to that, he had various knee and ankle problems, not to mention the myriad of steroid rumors.

Cushing's speed is gonzo. As I've said in earlier game threads this season, it is really sad seeing this version of him on the field. The comparison to DeMeco's decline is a good one, though DeMeco had nowhere near the ceiling Cushing had pre-injury.

As for the game... obviously, the meltdown in the final 2 mins before halftime cost the game. Bad teams do that. Good teams do not. And this wasn't the first time this team has had a meltdown. Time for BOB to adjust. I figure he will, but he will be hamstrung until this team has a real franchise QB.

- Daniel Manning... WTH is he still returning kicks in the 2nd half?? So much for accountability.
- Following that 4th Q fumble, DeAndre Hopkins isn't going to shed that tag he started earning after failing to go after that loose ball at the end of the Colts game.
- Arian Foster had a bad fumble, which I can excuse since it is pretty rare despite how cavalier he carries the football in space sometimes. His vision is unique. There is and has been a serious dropoff in talent when someone else is toting the rock in his place.
- TE play is really sub-par in the passing game, which is a little surprising. Maybe these are still TE types for the Kubiak system and Fido is just a rook. Something to address in the offseason even if Fido improves.
- Not sure if it's D.J. or Cush or what, but there is some leadership missing in the middle of that defense. It's still a pretty solid D mind you - there's like 17 points in this game that are basically the fault of the offense - but there's some miscommunication going on back there.
- Icing the kicker before a FG may be a good idea, but giving him a second shot at an onsides kick is dumb. And the Steelers' decision to throw the ball on 2nd (and really 3rd) down late in this game was even dumber.