Jason Campbell is not related to me
Jun 20, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 20, Andre Johnson, Athletes who don't stab people, DeMeco Ryans, Mike Vick, Preview, Super Mario, Teams that aren't the Texans, The Schaub Experiment
A post in which I randomly throw random bits of randomness at you.
A friend pointed out that, in my post about us beating the Falcons, I off-handedly mentioned how they were relying on two rookies (Anderson, Houston) without mentioning that we are relying on one rookie and two second-year players. While he is technically correct, I offer the following in rebuttal:
- I never claimed to be anywhere close to rational. Or sane. I merely said that I could come up with nine games in which we had a better-than-average chance of winning. If, in breaking down these games, some of my arguments seem specious, it is probably because they are.
- I still think that it is more likely than not that Ron Mexico will not be under center for that week 4 game. The only thing less scary1 than Joe Harrington as a backup QB is Joe Harrington as a fill-in starter.
- There’s a difference between relying on a rookie CB with marginal cover skills and a rookie DT. If one of them loses his battle, it is an immediate TD. For the other, failure is less obvious and less damaging on the scoreboard in any given single instance.
- At the same time, there is a similarity between the two–both will likely be targeted by the opposing team’s offense. In Manchild’s case, teams will not want to let the hyped rookie beat them and inflict his brand of Nigerian pain upon their respective QBs. Of course, by focusing on him, you take focus away from Super Mario or someone else on the d-line. This is a good thing (for us). On the other hand, targeting Chris Houston will have more to do with the fact that you think you can beat him. Having seen him play nearly every game last year, a fair assessment would be that he is freakishly athletic, has a nose for the big play, but does not cover well one-on-one. This is also a good thing (for us).
- DeMeco is great. I realize that this is hardly dispositive, but it warrants mentioning.
Moving on…
Someone over at Chron.com read my previous post (about national media coverage) and said something about how my use of footnotes was a poor rip-off of David Foster Wallace. Now, without appearing too thin-skinned, I should mention that I have no idea if he is correct or not, as I have never read anything by Wallace. (I mean “correct” in the sense that Wallace uses footnotes. Hell, I am sure he’s correct that what I am doing is not of the same literary quality as DFW’s work.) If anything, my use of footnotes is a holdover from law school and more closely resembles a Chuck Klosterman ripoff. Without the emo glasses.
‘Member how Keenan McCardell came and worked out for the team? Well, his decision is apparently down to us and the Washington Redskins. Leaving aside his age, that he is from Houston, and that no one in his right mind would want to be a Redskin, I still don’t see why KMc would choose D.C. over Houston. Here, he likely steps right into a starting role across from Andre Johnson. There, he competes with four veteran receivers (Moss, Randle El, Thrash, and Lloyd). Here, he steps into a receiver-friendly offense with an unproven QB. There, he steps into Joe Gibbs’ offense with an unproven QB. Etc. I predict he’ll sign here unless Dan Snyder is just trying to collect WRs and is willing to grossly overpay to get him. Which is always possible.
Finally, an interesting post about professional sports teams with all-time records under .500. Yes, we are on there. But, we’re only two undefeated regular seasons away from breaking even.
1 I use “less” from the opposing team’s perspective; if you are a Falcons fan, feel free to read that as “more.”
