Old Five And Dimers Like Me
Aug 11, 2008 2008 Season, 2008 Training Camp, Amobi Okoye is an adult, Big dudes doing the little things, Corky Johnson, Daddy's girl, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Morlon Greenwood, Okam's Razor, Preseason 2008, President Lyndon Veins Johnson, Super Mario
…aaaaand, we’re back!
Back from where, you ask? Well, for the first time since Sophia was born back in February, my wife and I were able to escape for a kidless vacation this past weekend. And how better to spend a romantic weekend than in Houston, eating Mexican food, listening to live music, and watching your Houston JUGGERNAUT in action?
Speaking of live music, if you’ve never seen Billy Joe Shaver in concert, do yourself a favor and make that happen. The man is a living legend (he wrote 90% of Waylon Jennings’ Honkytonk Heroes album as well as songs for the Allman Brothers, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Bobby Bare) and, even better, completely out of his mind. He spent two songs explaining how to throw a punch, one song trying to kick a woman in the head, and at least two songs flapping his arms like he was going to fly. But, regardless, the show was fantastic. And I defy you to show me another 69-year-old performer who comes on at 11PM and plays until well after 1AM.
Other thoughts about the game and the weekend in general:
- First off, huge thanks to Tim and his better half for taking us to the game and just generally showing us a good time around Houston. A+ effort as always.
- A separate thank you to Tim’s dad for giving us the tickets.
- He got close last year, but this is going to be the season that Mario Williams makes all the doubters feel silly. You wouldn’t think he could look appreciably better than he did last year, but you would be wrong. On one play, Mario shoved Ryan Clady (all 325 lbs of him) back about six feet and snared Selvin Young with one hand, bringing the RB down for a two-yard loss. The funny thing was Clady was in proper to position to block Mario—he had his butt low and was squared up correctly—yet Mario just flung him out of the way as if he was nothing.
- DeMeco Ryans is very, very good. This is not news. What is news, however, is that he seems to have found another gear as well, as he was disrupting plays in the backfield with surprising regularity during the first two series.
- Ninfa’s is really, really good. It’s so good, in fact, that every time I eat there, I refuse to eat Mexican food in Little Rock for months afterward.
- Is there some reason Jacques Reeves was giving a five- to seven-yard cushion to the slot WRs? Because I can’t figure out what it would be. I mean, his one asset is speed, right? So shouldn’t he play a little closer, knowing that he can keep up stride-for-stride? Someone needs to answer this.
- Will Demps looks very good in run support. He is one of five Texans who can claim that praise following Sunday’s game.
- Petey Faggins made one tackle where, before I realized it was him, I said “wow…great hit!” Then I felt dirty and started to question my own existence. Thankfully, Faggins then completely lost outside contain on Anthony Aldridge’s run, turning a 4-yard loss into a 19-yard gain. All was immediately right with the world.
- In other news, Petey tackles very well when he is hitting a stopped receiver from the side.
- Contrary to what some random ‘tards will tell you, there is no QB controversy, nor should there be one. Matt Schaub looked fantastic on his first four throws and the timing route he fired to Andre Davis was a throw that (a) Zoolander never could have made and (b) our offense has rarely, if ever, featured before. Schaub threw it to Davis’ back shoulder and the ball was halfway there before Davis ever made his turn. It is obviously something they’ve been working on, though, as Andre knew without a doubt where the ball would be when he broke. Impressive as hell. That throw is also why I think Matt forced the fifth throw into coverage—he’s apparently been working with Davis on a lot of short routes and precision throws and he’s comfortable throwing to Andre regardless of the situation. Was it a bad throw? Of course. It was into triple coverage and David Anderson was open to the left. But it was an understandable early-season mistake.
- Speaking of QBs, Sage Rosenfels did look good, especially on the throw to Anderson. But what apparently doesn’t come across on television (as I haven’t seen anyone talking about it) is that Sage has a serious case of happy feet back there. Oh, sure, he’s nails and he will stay in and keep his eyes downfield, but his footwork is pretty bad. He made that very nice throw to Jacoby Jones, but he was practically dancing in place before he launched it. And I can’t recall him stepping up into the pocket much at all.
- Good news! There was actually a pocket the QBs could have stepped into. I am already prepared to admit that I was wrong on Duane Brown; that kid looked fantastic Saturday night. His footwork was nearly flawless, his technique was solid, and he used his hands very well. Ephraim Salaam just got Wally Pipped, I do believe.
- I am going to tell myself that the injury to Louis Green and the ensuing five-minute delay took the steam out of our drive and that is why they had to settle for a field goal. I am telling myself this and you can’t convince me otherwise.
- Remember not that long ago when Chris pointed out that Ahman Green’s 2007 injury was hardly a fluke—it was a straight-on hit to the knee, which happens to all running backs multiple times per year? Well, you know, AT LEAST IT WAS A HIT!!!! Seriously, you are going to hurt yourself on the VERY FIRST PLAY OF THE YEAR without so much as the defense getting a hand on you? Really? Honestly? I don’t think I am alone in saying that I am fine with the team taking the cap hit and giving Green his walking limping papers.
- Cadillac Bar’s brunch buffet is fan-friggin’-tastic. It is doubly great when you have 5 or 6 mimosas. What’s that, you say? Mimosas are lame? Good sir, the fact that I am allowed to drink alcohol with breakfast without drawing scorn from others is far from lame. Plus, you know…vitamin C. No scurvy for me!
- Was it just me, or did it seem like Morlon Greenwood was trying to make me look like a jerk? I spend two friggin’ weeks defending the guy and arguing that he’s way better than we give him credit for being and…um…wow. He was horrid Saturday night. No one should get owned like that on a Jay Cutler run, yet Morlon did. And he was abused in the short passing game as well. NOT GOOD, MORLON.
- Thanks to Lee, stacy, and grungedave recommending breakfast spots. We tried to go to The Breakfast Klub on Saturday, but the line was around the block.
- The more I think about it, the less problem I have with Jacoby’s second punt return. Granted, he did everything wrong—he ran backward, he changed directions too many times, he waited too long to switch hands—but he also juked past at least five would-be tacklers and, at the moment he fumbled, was about six inches from beating the last guy and taking that punt to the house. No, I don’t want to see him doing that again, but I love that he is still that confident in the return game. That’s the swagger we saw last year until he was destroyed by Hunter Smith. Just hold on to the ball, son!
- Steve Slaton has ridiculous speed, but could get knocked over by a stiff breeze. There were three plays where if he had made a real move or ran with a little more power, he could have made something big happen. On both of the runs, he got arm-tackled by the last possible defender and, on the pass play, he thought he could juke an NFL lineman with nothing more than a head bob. This ain’t Rutgers, man.
- The interior line of the future, aka Amobi Okoye and Frank Okam, really impressed me. Amobi blew up a running play early and seemed to be playing with a better motor than at this point last season. Big Frank annihilated two blockers and blew up a running play of his own late in the game. Frank is still raw, no doubt about that, but he did nothing to lower my expectations of him.
- Why is food so much cheaper in Houston than in Little Rock? I don’t get it.
- Dear Travis Johnson, Please stop diving late into piles just to “prove” that you are playing with intensity. It’s stupid and it is going to cost us yards at some point. In fact, why don’t you do us all a favor and just leave? Love, Matt.
- David Anderson: Helluva game from the worst dancer in the history of the world. I agree with Tim’s assessment, however, that we might have the best receiving corps in the NFL top to bottom. We definitely have one of the fastest.
- I have no opinion on Chris Taylor getting the bulk of the carries. Whether it is to see just we he has to offer or simply to keep the other people healthy, I am fine with it. I would like it, however, if he could actually get 4 or 5 yards/carry in these games. Whatever.
- Zac Diles: A+.
- OH…I almost forgot to mention this, but Kevin Bentley looks…how can I say this…FAT. Not at all what I expected from ol’ LVJ. When he came out for special teams work, he was hopping up and down to loosen up, and you could see a gut jiggling. NOT COOL, Kevin. Do you want to lose the bet? Is that it?!?!
- Did anyone see Antwaun Molden? Because I didn’t notice him at all. Also, could we verify that Tim Bulman and Rosie Colvin were actually at the game?
- And, finally, though I already mentioned it once, it bears repeating that Mario Williams is an absolute man. Be afriad, AFC South. Be very afraid.
Wrapped around your pretty little finger again
Feb 28, 2008 Babies rule, Daddy's girl, Self-Referential Stuff
As a general rule, I probably put WAY more personal information into posts on here than (a) most bloggers do on their own blogs and (b) is probably a good idea. That said, I ain’t stoppin’ now.
Sophia Elizabeth Campbell was born February 26, 2008, at 12:53 A.M, and weighed in at 5 lb. 10 oz. Despite the fact that the baby was 4 weeks and 4 days early, she scored a 9 on the one-minute APGAR and a 10 on the 5-minute. She is also, according to the doctor, one of only two or three 35 week babies he’s ever discharged after only one night. Plus, she looks nearly exactly like I did as a newborn. So, yeah, you could say I am proud.
Some random thoughts and observations based on my first 72 hours of being the father of a girl.
- Because she had to spend her first night in the nursery and because mom was hooked up to the happy juice through lunch the next day, I spent a lot of quality time talking to her during her first twenty-four hours. During that time, we discussed things she should like (the Texans, Michigan football, BBQ) and things she should hate (the Cowboys, Ohio State, midgets). We also worked on our first phrase (”fuck the Cowboys”) and decided that 25 is an appropriate age to consider dating.
- Girl plumbing is, to say the least, different. I knew this going in, of course, but I hadn’t really considered until my first diaper changing experience. I am pleased to report we had no problems.
- You know your baby is small when you look at the “newborn” sized clothes and think, whoa, that is WAY too big for her.
- I am reasonably sure she is the smartest human being on the planet.
- It wasn’t until after she was named that I realized her initials were “SEC.” This troubles me. I fear, as I told Tim, that I am slowly being assimilated. Damn.
