Kickoff - “First Full Day In The New Digs” Edition
Oct 30, 2008 Andre Johnson, David Anderson's Dance Party, H/T Eric, I really dig my readers, Kickoff
Underrated Greatness. Everyone’s favorite WR—and the best WR in football right now—could set two records on Sunday.
When Houston plays Minnesota on Sunday, Johnson can become the first NFL player to record five consecutive games of 130 or more receiving yards. Last week, he tied Lance Alworth and Harold Jackson with four such games in a row.
But if that weren’t enough, Johnson also can become the first NFL player with four consecutive games of at least 10 receptions, tying Brett Perriman and Reggie Wayne.
The next person who says they’d rather have TO than AJ is getting punched in the face repeatedly. Gotta beat some sense into ‘em somehow.
That’ll do, pig. Wednesday’s practice report contains a couple nuggets, most notably this one:
During their four-game home stand, the Texans played some of the best football the organization has to offer. They enter the week with the fourth-ranked offense in the NFL, 11th in rushing (118.4) and fifth in passing (253.1).
Reeeeeportiiiiiing forrrrrr duuuurrrrrrrrrrty. Conan O’Brien took time out to acknowledge David Anderson’s TD dance and give some pointers on how to do it right. (h/t Jakob).
Finally.
Kickoff
Aug 22, 2008 Dancing With the 'Tards, David Anderson's Dance Party, Fuck the Cowboys, History, Kickoff
The White Ernest Givins? Nice Yahoo! write-up on David Anderson. Haircut notwithstanding, as a fellow short white guy, I am pulling for DA to make the team. And, really, if we are being honest, don’t you have to put him above Jacoby on the depth chart right now? (H/T Eric)
BONUS DAVID ANDERSON INFO: Ran a 4.53 at the Combine, but was disappointed with it as he routinely ran in the high 4.4s in the weeks leading up to Indy. Scored a 43 on the Wonderlic as a junior. One of only two WRs at the 2006 Combine to not drop a pass.
Captain, the Dipshit-o-meter is pegged! Ridiculously flawed betting advice regarding tonight’s Texans-Cowboys tilt. In all the Wade Phillip cocksuckery going on, the author ignores the simple fact that Wade’s one Preseason Game 3 loss was LAST YEAR TO THE TEXANS. (Also, if any Cowboys fans are reading this, spare me your excuses. Your team gameplanned and tried to blitz and still got beat like a rented midget.)
Sadly…this is probably true. According to the Dallas Morning News Cowboys blog (as opposed to the inexplicable Houston Chronicle Cowboys blog), Jacques Reeves would have a hard time making the Cowboys’ 2008 roster. I am suddenly having flashes of Romo targeting him like we targeted Jason David last week. Someone hold me.
Finally. A present for bfd:
Texans by the numbers
Aug 21, 2008 2008 Season, Andre Johnson, Awesomeness, David Anderson's Dance Party, Hi Steve!, K-Dub, RB free-for-all, Stats
Just in case you were wondering, here are some preseason statistics for your Houston Texans. Grains of salt optional, but recommended.
QB
Matt Schaub: 18-21 (85.7%), 10.3 YPC, 2 TD, 0 INT, 0 Sack, 141.3 rating
S. Rosenfels: 16-23 (69.6%), 10.0 YPC, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1 Sack, 116.4 rating
Analysis: Ladies and gentlemen, Matt Schaub is your QB now and for the foreseeable future. Even without context, he has been better than Sage. Then, once you factor in that Matt’s passes have come against mainly first-stringers and Sage’s have come against mainly second-stringers, the distinction becomes even more clear. Schaub absolutely put on a clinic against New Orleans. Here’s hoping he keeps it going against Dallas.
RB
Steve Slaton: 24 carries, 94 yards (3.9/carry), 1 TD, 0 fumbles
Chris Taylor: 22 carries, 53 yards (2.4/carry), 1 TD, 0 fumbles
Darius Walker: 8 carries, 29 yards (3.6/carry), 0 TD, 0 fumbles
Chris Brown: 8 carries, 19 yards (2.4/carry), 0 TD, 0 fumbles
Ahman Green: 0 anything because he’s a big ol’ mangina.
Analysis: I included the fumbles just because that was one of two knocks against Slaton. The other was that he was too small, though, as people have noted, he seems to have added around 15 lbs of muscle to his frame since the Combine. And, if you watched the second half of the Saints game, Slaton was the MAN. His TD run involved slipping one tackle, then lowering his shoulder and driving for an additional two yards. I’d like to see him named starter from the jump, but regardless, if he’s not starting by week 3, I’ll be shocked. Also, Ahman Green and Chris Brown…ewww.
WR
D. Anderson: 9 catches, 128 yards (14.2 YPC), 1 TD
Kevin Walter: 7 catches, 105 yards (15.0 YPC), 1 TD
Andre’ Davis: 4 catches, 46 yards (11.5 YPC), 0 TD
Jacoby Jones: 2 catches, 61 yards (30.5 YPC), 0 TD
Analysis: Looking at that list, two things jump out at me: (1) Matt Schaub’s numbers are even better when you realize he hasn’t been able to throw to Andre Johnson a single time this preseason, and (2) our passing attack has the potential to be ridiculously good this year. When you add in AJ, you have four receivers (plus Jacoby) who all bring a little something different to the mix and who create all sorts of matchup problems for opposing coverages. The real question is whether we run four wide more often than last year (when I believe we were 30th or 31st in the league in number of plays) and if we are more efficient in the shotgun spread formations (where we were not very good at all last season). If Slaton gives us merely as much as Ron Dayne gave us last year—which I don’t think is asking a lot—I think the answer to both of those questions is yes.
