Three pies and a cloud of meringue
Jan 21, 2008 2007 Season, 2008 Draft, Charles Spencer, Free Agency, Offensive (punch)Line, RB free-for-all, Ron Dayne likes pie
There’s been a lot of talk about taking a running back with our first round pick in the 2008 Draft - with good cause - so I am going to take just a quick look behind and ahead at our RB experience.
2007 was the year of the Pie for the Texans running game. After signing a $400 quadrillion contract in the off-season, Ahman Green proved what most of the rest of us already knew: a RB over 30 years old = over the hill. And to get over that hill, he’ll need some oxygen. Now, it is true that Green looked great in the pre-season and in the first game. Sadly, though his longest rush of the year came on his first rush of the year, and he wound up with only 260 yards and a pathetic 3.7 YPC. This left the majority of the team’s carries to Ron Dayne.
It’s not like Dayne had a bad year. His YPC was marginally successful at 4.0, but the league averaged 4.1 YPC. In other words, the guy who got the ball the most for us was below average versus the league…including the super sucky Bears. As a team, the Texans ranked 24th in YPC and 22nd in total rushing yards. Yeah, as master of the obvious, let me state: we need to improve the running game.
As Matt mentions in his Zone Blocking Manifesto, Gibbs is unlikely to take an offensive lineman in the first round, though he has done this. With as deep of a crop of RBs as there are in this year’s draft, I’m not sold on taking a RB with our first pick, either. Look at how well 7th round pick Ahmad Bradshaw performed last night: RB talent can be found deep in the draft. We know that Gibbs alone with help the running game, but there’s no way in hell we should count on Barbaro Spencer being healthy, either. There are a ton of variables at play here to improve the running game, and I haven’t even talked about the rest of the offense yet.
Personally, I’m starting to convince myself that signing Tatum Bell might be a good idea, then use a pick (maybe a 2nd rounder if we trade back, or a 3rd rounder if not) to take a RB. Bell should come relatively cheaply, and he knows the system. Hell, in Denver, he averaged 4.9 YPC. Yes, he comes with some baggage (pouty, can’t handle a big workload, issues picking up the blitz), but he also gives us the home run ability that not a single other Texan on the roster has. After his 39 yard run, Dayne had to have a peach pie IVed into him. By drafting a RB a little later, we can still address the problem in the running game and plug a hole elsewhere.
Regardless (and assuming we re-sign him), if Dayne gets more than 40 carries in 2008, we will have to consider our off-season plan to address the running game a failure. And, no, I give no disclaimer due to injury. Simply, there are better options out there than Dayne, and we need to find them.
Source: nfl.com for stats.
Professor, without knowing precisely what the danger is, would you say it’s time for our viewers to crack each other’s heads open and feast on the goo inside?
Nov 28, 2007 2007 Season, 2008 Draft, Charles Spencer, Football 101, Fred Weary is dirty, Free Agency, Offensive (punch)Line, Secondary issues are primary, The Future
Somehow, between my switch to WordPress and my continued insistence on making up conversations, I managed to miss talking about the departure of Mike Sherman. Thankfully, the more sane among us have been all over it. Even better, in Tim’s coverage and the comments thereto, an interesting point was raised–will the departure of Sherman signal the end of the Green Bay influence on our offensive line play? More specifically, will the lack of a competing philosophy of run-blocking cause Kubiak to shift more toward a true one-cut, zone blocking running game like they use in Denver?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, however, let’s bust out the ol’ football primer, just so we are on the same page. (If you already know all this, please feel free to skip ahead to the part where it says ***STOP SKIMMING!!!***)
Not long ago, I heard a color commentator mention during an NFL game that a “zone blocking system is one in which the lineman all have a specific area they are responsible for, kind of like a zone defense in basketball.” I found the same sort of thought at Football Outsiders, too. While this is more-or-less, sorta kinda accurate when it comes to pass blocking, it is not correct vis-a-vis run blocking. Or, at least, not near correct enough to get the point across. At its most basic level, all a zone run blocking scheme means is that the offensive linemen work in pairs against two or three of the defensive linemen–i.e. the guard and center simultaneously block a defensive tackle–with one of the offensive linemen then peeling off and blocking a linebacker. The “zone” the system refers to is the part of the line where the running play is going. This is what creates the “one cut” system, but we’ll get to that in a minute.
Let’s walk through a example play where the running back is supposed to go right against a 4-3 defensive front. At the snap of the ball, the left tackle and left guard block the nose tackle, the center takes under tackle, and the right guard and right tackle block the left defensive end. This two-on-one blocking allows the offensive front to get a push and, also, to create the running lanes. Now, here’s where it gets tricky. Depending on certain factors (where the defensive player lined up, which direction the running play is going, where the linebacker is in relation to the defensive lineman, etc.), one offensive player from each double-team will disengage the defensive lineman and pick up the corresponding linebacker. So, in our example, assuming a standard 4-3 Over, the left tackle would disengage and slide to the second level to pick up the Will linebacker, the right guard would do the same and pick up the Mike linebacker, and the TE would be responsible (from the snap) for the Sam linebacker.
If this is done correctly, there should be a hole between the TE and Right Tackle, the Center and where the Right Guard was, and the Center and Left Guard. This is the “inside zone” and is where the “one cut” comes into play. In this system, the running back chooses one of these holes, makes his single cut, and goes. Ideally, he won’t make this cut until he is almost to his offensive lineman, thus allowing the defense less time to react to his angle. By contrast, the “outside zone” is the area beyond the TE/Sam block. Plays designed to seal off the defense and open up the outside zone do not have the “one cut” aspect to them–the running back is obligated to head outside (in theory, at least)–so the linemen block similar to a man blocking scheme, where there is a pre-determined hole.
***STOP SKIMMING!!!***
That’s all well and good, but how does that translate to our system? Well, as Tim correctly notes, the zone blocking scheme almost invariably features smaller, more agile offensive linemen. The reason should be obvious–it is not going to be real easy for a Larry Allen to engage a defender, then slide his big butt away from the block and pick up a linebacker who is 4 or 5 tenths of a second faster than he is. Besides, since you are hitting at the initial point of attack with a 2-on-1 advantage, you don’t need a pair of 340 lb. behemoths; a pair of 280 lb. lineman will work just fine, with the added bonus of being able to pick up linebackers and be more maneuverable in space.
And therein lies the rub. Look at our current crop of O-linemen. All are over 300 lbs. Of the opening day starters, only Eric Winston and Steve McKinney are agile enough (arguably, in McKinney’s case) to play in a zone blocking scheme. Charles Spencer–assuming he ever recovers from that injury–is far too large to play the role effectively. Of the backups, Chris White is the right size, but who knows if he is actually all that good? Kasey Studdard isn’t overly agile and he’s too heavy. And so on, and so forth.
On top of this personnel issue, there is the problem that such a scheme takes a long time to install. It’s not a plug-and-play system where you just tell the guys “ok, we’re switching to zone” and it takes care of itself. The teamwork required in knowing which blocker is to disengage and find the linebacker is not something that happens overnight. Even if you already had five offensive linemen who fit the system, it’s doubtful that such a change could be made successfully in one summer of workouts. A full summer and camp of practice would allow you to run it, but the bugs and kinks of the system would take at least a full season of play to work out. And, like I said, that is with five guys who were perfect fits.
In general, I am a fan of the zone run blocking system, if only because I feel like it’s easier to find guys who are 280-300 and somewhat agile just by culling from the college players who are “undersized” or even “too small” according to the Mel Kipers of the world. I also like the system’s emphasis on blocking through the second level instead of allowing that level to come to you. That said, I don’t know that you can slowly switch to such a system. If Kubiak and Co. decided that they wanted to run it, such a change would require dedicating much of your draft and free agent money to finding the right guys (and, thus, ignoring the glaring problems in the defensive backfield). It would also require telling guys like Fred Weary and Chester Pitts and Ephraim Salaam, “sorry, but you’re not really needed anymore.” I don’t know that our regime is willing to make such dedications and statements at this point.
Wait long enough, someone will do it for you
Oct 23, 2007 2007 Season, DeMeco Ryans, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Offensive (punch)Line, Secondary issues are primary, Shit, Travis Johnson
I was going to write up something about the debacle/miracle/heartbreak that was Sunday, but–thankfully–Tim beat me to it. I don’t have anything of any importance to add, so I just link to his here (offense) and here (defense). I really am glad he took the time and effort, because I am not sure that I could have gone in depth on that game without throwing up all over my computer.
Update: I will mention that Travis Johnson’s performance on Sunday was amazingly bizarre. I mentioned somewhere that I am too lazy to link to right now that he won me over somewhat in camp, as he really seemed to be working. Then, after the Trent Green episode, I actually found myself rooting for the guy. Still, none of that prepared me for seeing Travis effin’ Johnson running sideline to sideline, making hits, playing well, and talking smack after big plays.
OK, maybe I was sorta prepared for the smack talking, but not the other stuff.
Arrows cost money. Use up the Irish; their dead cost nothing.
Sep 24, 2007 2007 Draft, 2007 Season, Injury bug, Jacoby Jones is slighty less unheralded, Offensive (punch)Line
Oh, gee, more outstanding news from yesterday’s game. And, by “outstanding,” I mean “shitacular.” Starting C Steve McKinney is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Obviously, Mike Flanagan will fill in for McKinney, with Chris White backing up Flanagan. My hope is that the team uses this chance to develop another Center and my money is on Kasey Studdard or Brandon Frye (currently on the practice squad). Of the two, I would prefer Studdard, though my primary reason is because I think Frye is better suited for Guard (or even Tackle). Besides, Studdard has “a mean streak,” which I think means that he will not hesitate to lay the pimp hand on any motherfucker that crosses him.
In other injury-plagued news, the separated shoulder Jacoby Jones suffered on his 74-yard punt return yesterday is going to keep him sidelined “two or three weeks.” With any luck, Jerome Mathis will slide into the PR duties so that we don’t have to deal with Dexter Wynn for “two or three weeks” of punt returning.
Texans pass on Pass. Please pass the peas.
Aug 29, 2007 2008 Draft, Chad Stanley, Dan The Assassin, Jon Abbate, Matt Turk rules, Michigan Wolverines, Offensive (punch)Line, Posts that list too many players, Preseason 2007
The team made two player moves yesterday, one surprising and one not so much. First, despite the fact that (a) he’d played pretty well, (b) Jon Abbate is nursing a bum bodypart, and (c) he’s not Jameel Cook, the team released RB/FB Patrick Pass.
I want to hope that this means Abbate is going to make the team (or, at the least, that we are going to keep a fourth RB) and that we will not have to deal with another year of Cook screwing things up. I suppose we’ll find out soon enough, like right around the same time we find out if Chad Stanley made some sort of deal at the crossroads with Jerry Jones and traded his eternal soul for the chance to punt in Houston in 2007.
The other move–the unsurprising one–was that Charles Spencer was put on the PUP list to start the season, meaning he will have to miss at least the first six games. According to Kubes, however, “it’s still a pretty long shot that he plays this year, but who knows.”
Spencer will (theoretically) be ready for Opening Day 2008, regardless of how this season turns out for him. If doctors determine that he’d be better served by not playing at all in ‘07, I am fine with that. That said, and coupled with the dearth of first round quality secondary talent next April, it would not bother me one bit if our first pick was Jake Long, Michael Oher, or Sam Baker.
The other question-marked positions (starter at SLB, C, and DT; survivor at P) should be sorted out some time between now and the fourth of never at this rate. Answers were supposed to come yesterday, then Friday, and now Saturday. My predictions are still Danny Clark, Steve McKinney, Anthony Maddox (though Travis Johnson has impressed me this preseason), and Matt Turk. Of course, the last one in that list is the only one that really matters, as that’s the only battle where the loser deserves to be shot in the face gets released.
The best part about all of this, though, is that it means we are only 11 days from a game that actually means something.
What do you call a crime ring in Dallas?
Aug 24, 2007 Chad Stanley, Dunta Robinson, Jacoby Jones is unheralded, Jason Babin, Matt Turk rules, Offensive (punch)Line, Secondary issues are primary, Super Mario, Teams that aren't the Texans
Zero. That’s the number of times Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels have been sacked this preseason.
Now, the optimist looks at that number and says, “I told you the line was improved!”1 The pessimist, however, counters with “it’s just the preseason–hardly anyone gets sacked much this time of year.”
I suppose both sides have a point.
The realist, however, knows that this week is the true test of our new line.2 Because, apparently, the girls from up north are coming to Houston and bringing a passel of blitz packages. Whiny protestations of John Lynch notwithstanding, I think this is a great opportunity for us to see exactly what we have up front and, perhaps even more importantly, to see how The Schaub reacts to pressure, collapsed pockets, and forced hot reads.
So far this preseason, the Cowboys have used their blitzing 3-4 defense3 to notch 3 sacks and 3 forced fumbles, to hold opposing teams to 42 yards per game rushing, and to keep teams under 200 yards passing. If we get through this game without Schaub getting sacked, you will have to like our offensive line going into this season.
On the flip side, the Cowboys’ o-line has allowed Tony “Slipperyhands” Romo to be sacked twice in 29 attempts, while completing just over 72% of his passes. If our front four can get pressure against this line, and maybe knock Romo on his butt two or three times my fears will be somewhat allayed. (Also, with Weaver looking less and less likely to start the season, one has to imagine that this game is an open audition for Kalu and Babin to figure out who will be starting on the left side against Kansas City.)
Things to watch for this week:
- Babin v. Kalu, part III
- Mario. Of course. Just so you are up to speed when McClain, et al, resume bashing him on Monday.
- CBs other than Dunta. Petey was torched last week and was most at fault for Edge’s TD. Fletcher has looked pretty good. Which, of course, means that Petey is still the starter. Huh?
- Our running game. For all the talk about how the running game has been solid enough to make play action mean something (and this is true), the “solid enough” has not translated to much actual real estate on the field. Now, they face an extremely stingy run D. Good Times!
- Kevin v. Jacoby. 2 against 2a. Though, if we looked just at performance thus far, this one shouldn’t even be a question.
- Turk finally, mercifully issues the coup de grace to Chad Stanley’s career in Battle Red. Somewhere, Tim smiles.
- Jordan Black. Just how bad can he be?! Tune in to find out.
1 Or, if that optimist is also a grudge-holding type, “I told you David Carr was the cause of a whole lot of those sacks!” Then he makes some random joke about Carr and a vagina… you get the picture.
2 Christ, that was a contrived way to start a post. I apologize.
3 Shake brings up a good question–what’s the point of the 3-4 if Ware just lines up as a DE on every play? Also, how long is Jerry Jones’ tail?
Projected Roster as of 8/14/07
Aug 14, 2007 Athletes who don't stab people, Batman, Chocodiles, DeMeco Ryans, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Dunta Robinson, Mark Bruener, Offensive (punch)Line, Posts that list too many players, Preseason 2007, Preview, Super Mario, The Fred, The Schaub Experiment
One thing that is becoming clear under Kubiak is that the roster is a very dynamic thing through training camp. A guy can be a starter one day and on the verge of not making the team the next week, all based on performance–either a lack of his own performance or an increase in the level of play by his competitors. You need look no further than Shantee Orr for an example of this. So, keeping that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to track the perceived 53-man roster as we go through these preseason games. Yes, I am that bored right now.
Anyway, using the same numbers as we took last year into week 1, who would be on the roster if the season started today? (* denotes the player is a lock to make the team)
QB (2)- Matt Schaub*, Sage Rosenfels* (Jared Zabransky on the practice squad. Bradlee Van Pelt mercifully taken out behind the barn and shot. Quinton Porter cut.)
RB/FB (5)- Ahman Green*, Ron Dayne*, Vonta Leach*, Jon Abbate, Wali Lundy (Sam Gado just misses the cut. Darius Walker continues to not be good. Patrick Pass is a poor man’s Chris Taylor, so he’s gone. Jameel Cook not invited back after last season’s debacles.)
WR (5)- Andre Johnson*, Jacoby Jones*, Kevin Walter*, Jerome Mathis, Andre Davis. (The last two positions here are some of the most up-in-the-air spots on the roster. If Mathis stays healthy through camp and keeps playing like he did Saturday, I think that spot is his to lose. The last slot will be between Davis and Keenan McCardell most likely, though I suppose Charlie Adams could make some noise before it’s all said and done. David Anderson is too small and Bethel Johnson is superfluous if Davis/Mathis are healthy. Much like the Rodents of Unusual Size, I’m pretty sure Harry Williams doesn’t actually exist.)
OL (9)- Eric Winston*, Chester Pitts*, Fred Weary*, Ephraim Salaam*, Mike Flanagan*, Steve McKinney*, Kasey Studdard, Kevin Barry, Jordan Black. (Just missing the cut: Scott Jackson, Drew Hodgdon and Brandon Frye. Which sucks, because it means that Turnstile just made the cut. After Saturday night’s performance, though, I can see him being on a pretty short leash at this point, so maybe we still get lucky and Black gets the boot. Chris White and Mike Brisiel get sent packing.)
TE (4)- Owen Daniels*, Jeb Putzier*, and Mark Bruener*. (I really don’t think they’ll carry four this year, though, which means they can carry an extra person somewhere else. If they go with one more at WR, that gets McCardell in for sure. I, for one, am excited about some two TE packages with Daniels and the Jebster.)
K (1)- Kris Brown*.
P (1)- Matt Turk. (Chad Stanley is gone. Praise Jesus.)
DL (9)- Mario Williams*, Amobi Okoye*, Anthony Weaver*, Anthony Maddox*, Jason Babin*, ND Kalu*, Travis Johnson, Jeff Zgonina, and Earl Cochran. (I think Babin nailed down his roster spot with that showing on Saturday. In reality, Zgonina is probably a lock, if only because I can’t see anyone on the roster who is suddenly going to unseat him, but we’ll leave him as working for the job for now. Cochran was doing a lot to solidify his spot before he got flagged for the penalty that lost the damned game. Thomas Johnson and Alfred Malone could surprise some people and make this roster, but I don’t think DelJuan Robinson, Cedric Killings, Tim Bulman, or Victor DeGrate can. Also, rumors that Tim Bulman is the “Tim” behind BRB are likely false.)
LB (6)- DeMeco Ryans*, Morlon Greenwood*, Charlie Anderson*, Shawn Barber*, Danny Clark, Zac Diles. (Shantee Orr is odd-manned out here, as Clark brings MLB/SLB versatility and Diles is shaping up to be a special teams beast. I’m a pro-Shantee guy, but I like the six guys ahead of him as a unit. Trent Bray also will not make the team, which is not even surprising to his wife and mother.)
CB (6)- Dunta Robinson*, Demarcus Faggins*, Fred Bennett*, Jamar Fletcher*, Roc Alexander, Dexter McCleon. (With Von Hutchins moving to safety, Dexter Wynn is left out of this sextet.)
S (4)- C.C. Brown*, Von Hutchins*, Jason Simmons*, Brandon Harrison. (Brandon Mitchell and John Walker are left out if we only keep 4 safeties. However, given the flux at that position right now, I would not be surprised if we kept 5 CBs and 5 Safeties, in which case Mitchell would get in. This would actually be preferable in my mind, if only because Hutchins really gives you a sixth CB if need be, anyway.)
Long Snapper (1)- Bryan Pittman*. (Why the hell can’t we find a guy who can long snap and play a real position? I think I heard mention that Zgonina was a LS, though, so maybe he does some dual duty and we can carry 6 CBs and 5 Safeties?)
Black Snake Moan
Jul 30, 2007 Black Salaami, Free Agency, Mormons, Offensive (punch)Line, The Schaub Experiment, Undrafted Free Agent watch list
Perhaps signaling that the team is not completely convinced by at least one part of the Black Salaami, the Texans signed G/T Kevin Barry on Saturday. As discussed a few days ago, Barry has pretty good size and some success in a small sample size of games.
My guess is that the team realizes that Jordan Black is just not going to cut it at left tackle and that Ephraim Salaam was good only by stop-gap standards last year. Of course, there is no guarantee that Barry will be better than either of those guys. So, at this point, it almost seems as if Smithiak are hedging their bets when it comes to protecting the Schaub.
In other O-line news, the team released Tavo Tupola. Tupola was part of the gaggle of undrafted free agents we brought in back in May. His release means that my fodder for Mormon jokes has just been reduced considerably.
It’s not that easy being green
Jul 26, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 20, Batman, Charles Spencer, John Abbate likes to tackle, Offensive (punch)Line
Random updates, player notes, and assorted detritus.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should admit that I completely forgot about Jameel Cook’s injury when we were discussing moving Jon Abbate to FB in these comments. Now, I will grant you that Cook is not that good and that he made some really, REALLY stupid plays last year, but I did think that–if healthy–he would beat out a guy who hasn’t played FB since high school. Now, of course, we learn that not only is Cook not healthy, but that he will join Charles Spencer on the PUP list to start the season. So, it appears that Abbate is FB2, barring something strange happening. At 5′10″/230, he certainly has the build for it. (Click here for the video that will make you like Abbate unless you are a heartless turd.)
Still no word on Manchild. He wants to sign. The team wants to sign him. Kubiak is optimistic that he will get signed. Yet… nothing. Prediction: He signs some time late (like after 5) this afternoon. Alternate prediction: He doesn’t sign and I develop chronic heartburn.
Chester Pitts, in addition to going to Dubai and taking the time to tell us about it, has also pledged to be more energy efficient. I really have nothing to add to this.
Steph has a good piece at Fanhouse re: the battle at Center. In 20 words or fewer, I would sum up the situation thusly: Mike Flanagan good, Steve McKinney versatile but not as good, Drew Hodgdon mercifully moved to guard. Steph’s take differs ever-so-slightly. Read it.
"Turnstile" fails to inspire confidence
Jul 26, 2007 Barbaro is dead, Batman, Charles Spencer, Free Agency, Offensive (punch)Line
So, in the wake of Charles Spencer’s PUPpy love comes news that the team worked out former Green Bay Packer Kevin Barry. (Hat tip to reader Mark. Again. Because he rules.)
Barry has pretty good measurables (6′4″, 332), which is always nice. I suppose the two most intriguing things about him are, first, that he can play left tackle and, second, that in limited action (8 starts over 4 years) he didn’t allow a sack.
This move makes me think that the team is either adding depth–always a good idea–or is having second thoughts about Jordan Black. (That would be the Jordan Black of 13 sacks allowed last year fame.) I am fine with either of those reasons, though I find myself leaning more and more to the “wait… you mean that Jordan Black?!” side of things.
In the end, I think this team can function with Salaam as our LT for as long as it takes Spencer to heal. That said, I also prefer seeing the team explore other possibilities. Standing pat is for suckers.
Hemingway Pitts
Jul 23, 2007 Athletes who don't stab people, Inanity, Offensive (punch)Line, Please let the season start soon
Chester Pitts apparently went to Dubai in the offseason. And, for some reason, he decided to tell us about it in his NFL Player blog.
Trip to Dubai
07/23/07I went to Dubai this offseason. I was out there for about eight days. It was amazing. I have never seen so much construction at one time. The atmosphere out there was very cool. You never would have believed that you were in the Middle East, that’s for sure.
This post comes right on the heels of his last one… dated 8/12/04. That post talked about the move from tackle to guard.
Whoa… easy Chester. At this pace, you are going to quickly run out of things to write about and find yourself pulling inane crap from the internet just to fill space until camp starts.
‘Til you top the superbowl, keep your mouth on lock
Jul 15, 2007 Andre Johnson, Athletes who don't stab people, Batman, David Carr has Post-Concussion Syndrome, DeMeco Ryans, Fred Weary is dirty, Offensive (punch)Line, Preview, Super Mario
I was going to apologize for the lack of posting around here over the past few days. Then I remembered that there is nothing to post about, so you would be getting rehashed arguments and recycled jokes.
However, now that the weekend is over and I am back at work, I have to find something to do to keep myself busy. Enter the STATS, Inc. database. My goal–to find ten stats from last season that should make us look forward to the upcoming season.
- Eric Winston was only charged with 2 sacks allowed last season. As a rookie. In 12 games. That’s a-nice.
- Of David Carr’s 140 incompletions, only 16 were due to dropped passes, while 30 were due to bad throws and 19 were hit at the line. This is one of the lowest percentage of dropped passes in the league and suggests to me that–just as we’ve all said–many of Sandy Vag’s problems were of his own making.
- DeMeco Ryans was eerily consistent last year. 75 tackles at home, 81 away. 73 in the first half of games, 83 in the second half. 37 on the left side of the field, 38 on the right.
- Andre Johnson caught 62.8% of the balls thrown at him. By way of comparison, Marvin Harrison caught 64.2%, Torry Holt caught 52%, and Chad Johnson caught 57.2%. Now, granted, all of them had a higher first down percentage, but that should come up for Andre as the offense becomes accustomed to a QB who actually looks downfield.
- Morlon Greenwood was noticeably better in the second half of the season, posting 66 of his 110 tackles, all of his FFs and PDs, and his lone INT. He’s also Jamaican, which cracks me up for some reason.
- Owen Daniels owned the Titans, going off for 11 catches, 124 yds, and 2 TDs against them. (That’s “owned” by TE standards.) I’m setting his over/under against them this year at 16 catches.
- Fred Weary had only 4 penalties and 3 sacks allowed. Combine that with Eric Winston’s production and I think it’s fair to say our right said could be one of the best in football this year. Fred also enjoys swingers clubs, which is both hilarious and frightening.
- Ahman Green averaged 5.4 YPC against the AFC last season, compared to 3.5 against the NFC. Now, he gets to rush against the Titans and Colts twice instead of the Vikings and Bears twice. That is a good thing.
- Anthony Maddox was statistically almost twice as good in December as he was in October. Instead of struggling to get into football shape, he seemingly became stronger and better each week.
- Sage Rosenfels was sacked once in 40 attempts. I’m pretty sure he was playing with the same line the other QB was. Just sayin’.
T-minus 10 days until camp. (I feel like a little kid at Christmas. But without the fear that I will again walk in on my mom tongue-bathing Santa.)
Julius Peppers and Clinton Portis might have helped
Jul 7, 2007 2002 Draft, 2003 Draft, 2004 Draft, 2005 Draft, 2006 Draft, Athletes who don't stab people, Batman, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Dunta Robinson, Offensive (punch)Line, Posts that list too many players, Secondary issues are primary
This weekend’s apparent themerology is piggy-backing on posts at BRB. Because I am lazy, mainly, and because–let’s face it–it’s not like there’s a lot out there to comment upon.
Anyway… Tim links to the Texans’ draft history and then points out that only these players are still on the roster:
Pitts (2002)
Weary (2002)
Faggins (2002)
Dre (sole remaining 2003 draftee)
Dunta (2004)
Babin (2004)
Earl (2004)
C. Anderson (2004)
Tr. Johnson (2005)
Mathis (2005)
Hodgdon (2005)
C.C. Brown (2005)
Eww.
But, continuing that post one step further, who could we have had? By which I mean, who were the three picks taken immediately after our picks in each round? (I use the next three somewhat arbitrarily, but under the assumption that all of the teams would have had those fours players ranked somewhat similarly. I realize how faulty this assumption is when taken to Babin-esque extremes, but I had to draw the line somewhere. Occasionally, I will note when a very good player was taken more than three picks after ours. Also, by and large, this ignores any trades up or down.)
In 2002:
Round 1. We took David Carr. The next three were Julius Peppers, Joey Harrington, or Mike Williams (T, Texas). Ouch. Seriously… ouch. Best possible pick: Peppers.
Round 2, Pick 1. We took Jabar Gaffney. We could have had DeShaun Foster, Kalimba Edwards, or Josh Reed. Best possible pick: Foster or Reed.
Round 2, Pick 2. We took Chester Pitts. We could have had Clinton Portis, Anthony Weaver (oh… wait), or Langston Walker. Best possible pick: Portis.
Round 3, Pick 1. We took Fred Weary. We could have had Matt Schobel, Andre Goodman, or Saleem Rasheed. Best possible pick: Weary.
Round 3, Pick 2. We took Charles Hill. We could have had Lamar Gordon, Kris Richard, or Marquise Walker. Best possible pick: Walker?
Round 4. We took Jonathon Wells. We could have had Dante Wesley, Kevin Bentley, or Jeff Chandler. Best possible pick: Wells, strangely.
Round 5, Pick 1. We took Jarrod Baxter. We could have had Randy Fasani, John Owens, or Justin Bannan. Best possible pick: Owens, I guess.
Round 5, Pick 2. We took Ramon Walker. We could have had Jonathan Goodwin, Terry Jones, or Aaron Kampman. Best possible pick: Kampman.
Round 6, Pick 1. We took DeMarcus Faggins. We could have had Keith Heinrich, Chris Cash, or Kevin Thomas. Best possible pick: Insanely, Faggins.
Round 6, Pick 2. We took Howard Green. We could have had Jeb Putzier (oh… wait), Reggie Coleman, or John Stamper. Best possible pick: Putzier.
In 2003:
Round 1. We took Andre Johnson. We could have had Dewayne Robertson, Terence Newman, or Johnathan Sullivan. Best possible pick: Johnson.
Round 2. We took Bennie Joppru. We could have had Ken Hamlin, Pisa Tinoisamo, or Taylor Jacobs. Best possible pick: Hamlin.
Round 3, Pick 1. We took Antwan Peek. We could have had Lance Briggs, Jason Witten, or Gerald Hayes. Best possible pick: Briggs or Witten, depending on what you needed.
Round 3, Pick 2. We took Seth Wand. We could have had Mike Seidman, Musa Smith, or Wade Smith. Best possible pick: N/A.
Round 3, Pick 3. We took Dave Ragone. We could have had Andrew Williams, Donald Strickland, or Visanthe Shiancoe. Best possible pick: Shiancoe.
Round 4. Domanick Williams (nee Davis). We could have had Montrae Holland, Bradie James, or George Wrighster. Best possible pick. Williams. (Assante Samuel was taken 19 picks after ours.)
Round 6, Pick 1. We took Drew Henson. We could have had Marques Ogden, Aaron Hunt, or Antonio Garay. Best possible pick: N/A.
Round 6, Pick 2. We took Keith Wright. We could have had Scott Kooistra or Ben Johnson. Best possible pick: N/A.
Round 7, Pick 1. We took Curry Burns. We could have had Malaefou MacKenzie, Justin Bates, or Blue Adams. Best possible pick: N/A.
Round 7, Pick 2. We took Chance Pearce. We could have had Spencer Need, Ahmaad Galloway, or Brandom Drumm. Best possible pick: N/A.
In 2004:
Round 1, Pick 1. We took Dunta Robinson. We could have had Ben Roethlisberger, Jonathan Vilma, or Lee Evans. Best possible pick: Vilma, though Evans could change that with another good season or three. (Tommie Harris was taken right after Evans.)
Round 1, Pick 2. We took Jason Babin. We could have had Chris Gamble, Michael Jenkins, or Kevin Jones. Best possible pick: Gamble.
Round 4. We took Glenn Earl. We could have had Stacy Andrews, Michael Waddell, or Jason David. Best possible pick: David, though Earl is close.
Round 6, Pick 1. We took Vontez Duff. We could have had Triandos Luke, Kelly Butler, or Von Hutchins (oh… wait). Best possible pick: Ironically, Hutchins.
Round 6, Pick 2. We took Jammal Lord. We could have had Kirk Chambers, Bo Lacy, or Marko Cavka. Best possible pick: N/A.
Round 6, Pick 3. We took Charlie Anderson. We could have had Jeff Smoker, John Navarre, or Drew Strojny. Best possible pick: Anderson, I guess, though I will always claim Navarre should have gotten a chance in Arizona.
Round 7, Pick 1. We took Raheem Orr. We could have had Eric Taylor, Darrell McClover, or Jonathan Smith. Best possible pick: N/A.
Round 7, Pick 2. We took Sloan Thomas. We could have had same as above.
Round 7, Pick 3. We took B.J. Symons. We could have had Bobby McCray, Bradlee Van Pelt (oh… wait), or Scott Wells. Best possible pick: Van Pelt.
In 2005:
Round 1. We traded down three spots and took Travis Johnson. Had we not traded, we could have taken Derrick Johnson. Even with the trade, we could have had David Pollack, Erasmus James, or Alex Barron. Best possible pick: D. Johnson.
Round 3. We took Vernand Morency. We could have had Justin Tuck, Eric Green, or Karl Paymah. Best possible pick: Morency. (Drafting with what was originally our pick, the Raiders took Kirk Morrison five spots after Morency.)
Round 4. We took Jerome Mathis. We could have had Marviel Underwood, Craphonso Thorpe, or Chase Lyman. Best possible pick: Mathis.
Round 5. We took Drew Hodgdon. We could have had Adrian McPherson, Adam Kieft, or Robert McCune. Best possible pick: N/A.
Round 6. We took C.C. Brown. We could have had Jovan Haye, Tab Perry, or C.J. Mosley. Best possible pick: Brown.
Round 7. We took Kenneth Pettway. We could have had Shaun Nua, James Kilian, or Matt Cassel. Best possible pick: N/A.
We’ll assume it’s too early to tell “best” picks in 2006, but here are the results.
Round 1. We took Mario Williams. We could have had Reggie Bush, Vince Young, or D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
Round 2. We took DeMeco Ryans. We could have had D’Qwell Jackson, Rocky McIntosh, or Chad Jackson.
Round 3, Pick 1. We took Charles Spencer. We could have had Abdul Hodge, Claude Wroten, or Paul McQuistan.
Round 3, Pick 2. We took Eric Winston. We could have had same as above.
Round 4. We took Owen Daniels. We could have had Max Jean-Gilles, Michael Robinson, or Darnell Bing.
Round 6. We took Wali Lundy. We could have had Mike Hass, Jonathan Orr, or Reed Doughty.
Round 7. We took David Anderson. We could have had Marques Colston (oops), Dave Tollefson, or Vickiel Vaughn.
So, what’s the verdict? I think the most striking thing is that, other than the Andre Johnson pick, our misses are much more noteworthy than our hits. I mean, Travis Johnson over Derrick Johnson? Carr over Peppers? Chester Pitts over Clinton Portis? Those are all the types of moves than set your team back seasons. On top of which, most of our successes are with guys like Brown and Earl (both of whom we have talked about needing to replace).
The two other things that jumped out were, first, the number of players we could have drafted who are now on our roster and, second, the number of players we drafted who were never heard from again. I’m sure the latter happens to some extent with every team, but I don’t know that most people notice the number of Kenneth Pettways and Sloan Thomases every team discards.
David Carr is mercifully absent from this post
Jul 1, 2007 Jacoby Jones is unheralded, Jerome Mathis got hurt reading this, Offensive (punch)Line, Preview, Ron Dayne likes pie
The offensive side of the ball is a little more settled than the defensive side, so we’ll lump the special teams question marks into this post as well.
Position: WR2
Incumbent: Eric Moulds (no longer with team)
Players involved: Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones, Andre Davis, Keenan McCardell (?)
Analysis: The story over the past six weeks has been that Kevin Walter is our second receiver. Of course, the team then turned around and worked out Keenan McCardell, so I’m not sure how sold they are on K-Dub.1 I know that I’m not sold on him. Rookie Jacoby Jones has impressed in college all-star games and possesses serious, game-breaking speed. One can argue that such speed would be better utilized in the slot, and maybe that’s true, but given the choice between Jones and Walter, I still lean to Jones. Veteran malcontent Apostrophe Davis is the dark horse here. I mean, he was brought in for a reason and I’m pretty sure that reason wasn’t “to play the fourth receiver role.” So, I look for him to either win the #2 slot or be cut–I can’t imagine keeping him otherwise. Jerome Mathis does not figure into this discussion.
Prediction: Unless McCardell signs with the team, Davis wins the job early on and gets supplanted by Walter or Jones later in the season.
Position: LT
Incumbent: Ephraim Salaam
Players involved: Charles Spencer, Salaam, Jordan Black, Eric Winston
Analysis: Let’s be real clear about something: This is Charles Spencer’s position as soon as he is healthy enough to play it. Now, while Carmine Pirone told me via email that Spencer was working hard and was going to give it a go at the beginning of camp, other writers at the Chronic have suggested that Spencer is going to start the season on the PUP list. If he can’t go, it’s primarily between Salaam and Jordan Black and Kubiak has been pretty clear that he prefers Salaam. The darkhorse is Eric Winston, who played LT at The U and has gotten some reps over there this summer. Physically, he’s probably the best of the rest (not counting Spencer), but that would be asking him to play a new NFL position this year and would thrust rookie Brandon Frye into a starting role as well (or require Salaam and Black to switch sides… I don’t like either alternative). If Spencer never comes back, maybe Winston is the long-term answer, but not this year.
Prediction: Salaam, until Spencer comes back. Winston in 2008 if Spencer is still PUP.
Position: RB2
Incumbent: Technically, Samkon Gado
Players Involved: Gado, Ron Dayne, Wali Lundy, Darius Walker
Analysis: I’ve avoided most of the backup battles, but the RB2 will get plenty of touches in this offense, so it’s worth discussing. As of this instant, Ron Dayne is penciled in. Problem is, Ron Dayne is pretty much awful. I don’t care that he led the team in yards last year; 612 yards doesn’t even give me a semi. Gado showed flashes in Green Bay, but Harvey Williams once showed flashes in KC–it doesn’t always translate to continued success. Lundy was supposedly going to be the man after Domanick Williams (nee Davis) went down, but that never really happened. Walker was an undrafted free agent2, but who knows if he will even make the team? It’s not like we are going to carry five RBs. In the end, this battle becomes the equivalent of being the prettiest girl in Clovis, NM–not exactly a ringing endorsement.
Prediction: Dayne in Week 1, but more or less a carousel all season.
Position: KR/PR
Incumbent: Jerome Mathis
Players Involved: Mathis, Jacoby Jones, Dexter Wynn, Wali Lundy, David Anderson
Analysis: Mr. Glass has likely seen his last reps as a Texan. Kubiak seems incredibly fed up with Mathis’ inability to keep from hurting himself and also seems enamored with Jones’ breakaway speed in the return game. Currently, the NFL.com depth chart lists Dexter Wynn as both the KR and PR, but I don’t think that matters much (with his 22 YPR on kickoffs). And, If Lundy really is in the mix for the RB2 position, I don’t figure him to be also returning kicks (especially since he can’t return punts), though he’s probably a better choice than Anderson.
Prediction: Jacoby Jones, unless/until he takes over the WR2
1 It’s possible I’m the only person who refers to him as this.
2 Probably should have gone back for another season, eh Darius?
Trent Dilfer-itis is contagious
Jun 22, 2007 Andre Johnson, Batman, Broken Record, David Carr has Post-Concussion Syndrome, Gary Kubiak, Offensive (punch)Line, Preview, Teams that aren't the Texans, The Schaub Experiment
Through the magical power of Google, I get an email anytime anything is posted to a blog (or most news sources) with the words “Houston” or “Texans” in the body. I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords.
Anyway… I received one of these emails yesterday and it pointed me to the blog “Stampede Blue,” where something called “BigBlueShoe” was opining on the Texans’ upcoming season. Normally, such a thing would not inspire more than a comment or two. The smugness and overall idiocy of this post, however, requires actual fisking. (Yes, I realize that most of this is just a rehashing of the same stuff I’ve been writing about for two months. Whatever. The post bugged me.)
Let’s do this.
The Texans acquired Schaub in the trade with Atlanta, gave him a nice new contract, and then kicked their former-franchise QB, and #1 overall pick in 2002, David Carr to the curb. I know Texans fans are tired of hearing this, but sometimes the truth hurts: David Carr is a fine QB, and Matt Schaub is not an upgrade over Carr.
Oh, really? And what, pray tell, are you basing this on? I mean, if you are going to put it in bold letters, you must really have some insight into why Schaub is no better. In fact, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt for a second and let you make that argument.
Yes, I agree with Trent Dilfer. Call me crazy. Call me silly. Call me Al.
How about I call you “dumb?” Would that work? After all, that’s what we all called Trent Dilfer when he made the original statement that you agree with. Oh, by the way, you still have not shown me why Schaub is not an upgrade. Maybe in the next sentence…
I’ve watched several Texans games, and every time I’ve watched I’ve marveled at just how well Carr played despite the fact that his coaches were morons and his offensive line couldn’t block Rose O’Donnell and the cast of The View if they were in pads (scary thought).
You mean the line that had a lower sack percentage (despite Carr’s reluctance to get rid of the ball before properly observing every option at least four times) than teams like the Seahawks, Falcons, Steelers, etc? That line? Hold on… did you just use “several” in reference to games in which you “marveled” at how well Carr played? Where did you set the bar for playing well? By that standard, Cleo Lemon is poised to blow your freakin’ mind this season.
(A quick primer, Mr. Shoe. The way it works generally is that you make a statement–say “Carr is better than Schaub”–and then you back it up with some supporting evidence. Please note, however, that “supporting evidence” does not include conjecture and some first-hand, hyperbole-riddled “evidence” that is completely unverifiable.)
Like all skill positions, QBs must have talent around them to grow and succeed. Carr never had that. Hell, he didn’t even have decent talent. It was all pretty much just suck-a-rific bad.
Last season, behind a much-improved line and throwing to Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds (who, admittedly, didn’t pan out, though a lot of that was due to Carr as well), Carr was not demonstrably better than he had been in the previous seasons. Sure, the lack of a running game was painful, but just as painful was the way Carr played. By the end of the year, the coaches were asking Dave just to get rid of the ball on short routes and stop playing like he’d recently had a lobotomy. Hell, one can make the argument that even Sage Rosenfels would have been an upgrade over Carr by the end of last year. No, he never had a team reminiscent of the Pats or Colts around him, but he did show an inability to utilize the players who were there.
Peyton Manning would not be the football god he is today without having Tarik Glenn as his left tackle, Marvin Harrison as his WR, and Tom Moore as his offensive coordinator for his entire career. Glenn and Harrison are HoFers. Moore is the best OC in football, and has been for many years. Manning also had the luxury of having guys like C Jeff Saturday, WR Reggie Wayne, TE Marcus Pollard, and RB Edgerrin James for most of his career. David Carr never had those things, and Matt Schaub doesn’t have them now.
You left out “Reche Caldwell choking worse than Dirk Diggler’s girlfriend” and “Rex Grossman turning in a performance that was slightly more painful to watch than your own grandma in a trucker gangbang” as things that helped Manning achieve “god” status. All joking aside, I think we all agree that Schaub does not have the 2006 Colts around him. Which is why no one is picking the Texans as a Super Bowl contender. Then again, you could also argue that Manning’s preparation and ability and whatnot made all of those guys seem better than they might have been without him; it cuts both ways, you see.
Of course, you still have not acknowledged that the Texans line is nowhere near as bad as you make it out to be, that Andre Johnson is amazingly good, that Schaub has a much quicker release than Carr, etc. No need to let silly old facts get in the way of a good screed, I guess
Schaub is living off a reputation built up by his performance in one game which he lost. Schaub’s 3 TD performance against a decimated Patriots team is pretty much all Schaub has done in his three seasons in the NFL. Other than that, Schaub ain’t done squat. And the sad part is, this STILL makes him better than Vick.
Maybe that is what made Schaub that #1 number two QB in the league over the past couple years. So what? That does not prove that he is not a better QB than Carr. And, for the record, since coming to the Texans, Schaub has also built a reputation of being a great teammate, a hardworker, and more impressive in workouts than DC ever was. So, if you want to completely throw out any carryover reputation from the Pats game, I would still take Schaub based on what he’s shown since coming to Houston.
All that said, Schaub might work out as an improvement just because he’s a new face, a symbol that times are changing. Yes, that is indeed pathetic, but what else can you say for a franchise that has never won more than 8 games in one season.
Wait… wha? Let me see if I follow your “argument” so far: Carr is better than Schaub because David impressed you on television “several” times, despite not being the Colts’ QB. Schaub is a turd because he threw three TDs against the Pats, but his team lost. Ergo, Schaub might work out simply because he’s a new face? Huh? (As for what else can you say about the franchise, how about “they swept the Jags last year and beat the Colts once, so there is reason to think that an upgrade at QB and a healthy line could make them a 9-7 team with a little luck?”
Schaub is throwing to the same over-rated group of receivers Carr did.
A. No, he’s not. Other than Johnson, of course. B. I thought you said they were suck-a-riffically bad. How can you be awful, be called awful, and then simultaneously be overrated? Are you saying they are actually worse than awful?
His offensive line is still bad.
Well, it was better than a number of teams last year, it is finally healthy as a unit (even with Spencer still banged up), and it has a QB behind it now that doesn’t turn into a deer in the headlights in the face of a linebacker.
Like Carr, Schaub will likely not have a consistent running game. Free agent acquisition Ahman Green is done, and it’s obvious.
Man, you are just full of baseless assertions today, aren’t you? How is it “obvious” that Batman is done? By the 266 carries, 1059 yards, and 5 TDs he had last year?
So, unless they can get some talent around him, Schaub is doomed to the same fate Carr was.
Umm… I thought you just said that Schaub might work out because he has a different face. Which is it? And, considering your premise is faulty (that there is “no” talent around Schaub), shouldn’t we also assume that you conclusion is wrong? I vote yes.
If someone sees where in this post the author made a solid argument, based upon demonstrable evidence, that Schaub will not be better than Carr, would you please point it out. At best, I find him rehashing the same tired assumptions about the Texans, interspersed with some random assertions that he does not (or cannot) back up.
Finally, Shoe ends the piece with a line about how Carr might overtake Delhomme in Carolina before the two teams meet. All I can say is I hope so.
Barry Word will be watching something else by halftime
Jun 14, 2007 Andre Johnson, Batman, Offensive (punch)Line, Preview, Super Mario, Teams that aren't the Texans
The other day, I was talking to a friend about the upcoming NFL season. Predictably, the subject of the Texans’ final record came up and I mentioned (not the least bit facetiously) that “at worst, they go 8-8.” I followed that up with “actually… I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised with 9-7.”
Obviously, this is a lie; I would be very pleasantly surprised with nine wins. Not because I don’t think they can do it, however… simply because they never have done it. Totally different.
Anyway, the aforementioned friend challenged me to find nine games on the schedule that the Texans were even somewhat likely to win. I agreed, with the caveat that I am doing this exercise under the assumption that there will be no horrific injuries in training camp that would drastically alter whole seasons. I mean, if LaDanian Tomlinson blows out both knees in early August, then you have to like our chances against the Chargers a LOT more than you do now. So, like I said, barring any of that, I had to come up with nine games. (In order to milk this topic, I am going to do it one game at a time over a series of posts.)
Win #1–Week 1 v. Kansas City. Not too long ago, I wrote over at TexansTalk that the Chiefs’ offensive line was demonstrably worse than the Texans’ in terms of sacks allowed and sack percentage. Well, you know what? That line got WORSE over the off-season, led by the retirement of future-Hall-of-Famer Willie Roaf. They recently brought in old, slow, and oft-injured Kyle Turley for a workout, mere months after cutting him following a subpar 2006. I’m sure this makes defensive linemen everywhere smile. The rest of the line is made up of household names like “Bober” and “McIntosh.”
Now, granted, they still have loads of offensive talent at RB and TE, and could have a decent receiving corps with Kennison, Parker, and Bowe. That is somewhat negated however by the offensive line issues and by rumors that Brodie Croyle is going to be the starter (I’m not buying that; I think Huard will start the season). At some point in this first game, Mario Williams will put a Mortal Kombat-esque finishing move on Huard/Croyle and visibly remove the QB’s soul on television. It’ll be awesome.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs starting defensive backfield is a combined 116 years old. This is not a joke. Both of their starting corners–once Pro Bowlers, in the era of leather helmets I think–are over 30. If you think Ty Law or Patrick Surtain can cover Andre Johnson, well… you’re an idiot. They do have a good linebacking corps, but the front four leave much to be desired. This deficit should equate nicely into a 100 yard game for Batman, as he grabs yardage in 5 and 6 yard chunks all day long. (Which, obviously, sets up the play action. Bonus.)
Now, I figure that Larry Johnson will score at some point in this game. He’s too good not to. Still, I can see Houston putting up at least 28 points and I don’t figure Kansas City to get the ball into the endzone more than twice. So, chalk up a nice opening day win for the Texans.
Sam Gado prescribes nine wins to cure what ails us
Jun 5, 2007 Boobies, Fred Weary is dirty, Gary Kubiak, Jacoby Jones is unheralded, Offensive (punch)Line, Preview, Samkon Gado cured cancer
This morning, I offer three nuggets of Texans corn wedged into the turd that is the internet.
Samkon Gado is going to miss some practices to finish studying for the MCAT. In a league where some people can’t spell MCAT, Gado has not given up on his goal of becoming Dr. Sam, MD.
Gado missed a handful of the workouts last month but is back in Houston and has returned to practice. He’ll take the test July 15.Kubiak wasn’t worried about Gado missing the time for such a good reason. “He’s an impressive human being,” Kubiak said. “He’s got his stuff together, and he’ll be fine.”
He first took the test two years ago but decided to take it again to try to improve his score before applying to medical school. He enrolled in a class in South Carolina.
This is cool. I have nothing much to add to it, I guess, but it is still cool. Good luck, Sammy-kon.
Fred Weary may be under investigation for beating someone down in a nightclub and for allegedly going all Ike Turner on his wife, but Kubiak does not seem overly interested in the hub-bub. Kubes said the whole thing was a” family matter.” Whatever. What interested me about this article was this line:
Weary has not been charged with the incident that erupted last week at a Houston swingers club. (emphasis added)
“Hi, my wife and I were looking at you and we wondered if you would like to join me? She would like to meet your husband, too. [Fred walks in, buck naked] OH GOOD GOD, WHAT IS THAT?!?!?!?! [woman faints, man weeps]“
Finally, in a move that has to make one wonder how sold the staff is on Kevin Walters, the team is auditioning Kennan McCardell today. Granted, KMc has not cracked 1000 yards since 2003. Also granted, he is 37. However, unlike a certain act of desperation on the part of a certain Tennessee-based NFL team, this move makes some sense. You bring in McCardell, see if he still has enough straight-line speed to stretch the field and make life easier for Andre, and then you decide if he is worth signing at his asking price. There is none of the Keyshawn “I’m still the greatest, I ain’t playing for less than ONE BILLION DOLLARS” situation involved here, at least that I can see. I may not be thrilled about the move–remember, I am still in JJ’s camp–but I can see the motivation behind it.
Lawrence Taylor changed the game as well as Joe Theismann’s gait
Jun 4, 2007 2008 Draft, Book Review, LT, Offensive (punch)Line, Teams that aren't the Texans
Perhaps my favorite part of going on vacation is having time to read whatever I want. I read really freakin’ fast, so I can usually plow through five or six books on a typical vacation (including flight time). Over the last few trips, I have lucked into a number of really good books. So, when my buddy Ren recommended a book, I figured this trip would be a good time to check it out.
Thus, yesterday, as the plane taxied away from Little Rock Not-Even-Remotely International Airport, I cracked open “The Blindside: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis.1
The book is really three stories in one: First, Lewis tackles how Lawrence Taylor forced offenses to change by virtue of being a more dominant outside rusher than anyone had ever seen. Prior to LT, the common belief was that all offensive linemen were fungible and that no one position demanded any more skill or attention than the other four. Taylor’s dominance as a pass rusher, however, immediately illustrated that the same fat lump playing right guard did not possess the skills to be a left tackle against this new breed of linebacker/defensive end.
Second, the book talks about the development of the West Coast offense as a means to get the most out of the least–an offense that was greater than the sum of its parts, but also one that with the right parts could be unstoppable. Bill Walsh (and, to a certain degree, Don Coryell) decided that timing and precision could make a sub-par quarterback seem good (and a good QB seem great, and a great QB seem like Joe Montata, etc.). The problem faced by this offense, however, was that such gameplans required the QB to have enough time to let the WRs hit their windows–and men like LT and Chris Doleman were adept at shortening the time the QBs remained upright.
Third, the author paints the picture of Michael Oher. It’s an amazing story, to say the least. Son of a crack-addicted mother, unable to read at 15, Oher could have gone the way of so many inner city kids. Instead, he found a family who took a sincere interest in him. Oh, did I mention that Oher is a freak of nature–6′6″, 340, 4.9 40 (even faster in the 20), incredibly nimble, etc? Based on every measurable dimension, Oher seems destined to be mentioned in the same breath as Orlando Pace and Jonathon Ogden.
Lewis weaves the three main stories masterfully and still allows the reader to draw his own conclusions as to the purity of the adoptive family’s motives. Whatever you think of them, though, the book is a fantastic read. More importantly, however, if you are a Texans fan, is the idea that Oher will likely come out for the draft in 2008 after completing his junior year at Ol’ Miss. I have stood up for the offensive line as much as anyone… but I would be pissed if the Texans didn’t draft Michael sh