It is Monday December 29, 2008 the day after the last Texans game of the season, I'm telling you this just to show that what you are about to read is completely improve, I have nothing prepared.
Let's Begin:
The Texans ended the season yesterday, with an impressive win over the Chigaco Bears. Before this season I ran down the schedule game by game and predicted a 10-6 season, which included a playoff appearence and a playoff win. http://houstonsportsrule.blogspot.com/2008/07/texans-2008.html
Well, The Texans had to win yesterday just to get to 8-8. So they fell short of the playoffs, but this team showed me some things both good and bad.
Matt Schaub- let's start with the team leader. Matt put all and I mean ALL qb controversy away. Yes, he has moments of David Carr, like play,but the dude is for real. Schaub is learning from his mistakes, and he's getting very close to being very, very good. He steps up when the plate gets hot, and handles pressure very well. During the Pitt. game, I remember thinking " He looks just like Carr, dropping before he's hit and lying on the ground for long periods of time after a hit". I think he had a concussion, he just looked way out of place. Against the Oilers...... I mean Titans, at home, I remember thinking, " Matt's got his game face on! He made it a point to jump up quickly after he was hit. I'm glad that I'm going get to root for this guy for years to come.
Sage- He proved that he is a backup qb and nothing more.
The offensive line- The unit is starting to gel, and I think that they will only get better. Like Schaub, they have "Capers era" type plays, but have shown the ability to protect well. I'll predict under 20 sacks allowed next season.
Steve "Clean" Slaton- I love that man, not scared to admit a man crush on #20. He finished the year leading all rookie running backs in total yards. I hope he gets some kind of rookie award. As the offensive line gets better, so will Steve Slaton.
Mario- I think I had his sack over/under at 15, he only had 12. Get him another pass rusher and holding calls on the opponents and I will put the over/under at 20. I don't care what your true feelings are about SuperMario,but 90 is greater than 25 and 10 combined!
Defensive Line- We need a big block eating tackle, then maybe something good about this unit. Okoye will be better,but overall the unit needs work.
Secondary- I'm not overly concerned with this bunch. I think with another pass rusher and experience that the Defensive backs will be decent, not real good, but decent.
Demeco Ryans- played hurt nearly all season, I full expect him to regain his probowl type play next season.
The rest of the Linebackers- Adibi and Diles will be great next year, watch and see.
Andre Johnson- The best reciever in football, on the planet, period.
Overall- I expect some changes with The Texans,but not drastic changes. Richard Smith may or may not be fired, neither would surprise me.
This team is growing and learning and I can only hope that a slow, but steady progression only means a lengthy run as an elite team.
If you had asked me on that sunday just after Rosencopter, and the Texans fell to 0-4, would I take an 8-4 record for the rest of the season, I would've given a resounding HELL YES!!
8-8 wasn't what Texans fans wanted, but I doubt anybody would've wanted 7-9 either.
GO TEXANS!!!!
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I agree with much of your comments on the team after this year. I would add though, that at times during the season, the coaching staff just plain blew it.
Game preparation is one of the areas that lie directly in the caoching staff's hands. They provide the game plan both offensively and defensively and at times the game was lost due to lack of preparation. The offensive stradegy cannot be one of don't lose and that was exactly what we got in at least half of the losses we suffered. More aggressive play calling is badly needed.
Secondly the attitude of the team as a whole flat out sucked going into some of those games this season. I put 80% of the blaim again on the coaches..primarily Kubiak. What the teamed lacked this year much of the time was good ol' fashioned swagger when they hit the field. It was almost (but not quite) Capers type football but with much better talent going in. Not sure if the changes the Texans have made to that coaching staff will improve either of these problems but time will tell.
This team needs to get hungry and mean going into next season! plain and simple.
They have a great receiver in Johnson and a good receiver core.
They have an above average QB in Shaub but there is need to go after a good backup because Shaub has yet to go a full season and even when he's fit, he seems to be the type of QB that needs competion breathing down his neck and Rosencopter is not that guy.
Their offensive line is adequate and with Slaton carrying the ball, should do well to open up some holes for him. I'd like to see more I formation sets or double Tightend sets to help pick up the blitz and let's face it to help with a 3 and 4 man rush to give Shaub some time to get the ball further out than 10 yards a pop (please just say no on this new fad wildcat crap!) This team is best as an in-your-face power offense - north and south with the running game, establish the run and get the football downfield into Johnson's hands and to those talented Tightends! We won games with this formula and will continue to do so.
The D line is improving. This is where a talented D corrdinator can really do some good. With the talent that we have, mix it up. Put Mario on the left, on the right, pull in D-backs and stack the line. give the opposing offensive - the Mannings, the Rothlesbergers, some different looks. Keep the pressure on and keep them guessing, I feel the secondary is more than adequate in a man-to-man and cover well when asked. It all comes down to fear factor and it's time offenses start fearing what we throw at them!
Bottom line, the talent in this team is getting there and what will be the challenge is how to effectively use that talent. Kubiak and his new staff need to come out with a better game plan and light the fires under this team that is in their job decription to do!
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