Texans vs Bengals

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Way to get the dick-stepping started...

[ybbodeus]

The Texaan Death March must end today, preferably with a revived offensive gameplan, though I'm nearly as eager for the defense to regain its edge.

Defense recovered nicely from that big run. The 1310 Ticket group up in Dallas picked Houston because they just couldn't trust Cincy, despite their love of the TCU/Katy boy. They said horrific playoff play has evolved to become a major component of the Bengal franchise DNA. Sure hope that remains the case but that it's Houston's execution that creates that.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It's astonishing how immobile Schaub is. Scrambling is never an option and defenses don't really have to account for it.

[chuck]

It's astonishing how immobile Schaub is. Scrambling is never an option and defenses don't really have to account for it.

You surely saw the amazing stat that Schaub is the only QB in the league not to have run for a first down during the season.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Son of a bitch! Jackson with a pick!?!?! What the fuck commercial break  and it's not an interception. Anyway, the defense is looking a lot better this week.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

And just like that! Pick six. The Bengals with the lead.

[HudsonHawk]

You're fucking dominating the game, and your QB is going to singlehandedly fuck you.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Far from perfect tosses from Schaub but Johnson has dropped two balls that he's getting paid to catch.

[Savage]

That was a crazy stupid last series.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Was that just a different twist to poor clock management or am I just expecting too much?

[HudsonHawk]

That was a crazy stupid last series.

You can't spike it there on third down. You have to run a play.

[HudsonHawk]

Was that just a different twist to poor clock management or am I just expecting too much?

Having watched Kubiak "manage" the clock and "count" to eleven, what do you think?

[JaneDoe]

Kubiak finally figured out that timeouts don't carry on to the second half.

[HudsonHawk]

Kubiak finally figured out that timeouts don't carry on to the second half.

He's thinking "hey, I get three points for every timeout I use?"

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

You can't spike it there on third down. You have to run a play.

Yeah. What ever happened to calling two plays in the previous huddle or just calling one from the line of scrimmage before the defense can get set?

[JaneDoe]

He's thinking "hey, I get three points for every timeout I use?"

Must be.

Lamest halftime show ever?

[HudsonHawk]

I have no idea who this joker singing at halftime is, but his band is pretty good.

[HudsonHawk]

Yeah. What ever happened to calling two plays in the previous huddle or just calling one from the line of scrimmage before the defense can get set?

I don't know but it's third down on the 41 yard line. You need 5 yards for a legit FG attempt. You have to give yourself two plays to get it. You can't waste one spiking the ball.

[Outlawscotty]

Novel idea to run for a TD.  Kubiak will forget this later.

[DVauthrin]

That's a fumble, just like it was last week.  Barwin hits his arm forward.  I'm not going to fault Kubiak for challenging that.  The NFL rule is just dumb.

[austro]

I'm not going to fault Kubiak for challenging that.

I will. One look and you could tell that it wasn't going to be overturned (regardless of how stupid the rule is). McNair needs to hire somebody whose only job is to hide the red flag when Kubiak heads out to the field.

[chuck]

I will. One look and you could tell that it wasn't going to be overturned (regardless of how stupid the rule is). McNair needs to hire somebody whose only job is to hide the red flag when Kubiak heads out to the field.

It's irrelevant how fucked up that rule is, even a casual football viewer knows that that call is not going to get overturned.

[Savage]

I do like JJ Watt bringing back the Dkembe finger wag.

[austro]

How the fuck can you line up a yard offsides?

[DVauthrin]

It's irrelevant how fucked up that rule is, even a casual football viewer knows that that call is not going to get overturned.

You're right.  I was posting with my heart not my head. Though that rule is idiotic.  This rule and the one where the receiver must hold possession to the ground are two of the dumbest rules in sports.

[Savage]

Some brilliant play calling in the red zone again.  Wouldn't make any sense to take a shot at the end zone even once in that series...

[austro]

They're going to lose this stupid game.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Dalton had his man but over threw him. Fourth and 11.

[Savage]

Thank you defense.

[subnuclear]

You guys are the grumpiest bunch of fans.

[Savage]

You guys are the grumpiest bunch of fans.

My dad is visiting for a FB watching weekend (Texans and Notre Dame).  When we scored the first FG he looked up and said "I don't cheer for mediocrity".

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

You guys are the grumpiest bunch of fans.

It's because this team seems to perform at level less than the collection of talent would normally dictate. That's usually on one or both of the guys who have the most control, the head coach and quarterback.

[DVauthrin]

You guys are the grumpiest bunch of fans.

Well to be fair, the team blew homefield advantage because of a lack of run blocking and red zone issues.  They improved slightly in run blocking today, but the red zone issues almost cost them this game that they dominated.

Right now, I can't see them beating New England next week.

[BizidyDizidy]

Must not have cheered Notre Dame much in the last 20 years

[austro]

Well to be fair, the team blew homefield advantage because of a lack of run blocking and red zone issues.  They improved slightly in run blocking today, but the red zone issues almost cost them this game that they dominated.

Right now, I can't see them beating New England next week.

New England will destroy them. It's nice that they got this win, but I really can't imagine them hanging within 20 points of New England unless they finally figure out how to finish in the red zone.

[HudsonHawk]

You're right.  I was posting with my heart not my head. Though that rule is idiotic.  This rule and the one where the receiver must hold possession to the ground are two of the dumbest rules in sports.

You mean the rule about throwing a forward pass?  That wasn't a tuck. It was clearly a pass. That one wasn't even close. Everyone in the stadium *but* Kubiak saw it.

[Savage]

Must not have cheered Notre Dame much in the last 20 years

My grandpa was the grumpiest.  He would tape all the ND games and someone would have to call and tell him the result.  If they won, he'd watch, if they lost, he'd erase the tape.  Would only watch the bowl games live (we'd all get together).  Died with many years of ND victories only on VHS tapes.  But yes, it's been a tough few decades.  My dad and sister traveled to Chicago so we could just watch it all together.

[HudsonHawk]

New England will destroy them. It's nice that they got this win, but I really can't imagine them hanging within 20 points of New England unless they finally figure out how to finish in the red zone.

If the conditions in New England next week are like they were in Houston today(40 degrees and raining), they stand a chance. They can win a 13-10 mudfest because they can run the ball. But if they have to keep up with Brady, they won't stay within 5 touchdowns.

[DVauthrin]

You mean the rule about throwing a forward pass?  That wasn't a tuck. It was clearly a pass. That one wasn't even close. Everyone in the stadium *but* Kubiak saw it.

I guess I'm an idiot because I sure thought barwin hit his arm to create that sidearm "throw."  But, it didn't end up mattering.

[HudsonHawk]

I guess I'm an idiot because I sure thought barwin hit his arm to create that sidearm "throw."  But, it didn't end up mattering.

Barwin hit his arm but didn't knock the ball loose. It caused him to botch the throw, but Dalton never lost possession until his arm was clearly moving forward.

[chuck]

If the conditions in New England next week are like they were in Houston today(40 degrees and raining), they stand a chance. They can win a 13-10 mudfest because they can run the ball. But if they have to keep up with Brady, they won't stay within 5 touchdowns.

At the moment the forecast is 40 and sunny. If the Texans don't get absolutely undressed I'll be reasonably happy.

[Ebby Calvin]

I was lucky enough to go to the game today.  A few observations:

1. Texans won
2. Some idiot threw up outside the men's bathroom
3. Beer is good.

Did I miss anything?

[DVauthrin]

At the moment the forecast is 40 and sunny. If the Texans don't get absolutely undressed I'll be reasonably happy.

Besides Schaub and Kubiak, my concern is who matches up with Gronkowski.   I would hope Wade sticks Joseph on Welker all game, Jackson on Lloyd and Quin on Hernandez.  I just don't know which linebacker has the coverage ability to stay with Gronkowski.

Playing keep away with foster will be critical as well.

[Savage]

Kubiak's done a lot of things to piss me off, but never anything as criminally stupid as shanahan trotting RG3 out in this 2nd half. 

[Limey]

You're fucking dominating the game, and your QB is going to singlehandedly fuck you.

I was at the game, up behind the Texans bench.  At one point - 3rd quarter, IIRC - the Texans defense was making an important stand against the Bengals.  The entire Texans bench - players, coaches, kit boys...everybody - was on the sideline waving and cheering on their teammates.

Well, not everybody.  Schaub was sitting alone on the bench looking at the floor.  Miss Limey has a photo of it - I'm thinking of sending it to McNair.

Also, Miss Limey swears she saw Schaub flip off the crowd as he was getting booed off the field in the 2nd quarter.  Unlike the Vikings game, when the booing could've been construed to be for the pathetic performance of the offense as a whole, the booing this game was very obviously directed at Schaub and Schaub alone.  He seemed to have understood that.

[MusicMan]

Kubiak's done a lot of things to piss me off, but never anything as criminally stupid as shanahan trotting RG3 out in this 2nd half. 

Snyder deserves it for rolling out that atrocity of a field.

[HudsonHawk]

I was at the game, up behind the Texans bench.  At one point - 3rd quarter, IIRC - the Texans defense was making an important stand against the Bengals.  The entire Texans bench - players, coaches, kit boys...everybody - was on the sideline waving and cheering on their teammates.

Well, not everybody.  Schaub was sitting alone on the bench looking at the floor.  Miss Limey has a photo of it - I'm thinking of sending it to McNair.

Also, Miss Limey swears she saw Schaub flip off the crowd as he was getting booed off the field in the 2nd quarter.  Unlike the Vikings game, when the booing could've been construed to be for the pathetic performance of the offense as a whole, the booing this game was very obviously directed at Schaub and Schaub alone.  He seemed to have understood that.

I'm not one who believes you have to be a "rah rah cheerleader" type to be a good leader.  You lead by example, but encouraging your teammates (or dressing them down, if approprate) is sometimes part of that.  Jeff Bagwell was the ultimate "quiet leader".  One look or one encouraging pat on the back spoke volumes.  As long as his teammates don't view him as aloof or disinterested, and I have no reason to believe they do, Schaub's lack of emotion doesn't bother me.

[MusicMan]

Schaub's lack of emotion doesn't bother me.

Nope.  His inability to throw a five-yard out bothers me.

[hostros7]

Nope.  His inability to throw a five-yard out bothers me.

[every film room in the NFL] If a Texans receiver for some reasons pivots and cuts to the sideline, always--and I mean always--jump the route. There is a 0% chance that Schaub will deliver the ball early enough or with enough velocity to make you regret this decision. [/every film room in the NFL]. 

[Limey]

I'm not one who believes you have to be a "rah rah cheerleader" type to be a good leader.  You lead by example, but encouraging your teammates (or dressing them down, if approprate) is sometimes part of that.  Jeff Bagwell was the ultimate "quiet leader".  One look or one encouraging pat on the back spoke volumes.  As long as his teammates don't view him as aloof or disinterested, and I have no reason to believe they do, Schaub's lack of emotion doesn't bother me.

Schaub has limited (at best) leadership skills in my opinion.  When the going gets tough, he dumps the ball off to the nearest teammate and says "Do something!"  He may be the most limited quarterback in the league today.  The stat above - that he's the only one not to have run for a 1st down (prior to Saturday) - is very, very telling in this regard.

I agree that aloofness and stoicism are not indicators of bad leadership (I'm British, or at least I used to be), but that's not what Scahub is exhibiting.  When he skulks on the bench like that, he's hiding - just as he is when he he takes 2 seconds before tossing a 3 yard dump pass from the shotgun on 3rd and long.

[MusicMan]

He may be the most limited quarterback in the league today. 

And that's where the Schaub hate goes too far.  He's not great, but he's not even the most limited QB in Texas.

[Andyzipp]

And that's where the Schaub hate goes too far.  He's not great, but he's not even the most limited QB in Texas.

But hyperbole is soooo much more fun.

[HudsonHawk]

Nope.  His inability to throw a five-yard out bothers me.

His singlemindedness bothers me.  By that, I mean "I'm going to throw this pass because that's the play called, dammit", irrespective of what's actually going on on the field.  This stems from Kubiak.  Kubiak gets things stuck in his head and he's going to stick with it because, well, that's what he's going to do.  I appreciate a game plan, but sometimes you have to change and make adjustments mid-game, and this is where I think Kubiak fails miserably, and it rubs off on his QB.

[HudsonHawk]

Schaub has limited (at best) leadership skills in my opinion.  When the going gets tough, he dumps the ball off to the nearest teammate and says "Do something!"  He may be the most limited quarterback in the league today.  The stat above - that he's the only one not to have run for a 1st down (prior to Saturday) - is very, very telling in this regard.

I agree that aloofness and stoicism are not indicators of bad leadership (I'm British, or at least I used to be), but that's not what Scahub is exhibiting.  When he skulks on the bench like that, he's hiding - just as he is when he he takes 2 seconds before tossing a 3 yard dump pass from the shotgun on 3rd and long.

Sometimes the 3 yard dump pass is what's needed on third and long, if there's nothing else open.  I'm not opposed to discretion.  But you also have to make plays, and it seems that Schaub doesn't.  Andre Johnson does.  He'll go up for a ball and catch it because "I'm Andre Johnson dammit, and you're not".  Schaub doesn't seem to have that.

[Limey]

Sometimes the 3 yard dump pass is what's needed on third and long, if there's nothing else open.  I'm not opposed to discretion.  But you also have to make plays, and it seems that Schaub doesn't.  Andre Johnson does.  He'll go up for a ball and catch it because "I'm Andre Johnson dammit, and you're not".  Schaub doesn't seem to have that.

Exactly.  Long 3rd down conversations happen (rarely) when the receiver makes a move and/or breaks a tackle.  AJ does this as does OD.  But most of the time they have little or no chance of success because the ball is delivered late, slow and almost never hitting the man in stride.

My frustration with this tendency of Schaub's is that he will dump the ball off, when it's clearly not the 1st option, all-but guaranteeing that the 1st down will not be achieved.  If he could hold the ball for a couple of seconds longer, a receiver may come open.

[Limey]

And that's where the Schaub hate goes too far.  He's not great, but he's not even the most limited QB in Texas.

The last touchdown Schaub threw was shown in standard definition.

[MusicMan]

The last touchdown Schaub threw was shown in standard definition.

Nonsense, he threw another one on Saturday.

Eh?  Oh.

[HudsonHawk]

The last touchdown Schaub threw was shown in standard definition.

And I'm ok with that too, as long as they're scoring on the ground.  I'm a 12-minute drive, 3 yards and a cloud of dust kind of guy.  But as "balanced" as this offense is, and Kubiak insists on balance, you figure the QB is going to throw some if he's doing his job.

[Limey]

And I'm ok with that too, as long as they're scoring on the ground.  I'm a 12-minute drive, 3 yards and a cloud of dust kind of guy.  But as "balanced" as this offense is, and Kubiak insists on balance, you figure the QB is going to throw some if he's doing his job.

Nope.  I'm happy with TDs of any flavour.  It's just that they're so few and far between these days.

[Noe]

Nonsense, he threw another one on Saturday.

Eh?  Oh.

You mean the one Andre Johnson dropped?  Eh? Oh.

[HudsonHawk]

You mean the one Andre Johnson dropped?  Eh? Oh.

Johnson didn't drop one on Saturday.  That was the previous week.

[WakePhil]

I was lucky enough to go to the game today.  A few observations:

1. Texans won
2. Some idiot threw up outside the men's bathroom
3. Beer is good.

Did I miss anything?

I have the exact same observations. We must have been sitting near each other.

[Noe]

Johnson didn't drop one on Saturday.  That was the previous week.

Sorry, I thought he dropped a five yard out pattern. My bad.

[HudsonHawk]

Sorry, I thought he dropped a five yard out pattern. My bad.

He dropped one against the Colts.  That was the Foster TD run drive anyway, so no lasting damage.

[jbm]

AJ did drop (fail to catch) one against the Bengals, it just wasn't as easy of a catch as the one against the Colts.

I understand the negativity, but there was a lot of improvement on Sunday.  I think they have a real chance on Sunday.

[HudsonHawk]

AJ did drop (fail to catch) one against the Bengals, it just wasn't as easy of a catch as the one against the Colts.

He didn't drop a TD catch.  One pass was thrown to him that maybe he could have caught if he were 14 feet tall.  But he didn't drop one or otherwise miss a catchable ball.

[Bench]

He didn't drop a TD catch.  One pass was thrown to him that maybe he could have caught if he were 14 feet tall.  But he didn't drop one or otherwise miss a catchable ball.

He couldn't reel in a ball that Schaub threw too far to the left when he wide open on the goal line.  The throw could have been a lot better, but Andre catches that ball far more often than he doesn't. 

[HudsonHawk]

He couldn't reel in a ball that Schaub threw too far to the left when he wide open on the goal line.  The throw could have been a lot better, but Andre catches that ball far more often than he doesn't. 

I've never seen a receiver make that catch.  Never.  He had no chance.  I know the idiot announcer acted like he let one bounce off his chest, but no receiver in the history of the league makes that catch.

[Limey]

I've never seen a receiver make that catch.  Never.  He had no chance.  I know the idiot announcer acted like he let one bounce off his chest, but no receiver in the history of the league makes that catch.

Might've been the most zip I've seen Schaub put on a ball this season too.  Buzzed it right across AJ as he was trying to adjust to receive.

[HudsonHawk]

Might've been the most zip I've seen Schaub put on a ball this season too.  Buzzed it right across AJ as he was trying to adjust to receive.

Not to mention Johnson's arms simply weren't long enough to reach it.

[Limey]

Not to mention Johnson's arms simply weren't long enough to reach it.

Wasn't sure from my perch, but it certainly looked that way.

[Bench]

Not to mention Johnson's arms simply weren't long enough to reach it.

It hit him in the hands.  It was a shitty throw, especially considering AJ was wide open, but I don't think catching it was an impossibility.

[HudsonHawk]

Wasn't sure from my perch, but it certainly looked that way.

Here's the video of it.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/houston-texans/0ap2000000122378/Johnson-dropped-TD-pass

Johnson had no chance at that.  It certainly wasn't a "drop".

[Bench]

Here's the video of it.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/houston-texans/0ap2000000122378/Johnson-dropped-TD-pass

Johnson had no chance at that.  It certainly wasn't a "drop".

It wasn't a "drop."  It was a poorly thrown ball that went off his finger tips, but AJ has made more amazing catches in the past.   

[HudsonHawk]

It hit him in the hands.  It was a shitty throw, especially considering AJ was wide open, but I don't think catching it was an impossibility.

He got the fingertips of his back hand on it as it zipped by.  No receiver makes that catch.  I have a screenshot of it, but can't post it.

[HudsonHawk]

It wasn't a "drop."  It was a poorly thrown ball that went off his finger tips, but AJ has made more amazing catches in the past.   

That would have been the greatest catch ever.

[Bench]

That would have been the greatest catch ever.

By one of the greatest wide receivers ever. 

[Limey]

It wasn't a "drop."  It was a poorly thrown ball that went off his finger tips, but AJ has made more amazing catches in the past.   

To be fair to Schaub (yes, I'm being fair here), he had a Bengal charging up the gut as he threw that.  He had no time to waste - which is a shame because about half a second later AJ would've been on his own in the end zone.

[Limey]

By one of the greatest wide receivers ever.  

If he leaves his feet to catch that (as would've been required), he gets downed the wrong side of the line.  He was trying to stay in the endzone and grab a pass that was thrown where he wasn't.

[Noe]

AJ did drop (fail to catch) one against the Bengals, it just wasn't as easy of a catch as the one against the Colts.

I understand the negativity, but there was a lot of improvement on Sunday.  I think they have a real chance on Sunday.

Actually, I used the wrong word (semantics means everything). He did not drop it, he, as you said, failed to catch a ball he might have had a chance to catch. I believe the throw was not pristine, but it seems from my couch it was catchable. Of course, I know squat about football, so I know I am wrong on just about everything I say when it comes to the subject. Sorry I brought it up. Schaub sucks!

[ybbodeus]

He'll catch it the next time, if the pass is better timed.

[DVauthrin]

Not that the Texans should need added motivation, but they got it, from a Boston Globe columnist.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/01/06/texans-win-puts-patriots-easy-street-again/Nn59dnCMHkyP2TKiaAetIL/story.html

[cougar]

Not that the Texans should need added motivation, but they got it, from a Boston Globe columnist.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/01/06/texans-win-puts-patriots-easy-street-again/Nn59dnCMHkyP2TKiaAetIL/story.html

Yeah Arian's using the summary sheet as his Twitter avatar.  Also he had quite possibly my favorite tweet ever.

"I want to hear Lou Holtz read a Shakespeare sonnet. Or just say Shakespeare sonnet."