SB Nation Houston - Reflections On The Texans' Season-Opening Victoryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-09-26T14:48:49-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21847382011-09-26T14:48:49-05:002011-09-26T14:48:49-05:00A Day To Digest: Thoughts On The Loss To The Saints
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<p>After watching the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a>-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> game and letting the whole thing simmer for a day, here are some thoughts on what went down...</p>↵<p> </p>↵<ul>↵<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">I was shocked to see Joel Dreesen in this one. With all the attention <span>Owen Daniels</span> and <span>James Casey</span> have been getting in the passing game, Dreesen has become somewhat of a forgotten man in the offense. He's played in all three games, but his targets have dropped precipitously from last season.</span></li>↵<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Speaking of Casey, I don't think I've seen many balls thrown better than the <span>Matt Schaub</span> touchdowns to him in the second half. Dropping right over the shoulder of Casillas and into Casey's hands, it was a thing of beauty. Marked a very nice game for Casey that included a great catch-and-run that was capped by him waiting for a <span>Kevin Walter</span> block to get a few more yards.</span></li>↵<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Can't really blame the offensive line, but the running game faltered in the second half and especially in the red zone. Some of that was the play calling; how many of those Tate runs got snuffed out behind the line or for no gain? But, they also had a problem with Tate himself. At least twice that I can remember, he had a chance to cut up the field and didn't make it . I'm not positive that <span>Arian Foster</span> would have been better inside the 20, but I have a feeling he would have been.</span></li>↵<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">For three quarters, the defense looked like it has all season. They got pressure on <span>Drew Brees</span> and made a few nice interceptions. However, the fourth quarter changed all that. Instead of maintaining that pressure, the Saints were able to break down their coverage and make plays when needed. Look at the crucial drive's biggest plays: <span>Darren Sproles</span> catching two 10-yard passes from the slot and <span>Jimmy Graham</span> going down the seam. That's just good playcalling by the Saints.</span></li>↵<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">I have never been more impressed with <span>Andre Johnson</span> than I was on that screen pass on third-and-14 in the first quarter. It was a well-designed play, but the first down was only possible because Dre is such a beat. Seriously, finishing the run the way he did? Not many receivers in the league can make that play. Not many at all.</span></li>↵<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">I want to be more doom and gloom about what happened, but I can't bring myself to be that bummed out by the game. The same thing almost happened to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> in Week 1 and playing in New Orleans is just so tough. If anything, the Texans showed plenty of signs that they can make the leap to being a playoff team in this one. Now if only they can keep it up against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> this week...</span></li>↵</ul>↵
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-texans/2011/9/26/2450833/a-day-to-digest-thoughts-on-the-loss-to-the-saintsDavid Coleman2011-09-12T12:53:12-05:002011-09-12T12:53:12-05:00Some Thoughts On The Smashing Of The Colts
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<p>We've had some time to think about the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a> resounding 34-7 victory over a hapless <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> team, but it's no less sweet after a day. The Texans did what we expected them to do, which is also a first in franchise history when that expectation is they will win.</p>
<p>This Houston team showed just how good it could look, but the Colts provided a lot of help along the way. Yes, the Texans defensive line pressured <span>Kerry Collins</span> well, but the score would not have gotten so lopsided if he could take a snap from <span>Jeff Saturday</span>. </p>
<p>Overall, though, both the offense and defense played well. <span>Jacoby Jones</span> showed why the Texans chose to re-sign him, breaking that wonderfully athletic punt return for a touchdown to end the first half. <span>Mario Williams</span> looked good rushing the passer against an overmatched Colts line. (Seriously, did the Colts try to single block him with a tight end on his first sack? Who thought that was a good idea?) The secondary also looked good for the most part. <span>Glover Quin</span> showed why he can be an asset at the safety spot.</p>
<p>There were bad signs, though, like <span>Kevin Walter</span>'s injury and <span>Kareem Jackson</span> getting burned again. I didn't imagine that, did I? I thought I saw Kareem looking just as lost on a long play to <span>Reggie Wayne</span> as he did last season. I know second-year corners should take a step forward and I'm probably too harsh on him, but he needs to start, actually showing that, right?</p>
<p>Walter's injury isn't as troubling from a depth standpoint, as Houston signed <span>Bryant Johnson</span> for just this reason. He and Jones will take on bigger roles, but you saw on Sunday that Houston will be throwing as much to <span>James Casey</span> as <span>Owen Daniels</span>, meaning we're talking about a fourth, maybe fifth option on most plays. They can certainly fill that, but I doubt they bring up someone like <span>Jeff Maehl</span> unless Walter gets put on injured reserve. Since the prelimilary diagnosis only has him missing 10-12 weeks, that move is unlikely right now.</p>
<p>I also came away impressed with <span>Ben Tate</span>. Not super impressed, mind you, but he raised my opinion of him some with that performance against a very bad Colts defensive front. The Texans offensive line did whatever it wanted in the run game and Tate usually just ran through the holes they provided. He did show some nice burst and got some tough yards, but overall, he needed to be thanking his offensive line most of all.</p>
<p>Speaking of that line, it was a nice performance for them as well. Any questions on whether they could continue the high level of play they were at last season seem to be allayed for now. The Texans need to face a real opponent first, but the progress they showed up front was solid. </p>
<p>Lance Zeirlein said there were two camps of people after this win, those that pointed to the offensive success in the first half and those that worried about no points in the second half. I'm not in either one, though I'd lean towards the first if forced to choose. Instead, I worry about how much we should take from beating a team that's not very good. I talk with a high school coach from time to time and when he talks more about his team's mistakes instead of his future opponent, you know he's facing a weaker team. Games like this are more about cleaning up your mistakes for future success, not patting yourself on the back and naming yourself a Super Bowl contender. No, we'll know more about the Texans on that score in two weeks when they play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a>. Until then, it's all about fixing those mistakes in house.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-texans/2011/9/12/2420706/some-thoughts-on-the-smashing-of-the-coltsDavid Coleman2011-09-11T15:25:09-05:002011-09-11T15:25:09-05:00Houston Texans Steamroll Over The Indianapolis Colts 34-7
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<p>A recap of the Texans dominant season opening victory.</p> <p>On September 11th, 2011, we were all witnesses to the most dominant win in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> franchise history.<br><br>Forgive the overused phrase, but this is really the only way to describe Houston's 34-7 season opening victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>. Statistically speaking, the 34 first-half points are a franchise record, but they also have never looked that good eye test wise. In the nine-plus seasons of Houston Texans football, I cannot remember the team being this dominant in all phases of the game.<br><br>Kudos to new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for an outstanding job to prepare the defense. This defense, the one who was among the worst historically, limited (yes, limited) a professional offense to 15 first downs, 236 total yards, one third down conversion and 23 minutes and 16 seconds of possession. With two takeaways and three sacks, two of which by the oft-criticized outside linebacker <span>Mario Williams</span>, it's now official: the defense is not vanilla anymore.<br><br>Offensively, the Texans came out roaring as both <span>Ben Tate</span> and <span>Derrick Ward</span> scored first quarter touchdowns in the footsteps of inactive running back <span>Arian Foster</span>. Tate, the third-string back on the depth chart, ended the day with 116 yards. All-Pro wide receiver <span>Andre Johnson</span> added a third touchdown in the second quarter as part of his seven reception, 95 yard day. <br><br>As a big critic of Joe Marciano's special teams unit, I have to give him and his group credit. The coverage teams looked sharp, <span>Neil Rackers</span> was on point, and <span>Danieal Manning</span> and <span>Jacoby Jones</span> had some great returns today. Jones' 79-yard punt return touchdown at the end of the second quarter was the cherry on top of the sundae that was the awesome Texans' Sunday. <br><br>Yes, there was some sloppiness to clean up in the form of three offensive turnovers, but that's good, in my opinion, as head coach Gary Kubiak can keep pushing this team to improve and work hard despite their domination of the AFC South's perennial champion. A dominant week one win with plenty of room to improve? Yes, please.<br><br>With a 34-7 win the books, the Texans can now look ahead to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a>. For more Texans news and analysis, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.battleredblog.com/">Battle Red Blog</a> - SB Nation's Texans-centric blog.</p>
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