Mario Williams making the Pro Bowl should not be much of a surprise. He is fourth in the AFC in DE sacks (8) with one game to go. Two of the three players ahead of him made it with Aaron Schobel on the outside looking in. Schobel had three of his sacks last weekend in a 31-3 loss to Atlanta.
It's not all about sacks. Much is based on reputation and Mario has a solid rep in the league. Fan voting is huge component of the equation and Mario is finally getting respect from people who follow the NFL. Was it his best year? Clearly not. But if you think he should not be there try to make a case for another AFC DE who should get there in front of him. The Texans are playing their best defensive football ever and Mario is a big part of it.
Here is a look at Mike Leach's "chamber": http://www.kcbd.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=108431&topVideoCatNoB=108535&topVideoCatNoC=111448&topVideoCatNoD=108536&topVideoCatNoE=111449
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Operation Win Out: Final Phase
After dropping four straight, the Texans try to finish the drive to win four in a row and grab the first winning season in team history and a possible playoff berth. Houston has won three straight including two hang-on-for-dear-life games against the Dolphins and the Rams.
To get a winning record will be a feather in the cap of the organization but no matter what happens against the Patriots the Texans may still be kicking themselves about missed opportunities in 2009.
This 2009 squad could forever be known as the 30 minute team. The Texans have played unbalanced games in halves against Oakland, Jacksonville, San Francisco Indianapolis, St Louis and Miami but they won four of those games. The recent victories over Miami and St. Louis fall under the "winning means never having to say you're sorry" category.
The 27-20 win over Miami had Dolphins officials talking about the 62-7 playoff loss to the Jags in 1999 as the last time the Phins looked that bad in a half. But Miami rallied for 20 unanswered points to put the heat on the Texans. Credit the Texans defense for making some huge plays, particularly from Brian Cushing, to make life a bit too difficult on Miami's attack. And the offense got a huge shot in the arm with some big running plays from Arian Foster who finished with 97 yards.
With all the bad breaks the Texans have had in '09 it seemed like Christmas came two days late. Schaub threw a would-be pick off a deflection to Gibril Wilson who dropped the ball. Chris Brown appeared to funble on a swing pass but the play was not reviewable. Ted Ginn had a TD called back on a tripping penalty. It was a day of big plays and big breaks for the visiting team,
Now we wait for the Patriots with a lot on the line. Enjoy!
After dropping four straight, the Texans try to finish the drive to win four in a row and grab the first winning season in team history and a possible playoff berth. Houston has won three straight including two hang-on-for-dear-life games against the Dolphins and the Rams.
To get a winning record will be a feather in the cap of the organization but no matter what happens against the Patriots the Texans may still be kicking themselves about missed opportunities in 2009.
This 2009 squad could forever be known as the 30 minute team. The Texans have played unbalanced games in halves against Oakland, Jacksonville, San Francisco Indianapolis, St Louis and Miami but they won four of those games. The recent victories over Miami and St. Louis fall under the "winning means never having to say you're sorry" category.
The 27-20 win over Miami had Dolphins officials talking about the 62-7 playoff loss to the Jags in 1999 as the last time the Phins looked that bad in a half. But Miami rallied for 20 unanswered points to put the heat on the Texans. Credit the Texans defense for making some huge plays, particularly from Brian Cushing, to make life a bit too difficult on Miami's attack. And the offense got a huge shot in the arm with some big running plays from Arian Foster who finished with 97 yards.
With all the bad breaks the Texans have had in '09 it seemed like Christmas came two days late. Schaub threw a would-be pick off a deflection to Gibril Wilson who dropped the ball. Chris Brown appeared to funble on a swing pass but the play was not reviewable. Ted Ginn had a TD called back on a tripping penalty. It was a day of big plays and big breaks for the visiting team,
Now we wait for the Patriots with a lot on the line. Enjoy!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Pass the Rolaids Please
Was this one of those let down type performances in which your vastly superior team is caught napping against a seemingly dead squad? Or is this a performance that sets off alarms about deep concerns you have about your franchise? The answer is yes. There's a little bit of truth in both questions.
It was supposed to be like driving down to the corner store to pick up a loaf of bread. Instead, the Texans almost saw their hopes of a winning season jacked by a depleted and desperate Rams team.
In one of the strangest games we've seen the locals play, they nearly fumbled and dropped their way to an embarrassing loss. Instead, the defense stepped up and the offense ran out the clock as the Texans ran out of town with a 16-13 win.
So here we are at 7-7 for the third straight year with another chance to get a winning season and a super-model-slim chance at getting into the post season. Houston needs more help than the 2008 banking system but sports are about hope and drama and we'll be watching to see if they can pull off a football miracle.
There are a few constants that need to be addressed. The Texans have too much trouble running the ball and they aren't finishing enough drives because of that and a tendency to cough the ball up.
Things to be encouraged about:
- The aerial attack is one of the best in the NFL with Matt Schaub pulling the trigger.
- Schaub has shown great leadership being vocal with his teamates, playing hurt and putting up ridiculous numbers.
- Since the first three games the defense is a top five unit against the run.
Things to be concerned about:
Not running the ball well.
Turning the ball over too much.
This has been a tough second half of the season with a four game losing streak and a way-too-stressful win at St. Louis. There is zero margin for error but at least the Texans enter the final two games of the year with something they have never had before; a chance to play in the postseason. It's not a good chance but they'll take it.
Was this one of those let down type performances in which your vastly superior team is caught napping against a seemingly dead squad? Or is this a performance that sets off alarms about deep concerns you have about your franchise? The answer is yes. There's a little bit of truth in both questions.
It was supposed to be like driving down to the corner store to pick up a loaf of bread. Instead, the Texans almost saw their hopes of a winning season jacked by a depleted and desperate Rams team.
In one of the strangest games we've seen the locals play, they nearly fumbled and dropped their way to an embarrassing loss. Instead, the defense stepped up and the offense ran out the clock as the Texans ran out of town with a 16-13 win.
So here we are at 7-7 for the third straight year with another chance to get a winning season and a super-model-slim chance at getting into the post season. Houston needs more help than the 2008 banking system but sports are about hope and drama and we'll be watching to see if they can pull off a football miracle.
There are a few constants that need to be addressed. The Texans have too much trouble running the ball and they aren't finishing enough drives because of that and a tendency to cough the ball up.
Things to be encouraged about:
- The aerial attack is one of the best in the NFL with Matt Schaub pulling the trigger.
- Schaub has shown great leadership being vocal with his teamates, playing hurt and putting up ridiculous numbers.
- Since the first three games the defense is a top five unit against the run.
Things to be concerned about:
Not running the ball well.
Turning the ball over too much.
This has been a tough second half of the season with a four game losing streak and a way-too-stressful win at St. Louis. There is zero margin for error but at least the Texans enter the final two games of the year with something they have never had before; a chance to play in the postseason. It's not a good chance but they'll take it.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Better Late Than Never
Matt Schaub's 64 yard TD pass to Andre Johnson on the opening play of the game was like a giant tablet of Xanax to the Texans fan base. It served notice that Sunday would be a stress free afternoon and the best available remedy for a four game losing streak that probably cost the Texans a chance at a post season berth.
But, wait a minute. Pittsburgh somehow lost to Cleveland, Jacksonville fell to Miami and Denver lost at Indy keeping the Texans' paper thin playoff hopes alive. If you're a true fan you know you've found yourself doing crazy things like pulling for Detroit to beat Baltimore or rooting, in vain, for a Tampa Bay upset over the Jets.
Yes, Houston needs a warehouse of help to get to the postseason but as long as there is a pulse why not hope for a football miracle. After all, didn't the Bears stroll into Reliant Stadium for the season finale last year needing some ridiculous things to happen, have them all happen, then fail to get the win which would have put them in the playoffs?
The Texans need to keep fighting and hope that somehow when they kick the ball January 3rd against the Patriots they will have at least a snowball's chance of advancing. Considering all that has happened it's just about all we can ask at this point.
Arian Foster looked like he belonged, Bernard Pollard made even more money for next year with his third pick. And Mario Williams had two sacks which puts him two off the pace of hitting double figures for the third straight year. With Andre Johnson racking up nearly 200 yards receiving and Schaub getting within a stone's throw of 4,000 yards, the Texans are once again showing they are a tough team to beat. But they need to be flawless in the won-loss column the rest of the way to help ease the pain of the four game drought.
Matt Schaub's 64 yard TD pass to Andre Johnson on the opening play of the game was like a giant tablet of Xanax to the Texans fan base. It served notice that Sunday would be a stress free afternoon and the best available remedy for a four game losing streak that probably cost the Texans a chance at a post season berth.
But, wait a minute. Pittsburgh somehow lost to Cleveland, Jacksonville fell to Miami and Denver lost at Indy keeping the Texans' paper thin playoff hopes alive. If you're a true fan you know you've found yourself doing crazy things like pulling for Detroit to beat Baltimore or rooting, in vain, for a Tampa Bay upset over the Jets.
Yes, Houston needs a warehouse of help to get to the postseason but as long as there is a pulse why not hope for a football miracle. After all, didn't the Bears stroll into Reliant Stadium for the season finale last year needing some ridiculous things to happen, have them all happen, then fail to get the win which would have put them in the playoffs?
The Texans need to keep fighting and hope that somehow when they kick the ball January 3rd against the Patriots they will have at least a snowball's chance of advancing. Considering all that has happened it's just about all we can ask at this point.
Arian Foster looked like he belonged, Bernard Pollard made even more money for next year with his third pick. And Mario Williams had two sacks which puts him two off the pace of hitting double figures for the third straight year. With Andre Johnson racking up nearly 200 yards receiving and Schaub getting within a stone's throw of 4,000 yards, the Texans are once again showing they are a tough team to beat. But they need to be flawless in the won-loss column the rest of the way to help ease the pain of the four game drought.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Texans 2009: Critical Condition
As they Texans do the autopsy on another loss they will see plenty of missed opportunities. Had they taken advantage of some golden chances against Jacksonville they might be in the thick of a playoff chase. Instead, they are scrambling to find a way to stop a four game losing streak that has their fanbase up in arms and their coach in trouble.
Let's face it. This is year four of the Kubiak era and year eight of the franchise. The team is perhaps better than it's ever been but they it's not showing up on the scoreboard and the record is no better after 12 games than it has been the last two seasons.
A particularly disturbing part of the carcass from the most recent loss is the fact that the Texans had the ball inside the 10 three times in the second half and came up with only ten points and a turnover. That turnover came off the arm of Chris Brown who threw a pick off a halfback option that will live in infamy.
At one point in the broadcast I said "this is the Texans last stand." I believed they needed to win out to stay in the hunt. And the thing that makes this situation sting more is that every week they seem to get help as teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore take damaging losses.
All that's left is the chance to somehow win four straight and get the first winning season in team history. If the Texans achieve that it will certainly make us feel a tad better because of the intoxicating effect of a long winning streak. But right now it's hardly a consolation to be wishing for a victory binge that will require a massive amount of help to bring the prospect of playoffs back into the conversation.
As they Texans do the autopsy on another loss they will see plenty of missed opportunities. Had they taken advantage of some golden chances against Jacksonville they might be in the thick of a playoff chase. Instead, they are scrambling to find a way to stop a four game losing streak that has their fanbase up in arms and their coach in trouble.
Let's face it. This is year four of the Kubiak era and year eight of the franchise. The team is perhaps better than it's ever been but they it's not showing up on the scoreboard and the record is no better after 12 games than it has been the last two seasons.
A particularly disturbing part of the carcass from the most recent loss is the fact that the Texans had the ball inside the 10 three times in the second half and came up with only ten points and a turnover. That turnover came off the arm of Chris Brown who threw a pick off a halfback option that will live in infamy.
At one point in the broadcast I said "this is the Texans last stand." I believed they needed to win out to stay in the hunt. And the thing that makes this situation sting more is that every week they seem to get help as teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore take damaging losses.
All that's left is the chance to somehow win four straight and get the first winning season in team history. If the Texans achieve that it will certainly make us feel a tad better because of the intoxicating effect of a long winning streak. But right now it's hardly a consolation to be wishing for a victory binge that will require a massive amount of help to bring the prospect of playoffs back into the conversation.
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