Vance Joseph Honorable Mention?

The Indy game has several different things we can take out of it.  The chatter of Wade Phillips shaking up practice practices, and the new special teams coach trying some crazy things, down to those of us who thinks Kubiak pulled Case back after the first couple of games, going so far as to put Matt Schaub in a couple of times to show him "How to play QB in Kubiak's system", will be watching to see if there is a difference in how we perform.  Now there should be no confusion that everyone in that locker room wants to win.  To say that we will be playing for a draft pick is simply ridiculous.  But the main thing that I'm looking at tomorrow is if the actual DEFENSE is playing different.  Going into this year, several people thought that Vance Joseph would be courted for a Defensive Coordinator in the league.  You can credit Kareem Jackson's turn around to Vance.  Despite Kareem's recent penalty woes, and Johnathan Joseph seemingly headed towards his later years, our secondary's major improvement came in the way of Vance Joseph.  So when I heard that he would be calling the defensive plays for the most part, I was excited to watch this game to see if we get more of the same.  I mentioned that this game was a must lose game, as I feel that we need a fresh outlook on moving forward.  I've also mentioned Wade Phillips stats being not good in his final years, but given the circumstances, It will be super important to see a Kubiak-less system. 

Things that make you say hmmmm..........
Will Gary Kubiak be hired as the first Aggie to coach the Longhorns?  Will his son transfer from Rice to play for his dad? 

Hmmm.......On the next edition of DJ the DJ

Why the Texans face a MUST LOSE game this week against Indy!

Depending on who you ask, the Houston Texans downfall doesn't just start with this year's losing streak.  Most will take you back to the last 5 games of the season last year.  That had you super excited about a team that was 11-1, who would only finish 12-4 and knock themselves out of a chance of home field advantage.  What most people failed to remember was that a Wade Phillips Defense that was only missing Brian Cushing, failed to hold opponents to decent scores.  As I stated in my other blog, Wade Phillips has always had a great defense of stopping yards, but in his later years, always been significantly bad in giving up points.  Most would say that this is because of the lack of rotation with the players, and by the end of the game they are just simply tired, and often give up the bad play.  Now when you mix that with your offense often giving the defense what most would consider BAD field position, it just doesn't make for a good situation.  There are some also who felt that Gary Kubiak didn't need to go.  But a great example of this would be Bill Belichek.  After loosing Wes Welker, they struggled in the beginning, much like they did last year.  But eventually they all found a way to win.  The Texans are faced with a huge decision right now.  There are several options out there, but only one chance to get it right.  The right coach, with the right scheme, with what should be a fairly weak schedule next year, should make for one of the most sexiest job openings this year.  Bob McNair should not have to be flying coaches in and having Andre Johnson wine them and dine much like they did Ed Reed.  He should have simply fired Gary Kubiak and sat back waiting for the phone to ring.  Again this was the same team that felt no need to even consider Peyton Manning as an option.  That brings me to my point.  There are some significant games left in this season.  We're facing Indy, IN Indy where we've never won a game, and a Peyton Manning who loves the dome, and now even the cold.  Should Wade Phillips rally this team to wins against these two teams, I'm afraid that you would almost have to look at Wade.  But the needs of this team is they need a proven leader that has won in the Playoffs.  Can't lie there are some sexy options out there where I would consider Wade staying on with the Defense.  Like a Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell reunion, just to name one.  I have yet to hear anyone mention Jim Caldwell.  What he did to the Ravens offense last year to get them headed to go on to win the superbowl, simply amazes me that his name has not come up.  According to sources Gruden has turned down the job, and Lovie Smith has interviewed for it.  But the last thing we need is more of the same.  So we will see down the stretch if names like Kirk Cousins, Michael Vick, or even a Ryan Mallet who has set under Tom Brady for a couple of years, could come in and allow us to use our pick to sure up the offensive line, and finally get some real depth at Middle Linebacker.  Lord knows we don't want another Matt Cassel or Matt Flynn.  Not to mention being able to put Clowney opposite JJ Watt, especially if for some reason we end up in a 4-3 vs a 3-4.  But at the end of the day no fan ever wants there team to end up with a loss.  So GO Texans, let's go finally get that win in Indy.  Hint Hint, Wink Wink, and Oh yea let's kill Denver in our house.

DJ the DJ

Cowher, Gilbride, Capers, Roethlisberger = Perfect Storm?

 Dear Mr. McNair

In a day and age where social media gives anyone with a cell phone or computer the ability to "have" an opinion, the everyday operations of a multi-billion dollar industry can't simply be forced into any type of decision.  Our voices simply remain that, a voice of opinion.  With that being said, I think the fan base in Houston have been met, both with it's share of good suggestions, and just plain idiots.  There is only so many times we can ask players like J.J. Watt, Andre Johnson, and even Matt Schaub, how they feel about losing 10 games in a row.  Asking them what happened during the game, or how "disappointing" this season is, after such high aspirations, is just as crazy as thinking we can get Democrats and Republicans to agree about anything.   Today's game, in my humble opinion, may have been the best played game I've enjoyed this season.  Maybe because the expectations have been lowered, but the fact that we stayed in the game, and had a fighting chance made it all the more interesting.  Now I consider myself to be a bit different from the norm.  As I do not feel that Kubiak or Schaub has to necessarily go.  A lot has been said about Kubiak's coaching decisions.  From his poor winning percentage of challenges, but mainly the offense inability to perform in the red zone, and or Special Teams woes.  I guess I just feel that what we are most confused about is who is actually making the decisions?  For instance, whose decision was it to keep Frank Bush for as long as we did?  Why is Joe Marciano still employed?  Is Randy Bullock still our kicker because he can kick off into the end zone?  The fact that we let Ed Reed go to give him a chance to start in this league, as if Matt Schaub would not have been immediately claimed by The Jets, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, or where I think he will likely end up Minnesota?  Or was he let go for telling the truth, the fact that we were out played and out coached?  Now that brings me to our buddy Wade Phillips.  Everywhere Wade has gone, the last year has been almost identical.  1985, his last year in New Orleans, the defense was ranked 22nd in points(401) and 24th(5814) in yards.  In 1988, his last year in Philadelphia, he ranked 14th in points(301) and 27th in yards(5799)(Note that he was not here a 3rd year), In 1994, his last year in Denver, the defense was ranked  25th in points(396) and 28th in yards(5907) In 2000, his last year in Buffalo, the defense ranked 18th in points(350) and 3rd in Yards(4426), In 2003, his last year in Atlanta, the defense was ranked 30th in points(422) and 32nd in yards(6108), in 2006, his last year in San Diego, the defense ranked 7th in points(303) and 10th in yards (4825).  In 2010, his last year in Dallas, the defense ranked 31st in points (436) and 23rd in yards (5628).  Brings us to this year where we are currently ranked 26th in points(289) and 1st in yards(3194).  Wade has shown that his defense can dominate the first couple of years, but every where he's coached, the opposing teams have figured out his system or at best learned to score on it! Number 1 in yards is a lot like almost winning the Super Bowl.   But again, I think you could make a case for each person in the organization, not named Rick Smith, to be worried about his job.  Mainly because I don't know how much credit goes to who for draft picks like Arian Foster, undrafted, or drafting a Randy Bullock before Vick Ballard, Alfred Morris, and Marvin Jones?  So with all of that being said, I think there is perfect storm that no one is thinking about.  You know there are always feel good stories to be had in this league.  As much as people like to toss names like Gruden, Dungy, and even Lovie Smith, the only guy that is actually saying he's ready to do it again, at least on record, is Bill Cowher.  I came across this clip and thought, WOW THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR!  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000124047/article/bill-cowher-plans-to-eventually-return-to-nfl-coaching  Then I searched for the feel good story.  There is, in fact, an Offensive Coordinator with 2, COUNT THEM TWO!, Superbowl wins under his belt, AND HAS TIES TO HOUSTON! Not to mention a 2013 season that could be reason for a change.  For some reason in Houston we LOVE the homeboy, or hometown discount.  Kevin Gilbride former Houston Oiler's offensive coordinator has ties to Cowher.  The perfect storm would be for Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger who has seen better days with his current offensive coordinator, to come rejoin the coach that he first played with in the league.  Have Keenum to learn under a 2 time Superbowl winner, and have Bill Cowher leading the way.  The funny thing is Dom Capers, former head coach of the Houston, Texans even coached with him.  Green Bay hasn't necessarily lit things up either.  So 2014 could see the return of Gilbride, Capers, and dare I mention that Derek Carr, brother of the former original draft pick of the Texans brother may fall our way?  Na, just seems all a dream to me Mr. McNair.  I just simply want to THANK YOU for bringing football back to Houston. And from this fan, I remember what it was like from 1997-2001 where we had zero to complain about, when people like me who understood I wasn't going to be a Titans fan, In fact, as much as I hate to admit it, even cheered for the Cowboys during that time.  Yes, a pretty low point in my life.   So let's keep our heads up, and hope for the best.

Sincerely,
H-Town!

Houston Fan Woes Far From New (Confused and Cursed Houston Texans 2013)

To call this year a roller coaster year for the Houston Texans would only be true if the roller coaster only went one direction, down!  People soon forget this year was plagued by horrible quarterback play, long before it started to suffer season ending injuries.  To top it off, decisions from above continue to baffle the entire city.  Decisions like Matt Schaub throwing a record number of Pick 6's, only to be bench by injury.  T.J. Yates being named the back up quarterback, after Case Keenum was clearly the better guy during preseason.  All of the things we saw Case do in preseason, is what we've seen from him since hitting the field.  Then there is Ed Reed.  We flew this guy in on a private jet.  Sent Andre Johnson to wine him and dine him, and convince his FRIEND to come play with this stand up organization.  But after Ed Reed, a first ballot hall of famer, speaks his mind to the media, saying what REALLY HAPPENED, we released him.  So just after a few truthful words, we released hi?.  But we say it is because we weren't going to be using him.  Ok, I get that.  I remember the code of the team.  I remember Arian Foster being benched in the Raider's game for the first half, for disciplinary reason, only to come out in the second half and have a monster game.  But just to be clear, Andre Johnson can curse out the quarterback, and walk off the field before the game was over?  That's right, we are at least consistent, right?  I was super ready to see Case come out and run the Sugar Huddle.  Mainly because the days we'd seen Schaub run it, it was just dink and dunk, but was enough to keep the same defenders on the field.  But we didn't keep Case, we sent Matt Schaub back out there.  The biggest problems we face with this organization is that NFL teams have figured out this offense.  They know Schaub like the back of there hand.  Dink and Dunk, Andre. Dink and Dunk, Andre.  I wasn't mad that Kubiak put Schaub in the game at halftime, I was just happy that he actually made a change, FOR A CHANGE.  But this decision, like many others, is why we are in this downfall.  NFL teams know once they have Kubiak's game plan in the first half, they have it for the rest of the game.  But where is the accountability on the Defensive end of the ball?  A Defense that was holding teams to under 20 points a game.  Case has put up almost 3 touchdowns per game.  I can't bash the defense too much, as I think Cushing was the glue that held that defense together.  Oh but the special teams though!  Randy Bullock is still our kicker because he can kick off and put the football out of the end zone.  Those of you wondering why Neil Rackers, and Shawn Graham didn't make the cut after Bullock missed a whopping 64 million field goals, this is why we kept him.  Remind me why we have to kick it through the end zone again?  Oh yea, Rocky Marciano has yet to provide a knock out blow to other teams return men.  So we keep Bullock for that specialty, yet we let Trindon Halliday go because we could never just have a guy who just returns the football.  I honestly felt that 9-7 could easily win this division, as I felt Indy was headed toward a skid.  But the decisions that have plagued this organization this year is far from new.  We failed to pull the trigger on David Carr for quite some time(Kubiak said he could win with Carr. #Decisions).  We failed to fire Frank Bush from Defensive Coordinator, Wade signing seemed more of an owner move.  Marciano remains over the Special Teams, yet two people under his wing went on to break Return records with there respective teams. Jacoby Jones, Trindon Halliday.  With that being said.  Bob McNair should take a stronger look at the pissed off fans.  As the players continue to call the fans words like "Wishy Washy", "Up and Down", "Not Smart" is reminiscent of when Bud Adams first tried to build a new stadium here.  We said no, however, we built one anyway.  But just in case you guys are wondering what it feels like to have  "Wishy Washy" Fans, and Stupid fans.  Check out the Wiki link.  Sounds to me like hearing us boo could actually be a good thing! 

Wiki:

 The 1996 season was a disaster for the Oilers; they played before crowds of fewer than 20,000 and games were so quiet that it was possible to hear conversations on the field from the grandstand. Meanwhile, the team's radio network, which once stretched across the state, was reduced to the flagship station in Houston and a few affiliates in Tennessee, and was cutting off games prior to their finish in favor of preseason basketball.^[4] The team went 8–8, finishing 6–2 in road games and only 2–6 in home games. Adams, the city and the league were unwilling to see this continue for another season.

So Bobby McNair you still have time to save face.  There is not a Texans fan in Houston who wouldn't sell there Grandmother's Sweet Potato Pie recipe for the chance to beat Indy in Indy, Spank Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and win out the rest of the season.  But if you don't hear anything else, HEAR THIS the Gary Schaubiak era is over. Let's move on.  Andre Johnson couldn't be more frustrated right now.  The media isn't playing his full interview after the game.  The media would have us believe that Andre Johnson wanted a trade, or doesn't want to be with the team.  However, what he really said was pretty far from that.  He was asked the same question a different way 3 times, and the answer they are playing is the final one where he was pretty much just shutting them up.  You have him sell his soul to get Reed to stay, and you don't give him a full season to really heal, but you continue to give Schaub a chance at mediocrity?  That's enough to make Andre curse everyone out and leave for good.  THIS is why he took no heat over doing what he did.  And personally, I DON'T BLAME HIM!  Kubiak just seems to not Know that he doesn't know, that he doesn't know.


Thanks for reading, it's your boy DJ the DJ spinning the news!
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