Osweiler Boom or Bust, Same OLD Texans, Who is the captain NOW?

Will everyone please step away from the ledge.  I told you back in my season predictions that we would lose about 4 games for the season.  I also told you that I felt that we would be battling for the division against the Titans the last game of the season.  It was also in that same blog that I told you I felt that the Colts would take a step back.  The Texans have faced 3 really good defensive teams.  Do not snooze on Dick LeBeau.  With 2 Superbowl wins, several appearances in the playoffs, the Titans aren't the easy push over that they used to be.  Every win in the NFL is a good one.  But not every loss means that your team is headed to doomsday BULLYvard.  As a fan, I try to remain grounded in the fact that your team is not going to win the Superbowl every single year.  In fact, most organizations will go decades and scores before even sniffing the Big Day.  I look at the number of first round picks the Browns have spent on Quarterbacks.  The amount of picks that the Redskins gave up to go get Robert Griffin III.  The times that sports talk radio in Houston was flooded with calls, even spouting racism as a reason for us not drafting Vince Young, and passing on Reggie Bush.  Turned out to be a pretty good move in the long run.  But could you imagine the position we'd be in if Mario would have given a home town discount to return?  But we have lost pretty good to what I think may just be the top two teams in the league.  Denver seems to be taking a step back, the Panthers are on downward spiral, and all the teams we thought would struggle without their starting QB are on an amazing run.  Oh wait, didn't I tell you Dak would have a pretty amazing go, and Romo's return would be a spectacle?  While we are waking up, also don't dismiss the season that Clowney is having.  Leading the lead in Tackle's for a loss, knowing that sacks sometimes come in bunches, he has definitely made a step forward.  But the question now remains WHO IS THE CAPTAIN NOW?  JJ has always been the heartbeat of this team.  On the sidelines before the game, pumping up the crowd just by raising his hands.  This Colts game has to have someone walk in that backfield and punch someone in the mouth.  Get up and light up that crowd with vigor and no remorse.  We need QB hits, hurries, and horror.  It will be important for Luck to be rattled and have no time in the pocket.  The injuries in the secondary are scary, but that's where the running game and controlling the clock is important on every possession.  I'm looking for someone on the defense not to replace JJ's stats, because that will take a few people to accomplish that.  But I'm looking for someone to be that guy to punch them upside the helmet and get them ready to run through a brick wall.  Now don't get me wrong, Cushing is the captain of the defense.  But if we are going to keep that explosive offense off the field, someone on that defense is going to have turn all 11 of those guys into savages.

I keep hearing everyone referring back to the 70 million we paid Brock.  First of all, like WE, paid it and second of all like we gave it all to him before he played one down in the regular season.  Now I'm not going waste any time on listing all the free agents available in 2016 and the one's coming up in 2017.  I will tell you at the top 5 were Kirk Cousins (28), Brock (25), Fitzpatrick (33), Sam Bradford (28). Chase Daniel (30).  Coming up next year is Kirk Cousins (29), Fitzpatrick (34), Case Keenum (29), Shaun Hill (37), and E.J. Manuel (27).  So tell me what name off this list you would want to invest your future in.  Get out of here with who you would pick in the draft, because if that was a winning way Jarred Goff wouldn't be 3rd string.  This season is going according to schedule.  I will get into injuries in just a bit, but up and through these 5 games, we are ahead of the curve on what we've done in the past.  Looking at the last 2 seasons, we have new quarterback's as starters.  ALL 3 OF THEM, Fitzpatrick, Hoyer, and Mallet combined for 12 and 13 interceptions each year.  Fitzpatrick threw 6 out of his 8 interceptions in the first 5 games.  This system is complex.  But what's even more important that the quarterback knows it, is that the offensive line knows it even better.  Brock has some work to do like not taking long strides to back up in the pocket, and to get the ball out faster.  But we also have to call better plays and utilize Lamar as a receiver out of the back field.  Johnathan Grimes going down has shown on special teams, and also with the amount of carries that Lamar has received.  Out of the gate he was on target to triple the amount of carries he had last season.  Was definitely on pace to catch Adrian Peterson at 327 attempts.  Alfred Blue who struggled with an injury in the preseason seems like is being worked back into the backup role.  I don't think it was a coincidence that we abandoned the run against the stout defense of the Vikings.  Coach O'Brien has always been known for saying this season isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.  But I strongly believe that his production is a product of his offensive line struggles.  Look at his average per carry vs what he's done so far as a Texan.

Lamar Miller Average Per carry down to 3.7 from 4.5 Click Here

Pro Football Weekly Preview Colts VS Texans

2011's nightmare of injuries was probably as bad as I remember.  Having to bring in retired QB's Jeff Garcia, and Jake Delhomme was probably about as low as it gets.  But we were sure ready to deny that Brett Favre would ever be asked to come back.  With 5 players already ruled out, Jeff Allen is the biggest concern of them in my opinion.  Special Teams are missing Peters, Grimes, and the defense will definitely miss Demps at Safety.  But with Andrew Luck being sacked 5 times by the Chicago Bears, it will be extremely important that the crowd is louder than they've ever been when Indy is on Offense.  The Colts defense has shown an inability to line up and be ready for the snap.  Brock will need to get us into plays and move the ball.  Clowney has been getting into the backfield at will.  It will be important that he continues his streak for tackles with a loss, and the Ninja Antonio Smith has shown improvement in two games and Wilfork is having one of his best seasons as a Texan.  We will need to continue to open the playbook.  Hopefully Braxton Miller is healthier now, and can once again become a threat across the middle.  Brax, Lamar, Ryan G. and C.J. must draw attention to free up DHop and Fuller V.  The secondary, likely without Kareem and a banged up J Jo, will need to not let TY beat them deep.  After chasing around Will Fuller V and Braxton Miller in practice, Kevin Johnson, A. J. Bouye, and Eddie Pleasant will have to step in as the next man up.  I've told you the importance of great coaching and that I felt we have the best coach in the AFC South.  However, we have had some calls, like a screen play on 4th and 16 that has caused many of us to question this thought.  Winning this division is predicated on sowing up the number one spot.  The same old Texans would lose this game to make it interesting.  As we would then become in a tie for first, and then possibly be playing for our lives when we head north to play at Lucas Oil Stadium.  Where, let's face it, our record isn't all that stellar.  The same old Texans would show up and be blown out on national TV.  Brock would throw several interceptions and we would all be talking more about what this guy is being paid than we are talking about what the second half of the season will be.  But now the Same Old Coach O'Brien Texans would perform better in the second half than the first.  2014 last 11 games 6-5, 2015 8-3, if we improve just 1 game this year from last we're finishing 12-4.  The Colts game is even more important to tell us who this team is and who they are trying to become.  Houston is tired of having its hope lifted, only to be let down.  This team has the offensive and defensive talent to win now.  With Denver on the horizon this team needs to show us some Testicular fortitude.  And Afterwards I don't want to hear "It was just the Colts".

and as always..............................................................

Go Texans!

DJ THE DJ

O'Brien's self made Patriots Bye Week, Should someone be fired for JJ going on IR, Same old Sam!

http://www.houstontexans.com/tv-media/videos/OBrien_on_Coach_Belichick_Patriots_more/5bf169cd-2238-4c50-8353-d981bf9b5e87

All year long I have been telling you that less JJ would be better for defense.  I did not however, say NO JJ would be better for the defense.  I have to admit that after the Patriots loss I was pretty bummed after learning we had not only got the crap beaten out of us, but we had, in fact, loss the greatest defensive player in the league since LT.  But from the depths of my soul, I had been trying to find a silver lining.  After all, I'd praised Rick Smith and O’Brien and all but put Romeo in the Defensive Coordinator hall of fame.  Then I went back to listen to a couple of O’Brien’s pressers.  He said that he had never left the facility and the coaches hadn't had any sleep.  It is a known fact that O’Brien HATES the Thursday night games.  The ratings are not what they use to be, and the games have been somewhat mediocre in stature.  So what did McClain unearth when he talked about how Bill Belichick praised Bill O’Brien?  How that he said Belichick LEARNED A LOT from O’Brien?  Cause he certainly beat us like he KNEW every play we were going to call.  Almost like in the Waterboy where Coach Red Beaulieu had Coach Klein's playbook during the game.   But as I started to prepare to write for this Vikings game, I really started to take a look at our preparation.  I really don't remember JJ falling down or not being able to finish the game.  This is why I was so surprised to hear that he'd been placed on season ending IR.  Braxton Miller, who I really credit for Fuller V's success taking these last 2 games off.  I thought about the importance to bring Cushing back in an effort to get his feet wet and ready for a more important game.  Could O’Brien, who later came out to say he was "Just Joking" about staying overnight at the stadium, have done little to no preparation for the Patriot's game, truly knowing that the game really didn't matter?  Going up against a rookie QB, a gimpy Gronk, and No Ninkovich?  I mean what else would explain why our playbook that day was vanilla like a preseason game.  We didn't run any of the plays that we ran the previous 2 games that we won.  No screens to Fuller V, ground and pound until it works?  Could this have been treated like a bye week, in an effort to get a jump on the Titans, and truly be prepared for today's rumble in U.S. Bank Stadium?  Now no coach will ever tell you that a game doesn't matter.  But the stress of these Thursday turn around games could really cripple a team.  No one is expecting the Texans to go undefeated, so if you were going to lay an egg, why not that game, and save your playbook for when you meet them in the Playoffs.  Well if that is the case, then job well done Bill.  

JJ Watt goes on Injured Reserved Click Here

So what was the reason our Superman returned to IR and WHO is to blame.  At times of adversity we all seek reasoning and would like to think that the people responsible for assets that you are paying tens of millions of dollars to, can make a decision in the best interest of the company.  I never once doubted that JJ would be back this season, in fact, I was not even surprised to see him ready for the first game.  The only reason that I feel that someone in the Texans front office should take part of the blame is JJ played 95% of the snaps in game one.  He never eased back into the season after having back surgery?  You can barely come back and stand on your feet after such a surgery, let alone come out and wrestle bears.  I have been faced with roads that are flooded, iced road conditions and was still told by the powers that be to come into work.  But if I wasn't able to make it to work, someone could easily step in.  This is simply not the case when you have a guy that the only reason he won't win defensive player of the year is because he will be on the sideline.  It was very obvious that he wasn't 100%.  I also wouldn't put it pass JJ to be part of the decision to walk away because he doesn't want to play if he can't play at his raised level of performance.  Well JJ we wish you well in your recovery, and we hope to see you back soon.  Week 8 would be great, if we are 6-2 like I'm predicting.

Vikings VS Texans Preview Click Here

Well next to Brock throwing NO INTERCEPTIONS, it will be important that Alfred Blue and Braxton Miller play an important role in the offense today.  Trying to analyze these Houston Texans has been an unfortunate easy pattern over the years.  Blowouts during prime time, win divisional games, and scoot in the playoffs, often with some pretty major injury issues.  I don't know that we've gone into any playoff game 100% injury free of all major players on the squad.  This is what continues to force me to tolerate friends who are Cowboy fans that continue to bash us repeatedly.  As we keep making the same mistakes over and over again.  Well tomorrow is a chance for us to shut them the heck up.  O’Brien has made his living as a coach, opening up the playbook as the year goes on.  He will need to fully open his playbook and keep this Vikings defensive monster on its toes.  From Blue and Miller in the back field at the same time, to Braxton Miller hitting Fuller V with a 60-yard touchdown pass.  Lamar being a part of the passing game is a luxury we have not utilized enough this season.  Blue had the longest run of the season last week, and looks hungry.  You put them both back their and motion Lamar to the weakest side of the field, do you stay with Blue or do you cover Lamar, oh by the way where is Fuller V going.  Wait who has DHop?  See my point?  The potential of plays for this offense is scary.  The flee flicker last week would have been the perfect play had the ball not been lobbed back to Osweiler.  He gets that ball a second sooner and that's a touchdown pass for sure.  You can't teach speed, but you can practice against it.  Although Stefon Diggs will not be playing, these Vikings corners practice against speed on the daily.  This is where the tight end play comes in from last week.  If Griffin, Fiedorowicz, Miller, and Lamar can open up the middle of the field, this will give us some important leverage for DHop and Fuller V down field.  It will be important that our offensive 3rd down percentage is stellar.  We have to win time of possession.  Who ever defense stays on the field the longest could be the winner of this contest.

Click here to see Sam's Stats

As for the defense, it will be important that they return Sam back to his normal stats from the past.  Last year he almost tied his most interceptions in a season with 14, only one away from his rookie debut.  It will be important that we remind them that they are missing their franchise QB, RB, and Tackle.  Look I'm not saying we will blow them out, but I'm saying this team has some potential to be great.  We need our offensive line to gel, but this defense has a great opportunity to not just sack the QB, but put some points on the board.  Fuller V's threat on punt return is a game changer.  If you put him and Braxton Miller or him and Irving, who are you going to kick it to?  I will say this talk of Izzo going to Rice as the head coach scares the crap out of me.  But if we walk into US Bank stadium and play sound complimentary football, we could definitely pull this off.  I'm giving the game ball to Nick Novak, as I think this will come down to field goals.  Hopefully, Bill opens up the playbook and we can get past that stingy 12 points that the Vikings have allowed on defense.  If we score more than 12, I'm calling this a Texans win.  And as always...........................................

Go Texans!

DJ THE DJ