Monday, December 14, 2009

The REAL question about the Texans.

Yes Houston, YOUR Texans beat up on the hapless Seahawks, a team playing with a recycled coach, a middling quarterback who's never reached his potential, a defense that would be competitive in the FCS and a wide receiving corps anchored by a receiver with a catchy last name who played 2nd fiddle to OchoCinco. Before we jump off the cliff of irrational exuberance, let's take a seconds pause to ask a question:
How can a 6-7 team win a game 34-7?
If you answered "The team has under-achieved all year" give yourself a pat on the back.


You now know why this team is hurtling toward another 8-8 season with more excuses than actual results.

Let's not forget that, were the Seahawks a viable NFL concern this season, the Texans very well could have LOST yesterday's game. In the second half Seattle's boys were down in the red zone at least four times and came away with negative 10 points. (The Interception return for a touchdown and a Kris Brown field goal) Take away those 10, and assume the Seahawks can put the ball in the two of four times and kick a field-goal on their other two trips and you have a 27-24 Seahawks win.

I realize this is a "what if" and the "what if" didn't happen. The Texans won the game and all is supposed to be well in Texans land. We're hearing today about how "dominant" this team can be and about how they should have done this all year long.

That's all well and good but my point is that the Texans DID what they've done all year long, they played one good half and one bad half. The only difference in this game is that the Seahawks weren't good enough to make them pay for it.

I'll grant you this: There was a world of difference between the Seahawks at 5-7 and the Texans at 5-7, starting with talent. That both teams came in with the same record speaks volumes about the poor job Kubiak & staff have done preparing this team for games. Add to that poor personnel decisions,(Why the hell is Dunta Robinson starting?) bone-headed play calling (It took Shanahan until NOW to realize that throwing the ball deep & often to Andre Johnson was a good thing?) & lack of depth (which is why injuries seem to hurt the Texans worse than other teams) and you have the makings of the worst expansion franchise in NFL history.

Early in the year I was down on the defense talent-wise, but as the year has progressed I'm convinced that things are not all that bad. Yes, the team needs a quality defensive tackle, something that can be addressed in the draft by trading up (Use Amobi Akoye, and some other players as trade bait) for a high 1st round pick to grab Cody or another roadblock. The linebacking corps is playing, as a unit, as well as any unit in the NFL and the DB's (excepting Dunta Robinson) are starting to gel as a unit. Earlier in the year I thought the Texans would need to make a push for Taylor Mays or some other top end safety, but with Barber and Pollard they seem to have two safeties who could be above average compared to the league. Cornerback is still a problem, but Quinn & Reeves are playing better (which makes Robinson expendable....good bye). On the offensive side of the ball they seem set, given that Owen Daniels inks a deal and is on the roster next year.

Given all of the above there's only one variable that really needs to change. If you don't know what it is, see the answer to the above question.