The Texans Bad Day

Drop the Ball by Flickr user rkimplejr used via a creative commons license.

So Saturday was bad, real bad. Not only did the Texans seemingly lose the fight during the scrimmage, but their defensive reputation was the real loser in Saturday's 38-14 drubbing by the New Orleans Saints. A drubbing that I believe will be very telling regarding the Texans 2009-2010 season.

- The Defensive backfield: Let's just be honest here: They're not that good. Slow to react and unsure of themselves on the field the DB's for the Texans would not be on the roster for almost any other NFL team. (We exclude the Lions, although they probably wouldn't start.) This is a bigger problem than can be solved by the return of Dunta Robinson. It's a roster issue across the board in the defensive backfield that's not going away anytime soon. Especially when you consider....

- The Defensive line: That's right. Unless they do something in free agency the Texans are going to have to do something in the draft to shore up defensive tackle. Okoye gets pushed around more than a shopping cart on Saturday, and Travis Johnson is one step away from being out of the league entirely. Bust after Bust after Bust.

- Cushing's knee: What was originally listed as a 2-3 week thing is now offically listed as "out indefinately". Way to draft the wrong USC LB there Texans. How long before the sports section over at the Chron owns up to the fact that this guy is a walking triage?


I've got some confidence that the Offense is going to be average at least, above-average if everything falls correctly. Kris Brown's stats will tell you the health of Chris Brown, the latter is going to be a good barometer as to the overall health of the offense. If CB goes down, then KB becomes the team's MVP for yet another year. And Andre Johnson faces down the reality of missing the playoffs yet again.

Time Out

(2007 California Vacation by Flickr user akeg used and altered according to the terms of a creative commons license)


Engines will be at "all stop" until Monday at the earliest as my wife and I leave town in celebration of 11 years of marriage.

Until that time there's plenty of good stuff to read on the sidebar and my twitter account should be buzzing with pictures/updates etc.


Have a great weekend.

University of Houston 2009-2010 Football outlook

(Image via Flickr user army.mil used via a creative commons license)


The good news, for Houston Cougar fans, is that I foresee the Cougars playing in a bowl this year. The bad news is that I don't think it will be the Liberty Bowl. It most certainly won't be a B(C)S bowl, at least not this year.

The reason for my concern is defense. Namely, the baby Coogs are talented, but green. For Cougar fans intent on reviving the silly "mad dogs" defensive moniker a more appropriate tag might be "mad puppy" this year. They've got some experience at linebacker and in the defensive backfield, but overall this defense is going to be young. Were the schedule not so front-loaded this wouldn't be such an important issue.

Offensively expect more of the same from Houston. They return all of their key skill-position players a year older and more familiar with coach Kevin Sumlin's system. Keenum and Beall should have huge years. For the most inspiring story Google Patrick Edwards to see what that young man is coming back from (warning: not for the faint of heart).

The Schedule:

Week 1: Northwestern State Robertson Stadium - Northwestern State isn't expected to beat Sam Houston State this year. Go tailgate, drink heavy and don't worry about falling asleep during the second half. This game will be long over by then.
Prediction: UH 47 NWSt 3

Week 2: Oklahoma State Stillwater, OK - The Pokes have too much firepower and just enough defense to win a shootout. Should be televised locally for those of you who don't want to travel to Stillwater. For those of you that do? Stop by Eskimo Joes.
Prediction: OkSt 52 UH 35

Week 3: Bye week. The Cougars will need it.

Week 4: Texas Tech Robertson Stadium - It would have been better for the Cougars to get Captain Leach and the Tortilla Pirates in game 1 or 2, before they get the timing down on that offense. As it is Houston should be on the downside of another shootout. Make sure to search Tech fans before they enter the stadium.
Prediction: Tech 42 UH 28

Week 5: University of Texas - El Paso, El Paso,TX - A week after chasing the Tortilla Pirates around UH gets the high-flying offense of the Miners. After this game UH's defense could be the among the lowest rated in the Country and still look pretty good.
Prediction: UTEP 35 UH 32

Week 6: Mississippi St., Starkville, MS - Finally, an offense that doesn't resemble an air-raid. Miss. St. is a physical, middle-of-the-road SEC team that UH should outrun. Expect pathetic "S-E-C" chants from Bulldog fans when they find themselves down in the 4th quarter.
Prediction: UH 42 Miss St 17

Week 7: Tulane: New Orleans, LA - Basically a glorified scrimmage for the Cougars as Tulane has been terrible the last few years and is showing little signs of improvement. I predict the defense starts to "get it" this week.
Prediction: UH 38 Tulane 3

Week 8: SMU: Robertson Stadium - After three weeks on the road this home game is going to be raucous (by UH standards that is). At this point the team's record might turn some off, but good things are on the horizon.
Prediction: UH 52 SMU 17

Week 9: Southern Mississippi: Robertson Stadium - Now on TV. This has the potential to be one of the games of the year in C-USA. It won't be. Defense gets it, and the offense is too good.
Prediction: UH 38 USM 14

Week 10: University of Tulsa: Tulsa OK. - This will be the game of the year in C-USA, at least in the Western division. Tulsa needs a QB, and that should propel the Cougars to the win.
Prediction: UH 47 TU 45

Week 11: University of Central Florida: Orlando, FL - After reeling off five straight the Cougars are confident, and just better than UCF. You'll have to listen to the radio to keep up with this game however, or on the ticker below whatever, more compelling, game you're watching on TV.
Prediction: UH 49 UCF 21

Week 12: Memphis, Robertson Stadium - Now your Cougars are on a roll. The Freshman aren't playing like Freshman any longer and the offense and defense are clicking on all cylinders. Memphis is supposed to be better this year, but still not good enough. And besides, Sumlin > Briles(who couldn't figure out how to consistently beat the Tigers)
Prediction: UH 42 UM 17

Week 13: Rice, Robertson Stadium - Ah the rivalry game that UH doesn't want to admit as a rivalry. Too bad too, because Rice is regaining respectability. Fortunately for Cougars fans the Owls lost too much last year. If UH is motivated (and they should be because the Western Championship should be on the line) then this game shouldn't be close.
Prediction: UH 42 Rice 10


Overall Regular Season Record: 9-3 1st place C-USA West.



I'll talk more about the C-USA championship game in a later post. For now though I think its safe to say that the Cougar train is starting to pick up some momentum. Here's the deal. I think this team is two years away from being really good. As in: "potential B(C)S Buster/undefeated record" good. What this means is that the new AD had better start to get his succession plans squared away for when the big colleges come after Sumlin. Having a coach on staff to take over the reins only makes sense for non-B(C)S programs who are going to have their coaches snapped up by big programs if they have success. As a matter of fact, I'd make it something that was contractual.

If you look at the sucess of the big non-B(C)S schools such as Boise State and Texas Christian you see a "system" in place that carries on well after the original coach that led them to prominence is gone. UH had better start thinking about that now. I've every confidence that Kevin Sumlin would be more honorable than was Art Briles when he leaves, but you still need to have a plan in place for recruiting etc.

After a rough start this should be a fun year Cougar fans, how long these winning ways last is up to your new AD.

1560 The Game to Carry OU Football

Fortunately, OU football fans will have a home this Fall. 1560 The Game announced this morning that they will carry the full slate of OU football games for the 2009-2010 season this morning on the John and Lance Morning Show.

As you can imagine, response from UT-Austin fans (many of whom probably never attended the school) was rapid and hostile.

For the rest of us, those who don't think the world revolves around a football program whose players can't keep out of jail or a mid-level program with delusions of grandeur, the news is a welcome addition to the local radio scene.

Maybe Houston radio broadcast teams could learn a thing or two from The Sooners broadcast team on how to call a game?

I know, it's asking a lot but still....one can hope.

Frightening Pre-Season Thought #1

The Texans Red Zone offensive success this season rides on the oft-injured shoulders of one Chris Brown.

Amazingly, none of the media seem to be troubled by this fact.

Bud Adams: Houston's Football Savior?

In case you missed Sports Sunday on KPRC last night with Randy McIlvoy let me give you a quick synopsis.

Mark VanDerMeer is incapable of offering credible opinion on the State of the Texans.

Bud Adams feels he's personally responsible for the success of sports in Houston.


You read that second one correctly. It seems that Bud Adams love potion is spreading, this being the 50th Anniversiary of the AFL and the professional sports media pretty much mailing it in these days.

As it was I about fell out of my chair when ol' Bud took credit for the Texans, Astros and Rockets all having new stadiums. Really? Listening to Bud tell it what he did was for the Good of Houstonians, and not his pocketbook as we have obviously believed erroneously these last 10 or so years.

And hey, naysayers, lest you doubt Bud's affection for the city of Houston. Bud's still employing 900 Houstonians, wants people to forget Lamar Hunt (and the Chron's John McClain is going to help in this endeavor) and still promotes the good of Houston whenever he has a chance. Just make sure that football conversation or Houston taxpayers aren't involved. Then Bud sings a different tune. Besides, Houston really wasn't happy with that stodgy ol' Astrodome, especially not after the big score-board was taken away. (Oh...wait...nevermind)

As an Oiler fan Bud Adams is dead to me, and there's nothing he can say to convince me otherwise. Seeing the Titans wearing the Houston Oilers uniforms (and rookie Britt wearing a "Property of Houston Oilers" T-shirt on the sidelines) just felt wrong. It's almost as if the NFL is allowing Bud to rub our noses in it for not building for him what we had to build for Bob McNair.

And that's what Bud Adams doesn't understand. We may have built the Texans their glorious new playpen, but in the process we had to lose the Oilers, a team that meant an awful lot to those of us who grew up rooting for them. The Titans? No connection whatsoever, they're a division rival, no more, no less. I'd rather the Texans lose to them then the Colts or the Jaguars any day of the week.

My only consolation in this is that the Titans are stuck trying to figure out what to do with Vince Young while the Texans are not. Vince is your problem now Bud, enjoy that.

I realize this is all just the part of a movement to get Bud in the HOF. The thing about Houston media, especially the Chronicle, is this: They are more than ready to let by-gones be by-gones provided they get to bask in the reflected glory of someone with even tenuous ties to Houston. Don't believe me? Beyonce, the Next Food Network Star you name it. If someone receiving an award so much as had an extended layover at IAH the Chron is ready to claim them. As is KPRC.

They can have him, Bud Adams that is, because as far as I'm concerned he's a citizen of Tennessee now, if he goes into the HOF it shouldn't be as an Oiler, but as a Tennessee Titan.

The Oilers are dead now anyways, I think last night's telecast finally killed them off permanently in my mind.


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Football Friday (Part II)

Image from Ryan Holloman obtained through Creative Commons

Michael Crabtree is an idiot.

As a 49'er fan I hope he goes on to be an unpaid idiot, who gets drafted next year somewhere in the 4th round. Every NFL Rookie should play for two years at the NFL minimum. After that time is up they can negotiate a long-term deal with their current team or be turned loose and immediately become a free agent. "Pay before Play" is crap.