Has anybody caught the first half of this game? I ask because I missed it but I just turned to it in the middle of the third quarter and they started talking about Zach. They were saying how people somehow are doubting his heart for the game. One thing taht they did bring up was the concussion last year. They were saying how he came back a couple days after his car accident where he suffered the concussion and he felt fine. Then, a day later, he had some pain in his nose and Dolphin doctors believed it was another concussion. He said he could have played and later found out it was sinus. They said that Thomas said he knew it was sinus but the team held him out the remaining 9 games. Moving on to performances, its the third quarter and their are some 'boys and Texans starters are in. Schaub is making some nice throws on Dallas' corners, Anthony Henry and I believe Adam Jones. The two Texan receivers in the game are Kevin Walter and Andre' Davis. They have Cris Taylor in the game at RB and he's looked pretty good. The offensive line is looking pretty good under Alex Gibbs, who came over from Denver. They've opened up some nice holes. Looking at stats earlier from the game, it looks like the weakest spot of the Texans will be the secondary. The Cowboys are giving up about 4.4 ypc to Slaton and Taylor.
I hope that Douglas kid is OK for the Texans. He was carted off with a neck problem. I didn't see the thumbs up.
Thats good to hear. Slaton looking good again. Rotoworld says he doesnt fall any further than 2 on the depth chart.
I think he is the starter. Just my opinion but I think he's the starter. Why? Simply because Ahman Green, Chris Brown and Marcel Shipp can't stay healthy. Green will likely be splitting time with Slaton due to him not being able to handle the workload anymore because of the injuries (He's injured alredy lol). Chris Brown may not even make their team. Shipp was brought in recently but I don't know how long he sticks with them and the other guy on the team, Darius Walker, isn't anything special. Slaton will do good in that offense because it is a one-cut-and-go scheme. Alex Gibbs, the OL coach who came over from Denver, has the linemen looking good now from what I hear and they're opening up some holes. Also worth noting that Slaton has looked very fast and shifty this off-season. I think the Texans found the right RB for their offense.
I kept switching between this game and the Falcon's game. I wanted to see how Matty Ice did. I think the kid's gonna be ok. He looked calm and collected back there and the o-line did a good job of keeping him standing. He went thru his progressions and dumped off when he had to. The score would have been much higher but for the stupid penalties because Matt moved the team at will. His passes were on the money. The guy that really empressed me for Atlanta was a UFA # 20 on defense, Grimes I think, he was all over the WRs and batted down at least three passes that I know of. I'm going to have to watct this team more. They may have a pretty good year. Glad to hear that the kid who was hurt was doing better, hope all turns out ok for him. The Texans have a long way to go if they think they are ready to compete for that division, no way will that happen this year, not with what I saw from this game.
Yeah watch out for the Texans as a playoff team. They have some Ifs, but if some of them start turning out they can be a force. Offensively their OL should improved and get that running game going, but they really need a stud at RB. They have to hope Slaton can take the load. Green imo is just about finished. Brown is OK but not reliable at all. Shipp is pure camp fodder and possibly depth. If Schaub plays well, he has one of the top WR corps in the NFL to throw to. Johnson when healthy is one of the best, and Davis and Walter are very solid as the 2-3. Defensively, they have some holes but they have some playmakers as well. They really need Mario to give some consistent pressure, and to find another to play opposite him. Their secondary will hurt until Duntae Robinson can get back into things. They need some safety upgrades as well. Special teams are one of the top units again. All in all, they are developing nicely and finally should have a breakthrough year. Since I dont have directTV package and only get local games Im glad I might have something decent to watch on TV now lol
I don't think they can be a playoff team though, not just yet. Jacksonville and Indianapolis are better teams in that division. I REALLY like Slaton. I think he's going to be a special guy for them. He's only 5'9, 201 lbs so it will be interesting how much workload they give him. I think they will end up splitting it between hima and Green or another RB. I like how their offensive line is coming together and like you said, they have some good receivers. One guy that I like from their receiving core is Jacoby Jones. A division II prospect I believe that was drafted last year. He's explosive. Defensively, I agree that their secondary will be a weak spot. What has happened to Dunta Robinson? I didn't see much of him last year either. I thought he would be a very good corner. I recall him having a high amount of interceptions his rookie year. At the LB corps, they added Roosevelt Colvin this off-season to play beside Demeco Ryans. We'll see how that works out. Off-topic note but have you guys watched the Patriots defense? My god they look slow and bad. Only positive thing is that they are still a good red-zone defense.
Duntae blew out his knee early in the season last year and they say might miss the first several games still. They found a nice corner in Bennett, but theres nobody to play alongside him until Duntae is recovered. Jacoby is explosive, he also blew out his knee if I recall. Him and Andre Davis on ST returns will be a nightmare. As for playoffs, they have a very good shot I think. They need a bit of help, and I dont expect them to carry their division, but they have a good shot at a WC berth when you consider they will be fighting teams like Buffalo, Browns etc, I dont see them at a major disadvantage to anyone, they will be hungry as well, this city wants them to make the leap badly. Good news on the Pats too, Its hard believe that cadre of AARP members can still fly around and do whats needed.
Interesting, wasn't aware that Dunta is still not playing. I like Fred Bennett a lot, the corenr out of South Carolina I think. Regarding the playoffs, I don't see them being better than third in the division and I don't know if that will be enough to get in.
