Ask Battle Red Blog

On top of playing in one of the toughest divisions in the AFC(South), we also face the Ravens (recently acquired Boldin), the Jets(Best CB tandem with Revis and Cromartie), and the toughest division in the NFC(East). It’s not going to be an easy road to the playoffs, but the players are optimistic.

Inside the locker room, the teams mantra is supposedly “PLAYOFFS OR BUST”. The coaches are optimistic and the players are fired up.

But it’s not the same around the blogosphere. You always have to be cautious when you’re a texans fan. We’ve learned to trim our expectations down so we can deal with the disappointment much easier.

With that being said, we do expect the Texans to make the playoffs. Even though our defense isn’t playoff caliber yet, our offense is. Im fully aware that a great offense + a below average defense never equals superbowl, but it’s enough to make the playoffs amirite?

that tough SOS has no meaning. It’s based on 2009 records and its skewed by 14-2 Indy twice and 13-3 San Diego and the “vaunted” NFC East (which is overrated IMO).

Is the schedule a cakewalk? No, but this team has shown it can compete with anyone. The expectation is playoffs. It doesn’t change if Schaub stays upright.

Johnson, of course…

Presence/fan favorite you don’t know about: Glover Quin, did very well for a rookie last year most pass breakups on our team. Started since the fourth game.

Breakout player: Most likely Earl Mitchell. He has been doing very well in TC. Supposedly just as fast or faster than Amobi but about 12 pounds heavier.

I’d take Johnson anyday of the week.
He’s led the league in receptions and yards the past two seasons.
And I’m sure yall saw the Reception where 3 cards couldnt stop him on his way to the endzone. That play speaks volumes about the type of player/athlete/beast he is.

Fan Favorite? I’d say SS Bernard Pollard who we picked up in the beggining of the season last year. Hard hitter, loud, crazy, just what the defense needed. His and Cushing’s attitude gave the defense a new swagger that Houston has been missing since their inception. Once he joined the lineup in week 3 or 4 ( cant remember which) the defense went from being on pace to break the league record for worst rushing D, to a top 5 team against the run

Breakout player….
Alot of experts and fans are picking Jacoby Jones, currently 3rd WR on the Depth Chart. He’s big and fast, and is capable of a big play everytime he touches the ball. Injuries and inconsistency plagued him, but Kubiak said that he’s “grown up” and is looking good.

Another player to watch for is Rookie RB Ben Tate out of Auburn. Picked him up in the 2nd round, and though he may not start or get many touches at the beginning of the season, I think he’ll be a big part of our run game down the stretch

Good Luck to yall this season as well and heres to an Injury free Saturday

I’m an Andre guy. He’s the kind of WR who can make a one-handed toe tap TD catch as he did in week 2 last season and the same guy who can steamroll players as he did against you guys last season. He can pretty much do it all and does so rather quietly. Fitzy’s right there with his great hands and leaping ability…dude’s a beast. He gets a good test this year in how good he can make Matt Leinart look.

Bernard Pollard, the starting SS. Every time this guy talks, I get fired up. His passion for the game is off the charts and he produces.

My choice for break out player? Jacoby Jones – WR. He’s big, strong, fast, and finally understands what it takes to succeed. If you’re in a deep fantasy league with a late round pick looking for a potential sleeper…..consider him.

its a personal choice. Fitzy does have a pretty vertical.

But I will anyway.

The homer in me would take Andre any day, but Fitzgerald is younger and that’s about the only advantage he really has. They are both exceptional route runners and can cause havoc if they caught the ball in an open field.

The guy on our roster who is a fan favorite would be Jacoby Jones. Not sure if he really is the fan favorite of everybody but he’s definitely the blog-favorite. We even have a segment dedicated to his tweets of wisdom. Yall should check it out, it’s pretty funny.

The break out player this year would have to be Arian Foster. The dude started as a practice squad body and ended up working his way to the starting RB position in the last quarter of the season. And he did great, which brings optimism to a lot of us because our running game is usually very weak.

I’ll take Johnson. The only thing that separates them is that AJ can run any route to perfection where Fitz may not. I will give Fitz credit for being the better deep ball threat, for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpWqMqrZwTU

Ya…pretty much.

We will be playing quite a few Contenders so that is good. A lot of the talk is that the Texans have matured and if they truly have then we shouldn’t let down against bad teams. We all have our hopes up, but still fear a let down.

For one reason…18-1

Not just for spanking the Pats in the Bowl, but I love their defense, especially Justin Tuck.

Just when we thought we had the answer to our running game(Slaton), he catches fumblitis and eventually got injured. Most of us would say that his weight gain in the off-season was the reason for his dropped production, but to me it looks like it was just a string of bad luck.

But the last quarter of the season gave us hope, as another running back emerged from our crowded back field. Arian Foster started the season in the practice squad and ended the season as the clear-cut #1RB for the Texans. He has the right tools to be successful in the one-cut scheme we have in place and he’s shown that the last two games of the season.

Behind Foster would either be the rookie Ben Tate, who looks promising; or the returning Steve Slaton.

It’s looking like the texans are going to be doing a running back by committee with Foster getting most of the carries, Slaton as the third down back and Tate to spell foster in goal-line situations.

Our two tackles are going to be studs though.

He is horrific. Losing him was not a loss, but more of a win(assuming Kareem Jackson can be pretty good). I would put him as a good nickel corner, rather than being a number 1 corner. People seem to forget he led the league in PI calls last year, while getting abused by every WR he faced. He got extremely overpaid by the Falcons, and Arthur Blank will once again invest his big money into a player who isn’t going to make it well spent money(Mike Vick being that first person).

We will need 1 or 2 more years to develop at CB, but it’s positive so far, considering our first three corners are either first or second year players.

I’ll say it again, Dunta Robinson SUCKS.

but have to clarify a comment in Fitz’s defense. He has put up basically the same numbers throughout his career, even when we were playing musical quarterbacks. Prior to 2008, we shuffled Warner and McCown, and then Warner and Leinart. Regardless, Fitz put up the same numbers (basically) in 2005 and 2007 (near or over 100 receptions, and around 1,400 yards receiving) that he did in 2008. His numbers were down in 2006 but he missed three games. Last season, with Warner, his yardage was down but we know that was related to Warner’s arm injury. The point being, I don’t see where it can be stated that Warner made him better. Not that I’m saying having a HOF QB hurts, but if anything it could be argued that Fitz made Warner better considering his statistical turnaround after joining us.

On the flip side, if you look at Johnson’s numbers his receiving yardage went up considerably after Schaub’s arrival. If there’s one thing that tips the argument into Fitz’s favor, and it isn’t fair to Johnson, is the amazing post-season he had in 2008. But otherwise I’ll agree it’s splitting hairs to compare the two. Slightly different styles, but at the end of the day you’re looking at the two best in the league who will be game changers no matter who they have at QB.

Cause that’s my answer.

If he holds out this year, and the league decides they want to give baseball a fighting chance at the ratings game next year…

After that Andre just did his thing and Bob opened up the wallet. Also, Andre is not guaranteed to be paid the highest. He actually has to perform the highest to be paid, there are tons of incentives in this deal.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve read anything about non Cardinals football but last I heard they were setting themselves up for a lot of trouble in the near future with expiring / burgeoning contracts. They look to be in a win right now and damn the future mind set.