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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
        
(Message started by: Jetdoc on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 2:54pm)

Title: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by Jetdoc on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 2:54pm

Sorry this is so late guys...I've been out of town all week.

Houston faces the pitiful Cincinnati Girls this week, after Houston pulled off an amazing win against the Jaguars at home and Cincy loses a heartbreaker. Houston returns home this week as, for the first time in their history, favorites to win this week. The Bengals reacted to this in their usual fashion...they promised the win, setting up failure in advance. The Bengal offense is pitiful (despite Dillon), but their defense is even worse. Their defense has underachieved mightily given their high expectations at the beginning of the year. They should make the terrible Houston offense look like a well functioning unit this week.

Quarterbacks

David Carr continues to mature with each week that passes. He has definitely found his favorite target in Bradford, but is also looking more toward Billy Miller as Bradford sees double coverages. From his decision making to his surprisingly quick feet, the Texans should receive an "A" on their draft report card for going against popular logic and taking Carr first. If the Bengals have one strength on defense, it is their secondary, which is allowing only 200 yards per game passing each week. That, obviously, has to do with the fact that teams realize that they can pound the ball between the tackles all day, so they ignore the passing game. Look for the Texans to do likewise this week.

David Carr - 190 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 INT, 40 yards rushing, 0 TDs

Runningbacks

Well, Capers made the first signs last week of trying to make Wells the feature back in the Texans offense. And he did not step up to the plate, allowing Allen to come in late in the game and show his skills again. This is a shame since the Texans combined duo should have a very productive day against a Bengal team that is giving up over 140 yards a game on the ground. Look for Capers to again give Wells the reins, especially since the Bengals have shown that a power rushing attack is their achilles heel on defense.

Jonathan Wells - 110 yards rushing, 1 TD, 10 yards receiving, 0 TDs

James Allen - 20 yards rushing, 0 TD, 40 yards receiving, 0 TD

Wide Receivers

Bradford faced his first doubleteams last week, which opened up Billy Miller and Jabar Gaffney to some single coverage and wide open looks. The Bengal secondary is good enough not to have to double Bradford, which should mean a good game for Bradford. I would temper your expectations for any Houston receiver this week, however, given the focus the Texans will place on the running attack.

Corey Bradford - 3 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

Jabar Gaffney - 2 receptions, 40 yards, 0 TD

Billy Miller - 4 receptions, 50 yards, 0 TD

Overall, I expect back-to-back Texans wins, especially since this game is at home and they are coming off the high from last week...

Texans 27 (one defensive/ST TD), Bengals 21

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by ugley on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 6:00pm

[smiley=smileythumbsup.gif] [smiley=bow.gif]

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by FourTwoOh on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 7:17pm

Cool. I'm a little more optimistic for the passing game in addition to the numbers you have for the running game.

Quick Cincy stat that you might enjoy. ;D

Cincy leads the nfl in fewest punts allowed. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by ugley on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 10:48pm

on 11/02/02 at 19:17:58, FourTwoOh wrote:

[smiley=rollinwithlaughter.gif] [smiley=toocool.gif] [smiley=hellyeafunny.gif]

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by StegRock on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 11:58pm

on 11/02/02 at 19:17:58, FourTwoOh wrote:

I think Jet's projections for the Houston passing and rushing games are right [smiley=bulls-eye.gif] based on Cincy's stats on pass defense/lack of D against the run. ;) Take a look-see over at ESPN or something. Carr, Bradford and crew will have a "flat" week while Wells, and perhaps Allen too, will have a "phat" week. Given that, the only thing is his predictions for Allen might be a tad low.

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by Jetdoc on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 12:20am

Well, that is the real question each week with the Texans running attack...who will get the rock?

If you look at the most recent performances of the Bengal D, they do not get hurt by the quick scatback RB's getting around the corner...they get punished between the tackles. Allen has never been a "I'll beat you with physical strength RB"...he needs wide open spaces to be productive.

Wells, however, is a bigger back that gets respect by bowling guys over. Just think of the Zereoue/Bettis difference...Bettis would have a field day against the Bengal defense while Zereoue would be slowed down by the quick Bengal LB's (their one strength).

Anyways, as I said it's a crapshoot week-to-week. I'll put my money on Wells this week.

I also need to update last week's analysis. I'll do that next week along with this one.

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by Jetdoc on Nov 4^th, 2002, 11:06am

on 11/02/02 at 14:54:57, Jetdoc wrote:

David Carr - 190 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 INT, 40 yards rushing, 0 TDs

Jonathan Wells - 110 yards rushing, 1 TD, 10 yards receiving, 0 TDs

James Allen - 20 yards rushing, 0 TD, 40 yards receiving, 0 TD

Corey Bradford - 3 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

Jabar Gaffney - 2 receptions, 40 yards, 0 TD

Billy Miller - 4 receptions, 50 yards, 0 TD

Texans 27 (one defensive/ST TD), Bengals 21

David Carr - 199 yards passing, 0 TD, 2 INT, 9 yards rushing, 0 TDs

Well, I pretty much nailed Carr's yards, but overpredicted his productivity...that one INT in the endzone that was returned all the way flipped his TD that I predicted to an INT. A very rusty showing for Carr against a decent secondary...hopefully his fortunes improve next week against a worse Titan secondary.

Jonathan Wells - 44 yards rushing, 0 TD, 0 yards receiving, 0 TDs

James Allen - 27 yards rushing, 0 TD, 19 yards receiving, 0 TD

Well, Steg, I nailed Allen's yardage like I said I would, but COMPLETELY overestimated Wells' performance. This was primarily due to the Bengals getting ahead very early, which caused the Texans to somewhat abandon the rushing attack. The RBBC monster in Houston is still in full effect, unfortunately, with Wells getting 12 carries this week and Allen seeing 10 carries.

Corey Bradford - 5 receptions, 53 yards, 0 TD

Jabar Gaffney - 3 receptions, 35 yards, 0 TD

Billy Miller - 4 receptions, 46 yards, 0 TD

I don't think I could've predicted this bunch any better, other than Bradford's dropped TD pass. Bradford looked really rusty this week, so that has to concern his owners...was it the lingering effects of inactivity last week (due to his double coverage in Jax) or is this the showing of breaking of his confidence? I'll track the media this week and give you guys an update.

Bengals 38 (one defensive/ST TD), Texans 3

Well, I blew the overall prediction, and also blew the team that got the defensive TD. This skewed my TD predictions for the club, but this was due to an overall crappy performance by the men of Texas. Oh well....

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week Nine Analysis
Post by FourTwoOh on Nov 4^th, 2002, 4:31pm

Note to self:

Nevah use the words optimistic and Texans passing game in the same sentence.

Doh! Did it again! [smiley=downthetubes.gif]