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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
        
(Message started by: Jetdoc on Dec 4^th, 2002, 11:59am)

Title: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by Jetdoc on Dec 4^th, 2002, 11:59am

Sorry guys - I was out of town last week, so I couldn't report. Good thing too - the Texans were HORRIBLE last week and got blanked something fierce.

The Texans face the Pittsburgh Steelers this week and the returning Tommy Maddox. The Steelers have one of the better defenses in the league, which should mean a very long day for the men in steel blue.

Quarterbacks

David Carr continues to be a bright spot for this expansion team, even though he had a TERRIBLE week against Indy last week. I expect that he should have a decent game this week (but still not worth starting) as the Texans rushing attack becomes completely shut down by a great Steeler front seven.

David Carr - 220 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 20 yards rushing, 0 TDs

Runningbacks

James Allen is definitely the more consistent of the two rushers at this point in the season, but that doesn't say much when either RB isn't performing at a level worth a fantasy start yet. It is looking more and more like the Texans will be going offensive line or RB in the early rounds or next year's draft to shore up their running attack (although Charlie Rogers in a Texan uniform would be a pretty sight). The Texans should have an abyssmal rushing attack this week, which means that Allen will see some draws, etc. and will be the more productive of the two.

James Allen - 30 yards rushing, 0 TDs; 30 yards receiving, 0 TDs

Jonathan Wells - 10 yards rushing, 0 TDs; 0 yards receiving, 0 TDs

Wide Receivers

Bradford and Gaffney are starting to show that neither of them are truly #1 WR's in the NFL. Yes, Gaffney is a rookie, but his talent level appears to be similar to that of Peter Warrick. The wideouts will have average games against a decent Steeler secondary, if only for garbage time alone. Bradford may be worth a start in a deeper league this week.

Corey Bradford - 4 receptions, 70 yards, 0 TDs

Jabar Gaffney - 3 receptions, 40 yards, 0 TDs

JaJuan Dawson - 2 receptions, 20 yards, 0 TDs

Billy Miller - 5 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD (come on, BILLY!)

Overall, I expect a sound thrashing of the Texans this week....

Pittsburgh 27, Houston 13

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by FourTwoOh on Dec 4^th, 2002, 12:15pm

Was Wells just simply benched for the early fumble last week? Started off with 3 carries for 0 yards and a fumble, so that's what I've assumed.

Good info, once again.

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by Philly on Dec 4^th, 2002, 1:11pm

on 12/04/02 at 11:59:22, Jetdoc wrote:

Sorry guys - I was out of town last week, so I couldn't report. Good thing too - the Texans were HORRIBLE last week and got blanked something fierce.

C'mon now... that's a lousy excuse for not putting up an analysis. [smiley=hellyeafunny.gif]

Anyway, welcome back. You think the Texans might go for Larry Johnson at RB in next year's draft?

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by ugley on Dec 4^th, 2002, 8:53pm

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

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by StegRock on Dec 8^th, 2002, 6:47am

Jetdoc/anyone knowledgeable of and interested in the topic of Houston's wide receivers,

Corey Bradford has always intrigued me. In your analysis above, Jetdoc, you state that Bradford is showing that he is really not go-to-guy material. However, he was really lighting it up early on. Am I to suppose that what you are saying is that defenses have finally caught up to Bradford? Could his slide (into oblivion, granted) simply be attributed to the Texans' being an expansion team and Carr's being a rookie? How do you think Bradford's future (with the Texans) will go? How long do you think he lasts and what kind of numbers do you think he will have during that time? For that matter, you said the same thing about Gaffney as you did Bradford in your piece above. What is your take on Gaffney's future (with the Texans)? Given that Gaffney is but a rook, do you believe he can someday become an NFL go-to-guy (unlike Bradford), or will the Texans eventually have to look elsewhere to find their go-to wideout?

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by DirkDiggler on Dec 8^th, 2002, 11:18am

The wide receiver corp in Houston is interesting. I think Corey Bradford was a perfect fit down there for THIS year. Rookie QB throwing to a fast receiver. If you watched the Texans games, most of Bradfords TD's were fly patterns. The Defenses have caught on and now you don't see that any more. I think the Texans will bring in one of the stud free agent WR this offseason. I do not think they will go WR in the draft. I think David Boston would be a good fit there.

As far as Gaffney, I like him. I see him turning into a Torry Holt type of WR. But, only time will tell.....

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by Philly on Dec 9^th, 2002, 9:55am

I think Bradford would make a really nice #2 wideout. Based on his play this year and with the Packers, I think he has a future with the Texans. I haven't seen enough of Gaffney to tell if he can be the #1 go-to-guy, but it's hard to expect much out of rookie receivers - very few actually produce in their first year.

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by Jetdoc on Dec 9^th, 2002, 9:58am

Wow...a terrible FF game but a great win for the Houston boys!

Philly - I would guess that a RB is high on the Texans' wish list next year, but I really don't see top-pick material out there this year. I guess they go offensive line to start and try to pick up a RB with their late 1st/2nd round pick. If he's still there (which I doubt), I can see them pouncing on him. Charlie Rogers with their first pick is intriguing...

Steg - Bradford is really shaping up to be Keenan McCardell. An awesome second WR, but doesn't really have the size or the hands to be an every-down possession WR that is unstoppable. Gaffney is a speedster, but again I suspect that he is more of a Peter Warrick-type...fast and great at utility, but more of a third WR.

Given that, I suspect that the Texans will shoot for a WR (if Rogers is available) or will scoop up another WR or two in free agency/later draft rounds and will focus on that wideout in a couple of years. Bradford/Gaffney will learn and continue to develop, but I don't see either of them being major threats in the NFL to go along with Carr's awesome arm.

Title: Re: Houston Texans - Week 14 Analysis
Post by Philly on Dec 9^th, 2002, 10:14am

I really thought that Larry Johnson was the top RB out there, but McGahee's performance this weekend was eye-opening.

He may have propelled himself into a top 3 pick area with his 6 TDs. (Unless he fizzles out in the Bowl game.)

I think the Texans might be best served by trading their pick down 5-8 slots and getting a few more picks and/or a veteran #1 receiver in return. If they stay in the top 10, they'll still be able to get a stud O-lineman.