The Coaching Staff is Failing the Players

[Sportswriter79]

Admittedly, our team has its weaknesses, especially in the secondary, but very few teams can say that they have no areas of weakness.

Nevertheless, with players such as Eric Winston, Duane Brown, Owen Daniels, Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Steve Slaton, Vonta Leach, Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye, Antonio Smith, Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Zac Diles, Glover Quin, Dunta Robinson, Jacoby Jones, Andre Davis and Kris Brown - there is a lot to work with here. Despite their weaknesses, this group fought back today and put itself right on the goal line, in a position to win.

Having done this, the coaching staff decided to take our best single player - the player who might have provided the greatest mismatch in our favor (Andre) - off the field.

Adding insult to injury, the coaches decided to run a play that depended on the success of another group of our players (our guards and center) who were perhaps the greatest mismatch in the Cardinals' favor.

The result was predictable; our line was blown back, and Leach had no chance to provide a good block to free Chris Brown.

Why would the coaches make such a bet, on the weakest part of our line with the Cardinals having 10 or 11 in the box? If I were one of the players that had fought so hard to get us back into a position to win, I would be pretty upset. I don't even blame Myers, Studdard or Briesel. The coaches knew there was a mismatch there. It was their responsibility to call a decent play.

Am I missing something?

[houstonsportsfan09]

I'd like to add one thing. Kubiak is failing by not allowing his QB to audible at the line. I am not seeing the thinking behind that. Can someone give me a plausable reason behind that move?

[Footballz]

Admittedly, our team has its weaknesses, especially in the secondary, but very few teams can say that they have no areas of weakness.

Nevertheless, with players such as Eric Winston, Duane Brown, Owen Daniels, Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Steve Slaton, Vonta Leach, Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye, Antonio Smith, Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Zac Diles, Glover Quin, Dunta Robinson, Jacoby Jones, Andre Davis and Kris Brown - there is a lot to work with here. Despite their weaknesses, this group fought back today and put itself right on the goal line, in a position to win.

Having done this, the coaching staff decided to take our best single player - the player who might have provided the greatest mismatch in our favor (Andre) - off the field.

Adding insult to injury, the coaches decided to run a play that depended on the success of another group of our players (our guards and center) who were perhaps the greatest mismatch in the Cardinals' favor.

The result was predictable; our line was blown back, and Leach had no chance to provide a good block to free Chris Brown.

Why would the coaches make such a bet, on the weakest part of our line with the Cardinals having 10 or 11 in the box? If I were one of the players that had fought so hard to get us back into a position to win, I would be pretty upset. I don't even blame Myers, Studdard or Briesel. The coaches knew there was a mismatch there. It was their responsibility to call a decent play.

Am I missing something?

Makes no sense to me.

[AMartin56]

Am I missing something?

Nope. All of that is dead on. Even if you don't throw to Andre him being out there would have given the defense one other thing to worry about.

Any maybe they ran behind the weakest part of our line TWICE today with the game on the line because they wanted more film to look at this week...**VOMIT**

[SuperstarII]

I'd like to add one thing. Kubiak is failing by not allowing his QB to audible at the line. I am not seeing the thinking behind that. Can someone give me a plausable reason behind that move?

I understand david carr on why he didn't allow that, but Schaub I don't understand.

[wildroot]

Admittedly, our team has its weaknesses, especially in the secondary, but very few teams can say that they have no areas of weakness.

Nevertheless, with players such as Eric Winston, Duane Brown, Owen Daniels, Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Steve Slaton, Vonta Leach, Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye, Antonio Smith, Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Zac Diles, Glover Quin, Dunta Robinson, Jacoby Jones, Andre Davis and Kris Brown - there is a lot to work with here. Despite their weaknesses, this group fought back today and put itself right on the goal line, in a position to win.

Having done this, the coaching staff decided to take our best single player - the player who might have provided the greatest mismatch in our favor (Andre) - off the field.

Adding insult to injury, the coaches decided to run a play that depended on the success of another group of our players (our guards and center) who were perhaps the greatest mismatch in the Cardinals' favor.

The result was predictable; our line was blown back, and Leach had no chance to provide a good block to free Chris Brown.

Why would the coaches make such a bet, on the weakest part of our line with the Cardinals having 10 or 11 in the box? If I were one of the players that had fought so hard to get us back into a position to win, I would be pretty upset. I don't even blame Myers, Studdard or Briesel. The coaches knew there was a mismatch there. It was their responsibility to call a decent play.

Am I missing something?

Yeah...I mean, that surprises you?
Here we are running this ZBS with smaller lineman and he tries to run it up the middle. Schaub just threw for like 10 straight completions and he dosen't think he could get one more completion from the ONE Yard line? Or how about this...four QB sneaks would have netted us a yard, right? But no...lets ask our smallish lineman to move the Cards massive D-Line instead. I swear, I don't know what that man is thinking sometimes.

[houstonsportsfan09]

I understand david carr on why he didn't allow that, but Schaub I don't understand.

Yeah I don't either. Just another answer we're waiting for of the many questions to be answered.

[Sportswriter79]

Yeah...I mean, that surprises you?
Here we are running this ZBS with smaller lineman and he tries to run it up the middle. Schaub just threw for like 10 straight completions and he dosen't think he could get one more completion from the ONE Yard line? Or how about this...four QB sneaks would have netted us a yard, right? But no...lets ask our smallish lineman to move the Cards massive D-Line instead. I swear, I don't know what that man is thinking sometimes.

Honestly, I believe that there are probably a couple of dozen posters on this Board that would have known enough not to bet the win on such a call. And yet the coaches don't know? I hope that Mr. McNair is beginning to figure it out.

Even if that play had worked, it was still a bad bet. Just like that shuffle pass to Slaton. Ridiculous.

[davebar]

Completely agree with the above poster, terrible play call on the goal line, should have ran play-action pass to #80 to the corner endzone.

No reason that we shouldn't be 3-2 or 4-1 seeing how they blew another win against Jaguars.

It's very dissapointing to come back from such a deficit to lose that way...

[GroovyTexan]

you aren't missing anything - coaches are failing the players. in game preparation, personnel selection, and especially the play calling. the offensive play calling has been pretty aweful all season, especially when it has mattered.

That said, Chris Brown is failing the Texans. I have watched that last play over and over. If he runs at the right tackle, instead of at the guard, he scores, probably walks in. Chris Brown should be cut. He is not a nfl caliber goalline back. Chris Meyers should be a back up. He is the biggest reason why we can't run the ball, especially on the goalline. The coaches are the ones relying on these two guys to score when we need it most. You would think they could figure out the personnell and scheme during practice to run the ball 1 yard when you have 3 plays to do it. It's like the coaches are clueless when it matters most.

2010 Needs (draft or FA):

lock-down cover corner
center
Power RB

To lesser extent:
DT
FS/SS
QB of the future

[youngtexanbull]

I'd like to add one thing. Kubiak is failing by not allowing his QB to audible at the line. I am not seeing the thinking behind that. Can someone give me a plausable reason behind that move?

Kubiak says that each play has a few options that can be changed at the line. Considering Matt's poor decision making though, do you really wanna see him audible?

Anyways, I'm guessing Kubiak gives Schaub options on every play, but it's up to Schaub to make the best decision.

[jackfarnswurth]

I had hoped Kubiak would be our Jeff Fisher, but after listening to his show on 610, I doubt it.