It’s going to be hard to find words to describe today’s latest insane, ridiculous loss. You can take your pick of who to blame. Gary Kubiak tops the list, as always. Glover Quin certainly didn’t help with his “bat the ball across and back into the field of play rather than bat the ball down” mishap… but that was such a fluke, I really can’t blame Quin. You can blame the run defense, you can blame the pass defense. You can blame the silly, untimely penalties. You can blame the missed tackles.
You know how the song goes. You don’t need me to sing it.
The Jaguars had their best offensive output of the season. The Texans have SO much more talent than the Jaguars… it’s not even close. But this team can’t play defense, and they don’t play well enough to create their own breaks. Bad luck? Sure, there’s a little of that – but if you don’t play like garbage, you don’t need luck.
Much more to come on this, of course. The Texans’ playoff hopes have been over since the loss on Monday night to the Colts, but now we have to start wondering if this team can get to 8-8 or even 7-9 this year. The calls for Gary Kubiak’s head are coming fast and furious, and while I can’t disagree with any of that – it’s not going to happen anytime soon, so there’s not much point in me doing an entry on possible new candidates. I’d just have to do it over and over again as the speculation mounts, and then yet AGAIN when the firing happens if and when it actually happens.
That said, if you’re wondering if I’ve finally come around on the Fire Kubiak thing (as I’ve been a staunch defender) – the answer is yes. I know I’m way too late to the party, but I’m there. I don’t see much value in doing it right now, because you’re not going to sign a long-term answer mid-season, plus there are Rooney Rule issues. After the season though? They have to make the move. However, the lockout comes into play as well. That’s fodder for another entry, though. For now, let hellfire and brimstone rain down.
Nov 14, 2010 at 21:41:26
4-6. They aren’t beating the jets. No chance. We need to clean house unfortunately.
We might get lucky and get to 9-7, but if kubiak and bush and even smith keep their jobs then we are all bigger fools than once thought
Nov 15, 2010 at 10:06:34
This is my first time to comment and I do not want to overstep my bounds, but I think there is one thing it seems like no one is saying. I know our defense has played terrible, and you can blame that on youth or lack of talent or whatever you want to blame it on. But why is no one calling for Frank Bush’s head? I think eventually you have to look at the scheme and blame our defensive woes on that rather than blaming it on the young players who were thrown to the wolves. I am so sick of seeing this soft zone on third down. It is starting to get old. I know Kubiak is to blame for a lot of what goes on, but Frank Bush does not deserve a pass. Please say that someone else sees this and it is not just me.
Nov 15, 2010 at 10:14:02
Thomas, thanks for commenting!
Everyone has been calling for Frank Bush’s head for a long time now. Even back to last year. If you were to get into the Twitter thing, it’s a great way to follow all kinds of discussions about the Texans. It may not have made it to the blog here, but that’s probably because it’s just been beaten to death elsewhere – but yes, everyone wants the guy gone.
Nov 15, 2010 at 13:16:57
Wow, this is worse than I thought. I expected the Texans to get at least one win between the Chargers and Jaguars games. Now a 4-10 record after week 15 is looking like a real possibility. Hopefully, a few teams will start taking them lightly and the Texans can sneak a victory or two in the next five weeks … once they’re out of playoff contention, of course. Apparently, this defensive unit can’t live with itself if the opposing team doesn’t score 30+ points. They’ll even bat the ball to them just to facilitate that goal. Seriously though, they should make a defensive coordinator change ASAP.
Nov 15, 2010 at 14:25:09
Frank Bush gone? That’s already understood. Let’s clean house (Coaching Staff) after Week 17.
My only question is would Arian Foster and this Offensive Line contribute the same in the Run Offense under a new staff?
Nov 15, 2010 at 15:00:55
Yesterday was the 1st time I cried since Mufasa died on the Lion King. Man, that was tough to see! The way I see it, all is not lost for us though. We still have 3 winnable division games so my fingers are crossed!
I still think Foster should get more touches in the 2nd half, the less time our defense is on the field the better.
Nov 15, 2010 at 16:11:45
I’d love to know exactly how the power structure is with the Texans. From play calling to personnel, it would be nice to know who exactly is responsible for what. I’m pretty sure we can all agree that most things wrong with the Texans fall at Kubiak’s doorstep. He hired Bush and promoted him to DC. He had final say in getting rid of Reeves and Bennett and going young on defense. As good as our offense looks at times, they can’t sustain drives and the play calling make sense to no one. Kubiak is built for bad times. His personality and patience pays off when times are tough. Unfortunately, he’s horrible in preparation for individual games and for the season in general. I’m convinced we need someone else to push our team forward. I’m rooting for Dungy for GM and Gruden for HC. Those two, plus a good draft, plus Ryans, Tate, and Barwin might equate to an interesting year NEXT year. This year is shot. Any win now just allows Kubiak to keep his job and makes our draft picks lower.
Nov 15, 2010 at 17:24:35
I was driving back from San Antonio yesterday and listening to the game on the radio. When I heard the game winning call, I just laughed. I wasn’t even depressed, much less angry. I got home and promptly deleted the game from my DVR without even watching it. I’m not sure that I like where I’m at with regards to the team, but there I am. Apathyville.
Nov 15, 2010 at 18:40:41
Give up on Tony Dungy. HE’s fine where he is in life and won’t come back.
I doubt Jon Gruden wil come to H-Town, though if he coaches it WILL be somewhere that already has a QB because he killed himself in Tampa by refusing to find a young QB to develop.
Right now, I’m looking at Gregg Williams. I think Super MArio, Cushing, and Quin are three of the best in their position at blitzing (for what that’s worth) and that would entice him. I think whomever he coaches for again will see a lot of aggressive play on both sides of the ball because he was hyper-conservative (punted so often inside enemy territory that it caused TMQ to coin the phrase Maroon Zone) and has learned from his mistakes.
Plus, McNair would like it because G-Dubz would be popular due to his success with the Saints (AND BEATING F’N peyton!) while also allowing him to kill two birds (Kubes and Bush) with one stone.
I personally would love to see Mike Zimmer, but I predict that he is promoted to HC when the Bengals fire MArvin Lewis. Anyone with a brain sees the Bengals’ defense – Palmer, Ocho and Lewis = competitive playoff team.
(I also see Jason Garrett getting at least one year to keep his job since Jerry Jones pretty much promised it to him, Bill Cowher taking over at Carolina, and Jon Gruden sitting it out one more year at MNF to see if he can secure the Dallas job while Tony Romo is still good in 2012)