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Can The Houston Texans Win With The 30th Ranked Running Game?

by 
jesse5shsu
in NFL Football / Houston Texans
October 12, 2009, 5:14 pm
rating
9.3
7 votes
Introduction
After another gut wrenching loss because of a failure to convert on 4th and goal with less than a yard to go, I ask the question of whether they can have a winning season with the current scheme and personnel?
The problems started in the first game of the season against the New York Jets, and Rex Ryan's blitz happy and dangerous defense. The Texans had multiple problems in that game, but one of the key problems was the lack of a run game. This left the defense free to blitz Schaub and disrupt a passing game that is normally very potent.



The Second game saw the Texans beat a divisional foe in the Tennessee Titans, but only after a comeback, and a magnificent game from stud receiver Andre Johnson. The Texans showed again a lack of execution in the run game, but were bailed out by the passing game of Schaub to Johnson.



Game Three saw the return of another weapon in Kevin Walter, and another nail-biter with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Walter had a great game, as did most of the passing side of the Texan Offense. Slaton finally found a little running room, but in short yardage, the Texans failed to convert multiple times. The main failure came at the end of the game with the Texans in position to tie the game and facing a goal to go situation. The Texans attempted to run their goal line back Chris Brown, and failed to convert as he fumbled the ball just before crossing the plain of the end zone.



Finally the Texans showed a little spark in the run game with a good win over the Oakland Raiders. The problem is that it was against the Oakland Raiders, who are not exactly killing the competition right now.The Raiders do however have a good pass defense and one of the best Corners in all of football in Nhamdi Asomugha, so to be able to put up points on them was still a little bit of an achievement for the Texans. The Texan Defense really came up big in this game, and started to show that the young Linebackers are really starting to gel.



The game that took place in Glendale Arizona yesterday between the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals showcased, perhaps, the best two Receivers in the NFL, and Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson lived up to all of the hype. The problem came when the Texans faced short yardage situations; especially the last series of the game when they failed to convert a game-tying touchdown on 4th & Goal from inside the one yard line. The good news is that the Texan Defense shut down a prolific Arizona offense in the second half to a tune of 43 yards in the half.



Moving forward the Texans have some areas of concern. For the most part, however, their defense is coming together and playing pretty well. They are still a bit weak in the pass defense, but the D-Line is beginning to put more pressure on the QB, and the Safeties seem to be better now that rookie Glover Quin is playing more. They also acquired Marcus Pollard from the Chiefs, and his hard-hitting style seems to be contagious.



They key is still the running game. They need to establish it earlier, and get Slaton some touches between the 20's, and come in with the power runners in the red zone as they have done, but the offensive line has to get a push off the line of scrimmage, or those short yardage plays will continue to haunt them. Although under sized, the line should be able to scheme more efficiently, and pull a guard or two to try and get the defense leaning one direction, for better success. I blame the coaching staff as much as anything right now for the lack of a running attack, and I think that they will need to change up the blocking schemes to better fit the personnel the have on the line.



To close out the article, I would like to make one last suggestion. Please, Gary Kubiak, remember to try a couple of quick hitting plays to Mr. Vonta Leach in the short yardage situations. The man is 253 lbs. and could deliver some power to that running game on a quick handoff or two.
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jesse5shsu is reporting from , TX
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Comments (28)
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 12/10/09 Wow Pictures came out a little bigger than I expected.
Offlineboogss03 says .. on 12/10/09 Nice Job. Sorry for what will happen to them this weekend.
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 12/10/09 Thanks bud. Haha, Ya this weekend will be a good game. I am sure it will come right down to the end LOL. Both teams have been in some nail-biters.
Offlinemenofresh says .. on 12/10/09 just to show how bad the running game is this year is when we want Leach in the game. after looking at the replay I think if Brown would have tried at least to jump over into the end zone he might of broken the plane.
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 12/10/09 Haha ya I would like to see Leach a few times in the short yardage situations. Brown is a tougher downhill runner thatn Slaton, but I don't think ha has whatever it is that makes a great goal line back. I honestly think Moats might be more effective. He is not that big, but he runs downhill and really explodes into the hole. I like Brown's size in the short yardage, but not real sure about the goal-to-go situations. I think they would be better served trying to get Andre & Daniels the ball.
Offlineavidd.gain says .. on 12/10/09 Raiders is a no show, other than that I will take your word for it.
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 Thanks for the comment.
Onlinebobby48 says .. on 13/10/09 Nice article very informative, I like the photo's as well
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 Thanks bud.
Onlinebobby48 says .. on 13/10/09 Nice article very informative, I like the photo's as well a nom.
Onlinebobby48 says .. on 13/10/09 Sorry for the double comment, I'll get Lilly to also read it and comment
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 No problem on the double comment. It happens pretty easy on these, and auto's. Thanks for spreading the word.
OfflineThis_Guy says .. on 13/10/09 I still think they should have gone with the jumbo set on 1st and goal and thrown it to Daniels with AJ on the other side of the field distracting the safeties.
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 I would have been fine with that. Schaub blew the pass to Driessen, so we probably would be talking as much if that would have ended differently, but why wouldn't you use AJ, Daniels, and Walter in that situation. I agree with running the ball on first, and then at least have AJ in the game.
OfflineThis_Guy says .. on 13/10/09 They should have spread him(AJ) out to one side of the field, which would have drawn away two defenders and still set up like they were going to run so that the defense would stay bunched up in the middle. Then run a play action bootleg pass to Daniels. Easy 6 points.
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 What I don't get is why you and I can see this, and the people that get paid millions cannot.
OfflineThis_Guy says .. on 13/10/09 Not sure. LOL!
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 You are maxed btw.
OfflineSuper Lil says .. on 13/10/09 Jesse your maxed, I like all your articles so roots and a nom. for you. Now don't get mad at me and Daddy you to, But...Your QB sucks I can't watch him! If you had another QB you guys would go a hell of a lot further and I will leave it at that
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 Thanks for the comment. I appreciate the praise. I am not mad by that, but I don't think you can really say he sucks. He is arguably a top ten QB in the league right now, and I think he has flaws, but to say he sucks is a little overboard. I think he needs to limit his mistakes, and I am not sure that he can win in the playoffs.
OfflineSuper Lil says .. on 13/10/09 He's moves out of the pocket under the slightest pressure! He's not the same as he was last year for some reason or another. In the Jets game I noticed he doesn't step up into the pocket but he moves back and that's where he gets sack!! He makes me nervous when he does that. Top Ten, I would honestly have to check him out I don't know off the top of my head if he's in the top ten or not? You see him every week we don't being in New York
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 Well if you are judging by the Jets game then no wonder you think he sucks. He had a sprained ankle coming into that game, and it was also probably the worst game I have seen him play in Houston. He followed that game with 357 yards & 4 TDs w/ 0 INTs, then 300 yards 3 TDs & 1 INTs, then a decent game vs the Raiders, where they barely threw the ball because the Texans jumped out to a big lead, then 371 yards 3 TDs & 1 INT last week vs the Cards.
OfflineSuper Lil says .. on 13/10/09 Yes I went on line and looked him up under the heading " The Top Ten QBs 2009" it's a crap shoot list...Yahoo has him at # 5, but CBS sports don't list him in the top ten, neither does bleacher report but I don't know how up to date bleacher report is
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 14/10/09 Well I did say arguably. LOL. No I really think is right there in the top 10 in the league. He is 3rd in yards & TDs. he is 5th in yds/game, Comp & Att. He is the 9th highest rated passer, and is 14th in comp %. All those numbers added together get him a spot in the top 10 Statistically ate least. His 4Int isn't terrible either when you consider that Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner have the same amount.
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 13/10/09 Well I did say arguably. LOL. No I really think is right there in the top 10 in the league. He is 3rd in yards & TDs. he is 5th in yds/game, Comp & Att. He is the 9th highest rated passer, and is 14th in comp %. All those numbers added together get him a spot in the top 10 Statistically ate least. His 4Int isn't terrible either when you consider that Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner have the same amount.
OfflineSuper Lil says .. on 14/10/09 Bobby told me that they need to get there running game going a bit, so other teams will stop looking for the pass so much. Bobby said the kid is a good QB amongst a good crop that's in the NFL right now, probably the best group of QBs in years
Offlinelarkel3333 says .. on 16/10/09 Our guards suck, plain and simple.
Offlinejesse5shsu says .. on 16/10/09 Ya. Injuries have played into that some, but I agree out O-line isn't getting a push, so they need to scheme to make up for some of the lack of efficiency.