Houston Blogs: Houston Sports Blog

Fourth Quarter continued

Texans start the drive with a 44 yard completion to Jacoby Jones to the Tennessee 24..Great catch by Andre short of a first by an inch..they go for it and Schaub gets the first down on a sneak. Under 5 minutes left. they need to milk some clock and score...3rd and 9 for the Texans..3:43 left...Chris Brown to the 5..Kris Brown for the 22yard field goal...Texans score 10 straight points and lead 34-31 with 2:55 left...Now for the defense...:Huge defensive series for the Texans coming up...Collins fumbles and Zgonona recovers and just have to run out the 1:32...Watch Inside the Game tonight...10:35 on ABC 13...I'm headed to the locker room..this could be the most important win in franchise history. See you tonight.

Texans come back

Andre Johnson making some great grabs..Draws interference at the one...then on the play fake to Chris Brown Schaub finds Owen Daniels on a great touchdown and we're tied again at 31..1:15 left in the third. No defense on either side here but this one's fun to watch.

Texans Answer..Twice

The Texans offense answered...1st down, play fake..Andre Johnson wide open...72 yards later it's 21-14 Titans...now the Texans defense has to have a hold....and they get it...Eugene Wilson with the pick and the Texans with the ball on the Titans 29...Jacoby Jones drops a wide open pass near the goal...But then h comes right back with a great catch for the touchdown..Titans challenge that the ball came out when Jones rolled over...Challenge denied...game tied at 21...it's gotten quiet here at the stadium.

No Defense..Again

2nd quarter..Collins has all day to pass..no pressure...Tennessee is running whenever they want and it looks like the Texans defense has no idea whats coming and if they do they can't stop it. Collins just hit Washington in the end zone...Titans have scored twice on 3rd downs..sound familiar...21-7 Tennessee...12 minute left in the half.

Bad Defense

Next series the defense breaks down and running back Chris Johnson again...a 70 yard touchdown pass ...Someone, probably a linebacker blows an assignment and Johnson is wide open..no one near...14-7 now...Titans...1:19 left in the first.

Getting Better

TTexans get their first good drive of the season..9 minutes...converting 3 3rd downs and winding up with a much needed 19 yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson in the corner of the end zone...Hopefully some momentum started here...Tied at 7 ..2:13 to play in the first.

A Few Texans Changes

Right now it's about 15 minutes before kickoff and the Texans have made a few changes. As I've said all week this is a pivotal game for this franchise. Stink it up like they did last week and the season will be very hard to salvage. Play hard and somehow win and it could be turned around. Gary Kubiak may not admit it but he's taken away much of the play calling from Kyle Shanahan. Antonio Smith the 35 million dollar free agent is no longer starting. Tim Bulman starts in his place. Ever since his run in with D line coach Bill Kollar he's been pouting and not giving much effort. Andre Davis is out and Jacoby Jones starts for him.

Kubiak Back Calling Plays?

I'm in Nashville with the Texans ahead of tomorrow's extremely important game with the Titans, and what I've heard from two separate sources is that Gary Kubiak will have a much bigger say in the offensive play calling than he did in game one.  As we all remember they could'nt get anything going offensively, and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan kept trying to force the run when that simply was'nt working. And they could'nt find a way to get the ball to their best player Andre Johnson. No innovation or creativity. With the heat being turned up on Kubiak word I'm getting is that if he does'nt call all the plays he'll be much more involved in what plays are called.

Finally..a game

The boredom of Texans training camp finally lifts to a degree this week with the first preseason game Saturday night in Kansas City. Observations from week one. This is a much more mature team, not getting too high or too low. Very businesslike and focused. I think the two new kids on defense, Cushing and Barwin and going to pay huge dividends and open things up for the rest of the defense. And that will take pressure off the maligned secondary. The rush should be better so the passes won't be as accurate. Dunta will be back and only Rick Smith and Dunta know what really happened in the negotiations. I still think the Texans are smart in not giving Dunta long term money since he never lived up to his previous levels when he returned from injury last year. Offensively, again, it will make a huge difference if Chris Brown can finally make it through a season. I'm going with 10-6 this season. What do you think? Give me your prediction.

Week 1 in the books, Where's Dunta?

Its an old fashion Texas Stand-off   The Texans in one corner.. Dunta Robinson in the other.  I don't think either is going to win when it comes to putting the best team possible on the field.  Sure Dunta is going to get his 10 million for the season, but can he really be ready to start against the Jets if he waits until a few days before to show up.

The Texans refuse to agree not to give him the franchise tag againnext season.  I guess they really feel like he's gone if they do and maybe they're right.   The Texans have already ticked their star cornerback off, as well as their star linebacker and star tight end, let's hope its not a pattern.   Dunta sounds like he's ready to bolt to another team if the Texans don't stick to their guns.  Robinson is out to prove his point and he is.  The problem with all the early camp injuries to the cornerbacks, its the on the field product that will suffer not to mention the locker room.    

Chose a side the management or the player, I don't see either one winning this one.

Bob Slovak