Week 17 matchup: Patriots at Texans

[jmt57]

With the game 24 hours away, I figure it's about time to look at Sunday's opponent. Here's a look at the game from a writer Deep In The Heart Of Texas.

Week 17 matchup: Texans vs. Patriots by John (Die Hard?) McClain of the Houston Chronicle

I gave the Texans two advantages against the Patriots.

I gave them the advantage in their passing game against New England's pass defense. The Texans have the second-ranked passing game in the NFL. I had no problem giving them the advantage.

The other one was close. It was special teams. Joe Marciano always puts special teams on the field that are among the best from top to bottom. The only thing that stands out is their punt coverage, which is second in the league. Matt Turk plays a big role in that statistic. They're not spectacular in any other area, just solid all-around.

The biggest advantage for the Patriots is going to be Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker, the league's leading receiver, going after the Texans' secondary. If Miami's Chad Henne picked them apart in the second half, imagine what Brady will do to them, especially if Mario Williams pulls another vanishing act.

The one I hesitated giving to the Patriots was their running game against the Texans' run defense. Over the last 12 games, the Texans have allowed 85.2 yards a game. The Patriots don't have one back who stands out. It's more by committee, but they get the job done.

You can read the rest of the column here.

 

[jmt57]

Even with Pro Bowl nod, Mario Williams' potential unmet

Apparently the Houston media is not happy with the play of Mario Williams, who has 8 sacks and was just named to the Pro Bowl. Hey, maybe Houston will trade him for Adalius Thomas!

Pro Bowl nod aside, Mario's potential unmet by Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle

With the Texans' season on the line last week in Miami, Williams barely showed up. If you're looking at your stat sheet, you might think he didn't show up.

Zero sacks. Zero tackles.

Those numbers can be taken out of context. He was there. Sort of.

“He needs to play better than he played last week,” Kubiak said.
How's that for going out on a limb? Williams had a big game three weeks ago against Seattle after a heart-to-heart talk with his coach. Maybe they need to sit down again before the Patriots come to town for a game that could get the Texans into the playoffs.

“They (the Dolphins) threw the ball 55 times,” Kubiak said. “He needs to show up more in those situations, and he's going to have to do that this weekend. We're going to all have to play even better than we did last week.”

Column continued here

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Andre Johnson is going to be a really tough match-up. Fortunately, this game doesn't count for much so I can't imagine BB pulling out any tricks to stop him.

 

[jmt57]

Schaub has history against Pats

Schaub has history against Pats by John McClain of the Houston Chronicle

In 2005, Matt Schaub's second season with Atlanta, he was forced to start against New England because Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was injured.

Schaub threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He was asked if he'd take that performance on Sunday.

“Yeah, I would, but not the outcome because we got beat on a late field goal (31-28),” he said.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick remembers Schaub's performance.
“He had a big day, threw the ball all over the place,” Belichick said. “We couldn't stop him. Ran, got out of the pocket a couple of times, scrambled. He was poised, accurate and made good decisions.”

 

[jmt57]

Pollard, Brady revisit battle of wounded knee

Pollard, Brady revisit battle of wounded knee by John McClain of the Houston Chronicle

At Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Pollard will line up across from Brady for the first time since that game the Patriots won 17-10.

“Well, it's football,” Pollard said this week when asked about the play. “It happened in the game, and when the game's over, I leave everything on the field. It was nothing intentional.”

After Kansas City waived Pollard on the last roster reduction before the 2009 season started, the Texans signed him two weeks later. His promotion into the starting lineup coincided with the team's defensive transformation.

Without Pollard in the lineup, the Texans were 1-2 and allowed 436.7 yards, including 205 rushing, and 28.7 points per game.

With Pollard in the lineup over the last 12 games, they have gone 7-5 and allowed on average 297.6 yards, including 85.2 rushing, and 18.3 points.
Despite not starting until the fourth game, Pollard is third on the team with 96 tackles behind Pro Bowl linebackers Brian Cushing (128) and DeMeco Ryans (116).

There's also a short video where Pollard talks about meeting Brady on the field for the first time since last year's injury.

Pollard video

 

[jmt57]

Andre Johnson is going to be a really tough match-up. Fortunately, this game doesn't count for much so I can't imagine BB pulling out any tricks to stop him.

No receiver in the NFL is a bigger part of his team's offense then Andre Johnson. Johnson has been targeted a league-high 163 times; by comparison Randy Moss has been thrown to 131 times and Wes Welker has been targeted 160 times. Johnson has 95 receptions, which is tied for 4th with Reggie Wayne; an NFL-high 1504 yards - 168 more yards than Welker, who ranks second; and had 9 receiving touchdowns, which is 7th best in the NFL. He's averaging 15.8 yards per catch, which is 6th best among receivers with at least 1000 yards.

So how much does Houston depend on Johnson? Think of this: add up the receiving yards of the #2 receiver (Kevin Walter, 581), and the rushing yards of their top two running backs (Steve Slaton, 437; Ryan Moats, 373), and that's still more than 100 less yards than Johnson's receiving yardage.

 

[jmt57]

Texans Report: Strategy and Personnel

Texans report: Strategy and personnel by The Sports Exchange for cbssports.com

GAME PLAN

The Texans discovered a running game in their 27-20 victory at Miami. If rookie Arian Foster can pick up where he left off after gaining 97 yards and averaging 5.1 per carry against the Dolphins, it'll take some pressure off Matt Schaub. No matter how unsuccessful they are at running, the Texans still do it because the play-fakes enable them to have an effective bootleg game. Schaub is very effective at rolling right with no one on him and waiting for a receiver to cut across the field for a big gain.

Defensively, the Texans have to shut down the running game, which they've been able to do over the last 12 games. They want to put pressure on Tom Brady and try to disrupt his timing with his receivers. If he gets time to throw, look for him to pick on CB Dunta Robinson, who'll probably cover Randy Moss. FS John Busing will have to provide double coverage. Rookie CB Glover Quin is going to have a long afternoon trying to keep up with WR Wes Welker.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Texans CB Dunta Robinson vs. Patriots WR Randy Moss. Robinson, 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, covers the opponent's best receiver. He's not hitting as hard as he used to. He's not tackling as well. He doesn't have an interception. And he can be beaten deep. Expect Moss to go deep on him and to try to use his 6-4, 210-pound size advantage near the sideline. If they're in the red zone, expect Moss to run fade routes and try to outjump Robinson, who still has good ball skills. Robinson still knows how to reach and grab and break up. Robinson must have help. The free safety, John Busing, is a strong safety starting because of injuries to Dominique Barber and Eugene Wilson, both of whom are on injured reserve. He lacks range. Moss can take advantage of Busing if he's the one providing help over the top.

Texans MLB DeMeco Ryans vs. Patriots RB Laurence Maroney. Ryans, who was voted to his second Pro Bowl, is the second-leading tackler behind OLB Brian Cushing. Ryans patrols the middle of the defense. He's having the best season of his four-year career. He's become more intense and physical. He doesn't miss many tackles. He's improved at shedding blockers. Not only does he have the range to make plays from sideline to sideline, but he's been shooting the gaps and penetrating more. He's tied for the team lead with 12 tackles for loss. Maroney leads the Patriots in rushing, but he's one of four backs who'll carry the ball for an offense that averages 123.1 yards rushing. Ryans will wrap up and hope one of his teammates can strip the ball, forcing a fumble that'll shorten the field for the offense.

 

[mgteich]

Of course no one is talking about the real matchups, the first string of Houston against our second and thrid string players.

 

[Patspsycho]

Re: Texans Report: Strategy and Personnel

These are all individual matchups. On paper Houston beats us, but in the game they will lose, because the coaching is inconsistent and their game-planning leaves something to be desired for. That is why Kubiak is on his way out. Matt Bowen picked the Texans as his surprise sleeper team, and I'm sure anyone else would do, looking at their strengths on paper, but execution and proper game planning is entirely something else.

 

[jmt57]

Re: Texans Report: Strategy and Personnel

These are all individual matchups. On paper Houston beats us, but in the game they will lose, because the coaching is inconsistent and their game-planning leaves something to be desired for. That is why Kubiak is on his way out. Matt Bowen picked the Texans as his surprise sleeper team, and I'm sure anyone else would do, looking at their strengths on paper, but execution and proper game planning is entirely something else.

Yeah, I had forgotten that they were the trendy pick before the season started for the team that would make a big leap into the playoffs in 2009. As much as we have been upset by the outcome of close games by the Pats, they've got to be kicking themselves about that even more in Houston. The Texans are 4-6 in games decided by 8 points or less and had an 0-3 midseason stretch where they lost those three games by a total of 14 points.

Not much balance on their offense: their offense ranks 2nd in passing yards with 291, but ranks 31st in rushing with 88.7 yards per game. Their defense is still very average: 15th in points allowed (20.4); 14th in yards allowed (325.4); 17th in passing yards (216.3); and 13th in rushing yards (109.1).


On a side note, all the draft second guessers will get to see Brian Cushing and Connor Barwin.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

No receiver in the NFL is a bigger part of his team's offense then Andre Johnson. Johnson has been targeted a league-high 163 times; by comparison Randy Moss has been thrown to 131 times and Wes Welker has been targeted 160 times. Johnson has 95 receptions, which is tied for 4th with Reggie Wayne; an NFL-high 1504 yards - 168 more yards than Welker, who ranks second; and had 9 receiving touchdowns, which is 7th best in the NFL. He's averaging 15.8 yards per catch, which is 6th best among receivers with at least 1000 yards.

So how much does Houston depend on Johnson? Think of this: add up the receiving yards of the #2 receiver (Kevin Walter, 581), and the rushing yards of their top two running backs (Steve Slaton, 437; Ryan Moats, 373), and that's still more than 100 less yards than Johnson's receiving yardage.

Agreed, he is the key to that offense. But for all the targets and receptions and yards, I haven't really seen Schaub forcing the ball to Johnson. He just always seems to find a way to get open, apart from that first game against Revis.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I find Pollard's body language very interesting, specifically his head being generally downward and how he keeps putting his hand over his mouth.

 

[The Dynasty]

I actually would like to see BB play the defensive starters longer than the offense. The defense hasnt exactly proven themselves against a quality offense yet this season. This week gives them a good opportunity to do so. I think playing them into the 4th quarter would give them a good benchmark as to where they are against top offenses like they will be facing in the playoffs.

 

[jmt57]

I actually would like to see BB play the defensive starters longer than the offense. The defense hasnt exactly proven themselves against a quality offense yet this season. This week gives them a good opportunity to do so. I think playing them into the 4th quarter would give them a good benchmark as to where they are against top offenses like they will be facing in the playoffs.

While I'd like the momentum and confidence continue to build, I think players like Wilfork and Warren being that much closer to 100% healthy might be a higher priority.

 

[The Dynasty]

While I'd like the momentum and confidence continue to build, I think players like Wilfork and Warren being that much closer to 100% healthy might be a higher priority.

Yes you're right. I should have been more clear and said secondary should play into the 4th quarter.

 

[jmt57]

Five things to watch for

From Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald: Five things to watch in the Patriots-Texans game

1. - How long Brady plays
2. - Whether the Pats can contain Andre Johnson
3. - Can the Pats keep pounding on the ground
4. - Are the Pats focused on this week or next
5. - Can the Pats stay confident no matter what


Patriots Daily has a look at the key Houston players here: QB Matt Schaub, RB Arian Foster, WR Andre Johnson, DE Mario Williams, and LB DeMeco Ryans.

First Impressions – the Houston Texans | Patriots Daily