HOU-NOLA Preview

Hey guys, just a quick rundown of what we'll be seeing tonight as our boys take on the New Orleans Saints. They've been practicing against the defending super bowl champs all week are ready to get things going in the superdome tonight. Heres the three things I'm most interested in seeing tonight.
　
Trindon Holiday - All I've heard about this guy from most Texans fans is how he didn't do much in the return game against Arizona. Personally, I think its just impatience for th most part. People who judge a team or player based solely on one game must either not watch much sports, or still have a second grade reading level. The first time he ever touched an NFL football, he returned the opening kickoff for thirty yards. That is not what I'd call disapointing. The rest of the night was admittedly lackluster at best, but I expect to see big things tonight. The shellshock will have worn off, and he'll be looking to showcase his talents to anyone who will watch.


The RBs - Wow... ok, lets all take a deep breath before this one. I'm sure no one was more disapointed with last week's game that Steve Slaton. His fumble at the goal line was eerily reminiscant of last season. The simple fact is that he is an amazing player with an enormous, glaring weakness. If he wants to be remembered as anything other than a rookie fluke, he's going to have to learn how to hold on to the ball. Unfortunately, there isn't alot of ways to coach around this, he's gotta do it on his own. With Tate injured, the remaining four are going to get more touches than previously planned, and they're going to have to make them count. Its not unreasonable to hold these players to high standards. We had the number one passing attack in the league last year, and still missed the playoffs. That is unacceptable, plain and simple. A better run game will not only give the Texans something they've always locked, clock control, but it'll help the passing attack exponentially. It'll give Schaub a lil much needed rest, and the play-action will help get the receivers space down the field when the safteys and/or linebackers bite. Also, I'm enjoying watching Arian Foster, and hope he'll continue to impress.


Kareem Jackson - First round draft pick, Jackson, did not start the preseason opener against Arizona due to a death in the family. He's behind where he should be, but practicing against Andre Johnson every day is moving him along nicely. He'll see his first NFL game experience tonight, and he's going to have to step up in a big way to prevent Drew Brees from walking all over us.

Article by Chase
Follow on Twitter @ChaserJames

Texans Training Camp Update

Hear that? The sound of helmets slamming together? The whistles and screams of coaches? The silence coming from the rookies, seeing as they're too busy carrying Andre Johnson's pads.... Well, that can only mean one thing; training camp is here. Our steel blue boys are back in pads, back to hitting eachother, back to getting paid way too much money to play a game. But I digress. To this fan, those wonderful sounds are better than Beethoven. Add in the fact that Andre Johnson has agreed to stick around till 2016, and I’m grinning like a cheshire cat. Bob McNair is even going so far as publicly expressiong expectations for Johnson to be the team's first Hall of Fame player. He may be the highest paid reciever in the NFL, but he didn’t make a spectacle about it like some people might have. On top of that, we’ve now signed every draft pick, as well as resigning Bernard Pollard, DeMeco Ryans, Kevin Walter, andOwen Daniels. (free angent tender)

The rookies getting the most attention in camp are first and second round picks CB Kareem Jackson and RB Bent Tate, as well as return specialist, Trindon Holliday. Jackson is lining up against Andre Johnson every day and getting the best education possible in the NFL. This is going to help to add experience to a very young secondary. Projected to start accross form Jackson is Glover Quin, who started twelve games for us last year as a rookie. His impact was undeniable, leading the team with eleven passes defended. He's going to need to maintain that level of intensity and skill in order for us to stay competitive. A couple interceptions wouldn't hurt my feelings, but hey, I'm not complaining. I've seen us start far worse CBs than Quin, and the kid is an extreme talent. Until the NFL allows Go-go-gadget type arms on defensive backs, we're going to need to have consistent top talent in the position as long as Peyton Manning is the king of the AFC South.

Ben Tate is looking good, but isn't quite where he'll need to be to at be considered worth the pick we used to get him. He, however, is pushing second and third year backs, Arian Foster and Steve Slaton, to live up to the hype surrounding them. Foster, for the breakout game against New England, (20 carries, 119yds, 2 TD) and Slaton for the amazing rookie year of 2008 (1,282 yds, 9 TD) Tate can be a fast, strong, and slippery guy, and will probably be given a great oppurtunity in the red zone to punch it in for six, where we fell short so often last year. (Not to mention, I'm looking forward to seeing Tate and former tennessee S Eric Berry go at it once again during the Texans-Chiefs meeting on Oct. 17th)

Trindon Holliday broke two punt returns for touchdowns in a single practice. He may not be able to enjoy many roller coasters or water slides, but he can have a grand ol' time on a football field eluding men twice his size. Said Joe Marciano "If you can't touch him, you can't tackle him." Truer words were never spoken, Joe. The real test for this tiny titan will be during pre-season where he'll be attempting to juke and duck people who aren't helping him stock his my-size Barbie garage. Hopefully, the recent hamstring injury won't keep him out of the August 14th pre-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Speaking of injuries, don't count on seeing Owen Daniels this pre-season. While he's expected to play in the regular season opener Sep. 12th against Peyton Manning and the Colts, I don't think Kubiak will want to risk bringing him back any sooner. Xavier Adibi, who was expected to start in place of Brian Cushing during his four game suspension, unfortunately injured his groin. I got the chance to meet Adibi shortly after he was drafted by Houston, and he was an incredibly nice and funny guy, as well as a hell of a talent. Kub's comments aren't exactly what you'd call inspiring.

"I'm concerned right now with Adibi, I think everybody (else) will get back here pretty quickly, but he's going to miss some time. Obviously, we were counting on him very much so as a team. I feel bad for him because it seems like every time he gets on the brink, something happens. Hopefully, we can get past this and keep him healthy for a period of time."

Hopefully, like another famous Xavier he'll rebound just fine. I'd love to see someone really step up and fill the sizable void that'll be left by Cushing's absense. Fourth round pick, Darryl Sharpton, has been looking good and impressing people, and its a good thing with Adibi and Zac Diles both out with similar injuries.

So, after seven days of training camp, its still looking like the Texans are on track to have their best year yet. Will this campaign be the one to finally get us a ticket to the play-offs? Maybe, maybe not, but its looking good, dare I say, even likely? Thats right, "likely." Obviously, a few things would have to happen. Matt Schaub would have to stay healthy for all sixteen games for the second year in a row. Owen Daniels would have to recover enough to match his numbers from the previous two years. We've got to get the CBs on track to replace the hole left by Dunta Robinson, and have the LBs survive the four games without Brian Cushing. Of all these 'ifs,' theres none bigger than our widely publicized running woes. However, if Slaton or Foster can live up to their aforementioned hype, or Tate can rise to meet expectations, especially in goal line situations, than I'm sold. If I'm eating my words along with my humlie pie come January, I doubt I'll be alone. The fact that #80 is ready and willing to spend his entire career in Houston speaks volumes. So that begs the question, if he's willing to bet his legacy(?) on the franchise, aren't you willing to bet a couple hours on Sundays?

Article by Chase
Follow on Twitter @ChaserJames

Houston Dynamo vs New York Red Bulls

A dramatic finish at Robertson Stadium saved a point for the Dynamo and sort of spoiled the Debut of New York Red Bulls Forward Thierry Henry's in his first MLS Game. The Dynamo still have not been able to win at home in League competition since May 22 but at least got a point after playing the entire second half with 1o Men after Lovel Palmers ejection late in the first half. Another ejection you say? Yes it appears that the trend from the late Summer swoon of last Season is making a reemergence for a team that has made it's share of mistakes and self inflicted wounds in games to numerous to count. Add to that a missed opportunity to go in front when Brad Davis missed a second Penalty Kick and in retrospect this point almost feels like a win.

A great never say die effort by the Dynamo after Juan Pablo Angel's second goal of the night put the Red Bulls in front was finally rewarded when Brian Mullan's header after a nice cross by Andrew Hainault found the back of the net just before stoppage time commenced. A Crowd of 24,750 came out to see the first League appearance of Thierry Henry and was not disappointed as he collected two assists on the New York Goals. The first assist came after a nifty piece of footwork allowed him to send a cross into the box that Angel collected and scored with a left footed Shot at close range in the 10th minute. On the second assist he slotted a nice pass into the run of Angel who turned and fired a right footed blast into the net past Dynamo Keeper Tally Hall in the 58th minute. Henry also nicked the post in Minute 42 and shortly thereafter Lovel Palmer received a Red Card from Referee Paul Ward after a "serious foul" on Carlos Mendes of the Red Bulls. Now I have to admit that it was a foul but I was not the only one who thought it was not a Red Card, both Dynamo Coach Dom Kinnear and Red Bulls Coach Hans Backe said after the game that they did not think it was a Red Card in their opinion as both players ran toward and attempted to play a loose ball. The Dynamo equalized after a sequence in New York's box saw Joseph Ngwenya awarded a Penalty Kick after being taken down. Brad Davis stepped up and took the PK and blasted it bast Nwe York Goalie Bouna Coundoul in the 24th minute. After New York's Defender Tim Ream took down Brian Ching the ball was placed on the spot and Brad Davis had a chance to give the Dynamo the lead but was unable to repeat his earlier feat when he shot the ball over the goal and into the stands. In the end many of the Fans in attendance where happy with the result and the effort displayed by the team. Let's hope the Men in Orange can turn this into a spark and manage to gain some points on the teams in front of them.

On another note: Maybe the two "Fans" that ran onto the field to welcome Henry late in the game are going to try to claim "Youthful Exuberance" as a reason for their excursion, not that it will or should work for them as an excuse but that episode did bring some smiles as the Security team tried to run them down. People in the stands took matters into their own hands to assist in their finally being apprehended.

Next up is Monarcas Morelia in the SuperLiga semifinal on Thursday, 5th of August at 7 PM.

Dynamo Notes: Goal Keeper Pat Onstad is out with an abdominal strain and may need surgery that will probably keep him out until the end of August. Midfielder Geoff Cameron continues to get healthier and has been practicing for some time, he might be able to take the field in the next few weeks.