Week 1 vs Redskins REVIEW: Texans Win Their First Game under Bill O'Brien

Audio Recording: 'EPISODE63 - Bulls On Parade Talk - Week 1 vs Redskins...' From 'Bulls On Parade Talk'

The Houston Texans have snapped their 14 regular season game losing streak after walking away from with a 17-6 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Both teams started off very slow offensively yet were very successful in establishing their running games.  Alfred Morris was given the ball 14 times for 91 yards rushing while Arian Foster carried the ball 27 times for 103 yards.  Both offenses rely on the running game and it was really good to see Arian Foster on the field running like his old self especially after having gone through back surgery.

For the most part, both defenses did a very good job especially in the first quarter making each team work for each first down.  However, after the blocked PAT by J.J. Watt after the Redskins' first and only score as well as a blocked punt by Alfred Blue which led to a touchdown, the Texans' defense held Washington to 0 points for the rest of the game.

This was due to two red zone turnovers (both fumbles) by the Redskins thus giving Houston a chance to hold the lead and perhaps extend it.  They extended the lead indeed to seal the deal by kicking a field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Overall, the Texans showed that they can win in close game situations.  Now the question becomes, can the Texans put up more than 17 points when they face teams that can put up lots of points?

Week 1 Preview + Prediction vs. Washington Redskins

The first game of the Texans' 2014 regular season is only 2 days away!!!!  Here's a preview + prediction of what to expect on Sunday, September 7th.

Latest Depth Chart Released for the 2nd Preseason Game: Arian Foster's New Backup

The latest depth chart for the Houston Texans has been released.  Speaking of releases, now that Dennis Johnson, Tim Cornett, and Andre Brown, we now see that Arian Foster has a new running back as his backup.  That spot is well deserved based on his performance in the first preseason game.  Time will tell if what we saw in the first preseason game from the running backs consistently improves.

Preseason Game 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals Review

The Houston Texans have wrapped up their first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.  Overall it was a performance that nobody really wanted to see to start the preseason under a new regime.  The reverse argument, of course, is that it shows signs of a fresh, new, young team learning to work together.  And while they were very limited in their game plan in terms of personnel, they did establish somewhat of an identity with the power running game.

Every player, every unit (offense, defense, and special teams), every member of the coaching staff all have their work cut out for them entering this next week.  While there were several ugly spots in this game on all sides of the ball, there were also some signs of optimism as the Houston Texans look ahead to the rest of the preseason and ultimately the start of the regular season.

There is no logical reason to panic right now.  Do you agree?

First Unofficial Depth Chart Released

The Houston Texans have released their first depth chart on the 2014 NFL season with just a few days before their first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.  This will be the lineup we will see on Saturday, August 9th.  

Now obviously as the preseason continues the roster will continue to be trimmed down until the coaches determine the final 53 by the end of preseason.  Updates will come as the depth chart continues changing throughout the preseason.

2014 Open Training Camp Dates Released

Fig 1: 2014 Houston Texans Training Camp Schedule

Houston Texans' 2014 NFL Draft Review

Overall, the Houston Texans had a very solid 2014 NFL Draft.  Lots of versatility and development to go around for the Texans' coaching staff.  Training camp is going to be filled with plenty of competition.  A promising future lies ahead short terms as well as long term.

Do you feel the Texans' had a good Draft?

NFL Draft 2014 Round 1 Recap + Previewing the later rounds

The first round of the 2014 NFL Draft has finally come and gone.  The Texans definitely drafted the best player available with the #1 overall pick.  Blake Bortles was the first QB drafted.  He's now heading to Jacksonville which is not very far from UCF.  Buffalo traded up to get Sammy Watkins.  Johnny Manziel wasn't taken until the 22nd pick.  He'll be heading to Cleveland along with Justin Gilbert.  Minnesota traded back into the first round to get Teddy Bridgewater with the 32nd overall pick.  Basically the top 3 quarterbacks everyone was talking about ending up being first round picks.

Will the Texans draft a QB with the 33rd overall pick?  We shall see....

McNair let the bulldogs out??

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair spoke with FOX 26 in Houston about the plans the Texans have for the 2014 NFL Draft.  He apparently couldn't stop talking and probably gave too much information.  Here are a few quotes from the interview with FOX 26 in Houston:

Really at this point we don’t know and we really won’t know until right up at the time we have to make a decision because people are talking to us about the possibility of trading down and it’s a question of what people offer, whether their offer is such that it’s worthwhile to trade down.

He continues letting the bulls loose by saying:

You take a guy like Clowney.  He’s obviously the best player in the draft, but he’s a defensive end.  He’s not a quarterback.  If he’s a quarterback and the best player it’s easy, but that’s not the case.  So can that defensive player have a greater impact on the success of your team than one of these quarterbacks?  It’s not a sure thing that he is. . . . If somebody wants you to drop down and they give you two or three more picks that would let you get two or three more quality players, are you a stronger team dropping down a little bit, getting these additional picks and getting more depth?

Basically, the negotiations for the #1 overall pick have begun and it seems they are certainly looking to trade the pick for a lower spot in the first round and get a quarterback.  However, even if the Texans do pick a quarterback, which Bill O'Brien has said will definitely happen, Bob McNair is still concerned.

You got three quarterbacks and all of them have some holes in their resume.  A quarterback that goes out and performs for you and is a franchise quarterback is more valuable than a player playing another position, but there’s a lot more risk there.  It’s a more difficult position to play and there are lot more failures. 

You drop down and there’s another group close behind, not exactly where they are, and maybe one of those quarterbacks will become better than one of these other three. There are no slam dunks. There are no Andrew Lucks out there, no Peyton Manning's. If there were it would be an easy decision, but that’s not the case.

Despite all of that, Bob McNair continues having the mindset that no matter what happens, the Houston Texans will come out of this NFL Draft as a better team.

I think that we’re going to greatly strengthen our team as a result of the draft.  We’ve got 11 picks now in the draft and it’s a deep draft. So we’re going to get some good players regardless as to what we do.  If we trade down and pick up two or three more players, we’d have 13 or 14 [draft picks].  So you’re going to see some significant strengthening of our team as a result of this draft. 

Bob McNair also pointed out in the past that he has learned a huge lesson about starting a young rookie before he is ready referring to the David Carr experiment.  We shall definitely see how much the Texans have learned as we approach a big day in Texans franchise history: May 8th, 2014.

Who should the Texans draft with the 33rd overall pick (the first pick in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL Draft)?

With all the attention on the #1 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft that the Houston Texans just happen to own, not a lot of attention is drawn to the rest of the picks the Texans have, particularly in the second round.  The Texans have the 33rd pick in this year's draft, which is the first pick in the second round.  This is important, due to the fact that there is plenty of 2nd round talent at the quarterback position in this year's draft.  In fact, there is a starting quarterback in the NFL today that was taken at the top of the 2nd round.  His name just happens to be Drew Brees.  This year's quarterback class that have 2nd round value consists of players such as Jimmy Garoppolo, Zach Mettenberger, A.J. McCarron, and others.  Many believe that it is with the first pick in the 2nd round where the Texans will draft a quarterback.  Are you one of them?  Or do you feel that the pick will be traded or used on another position of need?

Texans GM Rick Smith apparently prefers Khalil Mack or Jadeveon Clowney??

To those that have listened to my simulcast, I have repeatedly said that Jadeveon Clowney is the most deserving prospect for the #1 overall pick.  Pretty much everybody's mock drafts have Clowney as the #1 overall pick taken by the Houston Texans.  However according to Peter King, a writer for MMQB.si.com, has been told by a "friend of Rick Smith" that the Texans GM is more interested in Buffalo's outside linebacker Khalil Mack than Jadeveon Clowney.

If this is in fact true, the question then becomes: are the Texans willing to take him with the #1 overall pick or do they want to trade that pick for a spot later the in first round to take Khalil Mack?  Both Khalil Mack and Jadeveon Clowney would be good fits for the Houston Texans' defense and would fill a position of need should either of them be drafted by the Houston Texans.  Romeo Crennel, the new defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans, will definitely find ways to get the most of these two very talented football players no matter who the Texans pick.

One thing is for sure, other teams that perhaps are interested in Clowney are reading Peter King's report and planning their negotiations with the Houston Texans for the #1 overall pick.  If the Houston Texans do decide to pass up on Jadeveon Clowney, they will most certainly want as many assets in return as possible.

Better fit for the Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney or Khalil Mack?

There are some that feel that Khalil Mack would be a better for the Houston Texans than Jadeveon Clowney.  The argument used mainly is the fact that Romeo Crennel runs a 3-4 defense, Clowney is more of a 4-3 defensive end, and Khalil Mack played his entire college career as a 3-4 outside linebacker showing versatility in coverage and pass rushing.  Well, in this latest episode, I examine Khalil Mack's skill set and give you my take on who I feel would be a better fit for the Texans.

Do you agree with the analysis from this latest episode?

Thoughts on Houston Texans Town Hall Meeting

Yesterday (March 31), the Houston Texans held a closed Q&A session at the Houston Texans Grille located in City Centre open only to media and Houston Texans season ticket holders.  He was asked about various topics including the draft and free agency.  Most are addressed in this latest episode of Bulls On Parade Talk.