Week 4 Preview + Prediction vs. Buffalo Bills

The Texans have quite a challenge in front of them in the Buffalo Bills.  There's plenty of speed offensively especially just looking at C.J. Spiller and Sammy Watkins alone.  The only question is can their quarterback, E.J. Manuel, make the right decisions and throw the ball accurately enough to give the Texans something to worry about.  The one thing working for them for sure is the running game.  Since the season began, the Texans have continuously struggled stopping the run.  Therefore, I look for the Bills to try and get their running game started early and often throughout the game.  The key for the Texans defensively is to keep E.J. Manuel in the pocket and make him read the defense.

It will be about assignment football.  Everyone needs to do their job and remember their fundamentals that they started working on with their position coaches in offseason workouts.  This particularly is fact especially as it pertains to tackling.  When you have an offensive player in your grasp, you can't let go.  Big hits are good for making highlights but you need to make sure you get the player down and stop him from getting extra yards after contact.

It will also be a game of reunions.  This will be Ryan Fitzpatrick's first game against Buffalo for the first time in a Texans uniform.  It will also be former #1 overall pick Mario Williams' return to Houston for the first since he tested free agency for two days in late March 2012.  Doug Marrone and Bill O'Brien were assistants under Coach George O'Leary at Georgia Tech many years ago as well.  So there will be several reunions to look out for in this matchup at NRG Stadium.

Overall it will be all about execution once again.  Who's going to get off to a hot start early and keep it going during the game?

Week 3 vs. NY Giants REVIEW: Where was the execution?

Audio Recording: 'EPISODE67 - Bulls On Parade Talk - Week 3 vs. NY Gian...' From 'Bulls On Parade Talk'

The Houston Texans have suffered their first loss of the season.  Now why, after the Texans looked pretty good in their first two games, did they struggle to execute against the New York Giants?  The keyword is of course as previously mentioned: execution.  However, there were also several other factors that played into the Texans' loss against the New York Giants.

Starting at some point this past week, Arian Foster had a bit of a hamstring issue bothering him.  Because of that, he wasn't active for the game against the New York Giants.  They worked him out before the game and he just wasn't feeling good enough.  Whether he pulled himself out or not, the fact remains that Arian Foster's hamstring remains an issue.  Everyone points to the 50+ carries he was given in the just the first two games of the season.  In this day and age, the running backs barely get over 20 carries a game.  The feature back is slowly becoming extinct.

Turnovers are the other big reason that people point to as it regards to reasons as to why the Texans lost.  Now granted, when you turn the ball over more than your opponent, there is a very high chance you aren't going to win especially when your opponent can score points.  And of course a lack of a running game forces the quarterback to try and make plays almost by himself.

Lastly the run defense continues to show how much they are struggling to maintain gap discipline.  Rashad Jennings mustered 176 yards on the ground by himself against the Houston Texans.  When the running game is working, the West Coast offense will more than likely find their rhythm.  And lo and behold, Eli Manning and the NY Giants offense appear to have found their rhythm against the Texans.  Again it is all dependent on the running game and its effectiveness during the game.

So what's the overall takeaway?  The answer can be defined in one word: execution.  The Houston Texans did not execute and the New York Giants did.  Although the Texans made some slight adjustments at half time, it was not enough to catch up to the New York Giants that were executing on all cylinders.

Will the team adjust and bounce back against their next opponent: the Buffalo Bills?

Week 2 vs. Raiders REVIEW: Houston, We Appear to Have a Football Team!!!

Audio Recording: 'EPISODE65 - Bulls On Parade Talk - Week 2 vs. Raiders...' From 'Bulls On Parade Talk'

The Houston Texans are 2-0 to start the 2014 season once again.  But what makes it different this time aside from the new coaching staff, new quarterback, new offense, new defense?  The biggest difference is that the Houston Texans are playing as Bill O'Brien likes to say "complimentary football."

The offense remains consistent starting with the offensive line creating running lanes for the ball carriers as well as protecting the quarterback, the quarterback is making the proper checks and reads at the line of scrimmage, and the defense is creating pressure and turnovers.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has not been sacked once since the start of the regular season.  Arian Foster continues to prove that he is still one of the best running backs in the NFL today even after having back surgery.  Andre Johnson, despite showing early frustrations during the offseason, continues to show that he can still play at a very high level in his 13th year (all with the Houston Texans).

The defense continues to show that they excel in two things: applying pressure up front and creating turnovers.  The Texans were +4 in turnover ratio against the Oakland Raiders.  Every play, the defense shows hustle and continuous activity thus resulting in big plays that feed into the concept of "complimentary football."

The defense forces a turnover which results in the offense getting an extra possession.  This allows the offense to take more time off the clock as well as getting an opportunity to add more points to their current score.  And while the offense takes time off the clock, the defense gets rest on the bench thus keeping them fresh throughout the game.

As long as the Texans keep playing in this fashion, maintaining this type of energy as well as staying healthy, I can definitely see the Texans making some noise down the stretch.

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

Hidden Value of Organized Team Activities (OTA's): Technique

EPISODE57 - Bulls On Parade Talk - Hidden Value of OT... From Bulls On Parade Talk

Now that the Houston Texans have wrapped up their first week of OTA's, we will take a look at certain things that NFL players focus on during OTA's.  Technique is something that is overlooked by various people.  This qualifies, not just in the world of sports, but in various other professional worlds.  It's one of those little nuances that people forget about sometimes, not just when they are watching a sporting event, but their own profession.

When one works to get better at something, the tendency generally is to look at the little pieces that can inevitably complete the bigger puzzle.  Normally once the little things are figured out, people see big-time improvement in their overall skill-set.

So as you are watching a professional athlete perform, do you think about what you can improve on skill-wise when it comes to your own profession?

The truth about Gary Kubiak's offensive system??!!

Former Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub recently spoke to Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area New Group about how much control he will have in the Oakland Raiders' offense.  These quotes from Matt Schaub have gotten several people, especially in Houston, talking about how Gary Kubiak's offensive system was really like especially for the quarterback.

It’s exciting. It’s just like going to a new place and getting a fresh start. To come to an offense where the coach is looking to give you more freedom, and looking to give you more control of things. I had that in some aspects in Houston, but there are things I’m being asked to do here that I didn’t have control of in Houston. I would have loved to, but we just weren’t in control of it. To now be in that position, and being the quarterback, that’s such a great place to be because you can get everyone on the same page.

From what I've understood about the offensive system Gary Kubiak ran during his time in Houston, the quarterback wasn't given much control at the line of scrimmage.  Based from what I've read and heard, the quarterback was given 2 offensive plays by the play-caller (Gary Kubiak in this case) to call in the huddle.  While at the line of scrimmage, the quarterback couldn't call an audible or adjust the protection based from what the defense was presenting.

Under Greg Olsen in Oakland, Matt Schaub will apparently have more control over the offense in games than he had in Houston.  For the most part, Matt Schaub has been productive during his time in Houston aside from the 2013 debacle that occurred in Houston.  Time will tell if he can turn things around in Oakland.

But as far as the offense that Bill O'Brien runs, the quarterback has loads of responsibilities during the games.  How do you feel about the new offense that'll start getting installed soon?

Talkshoe podcast schedule for the 2014 NFL season is SET!!

After the last podcast episode, a caller had sent a message on Twitter (@BullsParadeTalk) suggesting that the podcast episodes should be scheduled more regularly.  To those that have followed the podcast this past offseason, the episodes have been recorded pretty much right after Texans/sports news occur.  After some time of looking ahead at the 2014 NFL regular season schedule, a format has been created for this year's NFL regular season.  The format is as follows:

• Sunday afternoon games will have a LIVE pregame/preview show scheduled the Friday before along with a concise video on the BullsOnParadeTalk YouTube channel FOR EACH GAME.  After the game is over and the film has been studied, a LIVE postgame/review show will air at some point later on that very same Sunday along with another concise YouTube video reviewing what happened during the game based from what was seen on the game tape.
• The single Monday Night Football game scheduled this year will have its LIVE pregame/review show broadcast on the Sunday before including a brief YouTube video.  Due to the late ending to the football game, the postgame/review episode will be recorded at some point the next day (Tuesday) including the brief video.
• Finally, the Thursday Night Football game will have its LIVE pregame/review episode broadcast the Wednesday before, again, including the YouTube video.  And again, due to the late ending to the game, the postgame/review will be broadcast at some time (which will be determined at a later date) on Friday.

That is the overall initial scheduling plan for future podcast episodes for the 2014 NFL regular season.  Actual times will be determined later and based on the host's availability.  Therefore, please be patient.  If anyone has any suggestions or questions, feel free to let me know.

BULLS ON PARADE!!!  GO TEXANS!!!!