The Texans defense laid the wood to Jags’ QB Byron Leftwich in holding the Jags’ offense to 126 total yards and the Texans’ much maligned offensive line sprung RB Dominick Davis for 150 yards rushing and a TD as the Texans humbled the Jags in chilly Jacksonville, 21-0. The shutout was the first in Texans’ franchise history.
The Texans defense gave Leftwich a concussion early in this one, and the Jags QB could never get untracked as the Texans forced three turnovers and held the Jags to 54 yards passing. Meanwhile, the Texans offense generated 333 total yards behind another average but adequate performance by QB David Carr (14-20, 122 yds., 1 TD, 2 INT). Actually, Carr’s line would look better except that one of his interceptions came on a great play by Jags DB Dewayne Washington. Washington made a spectacular one-handed interception on a Carr pass that Andre Johnson probably would have taken to the house for his second TD catch of the game but for Washington’s incredible play. About the only phase of the Texans’ performance that was subpar on this day was the punt return team, which had one adventure after another while trying to cope with the absence of injured regular returner J.J. Moses.
The 7-8 Texans, who are clearly on a roll, could end the season with a .500 record with a win over the Browns at Reliant Stadium next Sunday. That would be quite an accomplishment for this third year franchise.
Oh, how the might have fallen. In an excrutiatingly boring game between two teams with inept offenses, Cowboys QB Vinnie Testaverde somehow three a 39 yard TD pass to someone named Patrick Crayton with 30 seconds to go to pull out the win before a feisty crowd at Texas Stadium. The 6-9 Cowboys close this disastrous season next week at the Meadowlands against the Giants, and then the off-season process of revamping the Cowboys offense begins. It will not be an easy task.
the off-season process of revamping the Cowboys offense begins.
Sadly, I think there will be less “revamping” than just a bit of shuffling, because I think Big Bill still believes in what he’s doing on that side of the ball. One presumes Julius Jones, Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, and Jason Witten are all back at the skill positions. Andre Gurode is skating on thin ice on the line, and right tackle has been a disaster this year (if Jacob Rogers isn’t the answer — and we have no clue, frankly — then count that as another disastrous draft pick). That leaves you “revamping” the backup WRs (I don’t see much change coming there) and the QB (I’m not convinced any change is coming there).
So, I guess after coming to know Big Bill’s ways that I’m dubious about an offensive revamp. Unfortunately, I don’t see it coming. I think Big Bill’s much more likely to do major revamping on defense (with the intent of switching to the 3-4) than offense.
I agree that Jones and Witten will return as solid starters, and that Johnson and Glenn will be back, although I am not certain that either of them is really a frontline WR anymore. I’m reasonably certain that Testaverde will not return as Parcells continues to shape the Cowboys in the “QB-Lite” that Pittsburgh has implemented this season with a rookie QB.
In addition to QB, Dallas desperately needs a wide receiver who can force opposing safeties to play DB rather than LB. I agree with you that the right side of the offensive line needs help as neither Torrin Tucker nor Andre Gurode has shown much. Thus, I look for a fair amount of reshaping on the Cowboys offensive side of the ball.
But you are also correct that on defense, whether they are in the 4-3 or the 3-4, the Cowboys are in need of playmakers — an end who can pressure the QB (who doesn’t need one of those, though), a run-stuffing tackle, and at least two good DB’s to shore up what has been a very disappointing secondary.
The bottom line is that the Pokes have so many holes to fill that I doubt they can be much better than a .500 team next season.
Absolutely, they need a playmaker WR! But I dunno if we’re gonna get one, or a QB. Pessimism is setting in. I have my doubts if Big Bill sees the same team we do. 🙂 I mean, I saw a quote in today’s papers that Big Bill was hoping for another RB to complement Jones next season. Yes, that would be nice, but it seems to me that there are so many bigger needs right now. I didn’t stream the press conference, so I don’t know the context, but still….
At least we’re closing in on college baseball season. 🙂
Well, the Cowboys are certainly going to need to replace Eddie George as a backup RB, but that need can be dealt with far down in the draft or on the free agent market.
Not being particularly familiar with Cowboys management these days, who is helping the Big Tuna with personnel decisions? I mean, other than Jerry Jones? ;^)
I think it is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to be a successful NFL coach without a good personnel director helping the coach. The days of a coach being able to fulfill both the coach and the personnel director duties are gone.
I believe Larry Lacewell is still around (you know, the “guru” of post Jimmy Johnson drafts *groan*), and a scouting staff. Jerry’s son Stephen has some hand, but I think his specialty is cap management (by most accounts, he does a fairly decent job with that).
This will be an interesting offseason. I think Big Bill got seduced by the 10 wins last year, and didn’t want to shake things up (even though he probably had some idea they needed to be shaken up). So I’m starting to get the feeling that Year Three of Bill is going to be more like Year Two has been in most places, in terms of turnover. I hope so, anyway. I think nine losses (so far) is much more indicative of the current state of affairs than last year’s ten wins — even though I surely drank the Kool Aid last year. 🙂