(Brent Wallace-September 14, 2009)
Before every home game, the PA system at Reliant Stadium plays Clay Walker’s song: Houston Texans: Are You Ready for Some Football. The Texans answered that yesterday with a resounding ”NO”! From the opening to kick to the thankful end, the Texans went through the motions as they handed the New York Jets a 24-7 win on Sunday.
It was ironic that Jet’s legend Joe Namath was there to see the debut of first-round draft pick Mark Sanchez because the Houston defense made him look like, well, Joe Namath. Sanchez converted 10-0f-18 third down conversion to help the just to an incredible 38:46 in time of possession. On three occasions, the rookie was able to complete passes while falling down (in comparison, the Texans quarterbacks have been known to either fumble or hurl up desperate passes that are intercepted, while falling down. Matt Schaub had one of the latter on Sunday). The New leader of the Jets finished the game by going 18-of-31 for 272 yards and one interception. Thankfully for the Texans, the one big mistake by Sanchez led to the only Houston points on the day, an interception by safety John Busing, that was fumbled and taken the rest of the distance by safety Dominique Barber.
While the passing game was a problem, the Jets’ running game gave the Texans’ fits, as well. The coaching staff insisted that run support problems seen in the preseason would be corrected, but New York ran the ball at will and piled up 190 yards. By comparison Rex Ryan’s defense held the Texans’ running game to just 38 yards in his first game as a head coach. The Jets were able to hurry Matt Schaub for most of the day, while Mario Williams and company were held sackless. Sacklessseemed to be a pretty good definition for the defensive play all day for the Texans, who allowed a total of 462 yards by the end of the day. Cornerback Dunta Robinson returned from his holdout a step behind of Jet s’ receivers. Maybe it was the “Pay me, Rick” that he had written on his shoes before the game. ( A reference to being franchised in the offseason and forced to play for just $9.9M this year.)
The ineptitude of the offense points back to Schaub, who played his worst game as a Texan. Kubiak mentioned that his quarterback was limited by his ankle injury. But if he was that limited, shouldn’t the coach have considered to going to backup Rex Grossman at some point?( Yeah, I know. I’m not going to try to go to that option this early either). Schaub finished 18-of-33 for 166 yards and no touchdowns, to go with the one pick. If he plays like this next week in Nashville, Grossman might get forced into duty.
After sleepwalking(and booing loudly) for most of the game, Texans fans were on their feet when Kubiak decided to try and convert a fourth down. But, Schaub’s pass attempt dropped meekly to the ground and the Jets were able to eat up the rest of the clock. Mercifully, for the Bullpen and other fans, it finally ended.
