CHRON: QBs please Texans brass; Cowboys will provide test
By JOHN McCLAIN
The only preseason game that matters is Saturday night at Reliant Stadium, where the Texans host the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys are 2-0 and the Texans 1-1 after a 33-20 victory at Arizona.
"We took a step forward against Arizona, and now we've got a tremendous challenge this week," coach Gary Kubiak said Sunday. "The Cowboys are playing as well as any team I've ever seen in preseason. They've been exceptional, and they'll be a good test for us."
Saturday's game is important because Kubiak will play his starters for 2½ to three quarters. He'll rest many of them in the last preseason game at Tampa Bay.
After watching tape of the victory over the Cardinals — in which the Texans set a preseason franchise scoring record — Kubiak pointed out the positives and negatives from his evaluation.
"Offensively, our two quarterbacks (Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels), were very sharp," he said. "We protected them well. We didn't turn the ball over. We only punted once.
"We ran the ball better, but I don't think we ran it well enough."
Schaub was 9-of-12 passing for 108 yards, and Rosenfels was 8-of-13 for 125 yards. Rosenfels threw a touchdown pass, and Schaub ran for one.
Schaub was sharper than he was in the 20-19 loss to Chicago, in which he took only 12 snaps.
"It was very important, just for the focus and direction of our team, but we've been seeing that in practice," Kubiak said about Schaub's improvement. "He's very confident in what he's doing.
"I remember (John) Elway telling me for years, 'I'm paid to make third downs.' That's what Matt did. He has a great feel for what's going on, getting rid of the ball. And Sage was excellent, too."
In two games, Schaub is 12-of-17 for 133 yards with no interceptions or sacks.
"We're protecting the quarterbacks better," Kubiak said. "I think it's an overall confidence in what we're doing and perhaps them (blockers) knowing they don't have to hold up for long. Our quarterback's going to help the protection by the way he gets rid of the ball."
The Texans ran for 143 yards and a 4.5-yard average per carry, including three carries for 41 yards by receivers Jacoby Jones and Bethel Johnson.
The Texans rushed for 75 yards, including a 3-yard average, in the loss to the Bears.
Kubiak is confident the Texans will run well in the regular season.
Steve McKinney, who started the first two games at left guard in place of the injured Chester Pitts, will start at center ahead of Mike Flanagan against the Cowboys. McKinney will play the first half.
Kubiak said the starting job is still open and that the coaches want to make a decision next week.
On defense, the Texans forced two turnovers — interceptions by cornerbacks Jamar Fletcher and Dexter Wynn. But they had only one sack, by tackle Thomas Johnson.
"We did a good job against the run again, but we've got to improve the pressure," Kubiak said.
Much of the criticism has been directed at defensive end Mario Williams, who for the second game in a row didn't have a tackle or an assisted tackle on the statistics sheet.
"Against the run, he played well enough for us to win, but he's got to continue to grow as a pass rusher," Kubiak said. "He's got to refine his game in one-on-one situations. He's got a lot of work to do to become a great one-on-one pass rusher, but we're going to work with him so that he's comfortable in what we're doing."
Because Williams was the first pick in the 2006 draft and the Texans selected him over Vince Young and Reggie Bush, he always is going to be under the proverbial microscope more than any other player on the team.
"I don't think it's unfair; that's life," Kubiak said about the constant scrutiny of Williams. "If you want to be a great player, you've got to understand that's something you're going to have to put up with. That's something that's got to drive you to be a better player."
The only preseason game that matters is Saturday night at Reliant Stadium, where the Texans host the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys are 2-0 and the Texans 1-1 after a 33-20 victory at Arizona.
"We took a step forward against Arizona, and now we've got a tremendous challenge this week," coach Gary Kubiak said Sunday. "The Cowboys are playing as well as any team I've ever seen in preseason. They've been exceptional, and they'll be a good test for us."
Saturday's game is important because Kubiak will play his starters for 2½ to three quarters. He'll rest many of them in the last preseason game at Tampa Bay.
After watching tape of the victory over the Cardinals — in which the Texans set a preseason franchise scoring record — Kubiak pointed out the positives and negatives from his evaluation.
"Offensively, our two quarterbacks (Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels), were very sharp," he said. "We protected them well. We didn't turn the ball over. We only punted once.
"We ran the ball better, but I don't think we ran it well enough."
Schaub was 9-of-12 passing for 108 yards, and Rosenfels was 8-of-13 for 125 yards. Rosenfels threw a touchdown pass, and Schaub ran for one.
Schaub was sharper than he was in the 20-19 loss to Chicago, in which he took only 12 snaps.
"It was very important, just for the focus and direction of our team, but we've been seeing that in practice," Kubiak said about Schaub's improvement. "He's very confident in what he's doing.
"I remember (John) Elway telling me for years, 'I'm paid to make third downs.' That's what Matt did. He has a great feel for what's going on, getting rid of the ball. And Sage was excellent, too."
In two games, Schaub is 12-of-17 for 133 yards with no interceptions or sacks.
"We're protecting the quarterbacks better," Kubiak said. "I think it's an overall confidence in what we're doing and perhaps them (blockers) knowing they don't have to hold up for long. Our quarterback's going to help the protection by the way he gets rid of the ball."
The Texans ran for 143 yards and a 4.5-yard average per carry, including three carries for 41 yards by receivers Jacoby Jones and Bethel Johnson.
The Texans rushed for 75 yards, including a 3-yard average, in the loss to the Bears.
Kubiak is confident the Texans will run well in the regular season.
Steve McKinney, who started the first two games at left guard in place of the injured Chester Pitts, will start at center ahead of Mike Flanagan against the Cowboys. McKinney will play the first half.
Kubiak said the starting job is still open and that the coaches want to make a decision next week.
On defense, the Texans forced two turnovers — interceptions by cornerbacks Jamar Fletcher and Dexter Wynn. But they had only one sack, by tackle Thomas Johnson.
"We did a good job against the run again, but we've got to improve the pressure," Kubiak said.
Much of the criticism has been directed at defensive end Mario Williams, who for the second game in a row didn't have a tackle or an assisted tackle on the statistics sheet.
"Against the run, he played well enough for us to win, but he's got to continue to grow as a pass rusher," Kubiak said. "He's got to refine his game in one-on-one situations. He's got a lot of work to do to become a great one-on-one pass rusher, but we're going to work with him so that he's comfortable in what we're doing."
Because Williams was the first pick in the 2006 draft and the Texans selected him over Vince Young and Reggie Bush, he always is going to be under the proverbial microscope more than any other player on the team.
"I don't think it's unfair; that's life," Kubiak said about the constant scrutiny of Williams. "If you want to be a great player, you've got to understand that's something you're going to have to put up with. That's something that's got to drive you to be a better player."
posted by The Gryphon at 10:05 AM
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