TEXANS CAN'T CATCH A BREAK
3 important takeaways from the Texans' heartbreaking loss to the Colts
Dec 21, 2020, 10:55 am
Texans suffer another crushing loss. Photo by Getty Images.
2020 could be a breakout year for Keke Coutee, here's why
Another week, another Texans loss and another fantastic way for them to lose. This team seems to have invented new and more heartbreaking ways to lose. Whether it's a fumbled snap or seemingly quitting against an inferior team, there's been a number of ways this team has found to lose. This time, it was a fumble after converting a 4th&5 to the Colts' 2-yard line down 27-20 with 19 seconds left. Close, but no cigar yet again.
Signs of improvement with the two-minute drill
One thing I need to continue to give them props on is the two-minute drill before halftime. Down 14-7 with 1:43 left and all three timeouts, the Texans weren't able to tie the game, but did manage to get a field goal with no time left on the clock. Too many times we've seen this team not only falter in these situations, but give their opponents a chance for a knockout blow. They did the same thing in their previous game against the Colts and their win against the Patriots. If they can start to do this at the end of these one score games, they can win more close games instead of losing them. That is the mark of a good team.
T.Y. Hilton kills the Texans again
Why does T.Y. Hilton continues to torch this team? It's not like the Texans don't know who he is or what he's capable of. But they continue to allow him to beat them when it counts. He only had four catches for 71 yards, but his 41-yard reception that led up to the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter ended up leading to the game winning touchdown. Up to that point, he was pretty much held in check. But plays like the one he made in that crucial situation broke the Texans' backs yet again. The way they saw an immediate issue with Bill O'Brien and got rid of him is the same way they need to treat defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Fire him now, let someone else take over, and see if things improve. Hell, it can't get any worse!
The Deshaun Watson debate that just won't go away
Tim Kelly is really trying to make a case for himself. The offensive coordinator has proven to make chicken salad out of chicken bleep since O'Brien's firing. Deshaun Watson had another great game with Kelly calling plays. All this behind a hapless offensive line and at a severe disadvantage at the skill positions. Watson went 33/41 for 373 yards and two touchdowns. He completed passes to eight different guys in this game. His two touchdowns went to two of his favorite targets over the last few games: one to Keke Coutee, the other to Chad Hansen. These guys are part of the reason I support the decision to continue to play Watson.
Playing or not playing Watson has been a hot topic. I believe playing him with the guys you're trying to see what you got in them is best for the immediate future of this team. You can't see what you really got in some of their receivers unless Watson is throwing them the ball. Playing AJ McCarron at quarterback won't give these guys a real shot at proving what they're capable of. That said, if you don't think any of these guys are worth building with or keeping around and you don't want to risk it, sit Watson. Moving forward, I'd like to see more guys involved on defense to see what they can give you. Take more risks with blitzes. On offense, use the spread and up-tempo style more often. This way, if the offense stalls, it'll force you to use more bodies on defense in order not to tire out guys. If the offense succeeds, it lets you know you have a style that works moving forward. What do you have to lose at this point?
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Sep 10, 2024, 10:46 pm
With only 19 games left in the regular season for the Astros, time is running out for Justin Verlander to justify a spot in the club's playoff rotation.
At best, he'll start another three games, with two of them likely against the lowly Angels. Not exactly a team similar to what Houston will face if they indeed make the postseason.
But at this point, Verlander needs to pass the eye-test before we even worry about the level of competition he'll be facing. JV's command is a huge issue. He's wild in the strike zone with his fastball, and also having trouble throwing his secondary pitches for strikes.
As much as we can blame some of his struggles on bad luck after returning from injury, his ERA for the season is over FIVE.
And more importantly, the Astros have better options to turn to when the playoffs begin. Naming the Astros No. 1 and No. 2 starters in the postseason is a no-brainer. Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown. So, at best, Verlander would be named the third or fourth starter, should they need one.
As of today, we just don't know how many games the Astros will play in their first playoff series. And we don't know how the rest of the rotation will pitch down the stretch. If the season were to end today, they would play a three-game series. So we'll discuss the top three starters for the time being.
Matchup over pitcher?
The Astros may choose to play the matchup when deciding on their Game 3 starter. If their opponent has trouble against lefties, that might influence the 'Stros to start Yusei Kikuchi. Which means the opposite could be true. Houston may go with Spencer Arrighetti, Ronel Blanco, or Verlander against an opponent that struggles against right-handed pitchers.
Here's one more factor to consider. If the Astros find themselves in a three-game series in a win-or-go-home situation in Game 3, would anyone feel good about Verlander starting that game?
If JV isn't dominant over his remaining starts, there's no way he should get the nod over Arrighetti, Blanco, and Kikuchi. Despite his Hall of Fame resume.
This is one video you don't want to miss as we have an in-depth conversation about the Verlander conundrum the Astros are facing, and much more!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.