
Lovie Smith has to shoulder some of the blame. Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images.
9 important Texans takeaways from Lovie Smith's press conference
The Houston Texans lost yet another game as their own mistakes cost them. The Giants win over Houston 24-16. Here are 11 observations.
1. This team makes a lot of mistakes. It is a poorly coached team. Plenty of poor moments from this team keep it from achieving anything close to the consistency of winning football.
2. The offense is inconsistent. It lacks creativity, and some of the worst plays are the scripted ones to start the game. Pep Hamilton had a little pop here or there but success is marred by the trust of Rex Burkhead in key moments.
3. Davis Mills felt a little gun-shy today. He needs to pull the trigger on some of these opportunities. I would instead prefer a mistake down the field than succeeding short.
4. The offense needs to take attempts toward the sticks. The offense far too often is sitting there throwing well short of the sticks. It makes no sense.
5. Jordan Akins has been a nice surprise. He had a fantastic day in the passing game and is the best tight end in the receiving game. He’s playing the best football of his career.
6. Brevin Jordan being a healthy scratch says a lot. Jordan shouldn’t be a healthy scratch on a team lacking talent. None of these three tight ends who were active today were playing in training camp. Jordan was. Yikes.
7. Et tu Pitre? Jalen Pitre has been struggling the past few weeks. The rookie wall is here for him and he needs to pull out of it. The tackling prowess is there, he just hasn’t executed in recent weeks.
8. I was extremely disappointed in the defensive plan today. Lovie Smith loves to play zone coverage, but this was the team to play man coverage against. Derek Stingley is almost an afterthought on this defense, relegated to zone defense. It is a poor use of his skills, Steven Nelson’s talents, and the opportunity against the Giants today.
9. Christian Harris is fun to watch. You can see why the team was excited to draft him. I don’t know if he can ever be the best linebacker on a team, but if the Texans ever get a great linebacker, he will be a fantastic Robin to that player’s Batman.
10. Was anyone upset to see Brandin Cooks’ touchdown come off the board? Loaded question. I know. Kenyon Green has been sloppy these past few weeks more than you would like, but he’s the best left guard this team has had in years. There is something there. The Texans need to hope that jump happens for him.
11. The chase for the top pick got some help today. The Panthers had already won Thursday, but the Steelers and Lions won, putting a game between them and the Texans in the chase for the top spot in the draft. Houston will have to finish with fewer wins than all other teams to get the top spot based on their week one tie to the Colts.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.