SHAKE IT UP!
Here's an easy fix to one of the most aggravating parts of watching Texans, NFL
Dec 21, 2021, 2:23 pm
Running the ball up the middle on first down is killing the Texans. Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images.
The returner catches the punt on his 25-yard line, evades the first tackler, breaks to the sideline, finds a wall of blockers and races 55 yards before being forced out of bounds. It’s a spectacular runback and sets his team up for a last-second field goal that will send the game into overtime. What a play!
Except for one thing. There’s a flag back on the returning team’s 30-yard line. The umpire clicks on his microphone and calls “illegal block on the receiving team.” It’s a 10-yard penalty, the offense now starts deep in its own territory, winds up throwing a desperation Hail Mary on 4th down that fails. Game over.
There used to be a comic strip in the Sunday paper called “They’ll Do It Every Time.” In the NFL, when a kick returner gains more than 20 yards, referees will call a penalty. At least it seems they’ll do it almost every time.
Special teams account for 17 percent of all penalties called in the NFL. That's an awful, and I do mean awful, percentage for players who aren't on the field that much.
It’s like the movie Jaws when the audience hears that scary “dun-dun-dun,” you know a shark attack is coming. In the NFL, when there’s an exciting kick return, fans start looking up-field for an inevitable yellow flag lying on the turf. Even the punt returner turns back as he crosses the goal line checking for a flag before he starts celebrating. Like in WWE wrestling when three heels are getting heat on a babyface, fans look to the entrance for John Cena to make the rescue.
The Texans are the sixth most-penalized team in the NFL with 95 total penalties. Illegal blocks during kick returns fall into the “others” category on the league's breakdown of penalties. The Texans have 24 of those, also Top 10.
There’s an obscure stat in the NFL called “lost yardage.” When a team returns a punt to the 50, but a penalty brings the ball back to the 20, that’s 30 yards of lost yardage. It adds up and it turns touchdowns into field goals and possibly wins into losses.
Illegal blocking penalties need to stop in the NFL. They drag down the game, waste time and steal excitement. Here’s one way to cut down on the problem: change the penalty from 10 yards to 30 yards, or half the distance to the goal line no matter where the block occurred. Make it hurt. That’ll put an end to illegal blocks on kick returns.
Do I have to come up with every good idea around here?
Here’s another play that’s ruining the fun of an NFL game: running the ball up the middle on first down. I’ll be watching a game on TV and turn to friends, “Here it comes, a run up the middle for two yards.” Sure enough, a handoff up the gut for two yards. So boring. The offense is immediately in a hole.
If I know it’s coming, doesn’t the other team’s defense? Obviously. That’s why the Texans are stuck with second down and 8 so often. The Texans are the third worst running team in the NFL.
Why up the middle? Offensive line blocking schemes are simpler and the shortest distance between two points, in this case the center snap and the goal line, is a straight line.
Fun stat: the two least successful plays in the NFL are running the ball up the middle on first down and passing on third down. Second down is the money play.
Solution to the tedium and predictability of the Texans running on first down? The same answer to all the Texans problems: Cal McNair fires Jack Easterby, hires a new head coach, apologizes to fans and sells the team.
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Takeaways from the Astros’ series win over the Orioles
The bats carried the Astros to a series win over the Orioles. Houston scored 7, 10, and 9 runs in the first three games — and they needed every bit of that production to hold off a scrappy Baltimore team that kept fighting back. It was a sharp contrast from their previous series against Detroit, when the Astros managed only two runs across three games.
Over the past seven days, Houston’s offense has been middle-of-the-pack, ranking 12th in runs scored and 22nd in OPS, while the pitching staff has struggled with a 5.19 ERA, 24th in MLB.
Offense heating up
Carlos Correa has led the way during this stretch, hitting .370 with a .901 OPS. He’s been far from alone, though. Jesús Sánchez (.368 AVG, 1.032 OPS), Victor Caratini (.976 OPS), Yainer Díaz (.304 AVG, .820 OPS), and Christian Walker (.276 AVG, .921 OPS) have all delivered at the plate. The collective surge has been timely, giving the Astros’ rotation and bullpen some much-needed margin for error.
Can the bullpen hold up?
That margin might not last if the bullpen wears down. Bryan Abreu has been excellent, but his workload is becoming a concern. With Bennett Sousa landing on the IL with elbow discomfort, depth is thinner than ever. Houston hopes Craig Kimbrel — added from the Rangers’ minor league system — can provide another leverage arm. His debut was encouraging: no runs, two strikeouts.
Still, inconsistency looms. Cristian Javier continues to struggle with command. Javier recorded 10 walks over his 9.2 innings in his rehab starts with Sugar Land. Unfortunately, those control issues have followed him back to the big leagues. McCullers is dealing with the same issues, walking five batters in just four innings in his most recent start.
Walks have not only led to quick rallies, but also forced the bullpen to absorb heavy innings when starters can’t work deep. Javier's latest start against Baltimore was a prime example: spotted a five-run lead in the first, he immediately walked the first two batters and gave the runs right back in the first two innings. Then the bullpen had to cover the final seven frames. AJ Blubaugh really came through for the club, delivering four innings.
Patience with Javier
There may be a silver lining. Javier looked sharp in his first outing back from Tommy John surgery, and perhaps expectations were set too high too quickly. Manager Joe Espada has urged patience, reminding that bumps were always likely during the recovery process. The key for Javier — and for Lance McCullers, will be consistently throwing strikes.
MLB realignment thoughts
On a different note, realignment has been a popular topic this week. Personally, I like the Astros in the American League, where rivalries with the Yankees and Red Sox have added juice. The AL West isn’t the toughest division, which benefits Houston, though the late-night West Coast trips remain a grind. If a shift happens, it’ll come with trade-offs, but for now the AL feels like the right home.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode on Thursday!
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