Overall, I am exceedingly pleased with the team’s performance. The defense, with few exceptions, looked very good. The offense, with a few more issues, also looked good. Here’s a first glance rundown of what we noticed. We will follow this up tomorrow with a more indepth DVR study of the game and some special attention paid to postgame quotes/comments.
The Good:
1. Mario Williams- looked healthy and active. 2 sacks, including an impressive bull-rush on a 3-man rush is very reassuring.
2. DTs- looked very good with one exception (clears throat, OKAM). I thought Mitchell and Sheppard showed a little sloppiness as rookies playing in their first game. However, they both were very active, able to penetrate, and seemed solid at the point of attack. VERY ENCOURAGING!… Amobi Okoye looked pretty good as well. He was able to penetrate a few times, helping create a pass as well as a pass defensed. He also appeared strong at the point of attack despite his off-season weight loss.
3. Arian Foster… WOW! He looked amazing. Quick, powerful, decisive. Clearly he is our starting RB.
4. Matt Schaub and the starting WRS- Little needs to be said. Schaub has full command of the offense and is lethal when the pocket holds up. The WRs make plays and don’t drop passes.
5. The secondary outside of Fred Bennett. I was very impressed with McCain‘s ability to secure the edge on a couple running plays. I thought Molden had some nice moments and McManis appears to be a genuinely instinctive and physical football player. Also, Troy Nolan looked very good, even beyond his interception.
6. Shelley Smith- by the third quarter, I was needing to see some good things from the LG position. Studdard… UGGGH! Shelley Smith looked very, very good. He got to the second level. He had a key drive block on the Ben Tate 11 yard run and was solid in pass protection. He certainly earned an opportunity to steal some of White’s and Studdard’s reps next week.
7.Dorin Dickerson!- It’s hard to believe this guy hasn’t played WR before. His routes were good. He caught the ball, naturally, with his hands and had very good awareness where he was on the field. He just looked fluid and in his element. Oh, and he had an excellent inline cut block early in the third quarter. This guy makes the roster without a doubt!
8. Garrett Graham- looked quite good blocking in the run game. He sealed and then drove a DE towards the sideline on one good off-tackle run and had a couple other nice blocks.
9. Sharpton and Bing- Flowed and moved well. I did notice any overpursuit and they each tackled well. I think Sharpton, particularly, justified the 4th round pick many of us found so puzzling in April.
10. Barwin showed some good things. He held up reasonably well on run plays… or, at least was able to recover after being washed. He was able to attack the edge a few times, including a beautiful spin move that caused the first interception.
11. Jamison and Nading- both guys looked good rushing the edge. Assuming they are fighting for one roster spot, those guys earned themselves more reps for next week. It will be a difficult decision. Though, I am personally more impressed with Jamison.
12. Rackers’ kickoffs- It is my impression that the coaches are concerned about his kick offs. He was able to drive each kickoff to the 5yd line or better and also got sufficient air under his kicks… at least, at first glance.
The BAd
1. Chris White- was awful at center in the second quarter. I’m vomiting in my mouth just thinking about it.
2. Kasey Studdard- Got destroyed a number of times, leading to many of the offense’s negative plays in the first 30 minutes. This guy can’t be our starter heading into week one!
3. Frank Okam- If you have a DVR of the game, watch his first snap. He gets driven 8 yards, spun around, and driven head first into two LBs and the field turf. It wasn’t much better after that.
4. Fred Bennett- makes Petey Faggins look like Champ Bailey. He can’t be cut soon enough.
5. Dan Orlovsky- his statistics aren’t too bad and I thought he did some good things, but he struggled with timing, accuracy, and decision-making at times.
6. John David Booty- He looked like a 3rd string QB
7. Ben Tate’s leg- Hopefully it won’t keep him out more than a couple weeks.
8. Steve Slaton- I commented to Barrett 3 carries before he fumbled about how he was running very upright and exposing his upperbody and the ball, while leaving himself in awkward positions. It looked very much like his ’09 season and the fumble seemed inevitable. He is not someone that can be counted on right now but hopefully a couple games more of live action will get him confident and back to form… At this point, he should be a candidate for IR or waivers.
9. Chris Henry- I almost fell for all they practice hype. He simply isn’t an instinctive football player. He looked lost on special teams and totally confused when trying to pick up a blitz (see the last play of the game) or running a screen pattern. He’s just not a football player. He’s a workout guy. I look for him to be cut and the Texans will be searching the waiver wires for RB depth, particularly if Tate is out for long.
Thanks for the in-depth analysis–I don’t have enough knowledge for that, but my own impressions were good as well. I though Orlovsky improved as his night wore on; Booty looked lost. Dickerson sure looked good, in fact it struck me watching the 2nd and 3rd teamers: the average talent level of our draftees/signees looks like it’s been doubling every year since Smithiak came on board. They are unrecognizable from four years ago.
Jeff, You are right. We are a very talented team. I’m feeling good about our issues in the secondary but am still concerned with LG and am now more concerned about the RB depth given Henry’s mediocre performance, Slaton’s problems, and the Tate injury (apparently a season-ending broken ankle).
I really like jeremiah johnson, the guy seems to find holes that no other RB can and he looked fluid. Can’t wait to see Kareem Jackson in live action against the saints
Johnson looked pretty good but he lacks the strength of a guy I would want to rely on. Maybe we will see him with the twos and he will continue to impress. Let’s hope.
Mack, I totally agree with your assessment of Johnson. I told my son the same thing. I don’t know if those holes weren’t there for the other backs or if Johnson is just really good at finding and hitting the hole. I thought he looked really good.
I agree with this blog entry, at least the part I was able to observe. I was overall pleased with the way the team played.
I thought Orlovsky played well enough – just barely – for us to be comfortable with him as backup. As long as Schaub doesn’t get knocked out for several games we should be OK. Orlovsky looked tentative and slow to release bot he managed to protect the ball and not make stupid mistakes.
As far as the running game, well Foster looked great. Otherwise we’re in the same place we were last year. Same line, same backs. With Tate reported to have a broken ankle we go into the season hoping Foster doesn’t go won.
I’d just release Slaton. With the neck injury and his inability to hold onto the ball there’s just no future there for us. If he can get on elsewhere and overcome his difficulties fine, but we can’t sit around acting like he’s going to miraculously return to his rookie form. Sorry, Slaton has to go so we can find a solution.
I thought the defense played an awesome game. Mario was a beast. I am very excited about our defense this year and I can’t wait to see Jackson.
If we can hold it together and come out with the kind of energy we had last night on the first team against the Colts we have a decent shot at getting off to a good start. My glass is half full for sure.
I agree with your assessment at RB. A move will need to be made. Regarding Slaton, I think he’ll get one or two more preseason games to straighten out and then he may end up on the IR… I wouldn’t expect him to be released though. Great comments. thanks. Later this evening we will review Kubiak’s press conference and tomorrow we will have a more indepth breakdown of the game, based on a second DVR viewing.