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11 Sports BLOG |
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October 2008
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October 2008 ArchivesGrowing up in Houston, Donnie Avery was never the biggest guy playing pickup football games but he was always the fastest. Now the 5'11, 184 pounder is putting his 4.2 40 yard dash speed to good use with the St. Louis Rams. Recently, the Rams have been in transition with Jim Haslett replacing Scott Linehan as head coach. So far the move has been great for the team and for Avery. Plenty if you're an opposing defense. I was out at Reliant Stadium this morning getting the 411 on the Texans, as they worked out a game plan for the winless Bengals. A victory by the Texans on Sunday would be their 3rd straight, and that would be a franchise record. In the world of politics "Joe the Plummer's" 15 minutes of fame won't last much longer, but it appears Texas running back Chris Ogbonnaya better get used to the spotlight. When the season started, the former Strake Jesuit star wasn't really a part of Mack Bown's backfield by committee. He was a third down back if he was used at all. But when the senior finally got a real shot he made the most of it. Houston baseball fans have to be loving the major league playoffs. Sure we all wanted to see the Astros in the postseason, but that didn't happen. Instead we've been treated some excellent individual performances with Houston connections. Front and center are the Phillies. No question one of the feel good stories of the season has been Brad Lidge. Ever since Albert Pujols smacked him around Minute Maid Park 3 years ago, Lidge was not the same. That is in an Astros uniform. Not all players have flourished in a change of scenery, but in Lidge's case it turned out to be the best career move he could make... In the Texans dressing room this morning, I could hardly believe my ears. Did linebacker DeMeco Ryans, an All-America from Alabama really say Texas should be Alabama was ranked 2nd in the country, but they didn't play last week. While they were off U.T. put a spanking on O.U., so Texas jumped over Alabama in the poll m... The Champions Tour is in town again this week ....did you know it?? Despite being under duress all day long ....Schaub led his team to the winning touchdown ...including ...a quarterback draw for the game winning points.!!!! :03 seconds left ............Brown kicks it....and the Dolphins will have the ball at their own 41 yard line .....:02 left. Schaub ..quarterback draw for the score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great reception ...Schaub to Johnson ...ball at the 3 yard line .... Schaub ...no 1st down ......passes to Kevin Walter ....and he goes out of bounds at the Miami 11 yard line. ...The interception ...is overturned. Schaub ..after getting sacked on 1st down ...calmly stepped up and drilled Andre' Davis for a big gain ...to the Texans 36 yard line ... And Ronnie Brown scores .....Miami scores the TD and goes up 27 to 23 .......the extra point makes it 28 to 23 and there's 1:45 left in the game. Dolphins have it 2nd and 5 from their own 36 .... big 3rd and one situation coming up for Dolphins ..... Schaub's pass deflects off Kevin Walter ....and should have been intercepted ...by Miami defensive back drops it ...and Texans retain possession. Kris Brown ...then connects on 42 yard field goal ....Texans lead 23 to 21. Schaub has just converted two big pass plays. his first to Owen Daniels ...and his 2nd to Kevin Walter. The series started by having Andre Johnson drop a wide open pass. It's the Texans enemy ....as it winds past the 10 minute mark ....but Miami is doing a great job of milking the clock every time they lineup. Pennington ......to pass .....gets hit .....by Tim Bulman just as he throws ....but he completes it and Miami retains possession. Texans unable to move the ball....and they punt ...to Miami. Texans defense can make a statement with a hold here .......and Pennington is sacked by mario Williams ...forcing a punt. Great play all around .....really nice coverage downfield. Texans trails 21 to 20 ...as they head to the 4th quarter. That last fumble by Andre Johnson really hurts .... that's the 3rd turnover for Houston today. Schaub ...on 2nd down ....gets thrown down to the field .....offsides Miami .... Miami first and ten from their own 20 after the touchback .... ...Schaub hands off to Ahman Green for a first down .....but on 2nd down ..the pass is batted down ...here we go ....3rd down and 9 to go ......Schaub runs and slides for the first down ......Ball at the Texans 49 yard line. Miami .....quickly gets into Texans territory .......they are on the Houston 36 yard line ..... Schaub to Andre Johnson ...for 11 yards across the middle and a touchdown ....Texans have their first lead of the game .... it's 20 to 14 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Let's see what the hometeam can do. Houston trails 14-13 with 13:01 left in the 3rd qtr. Miami receives the opening kickoff to begin the 3rd quarter ...and they quickly convert for a first down ...I thought anyway ....they're going to have to measure ....they're inches short!!! The Dolphins will have to punt!! Dolphins lead 14 to 13 ..and the last 2 minutes of the quarter were real head scratchers.... They can't get the first down on a 3rd and one play ......so the Texans will have to punt the ball away. Matt Turk punts it ...and the Dolphins will have it first and twn ...and their own 16 yard line. I don't know what happened to my feed ...but jacoby Jones changed the complexion of this game...with a70 yard punt return for a score with 5:24 left in the 2nd quarter. The Texans ....for some reason ...didn't go for two ...they kicked the extra point ...and Miami leads 14-13. Now the Texans call timeout with 1:09 left in the first half .....to discuss their options. ...Dolphins forced to punt at the 2 minute warning in the 2nd quarter. The Texans have been getting great pressure on Pennington ....and now faced with 4th and 15 ....at their own 32 .... Miami will kick it away. Kris Brown hits from 33 yards out ....Dolphins lead cut to 14 to 6. with 9:07 left in the first half. Schaub again was greeted with boos ..and We Want Sage chants when he hit a defender in the helmet with his 3rd down pass. To their credit ...the Dolphins are putting big time pressure on Schaub almost everytime he drops back to pass. ...Andre' Davis gets tackled at the line of scrimmage ....so the Texans have a 1st down at the Dolphins 15 yard line. ...Andre Davis gets the kickoff return to the Miami 45 yard line ..... Chad Pennington hooks up with running back Patrick Cobbs on an 80 yard scoring pass play. Dolphins lead 14 to 3 with 11:37 left in the 1st half.
Oh wow ....at 12:43pm ....it officially started the "We Want Sage" chant began from the Reliant Stadium stands. On 3rd and long ...Schaub threw fo a well-covered Kevin Walter on the sideline ..and only because it was badly underthrown ...was the pass not intercepted. Schaub has been picked off 2 times already today ...and the fans are getting restless. Demps tackles the receiver one yard shy of the first down marker ....deep in Miami territory ....to force a Dolphin punt. Texans take over 1st and 10 from their own 15 yard line. ...Texans trails 7-3 ..and they're going to have to get their passing game together. On their 3rd possession of the game ...the Texans drive the ball 61 yards and score on a 27 yard field goal off the foot of Kris Brown. 7-3 Dolphins with 1:02 left in the 1st quarter. Off the Wildcat play ....when Ronnie Brown reversed the ball and then it was Chad Pennington passing 53 yards to Patrick Dobbs ..for the TD ....7-0 Dolphins ..and the fans are stunned here at Reliant Stadium. ...Schaub misfires again ....after the Texans were rolling downfield again ... this time he gest picked off at the Miami 45 yard line ...it's up to the defense to dig in ..and hold again ... ...Another first down for the Texans ...Ahman Green carrying the mail. 1st and 10 at their own 27 yard line. Green looks good. Hey ...and Schaub just looked great connecting with tight end Owen Daniels on a completion down the middle to their own 45 yard line., Great touch pass by Schaub. he has now completed two of his passes ....one to each team. Miami was 3 and out on their first possession ...and the Texans take over after the punt at their own 13 yard line. 1st and ten ....Schaub really needs to put something together ....because the fans let him have it with boooooooooos when he left the field a short while ago. No score .....11:06 left in the 1st quarter. Riding the legs of rookie running back Steve Slaton ...the Texans took the ball into Miami territory .....only to get picked off the first time Matt Schaub threw a forward pass. Miami takes over at their own 46. The roof will be open ...again ..thanks to Ike damaging the roof ....and hopefully it won't get too warm. The Texans are in their home white jerseys with blue pants .....Miami is wearing their sea-foam green jerseys with white pants .....the Texans have won the coin toss ...and they'll receive the opening kickoff. ...If Texans fans want to help our their favorite NFL team ... they need to start showing up to games on time. Okay ...I get the whole tailgating scene .... but c'mon!!! News item: Houston is ranked as the 12th best "Sports City" by The Sporting News. Please the best we can do is 12th? For years The Sporting News was referred to as the authority on baseball, but those days are gone. With the advent of the internet and all the other media, TSN is not the publication it once was, and in its attempt to foster some sort of "controversy" it posts this list. The release tells me this is the 15th year it has had its rankings. No question Boston is a great sports, town, but in reality th... Just when Sage Rosenfels and the Texans were looking to salt away a 10 point win over the visiting Colts.....Sage tried to do too much. Instead of just going down ...on a 3rd down run ....he tried to hurdle a defender and got helicoptered down by 3 defenders ....lost the ball ...and by the time Sage knew what hit him .....the Colts were scoring at the other end. Then after the Texans got the ball back .Sage was stripped of the ball ...while trying to pass ....setting up the Colts in great field position and allowing them to put up the go-ahead score on the board. Sage topped his day off ....or bottomed if... Sorry ....internet problems ...but the Texans have taken charge of this game. Now ..the Colts just scored on a Manning to Tom Santi .. it's 27-17 now with 4:04 left. The Colts just get flagged ...geez ..even the calls are going the Texans' way ....yes they can win!!! 4:33 left in the 3rd quarter. Texans get a 3rd down run by Steve Slaton that gives them a first down at their own 21 yard line. And Ahman Green then comes in to gain 9 on the ground. Wow ...what's going on there?? Colts can't convert on 3rd down ...and punt away ....Jacoby Jones catches the ball on the 9 yard line ....for some reason ...he doesn't let the ball go...as he's coached to do. Manning and Co.....trying to move the ball down and tie the score ....crowd loud ..on 3rd and long ... at midfield ........Manning ....gets glagged for delay of game!!!! Rosenfels has the Texans back in Colts territory. 1st and 10 at the Indy 49 yard line. Sage Rosenfels to Andre Johnson on a 3-yard TD strike ....Texans up 17 to 10. On third and 12 from the Houston 31 ....Peyton Manning goes long towards the endzone ...and just as Reggie Wayne was prepared to haul in the TD pass ...Jacques Reeves ...tapped the ball away ....on a great defensive play. His first of his days as a Texan. Wow ....and then Vinatieri misses a field goal attempt ..and the Texans bring fans to their feet.!! Texans take over on downs .....3:30 left in first half. ...Kris Brown kicks a 37 yard field goal ...to tie the score at 10-10 ...but the playcalling was suspect when the Texans got close ....They were wearing out the Colts secondary with the passing game ...and then for some crazy reason ..they called Ahman Green's number on a draw play up the middle that netting nothing ..and Brown had to kick the field goal. Had the Texans taken the lad there it would have been huge. But they didn't do it ....and that's the type of thing that needs to change ...if this team wants to start winning games ...and winner over their fans. Colts now have the ball back ..and driving. ...Led by Sage Rosenfels ...subbing for the sick Matt Schaub ...led a 71 yard ...9 play drive which was capped off by Steve Slaton's 1 yard TD run. Finally ..the Texans fans have something to cheer about. This game started off so badly for the Texans ...and the sun is already beating down on the fans in the North endzone ...that this crowd was restless. That TD drive ...got everyone back into the game. This place was rocking during the first two Colt's possessions ....as they were really loud when Peyton Manning called the Colts to the line of Scrimmage ....that could be a factor today ...if the Texans can ... Rosenfels has the offense moving ...and Ahman Green ... actually carred the ball twice and was not injured. One for a 1st down. Adam Vinatieri kicked a 46 yard. That was on the Colts first possession ..and then after the Texans were unable to move the ball ....the Colts got the ball again ....and Sharpstown HS product Joseph Adai scored on a one yard run ...and the Colts lead 10-0 in the 1st qtr. Talk about bad timing.....QB Matt Schaub is out of today's starting lineup due to flu like symptoms. That means Sage Rosenfels will get the start at quarterback for the Texans ..in their home opener for '08. ... |
