Week 3 of the preseason is always the one you want your team to win. Or at least play well enough to lead after the half or the end of the 3rd quarter. Even better when you pound the snot out of the team you’re up against. After the disappointing performance the Texans put up against the Saints in the 2nd preseason game, Texans fans were ready to jump off the ledge. It was actually a nice change. Generally at this time of the preseason, Texans fans are already in “it’s only preseason” mode. Usually we put up abysmal performances in a couple of preseason games, and fans will just say “oh wait til the regular season starts” Then we get punched in the mouth by the Jets and we start the season with a loss.

This year, fans were generally upset at how bad the team played against New Orleans, and their fears were put to rest, at least for a week, against the Cowboys. The Texans offense was clicking, although not at 100%, but playing very well. Meanwhile on defense, the Cowboys were held to -1 yards for a good part of the first 20 minutes of the game. Glover Quin did not have a great game, but it appears as if the refs thought the name Stevens, Faggins, or Reeves was on the back of his jersey. Some questionable calls, but that’ll happen. Although he did have the sack on the CB blitz, which was nice.

Amobi finally decided to show up, which was a nice change. As a whole, the D line played well, maybe they’re finally letting the dogs out? When they decide to give a damn, the defensive line has shown they can get to the QB. It’s just that they seem to not really care more often than they do. Connor Barwin was making moves against the 2nd team, which was ok I guess, but I’d like to see him work against the 1st team a little more.

This brings me to my next point, the linebacker corps. The starting linebackers show that they don’t really need to be out there right now, they’re as close to a constant as we have. WHY… oh why… is Brian Cushing playing the entire time with the 1st team? Gary Kubiak DOES realize that he’s out the first 4 games of the season right? I’d have loved for the other LBs to get some chances to fit in with the starting team, considering someone is going to have to fill in for Cushing in the first 4 weeks. That is one of the few concerns I’ve got on the defense.

Pollard is making big hits on people. Kareem Jackson made a nice play on an easy pick and was able to take it halfway down the field before being knocked out of bounds by Felix Jones. Troy Nolan impressed me in the first game, but he hasn’t been on my radar since then, but to be fair I’ve kind of tuned out the latter part of the game once the 1st team is out of there. I’m still watching, but I’m also doing about 87 other things at the same time. I’m no John Harris/Lance Zierlein. I’m just a caveman, their game film frightens and confuses me.

On offense, the entire starting team looked good. I like what Dressen has shown in Owen Daniel’s absence, definitely not as good as OD, but a formidable replacement. I wouldn’t be as upset about OD missing a little more time, I think we’d be ok with Joel, so long as we still have Andre, Jacoby, and Schaub in there. Oh, and Arian freakin’ Foster. How amazing has this guy been this since coming in for Steve Slaton last year? Dude is quickly becoming the best RB the Texans have had in their history (which is basically a tie between Domanick Davis/Steve Slaton at this point, don’t get too excited yet.) As long as it’s not Ron Dayne (sans performance vs Colts a few years back), Stacey Mack, or James Allen.

So I remember seeing Dorin Dickerson in training camp, and thinking he’s gonna be a big part of the 2nd team and making plays, maybe fighting for a WR spot. After the first game, I haven’t seen him do anything. But also I don’t think I’ve seen him on the field much. Will he make the team? Probably practice squad at least. He looked too good to disappear just like that.

The offensive line has looked extremely good, but part of them looking bad has been that Slaton wasn’t hitting the holes that were there last year, so generally the offensive line is only as good as the performance of the running back. Pass blocking I’m fine with, we showed last year that it wasn’t a problem.

This Texans team can go many ways, and I’m hoping it’s closer to the 11-5 that I want them to get to, but ultimately I think they will end up dropping some games they should win, and winning some games they have no business winning. I’m going to officially go with 10 and 6, and making the playoffs. Matt Schaub will continue to put up huge numbers, Andre will continue to perform, Jacoby I think will have a breakout season (just please, stop jumping up for punt returns!), and Arian Foster I think will break out and hit 1500 yards. Bold prediction, I know, but he’s showing that he gets the blocking scheme the Texans run, and the offensive line seems to have confidence in what they’re doing/who’s running through those holes and seem to be getting better after every game, starting with the end of last season.

Brian Cushing will come back for the Giants game, and I’ll be there along with Derrick, and our buddy Wellington (Giants fan coming in from NYC). I thought about trying to get tickets in the Bullpen to have people give him shit about wearing his Eli Manning jersey (or Brandon Jacobs, more than likely). If anyone wants to donate 3 tickets, we’ll take them! Anything to give a Giants fan a taste of what the Texans fans are all about.

I look forward to tailgating a few times, but most likely, my schedule for the Texans will look like this. Lucky couch for 13 weeks, Reliant Stadium for Texans/Giants, Jake’s for Texans/Eagles, and the Yellow Lot for Texans/Cowboys. Should be a fun season, hopefully, I’ll still be updating this site with Texans posts in mid January.