This week's installment of Rep Your Squad is a very special one. I had the pleasure to interview Texans_Chick (Stephanie Stradley). Some of you may know her best for her Houston Texans blog on Fanhouse. I want to thank her helping out on the deck, and we've gained a new friend to the site. Have fun reading this guys and gals. Please leave comments so that Texans_Chick can know just how grateful we are.
Rep Your Squad: Texans_Chick
There are members of the Captain's Deck who are fans of your blog. What made you decide to become a blogger?
Nice. I originally started blogging about the Texans because there weren't much as far as Texans blogs out there, and most of the mainstream media information was awful, inaccurate, and just press release regurgitating when it wasn't just stupid. Most information about the Texans was more interested in writing punchlines about their futility than actually providing interesting information. Originally, I blogged for the Houston Chronicle, but eventually moved to
Aol Fanhouse because it took less time, allowed me to educate a more national audience about the Texans, and I really admire a lot of the writing over there. I like FanHouse because it has info on just about every sport on it, you hear the buzz on stuff before it hits talk radio and the papers, it sometimes breaks news, and it's often funny/gossipy in a good way.
Has your blog become popular enough that strangers recognize you when you're out in public?
Not at the grocery store or anything like that. Probably the only strangers who come up to me are ones at the tailgates and games saying that they follow what I write. Probably the most surprising thing is getting contacted by various radio shows to do stuff locally and nationally, and visiting with national media members who want to know the skinny on all things Texans.
Has there been any response from the Texans organization about your blog?
I've gone to Texans events since the beginning so I've been able to meet a lot of people who work there. A really nice group of people. I've heard a lot of encouraging things from them in general, and I send their website a ton of internet traffic, especially as it relates to cheerleader stuff. Funny how that works--male readers love cheerleaders.
How did you originally become a Texans fan?
I was a fan of the team that is no longer in Houston that we shall not speak of. At the time, I thought there was no hope that Houston would get another team because of Los Angeles and the fact that national folks didn't understand how Houston loved football but hated Bud Adams. When there was noise that Houston might get another team, I pledged that I would never take NFL football for granted and I would try to be the best fan I could be. It's the story of a lot of people in Houston.
I'm sure you've had to answer this question many times, but how do Texans fans now feel about the 2006 NFL Draft?
There's no one answer to that other than probably sick of hearing about it and talking about it. There are some people who still wish that the Texans would have picked Vince Young, but not too many that wish they would have picked Reggie Bush.
Matt Schaub has finally been given a chance to be a NFL starter, how has performed thus far?
Good, bad, and incomplete. The good part is that he has done his part to show how much of the Texans sack problems were not the offensive line's fault. Though the line still has some issues, having a quarterback that can make good decisions and can move around in the pocket can make a huge difference. Matt Schaub can put the ball downfield and take advantage of stupid things that defenses can do.
The bad part is that he has had difficulty staying healthy throughout the season. He's been cheap shotted some, so it a lot of it is not really his fault, but all quarterbacks get hit in the league trying to make plays. The question about Schaub is as a full time starter, can he make it through a season?
The incomplete part is that Schaub has had to do a lot with very little. Standout wide receiver Andre Johnson has been hurt for most of the season. Ahman Green hasn't played much. Most of Schaub's yards came with very little running game support and receivers who weren't even activated on the roster week one. He performed well given those circumstances, but it's also what got him hurt. With those limitations, he was able to throw the ball, but red zone scoring proved difficult when Andre Johnson was not on the field.
Has he been the quarterback that you and other Texans fans expected him to be?
I think Texans fans wanted ABC--Anyone But Carr. Fans wish that they could have seen more of Schaub and others being healthy, but I think just about everyone feels fortunate not to see any more David Carr snaps in a Texans uniform.
Everyone asks why the Texans drafted Mario Williams over Reggie Bush and Vince Young. Tell us why Mario Williams was the right draft pick for the Texans.
Personally, though shocked, I was fine with the pick. Young couldn't be the pick once the Texans picked up Carr's contract in February (March was the due date for the decision). Once that decision was made, a team couldn't pick another quarterback or else they would be in salary cap hades. I never was a fan of Reggie Bush for the Texans offense because of questions of whether he was all hype. Whether he could be a between the tackles runner. Whether in a league of specialists, this utility guy would be someone not as good as a specialist at RB and WR. Kubiak's system puts a premium on running backs always getting positive yardage to keep down and distance reasonable. I didn't think a dancing in the backfield RB was a good fit, though I think Kubiak could have figured out ways to use him.
In 2005, the Texans had Dunta Robinson and Mr. Nobody playing on their defense. Which was the primary reason why the Texans were absolutely miserable in 2005 instead of just regular bad. In 2006, they were switching to the 4-3, and Mario Williams was a player who had equivalent stats and measurables to Julius Peppers. Solid defensive ends are more difficult to acquire than solid running backs, and they figured he was one worth making part of the foundation of their new defense.
If you want more information about this, I suggest reading:
The Ultimate Mario Williams Compendium (My name isn't in the header of my old blog any more, but I wrote this. Mario Williams had it on his website for a while. Has a lot of basic information about Williams you may not have read in the mainstream media during the rush to call him a bust).
Mario Williams, Vince Young, Reggie Bush: Evaluating the Top of the 2006 Draft (It's basically a run down of the draft. The Draft Tracker now has Bush and Williams tied for the best performances of the year, though I think out of the three, Williams is having the most solid season. He is playing 95% of the snaps, which is a huge number for a DE. He's been improving his sack numbers, but more importantly, he is looking more comfortable in what he is doing and playing less reactive football.
Ultimately, Kubiak is putting a team together that is a team doesn't want to have to depend on any one guy to succeed or to be bigger than the team. I can tell you that that the 2006 draft is a subject I am absolutely tired of, but it amazes me how much misinformation is out there about that draft.
In the first couple weeks the Texans seemed like they were ready to take that next step to becoming a contender in the AFC. What has happened since then to turn such a promising team into a losing one?
Injuries and turnovers. In short succession, they lost key playmakers Andre Johnson, Ahman Green, and special teams standouts Jerome Mathis and Jacoby Jones. They lost center Steve McKinney and it took them a while to figure out how to run the ball without him in the lineup.
Turnovers have killed them as well. I believe they are a result of having to rely on rookies and inexperienced players at key positions. Young teams make mistakes and the Texans are young on both sides of the ball. I also believe that the turnovers are also partially a result of having a very limited running game--defenses could key more on the quarterback, and have tighter coverage and force fumbles on receivers.
Is it safe to say that Andre Johnson is the most important player on the Texans roster?
He sure helps in getting the ball in the red zone. The Texans could pass the ball pretty well given his absence, but once the field shortened, his play making was missed. Personally, the player that scares me the most being out would be middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans. Sometimes it seems like he is the only guy making tackles.
What is the pulse of the Texans fan base on Gary Kubiak's future with the team?
Kubiak is a Houstonian and a Texas A&M Aggie, so he has good will with both of those things. With some people, they hold it against him that he kept Carr and didn't pick Vince Young. (He had to make the decision on Carr's contract just about on the day of his arrival). Generally speaking, I think people want him to succeed. I think the next year is a more crucial year for him. Probably the person on the hotseat the most is defensive coordinator, Richard Smith. He is not terribly experienced as a coordinator and his play calling and schemes have really been questionable since he has come to Houston. If he stays, it is likely because of the excuse that his defense is so young and injured.
How do you and other Texans fans view Sunday's game against the Buccaneers?
It's nice to get another home game, but not as nearly exciting as it was when there was more theoretical wild card talk. The two game losing road trip really took a lot out of everyone's sails. The AFC South is an unfun division.
What do you think the Texans' chances are this Sunday?
It depends on what Texans team shows up. They can show some amazingly great things and some amazingly awful things and often in the same game. The injury to guard Fred Weary and his backup is a serious one, and it will be interesting to see how they function in his absence. Sage Rosenfels will be filling in for Matt Schaub. The offense basically looks the same when he is in but he can sometimes be an interception machine.
The Texans generally play much better at home, and that should help the offensive line play some.
If the Texans are going to win this Sunday, what two players on offense and defense will need to have good games?
Offense: Sage Rosenfels and whatever dude ends up playing right guard. (honorable mention: Andre Johnson and whatever dude is playing running back)
Defense: The Entire Texans Secondary. When they goon, they goon big. When they don't do incredibly stupid stuff, it's like watching an actual defense.
If you had to come up with a game plan for Texans to beat Bucs, what would it look like?
Long sustained offensive drives with a good mix of the run and the pass. Not getting too pass happy. Hold onto the ball. Keep the Texans defense off the field. Get good field position. Most of that seems like a no-duh, but the Texans defense only looks good when a. the offense keeps it off the field; b. when the other team shoots itself in the foot by its playcalling.
I'm sure Texans fans are beginning to look towards the off season. What do you hope the Texans will do during the off season?
Fire Richard Smith, the defensive coordinator and bring in an experienced defensive coordinator with a good track record with the 4-3. Someone that offensive minded Gary Kubiak can give the keys to the defense and not worry that it is a problem. I don't think that will happen because ownership is very stay-the-course minded.
There are tons of needs for the Texans on both sides of the ball, but I'd like to see a young quality running back. The line is getting old at center and left tackle (I'm not optimistic about LT Charles Spencer's return from injury). On the defensive side of the ball, I'd like to see upgrades just about everywhere, but especially at safety and defensive back. Standout corner, Dunta Robinson had both a knee ligament and his hamstring coming off from the bone injury a few weeks ago. Though he is by all accounts a hard worker, it is hard to see him coming back right from that.
Just how far away are the Texans from becoming a major contender for the playoffs and eventually the Superbowl?
Next year is a key one to see if the Kubiak thing is working. The best teams in the league develop great quarterbacks, and Kubiak has shown some promising things in the passing game--sometimes doing a lot with a little. The AFC South is a tough division to escape from, and once again the Texans are leading the league in IR, so short term is pretty iffy. But then again, the Texans are the same team that handled the Cowboys in the third preseason game where Dallas played their starters into the fourth quarter. Generally speaking, I think the players are buying what Kubiak is selling, but there's still a lot of needs for this team.
You visited the Captain's Deck, what are you thoughts of the site?
Nice. Lots of reasonable stuff there which is something I always appreciate in sports message boards. Though I have to say it puts me in the mind for getting some seafood. And talking like a pirate. (insert obligatory arrrrgh and random parrot reference here).
Thank you for answering all of our questions. In closing, tell the Deckaneers something interesting about yourself.
Last year, I was named the 2006 Ultimate Texan Fan. The Texans sent me to the Super Bowl in Miami. I now believe all Super Bowls need to be in Miami because that is a fun place to party. I was supposed to give a radio interview at Radio Row but it got cancelled for technical reasons. I wasn't sad about that because I got to see all sorts of people up close, like Joe Namath, Joe Montana and a bunch of other people. I covered Super Bowl partying for FanHouse and went to a number of them. Ultimately, I think the bar scenes were more entertaining than the parties though, although maybe that just means I went to the wrong parties. Ended up talking with a lot of different players and coaches. I put on as many Super Bowl rings as I could to steal their mojo.
You will likely see me on the Texans-Bucs broadcast because my seats are close to the field, and I sit near the cheerleaders where all the cameras are. Hopefully, for me at least, they won't catch me cussing or doing anything embarrassing. Haven't decided on my outfit yet.
Catch Texans_Chick's blogs at link below!
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/bloggers/stephanie-stradley/
