Battle Red Blog
The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Preseason Week 1:
Ginormous caveat, this is the 1st preseason game: There weren’t a lot of the big stars for Houston that saw the field for this one. Given that it was the 1st preseason game, it is hardly surprising. Bad enough injuries impact players in practice (see CJ Garnder-Johnson), but to have an injury during this game, arguably the least impactful for the fortunes of the team, yeah, you could understand if Stroud, Anderson, Collins, et al, didn’t see the field. Some of the offensive lineman that Houston will rely on upfront did play, with varying degrees of success. Mainly this game was about the back of the roster. All of those factors need to cage any analysis of this game.
That being said…
Quick release/short passing game seems to be the modus operandi: For Houston, it was a steady diet of 3-step drops/quick passes/running plays. Part of that is you won’t see a lot of elaborate play designs in these early games. Some of that is just getting guys back into game shape/play. Still, Houston didn’t try to push the ball down the field too much, or when they did try, it didn’t amount to a lot of success. This could be a result of line play, or concern therein, as Houston QBs, especially after the 1st series, didn’t exactly have a lot of time to throw the ball down the field for the big hitter plays, even with Metchie, Hutchinson, Higgins and Noel on the field. The short passing game can work, but if you don’t stretch the field, it severely limits what an offense can do.
The Biggest Battle on Display: 3rd string QB: This season, no dispute on #2 QB slot on the roster. Mills opened as the starter and aside from one bad end-zone overthrow, looked sharp, leading the Texans down the field for a TD. After that, the offense was helmed by Kedon Slovis (11 of 15 for 71 yards/sacked twice) and Graham Mertz (7 of 14 for 27 yards, 3 INTs). Neither jumps out at you. Slovis led the squad to a FG to open the second half for Houston. As for Mertz…well, the good is that he showed some remarkable mobility for a guy who tore his ACL less than a calendar year ago, particularly on a 1st and 10 scramble that netted Houston 9 yards. Unfortunately, Mertz’s last three drives ended with those 3 INTs, two of which were terrible passes (one tipped). Sure, only a preseason game (recall Stroud’s rookie debut of 2-of-4 for 13 yards/1 INT.), but Slovis moved ahead in the battle for the QB3 spot.
You have to feel for those second-half players: Early preseason is not exactly the garden spot for watching or analyzing NFL games. The...
