Skins need to further invest in the trenches next season

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Up by 17 in the third quarter is about as favorable of a running situation as there is in the game of football.

You pass to get the lead, which we clearly did today, but running the football efficiently is still critically important to run out the clock. We did a really bad job running out the clock at the end of the game with the opponents on the rope.

That's pretty much the only thing we did bad today.

There were 3 offensive series in the 3rd Quarter. 2 of them belonged to the Texans and they resulted in a field goal and TD respectively. Our 3rd Quarter drive resulted in a Chris Cooley TD pass. Score going into the fourth 27-17.

At the start of the 4th Quarter the Skins tried to run the ball but something funny happened.
1-10-WAS 20 (15:00) 27-L.Johnson left end to WAS 10 for -10 yards (29-G.Quin).

Obviously we had to pass when we're looking at 2nd and 20. Remember the score is 27-17 at this point and we're facing a high powered Texans offense that dominated the third Quarter. If we get a first down we can go back to the run, but on 2nd and 20 we'd be stupid to run it.

Next drive results in a Texans FG, now it's 27-20. It was on our next drive that drive where we actually started running the ball well.

(9:39) 26-C.Portis up the middle to HST 26 for 2 yards (95-S.Cody).
2-8-HOU 26
(8:59) 26-C.Portis left end pushed ob at HST 14 for 12 yards (21-B.McCain).
1-10-HOU 14
(8:28) 26-C.Portis right guard to HST 9 for 5 yards (92-E.Mitchell).
2-5-HOU 9
(7:49) 26-C.Portis left end to HST 5 for 4 yards (31-B.Pollard, 29-G.Quin).
3-1-HOU 5

Here's where everything really started going downhill.

(7:49) PENALTY on WAS-77-J.Brown, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at HST 5 - No Play.

3rd and 6 27-27. Do you want to run it here?
3-6-HOU 10 (6:45) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 89-S.Moss (26-E.Wilson, 72-J.Nading).

Still hurts to even think about this play
[/B]4-6-HOU 10 (6:40) 4-G.Gano 29 yard field goal is BLOCKED (31-B.Pollard), Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-J.Bidwell, RECOVERED by HST-95-S.Cody at HST 16. 95-S.Cody to HST 16 for no gain (75-A.Hicks).

So we get the ball back after a failed Texans drive. Now I'll admit, this was pretty dumb
2-5-HOU 46
(4:22) 89-S.Moss left end to WAS 46 for -8 yards (31-B.Pollard). End around

Still it's 3rd and 13 so we have to pass. Incomplete we punt, Houston scores. Now we're tied 27-27. We get the ball back with 2:03 left in the 4th Quarter. Obviously we can't run it now.

Looking back the End around to Moss, the Chanelling Barry Sanders moves, and the Jamaal Brown false start on 3rd and 1 combined with our defenses second half breakdown prevented us from using ground and pound to finish the game. As painful as it is to relive it's by no means a personnel problem.