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Houston's New Offense ...


JPW

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Texans offensive coordinator Joe Pendry has a reputation for being so conservative he makes George W. Bush look like Bill Clinton.

HoustonChronicle.com

The changes were already noticeable even though Pendry had only two days of practice before the Texans shut down their facilities in preparation for Hurricane Rita.

Pendry focused the majority of his sessions on timing.

When QB David Carr didn't get the ball off fast enough, he sat down and backup Tony Banks came in.

The receivers were constantly criticized for not running crisp, precise routes.

There's more motion in the backfield and the running backs are confident there will be more carries for them.

Pendry wants to attack defenses, and the running game will be a critical component to that.

To get the passing game on track, Pendry plans to use the three-step drops that the Texans worked on all season, but rarely used in the first two games.

The entire offense is being sped up, from play calling to Carr finding his receivers.

SportingNews.com

This is Pendry's fourth team and his 11th season as an offensive coordinator.

Players say he's old school.

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Pendry said. "We just simplify it. We don't have a lot of different plays."

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We know what to do. We know how to do it.

We're going to do it, and let's be as physical as we can be.

HoustonChronicle.com

Under new offensive coordinator Joe Pendry, the Texans are looking to adopt more of a smashmouth philosophy.

Houston plans to dictate the pace instead of being dictated to.

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"That’s Joe’s philosophy", quarterback David Carr said. “He’s not going to go out there and let the defense dictate what’s going on.

We’re going to have a set of plays and we’re going to run them over and over.

If teams can stop us, then they’re better than us.

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Run the ball, control the clock and don’t make mistakes

HoustonTexans.com

In two practices as the Texans' new offensive coordinator, Joe Pendry's focus has been on technique and execution, rather than altering the playbook.

His new style is evident, though. He has brought intensity to every drill, and players are forced to sit if they do not execute.

Even quarterback David Carr was replaced on a few sequences during last Wednesday's practice for not throwing the ball on time.

The changes will not be obvious, but Joe Pendry will alter the offensive scheme when he starts calling plays Sunday against Cincinnati (3-0). During practice, the Texans worked mostly on three-step drops, which they implemented during the off-season, but used only sparingly in their first two games.

USATODAY.com

Offensive linemen who have spent the past 1 1/2 years working with Pendry admit that it has been fun watching their former position coach direct his anger elsewhere.

"I'm glad other guys get the brunt of Joe P. and not just us anymore," left guard Chester Pitts said.

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Running back Domanick Davis' eyes widened and a smile crossed his face. He can't guarantee what kind of changes new offensive coordinator Joe Pendry is going to introduce to the Texans, but Davis likes what he has seen Pendry do in the past.

"He never said too much about it, but I know we're going to run the ball, because he's a guy who likes to run the ball"

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"We'll do some different things," center Steve McKinney said. "We'll probably simplify some stuff where we can just go out and play physical, where we don't have to do so much thinking and reading and stuff of that nature (and) where we can just go out and play hard-nosed football."

HoustonChronicle.com

Pendry has changed drills and personnel. He has added little ideas and big demands. He has picked up the pace of play-calling, timing on pass plays and life in general for Texans offensive players.

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A factor in Palmer's firing was his inability to get the football into (Andre) Johnson's hands enough.

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By the end of last season, which Johnson finished with 79 catches and six touchdowns, teams were having too much success limiting his effectiveness. Over the final four games of 2004, Johnson had just 11 catches for 124 yards.

Through two games this season, Johnson has just seven catches for 38 yards. The best player on the team needs more than that. The offensive coordinator needs to find ways of getting it done no matter what the defense tries.

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His word for the day at Tuesday's practice was the same one Pendry has preached since taking over as offensive coordinator last week. It's what he is counting on to give Carr more passing lanes, running back Domanick Davis more room and — most significantly — Johnson more touches. TIMING.

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Pendry is emphatically challenging Carr, Johnson, everyone, to be quicker with the ball, quicker in pass routes, quicker to the hole.

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And he's demanding that Carr do less audiblizing out of something designed to utilize Johnson.

Carr must also show less tentativeness and make fewer hasty check-offs at the line of scrimmage.

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"He's going to call the play, and you're going to run it," Johnson said of Pendry. "He's just plain to the point. He's not going to complicate things.

There's no more adjustments to what the defense is doing.

We're going to run what we're going to run."

HoustonChronicle.com

Sounds like Joe wants to run a Fast, Aggressive, Smash-Mouthed, Run-First type of Offense with the plays run as Called and with an eye on getting the ball to Andre Johnson when they do pass.

A few thoughts ...

First off we need to be ready to Get Physical with these guys.

Our run defense will need to step it up for this game, if we can stop the run they are dead in the water.

Even if they can run, will they be able to stick with it, if we get a lead on them ?

Trying to play fast also has it draw backs, it is all fine and danny for a RB to just hit the hole fast, that is if there is a hole, but quite often it is better for the RB to show a little patience and let the play develop.

The same concept holds true for a QB making the proper reads before he lets the ball fly.

Not trusting your QB to make adjustment at the line of scrimmage can be flat out deadly, I know that the Browns paid big time, when they would not allow Jeff Garcia to audible last last year.

Also, if they are going to be trying to force the ball to a receiver, even if he is well covered, they may very well find that it is one of the Bengals DBs who comes down with that ball.

Any thoughts ?

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Nice post JPW.

I like Pendry's style, but I don't think it will fit well with the personnel in the Texans offense. To be a power running team, you need a physical offensive line that can maintain it's blocks through a full play, and you need a rugged, tough running back. I don't think the Texans have either one.

The offensive line is as bad as advertised, not only in pass protection, but also in run blocking (I don't think Domanick Davis has ever averaged 4 yards per carry for a season in his career). Davis is a poor fit, because he is a Brian Westbrook type player. He may have early success, but he should wear down very quickly in that scheme, and the Texans other running backs won't pose much of a threat.

If we can clog the lanes inside the tackes, as Thornton, Robinson, and Thurman have been doing all year so far, then this game will be over. We can get hte pressure on Carr once we have the lead, and they will not be able to sustain a power running game long enough to cause any concern.

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After reading the above, great post BTW, it sounds like the Texans are determined to attack in exactly the same way the Browns tried to in the opener. Short passes and three step drops to negate the pass pressure and as much of the run game as the circumstances allow. If true, I wouldn't expect the Bengal sack-fest that many are hoping to see.

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After reading the above, great post BTW, it sounds like the Texans are determined to attack in exactly the same way the Browns tried to in the opener. Short passes and three step drops to negate the pass pressure and as much of the run game as the circumstances allow. If true, I wouldn't expect the Bengal sack-fest that many are hoping to see.

Would have to agree with HOF's assesment on this one with one addition. Browns went thru min camps and pre season developing that offensive philosophy. I seriously doubt Pendry will be able to install it or instill it in one week.

They may start that way, but they'll revert to form. When they do ... he'll no doubt jump their ass for it and it'll work for a while .. till they revert to form again.

It's taken Marvin Lewis 3 years and 2 defensive coordinators to get things going the way he wanted .... doubt Pendry does it much faster.

But that's just me B)

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Helluva post JPW.

If the Texans go mini field w/ any success in the air, it'll be at James because of the cushion he has to give to keep WRs from getting behind him.

I think Tory will have a big game. Carr has struggled in getting the ball to Andre Johnson (whom I would assume will be covered by James for the majority of the game), and with a new offensive coordinator calling plays meant to develop quickly, James should be high on the tackle list. Pendry will want Carr to look to Andre all game long. I don't think Andre is known for getting much YAC, like Chad, and with the cushion being allowed by James, this scheme may not work well for the Texans.

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Helluva post JPW.

If the Texans go mini field w/ any success in the air, it'll be at James because of the cushion he has to give to keep WRs from getting behind him.

I have read that the Texans may also go with max-protection a lot in this game.

I am thinking that the Bengals will mainly just rush with their DL and will focus on having good coverage.

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Helluva post JPW.

If the Texans go mini field w/ any success in the air, it'll be at James because of the cushion he has to give to keep WRs from getting behind him.

I think Tory will have a big game. Carr has struggled in getting the ball to Andre Johnson (whom I would assume will be covered by James for the majority of the game), and with a new offensive coordinator calling plays meant to develop quickly, James should be high on the tackle list. Pendry will want Carr to look to Andre all game long. I don't think Andre is known for getting much YAC, like Chad, and with the cushion being allowed by James, this scheme may not work well for the Texans.

I dunno....this looks like to me the 1 matchup where the Bengals could yield the most field position and possible pts. If I heard him right, Lap just said on Bengals Weekly that Andre Johnson leads NFL receivers in YAC over the past 2 years.

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Helluva post JPW.

If the Texans go mini field w/ any success in the air, it'll be at James because of the cushion he has to give to keep WRs from getting behind him.

I think Tory will have a big game. Carr has struggled in getting the ball to Andre Johnson (whom I would assume will be covered by James for the majority of the game), and with a new offensive coordinator calling plays meant to develop quickly, James should be high on the tackle list. Pendry will want Carr to look to Andre all game long. I don't think Andre is known for getting much YAC, like Chad, and with the cushion being allowed by James, this scheme may not work well for the Texans.

I dunno....this looks like to me the 1 matchup where the Bengals could yield the most field position and possible pts. If I heard him right, Lap just said on Bengals Weekly that Andre Johnson leads NFL receivers in YAC over the past 2 years.

If Lap said it, then he can support it. Therefore, my entire post is void! :ph34r:

No matter, I do think we did well to stop Andre today. :sure:

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