New Orleans primer

EDIT: I know this is being posted after the game against New Orleans, but I was moving this weekend and don't have internet at my new place yet. Just pretend I posted it on Friday and we don't already know the outcome of the game.

First off, this game against New Orleans is one I have been looking forward to for a while. I believe that this is the first measuring stick that will tell us just how far the Texans have come since last year. On the surface, the first couple of weeks are very similar to last year; beat Indy at home (I know, slight difference between the QBs), beat a middle of the pack team on the road, go 2-0. But if they can go into the hornet's nest that is the Superdome and knock off the Saints and look competent on both sides of the ball, then even the biggest haters will have to admit that this team just might be different. I know it's one week, but that's why I said a measuring stick, not a potential Super Bowl parade. 

But first, let's look back at the win against Miami. That wasn't exactly the rousing victory I had initially predicted, but if never trailing an average to above average team on the road and ultimately winning by 10 is the Texans playing "alright", then I think everything's going to be fine. One concern I had watching the game was definitely the interior run defense. The Texans have NEVER had a big fat guy in the middle of their defensive line and when Wade "Son of Bum" Phillips (SoB) took over the defense, he swore up and down that Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell could get the job done in his defense. However, after watching Daniel "First Game of My NFL Career" Thomas gash the interior anchored by SC and EM, even I, the eternal optimist, am starting to have a little concern. Granted, SoB did say postgame that they were only playing with 6 in the box in an effort to take away Miami's passing attack. With this, and the fact that DeMeco still looks just a little off, I think that the run defense can be improved. It is still something to monitor, especially against large in the middle offensive lines like New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. (For a really good, in depth look at the difference between SC and EM click here. **WARNING** This is only for those with some knowledge of football jargon and strategy. Everyone else just move along and take note that typically, EM>SC)

Other than the rush D, the only part of the game that concerned me was some of the redzone play calling in the first half (Kubiak later admitted to being a little passive down there) and the shaky 3rd quarter. You can expect a team full of grown men being paid millions of dollars to play football to make a push to get back in the game at home and that's exactly what the 3rd quarter was for Miami. Good teams weather those storms, and that's what the Texans did. They got everything back in sync in the 4th, got the ball back w/ about 8 minutes left and shoved the ball down the Dolphin's throats, essentially ending the game when they pinned them on their own 10 with ~3 minutes left. Good road win. 1-0 for another week. Time to focus on New Orleans.

Alright. Enough about Miami. Time for the game that I personally have been looking forward to since the preseason. Week 1 against Indy HAD to be a win. Week 2 against Miami SHOULD have been a win. Week 3 against NOLA? First real test for the new defense (which is ranked #1 in points allowed and pass defense right now BTW. Seriously. Look it up). Hostile environment, on the road, against a legitimate Super Bowl contender. High powered offense v. high powered offense. This is what the NFL is about today. This should be a shootout and I can not wait.

I've watched both of the Saints games this year and have come away with a few observations, some good, some bad, for the Texans:

• Marques Colston being out is a good thing. No I'm not rooting for injuries, but when the top guy goes down, that bumps everyone else down one level on the "who our secondary has to cover" depth chart. Instead of Jonathon Joseph on Colston and Kareem Jackson on Devery Henderson, the Texans can play Joseph on Henderson and KJ on Robert Meachem or Lance Moore. Both of these guys have speed which is an issue for KJ, but I think there are ways SoB can protect him.
• Gotta protect Schaub when the Saints blitz. They like to do this, a lot, so perhaps we'll see more plays that leave an RB or James Casey in the backfield to help. Blitzes leave the secondary on an island so Schaub will be looking for Andre in 1-on-1s's and everyone in the league know's that that's bad for the Saints. Of course, the best way to keep the Saints from blitzing is to stay out of 3rd and long and the best way to do that is to not screw around on 1st and 2nd down. This means running the ball and taking smart chances on passing plays.
• Look for more bootlegs than we saw against Miami. 4-3 defenses are much more susceptible to play action bootleg plays because the outside linebacker in a 4-3 is not out as wide as an OLB in a 3-4. This means if Schaub fakes the handoff and rolls out, when the defensive line crashes down to try and stop the RB, the further inside OLB in a 4-3 has more ground to cover to get to the QB. Miami runs a 3-4. New Orleans runs a 4-3 (so does Indy and we saw how many times they ran bootlegs against them). Since the Saints will prolly look to take away the big plays in these situations, look for Schaub to look for my boy OD on some underneath stuff. If Jermichael Finley's first half against New Orleans (before they started double teaming him) is any indication, then this should be pretty favorable for the Texans. 

OK, now for the food for this week. When I came up for this idea to cook something each week, there were a few cities/opponents that I knew what I was going to make without even having to think. New Orleans was one of those cities. As history has shown us, cities along major trade routes tend to become major cultural melting pots where religions, music, dialects and food come together and create a unique blend that somehow still manages to display elements of the unique styles that came together in the first place. New Orleans is no exception. During the European land grab of the 17th century (history calls it "exploration"), the French got to Louisiana/New Orleans first, something plain to see in the majority of New Orleans' culture. Those of French descent that were born in America became known as Creoles, the term used to describe elements of Louisiana culture today. Meanwhile, during the French and Indian War, the southern and western parts of Louisiana were being settled by French-speaking exiles of what is today Eastern Canada. Throw this group into the pot with all of the other groups of European immigrants in the area, mix in a little bit of rural swampland, and we get the group we know today as the Cajuns.

Interestingly enough, the main dish I'm making this week, jambalaya, actually has two distinct variations to it. The first, more popular in New Orleans and its surrounding areas, is "creole jambalaya". This was an attempt by Spanish immigrants to make paella, substituting tomatoes for the scarcely available saffron. As you head outside of NOLA, the more popular type of jambalaya becomes known as "cajun jambalaya". The major difference between the two types is cajun jambalaya does not include tomatoes, as the tomato is not typically used in cajun cooking. This leads me to this weeks menu:

• Cajun jambalaya
• Jambalaya with andouille sausage and chicken
• Fried boudin balls
• First had these in college, been in love ever since

This weekend should be a lot of fun. I'm moving this weekend, which for me is always somehow simultaneously fun and annoying (this could cause a slight delay in getting the post out this weekend, but hopefully not). Huge game for the Texans in terms of getting a better idea of just how far this team can go. And my Rice Owls take on Baylor in Waco on Saturday. Wouldn't that be a fun little upset?

Happy Football Viewing

-MB