6-10 Things To Tell You

Another weekend in the past, means we're that much closer to football games that actually count and matter, so here goes....
1. David Carr can't read defenses well enough to truly succeed at the NFL level.
David Carr doesn't make good decisions, or at-least decisions that lead to successful offense.
David Carr is gun-shy and who could blame him after he's been battered for 4 years.
David Carr is not the same guy they drafted in 2002, although he sure looks like a raw, unprepared rookie. If the Texans become winners and Carr is the quarterback, it will be in spite of him, rather than because of him.

2. Richard Smith was a great hire as Texans DC. He's fiery and innovative. I talked to one of the Texans coaches during the draft back in April and he was ecstatic about the selection of DeMeco Ryans, (as was I), and we are all seeing why now. He will make plays.

3. The Texans RB situation ain't too pretty, while Wali Lundy and Vernand Morency will be fine running & catching the ball, but they can't block to save their lives. Mark my words - that will be an issue early in the season.

4. First round of cuts for the Texans- no surprises. WR Derick Armstrong can play in this league and other teams will give him a chance. He had no chance here b/c the coaching staff wants non-starting receivers to contribute on special teams and he doesn't do that. There will be severall surprises on Friday when they get down to the season limit of 53.

5. Still not time to get too excited about the Astros. Good news - they come home on a 3 game winning streak. Bad news - those were against the Pirates. Houston is 10-3 vs. PIT, 53-65 vs. the rest of the majors. They've outscored PIT 80-43, they've been outscored in the rest of their games by 40 runs.

6. Willy Taveras is the Astros starting CF of the present and future. And it shouldn't have taken this hitting streak for people to figure this out. If Willy's hit streak is still alive after this 6-game homestand, only Pete Rose will remain ahead of him on the NL all-time list (post-1900).

7. I'll say it again, Team USA is not going to lose. Dirk and the Germans are next to fall. Then it's the Greece-France winner, then likely Spain or Argentina.

8. Tiger wins again. 4 in a row. Anyone think he's not going to catch Nicklaus? By the way Phil Mickelson was 9-over and tied for 54th place. Yea, he's right on Tiger's heels.
---- WEX