Eagles Q & A with Texans Tribune's Mike Kerns

Game-Day Bonus Feature from Eagles Eye:

Thursday arrives, and with it the long wait until 8:20 pm EST kickoff on a cold but clear night in Philly… So I turned to Mike Kerns, a 32-year-old sportswriter in Houston who puts out a smart web report called Texans Tribune and also a regular podcast radio show called “Luv Ya Steel Blue”…

Here’s how Mike, who minored in journalism at the University of Houston, got all tangled up in Texans blue:

“Now, about my Texans credentials. I’ve been a fan of the NFL since I was old enough to understand the game. I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia but always had family in Houston. So I followed the sports teams for both cities, something I still do today. I moved to Houston in 1993, right as the Oilers were on their way out of town. Something I was sad to have witnessed. But when it was announced that Houston would be getting a new franchise, I was on board from the very beginning. I’ve been a season ticket holder and tailgater since the very beginning and never miss a game. Through the ups and downs this team has put us through, one thing remains consistent. I’m just grateful to have the NFL back in Houston.”

Mike agreed to take 5 questions from Eagles Eye just before he left for the studio to produce his podcast preview of tonight’s game:

1. The Eagles secondary is somewhat depleted right now, with cornerback Ellis Hobbs out for the season, and All-Pro corner Asante Samuel doubtful to start. Do you think Schaub will go right after the safeties and corners, or will he first patiently establish his running game?

Head coach Gary Kubiak has an uncanny knack at trying to outsmart himself. With the running game being so consistent, Kubiak has tried to “catch the opponent off guard” and elected to come out throwing the ball… something many Texans fans feel lost the team their Monday night game in Indianapolis. But last week against Tennessee he didn’t try to get cute and stuck with running the ball, and Arian Foster showed he was up to the task. So I think he will try to stick to that formula again. Or at least try to establish the run before attacking Philly’s depleted corners.

2. Arian Foster — what a three-down back he’s become! I mean, his numbers look like they could end up at 1800 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving! At what point in the last two years did you realize this undrafted free agent would become so prolific?

I don’t think many were true believers until his 231 yards rushing on opening day. He did have a couple of good games to end the season last year but it was taken with a grain of salt because it was against a mediocre Miami team and a playoff bound New England team that wasn’t really trying and it wasn’t going to affect their playoff seeding. But it really isn’t too surprising, to be honest. The guy was a 1200 yard rusher in the SEC his Junior season at Tennessee and suffered his Senior season due to a coaching and scheme change. The guy’s vision is just incredible and he makes a guy miss every time he touches the ball. The guy is for real and I believe he’d be getting MVP consideration if he played on a better or bigger market team.

3. In my article on this game I gave big props to the Texans’ O-Line and their zone blocking schemes. Can you tell us who these individuals are on the offensive line? Who will be starting at center, guards and tackles Thursday night against the Eagles ?

The Texans O-Line has taken its lumps in past years, but they finally seem to have the personnel needed to run the ZBS the team employs. At Center is Chris Myers, who has had a pro bowl caliber season after playing injured in all of 2009 and playing poorly, to say the least. Wade Smith and Antoine Caldwell are holding down the Guard positions and doing a better job than most expected. Eric Winston and Duane Brown are the bookends at tackle. Also, Mike Brisiel is filling in at any of those spots whenever needed. But someone who deserves a ton of credit for the ZBS success is fullback Vonta Leach, who is having another pro bowl season.

4. We know how great a receiver Andre Johnson is… I was wondering, who are Schaub’s other reliable targets in the downfield passing game?

With Owen Daniels seemingly always hurt, Joel Dreessen is having the kind of season that has made Texans fans think Daniels will be wearing another uniform in 2011. Jacoby Jones has fallen way short of the performance he had in 2009 that made many of us think he was a legit #2 WR. He has playmaking ability, but he drops way too many easy passes. Kevin Walter is the kind of guy that will disappear for a couple of games and then blow up for 100+ yards in any given game. Also, Arian Foster has shown quite a knack for making things happen as a receiver out of the backfield. If Houston actually starts to properly utilize the screen play, Foster can make things happen in a Brian Westbrook type way.

5. Brian Cushing has enjoyed a resurgence at the outside linebacker spot. Who will be playing the other LB positions for the Texans?

Zac Diles had been the starter on the weakside for a couple years now, but his poor play this season has found him parked on the bench in favor of rookie Darryl Sharpton from the U. Kevin Bentley has been shoring up the middle and playing like a demon for the past few weeks. Playing Cush in the middle was just a waste of his talent and I’m glad the team realized that as quickly as they did. Back on the strongside he is looking to be back to the hellraiser he was last season. But damn, do we ever miss DeMeco Ryans out there.

6. Game prediction?

Shutting out the Titans with a 6th-round rookie QB from Florida Atlantic is one thing. Stopping this Eagles offense is another. I don’t think it will be as bad as what you guys did to the Redskins, but it could be. I’ve got a score of 31-20, with the Texans scoring a garbage time touchdown to make it that close.

Thanks, Mike, for coming through for us with a game-day special right from the heart of Texas! I’ll be listening to your podcast right before game-time tonight.

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Eagles Q & A with Texans Tribune’s Mike Kerns

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