Back to the grind. I’ll try and have the first half done this evening as there’s only 3 more drives to go.
Offense 1st and 10 from Houston 20 - 2Q 8:26
Subs: Birden and Leday in
Play: Pitch to Leday who runs off LT - 5 yard gain
Arizona D: 6 in the box, safety blitz
Notes: Arizona safety blitzing read this well, but Birden did a good job of sealing him off. Line did an excellent job of sealing off the inside.
Offense 2nd and 5 from Houston 25 - 2Q 7:56
Play: Read Option, handoff to Birden running right - 1 yard gain
Arizona D: 7 in the box, rush 4
Notes: First time I’ve seen Oliver get manhandled as he gets pushed about 3 yards back, B. Jones also gets pushed back. Run was designed to run right between Noble and Oliver, but goes nowhere due to Oliver getting pushed back.
Offense 3rd and 4 from Houston 26 - 2Q 7:20
Play: Wheel to Birden - 11 yard gain
Arizona D: 6 in the box, 4 rushing with blitz coming from left
Notes: Arizona D slow to pick up Birden out of the backfield and Allen hits him early. Birden makes initial guy miss to get first down and more, eventually needs two to bring him down. Dunbar misses a block that could have led to more yards.
Offense 1st and 10 from Houston 37 - 2Q 6:51
Play: Read Option, draw to Birden off LT - 2 yard gain
Arizona D: 6 in the box, 5 rushing
Notes: Rodgers does a nice job pulling to the left to open a hole. J. Jones does a poor job sealing his man, tries to recover, and then gets in Birden’s way as 6 defenders converge.
Offense 2nd and 8 from Houston 39 - 2Q 6:16
Subs: Catalon in for Birden, Corbin in for Leday
Play: Fake pitch to Bonner, bomb to Corbin - 49 yard gain
Arizona D: 5 in the box, 4 rush with blitz coming from left
Notes: Pitch to Leday earlier in the drive works as defense is fooled a bit by fake to Bonner. Allen has plenty of time and delivers a perfectly thrown ball to Corbin who makes a nice catch. Defensive Pass Interference as defender has his hand on Corbin’s shoulder, but Corbin also had an arm extended to hold him off; guess they decided to call it the other way this time. Penalty was declined. Corbin landed at the 14, but ref spots ball at the 12.
Offense 1st and 10 from Arizona 12 - 2Q 5:52
Play: Read Option, handoff Catalon running to the right edge - 6 yard gain
Arizona D: 7 in the box, 3 rush
Notes: Arizona D does a poor job of contain as they collapse on the middle. B. Jones pulls right and seals off the line. Catalon makes first guy miss in open space with ease.
Offense 2nd and 4 from Arizona 6 - 2Q 5:29
Play: Read Option, fake pitch to Dunbar, handoff Catalon running right - 1 yard gain
Arizona D: 8 in the box, 3 rush
Notes: Rodgers gets blown up and pushed into Brooker who’s coming across to help seal the outside which pushes him into Catalon. Catalon makes a yard of literally nothing.
Offense 3rd and 3 from Arizona 5 - 2Q 5:06
Play: Bubble Screen to Bonner on the left - TD
Arizona D: 7 in the box
Notes: Corbin makes a nice initial block and Bonner bulls his way through 3 guys for the TD
Extra Point - 2Q 5:00
Play: XP, good straight down the middle
Houston 10, Arizona 3