Unsung Hero: Meet Lawrence Vickers, Road Paver
by TexansDC on Nov 7, 2011 3:00 PM CST
in Unsung Heroes
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When I set out to name an unsung hero at the end of every Houston Texans victory, I stick to my guns and look for unsung. The Unsung Hero internet honor is not a play of the game (that would be Homebrew Vega’s shtick) or a game ball (handed out thanks to the generosity of the fine people at Samsung), so I try to avoid infringing on those awards and handing the honor to someone who has received praise from the masses due to their contributions to Sunday’s victorious effort.
This week, it was a bit harder to identify someone who went unnoticed. For starters, a dominant overall performance makes it hard to single out one guy. Also, fans are so excited about their 6-3 Texans that they are talking about every positive thing about this franchise - from Jacoby Jones' crushing block of Joe Haden to the offensive line's dominance to the newly minted number one defense in the league.
Still, I was able to find someone worthy of the unsung title this week. Frankly, given how many of us talked about him during the preseason, this is a nice turn of events. When I say jump, you say how high click the jump link.
Slowed by a struggle-filled preseason and James Casey’s emergence, Vickers was mostly relegated to special teams duties. With Casey slowed by a pectoral injury, Vickers has gotten the nod, and Sunday’s game was his best of his season.
Look at this video clip of Ben Tate’s 27-yard touchdown. Look at how Vickers clears the path by blocking out a linebacker (cleaning up Wade Smith’s shedded block) and pushing him into the trailing safety. On this 24-yard scamper by Tate and Arian Foster’s 19-yard touchdown, you will again find Vickers paving the road by putting a hat on the linebacker in the running lane.
That is all the legal, online documented proof for Vickers, but the Texans ran for a franchise-record 261 yards and the fullback was a big part of that, as the Texans spent more time in a two-back set than any in recent memory. The offensive line has gotten its praise, but Vickers' blocking was just as critical - especially on the two long touchdown runs.
Perhaps he was motivated by playing his former team or has finally gotten his bearings straight, but Vickers blocked like a champ to the cheers of none. That changes now as Lawrence Vickers is this week’s unsung hero.
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Off topic.
Tate is averaging a ridiculous 5.7 yards/carry. Before Foster came back, I would have swore Foster was the superior back. Now I’m not so certain.
Do you blame it on luck of the draw? Amount of carries (Tate has less, so less chance to get stuffed)? Or is Tate the better back? I’m still wary of saying that much.
By better back
I mean out of the backfield. Foster is a vastly superior receiver.
by anthonymgarcia on Nov 7, 2011 3:06 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think anyone other than you have asked that question
I think they are both excellent and I’m glad they are on the Texans and not against the Texans. Imagine if Foster signed with another team? I don’t even want to think of that. Tate, if he didn’t get hurt last season? They probably would have been good enough to keep Frank Bush on. And, Wade would be somewhere else. Cosmic occurrences all ciming together at the right time and here we are. Shazam! They’re both excellent. That all I’ll say on that.
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
by Rip Jersey on Nov 7, 2011 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Although I do think it's a question to ask.
Especially with Foster due a big pay day.
by anthonymgarcia on Nov 7, 2011 3:21 PM CST up reply actions
Foster is the better back.
It’s very nice to have Tate as an option, though.
Remember that this line made Ward look pretty gangster last year, too.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
Yeah. Ward averaged 6.3 YPC last year
Doesn’t mean he’s better than Foster.
I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest. ~Muhammad Ali
That was not even close to my intent.
Or to even hint that Ward was better than Tate.
Just pointing out that, while Tate is fast and runs tough, a good portion of the credit needs to fall on the line. Foster is the man here, and with good reason.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
I oftened wondered about that myself. I see Tate's injury last year as a blessing in disguise. Kind of like a trade that seemed horrible initially but turned out to be better than what the other team got.
Foster may have never gotten the chance he needed had Tate been as good as he is now last year.
Preach, brotha, preach!
"My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me." -- Benjamin Disraeli
"If you really want something in life you have to work for it. Now quiet, they're about to announce the lottery numbers." -- Homer Simpson
"There is no rehab for stupid." -- Chris Rock
Never try to baptize a cat.
I made this observation back in September:
http://www.battleredblog.com/2011/9/14/2424692/ask-the-phinsider#77340571
I’m still pretty much maintaining this opinion.
How do you define better back?
If it’s strictly by yards/carry, then maybe you could say that (although I’d be cautious that the data may not be statistically significant).
But there are so many other things that go into being a running back: receiving, blocking, turnovers (Tate has 3 fumbles this year, Foster has 4 for his career), etc.
Tate has been stellar so far this year, but I would still argue that Foster is a better back.
Overall, great problem to have.
by Vega on Nov 7, 2011 3:33 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs
That's my question.
Foster most certainly seems more complete. Plus, I think the guy is awesome.
by anthonymgarcia on Nov 7, 2011 3:36 PM CST up reply actions
^This
Tate is very good, but Foster is noticeably better in terms of vision, patience, and all the little things that go into making someone a complete back. Put it this way: there are running backs that I would trade Ben Tate for, but there are no running backs currently that I would rather have than Arian Foster.
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by MDC on Nov 7, 2011 3:38 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs
Tate benefits from opposing teams scheming for Foster
I’ve noticed teams (at least those we play at home due to my end zone vantage point) are being far more patient, maintaining their responsibilities, and trying to keep Foster’s cut back lanes to a minimum with some limited success. However, this style of defense seems to play right into Tate’s wheelhouse as he hits those holes so fast that a lack of collapsing by the D, due to previously stated patience, means he gets to the second level frequently and with reckless abandon. In summation, without the success and continued presence of Foster, Tate would be doing well but not this well. Advantage: Foster. IMHO.
Blind fandom is all I got left.
"Down to clown with some other chick's lady bits" ~ MDC
by Lone Spot on Nov 7, 2011 4:23 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Heh, same as I said in a post here down below, glad I'm not the only one that noticed.
It just feels when Tate runs past defenders, they looked lost and not ready.
Yes, there styles are very complimentary in that respect
It makes it difficult for the other team to scheme on D
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
couple more things
foster gets more carries in short yardage situations, ie. 3rd downs and near the goal. that will bring his ypc down a bit. also, foster gets more carries overall. tate is fresher when he comes in, plus the d is softer since arian has beaten the up a bit.
so foster is the better receiver, better pass protection blocker, and probably the better ball carrier as well.
tate’s gotta be the best #2 tailback in the nfl!
Tate is a,very good pure runner.
That being said, foster is a better reciever and blocker and also a very good pure runner.
CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON CUT KAREEM JACKSON
by Carter Liles on Nov 7, 2011 3:31 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Definitely
When we played just him he wore down pretty quickly and the first guy was usually able to take him down. Now totally different story, He is like Foster lately in his ability to consistantly make that first guy completely look silly. Also he occasionally trucks people which is pretty awesome. This is the best 2 back combo I have witnessed in the NFL for quite a while.
Karate? The Dane Cook of martial arts?
I love Tate like CRAZY
but by no means is he better than Foster. Foster is more versatile, he has better vision, and hardly gets stuffed. Tate has that “Brandon Jacobs” feel to him in that his style is more about getting those tough ‘bruising’ yards, but sometimes he sacrifices his vision for his power (leading to more stuffs at the line than Foster). Foster never does that. Foster is the most patient back in the NFL, he hits his gaps hard, and always falls forward.
Foster even admitted himself that he didn’t feel back to “himself” until yesterday. Either way, Kubiak should be getting A LOT of credit for how he’s splitting time in the backfield b/w the two. And indirectly THAT credit goes to AJ being out. As much as we want AJ on the field, not having him has forced Kubiak to buy into the running game, coach it to perfection, and build much needed chemistry on that line including blocking by the TEs.
Consider match-ups, as well.
Tate took the load against Indy, New Orleans, and Miami; three of the worst run defenses in football. Foster had his numbers dragged down a bit by Baltimore (#1) and Jacksonville (#5).
Boom
Head Shot
Great Pick, you have been picking great candidates.
The Texan Floater, you wanna flush it but you can't.
"Wade aid has lean in it, just saying"
Whitest Front Seven in Football.
a little off topic,
but did yall see the picture of Cush on Pancake’s game blog over on the Comical? It’s epic and is also my new screen saver. Cush is now my official mancrush. Bernard Pollard, I am so over you!
I don't think Pancakes's game blog is, or ever will be, anything I'll ever see
But please feel free to post the pic here cuz I’d love to see it.
I'm a man!! I'm forty!!
Kubiak-Endorsed!
Kubiak on FB Lawrence Vickers: “Boy, has he played well… That’s the best he’s played.” Said he deserves credit for team’s rushing success
"Lord, beer me strength."
excellent pick
The FB never gets love. Vickers tore it up. He finished his blocks with gusto. The fact that 2 different backs have been doing so well is a testament to the run blocking in general, but I think Vickers is a big part of that.
Swat and swim, dip and rip, twist and spin; just do whacha gotta do to light up that QB.
The blocks on Tate's 27-yard TD run were fantastic
A clear lane…Vickers takes care of 2 guys himself….and Jacoby’s finish on Haden was icing on a sweet cake.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Yeh! Not much banter today on JJ's block!
That was some good blocking!
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
Most receivers get in the way and that's it
but Jacoby was driving Haden back, out, and to the ground. I’d never expect that kind of determination from Jacoby…and I’m glad to be proven wrong there.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Yes, and he did it without holding, which takes some discipline and teaching
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
I do owe JJ an apology
Since the Raider game he has played much better, and he played very well yesterday.
"Never underestimate the dumb with JJ" - Hugh Jarce
This is one of the reasons I wanted us to re-sign Jacoby.
These great blocks from WRs show up more often from a team that has worked together often. Maybe Vickers is getting a better grasp of our ZBS.
Oh, he's learning to play dirty.
Dallas Cowboys, all hat and no cattle since 1996.
by Jonathan Fosburgh on Nov 7, 2011 4:03 PM CST up reply actions
hahaha
"The greatest danger in planning for tomorrow is using yesterdays logic."
Marc Kahlberg
"Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them." - George Orwell
by Barryfromtexas on Nov 7, 2011 5:45 PM CST up reply actions
Yes, I heard that he was starting to pick up the subtleties of the offense in practice lately
and now it’s carrying over onto gameday. He must have had a crash course the last few weeks getting all the work in practice with Thor out. It is showing.
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
Another thing I like about Vickers
There is talk that he is a locker room leader, too, and with his success on the field lately that should allow him to be more open with his personality in the locker room.
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
It can't hurt
Cody does seem to have some comedy in him. I haven’t focused on his play, but he right there in the middle and not much moves up through there anymore, so he must be holding his own, to say anything. I wouldn’t mind seeing one of the BRB writers analyze his game now midway through the season. They did a good job earlier and I would like to see how he is coming.
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
Dude had an INT.
I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.
~Muhammad Ali
I was at Renaissance Festival so had to watch the game in numbers and letters.
Got it DVR’ed though and glad I did, a beatdown like this must be watched.
He would have run it back 99 yards
But he was tired.
Dallas Cowboys, all hat and no cattle since 1996.
by Jonathan Fosburgh on Nov 7, 2011 7:18 PM CST up reply actions
Mark of a legitimate team
always getting better and never hitting that plateau
Karate? The Dane Cook of martial arts?
Now if KJ can just get it together, the D would be shutdown and the O would be no prisoners taken...
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
I did, beefy. The whole team is doing awesome and I'm starting to not get so uptight about declaring victory before it's won
How about you?
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
lol
hence the "never reaching the plateau. lol.
And to be fair to KJax, he’s had two good games in a row (against bad receivers…I know..) but it’s good to know he’s capable of covering bad receivers. Last year, he wasn’t even able to do that (Seyi Ajirotutu)
what's crazy is how well we're playing without our best defensive and 2nd best offensive player?
I’m gonna go all crazy and say Foster is our team’s best player now.
I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.
~Muhammad Ali
I also see this as another reason Tate is averaging more per carry than Foster.
Teams gameplan to stop Foster, but what they do to stop Foster doesn’t work against Tate. It seems to contain Foster, you need to be as patient on the defensive side as he is in the backfield. They can’t go right to our backfield for fear that Foster will cut wide and leave them in the dust.
Using the same see-where-he-goes-and-go-stop-him plan will see Tate blow right through your defense before they can decide to react. I think teams are going to have to start gameplanning for both backs. That’s 2 backs plus Owen Daniels to plan for before we even throw in Andre in the mix. This team we got here is a DC’s worst nightmare.
We’re gonna need at least another performance from Vickers like Sunday’s if we are to beat the Bucs w/o Andre.
Prolly right.
Foster is very patient and that works well for him, but D’s are limiting his big plays because of scouting, while Tate hits everything so fast and has “turn the corner” speed that’s really done well also. Yeah, it’s certainly not something I’d want to try to stop, especially when you add the passing game to the mix.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
yeah, I think the term media used a lot is Change-of-pace.
Except instead of speed and power being the difference, both our backs have speed but it’s an elusiveness vs trucking change of pace.
Are you saying
he has
Running from the cops speed?
"Taco Joe - the beacon of optimism" TexansDC
THEREALALLENOU: "@Joeeatstacos... You're like the second testicle to my Tom green. I dont NEED you, but life is better when your around lol"
AllenOU is the Montgomery to my Patton
God blessed Texas, but he has forsaken the Texans
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Well Foster certainly isn't running from tax collectors making as little as he does.
Pay that man! Though I’m guessing in our current cap situation we can’t pay him what he deserves. We likely have to wait til offseason and get Mario locked first and then work on Foster.
Though I’d love to see some way they get that extension done at bye.
I am sure
It will be front loaded. Mostly guaranteed..
"Taco Joe - the beacon of optimism" TexansDC
THEREALALLENOU: "@Joeeatstacos... You're like the second testicle to my Tom green. I dont NEED you, but life is better when your around lol"
AllenOU is the Montgomery to my Patton
God blessed Texas, but he has forsaken the Texans
Follow @Joeeatstacos
Two former texans will be at tampa.
i have heard that one of them Frank Okam is hurt though, but the other being Zac diles brings a big smile to my face.
haha!
I want to see him get juked out of his jockstrap by Foster.
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
Most cost-efficient juking out of jockstrap evah.
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by UprootedTexan on Nov 7, 2011 8:42 PM CST up reply actions
I am pretty sure it is a hammy
"Taco Joe - the beacon of optimism" TexansDC
THEREALALLENOU: "@Joeeatstacos... You're like the second testicle to my Tom green. I dont NEED you, but life is better when your around lol"
AllenOU is the Montgomery to my Patton
God blessed Texas, but he has forsaken the Texans
Follow @Joeeatstacos
I read somewhere he had a calf injury and sat out the last game
Not sure how he’s doing this week.
TB is thin at DT, especially LDT. That could be promising for Houston.
Excellent call, well deserved.
Vickers had a very solid day.
It really helps the offense that he’s improved at FB, so Casey can truly be a utility guy, playing all over. Makes the O that much more unpredictable.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
Vickers and Tate in the backfield
Casey at TE, and Foster at WR3.
Dallas Cowboys, all hat and no cattle since 1996.
by Jonathan Fosburgh on Nov 7, 2011 4:12 PM CST up reply actions
I don't ever see Foster do anything when lined up at WR.
He’s great at receiving from the backfield.
by anthonymgarcia on Nov 7, 2011 4:16 PM CST up reply actions
They're motioning guys everywhere, though...
So you never know where they’ll end up.
Vickers and Casey lined up wide on Sunday, then motioned in to both lead block and pass protect. Could’ve easily run routes, too, but I just didn’t catch it. Also, we stopped throwing the ball pretty early due to the lead.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
We have so many different options on offense now
Between Foster and Tate, Thor and Vickers, Daniel and Dressen, not even mentioning AJ. Once he gets back we could literally be unstoppable. Annnnnnnnnnd I just got aroused…
"Never underestimate the dumb with JJ" - Hugh Jarce
Foster at WR?
MDC’s head just assploded cause it reminds him of the empty backfield look.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Three TEs and Foster lined outside....
Where’s that picture?
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
Imagine...
Foster, Tate, and Casey/ Vickers in a Wishbone. That would be sexy…
Swat and swim, dip and rip, twist and spin; just do whacha gotta do to light up that QB.
I didn't leave an empty backfield
I still have a FB and RB back there.
Dallas Cowboys, all hat and no cattle since 1996.
by Jonathan Fosburgh on Nov 7, 2011 7:20 PM CST up reply actions
Solid game for the lead blocker.
I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.
~Muhammad Ali
Kubiak
should also definitely receive “unsung hero” honors. With the absence of AJ, he has done an amazing job with the offense. Even our 2 minute drills have improved, our pass/run combination is throwing EVERYONE off and it’s awesome to hear announcers talk about how well Schaub and the oline run the play action and how well designed our plays are to camouflage our run plays and pass plays so deceptively.
He truly does deserve more credit than he’s getting, and I’m not so sure that even if Peyton was playing in this division that we wouldn’t win it with the way our offense and defense have evolved. Way to go Kubes, and as a wise man once said: “Just gotta keep battlin.”
by wiseonekms on Nov 7, 2011 5:35 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
Yes.
Kub has learned the key to success is the run, and then the pass. I hated on him all last year for passing way too much with AF here and not controlling the clock and flow, but something (or someone) has squared him away.
Yeah something squared him away.....
not being 14 points in the hole before he ever gets the offense going.
Just my $.02
Even duct tape can't fix stupid
I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.
~Muhammad Ali
Would our running game still be as successful if he was still here I wonder.
Kyle is being hammered for an inability to make chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what in Washington.
LOL at this
That's a turnaround
They were lovin’ that shit earlier in the season
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
Probably not, but our passing game would be unstoppable
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
"Fuck em all. Go Texans."
by The Night Owl on Nov 8, 2011 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
Vickers is well deserving for this award for sure
Nicely chosen, nicely done
"The greatest danger in planning for tomorrow is using yesterdays logic."
Marc Kahlberg
"Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them." - George Orwell
I have a new favorite statistic:
Rushing attempts. Granted, we haven’t had a bye-week yet, but we’ve rushed the ball 64 times more than the next-highest team. This is Kubiak’s wet-dream come true.
by Nashmeister on Nov 7, 2011 7:45 PM CST reply actions 4 recs
This is very significant as an indicator of what Kubiak wants to do
Even more so, with AJ down. But think about the WR make-up. WR2 Kevin Walter is probably known more for his blocking skills than as a big-time ball catcher. The rushing stat sure supports what you are saying about Kubiak. It all adds up.
I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.
Even Mark Schlereth pointed that out before the Browns game
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
"Fuck em all. Go Texans."
by The Night Owl on Nov 8, 2011 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
LOL
soooo I wonder if NFL.com reads our material? Their Article sure has lots of tie ins to yours does it not?
it’s filed under their “Unsung Heroes” section. they used “pave”, to explain what he did, just like you.
I mean, there was an NFL.com article that linked StampedeBlue a few weeks ago, why can’t they throw us a bone? bastards!
Thank God for football!
Coincidences my ass
I smell plagiarism
Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
"Fuck em all. Go Texans."
by The Night Owl on Nov 9, 2011 12:31 AM CST up reply actions
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