Houston Texans Pre-Season 2014 - NT Bowl 2.5...Battle For Roster Spots

[mmg]

I think last year was our year to win it all to be honest. When the situation was in our favor. I'd hate to think we won't be that good again.....

dude relax


back to back double digit win season.


back to back AFC south champs.


play off wins, and granted we didnt win tonight it wasnt one side, we had chances.


honestly the future looks bright for us.

 

[blackxme]

But MMG, there are a lot of concerns going forward. You can't possibly be confident in the duo of Kubiak and Schaub leading this team.

No one has mentioned this yet, but this year's draft was :x. Granted it's one season, but we didn't really have any impactful rookies. I hope this years draft proves to be better.

 

[sosmoove]

Oh there is hope, not with Schaub at the QB, but I'm not saying there isn't. Doesn't change the fact that I believe our year to win was with last years team. That was a super bowl caliber team. So until we get a another super bowl caliber team in my opinion that was the year that got away. All I'm interested in right now is the draft.

 

[DeadsetAce]

was the cushing loss as big a blow to the defense as it seems to non texan fans? it seems like that defense had serious issues once cushing went out.

 

[sosmoove]

was the cushing loss as big a blow to the defense as it seems to non texan fans? it seems like that defense had serious issues once cushing went out.

In my opinion yes. It changed the whole attitude and tenacity of our defense. What he brings mentally is what Ray Lewis is to his defensive unit. You need that all out mentality. I think it'd be hard to argue that Cushing doesn't do that.

 

[mmg]

Honestly kubes got us to this point.

One year we were close with Yates and this year play calling was :x.

I'm all for giving him one more year.

Obviously looking ahead to next year alot can chance but I see a 11-5/12-4 season.

If kubes don't get it don't done next year then we need a coach that can push over the top but not move away from our ZBS and 3-4.

As for now we look to FA and draft.

 

[do work son]

I wonder how much money comes off the books with those FAs. Probably not much, but the only ones I want back are Quin, Casey, and McCain.

When does Antonio Smith's contract run out?

 

[do work son]

I wonder how much money comes off the books with those FAs. Probably not much, but the only ones I want back are Quin, Casey, and McCain.

When does Antonio Smith's contract run out?

 

[sosmoove]

I'm not sure when Antonio's contract is up either but he's got to go. I think what frustrates me about playing the Pats specifically is how we had no answer for them moving the RB to the slot and the receiver to the backfield. In BOTH games. Alright I'm done venting man I could go on all night

 

[Peep Game]

was the cushing loss as big a blow to the defense as it seems to non texan fans? it seems like that defense had serious issues once cushing went out.

In my opinion yes. It changed the whole attitude and tenacity of our defense. What he brings mentally is what Ray Lewis is to his defensive unit. You need that all out mentality. I think it'd be hard to argue that Cushing doesn't do that.

Pretty much this. When Cushing initially got injured, I knew it was a loss, but I guess I was blinded by the whole 'next man up' thing from last year that so flawlessly worked. I really didn't bat an eye when he got injured, but it seemed like game by game, something just wasn't right. I thought when Sharpton got back, it would ignite the team (which it did for a bit), but then poor showings and other injuries came. You can say Cushing not being there haunted us all season now, but the opportunities were still there. Happy trails to Dobbins (unfortunately) and Bradie James (deuces).

Isn't Sharpton gonna be a FA too??

And Smith signed a 5yr contract with us in 2009, so this next season will be his contract year, and then I'm pretty sure he'll be looking for a 2-3 year deal somewhere else. I'm a Smith fan though (outside of the penalties). I do feel like he is a bit restrained though, like he could be doing so much more....but I'm sure we can say the same about the Texans in general.

 

[mmg]

Losing Cush hurt tremendously as the season went out.

Dude was one of best defensive players, play maker, leader and best coverage LB.

I've said it since Cush went out and Watt went out it seemed EVERYONE took a step back and just watched Watt ball.

Reed had as many sacks on Barwin and missed 5 games.

Plus I wanna see what this crick kid can do.

We need a huge NT and ILB help which is gonna benefit our secondary.

 

[mmg]

Also our ST coach needs to go.

Holiday and Jones had kick off returns for touchdowns all season

 

[Peep Game]

Yea, Marciano needs to be accountable, though I do feel that Holliday and Jones' failures here was on the coach, them not getting good blocking, and they lost confidence in themselves and found it somewhere else. I've said that Manning should've been running back kickoffs regardless of him being the starting SS.

 

[blackxme]

The blocking was **** and so was the coverage play at times this year. Jacoby and Holiday were able to do work with better special teams units.

 

[anhuynh16]

According to Nick Scurfield - Glover Quin, Connor Barwin, James Casey, Shaun Cody, Bradie James are the starters who will become FAs. I saw we let go of Barwin and Cody. Two worthless players (this year). Mercilus and Reed are our guys for OLB and I'm sure we can find a good NT in the draft. Does anyone think we should draft a RB? Arian Foster is 26 now, and we're going to need a replacement soon! Not sure if I can trust Ben.

 

[Peep Game]

So they're teally letting go of Quin and Casey??? I can't make a full judgment til I see what happens in FA and the draft, but I don't like that. That currently leaves Shiloh Keo and Eddie Pleasant in that spot.....really Texans?

 

[do work son]

i heard they have only like 12 million to spend in free agency....the colts have 45 :x

 

[Peep Game]

:x.....I'll be heated if the Colts end up with some of our FAs...thats how that **** always works, rivals teams pulling slick mess like that

 

[mmg]

Foster is 26 but doesn't take unneeded hits.

Dude is fine, he should be for the next 3-4 years, with have Tate who was hurt most of the season, and he was a 2nd round pick.

Quin looked meh at times this season, so long Barwin ( you cost yourself some money) happy trails Cody and James.

I liked Casey and wouldn't mind him back as a Backup, but like I said earlier, I think we need a bruising fullback.

Picking in the mid 20s, we need a WR or NT.

I'm not too found of spending on 1st rounder on another ILB ESP when we drafted Cush not too long ago.

So as it stands, WR / NT / ILB / DB / TE / FB.

Over the last few years since Brown we've pretty much hit on all our 1st rounders, but After that :x

 

[mmg]

Also is I see ALAN ******G BALL in a Houston jersey next season I'm gonna puke.

 

[do work son]

wide receiver isnt going to be a draft priority. they drafted 2 last year and have jean. drafting another would be admitting they don't believe in who they have. the problem is that those guys don't get enough reps to become playmakers.

defensive front is the biggest need.

 

[Peep Game]

Agree about the recently drafted WRs (and Jean) not getting the reps to produce. Walter should be getting scaled back and more PT given to Jean, Martin, and Posey (hate he got injured )

 

[Peep Game]

When the Te'O situation first popped up, the first thing I thought was "I bet the Texans would draft him"

Would you want Te’o with the Texans?

One of the Texans’ greatest needs in the upcoming draft and during the offseason is at inside linebacker.

Star Brian Cushing will be back from his ACL injury, but the Texans need another starter — and depth at that position.

In fact, some experts have written along the lines: If you see a mock draft and it doesn’t have the Texans selecting a linebacker in the first round, rip up the mock draft.

Might be a bit extreme, but you get the point.

Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o is one of the best middle linebackers in the country.

BUT, Te’o also had one of the worst performances of his career in Notre Dame’s blowout loss to Alabama in the national title game and, now, he is in the center of one of the most bizarre sports stories in recent memory.

He won virtually every defensive award he was up for and finished second to Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel for the Heisman trophy.

The Texans have pick No. 27 in the upcoming draft on April 27.

Houston Chronicle columnist Jerome Solomon says the Texans wouldn’t be shy in taking Te’o, if he’s there.

“Yes, they would take him,” Solomon says. “But no way he’ll be there when they pick.”

Fan Jerard Parker (@OlYeller01) disagreed on Twitter, with a good point.

“Whoever drafts Te’o will have to deal with a media circus,” Parker wrote. “Texans don’t do circuses. Plus, if Bama’s (running backs) made him look bad …”

So, the question to Texans fans, if Te’o is available when the team picks at No. 27 in the upcoming draft, should the Texans select him?

 

[Peep Game]

McNair: ILB, WR among Texans’ top priorities

With free agency and the draft approaching in the next few months, the Texans have a number of areas they would like to strengthen.
Team chairman and CEO Bob McNair said as much on Thursday.

“We need more depth at the inside linebacker (position), we need more depth with our offensive line interior and we need another wide receiver, and we could use another cornerback or free safety,” said McNair, who’s in New Orleans for Super Bowl week. “That’s it. Everything else is really in good shape. We’ve got the core group together, we just need to add a few more pieces here or there, and I think we can do that through the draft.”

That implies the Texans won’t be major players in free agency, which begins on March 12. That wouldn’t be a surprise given McNair and executive vice president of football operations/general manager Rick Smith’s long-standing preference of building the team through the draft.

The Texans also have several free agents of their own that they might try to re-sign, including free safety Glover Quin, outside linebacker Connor Barwin, fullback James Casey and cornerback Brice McCain. And then there’s the issue of the salary cap, which the Texans were tight against in 2012.

“The main thing that this organization tries to do is sign those players that are already on our team so that we can keep that core group of players together, and we think that’s more important than going out and signing expensive free agents,” McNair said. “You don’t know how they’re going to fit in, you don’t know how long they’ll last and you don’t know how they’ll fit in your locker room. Usually, that’s a bad investment.”

Three of the Texans’ other impending free agents are veteran inside linebackers Bradie James, Tim Dobbins and Barrett Ruud. Inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton, who spent the first half of this season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, has ended each of his three NFL seasons on injured reserve. Team captain Brian Cushing is coming off a season-ending knee injury.
The right side of the Texans’ offensive line featured season-long rotations at right guard and right tackle in 2012. Second-year pro Derek Newton was the primary starter at right tackle. Rookies Ben Jones and Brandon Brooks had a 50-50 rotation at right guard by the end of the season.

At wide receiver, the Texans are still looking for someone to emerge aside from veteran starters Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter. Both are 31 and will be in their 11th seasons in 2013. Rookie DeVier Posey emerged as a potential starter at the end of 2012, but his immediate future is uncertain after he tore his Achilles in the playoffs. Other young receivers on the Texans’ roster are Keshawn Martin, Lestar Jean and Jeff Maehl.

After a franchise-best 12-4 season, the Texans have the 27th overall pick in the 2013 draft. McNair was asked if he expects his team to prioritize drafting a wide receiver.
“It depends on what’s available when our pick comes up,” he said. “If we had an outstanding wide receiver who was available at that point in time, I don’t doubt we’d take him. If there was a football player that was a better player that was an inside linebacker than the wide receiver that’s available, we’d take him. We’re going to take the best player that’s available. We got a number of positions where we could use the player, so we’re not limited to just one position looking for that player.”

 

[daruma]

JJ WATT won DPOY. At least the Texans won something this year!

JJ WATT DPoY shirt

http://shop.houstontexans.com/catal..._Defensive_Player_of_the_Year_T-Shirt_-_Black