~NEW. Houston. TEXANS. Preseason Thread 2017~ Pats @ NRG

Finally...the real season can begin. I think a lot of us are preparing for a big season here. Not to much turnover on the defense, but the offense is thankfully completely revamped. The Texans addressed a lot of issues we've been mentioning for awhile now, and now, it's time for it all to come to fruition. The full o-line (as of right now), won't be there to start, but enough of it should be there to give Osweiler time to do what he needs to do. The front office brought in Lamar Miller as Arian Foster's replacement, finally committed to a QB, and put a bunch of speed on the field with Braxton Miller, Will Fuller, Tyler Ervin, and Stephen Anderson to help Osweiler out, and keep the offense from being Hopkins or bust. Clowney looked good in pre-season, as a handful of other guys, and though I still think JJ Watt should probably come back later than game 1, his presence on the field would automatically change up the other team's game-plan.

The defense hasn't had a lot of change, but didn't need it in the first place, coming off finishing top 5. They mostly needed growth within, sprinkled in with some new faces, and I feel like they got that.

I'm throwing an 11-5 finish out here. We have a legit chance for a very positive start early on.

The Final 53 man roster for anybody that has missed
QB: Osweiler / Savage / Weeden
RB: Miller / Blue / Ervin / Grimes
FB: Prosch
WR: Hopkins / Fuller / B. Miller / Strong / Mumphrey
TE: Fiedorowicz / Griffin / Stephen Anderson
OL: Brown / Clark / Allen / Mancz / Lamm / Bergstrom / Newton / Aboushi / Su'a-Filo

DE: Watt / Wilfork / Heath / Covington / Still / D.J. Reader
LB: Cushing / Mercilus / Clowney / Simon / Dent / Peters / McKinney / Scarlett / Bullough
DB: Jackson / Joseph / K. Johnson / Demps / Hal / Dillon / Pleasant / C. James / Moore

ST: Novak / Lechler / Weeks

Glad to see Devon Still, Stephen Anderson, and Brennan Scarlett make it. Thought it was a toss up between Corey Moore and Robert Nelson making it, and figured Nelson had the notch over him. Surprised they let both Hilliard and Dent go, as i thought at least one of them would make it over Blue. Guess they felt Blue was a safe choice, and that Ervin showed a lot more for what they wanted. I'm ready to get this season on a roll, get everybody healthy and let's DO DIS

@Statis22 @H TOWN HUSTLER @do work son @CLU713 @Jewbacca2 @Steebie J @DeAndre Hopkins @CherryJ23 @TimelessFlight @d e beatup @lilyo06 @sole searchin @blackxme @bonafide hustla @skrew713 @kurage25


​

 

From Chronic.com

Speedy running back Akeem Hunt rejoined the Texans on a practice squad contract Sunday after contemplating multiple competing offers from other NFL teams before opting to remain with the defending AFC South champions.

Meanwhile, the Texans signed seven other players and now have eight spots filled for a 10-man practice squad.

The Texans also signed wide receiver Quenton Bundrage, inside linebacker Shakeel Rashad, outside linebacker Eric Lee, defensive end Ufomba Kamalu, cornerback Robert Nelson, offensive guard Chad Slade and tight end Eric Tomlinson.

The Texans have reached a practice squad deal with former New Orleans Saints and Texas A&M offensive lineman Joseph Cheek, pending him passing a physical, according to a source.

Bundrage joined the Texans after being released by the New York Jets and quickly picked up the offense.

Rashad is an undrafted free agent from North Carolina who had an impressive preseason that included a 40-yard interception return against the Cowboys and a forced fumble against the New Orleans Saints.

Lee is making a successful transition from playing defensive end at South Florida.

A former Arizona State standout who had a solid preseason, Nelson was on the Texans' practice squad last year.

Tomlinson is a Klein graduate and former Texas-El Paso player who was on the Texans' practice squad last season.

Slade is capable of lining up at either guard or tackle. He was signed by the Texans last year after going undrafted out of Auburn.

Outside linebacker Tony Washington and center Dalton Freeman reverted to the Texans' injured reserve list after going unclaimed off waivers after being waived-injured Saturday.

 

Article spotlighting the WR core

http://www.battleredblog.com/2016/9...attle-red-look-at-the-houston-texans-receiver

 

Unofficial depth chart for Sunday

 

Will Fuller has been limited with a hamstring injury this week, not doing full practices, until Friday. Still listed as starting as of right now.


Long NFL layoff nears end for Texans' Devon Still

For Texans veteran defensive end Devon Still, Sunday afternoon marks a special day. It represents the first time he's played in a regular-season NFL game in over a year.
Still was out of football last season after being cut by the Cincinnati Bengals, spending that time with his family as he helped care for his daughter, Leah, while she won her battle with cancer.
With Leah in remission from Neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer, Still is looking forward to the Texans' season opener Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Spoiler

"It's been a real long time since I played in an actual regular-season game," said Still, who played in a dozen games during the 2014 season for the Bengals. "I know that it's going to be exciting. I'm really looking forward to that day.

"It's special just to be able to stay strong and keep fighting and get back to the point we'd hoped I'd be able to after my daughter was first diagnosed with cancer. It's a blessing."

Still put his football career on a hiatus after learning of his daughter's health problems. He also shaved his head bald in a show of solidarity with Leah as she lost her hair during her radiation treatments.

The former Bengals second-round draft pick was signed by the Texans to a reserve-future contract in January. Still has 40 tackles and one forced fumble in 30 career games.
Leah is going to attend the Texans' second game of the season next week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Her father says she already has plenty of Texans gear and he plans to get a specialized jersey made for her.

Leah graduated from kindergarten in the spring and spent her summer taking swimming lessons, running track and displaying her rich sense of humor.

"She can finally be a little kid again," said Antonio Still, Leah's grandfather. "She's like an older soul because of what she's been through, but she's very funny. She's one of the strongest little girls I've ever known."

 

It's almost time...

 

Fuller's drop :x that was a game changer. Hal playing that pass so poorly smh. Things just haven't clicked yet on both sides of the ball. They're making Cutler look elite. Lamar Miller has looked very good even with the shoddy line play. Bears get the ball back, and the defense can NOT give up another drive with a TD.

Can't forget about Cushing being carted off too SMH. That sucks

 

Mark Berman
‏@MarkBermanFox26
Brian Cushing has a sprained ligament in his knee. Procedure not required. Will miss a few games

 

Watt definitely did look gassed, especially those last couple of plays where Cutler made sure to toss the ball so he didn't get credit for sacks

Saw some good and bad from Brock, but it looks like the NFL season thread is on the "Brock sucks, Elway is a genius" narrative, pretty much overlooking the crappy o-line play throughout and Fuller/Hopkins/Ervin's drops. Outside of about 3 overthrows due to pressure, none of that was really on him. The sure-fire TD that Fuller missed :x that was brutal, but he made up for it. Liked what I saw from Miller too, especially with the line playing as poor as they did. I'm glad Brock can actually move, or else he wouldn't died back there on some plays.

That 75 yard/31 second drive by the Bears :x that was awful coverage by Hal. Just glad to get everything clicking though and getting the win. Good stuff to look forward to. Special teams did a good job in coverage and returns minus the early part of the game as well.