The Free Agency Dance Continues

by Tim on Mar 6, 2008 9:33 AM CST in News

A handful of thoughts on your Houston Texans' efforts at free agency, primarily in response to this report:

Corey Smith, huh? Perhaps I'm being a homer here, but would he really be a significant upgrade over Earl Cochran?
Then again, Smith has recently been more productive than our own Anthony Weaver (he of the $6,200,000.00 cap number in 2008). Which is to say that Smith has 4.5 sacks in the last two years, whereas Weaver has one more sack than a dead man during that same period.
I'm not overly concerned about the relative lack of size that Smith brings to the table for a DE. Not everyone can be built like this guy. For an interesting analysis on the merits of undersized DEs, take a look at this article, if for nothing else than the amusement of seeing some of the names cited as hot prospects at the position back in 2001.
I guess their visits went well enough for the Texans to offer deals to both John Wade and Chris Crocker. In other words, they didn't "pull a Hadnot." I still have my doubts about signing Wade to a multi-year deal, but I'm beginning to warm up to the idea of adding Crocker. Since it's clear the team wasn't going to target any big-name free agents, the black hole that is the Houston secondary has to be plugged some other way. First and foremost is via the draft, and I'm growing increasingly convinced that the team is going to take the best available CB at No. 18 (assuming a trade back isn't possible; that remains the most preferable option if it presents itself). But in addition to the draft, it makes sense to add free agents where possible to compete for playing time and/or roster spots. The more possibilities the Texans have in camp to fill the holes in the secondary, the better.
Still haven't wrapped my mind around why Jacques Reeves got $8,000,000.00 guaranteed. But see the previous point.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Great comments

as always. I don't know if you get ESPN Insider, but KC Joyner's article gave a little bit of rest to my soul as far as the signing. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=joyner_kc&id=3277748

Here's what he said about Reeves:

Jacques Reeves, CB, Texans: Reeves, formerly of the Cowboys, had a 7.9 YPA in 2007. That number alone says he is average, but it is skewed somewhat by three of his games. Reeves struggled in Week 2 at Miami, got beat for a 69-yard touchdown by Donte' Stallworth in Week 6 against New England and had a subpar showing in Week 11 against Washington.

Take those three tilts out of his numbers, and Reeves' YPA drops to 7.0, which is a starting-cornerback level YPA. He might not be a shutdown cornerback, but he certainly is an upgrade for a weak Houston secondary that can use all the help it can get.

by Triple347 on Mar 6, 2008 12:47 PM CST reply actions

Thanks for the Link

Makes me feel better, too. But realistically, we can't simply pretend those three games didn't happen, right? I don't know...I think the thing that frightens me most is that nary a Cowboys fan has expressed anything but utter disbelief that Reeves got the kind of money Smithiak gave him. I'm going to be rooting my arse off for the Frenchman (nickname, anyone?) regardless, but I can't shake the feeling that he's going to take years off my life.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Mar 6, 2008 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

I found my justification

Just knowing how much Cowboy fans didn't/don't like him makes me grow fonder of Reeves. My enemy's enemy, and all that.

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Mar 6, 2008 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

Failed Logic

That's like the Jags signing Faggins and their fans embracing him because we hate him. Faggins should not be embraced by a football fan unless your team is playing against him.

by Leein3D on Mar 6, 2008 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

It's nothing like that

Because Reeves has yet to make even one single shitty play as a Texan, whereas Petey has met the lifetime quota (only second to Zoolander himself).

And I learned last year (thanks K-Dub) not to second guess talent level if Smithiak believes in them. We'll wait & see in the fall as to whether or not they can mold that talent into productivity. Agreed?

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Mar 6, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

I agree

That would be an slap in the face to Cowgurl nation if JR comes in and does well. Especially after all the shit they've been talking about the deal.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Mar 6, 2008 8:59 PM CST up reply actions

Cowboys Fans Frown Upon Joyner's Analysis

As seen here.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Mar 10, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

They also frown

on not being shiteaters.

Not that I actually clicked the link and read the post.

by MDC on Mar 10, 2008 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I did

Any their blogging community is as gay as their team. I'm sure they all thought that TO was more of a man for crying during that season ending press conference. "That's my QB... blubb blubb blubb."

Fags I tell you, the whole lot of them.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Mar 10, 2008 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Man

I didn't like reading those comments, how much did we pay?

by 1Texan on Mar 11, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

actually,

I think it's more like Carolina signing Zoolander and their fans embracing him because we hate him. I know I wasn't the only one visiting the Panthers' fan site to discuss who Zoolander truly is.

by knave64 on Mar 6, 2008 4:33 PM CST up reply actions

RB situation

So maybe I have my CU blinders on here, but somebody just told me that Chris Brown is going to get the league minimum from Tennessee this year (if they resign him).

Now, I know the guy is injury prone, but wouldn't it be better to have a near league-minimum-salaried, 26 year-old injury-prone RB who looks a little bit like Samuel L. Jackson... Than Ahman Green?

The guy is awesome when he's healthy. Maybe he's just had some bad luck so far.

by Nashmeister on Mar 6, 2008 1:22 PM CST reply actions

True

When healthy, he's a Bad Mother Fucker. And especially at the league minimum there's little risk to signing him. At the same time, I'm kinda tired of wondering who will be our starting RB any given Sunday. I don't think he can help that situation.

But at that price, he definitely should be getting a look.

by BigTexBD on Mar 6, 2008 2:30 PM CST up reply actions