BREAKING NEWS: Texans Finalize Practice Squad; Acquire Next Super Mario?

by Tim on Aug 31, 2008 5:09 PM CDT in News Comment 21 comments

I'll level with you: Half of the headline to this post was likely false. Nevertheless, the Chronicle reports that your Houston Texans picked up DE Stanley McClover (awe-inspiring career numbers here) and named their practice squad today. The following gentlemen will start the 2008 season on the practice squad in Houston:

Darius Walker (love it)
Kevis Coley (busted his arse in the preseason and earned this spot)
Darnell Jenkins (eh?)
Gabe Long (I'll hold out hope for any DT that he can one day make Travis Johnson expendable)
Jesse Nading (he's no Stanley McClover, which is probably a compliment)
Derrick Roberson (take Petey Faggins' job, please)
Mark Simmons (really like this kid, but WR is the toughest place to crack the Houston roster these days)

What happened to Alex Brink? Or Shane Boyd? Did one of them get picked up by another team?

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Brink

Kubiak has said regarding the QB situation that they’re going to be checking the waiver wire. He stopped short of saying “we don’t want Boyd or Brink on the practice squad” but that’s the impression I got.

by HoustonDiehards on Aug 31, 2008 5:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Too Bad

I had high hopes for Brink.

We need a solid #2 in ’09. From his first throw in pre-season (a solid third down completion) I was sold that he was our man!

Healthy and Turnover free 2008-09, and we win 11!

by texanphil on Aug 31, 2008 7:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe McClover just needs a little love..

Here is his college bio stolen from the Panthers website:

Played in 24 games with nine starts for Auburn…Entered NFL following sophomore season…Produced 66 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, five forced fumbles and five passes defensed…Ranks ninth in school history with 15.5 sacks despite playing only 24 games…2005 (So.): All-SEC honorable mention…Played in 11 games with seven starts…Led the Tigers and finished fifth in the SEC with eight sacks, which equaled the ninth-highest single-season total in school history…Registered 31 tackles, one forced fumble and three passes defensed…Helped defense rank sixth in the country in points allowed per game…Earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after collecting six tackles and 3.5 sacks against Alabama as part of defensive effort that set a school single-game record with 11 sacks, bettering the previous mark of nine against Louisiana Tech in 2004…2004 (Fr.): Second-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News…First-team All-SEC choice…Played in all 13 games with two starts…Tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks…Posted 35 tackles, four forced fumbles and two passes defensed…2003: Partial qualifier that could practice but could not play.

I think the kid came into the league a tad too early. 9 collegiate starts, ever? Not a good springboard for a pro career in my humble opinion.

Hopefully his release and new scenery lead to him rebounding, getting some mental toughness, and making the team better. He was a stud in college for how young he was, but it may be a maturity issue.

As a side note, he doesn’t appear to have ever been in any legal trouble and doesn’t appear particularly injury prone.

by Riott on Sep 1, 2008 12:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Possible, But Unlikely

You are probably correct in that he left college too early. But he had a couple of years to show his stuff, so I would guess that they had a pretty good idea of what they had. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t play a role here.

by kozanack on Sep 1, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good to Know

Thanks for the research, Riott; I didn’t know any of that stuff. For what it’s worth, I tend to agree that the kid left college WAY too early. Maybe he’s just a late bloomer (swigs Kool-Aid).

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

by Tim on Sep 1, 2008 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kool Aid - DtE Remix

Yum yum yum yum yum yum yum – Delicioso.

Backpack knows what’s up.

Say word.

Got Texans? Visit BattleRedBlog.com for the latest on your Houston Texans!

by SOLIS on Sep 2, 2008 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take it

With Dunta’s injury, we’re a little bit short on dreadlocks. Hopefully he can fill the void. Also, he had more sacks (1) than Weaver had last year. This is encouraging.

Anybody spot any more cuts/practice-squadings that looked promising?

I’m pretty much just looking at RBs, and the only one that really caught my eye was Ryan Moats (just cut by the Eagles). I guess now that Green restructured his contract, we might not be looking for a RB. I still think he’s a waste of a roster spot, but maybe he’ll prove me wrong.

by Nashmeister on Sep 1, 2008 2:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

DeShawn Wynn

was cut by the Packers and placed on their PS. He is sort of intriguing.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Sep 1, 2008 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True that

Noticed that one too. He and Marcus Thomas seemed promising, but I think the Lions already snatched up Thomas.

And a few CBs were available, but Deltha O’Neal already got picked up by the Pats, Will James got nabbed by the Jaguars, and Eugene Wilson might not be worth the money.

Maybe Smithiak just isn’t interested in changing up the active roster, because we’ve made waaay less moves than pretty much every other team in football.

by Nashmeister on Sep 1, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

I am still wondering about Tony Temple. MU’s offense was similar to WVU’s, so he might make the transition. Plus, at 5-9, 205, dude is a MJD-style bowling ball. Yet I heard NOTHING about his workout.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Sep 1, 2008 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Temple

Signed with the Browns in April, but didn’t receive a training camp invitation. Has had a lot of tryouts, but no other takers. I would guess the teams are privy to some negative information that we aren’t (ala Tommy Blake).

by kozanack on Sep 1, 2008 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm.

That makes sense. Time to do some digging.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Sep 2, 2008 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he seems to have the right attitude.

Former Missouri running back Tony Temple has a rather interesting proposal for NFL teams.

"I’ll work for free," Temple told me by phone. "Whatever. Money isn’t the issue.

"I just want to play. I want the chance. I’ll play center. I’ll play guard. Whatever they want. If they want me to pull (and lead a sweep) I’ll do it."

Temple was laughing as he spoke, but he’s serious about continuing his football career. He has had tryouts with five teams, including the Chiefs. He was close to sticking with the Browns after the draft but was released after being one of eight running backs to get a workout.

Temple’s agent also called the CFL. No luck.

"I don’t know what it is," he said. "I can’t figure it out. I look around at the other running backs, and I know I can’t be bad.

"I really haven’t gotten any negative feedback."

Has his size (5 feet 9, 190 pounds) been an issue?

"No one has said anything about that," Temple said. "I think it might have something to do with being in a spread offense. But that was something I had to learn in college. I was in the ‘I’ in high school."

Temple, who continues to work out at his home in Kansas City, remains optimistic something will turn in his favor. On Monday, his agent was in contact with the Jets again.

"Everyone kind of has their idea of who they’re set with at running back," Temple said. "Everyone kind of has their guys. Then you just wait for maybe an injury or something.

"The big thing is trying to get a chance to distinguish yourself. Everyone sort of has the same amount of talent. Everyone runs about the same speed or lifts the same. Where you really distinguish yourself is when you get the pads on and you start hitting people.

"That’s where I want to get a chance. Just get me in pads."

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jeffrey_flanagan/story/724461.html

In other, unrelated news, the KC Star’s sports coverage always seemed high quality to me when I was living there, but it wasn’t until I got out of KC that I realized just how good it was. That staff literally blows away any other daily paper I’ve seen.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Sep 2, 2008 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tatum Bell released by Detroit

Please, for the love of God – do NOT sign this guy.

by HoustonDiehards on Sep 1, 2008 6:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Sep 1, 2008 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

good luck there

"I could never quite get the hang of Thursdays..."

by FlaBroncoFan on Sep 1, 2008 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lex Hilliard has potential.

Young strong running back out of the University of Montana got released from the Dolphins the other day.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/lex-hilliard?id=256

Good numbers, but in the Big Sky Conference. I watched him play a few times, and hes a big mean runner, so I would at least give him a shot. The only real issue is he completely tore his right achillies tendon in 06, but rehabbed it and played, but it could be his weak point.

One thing to note is NFL draft scouts reported that about 55% of all of his non-touchdown runs required multiple defenders to bring him down. He also is a confident blocker. Above average quickness, but lacks the break away speed people look for.

Hes also terrified of fish, which probably didn’t help him getting signed with the ’Phins.

by Riott on Sep 2, 2008 12:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In other news..

I was desperately hoping the Chiefs would cut Jackie Battle because I honestly didn’t think 6 rb’s would make the active roster, but I was wrong. Jackie Battle is a man, first and foremost because his last name is Battle, but also because I thought he was going to be the next Steven Jackson (when Steven Jackson was good).

http://www.kcchiefs.com/player/jackie_battle/

Also, if you can ever find it, watch the 2003 Hawaii Bowl. It was on Christmas day, and Jackie Battle absolutely manhandled the Hawaii D.

by Riott on Sep 2, 2008 1:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

GAH!

Lex Hilliard just signed on to the Dolphins practice squad. Nevermind.

by Riott on Sep 2, 2008 1:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's no biggie.

If we really wanted him, we could still sign him off their PS. Though, I guess your bigger point is that we wouldn’t sign him without bringing him in for a tryout first.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Sep 2, 2008 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs