Predicted Depth Chart for 2009 (revised by suggestions)

by stuart0908 on Jun 5, 2009 9:25 AM CDT Comment 31 comments

I am just going around trying to get people's impressions of who will be starting where for the 2009 NFL season come week 1. Any information you can give about any position would be great, and it would be even better if you could break it down by all positions. I am just curious to see how many positions are pretty much a lock and how many are still up in the air? Here is my preliminary depth chart from what I've read. Please let me know any errors I have in judgement or positions that are wrong.

QB - Matt Schaub, Dan Orlovsky, Alex Brink
RB - Steve Slaton, Chris Brown, Ryan Moats, Arian Foster
FB - Vonta Leach, Boomer Grigsby
WR - Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, David Anderson, Jacoby Jones, Darnell Jenkins
TE - Owen Daniels, Joel Dreesen, Anthony Hill (R), James Casey (R)
LT - Duane Brown, Rashard Butler
LG - Chester Pitts, Kasey Studdard
C - Chris Myers, Antoine Caldwell (R), Chris White
RG - Mike Briesel, Antoine Caldwell (R)
RT - Eric Winston, Rashad Butler
RE - Mario Williams, Connor Barwin (R)
LE - Antonio Smith, Tim Bulman, Stanley McClover
DT - Amobi Okoye, DelJuan Robinson, Shaun Cody
NT - Travis Johnson, Frank Okam
SLB - Brian Cushing (R), Zach Diles
MLB - DeMeco Ryans, Buster Davis, Kevin Bentley
WLB - Zach Diles, Xavier Adibi, Cato June
CB - Dunta Robinson, Jacques Reeves, Fred Bennett, Antwaun Molden, Glover Quin (R), Brice McCain (R)
FS - Eugene Wilson, Troy Nolan (R)
SS - Dominique Barber, Nick Ferguson, Brandon Harrison
K - Kris Brown
P - Matt Turk

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Comments

I think Adibi and Cushing will be the Starters. Cushing is almost a lock.
I wouldn’t be too surprised if Diles started, but Kubes said the other day, he thinks Adibi is making the second year ‘leap’. He just has to say healthy.

- tyler

by bullpen116 on Jun 5, 2009 10:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cato June

You don’t think Cato June will be able to get a starting position after being signed in free agency and starting the past 5 years for the Colts and the Bucs?

Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"

by stuart0908 on Jun 5, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

it would be out of the question for him to be the starter for Game 1 but I think Cushing will be the starter later in the season.

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 5, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not out of the question

but trying to read between the lines of Kubiaks interviews it sounds like they think of him as depth and veteran leadership. Even the one or two interviews i’ve read with June, he didn’t sound like he expects to start. He’s a good player but Cushing is the future and the coaches (so far) have been gushing about his size and work ethic. Based on what we’ve been reading I’d guess June comes in off the bench. It’s not like he’s a pro bowler at this point in his career. I could be wrong, but I didn’t think he got that much attention in free agency.

- tyler

by bullpen116 on Jun 5, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cato Is No Lock To Make The Team

But it is likely he does. Cato is a quality veteran B/U, not a starter. Barring injury or ineptitude, Cushing starts. If he is available and not starting, that would be a major warning sign.

The Texans have stated at least twice that they plan to carry six LBs., so you have one too many. Buster Davis is TC material/ insurance, and probably the odd man out.

My personal opinion is that Chris Brown should go. I think he is gaming them, hoping to ride the NFL gravy train in the IR coach.

by kozanack on Jun 5, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that Cato June has the size, at 6'0" 227, to play SLB

Speed and experience/leadership are his assets. He is basically an insurance policy against the injury history of Adibi and Diles, and whether or not Seagal makes a quick transition to the NFL game. If Seagal does not start right away, Diles would be able to man the SLB position like he did last year, and June/Adibi could man the WLB. If everyone is healthy and Seagal is a starter from day one, then June is a backup who will be expected to contribute on special teams. Smithiak told him that on the way in and he is good with it because he likes the Texans prospects, and apparently did not get any better offers from teams that he liked more than ours. One more reason to say

GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!

It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Jun 7, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TE

You can likely go ahead and move Dreesen to the end of that list…..or off it for that matter.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stro Kets!

by Shake on Jun 5, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Even though

They re-signed him to a three year deal this offseason?

Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"

by stuart0908 on Jun 9, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

For what $$$

I just don’t see it affecting the cap value if he were cut or at the bottom of the depth chart

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stro Kets!

by Shake on Jun 9, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Other TEs

But wouldn’t they have signed him to a three-year deal only if they saw something in him that could potentially be worth keeping around?

I’m not disagreeing with you, I honestly don’t know anything about the guy. I’m just wondering because if they cut him, that means they have two unproven rookies on the squad that would have to step into the lineup if anything happened to Owen Daniels.

Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"

by stuart0908 on Jun 9, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't know

Was he signed before or after we drafted 2 TEs? If before, then he’s still on the chopping block in my mind.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stro Kets!

by Shake on Jun 9, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was in February

So I guess you could be right, they may not have thought they could address the issue in the draft.

Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"

by stuart0908 on Jun 10, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Connor Barwin

On third down, it’s probable that Smith will move inside to tackle and Barwin will be rushing off of the LE position. John McClain has mentioned this several times in the Chronicle. How fast they let him do that, who knows. I suppose he could back up Mario as well, but He doesn’t come off the field very much.

- tyler

by bullpen116 on Jun 5, 2009 1:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Theres no way

that Molden is ahead of Fred and he is probably behind Glover Quin as well. The injury has dropped him down the depth chart. I assure you he is not our 3rd corner right now.

by Riott on Jun 6, 2009 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Done

Re-ordered

Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"

by stuart0908 on Jun 9, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is pure speculation, but remembering how Myers got manhandled in the early

part of the ’08 season, I would not be surprised to see the rookie Antoine Caldwell move his way into the lineup, but for now Myers is #1 because he ended last season as the starter. I think Smithiak have big plans for Caldwell. He can play either G or C, and will earn a starting position within a year. He may replace Myers, or he may get Pitts job next year if we are unable to resign Chester. Pitts is arguably a better player than Brisiel, but economics may force a tough decision next offseason.

It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Jun 7, 2009 9:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

hmm...

for the most part i like it…tho id rather have jermiah johnson over moats…
also maybe take dreesen or darnell jenkins and have another OL (i think carrying one extra one is a good idea)…

also we had 8 picks…who are the other 2 rookies that wouldnt make the team that u did not put here? or did u put them but i missed them?

by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jun 7, 2009 9:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

edit

nvm, i c the 8 rookies…missed both te’s….

by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jun 7, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

which OL

would you suggest?

Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"

by stuart0908 on Jun 9, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

uhh..

did you forget kris brown an matt turk or did you just not put them on here by choice?

Texans!! "Break on thru to the other side!!!!!"

by Slash20 on Jun 8, 2009 6:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

it might not be turk

is turk still on our team or is he a FA???

that other Punter from A&M might make it!

by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jun 8, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brown is a lock, but Brantly the ubndrafted FA from A&M will make Turk earn his spot...

should be an interesting competition. Early returns are that Brantly has to improve his consistency in hang time, but he absolutely has the size and leg strength to play on Sundays. Turk has done a good job, but he will have to earn his position again this year.

It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Jun 8, 2009 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But where would we be..

without all those sweet “Nobody-told-Matt-Turk-he’s-just-a-punter” plays?

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 9, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That play in GB last year was priceless

but if Brantly is a better punter then he deserves the job.

It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Jun 9, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And he also

pulled a play out of the Garo Yepremian playbook – except he actually almost completed the pass.

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 11, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last but not least

I think Adibi beats out Zach Diles for starting WOLB. Speculation, yes, but I got that feeling. I also think Kevin Bentley is going to be our 2nd string MLB, before Davis.

by Riott on Jun 9, 2009 11:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

I thought Diles was leading the team in tackles before he got injured last season. While Adibi did good, he was not really at the level that Diles was.

Just an opinion here. I’m just curious as to why you say this.

Former New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"

by stuart0908 on Jun 10, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure it will happen

but if it did, it would be because Adibi is better suited to WLB. When Diles was leading the team in tackles, it was at the SLB position.

In a comparison between Diles and Adibi, Diles is better against the run and Adibi is better against the pass. Assuming that we have WLB that plays the WLB position (last year we had two OLB’s trying to alternate between WLB and SLB from play to play), even if Diles is a better over all LB, Adibi may be a better WLB.

It wouldn’t completely surprise me if Adibi won the WLB position over Diles, but ultimately I do expect us to have our three best LB’s out there, which I think would be Diles, DeMeco and Cushing.

by Tailgate Andy on Jun 10, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

one problem...

There’s 58 players on your list, and the Texans can only have 53 on their roster for the regular season.

I think ways to cut it down would be:

Brink, Foster, and Jenkins on the practice squad.

And a couple players on the defense will be cut. Most likely two from the list of McClover, Cody, TJ, Okam, Buster, Nolan, Harrison.

Also, I think Brantly will make the team instead of Turk, for no other reason than Turk is 40 and this kid’s a rookie. I do think it’s funny though that Turk’s play in Green Bay made everyone forget about the play where he fell down trying to kick the ball out of the endzone on that bad snap, and the other team scored a TD. That’s the problem with Turk. He is a great PUNTER, but when it comes down to having to do something other than kick the ball, he is literally hit or miss to the tune of FIRST DOWN!… or the other team scores.

One more thing I think Adibi will start on the weak side and Diles will be the primary back up for all three LB positions.

Just giving my two cents. I’ve been a member a long time,but haven’t posted before.

by thelundquist on Jun 11, 2009 6:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to the Site, Lundquist

Very salient point on Turk. I for one will never forget that horrible day in San Diego. Turk nearly stripped me of my will to live that day.

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

by Tim on Jun 11, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Adibi at WLB

TJ won’t be cut. Although that would be a dream.

Foster should be able to beat out Moats for RB3. I saw him play a lot at Tennessee. He can run, holding on to the ball is a problem. But at RB3 its less of a problem for him than making the team.

Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.

by texanphil on Jun 11, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs