Decision Day: 53-Man Roster Speculation

by bigfatdrunk on Sep 5, 2009 9:13 AM CDT in News Comment 23 comments

Houston Texans' David Anderson (89) congratulates James Casey (86) after Casey's 11-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Rex Grossman during the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

5 months ago: Houston Texans' David Anderson (89) congratulates James Casey (86) after Casey's 11-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Rex Grossman during the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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With cuts due by 3pm CDT (I believe, please correct me if I'm wrong), I wanted to pontifibate one last time on the 53-man roster. It's not going to be much different than my first take.

As a refresher, here's the composition of the Texans original 53-man roster last year:

2 QBs
3 RBs
1 FB
5 WRs
3 TEs
5 OTs
5 Gs (1 C/G)
1 C
3 Special Teamers (P, K, LS)
6 DEs
5 DTs
6 LBs
4 CBs
5 Ss

Again, there's substantial reason to believe the roster will be similarly composed. So here goes:

2 QBs: Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky
3 RBs: Steve Slaton, Chris Brown, Arian Foster (over Ryan Moats)
1 FB: Vonta Leach
5 WRs: Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, David Anderson, Jacoby Jones
3 TEs: Owen Daniels, James Casey, Anthony Hill
4 OTs: Duane Brown, Cliff Washburn, Eric Winston, Rashad Butler
5 OGs: Antoine Caldwell, Chester Pitts, Kasey Studdard, Mike Brisiel, Chris White. Last year, there were 5 OTs and 4 OGs.
1 C: Chris Myers
3 Special Teamers: P - Matt Turk, K - Kris Brown, LS - Clark Harris
5 DEs: Antonio Smith, Mario Williams, Connor Barwin, Tim Bulman, Jesse Nading
5 DTs: Amobi Okoye, DelJuan Robinson, Frank Okam, Shaun Cody, Jeff Zgonina
6 LBs: Zac Diles, Xavier Adibi, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Buster Davis, Kevin Bentley
5 CBs: Jacques Reeves, Fred Bennett, Brice McCain, Glover Quin, Antwaun Molden
4 Ss: Dominique Barber, Eugene Wilson, Nick Ferguson, John Busing

Again, that leaves us with 52 of the 53 spots. I think it's going to come down to:

Rex Grossman: He'll be tough to cut after last night's performance.
Glenn Martinez: Was a fiend on special teams all preseason.
Joel Dreessen: Your basic, but very good, utility TE.

After Anthony Hill's performance last night, I believe Dreessen takes the last spot. While Casey needs some time to mature into the position, Hill is definitely not ready. Dreessen will be the steady hand.

As far as Grossman, I believe there's a chance he still makes the team over Jeff Zgonina. Kubiak hasn't shown any indication he's going to take three QBs, and after last night's game, he seemed pretty non-committal about keeping Rex. Personally, I don't believe Rex makes the team.

I'll be out of town when the cuts are made, but I'll be back this afternoon.

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Comments

Grossman...

has to stay, I think we need a back up who has at least “been there” even if he puts way to much air under the ball.

GO TEXANS!!!!

This is the year.......

by Texanmaniac on Sep 5, 2009 9:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Kubiak better keep Grossman

…or there are going to be a LOT of upset fans. That, and Kubiak plainly said that Grossman had this game to make the team or not make the team.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Kubiak has already once again made up his mind and decided to keep two QBs, and flat-out did not expect Grossman to light it up like he did.

Chris - www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Sep 5, 2009 9:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

if any QB gets cut...

it should be Orlovsky…

by grungedave on Sep 5, 2009 10:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Poor Dave...

And also answering your email.

Rex has nearly 1000 attempts of completely mediocre QBing under his belt. I don’t think a 4th pre-season game against 3rd and 4th stringers undoes that damage.

Note to self: Insert something witty here.

by bigfatdrunk on Sep 5, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So...

You don’t think a change of scenery will bring all his talent to the surface? That like Carr, he’ll flourish in a new system?

I will say that in the near term, Grossman is the better backup. Assuming Kubiak et al. haven’t made an error in talent evaluation, Orlovsky is a better long term solution.

by kozanack on Sep 5, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

completely mediocre?

Grossman was a legit MVP candidate mid-way through the 2006 season. He had mutliple 100+ QB rating games (not that I like the QB rating stat at all, but…). Grossman had a terrible 2007 season, but so what – I’m not saying he’s a HOF player or should even be starting.

… but he’s the better backup for this season. Orlovsky could fuck up playoff chances almost immediately if Schaub should sleep funny on his shoulder one random Saturday night. Just sayin’.

by grungedave on Sep 5, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where's D-Rob?

There is no way Dunta isn’t going to sign his franchise deal. Deep down he’s knows that he’s not even worth the almost 10 mil he’ll get this year. Once he signs that’s one more spot that will be gone. That might make any of the “maybes” listed for that last spot not even considered.

Great showing by the Sex Cannon last night. I was really impressed by his power and accuracy. Kubes has a hard decision to make.

by TexanSchmackDown on Sep 5, 2009 10:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

my guess

Total speculation, but I think if/when we sign Dunta, I think it’s Nick Ferguson who’ll get the boot. That’s the point we’ll move Quin to S.

Note to self: Insert something witty here.

by bigfatdrunk on Sep 5, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m glad we have so many tough decisions on the roster. At least that means that we are chosing from a pool of talent instead of deciding if we want to keep the Giant Douche or the Turd Sandwich.

by TexanSchmackDown on Sep 5, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dreesen has to get a spot

He’s a solid blocker and a good receiver too. I believe he could start for some teams in the league. Harris was great as a long snapper last year, but if we try to move Hill to the practice squad, he’s gone. May be a bit risky, but I would cut Harris and keep Dreesen & Hill.

I don’t see a market for Zgonia, so I definitely keep Grossman as QB 2/3. If we get hurt on the D Line I suspect Zgonia will still be available. Also wouldn’t be shocked to see a DT added after today’s cuts.

DRob is definitely going to sign and I agree that Ferguson is the odd man out.

Would love to keep Glenn Martinez, but doesn’t look likely.

Would also not be shocked to see a CB or S added after today’s cuts.

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 Sep 5, 2009 11:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree On Dreesen, Zgonina

You could make Grossman our emergency #3 QB
Rules: http://lnk.nu/nfl.fanhouse.com/zy0/

by kozanack on Sep 5, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not a terrible idea

rexy would likely be third string anyway so the odds of his services being required in a game would be small. if he had to come into the game it would be in a situation where schaub was hurt and then orlovsky was hurt, which the odds of that happeneing are small. if the universe completely explodes upon our heads and rexy goes down too……well we;re screwed but again that’s highly improbable

by canadian texan on Sep 5, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well they kept both Rex and Zgonina

but having Rex as the emergency QB3 is a good use of the rule. Based on what I saw in preseason I would make Rex QB2 and Dan O QB3E. Orlovsky makes too many bad decisions resulting in INT’s. He threw INT’s on 1st down against both NO and MINN by forcing the ball into coverage. That should NEVER happen on 1st down. He has to learn to throw the ball away or run for his life. I like his physical skills, but right now he scares me. Would much rather see Rex if Schaub gets nicked.

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 Sep 5, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harris stays

no question

Note to self: Insert something witty here.

by bigfatdrunk on Sep 5, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No question that he is the best long snapper

but if (and I emphasize the if, because I do not know) both Dreesen and Casey have demonstrated in practice the ability to long snap, then wouldn’t it make sense to cut Harris. Both Casey and Dreesen are players, rather than just long snappers. Casey at multiple positions and Dreesen is right now the 2nd best TE on the team. I see them as each having more value IF they can long snap.

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 Sep 5, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

minor detail

But I’ve seen in several places (espn.com blog, the dailynorsemen) that the cut-off time is 5PM Central, not 3.

by killtacular on Sep 5, 2009 2:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I checked several places, looks to be 6 PM Eastern (5 Central) as you stated

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 Sep 5, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Long snapper

I thought Casey was a long snapper as well. If he is as good as Harris, I say let Harris go. I’d rather have Casey on punt coverage anyway (as he would normally be, but this is a heads-up comparison). There’s an extra roster spot.

by nunya bidnes on Sep 5, 2009 2:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

cuts have been made

Jacoby and the Sex Cannon survive…

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6604490.html

by grungedave on Sep 5, 2009 3:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Kind Of Interesting

Because of last night’s performance, both made it. But without each other, it may have been that neither would be on the final roster.

by kozanack on Sep 5, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Martinez & Busing made the team as well. They deserved to make it. Andre Hall looked good last night as well so I’m not surprised he made the cut over Foster. Harris got cut as well, so look for James Casey to be Mr. Everything this season

I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.

by The Night Owl on Sep 5, 2009 4:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs