Prognostibating: The 53-Man Roster, Take 1 - The Offense
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 24, 2010 7:42 PM CDT
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PrintAmongst the myriad of things "wrong" with me, I am obsessed with roster construction. There are GMs like, for example, the execrable Ed Wade, who simply do not understand how to build a roster. Most of the onus is on the GM to put together the players, but Head Coaches certainly have some input.
One thing I can say about your Houston Texans: the team puts together rosters well, finding the right players for the right roles. More after the...the...the...JUMP!
As of today, the Texans have a "roster" of 82 players, two more than allowed. Now, I put roster in quotes because we still have five unsigned players, but we still need to trim a whopping 29 players off the squad before showtime. Obviously, this is all premature, but I have no other ideas for a post, and Tim won't give me my kittens back. Anyway, here's my first pass at the 53-man roster.
QB: Matt Schaub, Dan Orlovsky, John David Boo-tay
QB Thoughts: If we carry a third QB again this year in an emergency QB capacity, I believe it'll be a yet-to-be-signed veteran over the completely unproven Booty.
RB: Steve Slaton, Arian Foster, Ben Tate, Chris Henry, Jeremiah Johnson
RB Thoughts: Ranked in no order above, but I firmly believe Slaton proves to be healthy and makes the team. Henry and Johnson will be there in case he cannot, and my money would be on Johnson in that scenario. Even if we have these five, I would not be surprised if we signed another body or two before pre-season ends.
FB: Vonta Leach, Justin Griffith
FB Thoughts: I believe that Leach's poor play in 2009 is one of the most overlooked factors in our weaknesses. Leach has a lot to prove, but Griffith is not the guy to push Leach. I sincerely hope that, with Baby Shan now in Washington, the infamous Vonta swing pass will be a thing of the past. But Leach didn't block well last year, either.
WR: Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones, Dorin Dickerson, Glenn Martinez, Trindon Holliday, Andre Davis, Trey Stross, Bobby Williams, David Anderson!!! (Note, when I sorted, Anderson, for some reason, didn't have a position and thus disappeared. Thanks to JFP for catching this horrendous mistake)
WR Thoughts: OK, kinda cheating here with six WRs listed, though I believe we'll only ultimately carry five. HOWEVER, I think there's a desire for Holliday to become a return specialist, so this one will need to play out. I don't think Andre Davis is back - he wasn't productive either as a WR or as a return man last year. I admit that Trey Stross is intriguing, profiling strongly as a Walter-type player (and, of course, ALL white WRs are the same. Every, single one of them).
T: Duane Brown, Eric Winston, Rashad Butler, Adam Stenavich, Cole Pemberton, Steve Maneri
T Thoughts: Stenavich is the only bubble guy here, but I thought he played pretty well in preseason last year. Pemberton is 6'7", though, and he could create an uncomfortable spot for Stenavich. Last year, we carried more interior linemen than we had in the past (Kubiak had carried four tackles in 2008 and 2007), and I expect we'll revert back to that next year.
G/C: Mike Brisiel, Antoine Caldwell, Kasey Studdard, Shelley Smith, Wade Smith, Chris Myers, Chris White, Brett Helms
G/C Thoughts: In a statement that should shock nobody, I remain direly concerned about our interior line play. Mike Brisiel's health is pivotal to our roster construction and our play on the line. Wade Smith and Chris White both make the team based on their versatility. Antoine Caldwell had flashes and, as a second year guy, he'll be on by default. Studdard's roster spot, much less a starting spot, continues to amaze and bewilder me. If Brisiel is healthy, Shelley Smith simply has no chance to make the roster, though I believe he'll be quickly snapped up to be on the developmental squad.
TE: Owen Daniels, Joel Dreessen, James Casey, Anthony Hill, Garrett Graham, Derek Fine, Mike Barber, Dave Casper, Ben Coates, Mark Bavaro, Mike Ditka, John Mackey, Mack Alston, and, of course, Alvin Reed
TE Thoughts: As we all know by now, the Texans collect tight ends like MDC collects pics of male genitalia. We currently have 863 tight ends under contract, but of that bunch, I only see Daniels, the criminally under-rated Dreessen, Casey, and Graham making the roster. Even then, much depends on Daniels' health, but, with his history of bouncing back, my doubts of Daniels are minimal. Anthony Hill was simply atrocious last year, and I don't see him making the roster with a new, shiny Wisconsin alum Graham on the roster (Daniels' alma mater, as well). I'll go out on a short limb and predict this is Daniels' last year with the team, as we just have so much talent at the position.
So far, I've filled 26 spots on the 53-man roster, and it's time for the defense. Wait, 26? Well, something has to give if I have to fit the special teams in, as well. Stay tuned!
PS: Tim, can I have one of the kittens back now? Please?
Update: Just wanted to give a quick little response to Bryan and TESXON regarding the WR situation (plus, it's much easier to upload pics this way).
To me, it's very clear that both DA and JJ are ascendant at the expense of Davis. Over the past three years (reflected in the graph below), Davis has flat-lined since late 2008 while both DA and JJ have taken far more active roles.
DA, especially, has come on strong since mid-2008.
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Off-topic but...
DID FRANK OKAM GET CUT??? Via Okam’s Tweet:
I think I could do big things here… Just need an opportunity. I know I have the total package
Yeah...
Frank weighs more than 290. He knows he’s in trouble.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 24, 2010 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
You gave Dreessen some love this year!
So far so good on the roster, I agree with almost everything. If I didn’t have absolute confidence in Rick Smith, I’d nominate you to take over.
I do think Andre Davis makes the roster though. Actually, I think we may underrate him. He did well stepping in for Andre Johnson and while I think Jacoby has basically surpassed him on the depth chart he’s a different sort of player. I think Davis will make the squad.
I've liked Dreessen
I thought the staff didn’t. Last year, I had a placeholder for a long-snapper, too, which is why I “cut” Dreessen. I love having him on the team.
I will say, no, Davis will not be on the roster. JJ can easily replace him at WR1 at this point. Yes, you read that correctly.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
To be clear your response when I floated the idea that between Casey & Dreesen the Texans didn't need to carry a long snapping specialist
was “I guarantee Bryan Pittman makes the roster”.
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 24, 2010 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep
I was wrong. Clearly. But the guarantee came via Kubiak, who said Pittman was a lock early in OTAs.
The most funnest part about being a blogger is getting called out when I’m wrong. I have to acknowledge it, and I can’t just deny deny deny.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 25, 2010 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Of course you could
Just go back and change what you wrote and delete all comments about it….like LDJA12.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
Noone is right all of the time, but throwing predictions out there is part of what makes the blogging fun
Leave the deny, deny, deny to the politicians. I would like to think that BRB regulars have more sincerity and character than the average politician.
And so much for believing Kubiak’s “guarantees”. An NFL coach is part CEO, part politician, part father, part buddy, part psychiatrist, etc. So much of what an NFL HC says in public is agendized, that obviously it all can’t be taken as absolute truths.
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 25, 2010 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I actually like that
and I like seeing when we’re all wrong about things like taking Cushing at #15. Its all discussion, yet it gets frozen in time. I think its fun.
Apostrophe did well a few years back
but he’s getting paid $3mil this year and next to be behind Andre, KW, Jacoby, David…..Dickinson is being groomed behind Andre with Trindon Holliday and Jacoby covering kicks.
Andre just doesn’t fit in with the big salary and diminishing speed (he’s over 31 I think) and stats.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Good stuff bfd
My only disagreements are: Stenavich is gone in exchange for the CSU alum in Pemberton and Shelly Smith makes the roster over someone (White?).
Outside of that, it looks like we’ll be doing a lot of FanShots on who’s been cut this summer.
"Lord, beer me strength."
That makes more sense
Cause I was wondering why Glenn Martinez was on the roster. Didn’t piece it together…..good catch, jfp
"Lord, beer me strength."
How can you tell in 20 snaps?
- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter
by riversmccown on Jun 24, 2010 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions
At what?
Swine flu? He was easily our worst third round pick in several drafts.
At...
- beating James Casey out on the depth chart
- being the best blocker of all our TEs
- at making one of the most entertaining catches of last year
If Hill isn’t on the team this year, it’s because he’s on IR (which Smithiak uses as a place to stow bulk he wants to keep around).
I’m pretty sure he sucked ass in the preseason, and didn’t do shit before getting IRed and Swine Flued and such
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
I looked ok at blocking but seemed to have butter on his hads the couple of times a ball came his way
I think they will find a way to put him on the IR list just in case.
You can't fix Dumb or being a VYFB
by Texans-Brocos on Jun 25, 2010 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Holliday to earn a spot as a return specialist
Ideally he will handle both return jobs freeing the wordsmith to focus on refining his route running. I won’t miss his nervewracking bobbles when trying to field punts.
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 24, 2010 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think
He makes the team. In fact, I don’t think any of us would even think it possible if LSU didn’t get on TV as often in Houston as it does. My money’s on Davis, not because it’s right, but because it’s Kubiak. The only thing that even makes it questionable is his contract.
No way
I have buddies who have gone to pressers and luncheons and heard Kubiak speak and he simply DOES NOT like the idea of keeping a return specialist on the team. It would simply not make sense with Smithiak’s MO of opting for versatility to suddenly do an about face and waste a roster space on an average, incredibly small return man who is failing miserably at picking up the playbook.
I agree with Kubiak's premise of favoring versatility over specialists, but
why even pick Holliday and demand that he learn a new position as a prerequisite to earning a roster spot. He played spot duty at RB for the Tigers. Seems that was a waste of a pick if that was the paradigm.
I disagree with your characterization of Holliday as average. He has elite (read world class) speed. He’s one of the fastest guys in the league, and that can translate into game breaking returns. I think he makes the team this year on return ability alone.
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 26, 2010 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions
If
during training camp/preseason, Holiday shows himself to be an average returner then you’re right, he won’t make the team. On the otherhand, if he excells as a returner, he’ll likely be on the team come season opener regardless of offseason talk.
I haven’t heard anything that suggests he’s “failing miserably at picking up the playbook”, what I heard was Kubiak saying Holiday has a long way to go in his transition as WR… As for all the “kubiak does this” and “Kubiak always does that”…. trends don’t matter much in the NFL, they’re only relevant for water cooler talk.
What is known is the Texans are moving towards working Jones purely as a WR, and they can’t do that without a returner to replace him. If Holiday is “average” as a returner and someone else impresses at the spot, then yea Holiday is probably cut before the season starts. But there’s a reason a 5’5, buck .50 player who has never played much beyond as a return specialist in college was selected in the draft… because he was seen as being pretty far from average in the return game.
Smith yes Pemberton no
Shelly Smith will make the make final 53 Pemberton probably not
Cut Anderson and Keep Davis
He’s quicker and has something to prove… He worked out well when Dre was out a few seasons ago… I just think he needs a chance…He really does have breakaway speed.
The problem with Andre' Davis
is that he’s a 31 year old WR who is making $3+ million for the next 2 seasons. He’s sitting at least 5th on the WR depth chart (behind Johnson, Walter, Jones, and Anderson – the cheaper, younger player who played well last season in a limited role, and maybe Dickinson, who knows?).
People point out that year in 2007, but since then his numbers have dwindled to 6 catches for 59 yards. He only returns kicks, had 33 returns, and definitely doesn’t have the speed of a Jacoby or Trindon Holiday (who’s dirt cheap).
He’s making money, hasn’t produced in two years, they can cut him with no penalty this season (to put that money to better use), and, at 31, he’s not going to get any better…….just makes sense that he’ll be gone.
"Lord, beer me strength."
No way Davis makes it over DA
They don’t fill the same role. Davis is more of a vertical threat who was basically AJ’s back-up. Jacoby has passed him in that sense. DA might not have the same long speed that Davis has, but he’s quicker, more dangerous underneath, and more adept finding the holes in the defense(route running).
Davis was rewarded for an admittedly good year…and then has consistently been beaten out by younger players for reps at WR. There are other players on the team who at a minimum can give us at least equal in the return game.
I would be pretty surprised if Davis makes the team when they just drafted a return specialist and another WR.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
Anderson gets open
anderson seems to always get open and can make clutch catches when needed and younger
I'm going to go out on a limb
And predict the surprise cutting of Jacoby Jones before the season opener. Despite all the hype he’s been getting lately, the addition of pretty good return men on the cheap will probably put Jones in the position of either proving himself as a starting caliber WR or be cut…
The problem I see here is he’s nowhere near as versatile a reciever as Walter, and Anderson’s skillset is really more conducive to playing in the slot than Jones… My thinking is that if Jones doesn’t prove that he can be more than the occassional deep threat in training camp and preseason, he’ll be one of the last cuts to make the 52 man roster.
Luckily...
it’s a 53 man roster. So, he may not grab 52, but #53 is a possibility for the big-play WR.
"Lord, beer me strength."
I've argued that Walter is a much better complete WR than Jacoby
However, I can’t agree with the idea of Jacoby getting cut. Jacoby showed me last year that he gets it….or is at least starting too. He started to do little things like push the CB inside to give Schaub more room to throw to his outside shoulder. Little things like that are what is going to make Jacoby a better player, and it seems as if he finally grasped that. Holiday is likely going to need show something as a WR to make the team. I don’t know if Kubiak is willing to carry a guy who will only ever return kicks. All the other young WR’s are going to need some time before they are ready to contribute, and all signs from the Texans is that they want Jacoby to be a bigger part of the offense this year.
If Jacoby doesn’t make the team it will likely be for off the field reasons. As much as I love his twitter account….it looks like he’s getting baited into a twitter war with some troll right now. The fact that he’s even responding to the guy tells me that he still has some of the maturity issues that caused him to get suspended last year. The only way I don’t see Jacoby on the squad is if he some off the field incident, or does something stupid like consistently show up late or miss meetings in camp enough to just piss Kubiak off.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
Jacoby Jones was a 3rd round pick
And hyped as having huge potential…. But take a step back from the hype machine for a minute….
This 3rd round picked hyped to have starter potential is now 3 years into his NFL career and his “breakout season” was a 27 rec, 400 yard year. I think it’s quite possible that Kubiak really does believe Jones has the potential to be a starting WR, but in year 4 it’s probably either show it or be done.
On Holiday, they knew he was strictly a returner when they drafted him, i’m sure they want him to at least know the offense and be able to play if forced to, but I doubt seriously his skills as a reciever will be much of a factor unless he’s a complete and total liability at that position even deep on the depth chart. In my mind, Holiday was brought in with the hopes he would take over as a returner, freeing Jones’ up to be purely a WR. That doesn’t mean Jones has a free pass, what it means is he’d have to prove himself PURELY as a WR. Jones will either flourish or flounder, and I just have a feeling that if by regular season he’s #4 on the depth chart not playing special teams at all either he’ll be cut or they’ll cut loose holiday in order to keep Jones returning kicks.
In that scenerio I think it’d depend on how good Holiday looked during camp and preseason at that spot, and since I think he’s probably going to be a better returner than Jones, Jacoby would be sacked.
Every year there’s players kept on the roster who you’d think would have surely been cut and players cut who were hyped to be contributers on the field. It’s easy to just list the no nameds who haven’t had a chance in the league yet, but you know there’s going to be at least one “name” player that is kind of a suprise release before the season starts. This was my attempt at predicting which hyped up veteran is most likely to be cut. I don’t think Jones is being set up to fail or succeed, I just believe this is the year in which he needs to realize his potential or his career with the Texans could be in jeapardy.
Honestly
I don’t think you cut your second most explosive receiver, especially one who is so young. Also, Davis clearly cannot backup Andre at WR1 (vital to remember that Davis was and never really has been considered a good WR) at this stage of his career. His career high receptions in a season is 40.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 25, 2010 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions
Exactly
Jones’ main contribution to the WR unit at the moment is a safety valve in case Johnson goes down to injury as he was the only other real deep threat. In this year’s draft, the Texans drafted a potential replacement for Jacoby Jones in the return game seemingly freeing him up to be full time reciever. They also drafted a late round project to “shadow” Andre Johnson in the hopes of molding him into the same type of reciever.
In those two players, you have potential replacements for both of Jones’ major roles on the team last year. I think the Texans are clearly making contengency plans in the event the Jacoby project is nearing the end. If Holiday plays as well at returner as we think he will, and Dickerson proves himself in preseason to be worthy of a #4 WR… Jones becomes very much expendable unless he has shown the ability to be more than what he is currently.
Partly agree
Because Jones is also in the last year of his contact. He could very easily be too expensive next year.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 25, 2010 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
And
If he’s not showing enough improvement as a WR that they’re not comfortable seeing him as a long term solution at WR, if they wanted to keep him this season they’d probably have to keep his replacements next year on the roster this season because they’re both probably going to be high profile enough that if placed on the practice squad they’d get offers from other teams and you’d risk losing them and having to find yet more replacements in the next draft or free agency. So we’d end up with Jacoby Jones and 2 players pretty much eating space on the roster just so they could replace him the very next season.
My thinking is, either Jacoby Jones is beastly in training camp and preseason and at least pushes Walter for the starting gig, or he gets cut near the end of preseason and the Texans go with the inexperienced Holiday and Dickerson this year to fill his roles on the team.
Using 3 roster spots at WR
In order to replace one of them in the return and recieving games the next season isn’t the most efficient use of roster space. Therefore I think either Jones becomes a legitimate #2 or #2a reciever or he gets sacked.
You should say away from HoustonTexans.com
Cause all it’s been this offseason is Kubiak praising Jacoby or Drew talking about Jacoby ready to break out.
Dude’s not getting cut.
"Lord, beer me strength."
stay*
And that’s not to say you don’t bring up an interesting idea, but, if anything, I don’t see the Texans re-signing him more than I see him getting cut.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Alot of players have been praised by Kubiak
Earl Cochran was praised as being a potential starting DE for this team.
Rosevelt Colvin recieved quite a bit of praise before being released before the season even began in 2008 I think it was.
Wali Lundy was praised as an all-purpose back at one point as well…
In fact, I bet you could go down the roster and not find 1 single player on it that hasn’t recieved praise from Kubiak at some point… That’s the nature of the hype machine.
I can name someone who hasn't gotten praise in a few years....
Fred Bennett – the owner of Kubiak’s Doghouse
"Lord, beer me strength."
But there was a time
Where Bennett was getting as much or more praise than anyone on the team…
That’s about how much offseason fluff is worth. Very rarely will a coach give you honest criticism on a player on his roster, it’s just not good business. What you get instead is a whole lot of “He could”s and "potential"s and not very many “he will”s.
What I don't get
is everyone’s confidence in our rookies every year…. to the point where our vets are getting cut.
Kubiak’s quotes on Holiday (while likely designed to push Holiday) made it sound an awful lot like he wasn’t keen on the idea of a keeping a guy who only returns kicks.
When the Texans drafted Jones they did it knowing that it was going to be a few years before he was ready to contribute as a WR. He was the textbook definition of a project. It was probably unfair to expect major contributions from him until last year. He did contribute last year and has shown a dramatic improvement as a WR since his first year. Sure his numbers weren’t huge last year, but he’s on a team with one G.O.A.T., a damn fine #2 WR, an All-Pro type TE(and all 12 of our other TE’s), a solid slot WR, and a RB who catches the ball well out of the backfield. That doesn’t leave a lot of balls for a #4. He has done a wonderfull job of taking advantage of his opportunities. 6 TD’s in 27 catches is phenomenal.
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing. You can make a case that they shouldn’t draft such a big project player like that in the third, but that’s not the issue here. The Texans have done all the work developing him to this point….why give up now?
Now if he wants big money next year, which I would guess is likely if he has a good year, then I can see him being gone. I just don’t see the Texans giving up on one the most explosive players when he finally seems to have the tools to be a major player in the offense.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
by papabear on Jun 25, 2010 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree
But if after his 4th training camp and preseason focusing on WR and given every chance to earn major playing time he’s no further along than he is now, he wouldn’t really “seem to have the tools to be a major player in the offense” would he? You can’t keep a project around but for so long without it working out before you get another project, which it seems the Texans may be doing with Dickerson and Holiday.
That’s the scenerio in which I believe Jones could be cut from the team. He’s being given a great opportunity to earn more playing time this season, but if he fails to do so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Texans cut bait with him seeing as they have 2 more projects who’d seem to replace him almost completely on the team.
I get your angle
…your assuming that after training camp he won’t earn major playing time. I think he already established himself as a factor last year and finally showed the development the Texans needed to see.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
I'm not assuming he won't
But it is a possibility. Just because a player is given an opportunity doesn’t mean they’ll take advantage of it, and Jacoby Jones has always been a bit of a wildcard mentally, I doubt anyone has any real idea how he’s going to handle the situation.
It’s possible that Jones has a great training camp and has his most productive season in the NFL this season, but it’s also possible that Walter retains the #2 spot, and Anderson remains the best slot option leaving Jones in pretty much the same position he was last season, minus the work on special teams. There’s 0 chance that the #4 WR on this team isn’t going to play some role on special teams, so if he fails to move up the WR depth chart the Texans will be the position of determining whether to stick with Jones for the long haul or go with youth.
Personally, I think Jones has reached the point of no return at WR, he’s either going to sink or swim. They’re obviously trying to find other options on special teams, and I doubt very seriously they’d just snap their fingers and put everything back as it was if Jones fails to take advantage of the opportunity given to him.
I strongly disagree
Jones has improved tremendously, especially with his route running.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 25, 2010 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree with BFD
I think last year was the sink or swim year, and he swam quite well. I was actually suprized they gave Walter the FA contract in the offseason, I expected them to let him walk and let JJ fill the role. I wouldn’t be suprized if holliday gets cut, he will need to prove really quickly that he can learn how to be a WR or he has no other purpose on the team. and Davis is gone no matter what he just doesn’t have a role anymore. And as BFD’s chart shows is they have decided they have better options than him. Holliday is raw as a WR but if they get rid of Davis, and keep JJ then JJ can be the back up return guy and Holliday could do both Punt returns and Kick offs. And have another year to learn the WR job.
You can't fix Dumb or being a VYFB
by Texans-Brocos on Jun 25, 2010 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Also
I seriously doubt Holliday is even remotely considered a #4 or even #5 guy. He’ll be a return man, and that’s all (I believe). Dickerson? Now there’s the guy who gets me all hot and bothered.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
Dickerson...
… is the only guy who really stands a chance at pushing Davis off the roster. If we feel comfortable letting Jones take over two return roles plus playing a lot of time at WR, I think Dickerson has the talent to be a much better WR for us than Davis ever could.
However, I don’t think it should be lost on anyone that Davis played his best football filling in for Johnson during 2007.
I don’t think Holiday has to prove himself as a WR, he just has to prove that he’s capable enough that if every other starter ahead of him goes down in a game, he can at least go on the field and run a few routes in an emergency type situation. They knew before they ever drafted him that he had next to no real experience as a WR and with his tiny stature, there’s not much of a place for him in a west coast offense on a regular basis anyways. He was brought in to be a return specialist, and as long as he’s effective in that role, i’d imagine he’ll make the team… You don’t draft a guy for one position and then cut him if he can’t also produce at another.
Dickerson, as much of a project as he may be, is the guy to keep an eye out for where Jones is concerned. If Holiday looks good as a returner and Dickerson is ahead of schedule to the point the Texans feel he could play minutes as #4 or #5 WR, Jones is going to be looking over his shoulder in a hurry.
As much hype as is given to Jones, there’s probably few players who have frustrated the coaching staff more than he has. If he has a down offseason and those two rookies have good ones, i’m thinking it’d be pretty easy for Kubiak to convince himself he can move on without Jacoby.
If Holiday shows he can return then it’s good-bye Andre Davis while Dickinson should end up taking Glenn Martinez’s spot.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Any chance that Apostrophe has any trade value
or does his inflated contract make that impossible? Seems we have an opportunity here with the logjam at WR. I like Holliday’s potential to handle both return jobs, and think that he can earn a spot if he shows that potential. If Davis is not needed for KO returns, then how many plays does he get if Kubiak is satisfied that Jacoby is ready to be a regular receiver? Jacoby is improving, but I think we completely know what we have in Davis. Is he primarily insurance against Dre getting hurt? If so I try to get a mid round pick for him and use that pick to make an offer on the KC DB Jarrad Page.
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 25, 2010 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Great post, bfd
I agree with most of it. I still think Shelly Smith makes the team. He is under the Colo St. umbrella of protection. However, I think Holliday doesn’t make it. But, who knows until we see them on the field.
it would be unintelligent
in my opinion, to not give Trindon Holiday a roster spot as a return specialist. I am somewhat confused as to why they bring a guy in to free JJ up to concentrate on receiver and then turn around and make Holiday learn the receiver position too. Wasn’t that the problem to begin with? Having young talent spread too thin between positions? I think we would be foolish to let either JJ or Trindon go before seeing what kind of impact they can make for the team at specific spots. Why does Holiday need to understand the offense? let him get us good field position and then every once in awhile tell him to “get in there” for a reverse. We are stacked @ receiver and I have this image in my head of Holiday running through peoples legs for TDs on kickoff returns in ’10.
by theSpaceCityKid on Jun 25, 2010 11:22 AM CDT reply actions
It's not so much that he needs to be a starter
It’s that Kubiak needs to know he can at least fill in if someone goes down. He doesn’t need to show the potential that he can be a #1…only that in a pinch he could play WR without completely screwing things up.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
which i understand
but to possibly miss out on his special team play making ability, just because he struggled to show he can be a 6 string WR seems crazy. Once he gets comfortable in the position he is needed at (returner) other options will come.
by theSpaceCityKid on Jun 25, 2010 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions
They're also worried about his size
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 25, 2010 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
he played SEC football
i know the average size gap from college to pro is large, but in his defense, the SEC is just about the best preparation one can get. Also i have a feeling his size will be an ADVANTAGE as a returner.
Imagine you are on the Titans kick-off team: the opening (they didnt score don’t worry) kick is off… it soars thru the sky above your head before dropping the ground behind a line of Houston Texans…(your inner thoughts) “did it hit the ground?”… “where did it go?” …“I dont even see the helmet of the player that could have caught it, let allow the direction he went”…… “oh well just stay in my lane.. stay in my lane.. i love meth …stay in my lane”…Next thing you know the lower-than-the-line-of-sight Holiday pops out of hole in the line and has found a seam that no angle can catch.
It is the element of surprise my friends. At least thats how i see it.
by theSpaceCityKid on Jun 25, 2010 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I totally hope you are right
I remain pretty excited about the pick.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
From the college tape I saw....
that was exactly how they used him.
Just my $.02
Even duct tape can't fix stupid
To expect Holliday to be able to play WR this year in the NFL is unrealistic
He played a very few plays at RB with the Tigers; none at WR that I am aware of. He was brought in to be a return man this year period. Sure it would be great if he could learn how to be a WR4 or 5 down the line, but like others have already stated I don’t see him getting cut if he shows return ability, but can’t immediately learn the WR4 position.
The little guy is a WORLD CLASS sprinter; one of the faster guys on the planet, and certainly one of the fastest in the NFL. The anticiaption of seeing him bust a few long ones this year has me excited. I’m sure that I am not alone there.
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 25, 2010 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions
It's just a numbers thing
I think the NFL needs to increase roster sizes slightly. It’s hard to keep a guy you don’t think will ever do anything but return kicks when you are trying to decide how many CB’s to carry or if you need an extra tackle.
I think Holiday makes it just because of his electric speed.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
sidenote....
DA’s production can directly be linked to when OD went down. he became shuabby’s 3rd down safety valve.
"don't taze me bro!!!!!!!!!!"
http://www.twitter.com/doobieman21
Excellent point
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Jun 25, 2010 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I just went back and read this
You made some very hard cuts. You are truly, truly heartless.
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
I agree with papabear's comments above
The cuts you made here are testament to the NFL needing to increase roster sizes. Also, I think the depth of the offense is greater than the defense, because I think it was clearly easier to get to 26 with the defense.
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
Great Post, BFD
As a sign of good faith, I’m putting one of your kittens in the mail today.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
ummmm.... the postal service won't deliver live animals
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
Exactly
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
Yes! That's it!
I knew I had seen you before, Chucky!
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
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