Lock Down Your Top 5

[Sportswriter79]

The bad news is that we've got a few players who are expressing some degree of unhappiness about their contracts.

The good news is that we have a few players who are good enough to raise the issue.

If you had to pick 5 players that you wanted to lock down, so that you could build the rest of the team around them and take the Texans to the next level, who would they be (in no particular order)?

My choices (alphabetical order):

Owen Daniels
Andre Johnson
DeMeco Ryans
Matt Schaub
Mario Williams

I think that each of these guys is a smart football player at a critical position, they are good players now, they have great potential ahead, they are leaders and they have good attitudes.

Maybe this is pretty obvious, although I might expect some to make a case for Slaton or others over my picks.

[outofhnd]

Mario Williams
Andre Johnson
Matt Schaub
Dunta Robinson
Demeco Ryans

In that order

[Yosarian]

I agree with sportwriters picks.

[TEXANBRONCO]

Aj mario d-rob demeco matt in this order:d

[Texans2009]

If I had to lock down 5 and only 5, I'd remove Daniels from the list in favor of Slaton. Without a respectable rushing attack, play-action passes to Daniels are much more difficult to sell. Daniels is a very good TE, but the nature of the position makes him more expendable than Slaton IMO.

Andre Johnson
DeMeco Ryans
Matt Schaub
Mario Williams
Steve Slaton

[TheLBCoach]

1. Mario Williams
2. Duane Brown
3. DeMeco Ryans
4. Andre Johnson
5. Eric Winston

**I will reserve judgment on Matt Schaub until after this season. I don't have enough to make an intelligent decision on whether he is the TRUE franchise QB we want/need him to be.**

[pure_respect]

1. Andre Johnson - Has been my favorite Texan since he burst onto the scene his rookie year.

2. Mario Williams - It was a tough choice between him and 'Dre for the top spot, but in the end I gave the proper respect to the guy who has been with our club through thick and... well... it hasn't gotten thin quite yet.

3. DeMeco Ryans - Three seasons into his career the stats are there, I expect him to grow into a a true leader over the next few years.

4. Matt Schaub - I could put Owen Daniels or Steve Slaton in here as well and feel good about myself, but I gave Schaub the edge because every time he came back from an injury he showed himself to be even more ferocious and determined to win. I hate to say it but I think if any good came out of the Rosencopter, it'd be that Schaub decided that he was the only person that could take us where we want to go.

5. Vonta Leach - This will raise a few eyebrows I'm sure, but I see this guy doing so much for our team every week. From delivering smashing hits on potential tacklers to catching two yard passes while a linebacker is about to hit him. He just seems to do it all for us in a role that is generally overlooked.

Of course, this isn't to say that these are the only guys I'd take with me but if I could only pick 5 these would be my guys.

[outofhnd]

1. Andre Johnson - Has been my favorite Texan since he burst onto the scene his rookie year.

2. Mario Williams - It was a tough choice between him and 'Dre for the top spot, but in the end I gave the proper respect to the guy who has been with our club through thick and... well... it hasn't gotten thin quite yet.

3. DeMeco Ryans - Three seasons into his career the stats are there, I expect him to grow into a a true leader over the next few years.

4. Matt Schaub - I could put Owen Daniels or Steve Slaton in here as well and feel good about myself, but I gave Schaub the edge because every time he came back from an injury he showed himself to be even more ferocious and determined to win. I hate to say it but I think if any good came out of the Rosencopter, it'd be that Schaub decided that he was the only person that could take us where we want to go.

5. Vonta Leach - This will raise a few eyebrows I'm sure, but I see this guy doing so much for our team every week. From delivering smashing hits on potential tacklers to catching two yard passes while a linebacker is about to hit him. He just seems to do it all for us in a role that is generally overlooked.

Of course, this isn't to say that these are the only guys I'd take with me but if I could only pick 5 these would be my guys.

Pass rusher is by far the biggest premium. I did mine strictly on positional value.

[Schaubie Love]

Andre Johnson
Mario Williams
Demeco Ryans
Steve Slaton
Owen Daniels

Schaub would be 6, Walter 7, Dunta 8

[Porkchop]

1. Mario Williams
2. DeMeco Ryans
3. Andre Johnson
4. Steve Slaton
5. Dunta Robinson

[Se7en]

I have to admite I am shocked to see Dunta popping up on some of your lists. With his big injuries I would not like to see the Texans lock him up with a big dollar contract... just too much risk no matter how vocal a leader he is.

He is also not a shutdown corner, just a great tackle machine. He is sort of the exact opposite of Deion Sanders.

I would go with...

Andre Johnson
Mario Williams
Steve Slaton
Owen Daniels
Matt Schaub

[TexansFan03]

Mario Williams
Andre Johnson
Matt Schaub
Steve Slaton
Demeco Ryans

[HomeBred_Texan]

1. Mario Williams
2. Duane Brown
3. DeMeco Ryans
4. Andre Johnson
5. Eric Winston

**I will reserve judgment on Matt Schaub until after this season. I don't have enough to make an intelligent decision on whether he is the TRUE franchise QB we want/need him to be.**

I agree with this 100%. Matt Schaub has yet to play a full season and until then, I think the jury is still in deliberations...

[Whiskeyrbl]

1. Andre Johnson
2. Mario Williams
3. Demeco Ryans
4. Owen Daniels
5. Steve Slaton

Honorable mention : Vontae Leach

[Coach]

i'm basing my on the fact that some positions are harder to find legit guys than others

1. Mario Williams
2. Andre Johnson
3. Matt Schaub (if he proves to be a better QB than the previous two seasons)
4. Dunta Robinson (if he can regain his rookie level)
5. Duane Brown (if he continues to develop)

[Texan Naija]

1. Andre Johnson
2. Mario Williams
3. Demeco Ryans
4. Owen Daniels
5. Steve Slaton

Honorable mention : Vontae Leach

Exactly what he said, although add in Kris Brown for honorable mention as well.

[nativetexan]

Mario Williams
Andre Johnson
Matt Schaub
Steve Slaton
Demeco Ryans


ditto. This list covers the true star players on the team.

My sixth would be OD and I think if he signs long term, and Kubiak stays the coach, he could end up with HOF numbers; but I also think you could plug someone else in with the same system and be ALMOST as good.

Now let's draft a couple more guys to added to this list next year.

[ANDRE=FRANCHISE]

QB - Dan Orlovsky

DT - Shaun Cody

WR - David Anderson

RB - Ryan Moats

C - Chris Myers


Beat That.

[ANDRE=FRANCHISE]

whoops

I guess that was my top 5 players that I'd trade away.

[ANDRE=FRANCHISE]

AJ

Mario Bros.

Meco

Slats

Diles


I think my alternate pick would be G - Pitts.

If Schaub could stay healthy, it would help his stock. And if Dunta could quit crying for more money until he's proven he's 100% back to what he was. Until then, they are off the list.

[PuddleOfGlowing]

hey now...David Anderson may not be top 5, but he sure aint bottom 5...he busts his tail and gives it everything.

I mean, isnt it sad that the super "talented" Jacoby Jones cant surpass him on the WR depth chart...

[htowntexan13]

1. Matt Schaub... If we lose him, there goes our season and it would take another 2 or 3 seasons to develpo another franchise QB.

2. Mario Williams... The best pass rusher in the league even in a mediocre defense.

3. Andre Johnson... The best player we have period. The only reason he's not number 1 in my list is because we have done decent without him but he brings so much to team, talent, leadership, class-act player. The best!

4. Owen Daniels... He blocks, catches the ball. One of the best and most complete TE's in the league and loved his decision of coming for voluntary conditioning program even though he's not completely happy with his contract. DeMeco? Dunta? Being here is not gonna hurt your chances. It might actually help you.

5. Steve Slaton... The most explosive guy we have on offense. I love this guy and love the way he acts off the field too.