gsus8091
10-31-2007, 02:04 PM
Okay, I know it's early but we need to be thinking about the Texans weak spots and where the money needs to go.
I'll first start off with the draft. This is never cut and dry but as of right now I think that our two biggest needs are safety and RB.
So in the 1rst round I suggest:
1a. Kenny Phillips (SS/FS- Miami)
1b. Jonathan Stewart (RB- Oregon)
Phillips is perfect for us. He can play either the strong or free safety spot and he's a tough ball hawk who can fill the gaps on the run with power and will. He's an excellent tackler and he has terrific hands. Phillips hasn't produced as expected but his lack of production can be our gain. He was projected at the beginning of the year as a top 6 player, now he's a borderline top 10. That's within our range.
Stewart on the other hand would give us a power back with the speed and cut back ability to play in the zone blocking that the Texans employ. Just to ask you guys. Have you seen this kid play? He's fantastic. Big, around 6'0 225lbs. and very fast. I bet he runs in the 4.4's. Stewart is also the Ducks KR. Not bad for a 230lbs. player. He has excellent speed along with great agility and he isn't afraid of taking a hit. Stewart would start from day one and would be a ginormous upgrade and would fit in nicely with this team.
Our next pick would have to be depth. That means a CB or a DE. I know, I know. We have Robinson and Mario. But the opposite side of them is certaily some of the weaker spots on this team. Faggins is a total disgrace and wouldn't even be a nickel on some teams. As for Anthony Weaver, he couldn't have been a bigger dissapoitment. He was supposed to solidfy the left side but he hasn't. He was supposed to be a force against the run, but he hasn't, he was supposed to bring leadership over from a great Raven defense but he hasn't. It's time to cut our losses and move on.
So with the 2nd pick in the 2nd round (that's right, the only way to get a solid bada$s is to trade up back into the 2nd round).
2a. Antoine Cason (CB-Arizona)
2b. Lawrence Jackson (DE-USC)
Cason is a favorite of mine and could fall due to slow 40 times. Now the 40 times won't be aweful they'll just be in the 4.5's. Thats why he will most likely fall. The Texans need to jump up and trade what they need too to get him. Cason is a true playmaker in every sense of the word. Great hands for a CB, and his physical against the run. If you've seen any Arizona games very rarely does he get challenged. During the USC game, he was only thrown too a hand full of times and no TDs went against him. I love this kid and he and Dunta would be one of the best combo's in the league.
Jackson on the other hand is a player that has started from day one at Southern Cal. I like him alot. The attention he has received from opposing offensive lines has forced his production to lighten, but it has humbled and rededicated him to improve his game and work harder at his craft. Jackson is the kind of guy the Texans could use and he would bring a fiery personality along with him. He can play the run and rush the passer equaly and he brings it on every down. He might move back into the 1rst round, but if he should be in the 2nd and Cason isn't there, then the Texans need to grab him and start him right away.
As for the rest of the draft the Texans need to add depth. Depth in the offensive line and the secondary. Those two corps are usually hit the hardest with injuries from year to year. And there is no better way to counter those injuries than by having young players trying to prove that they belong.
I like a few players that the Texans should hopefully look at.
Offensive Lineman:
Jordan Grimes (OG-Purdue)
Will Arnold (OG-LSU)
John Sullivan (C-Notre Dame)
John Greco (OT-Toledo)
Tony Hills (OT-Texas)
King Dunlap (OT-Auburn)
Adam Kraus (OG- Michigan)
Secondary
Chevis Jackson (CB- LSU)
Dwight Lowery (CB- San Jose St.)
DJ Wolfe (DB- Oklahoma)
Quintin Demps (FS- UTEP)
Jonathan Hefney (FS- Tennessee)
Darien Williams (DB- Oklahoma)
Tom Zbikowski (SS- Notre Dame)
Craig Steltz (SS- LSU)
Jamar Adams (SS- Michigan)
Now that I talked about the draft, it's time to get to the free agent part of the off-season. This is kinda tricky because depending on who is resigned and who isn't we really don't know. But I'll assume that most don't and will hit the market. The Texans have a few dollars this year to spend. But free agency isn't a place where you want to fill your team. You just want to gain a couple of impact players who can be leaders and bring something to the table from day one.
Free Agents
1. Lance Briggs LB- Briggs can bring a ton to the table. Briggs is a high impact low risk player. He doesn't get hurt and he produces at Pro-Bowl levels. Also Briggs can bring his leadership and winning attitude to the Texans. I know we have Morlon Greenwood, but Morlon is no Lance Briggs. Greenwood can be moved to the strong side while we put Briggs on the weak side. Briggs would give us a big time playmaker to team up with our young, demon DeMeco Ryans to form one of the better duo's in the league. Lance would be a leader from day one. And I believe he would feel honored to be asked to help lead a young team along with DeMeco. Briggs has to be a priority come this off-season.
2. Karlos Dansby LB- Dansby will probably be signed by Arizona at some point, but if he isn't and the Texans aren't interested in Briggs, Dansby is a must signee. Karlos has played all three LB positions at some point in his young career with the Cards and has become super productive and has also shined in a relatively weak Cardinal defense. Karlos Dansby is only 26 years-old and would be entering his prime with the Texans. He would be able to play the strong side or the weak side. He has terrific size at 6'4 240lbs. and he can blitz with the best of them. I love this guy and he would certainly bring a lot to the Texan orginization.
3. Alan Faneca OG- Faneca is all but gone in Pittsburg. He will leave via free agency. Alan would give the Texans a superior leader on the O-Line. He would bring his Pro-Bowl ability to a young and inexperienced line and teach them how to win with technique and power. He's a leader on and off the field, not just by example but by letting players know when and where they made a mistake. He's a vocal leader, and he would be more than welcome in a Texan uniform. I know he is a little old, but he has a good 3-5 years left in him. If we should draft Jonathan Stewart I wouldn't want anybody else blowing up holes for him than Alan Faneca. He would be that presence that this team so despertly needs on offense.
4. Justin Smith DE- Justin Smith would give us a perfect compliment to Mario Williams. He has an outstanding motor and is as consistent as you could get at the defensive end position. He averages more than 70 tackles a year and around 8 sacks a year. Not highly productive in the pass rush but he is a try hard freak who loves the game of football and is one intense mofo. Justin Smith is coming into his own as a leader with the Bengals, but I feel he would do better with a group like the Texans. I believe he would be a major player playing along side guys like Okoye, Williams, and Johnson. Smith could give us a consistent player who isn't afraid to get in someone's face if they make a mistake.
5. Jared Allen DE- Jared Allen is an enigma. He was drafted in the 4th round but should have been drafted much, much higher. At least the 2nd, but because of off the field problems he has only hurt himself. He was also suspended for the first 2 games of the 2007 season. So his off-the-field behavior isn't exactly ideal. But what he lacks off the field he surely makes up for on it. To sum up Allen is to call him a serious pass rush monster. He is barely containable. Allen can sack any QB against any OT. It doesn't matter. He just seems to be one of those guys where the game of football just comes easy to him. Now, he wouldn't bring any leadership to Houston, but he would bring his production and playmaking ability. The Chiefs would be fools not to resign him, but Allen is a wild card and he might know that testing the market would bring him bigger dollars. Man...he would look good playing opposite Mario.
Well, that's my Texans 2008 off-season. You might have noticed that I didn't mention Asante Samuel in my free agency section. I did that for a reason. I don't want the Texans to get locked into a gigantic contract like the 49ers did with Nate Clements. Yes, Samuel is a terrific player, but he isn't worth $70-$80 million dollars. I also didn't mention any wide receivers in the draft section because I believe we are set at that postion, and to draft a WR high would be very irresponsible by the front office.
I truely believe that this off-season by the Texans is going to be huge for the future of what path this orginization takes. Are we going to be a yearly contender or are we going to be a mediocre team or worse, a bottom feeder? I think that the draft picks of the past two years have been excellent and I truely believe that the Houston Texans are on the right path, but we now need to continue are ascent into the level of a playoff caliber orginization.
What do you think?
I'll first start off with the draft. This is never cut and dry but as of right now I think that our two biggest needs are safety and RB.
So in the 1rst round I suggest:
1a. Kenny Phillips (SS/FS- Miami)
1b. Jonathan Stewart (RB- Oregon)
Phillips is perfect for us. He can play either the strong or free safety spot and he's a tough ball hawk who can fill the gaps on the run with power and will. He's an excellent tackler and he has terrific hands. Phillips hasn't produced as expected but his lack of production can be our gain. He was projected at the beginning of the year as a top 6 player, now he's a borderline top 10. That's within our range.
Stewart on the other hand would give us a power back with the speed and cut back ability to play in the zone blocking that the Texans employ. Just to ask you guys. Have you seen this kid play? He's fantastic. Big, around 6'0 225lbs. and very fast. I bet he runs in the 4.4's. Stewart is also the Ducks KR. Not bad for a 230lbs. player. He has excellent speed along with great agility and he isn't afraid of taking a hit. Stewart would start from day one and would be a ginormous upgrade and would fit in nicely with this team.
Our next pick would have to be depth. That means a CB or a DE. I know, I know. We have Robinson and Mario. But the opposite side of them is certaily some of the weaker spots on this team. Faggins is a total disgrace and wouldn't even be a nickel on some teams. As for Anthony Weaver, he couldn't have been a bigger dissapoitment. He was supposed to solidfy the left side but he hasn't. He was supposed to be a force against the run, but he hasn't, he was supposed to bring leadership over from a great Raven defense but he hasn't. It's time to cut our losses and move on.
So with the 2nd pick in the 2nd round (that's right, the only way to get a solid bada$s is to trade up back into the 2nd round).
2a. Antoine Cason (CB-Arizona)
2b. Lawrence Jackson (DE-USC)
Cason is a favorite of mine and could fall due to slow 40 times. Now the 40 times won't be aweful they'll just be in the 4.5's. Thats why he will most likely fall. The Texans need to jump up and trade what they need too to get him. Cason is a true playmaker in every sense of the word. Great hands for a CB, and his physical against the run. If you've seen any Arizona games very rarely does he get challenged. During the USC game, he was only thrown too a hand full of times and no TDs went against him. I love this kid and he and Dunta would be one of the best combo's in the league.
Jackson on the other hand is a player that has started from day one at Southern Cal. I like him alot. The attention he has received from opposing offensive lines has forced his production to lighten, but it has humbled and rededicated him to improve his game and work harder at his craft. Jackson is the kind of guy the Texans could use and he would bring a fiery personality along with him. He can play the run and rush the passer equaly and he brings it on every down. He might move back into the 1rst round, but if he should be in the 2nd and Cason isn't there, then the Texans need to grab him and start him right away.
As for the rest of the draft the Texans need to add depth. Depth in the offensive line and the secondary. Those two corps are usually hit the hardest with injuries from year to year. And there is no better way to counter those injuries than by having young players trying to prove that they belong.
I like a few players that the Texans should hopefully look at.
Offensive Lineman:
Jordan Grimes (OG-Purdue)
Will Arnold (OG-LSU)
John Sullivan (C-Notre Dame)
John Greco (OT-Toledo)
Tony Hills (OT-Texas)
King Dunlap (OT-Auburn)
Adam Kraus (OG- Michigan)
Secondary
Chevis Jackson (CB- LSU)
Dwight Lowery (CB- San Jose St.)
DJ Wolfe (DB- Oklahoma)
Quintin Demps (FS- UTEP)
Jonathan Hefney (FS- Tennessee)
Darien Williams (DB- Oklahoma)
Tom Zbikowski (SS- Notre Dame)
Craig Steltz (SS- LSU)
Jamar Adams (SS- Michigan)
Now that I talked about the draft, it's time to get to the free agent part of the off-season. This is kinda tricky because depending on who is resigned and who isn't we really don't know. But I'll assume that most don't and will hit the market. The Texans have a few dollars this year to spend. But free agency isn't a place where you want to fill your team. You just want to gain a couple of impact players who can be leaders and bring something to the table from day one.
Free Agents
1. Lance Briggs LB- Briggs can bring a ton to the table. Briggs is a high impact low risk player. He doesn't get hurt and he produces at Pro-Bowl levels. Also Briggs can bring his leadership and winning attitude to the Texans. I know we have Morlon Greenwood, but Morlon is no Lance Briggs. Greenwood can be moved to the strong side while we put Briggs on the weak side. Briggs would give us a big time playmaker to team up with our young, demon DeMeco Ryans to form one of the better duo's in the league. Lance would be a leader from day one. And I believe he would feel honored to be asked to help lead a young team along with DeMeco. Briggs has to be a priority come this off-season.
2. Karlos Dansby LB- Dansby will probably be signed by Arizona at some point, but if he isn't and the Texans aren't interested in Briggs, Dansby is a must signee. Karlos has played all three LB positions at some point in his young career with the Cards and has become super productive and has also shined in a relatively weak Cardinal defense. Karlos Dansby is only 26 years-old and would be entering his prime with the Texans. He would be able to play the strong side or the weak side. He has terrific size at 6'4 240lbs. and he can blitz with the best of them. I love this guy and he would certainly bring a lot to the Texan orginization.
3. Alan Faneca OG- Faneca is all but gone in Pittsburg. He will leave via free agency. Alan would give the Texans a superior leader on the O-Line. He would bring his Pro-Bowl ability to a young and inexperienced line and teach them how to win with technique and power. He's a leader on and off the field, not just by example but by letting players know when and where they made a mistake. He's a vocal leader, and he would be more than welcome in a Texan uniform. I know he is a little old, but he has a good 3-5 years left in him. If we should draft Jonathan Stewart I wouldn't want anybody else blowing up holes for him than Alan Faneca. He would be that presence that this team so despertly needs on offense.
4. Justin Smith DE- Justin Smith would give us a perfect compliment to Mario Williams. He has an outstanding motor and is as consistent as you could get at the defensive end position. He averages more than 70 tackles a year and around 8 sacks a year. Not highly productive in the pass rush but he is a try hard freak who loves the game of football and is one intense mofo. Justin Smith is coming into his own as a leader with the Bengals, but I feel he would do better with a group like the Texans. I believe he would be a major player playing along side guys like Okoye, Williams, and Johnson. Smith could give us a consistent player who isn't afraid to get in someone's face if they make a mistake.
5. Jared Allen DE- Jared Allen is an enigma. He was drafted in the 4th round but should have been drafted much, much higher. At least the 2nd, but because of off the field problems he has only hurt himself. He was also suspended for the first 2 games of the 2007 season. So his off-the-field behavior isn't exactly ideal. But what he lacks off the field he surely makes up for on it. To sum up Allen is to call him a serious pass rush monster. He is barely containable. Allen can sack any QB against any OT. It doesn't matter. He just seems to be one of those guys where the game of football just comes easy to him. Now, he wouldn't bring any leadership to Houston, but he would bring his production and playmaking ability. The Chiefs would be fools not to resign him, but Allen is a wild card and he might know that testing the market would bring him bigger dollars. Man...he would look good playing opposite Mario.
Well, that's my Texans 2008 off-season. You might have noticed that I didn't mention Asante Samuel in my free agency section. I did that for a reason. I don't want the Texans to get locked into a gigantic contract like the 49ers did with Nate Clements. Yes, Samuel is a terrific player, but he isn't worth $70-$80 million dollars. I also didn't mention any wide receivers in the draft section because I believe we are set at that postion, and to draft a WR high would be very irresponsible by the front office.
I truely believe that this off-season by the Texans is going to be huge for the future of what path this orginization takes. Are we going to be a yearly contender or are we going to be a mediocre team or worse, a bottom feeder? I think that the draft picks of the past two years have been excellent and I truely believe that the Houston Texans are on the right path, but we now need to continue are ascent into the level of a playoff caliber orginization.
What do you think?