Projected starters on defense...

[Astew10112]

DE-JJ Watt
(6'5 290)

NT- Earl Mitchell
(6'3 291)

DE- Antonio Smith
(6'4 275)

OLB/DE- Mario Williams
(6'6 285)

ILB- Brian Cushing
(6'3 259)

ILB- Demeco Ryans
(6'1 248)

OLB- Connor Barwin
(6'4 260)

CB- Kareem Jackson
(5'10 195)

CB- Johnathan Joseph
(5'11 190)

FS- Glover Quinn
(6'0 203)

SS- Danieal Manning
(5'11 202)

[DexmanC]

That can't be the Texans. The lineup you posted is an NFL-calibur defense.

[SAMURAITEXAN]

The lineup look so sweet!

Go Texans!!!

[steelbtexan]

Originally Posted by DexmanC

That can't be the Texans. The lineup you posted is an NFL-calibur defense.

If Ryans and Barwin can stay healthy,

Mitchell can play the nose at a decent level.

The DE's stay healthy. However if all of this comes together the Texans will be in the playoffs. Remember though the Texans finished 15th on defense in 2009, Schaub threw for 4800 yds and the Texans still didn't make the playoffs.

But it's a great day to be a Texans fan. BoB finally decided he wanted to sit at the big boys table.

[TheMatrix31]

Not much of a run game in 2009, though.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by steelbtexan

If Ryans and Barwin can stay healthy,

Mitchell can play the nose at a decent level.

The DE's stay healthy. However if all of this comes together the Texans will be in the playoffs. Remember though the Texans finished 15th on defense in 2009, Schaub threw for 4800 yds and the Texans still didn't make the playoffs.

But it's a great day to be a Texans fan. BoB finally decided he wanted to sit at the big boys table.

If something were to happen to Watt or Antonio, I wonder what their back-up plan is.

I hope it is to drop Mario to DE and move Reed or Anderson up to a starting spot.

[b0ng]

Originally Posted by DexmanC

That can't be the Texans. The lineup you posted is an NFL-calibur defense*.

*As long as JJ Watt pans out and the gigantic ? at NT isn't that big of a ? afterall

[Rey]

I think the only corner currently on the roster that may challenge Kareem for the starting spot is Allen with Harris not far behind.

I'm hoping we can sign Carlos Rogers. That lineup would be even sweeter.

[80tothezone]

Originally Posted by Astew10112

DE-JJ Watt
(6'5 290)

NT- Earl Mitchell
(6'3 291)

DE- Antonio Smith
(6'4 275)

OLB/DE- Mario Williams
(6'6 285)

ILB- Brian Cushing
(6'3 259)

ILB- Demeco Ryans
(6'1 248)

OLB- Connor Barwin
(6'4 260)

CB- Kareem Jackson
(5'10 195)

CB- Johnathan Joseph
(5'11 190)

FS- Glover Quinn
(6'0 203)

SS- Danieal Manning
(5'11 202)

[Corrosion]

I see not a single hole in the Texans top 11 defenders ..... That almost looks like an Allstar lineup .... Im praying to the good LORD above we dont have any significant injuries.


Joseph + Manning > Aso + nobody.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I see not a single hole in the Texans top 11 defenders ..... That almost looks like an Allstar lineup .... Im praying to the good LORD above we dont have any significant injuries.


Joseph + Manning > Aso + nobody.

Jackson an allstar?


No but really, with a small NT and a MLB coming off a major injury, I'm worried about teams killing us up the middle. We really need to take a look at a bigboy there to keep OG's off Demeco who is not a big guy anyway. Has anyone picked up Cullen Jenkins or Aubrayo Franklin yet?

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by mussop

Has anyone picked up Cullen Jenkins or Aubrayo Franklin yet?

No. And Brandon Mebane is still out there, too.

[bo orlando]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I see not a single hole in the Texans top 11 defenders ..... That almost looks like an Allstar lineup .... Im praying to the good LORD above we dont have any significant injuries.


Joseph + Manning > Aso + nobody.

Major hole at CB2. Unproven and possibly undersized DT. ILB and (unproven) OLB coming off major injuries. FS and other OLB switching positions. Rookie DE. Everybody switching to a new scheme.

Realistically, Joseph, Manning, and A Smith are the only ones without question marks. A top 15 defense would be a huge accomplishment IMO.

[SteveSlaton20]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I see not a single hole in the Texans top 11 defenders ..... That almost looks like an Allstar lineup .... Im praying to the good LORD above we dont have any significant injuries.


Joseph + Manning > Aso + nobody.

lol, not a chance.

Aso + Huff > Joseph + Manning

[LikeMike]

Originally Posted by SteveSlaton20

lol, not a chance.

Aso + Huff > Joseph + Manning

Yeah... but Huff ain`t nobody .

The only thing that bugs me is, that the Eagles got Aso relatively cheap (12 million per year) while we got JJ a little over his market value (almost 10 million a year) - the difference is too small to be absolutely thrilled.

But then again - I am thrilled. This offseason the defense changed almost completely. New coordinator, new system and a whole bunch of new starters.

I´m pretty sure that our #2 CB will be at least serviceable - whether it is Allen or KJax (he should`ve learned something after his first year and now with good coaching) - heck maybe even Harris surprises some people.

But in the end - having a mediocre defense should do a whole lot for this football team. I just have this nagging feeling, that our O-Line will suck next year...

[bo orlando]

Originally Posted by LikeMike

Yeah... but Huff ain`t nobody .

The only thing that bugs me is, that the Eagles got Aso relatively cheap (12 million per year) while we got JJ a little over his market value (almost 10 million a year) - the difference is too small to be absolutely thrilled.

But then again - I am thrilled. This offseason the defense changed almost completely. New coordinator, new system and a whole bunch of new starters.

I´m pretty sure that our #2 CB will be at least serviceable - whether it is Allen or KJax (he should`ve learned something after his first year and now with good coaching) - heck maybe even Harris surprises some people.

But in the end - having a mediocre defense should do a whole lot for this football team. I just have this nagging feeling, that our O-Line will suck next year...

I think people are underestimating how much Asomugha's age factored into things, particularly coming off a somewhat injury-plagued season. If he was 27 like Joseph you could have given him a blank check.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by LikeMike

The only thing that bugs me is, that the Eagles got Aso relatively cheap (12 million per year) while we got JJ a little over his market value (almost 10 million a year) - the difference is too small to be absolutely thrilled.

What is the going rate for a starting CB in this league?

We paid Dunta Robinson almost $10M when we franchised him two years back. That is the average salary of the 5 highest paid CBs in the league.

Question... is Johnathan Joseph a top 5 cornerback in this league?
-maybe not

Dunta got $9.75M last year. I think Joseph is better than Dunta.

I wonder what Ike Taylor got. I would imagine less, but not by much.

Originally Posted by Astew10112

DE-JJ Watt
(6'5 290)

NT- Earl Mitchell
(6'3 291)

DE- Antonio Smith
(6'4 275)

OLB/DE- Mario Williams
(6'6 285)

ILB- Brian Cushing
(6'3 259)

ILB- Demeco Ryans
(6'1 248)

OLB- Connor Barwin
(6'4 260)

CB- Kareem Jackson
(5'10 195)

CB- Johnathan Joseph
(5'11 190)

FS- Glover Quinn
(6'0 203)

SS- Danieal Manning
(5'11 202)

This will probably be it but I would like to see Barwin at DE instead of Smith and Reed in at OLB.

[Wolf6151]

The only problem I see with that lineup is Earl Mitchell at NT, 291 lbs. is awfully light for a NT and makes us weak in the middle and susceptible to the run. I'm thinking Shawn Cody starts at NT or we go after a NT in FA.

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by Wolf6151

The only problem I see with that lineup is Earl Mitchell at NT, 291 lbs. is awfully light for a NT and makes us weak in the middle and susceptible to the run. I'm thinking Shawn Cody starts at NT or we go after a NT in FA.

This. I think Cody starts at NT, with Earl being a pass rush type guy. The one thing about having a smallish nose is we have a pretty big front other than that. With Mario (290ish) and Reed/Barwin (260+) and Cushing at MLB(265) that's a big LB group that can help shore up the front 7. Also, ability means a little more than size, IMO. Football ability goes farther than just being a fat guy.