Derrell Smith, a linebacker on the Texans’ practice squad in 2011, is moving to FB

[alphajoker]

Meh, it's offseason news.

http://blog.houstontexans.com/2012/0...r-to-fullback/

[The Pencil Neck]

Well, at least it's something new.

[NitroGSXR]

[alphajoker]

Originally Posted by NitroGSXR

lmao...awesome

[Rey]

Interesting.

I'm still thinking we could bring in a vet fb late like we did with vickers.

I'm still kinda upset we didn't get Diehl and he ended up with the steelers.

[Allstar]

More interesting to me is that Casey is ahead of Graham on the TE depth chart. I figured as much, Kubes just confirmed it.

“He’s going to play everywhere,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said on Monday at the Texans Charity Golf Classic presented by Verizon. "He's our starting fullback today; he's our starting Tiger today if we go to two tights (tight ends), so James is going to play all over the place. It’s still about versatility with James, so that really hasn’t changed.”

[rmartin65]

Originally Posted by NitroGSXR

This may have to become my new avatar... awesomeness.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by Allstar

More interesting to me is that Casey is ahead of Graham on the TE depth chart. I figured as much, Kubes just confirmed it.

“He’s going to play everywhere,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said on Monday at the Texans Charity Golf Classic presented by Verizon. “He’s our starting fullback today; he’s our starting Tiger today if we go to two tights (tight ends), so James is going to play all over the place. It’s still about versatility with James, so that really hasn’t changed.”

Damn. Looks like Casey will be playing a lot.

[Allstar]

Originally Posted by Rey

Damn. Looks like Casey will be playing a lot.

Which I hope is a good thing...

[Rey]

I think the texans might end up doing something unorthodox with the roster spots.

No "true" fb on the roster. Lots of tweener type guys. Third rb spot up for grabs.

[CloakNNNdagger]

It's interesting to see how HT.com lists him at 6'2" 232#, when at his pro day at Syracuse he was listed at 6' 244# and at the Combine at 6' 243#(where he was describe as having a "thick build"). These latter stats were called out at most all of his draft profiles. With those stats, he would definitely fall into a FB physique. He could have been made to reduce his weight when he joined the Texans, but I seriously doubt that he was made to lose 2" height...........at least, not very successfully.


BTW. He only managed 17 at the bench. Not so good for a potential FB. Maybe, the Texans have worked with him at that.

[Thorn]

Maybe they want a FB that doesn't do anything but block and make him concentrate on that. Not every FB can be as good as Vonta Leach, who probably spoiled us at that position. In all likely hood, we won't see another Vonta Leach for a long while.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Thorn

Maybe they want a FB that doesn't do anything but block and make him concentrate on that. Not every FB can be as good as Vonta Leach, who probably spoiled us at that position. In all likely hood, we won't see another Vonta Leach for a long while.

He's got to catch the damned football. Vickers costing us the Raiders game last year still sticks sideways in my throat.

[Thorn]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

He's got to catch the damned football. Vickers costing us the Raiders game last year still sticks sideways in my throat.

Yeah, that still pisses me off as well. Vickers is no Leach. Casey is the closet we have to an all around FB, but I guess they want him on TE this year.

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Texans tried to convert Jon Abbate from LB to FB in the past. Unfortunately, didn't work out. Hope, this one works out.

Go Texans!!!

[drs23]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

He's got to catch the damned football. Vickers costing us the Raiders game last year still sticks sideways in my throat.

Tell me. That happened just 20 or so yds from where my wife were sitting (the last play of the game was literally right in front of us). I'd been telling her all game that us not making first downs were going to cost us this game to an inferior team. When Vickers dropped that softball lob I came unglued! She was telling me I was going to get us thrown out. I told her if that's the case they'll have to clear the whole damned house!

We all know what happened after that and the final score.

Though I didn't get to meet GP and his bride I felt bad for them to have traveled that far, plane rides, rental car, pouring rain on the tailgate and alla that just to see that display.

Was not a good day for the Texans but am glad they were able to shake it.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by Thorn

Yeah, that still pisses me off as well. Vickers is no Leach. Casey is the closet we have to an all around FB, but I guess they want him on TE this year.

Casey is not a blocking FB in the mold of a Leach. No doubt, he is versatile. But he does not have that brute force needed at that position. He will not physically stand up to a full season if he is made to play that role even for 50% of the time. I have no doubt that repeatedly attempting to do what he is not built to do was what heavily contributed if not directly caused his season-ending pectoralis tear. If Kubiak insists on trying to prove himself right, he should prepare a padded rocking chair on the sideline to afford Casey a good and comfortable view of the field for at least part of the season.

[SteveSlaton20]

Originally Posted by Allstar

More interesting to me is that Casey is ahead of Graham on the TE depth chart. I figured as much, Kubes just confirmed it.

“He’s going to play everywhere,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said on Monday at the Texans Charity Golf Classic presented by Verizon. "He's our starting fullback today; he's our starting Tiger today if we go to two tights (tight ends), so James is going to play all over the place. It’s still about versatility with James, so that really hasn’t changed.”

why is this surprising? casey played TE his first two seasons, didn't play much though, and then moved down to FB the next(last season), even tho he played some TE last year. Graham only has one career catch compare to Casey's 32.

Casey is going to be exciting to watch next season.

[beerlover]

Is it just me or are the Texans thinking outside the box a whole lot recently.

[kiwitexansfan]

Originally Posted by beerlover

Is it just me or are the Texans thinking outside the box a whole lot recently.

Really? Nothing they haven't tried before.

John Abbate anyone?