Inside Slant

[TEXANS84]

Inside Slant
—There will be no shortage of options for the Texans at wide receiver during free agency and in the April draft.
The Texans have discussed adding an additional receiver to take some of the pressure off Pro Bowler Andre Johnson. Johnson was often neutralized by opponents who thought they could over commit to his side of the field because the Texans lacked another reliable deep threat.

The Texans are about $14 to $16 million under the salary cap for 2005, which should allow them some flexibility if they decide to explore signing a big-name free agent.

The list is star-studded with Pittsburgh's Plaxico Burress, Tennessee's Derrick Mason and Baltimore's Kevin Johnson set to become free agents and Washington's Laveranues Coles expected to be traded.

Johnson was drafted by Texans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer in 1999 when Palmer was the head coach in Cleveland.

Michigan's Braylon Edwards and former USC star Mike Williams are considered the top receivers in the draft.

The Texans feel if they can give fourth-year quarterback David Carr some more weapons their offense can be potential dangerous after showing remarkable improvement in 2004.

The team would like to retain Corey Bradford, who has burner-type speed but has split the No. 2 receiver duties with Jabar Gaffney the past two seasons. If Bradford were to return, it would have to be at a reduced price from the $5.25 million he made last season and in a lesser role.

NOTES, QUOTES

—Dunta Robinson and Aaron Glenn combined for 11 interceptions in 2004, tied with Seattle's Ken Lucas and Marcus Trufant for the most by a cornerback duo in the NFL.

—The Texans had 31 big pass plays of 25 or more yards in 2004, compared to 38 in the previous two seasons combined.

—Former Baylor coach Kevin Steele, Cary Gadette and Ted Gill, all of whom coached on Capers' staff at Carolina, have been mentioned as possible candidates to replace defensive line coach Todd Grantham. Grantham accepted the Browns' defensive coordinator job earlier this month.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've got to find a way to get past Indianapolis. We'll be looking for ways to do that in the offseason." — Texans coach Dom Capers on the AFC South division rival Colts, whom the Texans have yet to beat in six meetings.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

NEEDS/DRAFT PRIORITIES

1. Pass protection. The Texans must do a better job of shielding quarterback David Carr, who was sacked 49 times during 2004 and 140 times in the past three seasons. The Texans were preparing to make a run for left tackle Walter Jones until he signed a multi-year deal to remain with the Seahawks. Buffalo's Jonas Jennings would be a significant upgrade over incumbent Seth Wand. Otherwise, Florida State's Alex Barron and Oklahoma's Jammal Brown are considered the best tackles in the draft.

2. Cornerback. You can never have enough talented corners, especially with Indianapolis residing in the AFC South. Aaron Glenn will be 33 by the time the season starts and it's a deep draft at the position. Imagine getting another one like last year's first round pick Dunta Robinson. Having two terrific cover corners would allow the Texans to do a lot of things with their linebackers and safeties.

3. Wide receiver. Andre Johnson became a Pro Bowl receiver in 2004 but was often neutralized by opponents who thought they could over-commit to Johnson's side of the field because the Texans' lack another reliable deep threat. A free agent such as Jerry Porter (Oakland) or Plaxico Burress (Pittsburgh) would help, although neither will come cheap. Michigan's Braylon Edwards and former USC star Mike Williams are the top receivers in the draft.

Inside Slant

[Blake]

Carr is the franchise. He needs to be better protected. Id go for a LT.

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by DC_ROCK

Carr is the franchise. He needs to be better protected. Id go for a LT.

As the inside slant stated, the Offensive Line is the top priority. But Capers seems to believe that Wand is the next Boselli.
Hopefully he can prove us wrong, otherwise David will be staring at the opening in the roof again at Reliant.

[Vinny]

I've never ever seen Capers compare Wand to a Hall of Fame type player. That is just not accurate.

[LikeABoss]

I like the fact that they are considering bringing in another WR via free agency to go along side Andre

That would most definitely give Carr more weapons to make this offense an explosive offense when needed or called upon

[titan hater]

in order to pass the ball u gotta stay off your butt...dc needs an o line worthy of his talents. i think they should draft the ot from florida state. of course this may mean they would have too move up in the draft, but the kid is worth it...every time i saw fsu play he pancaked his nemisis...

[Grid]

Rob Petitti in the 3rd or 4th.

made a name for himself by shutting down Dwight Freeney in college.

[LikeABoss]

Originally Posted by titan hater

of course this may mean they would have too move up in the draft, but the kid is worth it...every time i saw fsu play he pancaked his nemisis...

Not too many teams believe Alex Barron is worth a top ten pick. So the Texans should be fine exactly where they're at. But I do like the sound of signing a free agent WR like Travis Taylor to team up with Andre and drafting Alex Barron with the 13th pick That would most definitely solidfy the offense

[Fiddy]

Originally Posted by Vinny

I've never ever seen Capers compare Wand to a Hall of Fame type player. That is just not accurate.

Yeah, I remember Caper's comparing their body types but he never said Wand was the next Boselli...

[texasguy346]

—Former Baylor coach Kevin Steele, Cary Gadette and Ted Gill, all of whom coached on Capers' staff at Carolina, have been mentioned as possible candidates to replace defensive line coach Todd Grantham. Grantham accepted the Browns' defensive coordinator job earlier this month.

Steele is a good guy, and he's one of the nicest coaches you'll meet. However, he's not the ideal guy I'd want coaching the D-Line. He doesn't really inspire his players, but if they just want him to coach techniques then Steele is a good pick.

[Grid]

He also said that Boselli checked wand out when we first drafted him and said he had awesome footwork and such.

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by Fiddy

Yeah, I remember Caper's comparing their body types but he never said Wand was the next Boselli...

Thanks Fiddy, I was mistaken. Yes, Capers compared Wand's body style to that of Boselli. Somehow I got those two crossed.

[THEFUTURE]

I have been preaching all along, take Mike Williams, last year he was a top 3 pick if he had been let into the draft, we should take him if the opportunity is there... we wont draft a OL, if we did, it would be pointless, no rookie linemen is going to be able to come in in his first year and have a big impact, a FA sure, maybe... not a rookie, especially when there is no standout OL in the draft... we draft a cornerback next year... or in later rounds this year

[keyfro]

personally as far as the draft is concerned i see there being 5 players that if one was there we could not pass on:

derrick johnson
alex barron
marcus spears
antrell rolle
braylon edwards

johnson will go to the browns more than likely
spears to the chargers
rolle to the skins
edwards to the vikes
and i see barron being a texan...replacing wand about half-way throughout the season and having a great rookie campaign

[texansfan88]

Rob Petitti is a BIG man...little slow on his feet..I don't want him...nice guy to talk to though

[rittenhouserobz]

What do you do with our project LT? Move him to LG and put Pitts at RG. I am sure the coaches have invested a great deal of time with Wand to this point to just give up on him. He was drafted in the 3rd round. Is there any chance that he would be traded for a comparable pick?
I think I could honestly be happy with several different players at the #13 spot .