RICK SMITH - Your up.

[Tailgate]

Is anyone else here eager to see how he performs this off season? Ok, stupid question. You do have to give the guy credit simply for what he accomplished during the season filling our never ending list of injury holes. He wasnt perfect... but overall, a job well done.

Looking back at what Casserly did to our franchise as a whole....simply getting rid of him alone is an improvement imo. I honestly think most of us here could have done a better job than him. He was a great salesman, and I bought it. I have though, been confused with whom was more responsible for our last draft. Take out the bush and VY equation please... and it was an outstanding one. I have to default it to Kubiaks presence.

Back to Smith. Its a crucial offseason for us. He MUST come thru for this franchise. Again, due to his hard work that paid off this reg season, I have GREAT TRUST in him heading into the offseason.

Now if I were Rick Smith. I think signing a top FA would set the tone for us this offseason. We have to eliminate as many holes as possible via starters BEFORE the draft. That said, of course there are many factors involved in landing a player...but a starting CB would be huge. I would then have no problem drafting a DE early in the draft. Pair two solid CBs, take the heat off a HEALTHY mario, anchored by pro bowler and possible defensive player of the year Demeco Ryans. THE HOUSE OF PAIN??? A tough tough D, with an offensive system past its rookie year. Thats a great situation with an offensive minded coach. I would use the rest of the picks on O, create depth and competition. Of course, many other factors... but that sounds like a decent blue print.

Bottom line... thing are going to interesting. I think we NOW have the GM/Coach we need to take us to the next level. Kubiak is another thread... but he is our man. How bad do the names Dom and Charlie sound about now??? Rick Smith... Your up.

[VY's Crib U Jus payn Rent]

I think we NOW have the GM/Coach we need to take us to the next level.

Your next level is from "laughing stock" of the NFL to "joke of a team"...

[kiwitexansfan]

Excited.... yes I am.

I think we did great last off season and if we can keep up that level of operations we will build a great franchise.

I must admit this year I am comfortable with what is going to happen, there is a level of trust that was absent in the Capers/Casserly era.

[TexanFan881]

I wish it was March now...I love the free agency period. I'm excited to see who we can get. And anyone we get (high profile or low profile), I'd watch out for, because after everyone Rick Smith's gotten so far has turned out so go, I'm going to be thinking that every signing is a great one.

[Texian]

I hope they don't go early and over pay. The teams who seem to do the best are ones that are patient and get good value for their dollar.

[run-david-run]

I think we need a FS more then anything on defense, followed by a linebacker and possibly a DLineman, depending on how Dalton, Maddox, TJ, Weaver and Babin play out. But the question remains...if AP is there at 8, do we pull the trigger?

[ledzeppelin229]

Originally Posted by run-david-run

I think we need a FS more then anything on defense, followed by a linebacker and possibly a DLineman, depending on how Dalton, Maddox, TJ, Weaver and Babin play out. But the question remains...if AP is there at 8, do we pull the trigger?

I think so...unless someone truly unexpected falls that they have rated higher. Once you get out of the top 8 prospects, it seems like value drops considerably. The real variable is whether Kubiak will take a RB that high.

[ATX]

Originally Posted by run-david-run

I think we need a FS more then anything on defense, followed by a linebacker and possibly a DLineman, depending on how Dalton, Maddox, TJ, Weaver and Babin play out. But the question remains...if AP is there at 8, do we pull the trigger?

I'd pull the trigger on that. I agree that we need a solid FS in the secondary, but guys like AP don't come around alot. Just my opinion, but AP reminds me of Terrell Davis in a way, but taller.

[Toro]

If Peterson does fall, Houston WILL and SHOULD take him. As mentioned, HB like Adrian Peterson don't come around often, and I think he'd be not only the perfect HB for this offense but he'd also be the defined face of the franchise.

Looking at the depth of the FS position in both Free Agency and in the draft, I have full confidence that Smith will fill this hole one way or the other. However, in the meantime I'm eagerly anticipating the draft and hoping that Peterson's the man.

[wolfscar]

We need to come up big this year in both Free Agency and the Draft, and I think we'll have a pretty good idea about where Rick Smith and Co are heading as a whole come April. We have some major holes to fill (CB, FS, OL, OLB, DT) but if they're careful, ambitious and a little creative then I think we can realistically fill all of them. I'm hoping we take care of CB and at least one OL in FA. And this draft is pretty strong in all the other spots.

And if we do draft a RB, I suspect it will be late - someone who's slipped under the radar or a Mike Bell type magic acquisition. I'll be surprised if we take AP. I like him a lot, but we have bigger problems and his hands aren't that great. I wouldn't be too upset though - he is pretty special.

[leachmtb]

Originally Posted by Toro

If Peterson does fall, Houston WILL and SHOULD take him. As mentioned, HB like Adrian Peterson don't come around often, and I think he'd be not only the perfect HB for this offense but he'd also be the defined face of the franchise.

Looking at the depth of the FS position in both Free Agency and in the draft, I have full confidence that Smith will fill this hole one way or the other. However, in the meantime I'm eagerly anticipating the draft and hoping that Peterson's the man.

I think that we often project what we want to happen rather than what should happen. Yeah, Adrian Peterson is a great player. So, if he ends up falling to #8, the value of our 8th pick is greatly increased. More than likely there will be many people contacting us to see about a trade adn thus, the competition will help us get a very good trade down. At this point, more picks in the first and second would be ideal than one seeming superstar. Especially since next years running back class is supposed to be better. I like Adrian Peterson as much as the next guy, and I sincerely hope that he falls to us. Mainly because it gives us a great situation to either draft him or IMO trade down and npick up some really good extra picks.

[coachdent]

Originally Posted by leachmtb

I think that we often project what we want to happen rather than what should happen. Yeah, Adrian Peterson is a great player. So, if he ends up falling to #8, the value of our 8th pick is greatly increased. More than likely there will be many people contacting us to see about a trade adn thus, the competition will help us get a very good trade down. At this point, more picks in the first and second would be ideal than one seeming superstar. Especially since next years running back class is supposed to be better. I like Adrian Peterson as much as the next guy, and I sincerely hope that he falls to us. Mainly because it gives us a great situation to either draft him or IMO trade down and npick up some really good extra picks.

If we go out and get Turner from San Diego, that eighth pick is that much easier to move and stockpile picks. Then the RB position is not an issue. We need a difference maker on our offense next year.

[old football fan]

I think if Peterson is not there at #8 we need to trade down and acquire some extra picks because we have alot of holes to fill and need depth at many positions. Rick Smith has done a great job this past season getting replacements for injured players but I don't expect him to hit a home run everytime he's at the plate.

[Trenches]

Originally Posted by coachdent

If we go out and get Turner from San Diego, that eighth pick is that much easier to move and stockpile picks. Then the RB position is not an issue. We need a difference maker on our offense next year.

If we go out and get Turner then the #8 pick is VERY easy because we wont have it!

They will put either a 1st or 1st&3rd round tender on him. That means those are the draft picks you give up to sign him. Makes no sense for a team picking high in the draft.

[valleytexfan]

Bottom line: I trust Rick Smith and Gary Kubiak...which is something I couldn't say for the previous regime.

[yourfavoritetexan42]

Originally Posted by valleytexfan

Bottom line: I trust Rick Smith and Gary Kubiak...which is something I couldn't say for the previous regime.

I agree. Put it this way, if we improve for next season as much as we did this past offseason. We will have 12 wins.

But yes this offseason is crucial, do we keep improving, or do we have one more setback and will it make us start from scratch...again...something we should have only done once.

[wrestler4life]

Originally Posted by yourfavoritetexan42

I agree. Put it this way, if we improve for next season as much as we did this past offseason. We will have 12 wins.

Wow. I think that is a little optimistic. I would believe in us chasing 7-9 or 8-8 if we have another good offseason.

[hadaad]

We were chasing 7-9 or 8-8 THIS year. We didn't catch it, but there were at least two VERY winnable games that we left on the table this year. And the defense was just attrocious the first three games. I don't think we'll win 12 games next year, but I don't think it's impossible.

[Please_Evolve]

Originally Posted by leachmtb

I think that we often project what we want to happen rather than what should happen. Yeah, Adrian Peterson is a great player. So, if he ends up falling to #8, the value of our 8th pick is greatly increased. More than likely there will be many people contacting us to see about a trade adn thus, the competition will help us get a very good trade down. At this point, more picks in the first and second would be ideal than one seeming superstar. Especially since next years running back class is supposed to be better. I like Adrian Peterson as much as the next guy, and I sincerely hope that he falls to us. Mainly because it gives us a great situation to either draft him or IMO trade down and npick up some really good extra picks.

perfectly said. i agree with it all.

[TheOgre]

He seemed to find solid players in the thin FA field during the season. I can't wait to see if he can do the same thing with "real" talent during the offseason and draft.