2008 NFL Free Agents. Bring your appetite, this is a buffet.

[Wolf]

sorry for the another thread. if this link is true, this is the best list I have found for restricted and unrestricted

http://blogs.chron.com/fanblogtexans...bring_you.html

Because so many have asked, I made some phone calls and this is the closest "official" number I could get from NFL sources. The Houston Texans have $22.91 million in cap room for 2008 and currently have 43 players under contract as of Saturday, Jan. 5., according to NFL sources and Sports Illustrated

we have 3 safeties unrestricted(hutchinsons,earl,demps) and one restricted (c.c. brown)

[TexanSam]

I think Jordan Gross is a right tackle, but I wonder if there's any chance that we can move Winston to LT and sign Gross to be our RT

[Specnatz]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

I think Jordan Gross is a right tackle, but I wonder if there's any chance that we can move Winston to LT and sign Gross to be our RT

Your kidding right?

[adam]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

I think Jordan Gross is a right tackle, but I wonder if there's any chance that we can move Winston to LT and sign Gross to be our RT

To have Gross starting anywhere on our offensive line would be a major failure on the part of our front office.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by adam

To have Gross starting anywhere on our offensive line would be a major failure on the part of our front office.

really? why? because they passed on him in the draft? or because he would simply fill a position that was already filled with Winston? if its the latter, I couldn't agree more.

we arent getting our 2008 LT in FA and we arent getting him in the draft. its that easy. you have to draft someone to groom as your LT and it doesnt happen overnight. I am sure the Texans brass are going to roll with Salaam, Spencer, and Black as their LT depth and try and draft a future starter in the 3rd round or later. Tony Hills out of UT could be had in the mid 2nd to mid 3rd round. If he is there when our 3rd Round pick comes, look for us to pick him up. He may not be ready to be an LT in 08 but with a little seasoning he could be a truly great professional. Maybe Baker will drop to #18 but that is the only scenario that I could see us taking a Tackle in the 1st Round. We need to draft another Cornerback with that pick or at least a gifted FS like Kenny Phillips.

At the end of the day though it wouldnt matter if we drafting Deion freaking Sanders at #18 as long as we have Richard Smith as our DC. It's just embarassing that they havent already fired that guy and no amount of talent will ever change the fact that he just plain sucks and has no balls.

[adam]

Originally Posted by adam

To have Gross starting anywhere on our offensive line would be a major failure on the part of our front office.

I'm sorry, I just had a major brain fart. I was thinking of Jordan Black. Haha. Either way, I don't think Winston is quite prepared to play LT.

[Dallas_Texan]

Forgive my ignorance, but I know nothing about those Centers. Are any of them other than Faine starter caliber Centers that would be an improvement?

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Second Honeymoon

you have to draft someone to groom as your LT and it doesnt happen overnight.

Tony Ugoh, Michael Roos, and Khalif Barnes would disagree that you even have to be a 1st rounder to contribute as a rookie.

[BSofA04]

I know he played RT in Pittsburgh but Max Starks is a beast (6'8" 330ish). I haven't really seen any film on the guy, but he has solid experience.

[STEEL BLUE TEXANS]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Tony Ugoh, Michael Roos, and Khalif Barnes would disagree that you even have to be a 1st rounder to contribute as a rookie.

Donald Penn, undrafted free agent rookie for the Bucs

[Chance_C]

Whatever we do, I don't want to move Winston to LT. We have the RT spot locked up (with Winston), let's do something to shore up the LT spot.

[Maddict5]

Originally Posted by Second Honeymoon

we arent getting our 2008 LT in FA and we arent getting him in the draft. its that easy. you have to draft someone to groom as your LT and it doesnt happen overnight. I am sure the Texans brass are going to roll with Salaam, Spencer, and Black as their LT depth and try and draft a future starter in the 3rd round or later. Tony Hills out of UT could be had in the mid 2nd to mid 3rd round. If he is there when our 3rd Round pick comes, look for us to pick him up. He may not be ready to be an LT in 08 but with a little seasoning he could be a truly great professional. Maybe Baker will drop to #18 but that is the only scenario that I could see us taking a Tackle in the 1st Round. We need to draft another Cornerback with that pick or at least a gifted FS like Kenny Phillips.

there will hopefully be a good tackle at #18...otah is quite a possibility- seems like a more highly touted, spencer clone...lots of non 1st rd guys contribute also

[painekiller]

One of the things I notice here on this board and others like it, Houston fans tend to overrate their local guys at the positions they play. They also do not want change of any kind of the local player.

It is a major sin to suggest Ryans play WILL, or Winston to be tried at LT. Both of these players played they positions in college to a very high level.

Now I am not advocating change just to change, but LT is one of the harder position to play in the NFL. Pitts and Winston both have played the position in the past and both guys current position historically are easy to find players to fill.

Now am I overrating Pitts as LT and Winston as a possible LT, guilty until proven wrong. And the only way to prove me wrong is to try either one of these guys at LT in an open practice or preseason game.

[tulexan]

What about Travelle Wharton?

[badboy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

One of the things I notice here on this board and others like it, Houston fans tend to overrate their local guys at the positions they play. They also do not want change of any kind of the local player.

It is a major sin to suggest Ryans play WILL, or Winston to be tried at LT. Both of these players played they positions in college to a very high level.

Now I am not advocating change just to change, but LT is one of the harder position to play in the NFL. Pitts and Winston both have played the position in the past and both guys current position historically are easy to find players to fill.

Now am I overrating Pitts as LT and Winston as a possible LT, guilty until proven wrong. And the only way to prove me wrong is to try either one of these guys at LT in an open practice or preseason game.

Head Coach Capers had the chance to move Pitts back to LT. Kubes had the same chance and also to move Winston to LT. Neither did. Must not be just a Houston fan thing. Oh, yeah. Former head coach Sherman probably could have moved Winston also. Just saying.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by adam

I'm sorry, I just had a major brain fart. I was thinking of Jordan Black. Haha. Either way, I don't think Winston is quite prepared to play LT.

nothing to apologize for but you were right in what you were thinking. I also dont think Winston should be moved to LT. Frankly, RT is practically just as important as LT nowadays and Eric has settled into that role quite nicely indeed. I think rolling with our LT depth as Salaam, Spencer, Black is satisfactory given the circumstances. You just can't go out and buy quality tackles like its wal-mart and expect instant results. If you suffer through a horrible season you can sometimes draft a guy who comes in immediately like Joe Thomas, Ogden, or Pace, but were drafting #18. The reality is that we need to look for the best player available, just like we did with drafting Okoye.

LT takes a good OL coach and a good prospect and a little patience. Hudson Hauck is unemployed currently and would make a good OL coach but I am sure he isn't as big a fan of the ZBS than Kubiak is. Almost every team uses it to some degree but I am sure hauck would rather just line the guys up and hit someone more than play zones and gaps. I don't care what blocking scheme they run, I just want points on the board and 21 sacks shows that things are improving.

We arent that far away and 7-3 outside of our division proves that to a great extent. Plug our real holes at RB, C, CB, legit OLB, and Safety and things could really change. LT is a often a process and we have an old guy 'holding the fort' till our young guy that we already drafted (spencer) can get back on the field. Other teams don't even have a viable LT. We have as many as 3 if you count Black. 21 sacks isn't great but for our franchise its awesome.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Tony Ugoh, Michael Roos, and Khalif Barnes would disagree that you even have to be a 1st rounder to contribute as a rookie.

exactly. some guys are able to make the transition faster than others and it doesnt matter where you are drafted. UDFAs come into this league every year and find a starting job somewhere.

at the end of the day the HC is going to do what its in the best interest of the team THAT year. if the player can play, he gets on the field. if he can't, you try and develop him into someone that can with coaching. Your best bet is to draft the guy you have as the BPA and to not reach on guys strictly out of a diagnosed position of weakness.

icak, I am still amazed at how well Ugoh did protecting Manning this year after Glenn pretty much threw the team under the bus by retiring. Amazed, but not surprised. It happens all the time and its done through coaching and leadership (manning). The players are all pretty much the same nowadays. Everyone is big and everyone is fast. Its how you are taught to use your abilities that is the biggest piece of the puzzle. Kubiak has shown that he can put pieces in place (even at LT) and move the football, now its up to our defensive 'brain trust' to do the same with the defensive side.

[TexansSeminole]

Originally Posted by Second Honeymoon

nothing to apologize for but you were right in what you were thinking. I also dont think Winston should be moved to LT. Frankly, RT is practically just as important as LT nowadays and Eric has settled into that role quite nicely indeed.

I agree, especially considering the defensive lineman in our division.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Second Honeymoon

nothing to apologize for but you were right in what you were thinking. I also dont think Winston should be moved to LT. Frankly, RT is practically just as important as LT nowadays and Eric has settled into that role quite nicely indeed. I think rolling with our LT depth as Salaam, Spencer, Black is satisfactory given the circumstances. You just can't go out and buy quality tackles like its wal-mart and expect instant results. If you suffer through a horrible season you can sometimes draft a guy who comes in immediately like Joe Thomas, Ogden, or Pace, but were drafting #18. The reality is that we need to look for the best player available, just like we did with drafting Okoye.

LT takes a good OL coach and a good prospect and a little patience. Hudson Hauck is unemployed currently and would make a good OL coach but I am sure he isn't as big a fan of the ZBS than Kubiak is. Almost every team uses it to some degree but I am sure hauck would rather just line the guys up and hit someone more than play zones and gaps. I don't care what blocking scheme they run, I just want points on the board and 21 sacks shows that things are improving.

We arent that far away and 7-3 outside of our division proves that to a great extent. Plug our real holes at RB, C, CB, legit OLB, and Safety and things could really change. LT is a process and we have an old guy 'holding the fort' till our young guy (spencer) can get back on the field. Other teams don't even have a viable LT. We have as many as 3 if you count Black. 21 sacks isn't great but for our franchise its awesome.

Uh, did not Charles Spencer start first game at LT? He was a third round selection. Also, all indications are that Spencer will be moved to RT or guard. If that occurs, you have another "year older and deeper in debt" player in Salaam and a "Who?" as back up.

Just curious as to how many times Texan ran over the right side this season?

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by badboy

Uh, did not Charles Spencer start first game at LT? He was a third round selection. Also, all indications are that Spencer will be moved to RT or guard. If that occurs, you have another "year older and deeper in debt" player in Salaam and a "Who?" as back up.

Just curious as to how many times Texan ran over the right side this season?

I am not saying to not draft a LT at #18. I am just saying that we shouldn't reach on a guy just because we think he could play LT for us. Thats all.

We need to find a long term solution at LT, no doubt and hopefully we have in Spencer or even perhaps Winston. I just feel that we have positions that are in more dire straits and don't even have a short term solution currently much less a long term solution. let's plug the holes first (Center, Corner, Safety, and better RB/OLBs)