Fox Sports on the Texans...

[drewmar74]

and the rest of the AFC South here:

Link

Their bit on the Texans:

Houston (8-8)

Looking back: The Texans didn't finish with a losing record for the first time in team history, which is a sure sign of progress. But ending .500 wasn't good enough to get Houston in the playoffs. The Texans had too many injuries in their secondary and an offense that fielded an anemic rushing attack.

Biggest need area — Cornerback: Dunta Robinson may not be returning from a serious leg injury until midseason and Von Hutchins could leave via free agency. Fred Barrett showed promise as a rookie, but the Texans could use another veteran on their roster.

Player/coach to watch — Quarterback Matt Schaub: He was a backup when acquired in a 2007 trade with Atlanta. Could Schaub be headed for that same fate with the Texans? Houston made a major financial investment in Schaub, but backup Sage Rosenfels was the team's best quarterback last season. The Texans seem unlikely to trade Rosenfels, which could lead to a pre-season showdown with Schaub for the starting spot.

Projected cap space — $16.3 million: Texans management says it will be prudent in free agency, which means the Texans may avoid another major mistake like last year's signing of running back Ahman Green to a four-year, $23 million contract. Green started only five games and has now missed 25 over the past three seasons because of leg injuries. Considering Houston's secondary issues, Hutchins should be the biggest priority to re-sign among Houston's 15 UFAs. Call it the Boselli curse: The Texans have yet to field a shut-down left tackle since the franchise began play in 2002 and would be wise to address the spot early in the draft.

2008 outlook — Fair: On paper, the AFC South seems likely to remain the conference's toughest division. That may make it tough on Houston to improve. However, the addition of offensive line guru Alex Gibbs to bolster Houston's ground game (ranked No. 22 in 2006) is significant.


Nothing too shocking other than this may be the first Texans write-up in history that a writer didn't slag too hard on the O-line.

[dtran04]

Who's this Barret guy?

[drewmar74]

Originally Posted by dtran04

Who's this Barret guy?

What, you don't have your Fred Barret jersey?

[Silver Oak]

arguable whether re-signing Hutchins is our biggest priority in the offseason, as well as SR being the better QB.

if Schaub doesn't take the two cheap shots (Florence and Haynesworth), he plays most of the season and finishes high in all stat categories as well as leading us to the 8-8 record.

[infantrycak]

This guys cap numbers are radically different than other folks.

Others/this guy

Texans $25 mil/$16
Indy $9 mil/-$5 mil
Jags $33 mil/$27
TN $41 mil/$31.6

Not entirely sure of his credibility or analysis.

[El Tejano]

I think he has the right to his opinion on Sage, the fact that he said we need help in the secondary and running game and really didn't point to our woes being the offensive line - I have to say this was probably the best and closest write up on The Texans that I've ever really seen.

He lost points on the Fred Barrett and saying that Von Hutchins is our primary concern to sign him. He could've helped himself if he made that Andre Davis instead.

[nunusguy]

" Quarterback Matt Schaub: He was a backup when acquired in a 2007 trade with Atlanta. Could Schaub be headed for that same fate with the Texans? Houston made a major financial investment in Schaub, but backup Sage Rosenfels was the team's best quarterback last season. The Texans seem unlikely to trade Rosenfels, which could lead to a pre-season showdown with Schaub for the starting spot."
******************************
How can anyone write an accurate/complete analysis of the situation with Schaub & the Texans while failing to even mention the injury issues ?

[eriadoc]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

" Quarterback Matt Schaub: He was a backup when acquired in a 2007 trade with Atlanta. Could Schaub be headed for that same fate with the Texans? Houston made a major financial investment in Schaub, but backup Sage Rosenfels was the team's best quarterback last season. The Texans seem unlikely to trade Rosenfels, which could lead to a pre-season showdown with Schaub for the starting spot."
******************************
How can anyone write an accurate/complete analysis of the situation with Schaub & the Texans while failing to even mention the injury issues ?

The guy does briefly mention injuries in the secondary, but obviously doesn't harp on it. Does he mention injuries in any more detail while talking about other teams? Every team in the NFL has to deal with injuries, so if this guy is reporting without focusing on injuries across the board, then I have no problem. IF Schaub had been healthy ... IF D-Rob hadn't gone down .... IF AJ hadn't been injured .... IF a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumped.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by eriadoc

The guy does briefly mention injuries in the secondary, but obviously doesn't harp on it. Does he mention injuries in any more detail while talking about other teams? Every team in the NFL has to deal with injuries, so if this guy is reporting without focusing on injuries across the board, then I have no problem. IF Schaub had been healthy ... IF D-Rob hadn't gone down .... IF AJ hadn't been injured .... IF a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumped.

Looking back: Indianapolis was the seventh Super Bowl champion in nine years that failed to defend its title. The Colts finished with the AFC's second-best record despite a slew of injuries, including those that sidelined such key players as defensive end Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Marvin Harrison. But the Colts also lost their biggest games at home against New England and San Diego, the latter of which ended Indianapolis' season.

[Texans Horror]

I still think that AJ's injury was the real killer last season, not Dunta's.

The positive side of the injuries is they brought to the foreground some good players, like Davis, Bennett, and Demps. Hopefully the Texans can retain all three and continue to build.

[eriadoc]

Originally Posted by drewmar74

and the rest of the AFC South here:

Link

Their bit on the Texans:

Houston (8-8)

Looking back: The Texans didn't finish with a losing record for the first time in team history, which is a sure sign of progress. But ending .500 wasn't good enough to get Houston in the playoffs. The Texans had too many injuries in their secondary and an offense that fielded an anemic rushing attack.

Biggest need area — Cornerback: Dunta Robinson may not be returning from a serious leg injury until midseason and Von Hutchins could leave via free agency. Fred Barrett showed promise as a rookie, but the Texans could use another veteran on their roster.

Player/coach to watch — Quarterback Matt Schaub: He was a backup when acquired in a 2007 trade with Atlanta. Could Schaub be headed for that same fate with the Texans? Houston made a major financial investment in Schaub, but backup Sage Rosenfels was the team's best quarterback last season. The Texans seem unlikely to trade Rosenfels, which could lead to a pre-season showdown with Schaub for the starting spot.

Projected cap space — $16.3 million: Texans management says it will be prudent in free agency, which means the Texans may avoid another major mistake like last year's signing of running back Ahman Green to a four-year, $23 million contract. Green started only five games and has now missed 25 over the past three seasons because of leg injuries. Considering Houston's secondary issues, Hutchins should be the biggest priority to re-sign among Houston's 15 UFAs. Call it the Boselli curse: The Texans have yet to field a shut-down left tackle since the franchise began play in 2002 and would be wise to address the spot early in the draft.

2008 outlook — Fair: On paper, the AFC South seems likely to remain the conference's toughest division. That may make it tough on Houston to improve. However, the addition of offensive line guru Alex Gibbs to bolster Houston's ground game (ranked No. 22 in 2006) is significant.

Comparable, I'd say. Maybe he didn't mention ALL the injuries, but it wasn't like he ignored them, either.

[Goldensilence]

Originally Posted by Texans Horror

I still think that AJ's injury was the real killer last season, not Dunta's.

The positive side of the injuries is they brought to the foreground some good players, like Davis, Bennett, and Demps. Hopefully the Texans can retain all three and continue to build.

Agreed. Aj's injury really hurt the offense and not just the passing game.

Still very much disagree with any mention of a QB showdown come camp time.

Capwise we're middle of the road but we'll keep smart on it and I believe we still have a few dead contracts?

AFC south isn't just the toughest in the conference. Toughest division on the NFL IMO.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Goldensilence

Still very much disagree with any mention of a QB showdown come camp time.

Agree--although we will have to suffer several threads of conjecture about it around here.

Capwise we're middle of the road but we'll keep smart on it and I believe we still have a few dead contracts?

The Texans are carrying $6.65 mil in dead money in 2008 right now. Folks that want to dump Weaver, Green, etc. need to keep in mind that will create more dead money this year for sure and if the June 1st mechanism is used, next year as well.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Folks that want to dump Weaver, Green, etc. need to keep in mind that will create more dead money this year for sure and if the June 1st mechanism is used, next year as well.

Yeah, but I'm concerned their injuries may be chronic. Even if the Texans are forced to place them on IR and keep them on the payroll due to cap reasons, I don't want these guys counted on to make the roster. The Texans need to plan around the probability that Weaver and Green won't contribute in 2008.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Agree--although we will have to suffer several threads of conjecture about it around here.



The Texans are carrying $6.65 mil in dead money in 2008 right now. Folks that want to dump Weaver, Green, etc. need to keep in mind that will create more dead money this year for sure and if the June 1st mechanism is used, next year as well.

According to everything I have seen Green's cap hit would actually be less if he was cut than would his payout for being kept on the roster. Whether or not he should be cut is another issue all-together though.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Yeah, but I'm concerned their injuries may be chronic. Even if the Texans are forced to place them on IR and keep them on the payroll due to cap reasons, I don't want these guys counted on to make the roster. The Texans need to plan around the probability that Weaver and Green won't contribute in 2008.

Agreed, I was just pointing out this is the dead money for the cuts that have already been made and additional cuts could result in more.

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

According to everything I have seen Green's cap hit would actually be less if he was cut than would his payout for being kept on the roster. Whether or not he should be cut is another issue all-together though.

Cap hit yes, but you still create dead money. Green's total cap hit for 2008 is $5.05. His remaining prorated bonus money is $3.75 mil. So if the Texans cut him they save cap room but don't free up the full cap hit. They do have the option of taking it all this year or making it a June 1st cut and spreading it over this year and next.

[swisher]

Originally Posted by drewmar74

Nothing too shocking other than this may be the first Texans write-up in history that a writer didn't slag too hard on the O-line.

It's also weird to read an entire write-up on the Texans and not see anything about Bush/Williams/Young. We've turned the page folks!

[Txn_in_Oki]

Originally Posted by Texans Horror

I still think that AJ's injury was the real killer last season, not Dunta's.

A cookie for you sir!!!

Where are my Texans if they have AJ all year? Sorry, I think we have at LEAST 2 more wins, maybe even a shot in the playoffs. All the hater can say and be as negative as they want. This team is an injury free season from being a player in this league. I'm very happy with where we are right now and it will only get better as we move along.

[DocBar]

Originally Posted by Txn_in_NC

A cookie for you sir!!!

Where are my Texans if they have AJ all year? Sorry, I think we have at LEAST 2 more wins, maybe even a shot in the playoffs. All the hater can say and be as negative as they want. This team is an injury free season from being a player in this league. I'm very happy with where we are right now and it will only get better as we move along.

A couple more good drafts will do a lot more for us than hoping we get lucky and the injury bug doesn't bite. With a better secondary, we could've won 3 or 4 more games. With a better center, we might have won another game. If we get better in our need areas, we will have tremendous depth if we can keep the guys starting for us now as reserves.

[aj.]

Green's dead money is easy to absorb - especially if it's done over two years. $1.25 this year and $2.5 next year. His cap hit could be as much as $5.75 this year - he has the potential to earn 700k in bonus money if through some miracle he stays healthy. 200k of that he's likely to get (off season workout bonus). The remaining 500k is called roster bonus but it's paid weekly in $31,250 installments if he's on the 45 man active list. I have my doubts that he'll earn much if any of the 500k. Actually, I expect him to be cut during one of the final cutdowns.

Weaver is more problematic.