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The #2 Reciever Spot

What do the Texans do?

  • Re-sign Corey Bradford

    Votes: 12 10.2%
  • Address the #2 spot in the draft

    Votes: 63 53.4%
  • Start Derick Armstrong

    Votes: 31 26.3%
  • Look for a quality free agent

    Votes: 12 10.2%

  • Total voters
    118

dagr8whitehope

Practice Squad
i think bradford was a very serviceable number 2 receiver, but at times his speed was a liability as he would outrun balls or overrun some routes. Gaffney has shown good hands and decent speed and just needs more of an opportunity to get some throws his way. By moving gaffney to the number 2 slot, we can then put armstrong in the slot and have good speed at all spots on the field. overall, Gaffney is the best option the texans have to play the 2nd spot opposite johnson. More balls gaffney's way would lead to a decrease in double teams on andre and a better overall offensive attack.
 
I would still be interested in bringing in David Boston, Yeah I know he has off the field problems, the steriod thing and, being hurt, and I know the 49'ers want him, but he is still an athletic freak that could be a good compliment to AJ.
 

texasguy346

Mod Squad
Well I voted for getting a #2 WR in the draft, but the option I'd rather have is a #2 WR by committee. Basically we'd switch Gaffney/Armstrong/Starling and/or whatever WR we grab from the draft. They each bring a unique trait to the table, and depending upon the situation they'd each make a good #2 WR. In a 3rd and long scenario a #2 WR that can stretch the field would be best (Starling/"Williamson"). In a 2nd or 3rd and short Gaffney might be a better #2 WR since he's very good at run blocking and running short precise routes. Armstrong seems to have a good combination of great hands and good speed, and he might eventually be the true #2 WR. However, it may take him more time to develop into a consistant deep threat.
 

TEXANS84

Moderator
Staff member
The only thing that worries me about putting Gaffney at the #2 spot, is that he doesn't have lightning speed to spread an offense. Bradford was extremely fast, yet most of the defensive secondary's that we faced were still rolling their safteys to Johnson's side.
Whomever takes that #2 spot, needs to have excellent speed to where Johnson isn't getting double teamed all the time.
 

TEXANS84

Moderator
Staff member
Fiddy said:
So why isnt Gaffney an option????
Gaffney would be assumed to roll into the #2 spot with Derick Armstrong starting. Thats why I didn't post him.
 

Fiddy

All Pro
TEXANS84 said:
Gaffney would be assumed to roll into the #2 spot with Derick Armstrong starting. Thats why I didn't post him.
Oh ok.

TEXANS84 said:
The only thing that worries me about putting Gaffney at the #2 spot, is that he doesn't have lightning speed to spread an offense. Bradford was extremely fast, yet most of the defensive secondary's that we faced were still rolling their safteys to Johnson's side.
Whomever takes that #2 spot, needs to have excellent speed to where Johnson isn't getting double teamed all the time.
Gaff, even without lighting speed, led the team last year in yards per catch (around 15) and had the longest play from scrimmage (vs. Bears, around 65 yards)
 

z0rpAn

Waterboy
I say we use our #13 pick on a good quality WR, unless there are already 5 taken before us leaving us with just a bundle of players to pick from. It would be wise in which we wouldn't have to pay the player very much for the first season and that would be a nice advantage to have.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
LikeABoss said:
I think it's gonna be addressed in the later rounds through the draft.
Quite the optimist. So a 2nd day guy is going to come in and beat Gaffney, Armstrong, Thomas and Starling out and perform better than Bradford so teams role coverage away from AJ? Somehow that doesn't seem real likely.
 

El Tejano

Hall of Fame
Fiddy said:
Oh ok.

Gaff, even without lighting speed, led the team last year in yards per catch (around 15) and had the longest play from scrimmage (vs. Bears, around 65 yards)
I think that is why Gaff needs to stay a 3 because he worked very well in the slot. Whenever I think of Armstrong, I think of the game against Minn last year. That guy did stretch the field and many times our offense clicked when he was in our 4 WR set.

I still believe that better play from the TE position can do wonders for our offense and Andre.
 
El Tejano said:
I think that is why Gaff needs to stay a 3 because he worked very well in the slot. Whenever I think of Armstrong, I think of the game against Minn last year. That guy did stretch the field and many times our offense clicked when he was in our 4 WR set.

I still believe that better play from the TE position can do wonders for our offense and Andre.

I agree with that...if the TE position had better play (IE 2002 version of Billy Miller :heh:) the offense would be alot better than 'Dre would be even more dangerous.

Personally, I think we draft Williamson @ #13 (or where ever we're picking)
 

Hervoyel

BUENO!
For now, I say you re-sign Corey Bradford at a very reasonable price to a 1 year deal. He's going to want to work in 2005 and "audition" for the payday he thought he was going to get this year. You give him and Armstrong the #2 spot to compete for and may the best man win.

I say this because frankly I think Armstrong can win that spot but Corey coming into the 4 wideout sets with something to prove is a scary thought for defenses and a real weapon for the Texans offense. I also say this because I'd like to see the Texans spend their first day picks working on the defense again for the most part.

The Texans are generally a patient bunch and I believe they'll give Armstrong all the opportunity in the world to win that 2 spot. If not Bradford is a very good backup plan. If you have to use that backup plan then you grab your #2 next year in the first round.
 

ledzeppelin229

Hall of Fame
If we're moving towards more timing routes I think Gaffney can do fine in the #2 spot. And like what was said above, Starling or Thomas have a much better chance at moving into #2 than any 2nd day drafted player.

The argument that Gaffney can't do it because of his speed but Armstrong can doesn't really hold water since I don't think Armstrong's speed is any better than Gaffney's.
 

Grid

All Pro
I still think we can function with Armstrong at #2.

A #2 receiver doesnt have to stretch the field to keep Johnson from getting double teamed. If all he does is get open and make catches.. he will force defenses to consider him.. and not just Johnson. I think Bradford's inability to get open and make clutch catches hurt us alot more than his speed helped us.

And if there is one thing that Armstrong is good at.. its getting open and making the catch.

my 2 cents
 

vtech9

All Pro
I'm torn on this one...I think Armstrong should be in the game, either as the #2 or in the slot. I like Gaffney, but I like Armstrong more and think that Armstrong has more potential of the two. No matter which way the Texans go, I think the Texans will go after a WR in the 2nd or 3rd to compete.
 

TEXANS84

Moderator
Staff member
vtech9 said:
I'm torn on this one...I think Armstrong should be in the game, either as the #2 or in the slot. I like Gaffney, but I like Armstrong more and think that Armstrong has more potential of the two. No matter which way the Texans go, I think the Texans will go after a WR in the 2nd or 3rd to compete.
I'm going to have to agree with you on this one. But, does Armstrong pose the threat for a defense to spread coverage around...or do they continue to roll people over to Johnson's side?
That is the question the Texans need to adress. And if they believe Armstrong can do it, then I'm all for it. Gaffney to me is more of a slot reciever...and he's got good hands...but he can't spread a defense out.
I doubt the Texans will go after a reciever with the #13 pick, but if they did, Troy Williamson is the ideal fit.
 
I agree with Grid that a #2 WR doesn't have to have blazing speed to take pressure off of Johnson, they just need to be able to get open and catch the ball. However, I think Gaffney could be that #2 guy because he does run good routes and has good hands. Whoever the #2 WR is, it won't matter if Carr doesn't have the patience and/or the time to make his progressions from primary WR to secondary WR on the various routes.

Also, forcing the defense to account for a TE would also help take pressure off Johnson.
 
im all for drafting matt jones in the second. the guy is bigger and faster than aj, and has better hands than aj when he came out. i am in NO WAY saing he is better than aj, just saying physicly he is a freak, compares to aj and antwan randel el. he is still a project but my perfect draft for the first few rounds would go like this:
trade down w/philly for their 31 and 35
31: david bass
35: matt jones
our second: antonio perkins
3a: kevin burnett
3b: Luis Castillo
4: Boomer Grigsby
bpa all the way from here.
back to the original question, i would prefer we draft a wr to compliment aj, and im all for matt jones. if you go to the draft part of this board there is a lot of stuff on matt jones. at his pro day we were one of only a few teams there including tenn. but we had our off. cordinator there.
 

Civil

Practice Squad
I voted for starting Armstrong cause we share the same birthday. :cool:

Long term I would like to see another physical WR (like Johnson) brought in via free agency or addressed in the draft. I also agree that the TE should be utilized alot more. Hopefully Joppru will be healthy. heh
 

UberDork

Waterboy
YoungTexanFan said:
3a: kevin burnett
3b: Luis Castillo
No way those guys are there. If they fell that far I would scream like a girl.

Back on topic, I would like us to get a burner who could cover kick return duties as well. Maybe in the 2nd or 3rd rounds.
 

THEFUTURE

Rookie
for a couple months i have pushed for Mike Williams, but now after reading about this kid, Troy Williamson out of South Carolina sounds like a very smart move, blazing speed with a 4.37 40, and is good in the red zone, i havent heard to many knocks on him
 

THEFUTURE

Rookie
i think gaffney is stuck as the 3 no matter what, its either armstrong or were picking up someone in the draft, gaffney is to good at picking apart zones, and struggles with man coverage
 

TEXANS84

Moderator
Staff member
THEFUTURE said:
Troy Williamson out of South Carolina sounds like a very smart move, blazing speed with a 4.37 40
That can spread an offense....and after some research, Jabar ran a 4.5 40.
 

THEFUTURE

Rookie
good to know, its not like a 4.5 is bad, but williamson is faster and had a knack for making plays in the red zone, which we want from our 2 receiver
 

Fiddy

All Pro
Williamson ran a 4.37
Gaff ran a 4.5

So, theoretically, Williamson will be 45.7 yards downfield in 5 seconds (the best protection time possible) and Gaff will be 44.4 yards down the field. That's a big difference. :listening
 

CoachJim

Waterboy
I gotta believe that DArmstrong, given the reps consistantly could turn out to be our 2. Exactly what is his "knock" anyhow? I've seen this kid make circus catch after circus catch. I know he played some CFL ball & was killin' folks up there & while the CFL is not the NFL, IMHFO he seems like he'd blossum into what we need. Also on the TE thing, I'm like a lot of other people here by thinking that a solid TE could take some of the focus off of 'Dre. I'd LOVE to see BJoppru make some sort of impact this season. Wasn't he like an early 2nd rounder? Oh & on the David Boston thing someone mentioned earlier in this thread, don't even get me started on this clown. He freakin laid off practices cuz he got his nipples pierced & they hurt. Jeez-Louise, what a candy-***.
 

outofhnd

Rookie
I say its Gaff unless Armstrong has just a phenominal camp this year.

I think either of them would be great.

We don't need a blazing speed demon to break double coverage on andre, we just need a #2 reciever that catches the ball and moves the chains. Sooner or later the coverage will have to roll to that side of the field.

Carr would do better because this would establish a rhythmn instead of trying to air it out to some speedster. Bradford and Carr didn't connect on the bomb route a single time.

I like Armstrong more than Gaff potential wise but i havent seen enough of him to put him in the #2 at this point.

But gaff makes the catches & runs excellent routes. We have no real underneath recieving threat unless the TE position just explodes with Joppru or some Rookie this year.
 

LBblitz

Waterboy
I am with YoungTexanFan with Matt Jones at #2 and gaf vs. armstrong for the slot postion. i personnaly like armstrong at the slot. :twocents:
 

Fiddy

All Pro
So, you are going to give Matt Jones the WR job??? The guy that didnt play a down at WR during his college career. And you are going to give Armstrong the slot while Gaff had a better season then him last year??? Makes perfect sense to me. :crazy:
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
I just saw Bradford on Fox 26 and he said that he probably won't sign anywhere until after the draft and the Texans, Lions, and Titans have all showed interest...I think if we don't get a guy in the draft, Bradford will get a 1 year deal to do what he does, which is, "To take a 5 yard pass and turn it into an 80 yard touchdown" to quote him directly...
 
personally i think Armstrong could make a good #2 guy for us, i mean he may not have GREAT speed but runs very good routes and always seems to get open, he also has very good hands. And defenses will take notice of that amd even though he may not be able to out run the ball down the field, his ability to get open will/should take some of the pressure off of Johnnson ! And i dont consider Gaffney because he is such a great slot reciever, and always comes through for us on 3rd downs !
 

outofhnd

Rookie
How many times has that happened? 3 times over the time spent here?

Well if Gaff moves in to the #2 why not put armstrong at slot im curious to see what the guy can do full-time. If he plays outstanding, then consider him as the number 2 guy.

Armstrong has some real good intangibles like field awareness, When he catches the ball its like he knows where the 1st down marker is and make sure he stretches or touches his feet on the sideline past the marker. I would like to see us give him a shot, It would suck if we didn't give him a full time job release him and he shines with Jacksonville or another division foe.

Id hate for us to bring back Bradford, he seems inept if the pass play doesnt involve him outrunning the coverage. Otherwise we would have thrown the hitch route his way as well as AJ's, I don't think we resign him unless we feel that Gaff and Armstong would have a hard time at that spot.

And just because Gaff is a great slot reciever don't doom him to play there the rest of his career, What if he does better at the #2 than he did in the slot? I say give to gaffney first, hes earned the shot at that position. then let Armstrong or whoever challenge him for it
 
D-ReK said:
I just saw Bradford on Fox 26 and he said that he probably won't sign anywhere until after the draft and the Texans, Lions, and Titans have all showed interest...
Sorry I'm off topic, but that is just crazy. His value goes down after the draft. Crazy I tell ya...


I'm not sure what WILL happen, or even what would be best, but I think the Texans look at Troy in the draft (assuming Williams is gone, and knowing Edwards will be gone), since the rumor of developing the Oline already in house has been put out there.
 

LikeABoss

Rookie
infantrycak said:
Quite the optimist. So a 2nd day guy is going to come in and beat Gaffney, Armstrong, Thomas and Starling out and perform better than Bradford so teams role coverage away from AJ? Somehow that doesn't seem real likely.
Hell, I don't know :shrug:

I still think the F.O. will draft a WR in the later rounds though.

And we will never know if a rookie WR can come in and make an immediate impact to this team because it will be completely up to that player.

We are only spectators, but some people tend to forget that sometimes :rolleyes:
 
outofhnd said:
How many times has that happened? 3 times over the time spent here?

Well if Gaff moves in to the #2 why not put armstrong at slot im curious to see what the guy can do full-time. If he plays outstanding, then consider him as the number 2 guy.

Armstrong has some real good intangibles like field awareness, When he catches the ball its like he knows where the 1st down marker is and make sure he stretches or touches his feet on the sideline past the marker. I would like to see us give him a shot, It would suck if we didn't give him a full time job release him and he shines with Jacksonville or another division foe.

Id hate for us to bring back Bradford, he seems inept if the pass play doesnt involve him outrunning the coverage. Otherwise we would have thrown the hitch route his way as well as AJ's, I don't think we resign him unless we feel that Gaff and Armstong would have a hard time at that spot.

And just because Gaff is a great slot reciever don't doom him to play there the rest of his career, What if he does better at the #2 than he did in the slot? I say give to gaffney first, hes earned the shot at that position. then let Armstrong or whoever challenge him for it

only thing i'll miss about bradford is his speed, but its not like our o-line ever really gives carr enough time to let bradford beat the secondary so we can get him the long ball, because them type of AIR IT OUT PLAYS take more than a 3 step drop and carr dont have the privledge of having the kinda time needed to give bradford the long ball !
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
D-ReK said:
I just saw Bradford on Fox 26 and he said that he probably won't sign anywhere until after the draft and the Texans, Lions, and Titans have all showed interest...
Wow, I just realized how horrible my verbage was here...My apologies, guys...Anyway, I think what's going on (pure speculation alert) is that the offers he has received were all in the same ballpark, so he wants to see which teams take a receiver high in the draft, that way he'll be able to go where he gets the most PT...Either that or there aren't any offers on the table :hmmm: ...
 

outofhnd

Rookie
I would say it is the latter option with a lot of WR available in the draft alot if teams have not really looked at FA WR. business will pick up after the Draft.
 

michaelm

vox nihili
El Tejano said:
I still believe that better play from the TE position can do wonders for our offense and Andre.
DITTO

I mentioned the same thing in an earlier post and got not a single response to it, like it was considered too silly of a notion or something. I am on the verge of thinking that TE play could be the area that provides the biggest improvement to our offense as a whole. It seems to be one of the areas where the largest improvement by position could be realized.
 
michaelm said:
DITTO

I mentioned the same thing in an earlier post and got not a single response to it, like it was considered too silly of a notion or something. I am on the verge of thinking that TE play could be the area that provides the biggest improvement to our offense as a whole. It seems to be one of the areas where the largest improvement by position could be realized.

its not like billy miller cant get the job done catching the ball as a TE. It just seems to me that TE in our passing game were not existent, maybe the coaches game calling our maybe it was Carrs lack of finding them in the passing gmae, but Miller showed he could get the job done in 2002. BUT he is not to good at blocking and thats what we need is a TE who can block and catch !
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
The reason we didn't see Miller on the field much last year is becuase he's one-dimensional and evertime he's in the game, the opposing team knows a pass is coming, and can adjust their defense accordingly...
 

TEXANS84

Moderator
Staff member
Fiddy said:
Williamson ran a 4.37
Gaff ran a 4.5

So, theoretically, Williamson will be 45.7 yards downfield in 5 seconds (the best protection time possible) and Gaff will be 44.4 yards down the field. That's a big difference. :listening
Yes, over 3 feet is a big difference.
 

scourge

Digression King
TEXANS84 said:
Yes, over 3 feet is a big difference.
agreed... remember, football is a game of inches and someone who can give you 36 inches more than Gaffney on a given play is worth it.

And I too also think that Matt Jones would make an immediate impact on our team, whether he started off @ #2 or the slot. :twocents:
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
TO only had 35 catches his rookie year and Gaffney only had 41 (his career high), and for every Anquan Boldin, there is a guy like Reggie Williams, Josh Reed, or even Pro Bowler Javon Walker who struggle through their rookie season...
 
D-ReK said:
TO only had 35 catches his rookie year and Gaffney only had 41 (his career high), and for every Anquan Boldin, there is a guy like Reggie Williams, Josh Reed, or even Pro Bowler Javon Walker who struggle through their rookie season...

well you can still hardly say that most rookie WR dont come in and make an impact,,,i mean sure some do more than others, but a majority of first round players taken make an impact (or atleast start) thats usually why the sorry teams (teams wih needs) get them cause they have a need or weakness at the position !
 
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