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Texans bring in veteran CB Deltha O'Neal/SIGNED

blitz90

blitz90

jock strap
Richard Justice tweeted this earlier:

Texans are bringing in several CBs for tryouts, including former Bronco and Patriot Delta O'Neal.
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mods: can you fix the title please? mispelled O'Neal
 
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Bring him in and let him compete, it can't hurt. I don't know his statistics, but I do know the name. Hopefully it's familiar to me because he was a good player, not for some other reason.
 
Looks like CB Jason Webster is being brought in as well

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6561454.html

The Texans are bringing in veteran cornerbacks Deltha O'Neal and Jason Webster for tryouts on Thursday.

Because of the injuries to Jacques Reeves and Antwaun Molden and Dunta Robinson's absence, the Texans are shorthanded at cornerback.

O'Neal and Webster are veterans who have played with multiple teams.

General manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak are familiar with O'Neal, who played in Denver when they were with the Broncos.

Webster is a native of the Houston area, having attended Willowridge High School and Texas A&M.
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He had one very good year (10 picks) with the Bengals a few years ago. Other than that.....eh, he'll take some reps
 
This might because Reevs has a broken leg and is going to be out for six to eight weeks.
 
From what I have seen/remember, he is a decent journeyman type with experience. He isn't going to set the world on fire, but in a pinch he'll do.
 
Blessing in disguise?!?:thinking:
It would be cool to have a random guy come in and fit into the system and all of our DB troubles be over!
Like I always say "random is good"
 
From what I remember of his career with the Broncos he was a hell of an athlete with limited experience coming out of college. Not 100% sure but I think he also spent some time trying out as a WR in Denver before they settled on him at CB. In Denver/Cincy he was a "big play CB" meaning he was either gonna get the INT or the WR was gonna get the TD.

Maybe 9 years in the league has helped him understand the game a little more and now he takes less chances? Hopefully not at the detriment of his athleticism though...

At worst he's a good bandaid until Reeves/Dunta come back and one gets up to speed.

At best he's a solid starting CB that is capable of forcing some much needed turnovers for us.
 
I think O'neal is a safe pick. He is a good veteran CB that does make plays. He's up there in age but he can take care of business for the time we need him to and teach the young guys. That is a good thing too because Reeves was our veteran CB and that really isn't much in terms of the young CBs learning a whole lot.
 
blitz90 said:
Dunta needs to cut the bullsh*t and get in here!
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Dunta sucks as a CB.

We're much better off going with Deltha O'Neal & Bennett.

Reeves would then be fighting with Bennett for a starting spot.

That's how bad the CB situation is & has been here in Houston.
 
Bennett and Quinn will be the starters game 1 and McCain the nickle. At least until Reeves returns. Dunta who? I am really hoping another team offers a 2nd round for DR.
 
thunderkyss said:
Dunta sucks as a CB.

We're much better off going with Deltha O'Neal & Bennett.

Reeves would then be fighting with Bennett for a starting spot.

That's how bad the CB situation is & has been here in Houston.
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So you're saying O'Neal is better than Dunta, Reeves and Bennett? :spit:

Good ol' TK!
 
badboy said:
Bennett and Quinn will be the starters game 1 and McCain the nickle. At least until Reeves returns. Dunta who? I am really hoping another team offers a 2nd round for DR.
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Sometimes I wish I had what you're smoking.

Based off the signing of Reeves last year this team doesn't want to start a rookie at CB. I said last night we'd bring ina vet for reps and voila. I did kind of think Deltha O'Neal would be a good fit for what we're looking for. If the guy isn't above getting coached by Gibbs and Rhodes he could give us a much needed lift at Cb while the rooks learn.

Only way we can get a second rounder for Dunta is still only if he signs the one year franchise tag. He still has zero leverage, nothing in Reeves injury changed that, unless he's really willing to sit out all year and wait til it expires(if i remember right aynway). Which is just dumb in multiple ways.

I think it'll go down like this: seeing Reeves get injured reminded Dunta it's always a possibility going into TC and Preseason. He'll hold out of camp and likely until the 3rd or fourth game of preseason. He'll sign the tender deal and work out two weeks or so then we'll start the season with him at nickle.
 
Goldensilence said:
Sometimes I wish I had what you're smoking. Sorry, don't smoke anything.

Based off the signing of Reeves last year this team doesn't want to start a rookie at CB. I said last night we'd bring ina vet for reps and voila. I did kind of think Deltha O'Neal would be a good fit for what we're looking for. If the guy isn't above getting coached by Gibbs and Rhodes he could give us a much needed lift at Cb while the rooks learn. Bennett started as a rookie & Reeves was brought in as a good fit for our D. He had a good season. Gibbs in paper recently as starting 3 rookies at CB with prior team.

Only way we can get a second rounder for Dunta is still only if he signs the one year franchise tag. He still has zero leverage, nothing in Reeves injury changed that, unless he's really willing to sit out all year and wait til it expires(if i remember right aynway). Which is just dumb in multiple ways. I can see DR agreeing to sign if we trade him to a contender that might offer him a bit more than we did.

I think it'll go down like this: seeing Reeves get injured reminded Dunta it's always a possibility going into TC and Preseason. He'll hold out of camp and likely until the 3rd or fourth game of preseason. He'll sign the tender deal and work out two weeks or so then we'll start the season with him at nickle.
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My responses above. Your scenario could work out, but I am ok with mine. No reason to think Bennett will not be a solid starter and Quinn has impressed everyone. A caller to radio show last week had been to TC and said Quinn looked outstanding. McCain could be an inch taller but his speed keeps him close to WR and at a nickle he will not be going against the other team's best two WR.

Tried to post my responses in blue but did not work.
 
badboy said:
My responses above. Your scenario could work out, but I am ok with mine. No reason to think Bennett will not be a solid starter and Quinn has impressed everyone. A caller to radio show last week had been to TC and said Quinn looked outstanding. McCain could be an inch taller but his speed keeps him close to WR and at a nickle he will not be going against the other team's best two WR.

Tried to post my responses in blue but did not work.
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Right on Reeves and Bennett starting last year, but it's no secret why Reeves was signed. They didn't want to leave second year Bennett and Molden as the starters last year. Gibbs was ok with starting that many rookies because in the end it wasn't his call to make. His guys showed up but still finished....28th in passing.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=false&conference=null&role=OPP&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=TEAM_PASSING&season=2008&seasonType=REG&tabSeq=2&qualified=true&Submit=Go

I'm not saying that is indicative of Gibb's coaching but, you run out that many rookies consectutively, its likely that's where you'll finish. This team has to take a step forward on defense and running two rooks(not a first rounder either) in your top 3 doesn't at least make me feel comfortable.

I don't think it's a matter of a team offering Dunta more money then us IMO he wants out of Houston reguardless of pay. I'm not sure how a sign and trade would work in this situation because all he can do is sign the one year tender that another team would be willing to pay unless he immediately restructured the deal into something long term and cap friendly for his next team. The other problem I keep running into is...what really is Dunta's market value at this point? What contract is he really worth and would you as an opposing GM give up a second rounder for him?

Molden looked good in TC last year too, but saw little playing time for what that's worth.
 
NE's achilles last year was past defense and O'Neal was sort of a reason why. Not saying he couldn't have a decent year for us but he definitely had an off year last year.
 
I'm ok with this. Personally I'm all for trying out different CBs and see who sticks. Don't give Dunta any leverage. Then he can spend a good part of the season on the bench/at nickel and when the season is up we can slap the franchise on him again. His selfishness has run its course with me.
 
Oneal can't press since he doesn't have make up speed. Robinson needs to get into camp.
 
(Sigh)

The issue at cornerback has been lingering since after Dunta's rookie year.

I don't think anybody here wants to give a quality free agent a huge contract, so it falls to the draft for our coaches and GM to find guys who can handle the duties.

We've got DeMeco and Cushing at LB.

We've got a solid Dline in Mario, Smith, TJ/Okam, Robinson/Bulman, and maybe Okoye if he comes back from the injury OK. Throw in Barwin, and the dline should be improved.

That leaves the secondary, which IMO has been a mystery since after Dunta's rookie year. I can't even tell who among that crew is going to pan out as a decent dback.

Watching our secondary play is like going to a kid's little league game and he's out in left field chasing butterflies while the other kids are running to the bouncing baseball out there. Our young DBs look at each other for help, shrug shoulders, and just look clueless when the pressure is on. The times we made a play in the secondary, was like the kid accidentally catching the pop fly.

Maybe that's bad secondary coaching that's haunted us. Maybe David Gibbs can coach them up. It's the weakest part of our team. Period.

This is why it's no lock that we finish better 8-8. I can see our secondary getting torched a lot this season. Lord help our dline and LBs get enough pressure to help them out.
 
blitz90 said:
Dunta needs to cut the bullsh*t and get in here!
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Oh yeah.....he is just looking worse and worse the longer he holds out and refuses to sign the tender.
If he waits until the 4th preseason game...as some have said he will do, I say let him sit on the bench and see how he likes it. If he waits that long....I think he may have lost his supporters on the team. I know he will lose a lot of fans sitting out that long.

He needs to come in here and practice...its time for him to show up. He needs to be that leader.

I say get Demeco and Owens signed ASAP....they are leaders who are here showing great leadership and great examples........

Duanta.....time is running out.......cmon on....be that leader......the team needs you right not....they need that leadership since Jaques went down....
You think by sitting out you are sending a message....yes....the wrong one....that I come before the team. :foottap::rant:
 
GP said:
(Sigh)

The issue at cornerback has been lingering since after Dunta's rookie year.

I don't think anybody here wants to give a quality free agent a huge contract, so it falls to the draft for our coaches and GM to find guys who can handle the duties.

We've got DeMeco and Cushing at LB.

We've got a solid Dline in Mario, Smith, TJ/Okam, Robinson/Bulman, and maybe Okoye if he comes back from the injury OK. Throw in Barwin, and the dline should be improved.

That leaves the secondary, which IMO has been a mystery since after Dunta's rookie year. I can't even tell who among that crew is going to pan out as a decent dback.

Watching our secondary play is like going to a kid's little league game and he's out in left field chasing butterflies while the other kids are running to the bouncing baseball out there. Our young DBs look at each other for help, shrug shoulders, and just look clueless when the pressure is on. The times we made a play in the secondary, was like the kid accidentally catching the pop fly.

Maybe that's bad secondary coaching that's haunted us. Maybe David Gibbs can coach them up. It's the weakest part of our team. Period.

This is why it's no lock that we finish better 8-8. I can see our secondary getting torched a lot this season. Lord help our dline and LBs get enough pressure to help them out.
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Who are these "young" Dbs you refer to? Our Starting FS is Wilson who will be 27 August 17th with 7 years. Ferguson is almost 35 yoa, I think.
 
Bring in all of these guys. Let them all compete. It can only help while our CB's are all hurt other than the big baby that's pouting off somewhere.
 
badboy said:
Who are these "young" Dbs you refer to? Our Starting FS is Wilson who will be 27 August 17th with 7 years. Ferguson is almost 35 yoa, I think.
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Everybody but those guys.

Bennett. Molden. This year's dbacks from the draft.

Spend the entire next draft on nothing but freaking cornerbacks and a safety or two as far as I am concerned. The condition of the backfield is either due to (a)lack of talent, (b) lack of good coaching and/or d-coord philosophy, or (c) a combination of both.

This reminds me of when we all argued whether it was the coaching staff, the QB, or the offensive line talent back when David Carr started the steep decline that then led to 2-14.

I have a feeling it's going to take this season to answer that question about the defensive backs.
 
GP said:
Everybody but those guys.

Bennett. Molden. This year's dbacks from the draft.

Spend the entire next draft on nothing but freaking cornerbacks and a safety or two as far as I am concerned. The condition of the backfield is either due to (a)lack of talent, (b) lack of good coaching and/or d-coord philosophy, or (c) a combination of both.

This reminds me of when we all argued whether it was the coaching staff, the QB, or the offensive line talent back when David Carr started the steep decline that then led to 2-14.

I have a feeling it's going to take this season to answer that question about the defensive backs.
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GP, you could very easily be right. I am thinking that Quinn is the real deal and I think Gil Brandt recently said same thing. Bennett could tank but odds are better imo that he returns to the type player we saw first year. I think he was a bit off sophomore year when his mentor DR went off on injury. He has had time to adjust & I feel he will be solid. If the LB is "all that" and the Dline can disrupt the QB (and they had better) the Dbacks could be much better than last season. I think Reeves will be back but if I am correct maybe as the nickle. I am eating popcorn and watching reports on McCain, Foster and Okam.
 
Hey, if the starting CBs now are Bennett and Quin with Molden nickel and McCain dime really, we don't just need another CB, we need an OLD GUY who plays CB and can teach some veteran savvy to players who don't have that.
 
Vinny said:
Oneal can't press since he doesn't have make up speed. Robinson needs to get into camp.
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But Robinson can't cover.....

And there's no way Dunta would start 10 games for the Patriots
 
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Don't remember which year, but Deltha had 4 picks in one game for the Broncos. Not that it means anything now, just happened to remember it when talking about his PR ability with the Broncs.

And I thought one of his only good qualities was his speed. I know he is now 32, but wouldn't his speed if he still has it make him decent at make up speed?
 
Don't have much time to leave my own thoughts, but wanted to leave a brief list from scout.com of the "best" available free agent corners:

Mike McKenzie - It's questionable whether he'll be able to find a starting role.
Chris McAlister - May be asked to play safety.
Patrick Surtain - Probably a nickel back these days.
Ty Law - Best used in a nickel situation. Law is a smart player who could help a young secondary.
Fakhir Brown - Probably not a starter these days.
Adam Jones (KR/PR) - Troubled, but talented DB who probably needs to play in a nickel role. His return ability should get him some attention.
Brian Kelly - Veteran cornerback who fits in a nickel role.
David Barrett - Fits in well as a nickel back.
Michael Lehan - Good-sized nickel cornerback.
Ricky Manning, Jr. - Scappy nickel cornerback.
Deltha O'Neal - Nickel cornerback at this point in his career.
Jason Webster - He told us recently that he still wants to play.
Jason Craft - Can handle a nickel role.
Daven Holly - Young cornerback who needs to prove he's all the way back from his ACL injury.
R.W. McQuarters (PR) - Can probably handle a nickel role.
David Macklin - Serviceable dime cornerback.
Sam Madison - Like many veterans on this list, best used in a dime defense.
Lewis Sanders - Big defensive back who may have to play safety at some point in order to get a job.
Reynaldo Hill - Basically a dime cornerback.
Stanley Wilson - Dime cornerback.
David Irons - The Falcons released waived the former sixth-round pick.
Aaron Glenn - Was once one of the top cornerbacks some years ago, but is now just a dime cornerback.
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Let's bring Aaron Glenn back....lol
 
I know the thread is about O'Neal, but I can't help but get excited about the possibility of Jason Webster joining the team. If not for injury issues, his stats would be a lot more impressive. I would love to see him come full circle and finish his football career where it began.
 
Just looking at that list, there are some high profile CBs available, McCalister and Law come to mind. It just doesn't work for me, there is not a lot of speed on that list and I am sure the last thing we all want to see is a Texans CB falling behind a WR on a Go route.
 
I didn't really know where to mention this, didn't want to create a whole thread about it but since this is a CB thread I figure it'll be good enough.

On ht.com/tv the day 6 highlights include Gary Kubiak answering how long Molden looks to be out. He said they wanted him to be back in two weeks but that "he's just not ready" and he looked disappointed so maybe two weeks from now. That'll still get him in a few practices and preseason games right? I sure hope so.
 
scourge said:
Don't remember which year, but Deltha had 4 picks in one game for the Broncos. Not that it means anything now, just happened to remember it when talking about his PR ability with the Broncs.

And I thought one of his only good qualities was his speed. I know he is now 32, but wouldn't his speed if he still has it make him decent at make up speed?
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O'Neal's best quality is probably is hands at this point. When the ball comes his way he WILL catch it.
 
TheRealJoker said:
From what I remember of his career with the Broncos he was a hell of an athlete with limited experience coming out of college. Not 100% sure but I think he also spent some time trying out as a WR in Denver before they settled on him at CB.
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O'Neal had already went to the Pro Bowl as a CB in 2001. Shanahan tired of O'Neal's undisciplined play in 2003, and moved him to WR for a short period. O'Neal sulked, and was traded the next offseason.
thunderkyss said:
And there's no way Dunta would start 10 games for the Patriots
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Wow! You just pinned the needle on the Dunta Hating Absurdity meter! Congrats.

sur_com_needle.gif
 
Fox 26 Houston just reported texans will work out O'Neal, Webster, and Mike McKenzie tomorrow.
 
Goldensilence said:
Right on Reeves and Bennett starting last year, but it's no secret why Reeves was signed. They didn't want to leave second year Bennett and Molden as the starters last year. Gibbs was ok with starting that many rookies because in the end it wasn't his call to make. His guys showed up but still finished....28th in passing.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=false&conference=null&role=OPP&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=TEAM_PASSING&season=2008&seasonType=REG&tabSeq=2&qualified=true&Submit=Go

I'm not saying that is indicative of Gibb's coaching but, you run out that many rookies consectutively, its likely that's where you'll finish. This team has to take a step forward on defense and running two rooks(not a first rounder either) in your top 3 doesn't at least make me feel comfortable.

I don't think it's a matter of a team offering Dunta more money then us IMO he wants out of Houston reguardless of pay. I'm not sure how a sign and trade would work in this situation because all he can do is sign the one year tender that another team would be willing to pay unless he immediately restructured the deal into something long term and cap friendly for his next team. The other problem I keep running into is...what really is Dunta's market value at this point? What contract is he really worth and would you as an opposing GM give up a second rounder for him?

Molden looked good in TC last year too, but saw little playing time for what that's worth.
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I'm not sure what you mean by this statement. It sounds to me like you might be inferring something about Gibb's coaching of the secondary last year?
 
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I don't want Mike McKenzie. Isn't that the guy that was with New Orleans and was getting toasted by everyone? Or was that Jason David?
 
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