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James Casey to Start at Fullback Against Tampa

MojoMan

MojoMan

Hall of Fame
Fullback seems like a better place for Casey to play than tight end, if you ask me. I hope Casey gets a lot of reps on Friday.

As a fullback, he could end up in motion, he could set up as a flanker, or the QB could go in motion and he could take a direct snap in a Wildcat type formation. And of course he can do all of the normal fullback stuff, like block, run the ball, and catch passes out of the backfield.

This is really quite exciting.

Texans' Cushing will remain out of lineup against Bucs

Outside linebacker Brian Cushing, the Texans' first-round draft choice, will not play in the last preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday.

Tight end James Casey, the fifth-round pick, will start but at fullback in place of the injured Vonta Leach.

Coach Gary Kubiak is resting many of the starters, opening the door for players like Casey to get their most playing time of preseason.

Cushing, who hasn't played in preseason because of a sprained knee, worked out hard during and after practice today.

"I'm 100 percent, but I don't think I'll be playing," Cushing said. "I feel great, but I think we're going to rest my knee one more week. I'm working at full speed. I'm putting the pads on. I don't feel any pain. I'm happy about how I feel.I'm 100 percent."

Leach has a bruised knee but even if he had been healthy he wouldn't have played.

"I'm excited about this opportunity," Casey said. "It's a great opportunity for me. The game is one day before the final cuts are made, and it's like my Super Bowl.

"I feel comfortable with my assignments at fullback. I'm excited about playing tight end, too. Even though a lot of starters aren't going to play, it's still against NFL players."
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Wow! A good reason to watch the game now. Casey was one of my favorite Texan pics in the draft! I hope he does well!
 
(from the quote) I can't believe that they aren't even going to give Cushing a single series of gametime during the pre-season. IMHO - ANY player (no matter the round taken) needs to experience NFL "game speed" before taking snaps in the regular season. Same for Dunta (if he ever signs his tender).

Do you really want the Texans to potentially start 2/11 defensive starters who've sat out the ENTIRE pre-season? It seems to be asking for trouble.

As for Casey, let's see exactly how versatile this kid really is! Any news on the severity of Leach's injury?
 
Stand Leach next to Casey and have 100 people pick TE or FB and I bet 99% get Leach - FB and Casey - TE. Casey can play some h-back formations like OD has done but he is no FB as an ordinary position.
 
infantrycak said:
Stand Leach next to Casey and have 100 people pick TE or FB and I bet 99% get Leach - FB and Casey - TE. Casey can play some h-back formations like OD has done but he is no FB as an ordinary position.
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Casey = Wycheck. The redskins back in the 90's used this position to the utmost, the Colts have used it some.
 
The #1 responsibility of FBs in our system is to block. I dunno, can Casey block ? Has he even attempted a block in the NFL ?
 
nunusguy said:
The #1 responsibility of FBs in our system is to block. I dunno, can Casey block ? Has he even attempted a block in the NFL ?
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Great point and great questions. Obviously, we will see on Friday.

In the role of a pure blocking back, which has been the primary role of a fullback on the Texans, Casey is not going to unseat Leach. But there are a lot of plays when the Texans go without a fullback. If they started using Casey on more of those plays, they could add a dimension to the Texans offense that we have not seen before, or probably even really thought very much about.
 
I like how Casey acts as if he's on the bubble even though I think he's a lock for the roster already... good attitude to have
 
With his versatility, Casey will probably end up as our "concealed" weapon. But, we need a " 44 Magnum" clearing the field for our RBs.
 
nunusguy said:
The #1 responsibility of FBs in our system is to block. I dunno, can Casey block ? Has he even attempted a block in the NFL ?
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If Arian Foster can stick his shoulder into a blitzer and crumble the dude...

...then I bet James Casey would VAPORIZE someone.

I am s-t-o-k-e-d to see Casey in the FB role.
 
nunusguy said:
The #1 responsibility of FBs in our system is to block. I dunno, can Casey block ? Has he even attempted a block in the NFL ?
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Especially a block in open space rather than off the line
 
disaacks3 said:
Do you really want the Texans to potentially start 2/11 defensive starters who've sat out the ENTIRE pre-season? It seems to be asking for trouble.
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It's not a case of wanting to start 2 guys who haven't seen action. There's really little choice. The Texans are razor thin on defense. Robinson is and Cushing should be among their top 5 defenders. The Texans just can't afford to leave them off the field, else they're really asking for trouble.
nunusguy said:
The #1 responsibility of FBs in our system is to block. I dunno, can Casey block ? Has he even attempted a block in the NFL ?
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I think the FB in the ZBS is overrated, anyway. With a back like Slaton, you want the defense stretched across the field. And that's best accomplished with a 2 TE or even 3 WR set. In a short yardage run, you want your RB following a big FB like Leach into the hole. In a typical ZBS run, the RB will look for a crease anywhere.

With Casey on the field at FB (or H-back or whatever name you want to use), he becomes a mismatch for a LB in the passing game. With both Daniels and Casey on the field, the Texans could show a 4 WR look versus a base defense. Moving both Casey and Daniels in the slot would spread the defense and really open up the middle for Slaton. Between the 20's, Casey makes more sense than Leach.
 
Lucky said:
With Casey on the field at FB (or H-back or whatever name you want to use), he becomes a mismatch for a LB in the passing game. With both Daniels and Casey on the field, the Texans could show a 4 WR look versus a base defense. Moving both Casey and Daniels in the slot would spread the defense and really open up the middle for Slaton. Between the 20's, Casey makes more sense than Leach.
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That is a very good point! Casey at FB brings a jack-of-all-trades close to the ball making the offense harder to predict.
 
Lucky said:
With Casey on the field at FB (or H-back or whatever name you want to use), he becomes a mismatch for a LB in the passing game. With both Daniels and Casey on the field, the Texans could show a 4 WR look versus a base defense. Moving both Casey and Daniels in the slot would spread the defense and really open up the middle for Slaton. Between the 20's, Casey makes more sense than Leach.
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I want to see this, and I want to see Schaub using audibles.

This offense needs to throw a look out there (OD and Thor in the slot) and then keep the defense guessing if it's going to be a run by Slaton, or a play-action pass that sees OD and/or Thor slip behind the hesitant LBs.

Even better, start OD and Thor out at the slot, then audible Thor into motion so that he ends up lined up as a FB behind Schaub. Then throw Slaton into motion so he ends up at the slot with OD. Slip-screen to Slaton with OD blocking. Or a fake pass and then shovel pass to Thor as he moves past Schaub and into the middle of the dline.

Slaton/OD/Casey combination of plays could keep defenses honest, and that opens up AJ on some of those plays where we keep that look out there. Especially in a 2-minute situation where the defense is trying to keep everything in front of them.

It could provide a whole laundry list of possibilities for our offense.
 
Using an AJ/Walter/OD/Casey/Slaton set, you really have a good shot of picking up critical first downs.

Those three guys can all latch onto the ball if it comes their way.
 
GP said:
Using an AJ/Walter/OD/Casey/Slaton set, you really have a good shot of picking up critical first downs.

Those three guys can all latch onto the ball if it comes their way.
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??? :confused:

In my part of Texas, that count is five
 
GP said:
If Arian Foster can stick his shoulder into a blitzer and crumble the dude...

...then I bet James Casey would VAPORIZE someone.

I am s-t-o-k-e-d to see Casey in the FB role.
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Blocking is alot about effort. I think with Casey's physique and attitude, he should be an ok blocker. He also keeps a D honest. If you put the wrong guy on him, later.
 
BigBull17 said:
Blocking is alot about effort. I think with Casey's physique and attitude, he should be an ok blocker. He also keeps a D honest. If you put the wrong guy on him, later.
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Yessir, I believe getting in someone's way is just about effort and attitude. From more than one person who has seen him up close, the guy is built like a truck. Frankly, if big and fast hits me I'm probably going backwards...


brian cushing said:
"I'm 100 percent, but I don't think I'll be playing," Cushing said. "I feel great, but I think we're going to rest my knee one more week. I'm working at full speed. I'm putting the pads on. I don't feel any pain. I'm happy about how I feel.I'm 100 percent."
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I think this has been true for a while now. I believe if these past games had been of the regular season sort we'd have seen him on the field. Heard it in the wind that he only wears the brace when cameras are around....
 
My only worry is at the endof the year we'll hear Kubiak say "We should have used this kid more offten." Like Walter, Diles, ect... Ihope we use weapons i n creative ways.
 
nunusguy said:
The #1 responsibility of FBs in our system is to block.
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Outside of the context that it's all the backs' jobs to block, I'm not sure this is 100% true. If you recall, Kubiak kept giving Jameel Cook opportunities based on the fact that he was a good receiver out of the backfield. The team let Moran Norris go in favor of Cook, and Norris is still one of the better pure blocking FBs in the NFL. It wasn't until Cook lost a few fumbles and didn't particularly wow anyone, coupled with Leach's fine performance, that Kubiak relented and gave the job to Leach.

At least, that's how it seems from this perch. I'm sure Kubiak loves Leach's blocking, and the fact that he can catch a few out of the backfield is good enough. But I also get the feeling that he really wants to have that guy that can do great things from the FB position. Heck, I remember him putting Joppru at the FB position and running a screen with him, trying to see what Bennie could do. I think Kubiak wants an explosive, versatile option there, and Casey may be the man for the job.
 
Casey can throw the rock too. "Bull-cat spread" anyone?

Shanahan likes to use all available weapons giving Casey an edge because of multi-facted skill set, combined with great attitude & work ethic.
Casey can fill multiple positions of need as injury dictates but Kyle needs to find ways of keeping him on the field. The need for playmakers is obvious, for starers the extra dimension Casey provides would help open up running lanes by spreading out defenses instead of straight forward smash mouth Vonta Leach style.

I've seen Vonta out of the backfield catch the ball, but have difficulty making the turn & run after the catch, can we at least SEE what Casey can do if given the opportunity, please :ant:
 
If Casey can develope into a competant blocker then his future is clear here and its not as the teams starting FB. It's as the teams starting TE.
Arguable as much as people like OD (and I like him to), Casey by virtue of being a "local guy" and a former Rice-player is already as popular as OD is.
OD has excellent hands, but so does Casey and I'm confidant he can become an effective route-pattern runner. OD of course is just a mediorce blocker buts that OK because that's why we had Bruener and drafted Hill when Bruener retired. Those guys are both primarily blocking TEs while OD and Casey are primarily pass-receivers. But Casey has got to atleast be an average, competant blocker.
I like OD and he's productive, but I'm a company guy first and I want to get a 2nd round pick (or higher) for my team and at the same time play a guy who'd be a much lower cap-number than OD and an even more popular player to genrate future ticket revenues.
 
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