Casey may start at FB over injured Leach

Dont ever remember seeing an injured Vonta Leach on the injury report......very concerned about the running game now.

With Vonta Leach nursing a bruised knee, rookie James Casey might make his first NFL start against the Tennessee Titans.

Head coach Gary Kubiak said Leach's running on the side during Thursday's practice “was encouraging” and the veteran hadn't been ruled out for Sunday's game. But, if he can't go, the multi-talented Rice product will get the call.

“James would start,” Kubiak said. “It will be exciting to see him play.”

Kubiak said he would know more after watching Leach Friday.

“If he can practice, then he's got a chance to play.”

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I am excited about the possibility of Casey at FB simply for what it could do for our passing game. If Kubiak can get it through his thick skull that we should be a pass first run second team, Casey could do some damage along with AJ, OD, Walter, etc. which would then open up our running game.

Knowing our coaching staff's history I think they'd proceed to repeatedly try to run up the middle with Casey as lead blocker and leaving him in to block on passes as if he was as capable as Leach rather than playing to Casey's strengths and using him in more of a receiving role for the game mainly as a checkdown option for Schaub.

If Leach is out we've gotta spread this defense out with 3 WR sets and/or put Casey in the slot. We cant run conventionally against this team in the I formation with Casey as a lead blocker. Casey is a hell of a player and can do a lot of things but he's not gonna be able to block like Vonta.

TEXANS84 said:

Dont ever remember seeing an injured Vonta Leach on the injury report......very concerned about the running game now.



FULL LINK

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If you were not concerned about the run game before hearing of Leach's injury, I've got to find that a little troubling. We've never had much of a run game. Never. Slaton had a decent year but it was only decent. He's having trouble getting started this season. Have teams figured out the system? Seems like it. I'm up for a try from casey. Actually, i'm up for a try from anyone else. We need help or a change of some kind. I love Leach's bone jarring blocks but let's be real and call our run game for what it is... Average.

If it's any help some of the few decent plays we got last week was Leach as a check down option for Schaub. If the defense blankets our downfield WRs again Casey could be a real real playmaker in that role. We do loose the one guy on the offensive side of the ball that I think really enjoys going out and blowing guys up. Right now I don't think anyone on the OL plays like that. It's something we need.

I hope Kevin Walter is back in the lineup because he does a good job of setting the tone for the WRs blocking and can make the tough catches in traffic Davis couldn't convert on last week.

Truth is I don't know what team is going to show up this Sunday. This just adds another concern to the running game.

I'm having a real crisis at the moment. Man oh man I would love to see the Texans circle the wagons and get a big win this Sunday. After the way they played Sunday and going against a tough in division opponent, could really bea turning point in the season. The problem I keep running into is....the rest of the season and beyond. I keep seeing consistant problems with this staff, and nothing done beyond some care bear band aids on wounds.

I think regardless of Casey starting at FB or not he'll be used on the goalline, he proved it in preseason his ability to go grab TDs in goalline formations. Of course we don't know what we're going to do different in goal situations because we never got in the red zone last week.

I just hope Casey doesn't end up getting peg holed into the FB position longterm for this team. I mean it's great he's a versitile player and offers depth at multiple positions, but I'd still like to see him play at the TE position, in some double TE sets before the year is out........I think he'll be much more dangerous there.

NitroHonda said:

Slaton had a decent year but it was only decent.

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I think you're selling Slaton's season short last year.......it was WAY MORE than just "decent". Frankly he had a probowl type year in the AFC (Ronnie Brown going was a joke..) and was right there with the leaders in just about all of the rushing categories in the entire NFL.

Slaton's "fantastic" year last year was the reason why this team had the #3 offense in the league last season and his slow start to this season is why we've looked like crap in the preseason and week 1. Like I said in multiple posts/threads about my concerns with his weight........if Slaton can't regain his quickness, this offense is going to take a MAJOR hit (especially our big play ability) and this offense will be a shadow of what we were able to do last season.

m5kwatts said:

I think regardless of Casey starting at FB or not he'll be used on the goalline, he proved it in preseason his ability to go grab TDs in goalline formations. Of course we don't know what we're going to do different in goal situations because we never got in the red zone last week.

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Oh, you are soooooo wrong...............Slaton FUMBLED on the Jets' 17.

Carr Bombed said:

I think you're selling Slaton's season short last year.......it was WAY MORE than just "decent". Frankly he had a probowl type year in the AFC (Ronnie Brown going was a joke..) and was right there with the leaders in just about all of the categories in the entire NFL.

Slaton's "fantastic" year last year was the reason why this team was the #3 offense in the year last season and his slow start to this year is why we've looked like crap in the preseason and week 1. Like I said in multiple posts/threads about my concerns with his weight........if Slaton can't regain his quickness, this offense is going to take a MAJOR hit (especially our big play ability) and this offense will be a shadow of what we did last season.

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The way i see it is how did all the other RBs do? Not too well. It was only Slaton who was doing a lot of the work. When a RB is the leader in a crowded backfield, i may say something else. He's the only weapon out there just the same as Domanick Williams (then davis) was. They'll get their numbers. I saw some beautiful things out of Slaton last year but he may have been figured out because he hasn't gotten anything going yet. I'll leave it at decent for now.

My concern is that we lose a major piece of what is still good for any semblance of a running and pass protection game, while we trade off for mor versatility which will be very weighted to the passing game.

Ckw5814 said:

I am excited about the possibility of Casey at FB simply for what it could do for our passing game. If Kubiak can get it through his thick skull that we should be a pass first run second team, Casey could do some damage along with AJ, OD, Walter, etc. which would then open up our running game.

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Agreed

But asking Kubes to change may be asking to much.

By the way Little Shanny I dont care if you go max protect please take a few shots of 20+ yards down the field.

Even if they aren't completed the threat of the deep pass should help open up the running game some.

If you cant protect MS using Max protect the Texans are going to lose anyway. Book it

I love Casey, but this is bad, bad news. Man, if Vonta can't go, our running game is going to be in even worse shape than it already was.

NitroHonda said:

The way i see it is how did all the other RBs do? Not too well. It was only Slaton who was doing a lot of the work. When a RB is the leader in a crowded backfield, i may say something else.

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What Slaton did last season had nothing to do with Ahman Green being hurt or the lack of depth. Also how does it hurt Slaton, because the other RB couldn't do what he did behind the same line?

He got about the same amount of carries as Chris Johnson (and other premiere backs who played with other good backs) and Chris Johnson played in a crowded backfield..(so I guess his year was just "decent" too right?) So it didn't matter that we didn't have depth.......what you fail to realize is we didn't have a defense that could get other teams off the field so Slaton could pad stats, being the only real RB option.

This is where your "he padded his stats, because he was the only guy" argument fails....

Slaton was 6th in rushing in the NFL last season......not one single back ahead of him (the other top 5) in the NFL had less carries than he did....and only one other back had a better YPC. If Slaton was only able to get those yards, because he was the only option to hand off to, don't you think he would have more carries than atleast one of those backs? He didn't, DeAngelo (who runs in one of the best 2 back systems and had to share the rock) had more carries than he did....

We wasn't able to get those extra carries, because he played with one of the worst defenses that couldn't get off the field or force turnovers...(like the other backs did)...and he played in a offense that was one of the leaders in turnovers.

NitroHonda said:

He's the only weapon out there just the same as Domanick Williams (then davis) was. They'll get their numbers. I saw some beautiful things out of Slaton last year but he may have been figured out because he hasn't gotten anything going yet. I'll leave it at decent for now.

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Not even comparable to Domanick Williams (who was a better back when healthy than people give him credit for), Williams played on one of the worst offensive talent depleted teams. Slaton had to share touches with two offensive probowl players and one of the better #2s in the league, in a pass happy offense. Domanick was our #2 receiver when he played here....he didn't play with any other talent besides Andre, Slaton had to share with alot more.

You can attack his season this year, because he's heavy and not as quick, but it's hard to say a player only had a "decent" year when he was...

6th in the entire league in rushing (and didn't have any more carries than anybody else infront of him....so those stats weren't padded at all)

Had the 3rd highest YPC of any back in top 10 in rushing last season....

Was 3rd in rushing plays of 20 yards or more in the entire NFL..only behind DeAngelo Williams and Adrian Peterson...(which with the stat above, proves he was one of the most explosive players in the entire NFL.

and he faced the toughest rushing defensive schedule out of any other top runner last season.......including being the only back who put up 100 yards against the Titans and he did it twice.

If that's "decent", I pray Slaton can just return to being "decent" this year. Infact I'd be happy if Houston would just be able to have one "decent" RB on their roster for the foreseeable future.

Carr Bombed said:

I just hope Casey doesn't end up getting peg holed into the FB position longterm for this team. I mean it's great he's a versitile player and offers depth at multiple positions, but I'd still like to see him play at the TE position, in some double TE sets before the year it out........I think he'll be much more dangerous there.

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He can step up onto the line from the FB spot. He did just that at least once against Tampa Bay. Starting in the huddle at FB does not prohibit Casey from lining up at TE.

I hope to see him in that role some as well.

While I'm anxious to see what Casey can do, I would rather have Vonta in there. As CB mentioned, Casey at the TE position would be my preference.

You never know. Vonta is a badazz.
But maybe Casey can compensate some by getting there a hair sooner?

The more important thing is for the FB to read the blocker(s) in front of him and pick the right hole.

There was that one play last week in which Leach should have gone between Pitts & Brown instead of Brown & O.D.
We could have gained a lot more than just 4 yards.
A TD was a possibility.

Hopefully Casey can make better reads!?!

Maybe we can use him more out of the backfield to add value and further compensate for missing Vonta. Knock on wood.

CloakNNNdagger said:

Oh, you are soooooo wrong...............Slaton FUMBLED on the Jets' 17.

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We never had a snap in the red zone

Carrbombed, i concede this one. I did not come to the discussion armed with facts and stats. I'm still going to call our running game overall average with Slaton back there. He needs to compete for yards with someone else. I have high hopes for Chris Brown but he only got three carries last sunday. Our running game will only be as good as we call them.

m5kwatts said:

We never had a snap in the red zone

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Agreed. But I was responding to "we didn't get into the redzone."

The Texans biggest gainers where swing passes to Leach, expect even more with Casey. Lets see what ya got. wonder if Grossman gets in too

beerlover said:

The Texans biggest gainers where swing passes to Leach, expect even more with Casey.

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If Leach is out, Kubiak better open up the receiving plays to his FB with Casey in there....I'd even like to see Casey motion out to the slot.

Carr Bombed said:

If Leach is out, Kubiak better open up the receiving plays to his FB with Casey in there....I'd even like to see Casey motion out to the slot.

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I would like to seem him line up in the slot, forcing defensive adjustment then motion behind Schaub either to take the handoff, fake & stay into block then release as underneath, play a little cat & mouse wearing down the Titan pass rush while opening up lanes.

I highly doubt Leach will miss the game this week. That said, I'd still like to see Casey come in using different packages.

If you guys think Kyle Shanahan is going to be calling plays for JC ya'll are nuts. He still hasn't figured out how to put the ball in AJ's hands. Hopefully JC will just blow up like 3 or 4 defenders on every play so that Slaton might get 3 yards per carry.

Ckw5814 said:

I am excited about the possibility of Casey at FB simply for what it could do for our passing game. If Kubiak can get it through his thick skull that we should be a pass first run second team, Casey could do some damage along with AJ, OD, Walter, etc. which would then open up our running game.

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That should be no problem as Coack K is known to be able to adapt and when he can not, he throws a red flag and wins on the appeal.

HOU-TEX said:

I highly doubt Leach will miss the game this week. That said, I'd still like to see Casey come in using different packages.

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In today's presser, Kubiak said...

(on FB Vonta Leach) "He did good today. He took a portion of the practice. He's a gametime decision, but he moved forward today. We'll work him out Sunday morning. He took his portion of the reps."

(on if TE James Casey will see playing time) "Oh James is going to play. James is going to play a great deal in this game. He's got the bulk of the work this week and I really expect him to play in this game. We'll see. We'll see how (FB) Vonta (Leach) is."

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Note the bolded.

I think we're going to see some interesting things come Sunday. I like the way he's talking here. He's got to get the offensive end of the game going somewhere and I think Casey is a good start. They're going to be gunning for Slaton after his two 100 yard games last season. Walter is a gametime decision and Andre Davis is OUT for Sunday. Casey is somebody that they have not seen. I hope to see us pull off a successful wildcat play. I'm ready for football to be fun. Let's play some football.