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Big Question, Little Guy

barrett

barrett

All Pro
Smithiak have got some serious questions to answer about some deep position battles with pretty major consequences.

Kick returner / Punt Returner / WR (or should we say “wr”) Trindon Holliday and long snapper Jon Weeks are two bubble players who are fighting to make the final 53 man roster. Holliday was a 6th round draft pick. A special, special-teamer who was gifted to Joe Marciano during the 2010 NFL draft, Holliday doesn’t fit the mold of your typical 6th round pick. He doesn’t fit the mold of an NFL football player actually. 5’5” 165, Holliday is the NFL’s smallest football player but he stands a chance to be one of the biggest impact players at an often unappreciated position. If you polled NFL fans you wouldn’t find many who could name the KR/PR on many teams. You probably couldn’t name any yourself aside from Josh Cribbs, Devin Hester or Houston’s own Jerome Math… er, Jacoby Jones.

With the Texans enter the season with more depth than ever before you’d think deciding the fate of a mini-football player and a guy who looks more like an accountant than a professional football player would be a pretty easy decision. But it’s not. The Texans have many unanswered questions such as 6th string WR, 4th string TE, Long Snapper, KR/PR depth and 4th string RB to name a few.

It’s a sign of the kind of progress the Texans have made under Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith. Knowing that your team is losing sleep over which guy might be an impact player in 2 or 3 years instead of “Who the hell is our starting QB going to be.” is a good problem to have. Make no mistake about it, the Texans want to know what they’ve got at these less-than key positions because it’s going to impact decisions they make in the front office in 2011 and beyond.
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You can read the rest here.
 
It is definately a great feeling to be able to have all these questions because we have so many great players available to us.
This is going to be a fun year regardless of what the end result is.

:fans:
 
I was just thinking about Holliday's chances of making the roster. Kubiak keeps talking about how he needs to be able to play offense for him to do so, but then he seems to like Weeks. The LS, who at 5'10" 255 lbs, does not seem to have another position.
 
Texas T said:
It is definately a great feeling to be able to have all these questions because we have so many great players available to us.
This is going to be a fun year regardless of what the end result is.

:fans:
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I agree that football season is fun but the end result will determine how much fun I had. I cannot stand anything less than playoffs this year. :gun:
 
2slik4u said:
I agree that football season is fun but the end result will determine how much fun I had. I cannot stand anything less than playoffs this year. :gun:
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I somewhat understand your thinking on this... but for me, I will be happy with a 10-6 season and miss out on the playoffs. That just means that they team improved but it was a tough year to make it...
Would you still be happy with an 8-8 season, and still make it..even though you know the team actually took a step back. I would, as a playoff berth is just that, and one day it will be the Texans turn to get in..but I would be happy going 10-6 and not make it...Bittersweet as it is though.
 
2slik4u said:
I agree that football season is fun but the end result will determine how much fun I had. I cannot stand anything less than playoffs this year. :gun:
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So you will determine in January whether you were having fun in Sept. and Oct.?

That's kind of sad.
 
rmartin65 said:
I was just thinking about Holliday's chances of making the roster. Kubiak keeps talking about how he needs to be able to play offense for him to do so, but then he seems to like Weeks. The LS, who at 5'10" 255 lbs, does not seem to have another position.
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I think, obviously, we as an organization would like to see what this returner (WR Trindon Holliday) can do. He's really struggled offensively, but we know we brought him here to return punts and kicks. We expect him to get the majority of that in the game.
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Reading that statement from Kubes tells me that they aren't expecting him to do much offensively for a while. He is saying that they drafted him specifically to return kicks...

I don't think they are going to hold his offensive shortcomings against him if he's doing a great job returning kicks.
 
I will have fun, no matter what happens! To me the fun is in the drinking, cooking, and yelling for a few hours with friends or family while watching my favorite NFL team, winning is a nice big bonus! The reason I would love the Texans making the playoffs is to keep doing the above going, because once the Texans play there last game the season is pretty much over for me.
 
Trindon Holliday will have 2 TDs this Saturday night.

Just have him jump on the back of Vonta and as soon as the coverage comes down Vonta will just throw him over everyone, easy 6.
 
Rey said:
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=6270


Reading that statement from Kubes tells me that they aren't expecting him to do much offensively for a while. He is saying that they drafted him specifically to return kicks...

I don't think they are going to hold his offensive shortcomings against him if he's doing a great job returning kicks.
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I hope you are right, but Kubiak has been harping about it since Holliday reported to OTAs.
 
I just don't see how he would be an effective passing target. Any cb automatically starts with a gigantic size advantage. He's either got to run clear past a D and catch one over the top or step back and take a screen pass, try to use that agility/speed in isolated instances. With our depth at WR, there is little to no use for him. As a RB though? I think there is at least a little more hope there but for now, if he's netting decent returns on either kick I think his roster spot is justified.
 
Rey said:
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=6270


Reading that statement from Kubes tells me that they aren't expecting him to do much offensively for a while. He is saying that they drafted him specifically to return kicks...

I don't think they are going to hold his offensive shortcomings against him if he's doing a great job returning kicks.
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The minute we selected him, I had my reservations. There's no doubt in my mind he's fast and he's a playmaker. I actually love the fact that we have him... but I think it will be tough for him to make the 53 man roster. I hope he does.

This kind of reminds me of Jacoby Jones (albeit much smaller size and less upside as a WR). When we drafted him, IMO, the coaches knew he was raw. They knew it was going to take some time for him to develop as a WR but that he could immediately contribute as a special teams returner. Jones is in an interesting place. He's a FA next season and he's finally developed into a playmaking WR. We've GOT to get him more involved in the passing game this year (I think we will) because of his abilities as well as to increase the chances that he re-signs with us and continues to learn from AJ. Another team is going to be wanting his services as a starter - we've got to show Jacoby he's got a spot on this team to get "starter" type of snaps/receptions.

IMO that means less return duties. I think with the depth we have at the WR spot. AJ, KW, JJ and DA all have their duties and will be used a lot (+ TE receptions)... I think we can afford to have a "one dimensional" type of player like Holliday. Preseason will be really really important for him though. If he can show consistency in catching punts/kicks, playmaking ability AND the ability to take a hit against NFL players (some 1st string ST guys but unfortunately it will mostly be 2nd/3rd/Cut type of guys).... then I think he's got a spot.
 
TimeKiller said:
I just don't see how he would be an effective passing target. Any cb automatically starts with a gigantic size advantage. He's either got to run clear past a D and catch one over the top or step back and take a screen pass, try to use that agility/speed in isolated instances. With our depth at WR, there is little to no use for him. As a RB though? I think there is at least a little more hope there but for now, if he's netting decent returns on either kick I think his roster spot is justified.
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Screen Pass for sure. I'd also like to see Schaub put him in motion to the weakside of the field and let him just burn down the field. Catch a hail mary when the play doesn't even call for it. Other than that.... :shrug:
 
TimeKiller said:
I just don't see how he would be an effective passing target. Any cb automatically starts with a gigantic size advantage. He's either got to run clear past a D and catch one over the top or step back and take a screen pass, try to use that agility/speed in isolated instances. With our depth at WR, there is little to no use for him. As a RB though? I think there is at least a little more hope there but for now, if he's netting decent returns on either kick I think his roster spot is justified.
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I think it's very possible for him to succeed in the passing game. Look at David Anderson, Welker, Julian Edelman, etc., they all do very well for short WR's
 
TimeKiller said:
I just don't see how he would be an effective passing target. Any cb automatically starts with a gigantic size advantage. He's either got to run clear past a D and catch one over the top or step back and take a screen pass, try to use that agility/speed in isolated instances. With our depth at WR, there is little to no use for him. As a RB though? I think there is at least a little more hope there but for now, if he's netting decent returns on either kick I think his roster spot is justified.
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CB's may have the size advantage, but he'd have the speed advantage...

And it's not like we'd be throwing him jump balls in the back of the endzone...

Think slot reciever...Short slant/out routes

There are a lot of small slot recievers that don't have near the speed that he has..Also, like you mentioned screen passes

I don't think he's going to be a wide out, deep pattern kind of guy.
 
I think all the names you listed had more natural WR abilities, DA's got hands, Welker gets separation like nobody else can. Frankly, I think TH's abilities make him a RB more than a WR anyway.

OMT-to your point about 1-Dimensional players....Andre Davis has been on this team for how long now? If run the ball up to the 20 and fall over is good enough for a roster spot then TH doesn't have a very high bar to jump.
 
TimeKiller said:
I think all the names you listed had more natural WR abilities, DA's got hands, Welker gets separation like nobody else can. Frankly, I think TH's abilities make him a RB more than a WR anyway.

OMT-to your point about 1-Dimensional players....Andre Davis has been on this team for how long now? If run the ball up to the 20 and fall over is good enough for a roster spot then TH doesn't have a very high bar to jump.
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Agree with the RB/WR outlook. He and Dexter McCluster both have more natural RB tendencies than WR. Both would be GREAT catching the ball outside the pocket or screens/short passes and then making a play.

I've been wonder if and when Andre Davis may get cut. He's due $2.5MM this year and $4.7MM next season (then free agent). If he makes the roster this season, chances are it's his last in my opinion. Salary + improved WR/KR depth.
 
TimeKiller said:
I just don't see how he would be an effective passing target. Any cb automatically starts with a gigantic size advantage. He's either got to run clear past a D and catch one over the top or step back and take a screen pass, try to use that agility/speed in isolated instances. With our depth at WR, there is little to no use for him. As a RB though? I think there is at least a little more hope there but for now, if he's netting decent returns on either kick I think his roster spot is justified.
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Not copying all the posts in between this one and my post but Wes Welker for instance creates separation by doing what? - cutting suddenly. That combined with route selection like slants and hitches and good placement by the QB can make a small WR viable. Speed also can. Slant three times then double move and go and all the sudden down field reception. Not predicting great things at WR or anything but I think the effort is worthwhile. He isn't a bowling ball like MJD so I agree with the Texans he should primarily move to WR or at least learn the position which is not to say he should never line up at RB either.
 
Ole Miss Texan said:
Agree with the RB/WR outlook. He and Dexter McCluster both have more natural RB tendencies than WR. Both would be GREAT catching the ball outside the pocket or screens/short passes and then making a play.

I've been wonder if and when Andre Davis may get cut. He's due $2.5MM this year and $4.7MM next season (then free agent). If he makes the roster this season, chances are it's his last in my opinion. Salary + improved WR/KR depth.
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Davis seems like a great guy, but I'm beginning to hope he does get cut. He doesn't offer much in the passing game and his return skills have dminished immensely. The guy has been tentative since being injured.
 
Bull said:
Famous Quote" Speed doesn't have a bad day":wheel:
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Until it meets a slower Ray Lewis in a head on collision...
baltimore-ravens-ray-lewis-smoke_display_image.jpg
 
Ole Miss Texan said:
Agree with the RB/WR outlook. He and Dexter McCluster both have more natural RB tendencies than WR. Both would be GREAT catching the ball outside the pocket or screens/short passes and then making a play.
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Got one to add to the bomb pass/quick screen list for him to work on....reverses. If they catch a D on a reverse with TH we're gonna see the little man burn rubber!!!
I've been wonder if and when Andre Davis may get cut. He's due $2.5MM this year and $4.7MM next season (then free agent). If he makes the roster this season, chances are it's his last in my opinion. Salary + improved WR/KR depth.
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I think everyone is aware by now he isn't cutting it on returns. As a backup to AJ, you have to wonder don't JJ, DD and DA kind of make him....the worst player on the team? I mean the worst WR? Well...

infantrycak said:
Not copying all the posts in between this one and my post but Wes Welker for instance creates separation by doing what? - cutting suddenly. That combined with route selection like slants and hitches and good placement by the QB can make a small WR viable. Speed also can. Slant three times then double move and go and all the sudden down field reception. Not predicting great things at WR or anything but I think the effort is worthwhile. He isn't a bowling ball like MJD so I agree with the Texans he should primarily move to WR or at least learn the position which is not to say he should never line up at RB either.
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I guess I would feel bad sending him over the middle to face the big hitters when I'm fully aware his strength is best used elsewhere. Welker can take it, usually. TH?

I think the best thing to do would be to stop worrying about what to call him and start finding a few plays that would maximize his ability, no matter where he lines up.
 
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