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The Curious Case of Benjamin Tate

T

TheRealJoker

Hall of Fame
Our 2nd round draft choice missed the entire regular season, and the guy he was gonna compete with for a starting job won the NFL rushing title. Then we signed Derrick Ward to replace Tate and he became a quality backup. If Tate recovers fully for next year and is as good as we thought he'd be when drafted, what direction does that take the Texans' offense?

Can we now gameplan like we did in the first Indy game and last Jags game where we run the ball down opposing teams' throats and only release the passing attack when we feel like it. Allowing Schaub to not have to force balls because he's spending most of his day handing the ball off to 3 quality NFL RBs who are pounding away at a defense.

Perhaps every 5th play we go long to AJ just to keep them off balance? Maybe put our 5 or 6 TEs to use by running a base 2 TE formation with lots of 3 TE looks because our top 4 TEs are threats to catch (excluding Hill who I put # 5)?

There is enough discussion on our coaching staff, now lets talk about what was once a weakness (RB) but is now in position to be the team's biggest strength.

PS: I don't think Slaton makes the team next year... hence the omission,
 
there is a good chance Ward leaves via free agency and/or Texans trade Slaton for player/draft pick too!
 
beerlover said:
there is a good chance Ward leaves via free agency and/or Texans trade Slaton for player/draft pick too!
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I guess it's possible we lose both Ward and Slaton, but still, having Foster and Tate would be good. I'd really like to see them keep Ward though, Slaton I don't care.
 
I don't know about Mr. Ward's free agency status, but if he does leave, Mr. Tate should step in. We might have a two-headed monster in the backfield in that case.
 
Best thread in two weeks ....



beerlover said:
there is a good chance Ward leaves via free agency and/or Texans trade Slaton for player/draft pick too!
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Ward only had 50 carries for 315 yards & 4 TD's.

Not sure thats enough exposure for a team to believe he's the answer as a starter.

I hope Ward stays , I like what he brought to the team. I like how he and Foster worked together. I almost expect to see him back because of the working relationship he and Foster have.


I expect Slaton to be gone one way or another .... He wasnt bad running the ball when given the chance this season but those opportunities were few and far between because of the way the other's performed .... but damn was he abysmal returning kicks. I think they might be able to move Slaton for a late round pick should a team become desperate for help at RB ... Otherwise he likely gets cut.

I dont really know what to expect from Tate coming off a season ending injury , Anything he can give behind Foster and Ward should he stay is gravy for the time being.
 
Stemp said:
No one is going to trade for Slaton. He'll be released, probably after the preseason
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I think they will keep him next year. He is on the books for 2011: $555,000.

We have Foster / Ward / Tate / Slaton

If one gets injured, or Ward doesnt get a new contract we still have 3.
 
I'm not counting on Tate. For all we know, this could be a Bennie Joppru rerun.

Some guys are just cursed and never get going in the pros. Until he proves he's not, then I think we should roll with the guys we've already got.

I'd like to see if they could get Slaton involved in the offense again with screens and lining him up out wide.
 
I wish they would've used Slaton more, but really he just had no spot to get the ball. Everything he did, either Ward or Foster did much better. It was also nice not having to worry about fumbling the ball too.

I am interested in seeing what Tate can do, but it's certainly an auspicious way to start an NFL career.
 
b0ng said:
I wish they would've used Slaton more, but really he just had no spot to get the ball. Everything he did, either Ward or Foster did much better. It was also nice not having to worry about fumbling the ball too.

I am interested in seeing what Tate can do, but it's certainly an auspicious way to start an NFL career.
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I just looked up the stats. Slaton had 19 carries for 93 yards this season.
 
Mr. White said:
I'm not counting on Tate. For all we know, this could be a Bennie Joppru rerun.

Some guys are just cursed and never get going in the pros. Until he proves he's not, then I think we should roll with the guys we've already got.

I'd like to see if they could get Slaton involved in the offense again with screens and lining him up out wide.
Click to expand...

The Texans and their 2nd rounds picks .

Joppru , Barwin , and Tate .
 
Having four legitimate RBs going into training camp would be good news for the Texans. All four can be kept on the opening day roster, if they make the cut. As far as playing time goes, that is up to the coaches and the players to work out.

Finally, the Texans are going to go into a season without the running back spot being a huge question mark. Personally, I think that is a good thing.
 
Our running game has a chance to be the best in the league if the guys can stay healthy next year. Foster, Tate, and Ward should be beastly running game. I hope they do bring back Ward for another year.
 
2002 Jabar Gaffney
2003 Bennie Joppru
2003 Tony Hollings
2004 Basically Jason Babin
2005 None - 2nd player drafted by Texans was Vernand Morency
2006 DeMeco Ryans
2007 None. Matt Schaub trade. 2nd player drafted by Texans was Jacoby Jones
2008 None. Matt Schaub trade. 2nd player drafted by Texans was Antwaun Molden
2009 Connor Barwin
2010 Ben Tate
2011 ???
 
If you look at the Bronco history with +1000 yard backs under Dennison, they will need lots of backs. It's the NFL. Injuries happen.
 
RB is probably the only position that I feel good about. I see all 4 backs on this roster next season.
 
badboy said:
RB is probably the only position that I feel good about. I see all 4 backs on this roster next season.
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& before last season, drafting Tate plus emergence of Arian Foster RB was a need position. Just goes to show how if a few things go your way how quickly perception/reality change.
 
If yall remember before the season started and we didn't know yet what Foster was going to do, we went from being very happy about our RBs to suddenly panicked as RBs started falling in training camp.

I don't really have a point to make other than you can't have enough RBs, or any other postion for that matter.
 
JCTexan said:
He didn't have a carry after week five though. Slaton will probably get carries in preseason but I don't expect him to make the roster next year.
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So? That doesn't really answer my question. If they have four RB's on the roster the 3rd and 4th will get little or no use barring injury. So why spend a draft pick on the 4th RB? Looks like change just for change.
 
infantrycak said:
So? That doesn't really answer my question. If they have four RB's on the roster the 3rd and 4th will get little or no use barring injury. So why spend a draft pick on the 4th RB? Looks like change just for change.
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Plus, he's turning into one heckuva' talented kick returner.

Anybody here realllly think that Joe Marciano is the one who stuck Slaton out there as kick returner?

Anybody here know Joe Marciano well enough to verify that this was Joe Marciano's plan and that he stuck with Slaton at kick returner for the whole season?

I'd rather have Dunta Robinson on my team, than Steve Slaton. And that's saying a lot (due to my stance on Dunta Robinson).

Steve Slaton is going to hit the bricks sometime. It's just a matter of time.

Other than trying to run him out there in order to raise his trade value, I see no real value for him on this team. He's finding piles of humans and running right into their backsides. Is he not?

He's lost his mojo.
 
GP said:
Plus, he's turning into one heckuva' talented kick returner.

Anybody here realllly think that Joe Marciano is the one who stuck Slaton out there as kick returner?

Anybody here know Joe Marciano well enough to verify that this was Joe Marciano's plan and that he stuck with Slaton at kick returner for the whole season?
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Yes I think it was Marciano. Other than just wanting to lump something else at Kubiak's feet there is no reason to think otherwise.

He's finding piles of humans and running right into their backsides. Is he not?

He's lost his mojo.
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Well he was running into them 4.9 yards down the field. I can see him gone if they only keep three RB's but see no need to change him out if they keep four.
 
infantrycak said:
Yes I think it was Marciano.
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"I think" is the key phrase in your post.

Of course, you're a better "thinker" than most others...so that means you win.

Look, I doubt Joe Marciano (whose SOLE job is Special Teams) (a) wanted Slaton returning kicks and (b) would stick with failure that long.

Sticking with failure, for too long, is the patented coaching style of Gary Kubiak. Gary decided to not cut Kris Brown. Gary decided to allow a competition in camp. Gary stuck his needs-to-be-taken-to-the-glue-factory running back out there as kick returner, I'm sure for the purposes of passing it off as an attempt to keep Slaton visible when he's now a ghost on this roster.

That's just what "I think," though. Couldn't have any possibility of plausibility though.

Outside of trade value, Steve Slaton is not even a tier 1 running back anymore. Foster and Ward are tier 1, based on their sustained efforts all year, Ben Tate is an unknown, and Steve Slaton is something like a tier 2 at this point. If that.
 
All I am asking is for someone to fess up and share some insider information about "why Slaton was chosen to return kicks, who selected him to do so, and why he was left to flounder out there all season long."

Until someone ponies up the info, then it's all speculation one way or another.

It most certainly IS lumping this in and throwing it at Kubiak's feet. This is his ship. And will be for 2011. And probably, somehow, will be for many years to come.

:swiggingkoolaid:
 
Super Mario said:
I think they will keep him next year. He is on the books for 2011: $555,000.

We have Foster / Ward / Tate / Slaton

If one gets injured, or Ward doesnt get a new contract we still have 3.
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Slaton's small salary will help if they choose to trade him. As for Ward, Texans should be able to bring him back. Can't see a 30 year old RB (will be 31 before start of next season) with low miles drawing much interest... we'll see.
 
I think Slaton stays. Especially if we get an expended roster if we go to an 18 game reg. season.
I don't like Slaton simply for the fact that I still don't trust him with the ball in his hands. Even in preseason he fumbled at the goal line. I don't want to go thru that again this upcoming season.
Tate is still to early to tell, but if we keep Ward, then I think we have a good 3 headed monster.
Ward did great for the limited time he spent in the games, and he provides some veteran leadership/post-season exprience.
Hope Tate was watching and learning the time he spent injured.
Im curious to see if Holliday spent anytime watching and learning. I fully expect him to get cut atleast into the pre-season.
 
TheRealJoker said:
Our 2nd round draft choice missed the entire regular season, and the guy he was gonna compete with for a starting job won the NFL rushing title. Then we signed Derrick Ward to replace Tate and he became a quality backup. If Tate recovers fully for next year and is as good as we thought he'd be when drafted, what direction does that take the Texans' offense?

Can we now gameplan like we did in the first Indy game and last Jags game where we run the ball down opposing teams' throats and only release the passing attack when we feel like it. Allowing Schaub to not have to force balls because he's spending most of his day handing the ball off to 3 quality NFL RBs who are pounding away at a defense.

Perhaps every 5th play we go long to AJ just to keep them off balance? Maybe put our 5 or 6 TEs to use by running a base 2 TE formation with lots of 3 TE looks because our top 4 TEs are threats to catch (excluding Hill who I put # 5)?

There is enough discussion on our coaching staff, now lets talk about what was once a weakness (RB) but is now in position to be the team's biggest strength.

PS: I don't think Slaton makes the team next year... hence the omission,
Click to expand...

You would think that would be the case (example Indy at on MNF this year), but you never know with Kubiak. I see Tate as a faster Arian Foster. I'd hope Kubiak learns how to use him.
 
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