Last Year.....................

The Texans had a great off season and they did so by doing three things. First, the hiring of Wade Phillips. Second, they spent money to bring in two premier free agents and one of them became a first time ever Pro Bowler in his career and the other free agent turned out to be a pretty damn good safety. Lastly the team had a great draft right up there with the 2006 draft or maybe even better than that one. All of which I believe led the Texans to their first ever playoff appearance this season. Here is hoping Gary and Rick do those exact three things I just mentioned all over again this year and from now on as well as staying relatively healthy of course. There is not anything to say they won't have another great off season but I would like to see them do great things consistently and trying to be positive too and I think/hope they will do so. What do you think?

I'm with you.

I think they need to find new people to rely on for scouting DBs.

We need a full time capologist if we don't have one.

I'd like to see Gary explore the possibilty of the "basketball player" TE, even though Schaub does not play as tall as Brady does. And of course WRs.

Well we don't have nearly the amount of cash that we did, and it's not like we're going to add another defensive coordinator, so I'm not sure this offseason can be nearly as franchise altering as the last, but with a great draft and continuity with the system, we can have a great shot at playing a game next February.

gary said:

The Texans had a great off season and they did so by doing three things. First, the hiring of Wade Phillips. Second, they spent money to bring in two premier free agents and one of them became a first time ever Pro Bowler in his career and the other free agent turned out to be a pretty damn good safety. Lastly the team had a great draft right up there with the 2006 draft or maybe even better than that one. All of which I believe led the Texans to their first ever playoff appearance this season. Here is hoping Gary and Rick do those exact three things I just mentioned all over again this year and from now on as well as staying relatively healthy of course. There is not anything to say they won't have another great off season but I would like to see them do great things consistently and trying to be positive too and I think/hope they will do so. What do you think?

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I don't expect Houston to hire another defensive coordinator or sign two guys in the secondary like Joseph & Manning. I would be just fine if they signed their own free agents this off-season (Foster, Myers, Brisiel, Williams).

I just mean a similar off season guys not all the same but close.

gary said:

I just mean a similar off season guys not all the same but close.

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It's possible to make another quantum jump in team awesomeness.

- Suppose we find a significant upgrade over K.W./J.J. - someone with GOOD HANDS that can stretch the field - in free agency to be our #2 WR...

- and we draft A.J.'s heir-apparent in this WR-rich draft.

- speaking of the draft, suppose we draft another big target, with some speed, at TE (there are a couple mentioned in the mock draft threads) and pair him with Dreessen or O.D.... Who wouldn't love to see a big, young, Gronk-like or V. Davis-like or Graham-like playmaker at TE added to our weaponry??

- I think Kubiak/Dennison could work on fine tuning our offense such that we use our 2 TE sets a little more aggressively ...like NE does ...like N.O. does...

Man, while the defense goes nickel to stop our multiple passing threats we gash them with Foster and Tate.... If they go std. to stop the running game we go over the top with one of our new weapons...

Yeah gary... there are things we can do that bring our offense up to the effectiveness level of our defense. Can you imagine if our passing offense is transformed to be as awesome as our defense...?

...oh and did I mention we draft a DB or WR that returns punts w/o fumbling...??

Aaaah.... off-season dreams...
ain't they grand?

ObsiWan said:

It's possible to make another quantum jump in team awesomeness.

- Suppose we find a significant upgrade over K.W./J.J. - someone with GOOD HANDS that can stretch the field - in free agency to be our #2 WR...

- and we draft A.J.'s heir-apparent in this WR-rich draft.

- speaking of the draft, suppose we draft another big target, with some speed, at TE (there are a couple mentioned in the mock draft threads) and pair him with Dreessen or O.D.... Who wouldn't love to see a big, young, Gronk-like or V. Davis-like or Graham-like playmaker at TE added to our weaponry??

- I think Kubiak/Dennison could work on fine tuning our offense such that we use our 2 TE sets a little more aggressively ...like NE does ...like N.O. does...

Man, while the defense goes nickel to stop our multiple passing threats we gash them with Foster and Tate.... If they go std. to stop the running game we go over the top with one of our new weapons...

Yeah gary... there are things we can do that bring our offense up to the effectiveness level of our defense. Can you imagine if our passing offense is transformed to be as awesome as our defense...?

...oh and did I mention we draft a DB or WR that returns punts w/o fumbling...??

Aaaah.... off-season dreams...
ain't they grand?

Click to expand...

You see Dreessen coming back? I hope he does.

Playoffs said:

I'm with you.

I think they need to find new people to rely on for scouting DBs.

We need a full time capologist if we don't have one.

I'd like to see Gary explore the possibilty of the "basketball player" TE, even though Schaub does not play as tall as Brady does. And of course WRs.

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Meet Chris Olsen.

Chris Olsen enters his fourth season with the Texans and first as the team’s vice president of football administration. He spent 13 years working at the NFL league office in New York. Olsen’s primary responsibility with the Texans is to work closely with general manager Rick Smith on negotiating player contracts and managing the salary cap.

Olsen served as the manager of labor operations with the NFL Management Council from 1999-2006. He was responsible for reviewing and analyzing player contracts to ensure teams were in compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and salary cap. He provided assistance to club executives pertaining to player-related areas of the CBA. He also served as a League liaison to the NFL Players Association regarding player contract matters. In addition, he served as a national game representative and as an instant replay communicator.

He began his tenure with the NFL in 1994 as an analyst in the player personnel department. He was promoted to coordinator in 1998 and became responsible for all facets of the player petition process on special eligibility for the NFL Draft (underclassman prospects) including coordinating player evaluations for the College Advisory Committee. He produced annual reports for the Competition Committee and reviewed player contracts to ensure their compliance with the NFL’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Olsen began working in professional sports during his senior year in college with the Springfield Indians Hockey Club of the AHL in 1989-90 where he served as a public relations/marketing intern. After spending a brief time working for Ark-Asset Management Company, a financial services firm in New York City, he continued his sports career in 1992 while in graduate school by serving as a public relations/marketing intern for the Hartford Whalers of the NHL. Prior to joining the NFL, he worked for the New Jersey State Golf Association.

Olsen is a native of Little Silver, N.J. He received his degree in Business Administration from Western New England College in 1990. He earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Springfield College in 1997. Olsen and his wife, Kim, reside in Houston.

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gary said:

The Texans had a great off season and they did so by doing three things.

First, the hiring of Wade Phillips.

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I've gone on record as saying Wade was a plus for the season. However, for a different reason than what most believe.

I do not believe Bush was not a good coach or DC. His 2009 season proves it in my mind. Personally, I think if our elite offense would have been able to do what the Patriots & Packers have been able to do in 2012, our defense would not have looked nearly as bad.

Our defense played very well in short spurts. An offense that could get an early lead (like we do this year) & play well with the lead (extending the lead, keeping the ball... again, like we have done this year) would have changed 2010.

On the one hand, Frank Bush was our scapegoat & the problem was actually one step higher in the chain. Gary. In my mind Gary should have demanded Bush play the aggressive defense that worked in 2009 & allowed the comebacks of 2010. He also should have got the offense started earlier. Our scoring in the first half was abysmal & predictable.

On the other hand... I think he let the offensive talent slide so much to fix the defense, that he probably did the best he could with the talent we had. Offensively, we simply don't have the talent they have in Greenbay, or New England. Hell, we don't even have the offensive talent they have in San Francisco. (1st rnd QB, 3 1st rounders on the OL, 2 1st round receivers, & a 1st round TE, not to mention Frank Gore).

gary said:

Second, they spent money to bring in two premier free agents and one of them became a first time ever Pro Bowler in his career and the other free agent turned out to be a pretty damn good safety.

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1st, it appears you are saying that Bob hasn't spent money before in FA..... jumping on that Bob is cheap bandwagon.

Many of our FAs in the past were the second best at their position. Antonio Smith, Weaver, Wade.... & I don't think money was the issue with Bodden. He was going back to New England regardless.

Jjo is, however, the only FA we brought in that outplayed expectations.

gary said:

Lastly the team had a great draft right up there with the 2006 draft or maybe even better than that one.

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I honestly don't see any difference between this draft & the Texans other drafts since 2007.

Looks like it's payed off better, but pick for pick they look similar. That happens. No one hits like that every year. No one.

gary said:

All of which I believe led the Texans to their first ever playoff appearance this season. Here is hoping Gary and Rick do those exact three things I just mentioned all over again this year and from now on as well as staying relatively healthy of course. There is not anything to say they won't have another great off season but I would like to see them do great things consistently and trying to be positive too and I think/hope they will do so. What do you think?

Click to expand...

The biggest difference in my opinion, is growth. Yeah, we had 2 rookies starting on defense. But we also had a lot of leadership from all over the place.... Schaub, the OL, Antonio, Cody, Jjo, Manning, Mario... all the young talent we acquired, is not so young anymore. They know what happens on the field has more to do with how they react. They are ready.

Put pressure on a young guy & watch him crack..... Jacoby anyone? Not to mention Foster. Fumbling is not his thing....... but these last bunch of games where he was told he has to be the man.... luckily we have enough verterans to overcome.

I think the defense will be even better (regardless of stats) with TC & OTAs under Phillips. This draft could be as good as last and/or upgrade OG & WR. My biggest concern is not Mario or Foster but Kubiak. Hopefully, a WR or two & a health season will make my concern mute.

Depending on Mario's future the free agent market could be little to nothing or as I hope as impactful as Joseph and Manning. What would you do with $18m if Mario went elsewhere?

thunderkyss said:

I've gone on record as saying Wade was a plus for the season. However, for a different reason than what most believe.

I do not believe Bush was not a good coach or DC. His 2009 season proves it in my mind. Personally, I think if our elite offense would have been able to do what the Patriots & Packers have been able to do in 2012, our defense would not have looked nearly as bad.

Our defense played very well in short spurts. An offense that could get an early lead (like we do this year) & play well with the lead (extending the lead, keeping the ball... again, like we have done this year) would have changed 2010.

On the one hand, Frank Bush was our scapegoat & the problem was actually one step higher in the chain. Gary. In my mind Gary should have demanded Bush play the aggressive defense that worked in 2009 & allowed the comebacks of 2010. He also should have got the offense started earlier. Our scoring in the first half was abysmal & predictable.

On the other hand... I think he let the offensive talent slide so much to fix the defense, that he probably did the best he could with the talent we had. Offensively, we simply don't have the talent they have in Greenbay, or New England. Hell, we don't even have the offensive talent they have in San Francisco. (1st rnd QB, 3 1st rounders on the OL, 2 1st round receivers, & a 1st round TE, not to mention Frank Gore).



1st, it appears you are saying that Bob hasn't spent money before in FA..... jumping on that Bob is cheap bandwagon.

Many of our FAs in the past were the second best at their position. Antonio Smith, Weaver, Wade.... & I don't think money was the issue with Bodden. He was going back to New England regardless.

Jjo is, however, the only FA we brought in that outplayed expectations.

I honestly don't see any difference between this draft & the Texans other drafts since 2007.

Looks like it's payed off better, but pick for pick they look similar. That happens. No one hits like that every year. No one.


The biggest difference in my opinion, is growth. Yeah, we had 2 rookies starting on defense. But we also had a lot of leadership from all over the place.... Schaub, the OL, Antonio, Cody, Jjo, Manning, Mario... all the young talent we acquired, is not so young anymore. They know what happens on the field has more to do with how they react. They are ready.

Put pressure on a young guy & watch him crack..... Jacoby anyone? Not to mention Foster. Fumbling is not his thing....... but these last bunch of games where he was told he has to be the man.... luckily we have enough verterans to overcome.

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Nowhere did I say Bob is cheap but not all free agent signings have worked out for the Texans for a few different reasons. Such as being hurt and past their prime which equals spending money but just not wisely spending it. On the other hand there have been free agents who have used the Texans as a stop gap to sign with other teams which sucks. Most good teams do hit big in most of their drafts also having a good DC like Wade is key because he knows what he is doing with good players without a good DC this year this team suffers once again in 2011.