Upon further review - DD/DW

Just curious on what folks thoughts on DD/DW are now that he's done. I'm assuming that he's not going to sign anywhere else and that his career is finished.

On one hand, he's the all time leading rusher for the franchise and one of very few bright spots in the Texans' early seasons. Being an ex-LSU player on raises his stock in my book.

On the other hand, I get the impression from some of the message board posts that some disagree with how he handled his knee injury at the end.

What say ye?

I agree. Watching the games, DD did a lot of workhorsing for the Texans. He was a running, pass-catching machine and David Carr's dump-off if AJ wasn't available. I am glad he came here, and I think the Texans definitely got a good deal out of him. I think he was a fifth-rounder.

On the other hand, his leaving left a bad taste. For a run-first offense, he really threw the Texans under the bus by not being able to play last year. But is he 100% to blame for how it was handled? More knowledgeable people than I have that information. I am content to think of the guy who was the Texans' first memorable running back.

He's one of my favorite players. I think he had a lot of potential and didn't get the chance to really exploit it.

I think he really thought he was going to be able to come back. I don't think he was trying to blow sunshine. I heard a lot of people bagging on him about not sucking it up and playing but there are some things that you just can't play through.

I'm really sad that he's not going to be a part of the team when we start winning and that he's not going to be able to share in that.

DD did plenty for this franchise. What happened to him is not at his fault at all in any way.

I think he was a bright spot in the Texans brief history, and he probably thought he could make it back. That is the competitor in him. If there is any blame to be placed for the DD situation last year, it belongs to people who should have been able to step back and evaluate what they were seeing.

To expect a fairly young player to look at himself objectively might be too much to ask. I say that from a viewpoint of thinking of the players as people first and athletes second. They aren't unemotional cogs in a football machine.

DD was a great 3rd down back that got thrust into a full time starting job and did well. The only problem was he just wasn't built to carry the load, and Capers ran him into the ground until his body quit.

My view of him will always be off, because he cost us my boy Reggie last year, but he was a great player.

I'm happy for double DD that he got that big, sweet new contract at the beginning of his last season, because if they'd have waited until the season was over he might not have got rewarded like he did for what was an excellent NFL career up to that point. Dumb-ass move by Casserly cap-wise, but good deal for double DD.
I hope he manages his money well and doesn't waste it, let it slip thru his fingers, make a lot of foolish financial decisions like a lot of other pro jocks do. And I hope that knee doesnt give him too much trouble later in life.

I hope DDW makes a lot of good financial decisions like a lot of other pro jocks do.

DDW got paid by a fool, CC, who made a lot of bad financial decisions much like a lot of other GM's do.

Runner said:

I think he was a bright spot in the Texans brief history, and he probably thought he could make it back. That is the competitor in him. If there is any blame to be placed for the DD situation last year, it belongs to people who should have been able to step back and evaluate what they were seeing.

To expect a fairly young player to look at himself objectively might be too much to ask. I say that from a viewpoint of thinking of the players as people first and athletes second. They aren't unemotional cogs in a football machine.

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And they say they've learned by that by not planning and expecting injured players to come back when making draft and free agent decisions.

I thought that whole situation last year was mishandled. With the description of his injury, it never sounded like physically he could come back, but there was a lot of whispering by the Texans that he could play if he could man up through the pain. Last year sounded more like wishing and hoping: "Gee, we didn't draft Reggie, let's trash DD and Mathis for being injured"--both injuries ones that the Texans had a hard time diagnosing because of the nature of the injuries.

I know that you don't want a team of wusses, where every injury derails them. But if someone has a legit injury, it's not cool to imply that if they just sucked it up, it would all be better.

The1ApplePie said:

DD was a great 3rd down back that got thrust into a full time starting job and did well. The only problem was he just wasn't built to carry the load, and Capers ran him into the ground until his body quit.

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That pretty much sums it up. Domanick was drafted as a 3rd down RB/return specialist. Then, Capers & Palmer wore out a guy who was one of the best 3rd down backs in the league trying to save a QB who couldn't be saved here.

Casserly gets a lot of blame around here for the failures of this organization (and deservedly so). But, he did realize that Domanick was being run in the ground, and drafted Morency in '05 to take the pressure off. Of course, Capers and Pendry refused to use the rookie until they had no choice. Careers of good players can be ruined with a dysfunctional organization

Lucky said:

Capers and Pendry refused to use <insert name here> until they had no choice.

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This line could be used for so many players it really makes you wonder where the Texans would be if they developed and used what talent they had a little more wisely through the years.

It's nice to be turning that particular corner.

Total Overachiever. Plain and simple. Thanks for everything DDW.

I thought DD was doing great. I Know here I go everything is Carr's fault. If Carr would have not overused DD maybe he would still be playing. Carr hands off to DD, Carr throws a shot pass to DD and Carr throws a screen to DD. DD probally touched the ball at least 60 &#37; of the plays.

My only problem with DD was I couldn't understand why he never was on the sideline at all last year. I know he didn't have to but, you're getting paid millions of dollars from the Texans at least show your face once in a while.

So good luck DD in whatever you do and I hope your knee gets better at least a normal citizen.

caddy said:

I enjoyed D.D. and found out about haters who would make up stuff against players. Once when he busted through a whole in the Titans defence some here swore that Fisher told the defence to let him score. They discounted his break-away run as a gift touchdown. As for his injury, I feel most athletes are use to getting more from their bodies than others regularly do. And therefore feel that they can overcome most things that others couldn't. So they have heard you can't and in the past they have proved they could. To admit they can't, is something that is unknown to them.

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Not taking anything away from DDW, because I thought he was nails for us when he was on the field, it was/would have been a sound tactical choice for them to let Davis score on that play as we could have run the clock out in that situation. It doesn't take anything away from Davis. I'm glad he played for us and I hope that whoever comes in does as well as he did.

caddy said:

I enjoyed D.D. and found out about haters who would make up stuff against players.

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While I am sure that you recognize haters as birds of a feather, you've got to let it go and quit living in the past, man. It's bad for your blood pressure, not to mention your mental outlook on life. But perhaps old habits die hard, and some dogs can't learn new tricks.

Careful...careful...you might recognize this post as sarcasm. So watch out!

I'm not going to lie....I wasn't a big DD fan.......I wish him the best of luck with whatever he goes into next though....

As an athlete (though a crappy one ) that had his career ended by a knee injury, I have a ton of sympathy for DD

But, I am still pissed that he was "Good to go" before the draft, but as soon as Bush wasn't comming to town, he was too injured to play. It was probably the Doc's fault, not DD.

My take on DD has always been this... Casserly and Capers drafted DD to be a third down back and to return some kicks. Because of their ineptatude at finding someone to be the everydown back DD was forced into that situation and performed rather well... C & C thought they had gotten and easy ride with DD and figured they didn't need to address that situation and instead rewarded DD with a big contract. I don't blame DD for that. I would have considered that back-pay..... For his service, I thank him and wish him the best in whatever he does.

Problem is, they knew when he was drafted that he had a knee issue. Something that would NOT get better - but could only get worse and they continued to ignore that position...

Last year was a debacle, but I think I have to agree with Apple here and say that it probably was Docs fault by overstating the re-hab or not being forthright with the progress.. Either that or he is just a complete dumbass that doesnt need to practice anymore.

DD was taken in the 4th round in 2003. Here is a list of the RBs taken ahead of him, in order:

Willis McGahee
Larry Johnson
Musa Smith
BJ Askew
Chris Brown
Justin Fargas
Artose Pinner

Of those, only LJ clearly outperformed DD.

DD had, in his three years, 3195 RuYds, 4.1 YPC, 23 RuTD, 154 rec., 1276 RecYds, and 5 RecTDs.

McGahee did not play his first year, and has played the last three years running. He has 3365 RuYds, 3.9 YPC, 24 RuTDs, 68 rec., 503 RecYds, and 0 RecTDs.

Chris Brown has, for his career, 2295 RuYds, 4.2 YPC, 11 RuTDs, 55 rec., 539 RecYds, and 2 RecTDs.

The rest weren't even worth noting, obviously. Now, I know stats don't tell the whole story, but at the end of the day, production on the field matters more than spec. That is the argument many of you keep trotting out there with regard to Mario. Well, DD didn't measure up to anyone's spec for a good RB, yet he produced. And he did it in a poor offense, with a bad QB, poor coaching, while handling more of the offensive load than any other offensive player.

He broke down, and for that reason, you have to like McGahee and even Chris Brown better than him overall, but for production on a per-touch basis, no one but LJ outclassed him, from the group he was drafted with. Personally, I like DD because he overcame athletic shortcomings and produced. I like him because, despite the fact that he wasn't the fastest, biggest, quickest, <insert superlative here> RB, he still produced. Would I have rather had LT, or the next Earl Campbell? Of course! But DD did a job, and he did it well. I say thank you to him, and I wish him luck in the future.

That was one of the interesting aspects of the Texans' use of Davis, and one of the reasons I think the guy deserves respect from the front office and his peers. If he wasn't running the ball, he was catching the ball. He had a LOT of reception yardage while he was here.

It begs the comparison of Davis to Green, since like Davis, Green is also a receiving running back. I think the difference will be that Kubiak knows better than to run out Green on every play -- Green will be used wiser.

eriadoc said:

That is the argument many of you keep trotting out there with regard to Mario.

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I don't understand what any of that has to do with Mario.

Please explain.

The difference is McGahee and LJ are still playing, while DD is a cripple. DD just couldn't take the full time load.

xtruroyaltyx said:

I don't understand what any of that has to do with Mario.

Please explain.

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The most prevalent argument against DD that I saw on this board was that DD was not a breakaway back - that he wasn't the fastest, biggest, quickest, or whatever. Basically, people wanted to measure him based on spec. We all want the next LT (Reggie Bush, anyone?), or whatever. Well, DD didn't meet spec, but he produced.

I just contrasted the situation with Mario, because I've seen the argument here that Mario shouldn't have been drafted on spec, but he was. Now he'll be judged by his performance. Why not judge DD by his performance? (not you specifically, but many didn't/don't).

That was all I was saying.

The1ApplePie said:

The difference is McGahee and LJ are still playing, while DD is a cripple. DD just couldn't take the full time load.

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And that's why I said you have to like McGahee or even Chris Brown better than DD, at least long-term. But DD was drafted in the 4th round, to be a 3rd-down back and return guy. So he absolutely overachieved. And some of the guys taken ahead of him (Musa Smith, BJ Askew, Justin Fargas, Artose Pinner) may never outproduce DD, regardless of the fact that he's out of football now.

Texans Horror said:

That was one of the interesting aspects of the Texans' use of Davis, and one of the reasons I think the guy deserves respect from the front office and his peers. If he wasn't running the ball, he was catching the ball. He had a LOT of reception yardage while he was here.

It begs the comparison of Davis to Green, since like Davis, Green is also a receiving running back. I think the difference will be that Kubiak knows better than to run out Green on every play -- Green will be used wiser.

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If by wiser you mean stay into block sometimes - Green has been quoted as saying he likes to stay in and block. He takes pride in protecting his QB, something DD wasn't all that great at doing.

Yes, in part, but also that Green will share time with other Texans running backs. I think it will be more in line with some of the other running back tandems around the league.

DD was one of my favorite players during the Texans early years. He was the classic overacheiver and was what made our offense go. Obviously wasnt capable of carrying an entire offense on his shoulders because he's been worn down to nothing at this point, but i'll always look back on him fondly as our first real RB.


its a shame really, the old coaching staff not only ruined his career but could potentially really hinder him for the rest of his life. Knee injuries and problems dont just go away after your done playing.


Also on a less serious note, i loved running with DD in ESPN 2k5. old game i know but its much better then Madden. DD was a beast in that game even though he had a modest overall rating