What about pursuing Jared Allen in the upcoming offseason FA ?

You know, I know it. Mario is going to end up at strong-side where he played in college and which is his "natural position" as they say. He has the size & strength to be on the strong-side and go against the double team while still offering some ability as an pass-rusher.
But we need to find a real steller pass-rusher for the other side of the DLine
and this Jered Allen is a guy with a real motor, which is to say he consistantly plays with a high-level of intensity. I know he's had some personal problems. Namely he likes to drive around in his car after getting boozed-up. I dunno, maybe that's a show-stopper for Big Bob, he's so focused on the character thing. But maybe he needs to loosen up a bit with that ?
Oh, didn't forget about Anthony Weaver, our current strong-side DE. That's an issue for sure, but the current combo we have is not getting pressure on the opposing passer and we gotta get us a real play-maker on the weak-side edge.

We already have way too much money invested in the DL. Weaver isn't going anywhere, and his contract is huge. Unfortunately, we have too many other problems in my opinion to be going after a top end guy like Allen

The guy is good, but I can only imagine how much he would cost. We have so much money tied up on the Dline, I just don't think we could afford it.

IMO we are a DE away from having a monster of a pass rush. Think about it, Amobi has played solid against the pass and has put pressure on the opposing QB and is on pace to break Jeff Posey's single season sack record of 8. Williams is playing solid football and TJ has been a rock. Our glaring weakness is the other DE spot.

If we could get another pass rusher on the opposite end that would either cause the O to max protect, keep the back in to block, or get sacked.

TEXANRED said:

IMO we are a DE away from having a monster of a pass rush.

Click to expand...

Maybe. But, that doesn't mean the DE has to be a high $ FA or even a 1st round pick. If the top 9 in sacks, only one player was a 1st round pick (DeMarcus Ware). And none were high $ free agents. Often times these guys come into the league as tweeners (Dumervil & KGB) or as mid-major/small college prospects (Allen & Umenyiora). The Texans have missed on a couple of guys that fit the profile, but they need to keep trying.

Lucky said:

Maybe. But, that doesn't mean the DE has to be a high $ FA or even a 1st round pick. If the top 9 in sacks, only one player was a 1st round pick (DeMarcus Ware). And none were high $ free agents. Often times these guys come into the league as tweeners (Dumervil & KGB) or as mid-major/small college prospects (Allen & Umenyiora). The Texans have missed on a couple of guys that fit the profile, but they need to keep trying.

Click to expand...

I agree, I was more or less talking about not giving up on the DLine yet. But next year we have more cash than we do draft picks. The Texans still need a DE, CB, LT, RB, both OLB, and a S.

We could possibly wait till the second day to pick up a DE in the 4th round. But then again I really don't know what next years draft is looking like for DE's. LT and RB are more on my scope for the first pick. Really, our entire off season depends on Spencer.

We just can't throw our hands up as a team and say "Well Weaver is our guy cus we have so much money tied up in the DLine." I think the Texans have gone way past the point of no return on the front four.

TEXANRED said:

We could possibly wait till the second day to pick up a DE in the 4th round. But then again I really don't know what next years draft is looking like for DE's.

Click to expand...

There are tweeners available in every draft. Most of them don't make it, but the Texans just need to keep scouting until they hit the jackpot. I agree that Weaver isn't the answer, but he's OK in the base defense. The Texans just need to find a designated pass rusher to replace him in passing situations.

TEXANRED said:

I agree, I was more or less talking about not giving up on the DLine yet. But next year we have more cash than we do draft picks. The Texans still need a DE, CB, LT, RB, both OLB, and a S.

We could possibly wait till the second day to pick up a DE in the 4th round. But then again I really don't know what next years draft is looking like for DE's. LT and RB are more on my scope for the first pick. Really, our entire off season depends on Spencer.

We just can't throw our hands up as a team and say "Well Weaver is our guy cus we have so much money tied up in the DLine." I think the Texans have gone way past the point of no return on the front four.

Click to expand...

Id rather take a shot at a DE in the 6th maybe 7th round. Hopefully hit a Mark Anderson type. We just have too many other positions to draft.

Although Allen would be an upgrade, Dline isn't a top priority this offseason. If we're going to pay big bucks it needs to be on a secondary, center or LT. Allen is going to demand a lot of $$$.

When the Texans find a consistent pass rush, I guarantee that all of a sudden the texans will not have these extreme holes at postions not manned by Ryans or Robinson (healthy). Pass rush (not blitzing) is the biggest cure all for a defense in the NFL.

That said, it is doubtful the Allen makes it to free agency. He is an unstanding pass rusher who holds his own against the run.

I would throw massive $$ at Jared Allen. He is a game-changer, he's young, and he's got an infectious attitude and will be great for the Defense. I don't care how much we've invested in the DLine, there is nowhere else I'd rather overinvest. Having said that, I think he does have a strike against him for the substance abuse rules, so I'd want assurances given to rick smith- either written in the contract or some mighty strong promises!

I would be hugely surprised to see Allen leave KC. They will almost certainly franchise him if he doesn't agree to a deal early.

He is one of the best DE's in football right now and you don't let those get away.

dalemurphy said:

I would throw massive $$ at Jared Allen. He is a game-changer, he's young, and he's got an infectious attitude and will be great for the Defense. I don't care how much we've invested in the DLine, there is nowhere else I'd rather overinvest. Having said that, I think he does have a strike against him for the substance abuse rules, so I'd want assurances given to rick smith- either written in the contract or some mighty strong promises!

Click to expand...

Well all of this is acedemic. KC. is not going to let their best defenive guy shuffle off to Buffalo. They'll tag him. Just like Tennesse will tag Haynesworth. Wanna spend some bucks on something completely different , up grade one of the linebackers. The obvious fact is they don't have enough ammo to hit everything once again in the draft. The problem has been they send five or six , no one gets there. So they'll be there next off season tring to decide whether to go free agent on defense or offense. They could get into a bidding war for Carlos Dansby. Arizona is going to have to try to protect two guys. One of the big things that will happen about febuary is whethter or not they resign Weary. That'll be a big hint as to what they are thinking.

http://footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html
DL:
http://footballsfuture.com/2008/nfl/freeagentsDL.html
DB:
http://footballsfuture.com/2008/nfl/freeagentsDB.html

I don't think this brain trust will go after Aante Samuels. Everything they have done so far has pointed at being very frugal as far as DBs are concerned. That's also why with all due repect to Honeymoon, there is no way in hades they're targeting a Free Safty in the first. They may go after William Gay. They may draft a prospect in the first or third who is a big corner. But they won't buy a safty for ten or twenty million. That there thingy is a pipe dream.

The next big quetion is do you gamble on Dante and redo his deal now ? Or do you settle him out. They go after a big name corner, they can't spend #1 Cb money on two guys. I believe the inury will force them to draft one day one if they can't pick up a guy in FA. The reason they didn't sign a guy this week is because they are broke.

I cant believe i just read that Jarred Allen is a better overall play over Mario Williams.

threetoedpete said:

The reason they didn't sign a guy this week is because they are broke.

Click to expand...

They have plenty of money for signing the kind of guys who are available right now, i.e. street free agents who will sign for vet minimum. They didn't sign a guy this week because they didn't think anyone available would improve the team.

i thought kc had already re-signed him