barrett
All Pro
As we enter the mid-way point of the 2014 season, many of the questions about a team in transition, have begun to come clear. Obviously there are still many unknowns but after the last three games we are beginning to see some performances that are settling into consistent play. Players are getting comfortable, coaches are getting comfortable and the result of this is that we as fans and film buff's are figuring out what we have going forward.
Injuries can effect this over the course of the second half of the season, so can players going in the tank in a new system, coaches getting in over their heads, et cetera. Assuming that everyone on the Texans team continues playing and coaching as well or better than what we've seen through the first half of the season, what roster changes do you predict Bill O'Brien and Rick Smith making as we look ahead to next year?
This staff has made changes to players that were known commodities and I think that is significant when you consider a players value going forward. Look at Kareem Jackson. Jackson was not highly regarded in his first two seasons. He improved to become an above average outside corner and now, Romeo Crennel has moved him inside to take advantage of his physical play and he has excelled. He's making more plays on the ball and is being used as a blitzer and a key defender in the outside run game.
Kareem is in the last year of his contract. He is playing a more significant role than his counterpart, Jonathan Joseph who has the third highest cap figure according to sportrac.com. Do the Texans make resigning him a priority? Can the Texans afford to make him a priority?
The Texans appear to be upside down on my favorite player, Brian Cushing. Committed money long term (2019) and physically he appears to be a shell of his former self after two significant knee surgeries. There have been plenty of discussions on this board about the significance of his injury. The part that appears the most devastating to my eyes, is that Cush appears to have lost his instincts and his aggression. He's become a two down 'backer, much like DeMeco Ryans after his achilles injury. Two down 'backer's should not be among the highest paid players on the roster, especially if under performing. But how do you compensate for his tenacity as a leader and a core member of the hard-working, football-obsessed player model that the Texans, and championship teams, want more of?
And then there is Andre Johnson. So much intrinsic value is placed on the greatest player to ever suit up in a Houston Texans uniform. Outside of that intrinsic value, there are clear signs of diminished skills as well as focus. 'Dre's not very good against contested catches anymore and his speed is a non factor at this stage of his career. He is a below average blocker. He is still a physical player who has to be respected and is good for a spectacular catch every few games, but there are many physical receivers who can play well inside and are good at catching the ball.
It would be crazy to even consider finding someway to move Andre if it weren't for the tourniquet effect that he has on the Texans salary cap, compared to his productivity.
What about Derrick Newton? The Texans RT might have been someone you let walk but the current coaching staff has renewed interest the young, athletic tackle and there is no one being groomed behind him. He's inconsistent as is much of the Oline this year but when he is on, he looks very good in both the run and passing game.
Many of you will suggest Fitzpatrick, but he's on a two year deal and this offense is complicated at the line of scrimmage. Even with an early round young QB, Fitzpatrick will be expected to lead the team, at least early, in 2015.
What parts of the roster should be considered fat trimming? What about Kendrick Lewis, Ryan Pickett, Brooks Reed and Akeem Dent? These are just a few names that should be up for discussion.
2015 FA's:--------------------AGE---EXP
Kareem Jackson--CB---UFA---26--4
Danieal Manning --S---UFA----32--8
Brooks Reed-----OLB---UFA---27--3
Derek Newton---RT--- UFA---27--3
Tim Jamison----DE--- UFA---28--5
Ryan Mallett-----QB---UFA---26--3
Akeem Dent-----ILB---UFA---27--3
Jerrell Powe-----DT--- UFA---27--3
Jeff Tarpinian---OLB---RFA---27--3
Kendrick Lewis----S---UFA---28--4
Damaris Johnson-WR---RFA---24--2
Cody White -------C----RFA---26--2
Ricky Sapp ------OLB---UFA---27 --3
Eddie Pleasant ----S---ERFA---25 --2
Ryan Pickett ------DT---UFA----35--13
John Simon ------OLB---ERFA---24--1
Zac Diles ---------ILB---UFA----29--7
------------POS AGE EXP. CONTRACT TERMS AVERAGE SALARY GUARANTEED FREE AGENT
J.J. Watt DE 25 3 6 yr $100,005,425 $16,667,571 $51,876,000 2022
Andre Johnson WR 33 11 7 yr $67,800,000 $9,685,714 $20,500,000 2017
Duane Brown LT 29 6 6 yr $53,400,000 $8,900,000 $22,081,500 2019
Brian Cushing ILB 27 5 6 yr $52,500,000 $8,750,000 $21,000,000 2020
Johnathan Joseph CB 30 8 5 yr $48,750,000 $9,750,000 $23,500,000 2016
Arian Foster RB 28 5 5 yr $43,500,000 $8,700,000 $20,750,000 2017
Chris Myers C 33 9 4 yr $25,000,000 $6,250,000 $14,000,000 2016
Jadeveon Clowney OLB 21 4 yr $22,272,998 $5,568,250 $22,272,998 2018
Kareem Jackson CB 26 4 5 yr $13,520,000 $2,704,000 $7,365,000 2015
Garrett Graham TE 28 4 3 yr $11,250,000 $3,750,000 $4,500,000 2017
Whitney Mercilus OLB 24 2 4 yr $7,634,088 $1,908,522 $6,203,084 2016
DeAndre Hopkins WR 22 1 4 yr $7,626,702 $1,906,676 $6,181,697 2017
Ryan Fitzpatrick QB 31 9 2 yr $7,250,000 $3,625,000 $4,000,000 2016
Xavier Su'a-Filo G 23 4 yr $5,551,601 $1,387,900 $3,967,700 2018
Shane Lechler P 38 14 3 yr $5,500,000 $1,833,333 $1,000,000 2016
Brooks Reed OLB 27 3 4 yr $4,701,764 $1,175,441 $2,883,184 2015
D.J. Swearinger S 23 1 4 yr $3,491,301 $872,825 $1,315,628 2017
Injuries can effect this over the course of the second half of the season, so can players going in the tank in a new system, coaches getting in over their heads, et cetera. Assuming that everyone on the Texans team continues playing and coaching as well or better than what we've seen through the first half of the season, what roster changes do you predict Bill O'Brien and Rick Smith making as we look ahead to next year?
This staff has made changes to players that were known commodities and I think that is significant when you consider a players value going forward. Look at Kareem Jackson. Jackson was not highly regarded in his first two seasons. He improved to become an above average outside corner and now, Romeo Crennel has moved him inside to take advantage of his physical play and he has excelled. He's making more plays on the ball and is being used as a blitzer and a key defender in the outside run game.
Kareem is in the last year of his contract. He is playing a more significant role than his counterpart, Jonathan Joseph who has the third highest cap figure according to sportrac.com. Do the Texans make resigning him a priority? Can the Texans afford to make him a priority?
The Texans appear to be upside down on my favorite player, Brian Cushing. Committed money long term (2019) and physically he appears to be a shell of his former self after two significant knee surgeries. There have been plenty of discussions on this board about the significance of his injury. The part that appears the most devastating to my eyes, is that Cush appears to have lost his instincts and his aggression. He's become a two down 'backer, much like DeMeco Ryans after his achilles injury. Two down 'backer's should not be among the highest paid players on the roster, especially if under performing. But how do you compensate for his tenacity as a leader and a core member of the hard-working, football-obsessed player model that the Texans, and championship teams, want more of?
And then there is Andre Johnson. So much intrinsic value is placed on the greatest player to ever suit up in a Houston Texans uniform. Outside of that intrinsic value, there are clear signs of diminished skills as well as focus. 'Dre's not very good against contested catches anymore and his speed is a non factor at this stage of his career. He is a below average blocker. He is still a physical player who has to be respected and is good for a spectacular catch every few games, but there are many physical receivers who can play well inside and are good at catching the ball.
It would be crazy to even consider finding someway to move Andre if it weren't for the tourniquet effect that he has on the Texans salary cap, compared to his productivity.
What about Derrick Newton? The Texans RT might have been someone you let walk but the current coaching staff has renewed interest the young, athletic tackle and there is no one being groomed behind him. He's inconsistent as is much of the Oline this year but when he is on, he looks very good in both the run and passing game.
Many of you will suggest Fitzpatrick, but he's on a two year deal and this offense is complicated at the line of scrimmage. Even with an early round young QB, Fitzpatrick will be expected to lead the team, at least early, in 2015.
What parts of the roster should be considered fat trimming? What about Kendrick Lewis, Ryan Pickett, Brooks Reed and Akeem Dent? These are just a few names that should be up for discussion.
2015 FA's:--------------------AGE---EXP
Kareem Jackson--CB---UFA---26--4
Danieal Manning --S---UFA----32--8
Brooks Reed-----OLB---UFA---27--3
Derek Newton---RT--- UFA---27--3
Tim Jamison----DE--- UFA---28--5
Ryan Mallett-----QB---UFA---26--3
Akeem Dent-----ILB---UFA---27--3
Jerrell Powe-----DT--- UFA---27--3
Jeff Tarpinian---OLB---RFA---27--3
Kendrick Lewis----S---UFA---28--4
Damaris Johnson-WR---RFA---24--2
Cody White -------C----RFA---26--2
Ricky Sapp ------OLB---UFA---27 --3
Eddie Pleasant ----S---ERFA---25 --2
Ryan Pickett ------DT---UFA----35--13
John Simon ------OLB---ERFA---24--1
Zac Diles ---------ILB---UFA----29--7
------------POS AGE EXP. CONTRACT TERMS AVERAGE SALARY GUARANTEED FREE AGENT
J.J. Watt DE 25 3 6 yr $100,005,425 $16,667,571 $51,876,000 2022
Andre Johnson WR 33 11 7 yr $67,800,000 $9,685,714 $20,500,000 2017
Duane Brown LT 29 6 6 yr $53,400,000 $8,900,000 $22,081,500 2019
Brian Cushing ILB 27 5 6 yr $52,500,000 $8,750,000 $21,000,000 2020
Johnathan Joseph CB 30 8 5 yr $48,750,000 $9,750,000 $23,500,000 2016
Arian Foster RB 28 5 5 yr $43,500,000 $8,700,000 $20,750,000 2017
Chris Myers C 33 9 4 yr $25,000,000 $6,250,000 $14,000,000 2016
Jadeveon Clowney OLB 21 4 yr $22,272,998 $5,568,250 $22,272,998 2018
Kareem Jackson CB 26 4 5 yr $13,520,000 $2,704,000 $7,365,000 2015
Garrett Graham TE 28 4 3 yr $11,250,000 $3,750,000 $4,500,000 2017
Whitney Mercilus OLB 24 2 4 yr $7,634,088 $1,908,522 $6,203,084 2016
DeAndre Hopkins WR 22 1 4 yr $7,626,702 $1,906,676 $6,181,697 2017
Ryan Fitzpatrick QB 31 9 2 yr $7,250,000 $3,625,000 $4,000,000 2016
Xavier Su'a-Filo G 23 4 yr $5,551,601 $1,387,900 $3,967,700 2018
Shane Lechler P 38 14 3 yr $5,500,000 $1,833,333 $1,000,000 2016
Brooks Reed OLB 27 3 4 yr $4,701,764 $1,175,441 $2,883,184 2015
D.J. Swearinger S 23 1 4 yr $3,491,301 $872,825 $1,315,628 2017
