canadiantexan
Waterboy
This Houston Texans off season has been one of the most debated off seasons in the young history of our franchise. First came the signings of Morland Greenwood (LB) from the Miami Dolphins and former Cleveland Brown Swinton(KR/DB). Then came the releasing of one of the fan favourites Jamie Sharper(LB) who led the team in tackles and the releasing of Jay Foreman(LB) who has been one of the leading tacklers since the conception of the team.
Then amid all the speculation leading up to the draft on wether our not we should use a first day pick on Aaron Glenns replacement this year we trade our second round pick as well as our one of our two third round picks in the 2005 NFL draft to the Oakland Raiders for conerback Phillip Buchanan. We then trade our 2005 first round pick #13 overall to the New Orleans Saints for their 2005 first round pick #16 overall plus the Saints 2006 third round draft choice while Texas LongHorns star and home town boy(sort of) Derrek Williams was still on the board. We then use the #16 pick on defensive lineman Travis Johnson. We also draft Vernand Morency(RB) in the third round, Jerome Mathis(WR) in the fourth as well as Drew Hodgdon(C),C.C. Brown(S) and Kenneth Petteway(LB).
Shortly after the NFL draft original Texans player and fan favourite Aaron Glenn asked permission to leave the team and was granted his release. Of course when you make drastic changes to any team in the NFL there is bound to be intense debate among that teams fans on if these moves were for the better or for the worst of the franchise and I'm sure the Houston Texans fans on this message board will vouch for that.
So in the name of debate I would like to say to the "the sky is falling" Texans fans out there that these were good moves that will not only help the team this year but in future years as well and I'll tell you why I think so.
First off Sharper and Foreman were making way to much money for the production they were showing. Sure they got alot of tackles but this is a system designed to get the ILB's alot of tackles. Secondly they were both getting older and starting to slow down. We now have Wong and Greenwood in their places, Wong back to where he played for Minnesota should be great in the middleand and get as many tackles as Sharpers plus has better coverage skills. Greenwood comes from a Miami team known for it's great defense and his speed and coverage skills are a huge upgrade over Foreman
.
Phillip Buchanan is worth a second rounder and Drew Henson(3rd rounder) any day of the week he has first round talent #17 overall talent to be exact. Not to mention he already has three years of NFL expierience at just 24 years old :woot . He is a big play player who can change a game by either a key interception or that momentom changing kick return for a touchdown.Sure he has gambled on balls a little in the past but you can't ignore his coverage abilities and studying under Hoke will only help him improve faster.Plus you get him coming from that sinking ship in Oakland and he's got something to prove which should drive him to excel.
Derrek Johnson was not what the Texans wanted. He was never really even considered by the Texans because we have Peek and Babin and we have to see what these guys can do this year. Babin will only be better in his second year and Peek has the potental to get 10 sacks a year. With that and the addition of Greenwood and the moving of Wong there was just not enough need at LB. There was how ever a need on our D-Line with the 30 somethings getting older and slowing down(just look at their numbers) and getting hurt. Add to that the 3rd rounder next year from the Saints and drafting Travis Johnson the top rated interior linemen in the draft was a great move.
I can't however say anything good about the Glenn release other than when you combine his salary with Sharpers and Foremens we will have the cap space to be able to sign a key player or two next year when we make it to super bowl contender status. That is why these moves while hard to handle emotionally will ultimatly be looked back upon as another huge step in the right direction for this franchise.
What do you think ? were these moves for the better or for the worse? I'd love to hear your side.
Then amid all the speculation leading up to the draft on wether our not we should use a first day pick on Aaron Glenns replacement this year we trade our second round pick as well as our one of our two third round picks in the 2005 NFL draft to the Oakland Raiders for conerback Phillip Buchanan. We then trade our 2005 first round pick #13 overall to the New Orleans Saints for their 2005 first round pick #16 overall plus the Saints 2006 third round draft choice while Texas LongHorns star and home town boy(sort of) Derrek Williams was still on the board. We then use the #16 pick on defensive lineman Travis Johnson. We also draft Vernand Morency(RB) in the third round, Jerome Mathis(WR) in the fourth as well as Drew Hodgdon(C),C.C. Brown(S) and Kenneth Petteway(LB).
Shortly after the NFL draft original Texans player and fan favourite Aaron Glenn asked permission to leave the team and was granted his release. Of course when you make drastic changes to any team in the NFL there is bound to be intense debate among that teams fans on if these moves were for the better or for the worst of the franchise and I'm sure the Houston Texans fans on this message board will vouch for that.
So in the name of debate I would like to say to the "the sky is falling" Texans fans out there that these were good moves that will not only help the team this year but in future years as well and I'll tell you why I think so.
First off Sharper and Foreman were making way to much money for the production they were showing. Sure they got alot of tackles but this is a system designed to get the ILB's alot of tackles. Secondly they were both getting older and starting to slow down. We now have Wong and Greenwood in their places, Wong back to where he played for Minnesota should be great in the middleand and get as many tackles as Sharpers plus has better coverage skills. Greenwood comes from a Miami team known for it's great defense and his speed and coverage skills are a huge upgrade over Foreman
.Phillip Buchanan is worth a second rounder and Drew Henson(3rd rounder) any day of the week he has first round talent #17 overall talent to be exact. Not to mention he already has three years of NFL expierience at just 24 years old :woot . He is a big play player who can change a game by either a key interception or that momentom changing kick return for a touchdown.Sure he has gambled on balls a little in the past but you can't ignore his coverage abilities and studying under Hoke will only help him improve faster.Plus you get him coming from that sinking ship in Oakland and he's got something to prove which should drive him to excel.
Derrek Johnson was not what the Texans wanted. He was never really even considered by the Texans because we have Peek and Babin and we have to see what these guys can do this year. Babin will only be better in his second year and Peek has the potental to get 10 sacks a year. With that and the addition of Greenwood and the moving of Wong there was just not enough need at LB. There was how ever a need on our D-Line with the 30 somethings getting older and slowing down(just look at their numbers) and getting hurt. Add to that the 3rd rounder next year from the Saints and drafting Travis Johnson the top rated interior linemen in the draft was a great move.
I can't however say anything good about the Glenn release other than when you combine his salary with Sharpers and Foremens we will have the cap space to be able to sign a key player or two next year when we make it to super bowl contender status. That is why these moves while hard to handle emotionally will ultimatly be looked back upon as another huge step in the right direction for this franchise.
What do you think ? were these moves for the better or for the worse? I'd love to hear your side.
