I'll take a shot at My Ideal Off Season.
FA -- Travis Henry RB, Donte Stallworth WR;
Trade: 8th pick for Buffalo's 12th pick and their 3rd round pick. Not sure why they'd need to be at 8 unless Peterson's there, but there would be real value for the Texans at 12.
1) 12th pick Levi Brown LT -- The real question is how does Levi grade out compared to Baker, Long and Gaither who will be in the 08 draft. If he's overvalued, we should sign Petticoat (sp) and draft Landry. At 12 though, we'd get great value.
2) A Ross or D Hughes CB -- If we could draft Khalil in the 2nd and still get Hughes in the 3rd I'd be all for that.
3) Steele - C
3) from Buffalo Rufus Alexander OLB
4) Kareem Brown DT -- I thought this was a typo but the guy had 11 sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, and is noted as a run stopper;
5) Josh Gattis FS
6) Mkristro (sp) Bruce DE Wash St -- or enter your favorite Mark Anderson wanna be here;
7) Bishop UCLA LB; Michael Roe CB; David Ball NH WR or Jordan Palmer QB UTEP;
That would leave a line up of:
LT - Levi
LG - Pitts/Weary
C - Steele/McKinney with Flannagan released;
RG - Winston/Weary
RT - Winston/Spencer
This would be a young, 6 man rotation (with all 6 drafted by the Texans on day 1) with McKinney and Salaam as mentors. I think we'd actually be able to just leave this line alone for the next 5 years and let them get some reps together and grow as a unit.
WR Johson / Stallworth / Walters / Mathis
I actually think Stallworth would be an upgrade over Moulds. Donte had some monster games last year and if healthy would be an asset. I can't see drafting a WR this draft. A stud #2 WR is a luxury we probably don't get right now.
RB Henry / Dayne / Taylor / Lundy
FB Leach / Cook
TE Daniels / Putzier
QB Carr / Sage
The only ? mark on that offense would be Carr. It'd be the best OL in team history that should open some holes for even mediocre backs to run through. The WRs would have much more time to get open.
Defense
DE Mario
DT Kareem Brown / TJ
DT Maddux / Weaver
DE Weaver / Babin / Kalu / Bruce
For me, there's no reason Maddux shouldn't start for the Texans and starting him shouldn't be a reflection on the line. He earned it. He was a 4th round pick of Jax; he had some legal issues and dropped in the draft b/c of it. And yes, he was selling furniture last year. He was paid $79,000 last year by the Texans, less than probably several on this board. It's a great story if you ask me and if he can beat out the rest, he should start.
OLB Greenwood
MLB Ryans
OLB Alexander
CB D Robinson
CB Ross or Hughes
Nickel CB Faggins / Roe
FS Gattis
SS Earl / Brown
Our secondary would hopefully suddenly become an asset. And that front 7 should be able to stop the run if not totally get after the QB.
The only real question marks on that whole team would be QB, RB, DE and FS. I would go RB and FS 1 and 2nd round in 08, with maybe a QB in the 3rd and a DE in FA. And wa la, the Texans should compete for the playoffs in 08 and beyond.
