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Tough Decisions to make

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We are gonna be making some tough cuts this year.

at RB:

Davis
Hollings
Wells
Anderson
Morency
Adam Mathews

I assume we are going to cut two of these.. possibly even three.. if we assume Mathews is one.. who will be the other? Hollings or Anderson or Wells?


on the Dline:

Walker
Payne
Smith
Deloach
Ioane
Sears
Travis Johnson
a bunch of young guys from FA

We gonna carry 7 Dlinemen during the season or cut one? I think Sears may be on his way out.


at LB we have a bunch of young guys, as well as Tim Cheatwood.. we could see Polk, C. Anderson, T. Evans, or Shantee Orr on their way out.

JJ Moses will be fighting for his job again too.

and BTW.. we already have 79 players.. if you include the 10 possible players you can send to NFLE.. that leaves 11 spots open on our roster still, for the offseason.
 
i think with the runningbacks you can expect anderson, mathews, and hollings to be cut...hollings is a failed experiment and the way wells ran last year he has solidified himself has a better back

i think this is the year sears gets cut...no point in having a back up d-lineman over the age of 30

the linebacker corp is a mess...so many guys...i think we'll cut a lot and take a lot after the june 1st cuts...i fully expect to see babin, wong, greenwood, peek, anderson, and maybe orr on the team...other than that i expect only that we will see a lot of linebackers in camp
 
I think Wong, Babin, Greenwood, Peek, Polk, and Anderson will definatly be there.

I think of what is left.. Tim Cheatwood has the best chance of making the team.
 
Davis, Morency, & Hollings will make the team. Wells likely fights for a roster spot with Baxter. Depending on how that turns out will decide if we carry two FB's or one.
 
does anyone know anything about this kid pettway...seems like an interesting prospect...i thought we were gonna pick up jonathan jackson but that's just me
 
Why do you think Hollings will beat out Wells anyway Vinny? you have said that a number of times, and I just dont see it personally.

Is it because he was a second round choice? I certainly hope we dont keep Hollings over Wells just cause we drafted him higher.
 
Hollings flashed legit running skills...something Wells does little of. Wells is a decent special teams player but thats about it. Hollings will be here. We will just have to wait and find out. No sense debating it.
 
Wells and Hollings are going to be fighting for the #3 RB spot, IMHO. Who will win? Hollings IF he manages to do something he hasn't done so far, and that is stay healthy. If he gets injured, Wells has proven that he isn't injury prone, so he stays.

as for you idea of Wells and Baxter fighting for the FB spot, I just don't see. I don't see 'tinker bell' Wells being a FB. He just ain't got the desire to lay out a head on block. He won't even take a tackler head on.

I would love to see it be Davis, Morency, and Hollings. I just don't have any confidence in Hollings ability to stay healthy.
 
I'm just curious about something Vinny and I want to know what you think. Now personally (and this is just my opinion) I'm very concerned that Tony Hollings might have been a mistake. I'm trying to keep the faith here but I just don't see it. I also understand that maybe the Texans see a whole lot of other stuff that I don't (after all I'm not exactly being stalked by a bunch of NFL teams asking me, the great "Pedro Iceland" what I think about their personnel.

So far we've got a grand total of 149 rushing yards out of Tony and another 71 yards in recieving. Now this isn't much in the way of a contribution and I'm wondering what each of those yards cost the Texans in dollars and cents. My question is simple, at this rate how much longer do you think the Texans hang on to Tony Hollings?

For that matter while I'm on the subject of Texans players who get paid but seemingly do little or nothing in return (not that this is necessarily their fault mind you, just, well there it is, they haven't done a thing) do you think another season of injured Bennie Joppru means the team stops counting on seeing him? I'm not hoping he's going to be hurt or anything nor am I dogging him for things that basically he couldn't help. I'm just wondering with Hollings and Joppru when does it reach "we got to do something else" level.

Boselli got two years before it just came to the point where facts had to be faced.
 
thegr8fan said:
as for you idea of Wells and Baxter fighting for the FB spot, I just don't see. I don't see 'tinker bell' Wells being a FB. He just ain't got the desire to lay out a head on block. He won't even take a tackler head on.
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I dont think they fight for the FB job...I think they fight for a roster spot. We can keep two or one FB's. I don't consider Wells FB material. if Wells makes it I think it will be at the expense of Baxter and not Hollings.
 
Hervoyel said:
I'm just curious about something Vinny and I want to know what you think. Now personally (and this is just my opinion) I'm very concerned that Tony Hollings might have been a mistake. I'm trying to keep the faith here but I just don't see it. I also understand that maybe the Texans see a whole lot of other stuff that I don't (after all I'm not exactly being stalked by a bunch of NFL teams asking me, the great "Pedro Iceland" what I think about their personnel.

So far we've got a grand total of 149 rushing yards out of Tony and another 71 yards in recieving. Now this isn't much in the way of a contribution and I'm wondering what each of those yards cost the Texans in dollars and cents. My question is simple, at this rate how much longer do you think the Texans hang on to Tony Hollings?

For that matter while I'm on the subject of Texans players who get paid but seemingly do little or nothing in return (not that this is necessarily their fault mind you, just, well there it is, they haven't done a thing) do you think another season of injured Bennie Joppru means the team stops counting on seeing him? I'm not hoping he's going to be hurt or anything nor am I dogging him for things that basically he couldn't help. I'm just wondering with Hollings and Joppru when does it reach "we got to do something else" level.

Boselli got two years before it just came to the point where facts had to be faced.
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I think they are pleased in what they have seen in Hollings in practice and in the field. He has to stay healthy, and this is a big year, but I think he has enough talent to return kick-offs, play in special teams, be a situational back. I think this is a critical year for Joppru as well. They are both in pretty much the same boat. If we just cut these guys they would just sign somewhere else, so whats the use in that? They have talent.
 
my mistake, Vinny. Thanks for the clarification. And yeah, I can agree with that assessment, the competition would then be between Baxter and Wells. But honestly I think Baxter stays in that situation as the more true FB who will be needed to block for our 'undersized' RB in short yardage situations. Which means Wells still is out, IMHO. IF, big IF, Hollings stays healthy.
 
i think the players will settle everything...i definetly see davis and morency being on the depth chart...wells and hollings will battle for the last spot...anderson and mathews i don't consider to factor in...i think wells ran better last season but that's just me
 
thegr8fan said:
my mistake, Vinny. Thanks for the clarification. And yeah, I can agree with that assessment, the competition would then be between Baxter and Wells. But honestly I think Baxter stays in that situation as the more true FB who will be needed to block for our 'undersized' RB in short yardage situations. Which means Wells still is out, IMHO. IF, big IF, Hollings stays healthy.
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hey Pete, I think we feel pretty much the same about Wells. Baxter has some running skills so I won't hold my breath on Wells, but Baxter is coming off an injury year as well. All I can do on Hollings is cross my fingers with the rest of you. :whistle:
 
thanks Vinny for the reply. :thumbup

I think the D-line final roster cuts are going to be very close this year. Given our definite drop off in pass rushing last year after Payne was injured it will be interesting to see who has improved and makes the cuts and who is on the outside looking in. I honestly couldn't make a guess at this point, but training camp is going to be very interesting for this perspective.
 
I, too, say that Hollings will make the team this year. While he hasnt been able to stay healthy, what I saw of him when he was, was enough to know that kid has talent. Even though it was only the preseason, that 29 yd run against the Cowboys was a great run. And no, its not just that one run that has me believing in him. However, if he cant stay healthy during the coming season then I wont expect him to be a Texan anymore.

I would further say which LB's and DL's I'd say would make it, but there isnt really any point to any of this 'til training camp. Im sure we will be signing more people in the coming weeks to add to the fire.

I will say this though... JJ will not make the team. It will be sad to see him go, but I feel it highly unlikely he makes this years squad. This will be by far the most talented competition he's faced.
 
the deck does seem to be stacked against JJ coming back. There are too many really good to great return men already on the roster who can also play other positions on special teams or even starters. JJ was fun to watch, but it would be very shocking to see him on opening day.
 
with all this 'wells v hollings' talk i thought i might chime in...

if wells gets let go then who is our bruiser? since we went with morency, a DD like back, in the draft who is going to be our grinder? if we are in the pittsburg/NE mold, i ask this: who better resembles a staley/bettis duo or corey dillion? i think power would be a trait that could be used to describe all three but not so much tony hollings. wells is also quite the special teamer where as hollings has been anything but special :heh: ....just my :twocents:
 
if wells gets let go then who is our bruiser?
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DD has shown a better yardage average at short yardage situations than Wells. So you gotta wonder why he couldn't continue to do so. I think in those instances, Baxter or Norris would be in a lead blocker situation, hopefully, and get the 'bruising' done.
 
Wells, i dont think he qualifies as a bruiser. he just doesnt use his size that way.

My biggest reason for keeping wells would be that he is an adequate runner, but is also our most durable runner, by far.

Morency I dont know about yet.. but he IS small and there is a fairly good chance that he would have durability issues if we ran him too much.

If Davis gets injured.. and Hollings gets injured (both very likely if you consider the past couple seasons).. then that leaves us with rookie RB Morency.. if Morency gets injured ..........

3 RBs is a lot.. but we could be put in a situation where our starting RB is having to play through an injury. Wells is the only guy on our roster with the size and durability to take alot of Carries. I see him as our saftey net with all our injury prone RBs.
 
theres no way Hollings beats out wells for a spot on the team. I mean come on, after 2 games we will be stuck with 2 RB cause hollings is injuried.
 
Wells and bruiser should only be together in the same sentence when it says, "Wells was pummeled by that bruiser of a punter..." :heh:
 
heheh, if so, then I wont be putting Texan rb's on my team. Seriously though, this probably wont be much different than last year. Prior to the start of the '04 season Capers said he would have DD run 15-20 times and Hollings 5-10 times.(I believe those were the #'s, but I could be off a touch.) Wells may have been factored in as well.
 
TexansTrueFan said:
theres no way Hollings beats out wells for a spot on the team. I mean come on, after 2 games we will be stuck with 2 RB cause hollings is injuried.
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Watch it happen. Folks have been wanting a homerun RB ever since the Texans started. If, and it is the big IF Hollings can stay healthy he is that guy. IF the OL will come together to consistantly open holes Davis/Morency will move the chains, but Hollings is the guy that if the OL gives him the 1st two yards he can take it all the way. Even in the extremely limited playing time he has had you can see he doesn't just have a 2nd gear, he moves straight from 1st to 3rd gear. If the OL never develops to get the RB's started Hollings needs to go to a team like Denver or KC. If the OL does develop, Katie bar the door. That's why he will make the team before Wells.
 
infantrycak said:
Watch it happen. Folks have been wanting a homerun RB ever since the Texans started. If, and it is the big IF Hollings can stay healthy he is that guy. IF the OL will come together to consistantly open holes Davis/Morency will move the chains, but Hollings is the guy that if the OL gives him the 1st two yards he can take it all the way. Even in the extremely limited playing time he has had you can see he doesn't just have a 2nd gear, he moves straight from 1st to 3rd gear. If the OL never develops to get the RB's started Hollings needs to go to a team like Denver or KC. If the OL does develop, Katie bar the door. That's why he will make the team before Wells.
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In agreement...
a link to my prediction in the 'Accountability Thread'... :)

My prediction... ___:whew
 
thegr8fan said:
the deck does seem to be stacked against JJ coming back. There are too many really good to great return men already on the roster who can also play other positions on special teams or even starters. JJ was fun to watch, but it would be very shocking to see him on opening day.
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Yep, I think so also. I see Mathis returning kick offs and Buchanon returning punts. We keep an extra LB or DL with JJ's spot.
 
My biggest reason for keeping wells would be that he is an adequate runner, but is also our most durable runner, by far.
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i think of durability when i think of a big pounding back. wells has shown improvement every year in houston, and last year could be considered a 'coming out party' for him and his role on the team. he proved he can consistanly get 2.5/3 yards by slamming into our zone blocking line and stay healthy doing it (wells averaged 3.6 yds a carry last year, which also raised his career average to 3.0 yds a carry). i'm not saying he punishes defense's when he has the ball, but more or less grinds his carries out because of his size and durability thus far.


Watch it happen. Folks have been wanting a homerun RB ever since the Texans started. If, and it is the big IF Hollings can stay healthy he is that guy. IF the OL will come together to consistantly open holes Davis/Morency will move the chains, but Hollings is the guy that if the OL gives him the 1st two yards he can take it all the way. Even in the extremely limited playing time he has had you can see he doesn't just have a 2nd gear, he moves straight from 1st to 3rd gear. If the OL never develops to get the RB's started Hollings needs to go to a team like Denver or KC. If the OL does develop, Katie bar the door. That's why he will make the team before Wells.
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i guess because of injuries (and a little because his goofy, upright running style :heh: ) i've just never developed into a hollings fan. i understand he's a project with raw ability, but i have always defended DD against the claims of him lacking 'homerun threat' speed. i know i am in the minority in this thinking but i think if the line can open a hole that would give hollings an opportunity to take it to the house, with DD's versatile combination of vision, explosiveness, speed and shiftyness; he is just as, if not more than, capable as TH is to go the distance. that's why i think wells is the better change of pace from two versatile and capable backs (DD/VM) to a big, pile pushing 'bruiser' who has improved every year as a texan. yeah, i said bruiser...again :cool:

this all being said, if tony stays healthy and earns his spot into the rotation then i'm all for it. i hope he has a chance to contribute to our success this year, but just judging from the past wells is the 3rd back on my depth chart...which almost counts for something :)
 
I think wells sneaks in again this year. We signed Baxter and Norris, any chance they both make it? My nod goes to Norris, he's paved the way for DD to get a gran 2yrs in a row.
 
Moses is gone - between PB and Mathis he is not needed
I think Wells is gone also - too many RBs and Hollings gets one more year to pan out
 
DD, Morency, and Norris are locks right now.

I'm writing off 2003 as Hollings rehab year. He was not back from his major surgery yet (remember he got injured only 2-3 months before McGahee did), so I am calling 2004 his rookie year. Last year he had some naggying injuries. He needs to remain healthy (if possible) and show us his "stuff" this year. I'd like to see him get 5-7 carries a game as our "change of pace" back.
Wells was serviceable last year but he doesn't give us anything we don't have already. Baxter was a short-yardage back in college and can fill that role. DD has done very well in short-yardage anyways. I have little doubt that Wells or Baxter is the odd man out. I think it will probably be Wells since Baxter can proved depth as both a FB and situational RB.

If we mix in Hollings and Morency some, it might help keep DD healthy.

I'd be curious to see how many players we had in 2002 are still with the team when the season starts.
 
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