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Travis Johnson? No one suspected that

Hervoyel said:
When I see the Texans passing on DJ after kicking both of their inside linebackers to the curb I can't help but be a little confused.
Hey Herv, we were all blown away by the Pub about DJ - but he's obviously
just not that good in the Texans estimation because we do need help at LB, but they passed on him bigger than hell. I was really surprised when the Cowboys passed on him, but then the light went on when we did tfhe same thing at 13. I would have bet 1,000 bucks (honestly, maybe 5K), that DJ goes
off the Board before Benson. I dunno....overrate one guy but underrate another. Will be interesting to see how their NFL careers play out.
 
Hervoyel said:
...
When I see the Texans passing on DJ after kicking both of their inside linebackers to the curb I can't help but be a little confused..
Morlon Greenwood is playing the position that DJ would play in the Texans system. G'wood is not ideally suited for the Buc so the question then would be what are we going to do with this new FA we just signed to replace Sharper. Now if they hadn't signed G'wood - no brainer.
 
Sudds, I have played football before, but my question is this; how does that phrase:

"Mike Mc:

You've never played football before have you?

After calling Carr a bust and mocking Babin as a rookie, you need some serious help. Calm down and realize that CC has built this team the right way. Calm down."

... have anything to do with whether or not I played football? Just because half of the HS boys in Texas played football does not mean they have some superior knowledge about the sport, just that they played.

Babin was a reach and that was proven by him only having 4 sacks. The purpose for the Texans moving up (trading away several picks) to get him was because he was the Edge rusher their defense sorely needed. Oops, he did not produce accordingly.

Carr's numbers during his career:

PASSING STATS

2004 285-466-14 3531 yrds, 16 TD 83.5 QB rating
2003 167-295-13 2013 yrds, 9 TD 69.5
2002 233-444-15 2592 yrds, 9 TD 62.8

Seeing that he was the #1 overall pick, and with those numbers, would appear to be a bust. Maybe you would rather wait 2 more years. Not me. After three years, the best he can do is an civilianesque 83.5 QB rating and 16 TDs! Hell, Tony Banks could have done that.

--- and with your vast football knowledge, what is "the right way" of building a NFL team? Having aging players with huge contracts, trading away draft picks to acquire "hole pluggers" until better players come along?

Casserly's strategy has been exposed (by himself, no less). His belief is that only 30% of 2nd & 3rd round picks become starters (maybe that is because he is drafting them!). Therefore, he'd rather trade away draft picks (the future of a team) for Mid-level players. Look at last year's draft..he traded 2nd and 3rd round picks to the Titans (div rival) to move up and get Babin.

I am ashamed to say that 7-9 is the best the Texans will be for awhile.
 
His belief is that only 30% of 2nd & 3rd round picks become starters (maybe that is because he is drafting them!).
What he said was 30% of third round picks become starters (no mention of second rounders). Based on the 2002 draft and three years for players to prove themselves, it's not just his belief - it's fact - since 9 of the 33 players selected (27%) in the third round of that draft are starters.
 
I think Derrick Johnson was still by far the best player we could have taken at #13. If they were wanting another DL the whole time I think Spears probably would have been a better fit, and I do agree that our DL needs some help. I don't know what they were doing with the linebackers this whole off-season. Cutting Sharper was questionable despite his criticism of the team's coaching (which btw I agree with) and cutting Foreman, especially after being offered a draft pick for him was questionable. I am not very sure why they signed Greenwood in the first place, especially for that much money. I think Peek could become a very good LB and would have liked to see them start Peek, Sharper, Wong, and Babin next season. If they felt the need to bring in another LB I don't know why they didn't go after Kendrell Bell or Anthony Simmons rather than Greenwood, other than that they I thought they would cost more money, but they ended up paying Greenwood an excessive amount anyways. Up until now I've been very happy with their previous #1 choices and thought they got the best people available each time, although trading back in to get Babin and giving up the rest of our useful picks last year was pretty dumb. This is another example of very poor personnel decisions in my opinion, but we'll have to wait and see how things work out with them. I must admit I no longer think they will make the playoffs this coming season, I doubt it if they even match their 7-9 record from last year.
 
OK doubters,

At some point you have to have faith that the Texans' HUGE scouting department knows a little more than you do about these players.

Sure DJ is a hometown hero...(Heck I even was there in person at the Rose Bowl to see him and Benson kick butt.)... but you don't pass up the #1 DT prospect when it drops to you at #15. Especially when you are dying for some help on the D-line.

Lets look at the end result of the first two rounds of this draft for the Texans.
First Round: Travis Johnson (Best defensive tackle in the draft)
Second Round(Effectively): Phillip B. (Better than any 2nd round corner in the draft.)

Not bad. Not bad at all.

my grade B+
 
MikeMc said:
Babin was a reach and that was proven by him only having 4 sacks. The purpose for the Texans moving up (trading away several picks) to get him was because he was the Edge rusher their defense sorely needed. Oops, he did not produce accordingly.
Carr's numbers during his career:

PASSING STATS

2004 285-466-14 3531 yrds, 16 TD 83.5 QB rating
2003 167-295-13 2013 yrds, 9 TD 69.5
2002 233-444-15 2592 yrds, 9 TD 62.8

Seeing that he was the #1 overall pick, and with those numbers, would appear to be a bust. Maybe you would rather wait 2 more years. Not me. After three years, the best he can do is an civilianesque 83.5 QB rating and 16 TDs! Hell, Tony Banks could have done that.
Dear MikeMC:

It seems that you should become the GM of the Texans and rule the Scouting Department as well as the coaches. Jason Babin being a bad pick: Now are you a better 3-4 coach than Dom Capers and know a lot more about 3-4 OLB than him. Because the last time I checked he was a gr8 defensive coach at Pittsburgh and is our Head Coach. He has more than 10 years of experience running the 3-4 defense. Didn't he say that Jason Babin is only the first ever OLB who he put under fire right in his rookie season. He compares him to Kevin Greene and his pass rushing ability, who by the way is third in the all-time sack leaders list. It seems that I trust in Capers and in his decisions and not some random person who really doesn't know anything about football more than a middle schooler does.

As far as the argument over Carr, he is doing very well in the position he's put in. I mean the guy has been running for his life throughout his short nfl career. He doesn't have the luxury to stay put comfortably in the pocket for 4+ seconds and pick out the defense. In games in which the OL provided him ample time (which have been very few) his stats have been amazing and he has shown the ability of a franchise QB. THINK ABOUT THE SECOND HALF OF MINN GAME FROM LAST SEASON!! :listening
 
I thought New Orleans was trading up for Davis, because both Carolina and KC wanted him. I guess New Orleans feels that Jamaal Brown can catch those backwards passes and run them for first downs. :)

Travis Johnson was a shocker to me. He ain't the sexiest pick, but I can see where he will help us rush the QB in the nickel and dime package. If we can get off the field on third down, then I'm all for it.
 
L-T, as far as I am concerned, an OLB in the 3-4 is supposed to (designed) get double digit sacks. Babin did not. There have been plenty of rookies get double digit sacks. It is nice that Capers compares him to Kevin Greene, but until he proves it (lives up to it), I will have to reserve any 'kudos" for the pick. Of course I would love to eat my words, but I am a "now" kind of person. Potential means squat!

I am so glad all of you are nut-hugging the GM. That will get you nowhere. I am simply stating my disgust for what he has done with our team. If you cannot see it, then take off your Steel-Blue colored glasses.

As for Carr, do you think he is the only one that faces constant pressure and less than 4 sec. to make a decision/play? Maybe he simply does not have the pocket presence that so many assumed he had. Maybe the coaching staff do not realize he is better suited in a Shotgun formation or rolling out (which is where he has done most of his damage for the Texans).

I am so glad that the money was well spent (last half of the MIN game). So then, he has only been a Franchise-type QB for one halfd of one game? I don;t think so, he has done well in certain situations. But he looks lost out there most of the time, and it is not only because he does not have a top-notch OL. Maybe he creates more sacks than the OL. Look at film, he looks uncomfortable in the pocket and seems to have happy feet and holds on to the ball way too long. He is not a quick decision maker. He does not have very good field vision. All of those have the same combined end result....Sacks.

And nice comments about "middle-school" football knowledge. What is that all about? Is it because I am not sitting here nut-hugging the Texans brass like so many of you? I do not have to be a scout guru to see what is on the field the past 3 years. The Texans are doing what so many bad team have done, over pay for vets, trade away draft picks. Look at the history of the last 20 years. The successful teams utilized their draft picks and were smart with their money (signing underpriced FA, not overpriced). Funny how CC can spin it in the way he knows so many of you will just accept it. He is a genius, in that way, knowing how to dupe so many of you (without you realizing it).

Hey, I am a season ticket holder as well, and I am just pointing out the obvious. I feel that I am not getting my money's worth nor am I getting what was "promised" by the Texans' brass. Call it false advertisement if you will! It's funny how the season tickets increase every year, yet the Texans do not put out a product worthy of such price increases.
 
Looks like I'm the only one on here that is glad that we don't have DJ. I think he is better suited for a 4-3 defense and last time I checked we run a 3-4. Merriman would have been my choice if available, but he wasn't even available at 13. Also it's quite obvious to me that we need DL help, so when our pick rolled around I thought it was a toss up between Spears and OT Alex Barron. My first choice there would have been Spears. I was surprised when TJ was taken, no doubt about it. I don't know much about Johnson, other than the fact that the Texans liked him over everyone. Rotation player on the DL? Future quality starter maybe? I hope so.
 
TJ is being looked at to play all 3 spots on the DL, whereas Spears would have solidified one or two spots (LDE or RDE). TJ is being converted from a 4-3 DT to a 3-4 DT/DE, something I think will be harder for him than Spears playing his natural position.

The Texans need to WOW me in day2 to keep me off their butts! Apparently, that is where the true scouting skills shine.
 
MikeMc said:
TJ is being looked at to play all 3 spots on the DL, whereas Spears would have solidified one or two spots (LDE or RDE). TJ is being converted from a 4-3 DT to a 3-4 DT/DE, something I think will be harder for him than Spears playing his natural position.

The Texans need to WOW me in day2 to keep me off their butts! Apparently, that is where the true scouting skills shine.

do you even know what a 3-4 defense is and what its function is? spears would not be playing his natural position because he also would be switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4. switching from DT in a 4-3 to DT in a 3-4 is similar, although it does still require some changes. DL in the 3-4 has pretty much the same function in all 3 spots.....stop the run and occupy blockers. thats what DTs do best and why they are often lined up everywhere on the line in a 3-4. spears is a pass rushing end who played in a 4-3. pass rushing ends in a 3-4 defense dont fit, because they are usually small and can be overpowered by 2 offensive lineman. thats why dallas made a bad pick in spears if they truly are committed to switching to the 3-4. travis johnson was a bit of reach for one simple fact: you dont know him. he never played in a national championship like spears, and you never saw him play. there was a reason he was one of the top rated interior lineman, and he fits a 3-4 perfectly because he is a big run stopper. he wont get sacks, and he doesnt need to get sacks. if he pans out, he will be a great run stopper for years. as for derrick johnson, he doesnt fit for the texans because hes not an inside linebacker. hes an outside pass rusher, and they have plenty of those, and they are all young and at least one will produce. they need a young inside run stopping linebacker, not an outside pass rusher who hovers around the ball and doesnt aggresively attack ball carriers, which is what the 3-4 calls for. as for knocking babin about his pass rushing, that is completely unfair. he was a rookie. babin had a very good rookie season, and he should continue to develop. now the biggest problem the texans have is rushing the passer, but they have many young options at that position, such as antwan peek and babin, who likely will eventually pan out. there is no point in spending another high pick on a pass rush specialist (because in the 3-4 thats what johnson would be) when you havent let the people they have drafted develop. as for vernand morency..........that was an excellent pick. domanick better watch out if he gets hurt morency is the real deal. jerome mathis i dont know much about, but he put up big numbers at the combine, and i dont know much about the center either. but dont knock the 1st round pick until he dissapoints.
 
lright practice squad man, maybe if you had been around, you would know that I know a thing or two about the 3-4 defense. So it's best to keep your mouth shut with all that noise.

Second of all, Spears has the size and skills to play End in the 3-4, he is not the same as Peppers was our first draft. Spears collapses the pocket, keeps containment, and is very strong (400 lb bench). He would be able to make the transition to DE in a 3-4.

As for TJ, he is making the transition from DT in a 4-3 to DE in a 3-4. There are more responsibilities than you think. He will be occupied by OTs and OGs and must be able to handle them in order for the OLBs to wreck havoc, otherwise, he will be a detriment to the defensive scheme. He is also better suited for a one-gap scheme, not the two-gap scheme of the 3-4. But as it has been said, we all have to wait until he gets on the field, and I would love to eat my words (and concerns).

As for Babin, you said it yourself:

as for knocking babin about his pass rushing, that is completely unfair. he was a rookie. babin had a very good rookie season, and he should continue to develop. now the biggest problem the texans have is rushing the passer, but they have many young options at that position, such as antwan peek and babin, who likely will eventually pan out. there is no point in spending another high pick on a pass rush specialist (because in the 3-4 thats what johnson would be) when you havent let the people they have drafted develop.

Rookie or not, he was brought in to be a pass rush specialist, what the hell does it matter if he is a rookie? Why even draft rookies if you have to cradle them for 2 or 3 years to "allow them to develop"? They are in the NFL, being paid millions of dollars, and we are paying a lot of money (relative) to see them perform. If they do not perform, because we paid our HARD EARNED MONEY, we have every reight to ***** & moan about their poor performance and also complain about the coaching, management & ownership. Otherwise, I'll be more than happy to request my money back on the poor performance this team has shown (and in particular a few highly paid players). I am not going to sit here...and sit here...and sit here...waiting for the team to "pan out". That is BS!

As for Dallas having a great draft, that is true. I feel sorry for the Texans if the Cowboys beat them at their own game (3-4 defense). It seems the Tuna is building his D the right way: Demarcus Ware (OLB), Spears (DE), Chris Canty (DE). All of that from one draft! The Texans have had 3 to build from and what have they produced?? Two OLB that have "potential" but no DL that will help keep blockers off the pass rushers! Not very smart (for those that know how the 3-4 defense works). What happens when Walker/Payne get injured again or retire? We'll have to wait 2 or 3 years for the DL rookies to pan out! GREAT!
 
I was really hoping the Texans would draft either Derrick Johnson or Pollack.

This Johnson guy has had some issues in his past...I thought the Texans tried to stir clear of guys like that.

Oh well. Here's hoping the young man works hard, pans out and has his life in order.
 
Sadly to say I did call this one. Oh how i wish I hadn't though. I knew we were trading down out of 13....of course as all this unfolded I actually thought M. Williams possibly was going to fall to us at 13. Then to see DJ and T Davis sitting there I was like we gotta still be trading down and pick up Davis at least. Carolina blew that plan up.

I believe we thought davis would fall to 16 to us. I said however we might go johnson since payne is injury prone.

Johnson I hate to say this reminds me of ANDRE WADSWORTH. Great senior year (same school FSU). We'll have to see how this one works out for us. He's a boom or bust kinda player that's for sure.
 
A football player can play. I'm tired of hearing scheme this scheme that. If you are a true player. You play the game. If you have to be put in the right scheme to be good then u shouldn't be a 1st round pick. go sign as a undrafted free agent.
 
To be honest i wanted some one else. I was surprised to see the trade down when DJ was there. I think ultimatly we have decided to stay with Peek at OLB. Now to Johnson he will be part of the D-line rotation. I dont see whats so wrong with him i bet he could turn into something good with proper guideance. Morrency will prob be like Jonathan wells was last year. Unless there is an uncertainty about Hollings or Davis. If one doesnt do good enough maybe Morrency gets a chance to play often. Or maybe they drafted him for certain formations or one might be out of the door. This could be the Buffalo thing right here. Mathis should be really good and get his chances... this year he wont get many but next year he will be the #2 WR when Bradford is gone. Drew Hadgdon should be a back up. Ceandris Brown will be Earl's back up. Honestly i dont think we did half bad. I think this year was more drafting for the future than this year. I bet not a single one starts but in 2-3 years i bet 2-3 will be starters.
 
MikeMc said:
As for Dallas having a great draft, that is true. I feel sorry for the Texans if the Cowboys beat them at their own game (3-4 defense). It seems the Tuna is building his D the right way: Demarcus Ware (OLB), Spears (DE), Chris Canty (DE). All of that from one draft! The Texans have had 3 to build from and what have they produced?? Two OLB that have "potential" but no DL that will help keep blockers off the pass rushers! Not very smart (for those that know how the 3-4 defense works). What happens when Walker/Payne get injured again or retire? We'll have to wait 2 or 3 years for the DL rookies to pan out! GREAT!

Yeah, I can't wait to see the results of this "great experiment."

If you think for one minute that transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme, with a couple of untested rookies thrown in for good measure, will be a walk in the park. . . then you have proven that you don't "know a thing or two about the 3-4 defense".

So it's best to keep your mouth shut with all that noise.
 
Um, I was comparing what they did in the draft vs. what the Texans did in the draft to help improve the defense.

And no, I don't own the Texans, I was speaking about my complaining and ill-content for what they have done. It seems everyone was saying, "stop getting on CC and Co, let them do what they do best". I questioned what they were doing on the first day, and said they need to WOW me in order to keep me off their butts. Nothing changed much on the 2nd day, although Mathis was a steal. One steal does not make up for the ones they screwed up on!
 
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