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What needs more work?

J

jacquescas

Veteran
Does our pass rush need more improvements from changes of personel or the blockers for the run and pass game.

I see very little change on the offensive side of the ball. Maybe (hopefully) a new center. I think having a versatile tight end that at can be that dual threat will help more than uprooting the offensive line.

On the defensive side, the nose tackle position will almost certainly be re-evaluated, with Seth Payne having another injury he will either come with a 1 year cheap deal, or other free agents will be pursued. I think Wong could be moved inside to take Foreman's spot, or basically any linebacker not named Babin or Sharper could have a tenous job. Robaire Smith is entrenched and Walker is bound to his contract extension.

What it all boils down to is that the only realy position to expect a player to compete for a starting job in 2005 will be Center, NT on the 2 lines.

Reports from ESPN say that we will look for a WR in free agency to better compliment Andre Johnson. Might as well be the writing on the wall for Bradford.
 
Agree with your assessment, just a few other comments. I feel our defense played much better after Foreman and Coleman went down and feel we need to fill there positions either internally or externally. Also would love to see more of Armstrong, Any insight as too why he did not play more? I also think an upgrade at return man might be in order. I know that they are trying to protect Hollings but, at this point, a return man might be his only way to contribute.
 
There were some games where we had to make room on our roster and Armstrong would be the guy they would make the room with. I believe you are right in thinking an upgrade at return man is in order but I wouldn't be mad if they didn't make the change because Moses still has the ability to break one and gave us some real good field position throughout the season. If he doesn't get shoe string tackled by the kicker against Detroit, he scores and we possibly end up winning that game. I don't think Hollings would be the answer for us at any position.
 
Tayton said:
Agree with your assessment, just a few other comments. I feel our defense played much better after Foreman and Coleman went down and feel we need to fill there positions either internally or externally. Also would love to see more of Armstrong, Any insight as too why he did not play more? I also think an upgrade at return man might be in order. I know that they are trying to protect Hollings but, at this point, a return man might be his only way to contribute.
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I think the fact that the D started playing better once these two guys went down was simply a coincidence. It was the end of the year with three rookies on the squad and they were finally starting to adjust. The backups at FS and MLB held their own, but i dont think that is why the D got better.
 
:howdy: I think with their first pick if there is a good prospect on the OL or DL pick him. If there is a great pick at LB or Corner pick him.If not trade down if you think you can get a good OL or DL later on.
 
Reports from ESPN say that we will look for a WR in free agency to better compliment Andre Johnson. Might as well be the writing on the wall for Bradford.[/QUOTE]

I agree. It's been looking that way since mid-season. I sure do have some good memories from the first two seasons though.
 
It's no secret we want pure speed on the outside in this style offense we run. We are set at receiver in two of the three positions with AJ as the primary and Gaffney and Armstrong in the slot. We could use another super speed guy on the outside in our vertical passing game to replace Bradford and his speed. We have to have a WR who can block too. It will be interesting to see if we bring someone in or think that Starling can develop fast enough.
 
I think they will try to see if Starling can be the man, but I also think they will hedge their bet with a FA WR.

It is strange, but we have tried through the Draft, or through FA to shore up the offensive tackles and guards, but have really not tried to do something a offensive center. McKinney, in my view, ain't gonna be gettin any better any time soon. So I think we will try to significantly upgrade in an early round of the Draft, (2nd or 3rd rnd.)
 
Yeah whatever happened to Starling? He was so great and looked good for an undrafted rookie FA, but after that I saw little of him. He did make the 53 man rooster which is good, but the only PT he got was on special teams. I thought we might see him toward the end of the season, with the games really meaning nothing but, I guess not.

I don't think Armstrong can step in and be our #2. He still needs some work and really hasn't been given the chance to.......if you know what I mean.......not enough balls thrown his way to see really what he can do ect. I think it is our best option 2 go out in FA and get a receiver, and let Armstrong battle for and win that position. Make him fight for it and make him always know there is somebody behind him to take his place, and he will give us his best every game.
 
I really like the looks of Starling, he could be our future return man, Armstrong is a definite keeper, I think they should look for a good solid TE, Miller was a HUGE dissappoinment this season, Bruener is an ok blocker at best, very slow and poor hands....Carr is missing that safety net in a good solid TE
 
HardCoreTxn said:
Miller was a HUGE dissappoinment this season,
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I don't think you can call Miller a HUGE dissapointment this season. Sure his numbers were nowhere near where they have been in the past. But lets be honest, how many games can you even remember him getting a ball thrown his way. The only thing i think you can rightfully blame Miller for is not being as great a blocker as he is a catcher. When the ball was thrown his way (not often) he made the catch.
 
HardCoreTxn said:
I really like the looks of Starling, he could be our future return man, Armstrong is a definite keeper, I think they should look for a good solid TE, Miller was a HUGE dissappoinment this season, Bruener is an ok blocker at best, very slow and poor hands....Carr is missing that safety net in a good solid TE
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ok blocker, very slow & poor hands- sounds like an offensive lineman. I keep asking everyone, John Harris, Pallilo, Zerline, etc. Instead of having a blocking tight end that can't catch why not just use a big old tackle type to slow the defense a little? Even a 265 pound fullback can do as well even if we had one.
 
Meloy said:
ok blocker, very slow & poor hands- sounds like an offensive lineman. I keep asking everyone, John Harris, Pallilo, Zerline, etc. Instead of having a blocking tight end that can't catch why not just use a big old tackle type to slow the defense a little? Even a 265 pound fullback can do as well even if we had one.
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actually a good idea, plus we dont use our tight ends much anyways.
 
the only problem with that is, we already have a problem putting a good OL out normally, then we would have to go use another poor OLmen in place of a TE... Bruener is probably better then anyone else we could put out there
 
as it is, the Tight end dont go out much anyways... bruener is usually always in just to block.. which is why we brought him in, cuz miller couldnt... i just pray joppru can finally be healthy... i really think he might be our solution
 
:howdy: Is'nt Babin heavy for a LB . I also thought he's over 400 on the bench press. He has to get to the point where he's reacting instead of thinking. He'll be fine.
I agree that the middle of the OL better eat their wheaties.
 
na i dont think babin needs to put on MUCH more muscle, he just needs to use his hands a little more and quit spinning in circles hoping he'll some how get around the OLmen !
 
i personally love the emotion of peek... he gets everyone around him juiced, the team and the fans... he is that spark a defense needs, who doesnt want a player that gives 150% every time he is on the field
 
and starts a fight after every play i love it. I have never seen him out there where he's not pushing someone around and getting in their face, PURE emotion !
 
and to think some of these people think emotion is bad. he needs to learn to calm it down a bit sometimes, but who doesnt want a player out there thats gonna talk and back it up(when he gets a chance). He is also the first one in there when a teammate is getting pushed around. He has the dont mess with me or this team mentallity and that is what more of the team needs. STARTER IN '05
 
Cincinnatikid said:
and to think some of these people think emotion is bad. he needs to learn to calm it down a bit sometimes, but who doesnt want a player out there thats gonna talk and back it up(when he gets a chance). He is also the first one in there when a teammate is getting pushed around. He has the dont mess with me or this team mentallity and that is what more of the team needs. STARTER IN '05
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I like Peek as the situational pass rusher. He stays fresh, and has one job, get the QB. But he does need to work on his "play is over, go back to the huddle" move.

Other than that, I think he should get a little more playing time. Maybe some 3rd down situations.
 
I too think that there are times when Peek needs to control his emotions. I also tend to think that if he were to get into the game for more than 10 plays a game you would see that happen. With the amount of playing time that he gets right now, I'm sure that he feels that he has to do something big every time he is out there in order to get more time. If you look at the percentage of big plays that he makes in his playing time, I would have to say that he is doing that.
In terms of what needs work on the defense, I think that has been discussed very often on this board. The pass rush will improve when the players are actually allowed to rush the passer. When the team came out to start a couple of games at the end of the season in the nickel look with both Peek and Babin rushing off the edge you saw great improvement in that realm. When you drop 7 and rush 4, of course you're not going to see a ton of pressure, you're outnumbered. More pressure from the line would be nice, so perhaps a tackle or big de would help.
On offense, the Texans need to strengthen the line in order to get Carr more time to deliver the ball. Also, more talent at the receiver position is never bad.
 
I pretty much agree with the initial assessments plus the comments regarding the improvement of the defense -with Coleman and Foreman it could have been even better.

I will be surprised if we do not go Defense with the the first pick for sure and maybe first two picks. ILB could be a likely choice with the ultimate being DJ falling to our pick. Both Wong and Sharper's contracts expire after next year. NT is also a probability although I see Payne being back.

From looking at the available players, ILB might be upgraded in free agency.
 
we take a DE or WR with first pick... if peek starts, wong is moved inside...and if Cheatwood pans out... we will have good depth at the linebacker position with him and foreman... Payne will be back, i think it is one of Casserly's biggest priorities and i think Payne is a Texan at heart... i know i know... our OL sucks inside, but if we draft a OL, he will take time to develope, and i would rather not see Carr go through hell again. address it through free agency... players with experience in zone blocking... so we can go two ways, replacing Gary Walker, i hate saying it, but it needs to be done. Or getting that #2 receiver to stretch the field... and with all the rumors of the texans looking at Muhsin Muhammed or Rod Gardner... preferabbly Muhammed (SP??) then we might not need to draft a receiver, and then we take a DE.
 
yeah maybe so future,,, but the organization already said there will be no changes to the O-Line. and they just need time to gel as a unit :rofl: maybe so i guess we'll see !!!
 
they did say no changes, but how often can you really tust those kinda statements, you know mcnair and casserly are hating seeing his franchise QB being hammered into the turf... i think that mckinney wont be our center come next year... i might be wrong, but didnt he play another possition before coming to Houston and playing center... if we get a quality replacement, maybe mckinney can just serve as a backup center and whatever position he played previously... but maybe there wont be any immediate change, but we bring someone in and let them beat out mckinney instead of just automatically replacing him... who knows
 
also adding to my possibilities of linebackers, maybe one of the top 10 in the NFL that no one has mentioned... Julian Peterson... im not sure how much hype he gets, but he is the real deal... an outside lineback that can play the run, the pass... can play as a safety on plays... as a corner on plays... he is the real deal
 
we need to get some young Rookie OL in there so they can be getting some experience so when they FINALLY do realize that it isnt working we can have guys go in there and hopefully do a lot better job ! We have nearly NO depth on the O-Line !
 
i do think we need young OL, but i dont think we need to take one with one of our top 3 pick.. ok maybe the 3 rounder, maybe... but i dont want to draft an OL and put him in right away and just get obliterated
 
Y'all should check out the mock draft going on in the draft forum. Vinny as the Texans made a very good pick IMO. After trading down twice he picked David Baas from Michigan--6' 5" 325 lb C/G with a mean streak and sound fundamentals.

Discussion thread
 
I like that pick also. He's supposed to be a better guard than center, so I don't know what we could expect from him at center. We would also be addressing our number 1 need with our number 1 pick.
 
:howdy: This a great time for us armchair GMs. A couple of guards have been mentioned as possible picks, this after trading down. I don't care who they draft. I just hope he ends up an all-pro . And hopefully breaks the QB sack record or is a Hall of Fame guard. Is that to much to ask for.
 
I continue to wonder why people what to have so many linebackers in camp. Didn't the Texans just sign 3 or 4 as free agents? Why not develop and utilize the talent we already have?
OL seems to me to be the major concern along with the DL.
 
:howdy: Linbackers are a usefull lot. Their big ,strong and fast. The ideal LB is even a little mean. They make oustanding special team players not to mention the fact the Texans run a 3-4 defense.
 
especially when you have guys that specialize in a certain area, like Peek with a pass rush, and he is usually only in on passing downs, it comes down to what linebackers can best fit the certain schemes the coaches put out there
 
I understand having certain players to fit certain roles. I have long stated thought that there are a number of players in the lb corps that don't really get to reveal their full potential by being pigeonholed by the vanilla defense that is run.
And, as of right now, there ar 15, count 'em, 15 linebackers on the roster. I would assume that the majority of those go to camp, say at least 13. Unless you get a can't miss linebacker out of the draft, why bother?
So many people on this very board have said that it takes development time to get a linebacker used to the 3-4 scheme being used. So, is that what this team needs? More lbs standing on the sideline learning the scheme? I think that major need is OL and that kid from Michigan mentioned earlier is a stud. You can't run the ball or have time to pass if the line doesn't give you the opportunity to.
I know that people will say that OL needs time to develop and they don't want to see Carr on his butt all the time. But that seems to be the mode around here. Let rookies have time to develop into the position. We could end up with a bunch of guys past their prime on the field and 1-3 year vets getting used to the system watching and then moving on somewhere else where they are given a chance to actually see the field. I think that Babin and Dunta did a pretty good job on the field this year.
Don't go around picking up more linebackers, use the ones you have in the stable right now.
Unleash the Peek! He and Babin will be a terror.
 
As much as i would like to have an offensive lineman with the first pick, keep reminding yourself offense is for show, DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Three of the final four teams were ranked 1,2 and 3 in scoring defense. We need rising star in the middle of our defense. Tackle or ILB. I agree we have enough competition and potential stars at outside linebacker.

I would guess we address the offensive line with a free agent and third round pick.
 
just a little more push from the D-line and we would have a good defense, i mean how long do you expect our secondary to cover guys ? I have seen good coverage but after about 6 sec it kinda breaks down !
 
exactly, if the dline gets some push up the middle, that gets either pressure or frees up the double teams on the olb's. There are your sacks, pass rush, and pressures. also that does limit the dbs from covering more than 4 or 5 secs. Magically the team would get the sacks everyone wants and still get INTs because the QB has to make quick passes on the run which turns into bad passes. The texans have the DBs that can make some plays, they have the pass rush in babin and peek from the outside, you put wong in the middle with maybe a rookie comign in too and the defense moves up the charts. It seems pretty simple to me, i guess maybe i should be in charge of drafting.
 
even with 15 LB, i dont know if thats how many we really have, a few will be cut, and only about 7 or 8 will play in defensive sets, most LB are special teams players if they are outside those 7-8 LBs... payne and smith did a good job this year, what is needed is a DE to replace Walker,... the front three are used to rush the passer, true, but also draw double teams, allowing are blitzing LB's to get to the QB... a perfect example is the Raider game, when Sharper got to Collins... that is what are defense is supposed to do... when its done right... and if we dont get to the QB for the sack, then it forces QB's to get rid of the ball early, and force bad passes... i might be wrong, but weren't the Texans one of the best in interceptions this year?
 
I think that you would see even more ints if the outside linebackers were freed up with an improved d-line and releasing the linebackers.
 
AndreJ said:
I don't think you can call Miller a HUGE dissapointment this season. Sure his numbers were nowhere near where they have been in the past. But lets be honest, how many games can you even remember him getting a ball thrown his way. The only thing i think you can rightfully blame Miller for is not being as great a blocker as he is a catcher. When the ball was thrown his way (not often) he made the catch.
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The reason he doesnt get the ball more is because he's SLOW, yea, he has great hands..like a WR in fact..but if you cant run the routes and get open, you may as well have nubs for hands, I wanted Miller to do well for the team and go far with the Texans, yea he scored our first franchise TD, but Im starting to think Denver had reason to cut him, could you imagine if Carr had someone like A.Gates, B.Franks or A.Crumpler at TE? I'll bet our O-line wouldnt look so bad then
 
HardCoreTxn said:
The reason he doesnt get the ball more is because he's SLOW, yea, he has great hands..like a WR in fact..but if you cant run the routes and get open, you may as well have nubs for hands, I wanted Miller to do well for the team and go far with the Texans, yea he scored our first franchise TD, but Im starting to think Denver had reason to cut him, could you imagine if Carr had someone like A.Gates, B.Franks or A.Crumpler at TE? I'll bet our O-line wouldnt look so bad then
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Miller's problem is not his speed and he is by no means slower than other successful NFL TE's. He got into the NFL as a WR--you really think a too slow TE was brought into the NFL as a WR? Miller's value is limited by Miller's blocking, Carr's having time to get to his 3rd progression and Carr making wise use of the time he does have. There were a ton of plays last year where Miller, Gaffney, etc., including AJ at times, where they were open but the play progressed--hike, 4 steps into 5 step drop (looking for primary), oh crud here it comes again, please DD take it.
 
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