Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
If Newton is healthy then I'll take Jon Bostic and Corey Lemonier in the 3rd .
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What's the next move for the Texans?
- Thread starter djohn2oo8
- Start date
If Newton is healthy then I'll take Jon Bostic and Corey Lemonier in the 3rd .
Can't say I'm familiar with those guys. If Hampton signs with us before the draft then I think we can eliminate NT early. Based on what I'm hearing he won't play for the minimum. His friends and family are working on him though.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Hmmm ... Hampton signs then I'm looking at Jesse Williams at NG/DE .
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
I'd be really happy with Bostic and ecstatic with Lemonier in the 3rd.
So Earl Mitchell hits the skids then huh?
eriadoc
Texan-American
It would be a big move, but the market seems to be too soft for John Abraham right now. He'll be 35 years old when the season starts, and it seems that teams are really overlooking him right now. Or he could be asking too much; who knows? But the guy had 10 sacks last year, his tackles were on par with every other year of his career, he had 7 passes deflected, which is a career high for him, and he forced 6 fumbles, which ties his career high. I realize the Texans probably blew their budget on Reed, but it'd be pretty nice to lie in the weeds and snag Abraham when guys like Dumervil and Umenyiora are gone.
I wonder how high of a draft pick we could get for A Smith? I love Smith but if we could get a 2nd or 3rd round pick for him and at the same time free up that big salary of his, we could sign a couple of free agents like Seymour and Hampton to one year deals.
Just thinking out loud!
Just thinking out loud!
ASidd_1990
Waterboy
Doesn't make sense on a lot of fronts. I'd rather have Spikes if we're gonna get an older LB.
srrono
All Pro
Here is a look at the number of snaps that need to be replaced.
The whole list are FAs the ones in Bold are signed else where.
OFF Total 2256
416 OT Harris
355 OG Caldwell
609 FB Casey
124 RB Forset
752 WR Walter
DEF Total 4360
261 NT Cody
22 DE Nading
1020 OLB Barwin
96 ILB Ruud
655 ILB James
395 ILB Dobbins
411 CB Routt
100 CB Ball
1046 S Quin
354 S Demps
LINK
The whole list are FAs the ones in Bold are signed else where.
OFF Total 2256
416 OT Harris
355 OG Caldwell
609 FB Casey
124 RB Forset
752 WR Walter
DEF Total 4360
261 NT Cody
22 DE Nading
1020 OLB Barwin
96 ILB Ruud
655 ILB James
395 ILB Dobbins
411 CB Routt
100 CB Ball
1046 S Quin
354 S Demps
LINK
Routt played 411 snaps? No way that is right.
Yeah, not 411 for us. I find that hard to believe.
drs23
Veteran
edit: nvm
From RotoWorld; the predicted pre-draft Texans' starters. The article (LINK) ranked every team's predicted lineups and we were ranked at #11. The top five were:
1. Seattle
2. Denver
3. San Francisco
4. New England
5. Green Bay
-----------------------------------
11. Houston Texans
QB: Matt Schaub
RB: Arian Foster
WR: Andre Johnson
WR: Lestar Jean
TE: Owen Daniels
TE: Garrett Graham
LT: Duane Brown
LG: Wade Smith
C: Chris Myers
RG: Ben Jones
RT: Derek Newton
Offensive Overview: The Texans have a plethora of concerns on offense. The right side of the line was a major 2012 liability, run blocking particularly poorly. There is no viable No. 2 wide receiver. Now 32, Schaub's on-field performance is slipping. By the end of last season, he was Houston's single biggest problem. The Texans were low on cap space in free agency and lacked funds to upgrade. It will be interesting to see whether Foster begins to decline. He's averaged a league-most 372 touches the past three seasons and his YPC average has dipped each year.
LE: J.J. Watt
RE: Antonio Smith
NT: Earl Mitchell
ILB: Brian Cushing
ILB: Darryl Sharpton
OLB: Brooks Reed
OLB: Whitney Mercilus
RCB: Kareem Jackson
LCB: Johnathan Joseph
FS: Ed Reed
SS: Danieal Manning
Defensive Overview: Defense is the Texans' strength, but this unit is not without flaws. All of Houston's free-agent efforts were poured into Reed, who may or may not be worth it going on age 35. Inside linebacker next to Cushing, nose tackle, and outside 'backer all face concerning turnover. Watt, Cushing, Smith, Joseph, and Manning give the Texans five beastly defenders -- and Mercilus has the potential to join them -- but GM Rick Smith must emerge from the draft with two or three defensive starters while also selecting a No. 2 receiver. Smith has nine draft picks this year, including four in the top 95.
While it's possible, I don't see Smithiak completely pulling off the bolded. Free agents will have to fill some holes or Brooks Reed and Mercilus will have to step up big time on D and on offense someone (Newton?) will have to step up and claim the RT spot as their own.
1. Seattle
2. Denver
3. San Francisco
4. New England
5. Green Bay
-----------------------------------
11. Houston Texans
QB: Matt Schaub
RB: Arian Foster
WR: Andre Johnson
WR: Lestar Jean
TE: Owen Daniels
TE: Garrett Graham
LT: Duane Brown
LG: Wade Smith
C: Chris Myers
RG: Ben Jones
RT: Derek Newton
Offensive Overview: The Texans have a plethora of concerns on offense. The right side of the line was a major 2012 liability, run blocking particularly poorly. There is no viable No. 2 wide receiver. Now 32, Schaub's on-field performance is slipping. By the end of last season, he was Houston's single biggest problem. The Texans were low on cap space in free agency and lacked funds to upgrade. It will be interesting to see whether Foster begins to decline. He's averaged a league-most 372 touches the past three seasons and his YPC average has dipped each year.
LE: J.J. Watt
RE: Antonio Smith
NT: Earl Mitchell
ILB: Brian Cushing
ILB: Darryl Sharpton
OLB: Brooks Reed
OLB: Whitney Mercilus
RCB: Kareem Jackson
LCB: Johnathan Joseph
FS: Ed Reed
SS: Danieal Manning
Defensive Overview: Defense is the Texans' strength, but this unit is not without flaws. All of Houston's free-agent efforts were poured into Reed, who may or may not be worth it going on age 35. Inside linebacker next to Cushing, nose tackle, and outside 'backer all face concerning turnover. Watt, Cushing, Smith, Joseph, and Manning give the Texans five beastly defenders -- and Mercilus has the potential to join them -- but GM Rick Smith must emerge from the draft with two or three defensive starters while also selecting a No. 2 receiver. Smith has nine draft picks this year, including four in the top 95.
While it's possible, I don't see Smithiak completely pulling off the bolded. Free agents will have to fill some holes or Brooks Reed and Mercilus will have to step up big time on D and on offense someone (Newton?) will have to step up and claim the RT spot as their own.
GP
Go Texans!
michaelm
vox nihili
Under this regime, their MO has always been to fill holes with free agents so there is no glaring position of need going into the draft. IMO, that has been one if their strongest, most consistent tendencies.
I think there is little chance they roll into the draft without shoring up the weak spots so they can go BPA on draft day.
And absolutely zero chance that they will need a draftee to step in as WR2.
DX-TEX
#TomSavageDontCare
I just looked the FA list of WR's that are left and lets just say.....not impressed
http://www.spotrac.com/free-agents/nfl/wide-receiver/available/
I would sign Zeke Markshausen just for the name though.
Vinny
shiny happy fan
well, that's what you get on the cheap. It's like buying onions when the good ones are already picked over.
michaelm
vox nihili
I wouldn't be upset if they made an offer to RFA Denario Alexander. SD tendered him at the lowest level, and I think he's worth a look, although I admittedly don't know a lot about his knee issues, which have been somewhat numerous, IIRC.
bobbeaux
Noob
2 yrs @ 2 mil each w/ incentives . . . that'd be a hell of a move.
bobbeaux
Noob
why not just have an open comp of fa's to fill our #2 wr . . . offer up the 2 yr/$2 mil per w/ incentives deal and see who comes calling to tryouts . . . it's not like anyone's beating down their doors right now . . .
IMO, Texans should focus their pre-draft efforts on signing some OL depth (Harris). What really killed the team down the stretch was the inability to run the ball very well. Texans are at their best when Foster gets his 30 touches and the team can control the clock by getting first downs on the ground. Then, mix in the play-action and the bootlegs and open up the field. Let the run help the passing game. I'd be talking with Winston again if he'd listen.
There really isn't anything to get in the WR market, unless you want to take some shots in the dark on guys who may have had previous success.
Other than that, I could see a defensive signing for some LB depth, but the team will probably hang tight until the draft.
There really isn't anything to get in the WR market, unless you want to take some shots in the dark on guys who may have had previous success.
Other than that, I could see a defensive signing for some LB depth, but the team will probably hang tight until the draft.
Scooter
Funky
i dont really agree with that. we need a #2 wide receiver, and that's pretty much our only starting need. nose tackle, outside linebacker, and inside linebacker all have "just a guy" types on the roster who can start opening day provided we're able to draft/sign depth. sure it'd be nice to hammer 4 positions with starters (and we very well might) through the draft, but i dont think it's that dire with studs all around them to pick up the slack.
While I do agree with others that it's prudent to have most if not all starters in place before the draft, I also don't think it had to be that way.
With certain positions like the #2 receiver, another deep draft means that some of those guys will be a starter comes next season. As a result, some UFAs will be forced to sit home watching the tube. A guy like Walter could be just a phone call away for vet minimum.
Same thing at RT; it's not a sure thing that Winston or some other guys will find a home. Then there's always Ryan Harris.
Caldwell or somebody else; Cody or somebody else; somehow, I think there will still be a guy or two that you can sign at vet minimum.
It might be best to wait for the rest of the teams who have abundance of cap space to overpay before we swoop in for the best of the rest.
The Colts for example, had spent a bunch of money that many believe is "excess" over value.
Teams like the Skins and the Cowboys also benefit us in the FA game by losing a ton of their cap space (and therefore were forced to be extra prudent with their acquisitions.)
The FA game is still at half-time; there's plenty to go yet.
bobbeaux
Noob
this isn't the draft class to find a rookie wr that's ready to contribute from day 1 . . . we need at least 1 fa wr and i'm ok with resigning walter for min+, but we have an opportunity to at least upgrade now . . . some are talking about barden . . . hixon is the better wr to steal away from ny while they try to resign both hicks and cruz . . .
and w/ a 4th, we can find a starter on the ol if our own haven't developed.
seems there will be a lot of guys playing for the vet min this year.
this isn't the draft class to find a rookie wr that's ready to contribute from day 1 . . . we need at least 1 fa wr and i'm ok with resigning walter for min+, but we have an opportunity to at least upgrade now . . . some are talking about barden . . . hixon is the better wr to steal away from ny while they try to resign both hicks and cruz . . .
and w/ a 4th, we can find a starter on the ol if our own haven't developed.
seems there will be a lot of guys playing for the vet min this year.
Sur, we all like to sign as many players that we love to have, but there are still teams out there with a ton of cap space that we don't want to engage in a bidding wars with like the Browns, the Bengals, the Dolphins, to name a few.
What we have over them is the possibility to go all the way.
It does help us in term of adding LBTE incentives to make the contract more attractive while those teams have to up their ante straight away for FAs.
Still, we have to watch our wallet, so to speak.
this isn't the draft class to find a rookie wr that's ready to contribute from day 1 . . . we need at least 1 fa wr and i'm ok with resigning walter for min+, but we have an opportunity to at least upgrade now . . . some are talking about barden . . . hixon is the better wr to steal away from ny while they try to resign both hicks and cruz . . .
and w/ a 4th, we can find a starter on the ol if our own haven't developed.
seems there will be a lot of guys playing for the vet min this year.
I don't agree that this isn't the draft class to find a rookie wr that's ready to contribute from day 1. I love this wr class. I believe that Hopkins, Allen, Austin, and some of the others will contribute right from the get go.
I think we should take two recievers in this draft. But where we are picking in the first, I am in the Keenan Allen camp myself.
Whats next .... Likely a bargin signing at a a few positions:
ILB - They ned a couple guys here as both James , Dobbins and Ruud are FA's tho I dont think they have signed elsewhere. They need to add at least two bodies here while improving the position.
RT - Newton isnt going to do a thing in offseason workouts and I have my doubts about him to begin with , Ryan Harris was not resigned (Yet). They have two healthy tackles on the roster - Brown and Gardner. If I was Matt Schaub I'd be practicing my fetal position ....
NT - I expect Mitchell and Crick to get the bulk of the work at NT as a cost cutting move but I could also see them signing another guy to a vet min kind of deal here because Crick was the third DE behind Watt and Ninja.
CB - I could see a cheap signing here as they did lose Alan Ball.
ILB - They ned a couple guys here as both James , Dobbins and Ruud are FA's tho I dont think they have signed elsewhere. They need to add at least two bodies here while improving the position.
RT - Newton isnt going to do a thing in offseason workouts and I have my doubts about him to begin with , Ryan Harris was not resigned (Yet). They have two healthy tackles on the roster - Brown and Gardner. If I was Matt Schaub I'd be practicing my fetal position ....
NT - I expect Mitchell and Crick to get the bulk of the work at NT as a cost cutting move but I could also see them signing another guy to a vet min kind of deal here because Crick was the third DE behind Watt and Ninja.
CB - I could see a cheap signing here as they did lose Alan Ball.
bobbeaux
Noob
all i'm hearing is this is a great possession receiver class w/ no real #1 types . . . i really hope we don't spend a 1st on a possession wr, but instead draft a starter next to cushing . . . but, i'm all for a wr in the 2nd as that's when we'll get value . . . s and nt w/ our 2-3's and we've got solid rotation . . . ol in the 4th . . .
bobbeaux
Noob
i'm not saying getting into a bidding war . . . i'm saying put it all out there and say "we are going to the superbowl and need a #2 wr starter . . . who's with us?" . . . 2 yrs @ 2 mil ea w/ incentives beats the min and allows us to see what we got and vise versa . . . if it's all good, the deal gets extended next year . . .
Did Crick play the nose at all last year? He's in the mid 280's. we're ****ed if those two are getting the majority of the snaps at NT. Teams are going to kill us up the middle. Our ILB's are going to be a mash unit AGAIN. Cushing will get wore down so fast he'll be worthless by the time the playoffs come around.
Unless Patterson falls we better go NT in the first. Of course that could change if we sign someone via FA.
badboy
Hall of Fame
As I understand, if Smith is cut or traded $3.5m dead money counts against 2013 cap.
If he plays for us this year, he'll count more. I want to say $9M, but it might be $6M. Either way, we have more cap room without him. However, I'm not too confident in our depth; Crick & Jamison. Wade may be, & that's all that matters.
drs23
Veteran
My money says that ain't gonna happen. E.F. Hutton said WR and we all know what happens when he speaks.
Crick did play inside some last year but that was mostly on passing downs not as a true nose.
Ive heard talk of this froma couple sources .... not that it matters but I believe it makes economic sense if nothing else. NT/DT tends to be an expensive position .... If this is their plan , I still believe they have to bring in one more guy on the DL as Crick was the primary backup for Watt and Ninja ... They need someone capable for that role.
Tim Jamison also saw time at both DT and DE .... and played pretty damn well until being injured.
I think Mitchell , Crick and Jamison can handle the NT spot and back up the DE position .... but that leaves them one injury away from a crisis at two positions.
If Antonio plays for the Texans this year, the Texans will have to fork out $6M in cash to pay him.
They will incur a $9.5M cap charge.
So if they cut him, they have $6M to spend.
However, there's no true 34DE on the FA market that is anywhere his caliber.
There will be several of them next year though.
Like Lucky said; if you cut him, you only create a different hole with nothing to fill.
My question was, what can we get for him in a trader?
I believe you still incur some cap penalty if you trade him .... I dont think you have an option to cut Ninja , restructuring is a much better option.
rolyat93
Waterboy
One of the few guys who'll make an impact every week.
I love that guy, hope he's a Texan for a few more years.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
I don't want to lose Antonio Smith. He's a hoss. I don't want to cut him, I don't want to trade him. I wouldn't mind restructuring his contract, however.
My sentiments exactly. I'd like for the Texans to restructure and extend Antonio another 2 yrs. but in such a way as to make him a lower salary cap hit. He's very important to our D-line.
Make that three of us. Not a fan of trading/cutting a quality player for the unknown. Restructuring, however, probably will make sense.
aussie_texan
Veteran
hopefully we restructured aj and we will restructure a.smith.
then maybe sign larry grant to ILB. im pretty sure his still available
then maybe sign larry grant to ILB. im pretty sure his still available
Yes, there will be a $3.5M cap hit, but you still save $6M you can use to get other players. If Rick Smith/Greg Olsen can work their magic & get Urlacher & Winston for that $6M, would it be worth it if we also picked up a 2nd or a high Third in the trade?
I think Antonio finally started earning his keep in the last two years. Back to back career years for him. Excellent production from a 3-4 DE, you couldn't ask for more, unless you've got Jj Watt playing like a 4-3 DE in a 3-4.
But this is about tomorrow, the 2013 season. I have no doubt the Ninja will put out his best effort. If Jj continues to do what he do, Antonio will probably have another very productive season. I'm not advocating that we cut him. A restructure would make more sense; it frees up some money & you'll have him locked up for the next 3-4 years, where I think our window is.
But just saying, a 2nd (or high 3rd), plus two veteran players for Antonio, it's tempting.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
My solution is to keep Antonio and maybe drafting this guy who can play both the NG and DE . The question is when do you draft him . I would go with a WR in the 1st and wouldn't trade up for him either , so that's about a 15% chance he'll be there .
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=97502&draftyear=2013&genpos=DT
I just want to point out the difference between a restructured contract and an extension. A restructure is taking an existing contract, and manuevering the $$$ around to alter the cap hit in that year. That's what they did with Smith in 2011 when the Texans created cap space to sign Joseph and Manning. An extension is replacing an existing contract with a longer term deal, while still being liable for whatever bonus allocation remains on the existing contract.
Smith is in the final year of his contract. So the only restructuring that could take place would be if he were to accept a salary reduction for his current $6 million. Fat chance. An extension would allow the Texans to reduce Smith's $6 million salary, and replace it with a larger signing bonus that could be amortized over the length of the new contract.
What would it take for Smith to sign an extension in 2013? He's currently looking at $6 million in salary. A bonus of $7.5 million in a 3 year deal, would give Antonio a $2.44 million raise ($7.5 million bonus + $940k vet minimum - ($6 million salary)). It would reduce the 2013 cap hit on Smith by a little more than $2.5 million. Which might be enough space for the Texans to fill a couple holes with low end vet contracts.
Extending Smith would be a tough call, because it would make him a tough cut in 2014. The question is, what are the Texans willing to do to win in 2013? Really, I don't see a lot of alternatives.
Goodwrench3
Brazilian fan
Re-sign Dobbins