SB Nation - Frank Okam

Texans State of the Union: Defense

Jake — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:58:02 -0000

Three weeks ago the Texans were cruising. They were riding a three-game winning streak, and at 5-3 Houston was positioning themselves for a run at the post-season. Now after three divisional losses that were all squandered in the fourth quarter, the season seems lost for the Texans. Some have begun speculating that head coach Gary Kubiak will lose his job and the franchise will once again start over, while others have already started to focus on the pinnacle of the Texans' season (the draft), while another small contingent of fans cling to hope that the remaining soft schedule will allow the team to pull off a five game miracle finish to sneak into the playoffs.

The wide spectrum of feelings is understandable. The Texans have what is undoubtedly their best team ever, but despite that promise, they keep meandering around mediocrity. The game Sunday against the Colts is a perfect metaphor for the season. In the first half the Texans looked unstoppable on both sides of the ball, and then in the second half they didn't look like they belonged on the same field.

So what should we think of this colossally frustrating squad? I'm sure Tim will write a great breakdown on the train wreck for this weekend, so I want to cover what I think of the future, not just for the season but for next year as well. In an effort to break it up, I will start with the defense, then move on to the offense and finally look at the coaching staff.

Author's Note: Please don't consider this as me giving up on 2009. I will explain my opinion on what can and should be accomplished in the remaining five games, but I feel the near and far-term future go hand in hand so it's easier to explain it all at once.

The defense was the biggest focal point of the offseason. It didn't take a genius after 2008 to figure out that side of the ball needed more help. The vast majority of draft and free agent focus was spent on the defensive squad after Gary Kubiak went out on a limb to give longtime friend and colleague Fred Bush the defensive coordinator position despite having Bush no experience at that level.

- Defensive End:

- Antonio Smith has been worth the ransom we paid for him. He is one of the new additions that has created a mean streak that had been lacking last season. That emotion can be detrimental at times, but I think he is just one of those players who you have to take the occasional bone-headed play from along with his inspired ones. Smith has applied considerably more pressure than his 2 sacks suggest, and he also has been adept against the run.

- Mario Williams is seriously hurt, and his shoulder likely won't heal until the offseason. That's a shame too because he finally has a bookend supplying the kind of pressure Williams never had before when he was being singled out by protection schemes. One thing that still plagues Mario is his aggressiveness. Opponents continually allow him to rush straight into the backfield and then run the ball right by him. Williams is a gamer and will continue to give his best, but I don't think he will be back to regular form until next season, and there might even be a possibility of surgery following this year.

-Rookie Connor Barwin is just as raw as expected. His two sacks were the results of both speed and effort, which constitute the entirety of his pass rushing moves as of now. While some may argue that second round picks shouldn't be used on projects, the presence of Smith gives Barwin some time to learn his trade before he learns the tricks.

- Defensive Tackle:

- Amobi Okoye is not a bust, but he's not yet a Pro Bowler either. I'd like to think that he'll get to that level eventually, but at least he's showing that last year was more of a fluke than 2007 was. So far Amobi has been better against the run than I thought he'd be, but not as good at pressuring the quarterback as I'd expected.

- The Texans larger nose tackles have been decent to invisible, but out of Shaun Cody, Jeff Zgonina, DelJuan Robinson and Frank Okam, there isn't a single starting caliber player at the position.

- Linebacker:

- DeMeco Ryans is about as consistent as possible, which is key considering he plays a position which values that attribute above all others. Ryans isn't the type of player that will ever have an abundance of sexy stats like sacks or interceptions, but he can almost always be relied upon to know his assignments, lead the defense and plug the middle. Losing him would be an enormous blow because while he may not be the best defensive player, he is by far the defensive MVP.

- Brian Cushing has been just as good if not better than advertised. You can nitpick at his coverage technique but no player is perfect, especially a rookie. All bias aside, Cushing gets my early vote for Defensive Rookie of the Year because while Brian Orakpo has the sacks and Jairus Byrd has the interceptions; Cushing has shown the ability to do it all.

- Zac Diles has been decent at the WLB position but nothing earth shattering. Xavier Adibi has seen little of the field since his removal from the nickel package in favor of Cushing in Week Two. Both are serviceable, but added depth would be beneficial, although low, on the list of priorities.

Cornerback:

- Dunta Robinson is not a number one corner... period. I know he is still a fan favorite to some, but the tape doesn't lie--he is not good in coverage. Quick, without looking, how many pass interferences can you remember Dunta committing because he was burnt? Now how many touchdowns do remember getting thrown to his man? Now how many interceptions and pass breakups do you think he has? I will give it to him that he plays the run extremely well for a cornerback, but that's not why you pay $25 million dollars guaranteed. I would be shocked if he was re-franchised. Rick Smith won't pay him the kind of money he is looking for, so in all likelihood he has five games left in Houston.

- Glover Quin is the reason that Dunta is expendable. He plays the run just as well and in the same fashion that Dunta does. He would, however, be just as abused as Robinson if he was out in the position to cover number one wide receivers, as would Jacques Reeves. Both are pleasant surprises as a number two cornerback and nickel corner respectively, but that doesn't mean that they can move up the depth chart once Dunta leaves. A lack of a true good-to-elite cover corner is one the biggest problems for this team, and considering that they don't get to free agency very often, it will likely be a problem next year too. By the way, you might have been able to tell but I have written off both Fred Bennett and Antwaun Molden.

Safety:

- Bernard Pollard has changed this defense because of a mixture of good play on his part and complete lack thereof on all the other strong safeties prior to Pollard's assumption of the starting role. He is not a prototypical interchangeable safety that can cover deep just as well as he can play the run, but it is rare to find a safety so good at one discipline. I can understand Kansas City feeling that they didn't want to start him, but he has made them look terribly stupid for giving him an outright release. As long as he is paired with a good coverage free safety, Pollard is a huge asset against the run and I am just as in favor of re-signing him as Mike Kerns is.

- Eugene Wilson is a good coverage safety and plays well with Pollard. The problem is that Wilson has played all 16 games in just one of his 7 NFL seasons, which is probably the reason why the personnel savvy Patriots let him go. What amplifies this problem is that the depth at safety is probably the weakest throughout the entire team (offense and defense) as Dominique Barber and John Bushing are substandard.

Summation:

- After three games of sieve-like defense, Gary Kubiak was under fire for elevating Frank Bush to a position that he appeared to not be ready for. Since those first three games, however, the defense has outperformed the offense. During the four losses in the time period stated, the defense allowed an average of 12 second half points, which is counting the two pick-6 interceptions that Matt Schaub threw. These were all games that were winnable and while the defense is not without fault, the offense continually showed an inability to put games away.

- The defense's performance is admirable considering the lack of depth and talent at certain positions, and Frank Bush should be commended for it. Take for example the lack of talent at NT, which has allowed opposing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket even when pressure is being applied on the outside. To counter this, Bush has sent Cushing on blitzes, resulting in 1.5 sacks but also making the defense susceptible to outside runs as well as quarterback sneaks like what we saw against Tennessee. Another huge problem is the coverage. If zone coverage is called, tight ends like Dallas Clark and Vernon Davis eat the middle for lunch, but if you go with man coverage you either concede Dunta getting burnt or lose a player to continually helping him over the top. Both options allow for quarterbacks to know exactly where they can deliver the ball and thus avoid pressure with quick throws. It's a vicious cycle.

Future:

- This season looks good for the defense considering they face the 24th, 22nd, 21st, 12th, and 2nd (in a game that may not feature starters for too long) offenses in the remainder of the season. Not only are they unproductive, but many are one-dimensionally favored toward running, which is something the Texans have stopped lately, even if marginally so in a loss against a Titans squad that scored 20 points. I believe that DeMeco will go to another Pro Bowl, and Brian Cushing will be defensive ROY.

- The future looks bright for the Texans' D despite the current holes. Pollard, Okoye, Williams, Ryans and Cushing have all yet to play their fifth season, making the corps of the unit extremely young. Cornerback would be my first priority for the draft as it is not only the most glaring weakness but the position also typically takes at least a year or two before a player can rise to a great or even good status. Defensive Tackle and Safety are close behind with both being slightly less crucial because serviceable players currently fill those spots.

Take The Half-Season Poll: Most Disappointing Defensive Player For Your Houston Texans?

Tim — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:00:34 -0000

Two sides to every coin; we've already taken a look at the best, so now let's turn our attention to the other extreme. Which defensive player on the Texans has disappointed you the most thus far? Vote in the poll below and let us know why you voted the way you did in the Comments.

Poll

Who Has Been the Most Disappointing Player on the Texans' Defense Through Nine Games?

Mario Williams

101 votes

Antonio Smith

58 votes

Frank Okam

45 votes

Amobi Okoye

37 votes

Xavier Adibi

27 votes

Fred Bennett

135 votes

Jacques Reeves

6 votes

Dunta Robinson

155 votes

Connor Barwin

28 votes

DelJuan Robinson

7 votes

Dominique Barber

14 votes

Nick Ferguson

9 votes

622 votes | Poll has closed

Post-Game Breakdown: Texans Hang On Against 49ers

Tim — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:04:02 -0000

BFD already did a fine job taking a look at many of the individual performances from Sunday's win over the Niners, so I'm going to focus on the bigger picture in this PGB. First and foremost:

1. I can't help but notice how many of us seemed viciously unhappy with the "W" on Sunday. Reading many of the Comments in the open game threads, you'd think the Texans lost the game. This isn't exactly the first time we've responded like that, either; recall how down and/or critical many of us were after the win over Oakland. My thought? The Texans don't have a rich enough history of success for any of us to be depressed about a win, no matter how nasty it got at the end (and it did get way too close for comfort). I lose sight of this from time to time. We're not the Steelers. We're not the Colts. Our best single-season winning percentage is .500. To put it mildly, wins have been scarce. When we get one, we shouldn't let the potential sting of a near-loss ruin the experience. Now, is there a lot to discuss and question? Absolutely. Never should have gotten as close as it did. But I'm going to do my best not to let those concerns completely overshadow the relative rarity of a Texans victory. In a year or two, with some semblance of sustained achievement, perhaps. Not yet, though.

2. Even with the second-half struggles, I can honestly say that I never had a doubt the Texans would hold on. I don't recall ever feeling that way before.

3. The defense remains a work in progress, but the rush defense is exponentially better than it was at the beginning of the season. It's been exceptional for the last month.

4. Not coincidentally, Amobi Okoye is becoming more and more of a factor every week. I no longer think his face should be on the back of a milk carton.

5. Nice to see Super Mario return to the sack column. Query: Is that injured shoulder affecting him more than he or the team is letting on?

6. Jeff Zgonina: Second-best DT on the roster? Third-best? Under any analysis, Frank Okam is getting embarrassed week in and week out.

7. Every superlative performance by Owen Daniels makes it less likely that he gets a long-term deal from the Texans. I cannot see Smithiak giving him the Kellen Winslow, Jr. money he wants considering the upcoming obligations the team has to address (e.g., DeMeco Ryans, Matt Schaub's option, a new deal for Mario Williams, etc.), and games like Sunday only reinforce the notion that OD deserves to be paid like one of the top TEs in the league. What's more, given the animosity between the parties that surfaced this past summer, banking on OD taking a hometown discount to stay in Houston seems foolish. Thus, the question becomes whether you think the Texans should pay a TE, even one as gifted as OD, the $20 mil or so guaranteed that it'll likely take to keep him happy here. I hate to say it, and I absolutely love Owen Daniels, but I don't think you can, given the dollars you're going to have to dole out to others. And that's not even taking into account whether James Casey can be a reasonable facsimile of OD.

8. Has any player fallen farther during the Smithiak Era than Fred Bennett? From rookie stud to not even dressing for a game when presumably healthy. Who ever would have thought we'd be here after the 2007 season?

9. Eugene Wilson and Bernard Pollard are the best safety tandem the Texans have ever had.

10. What did Ryan Moats do to Gary Kubiak and/or Kyle Shanahan? I'm all for yanking Steve Slaton when he puts the ball on the ground, but why is Chris Brown the exclusive backup? Especially since Moats looked so good against Oakland?

11. Watching Matt Schaub play QB for the Houston Texans makes me truly appreciate how wretched David Carr was and makes me even angrier that it took me almost five (5) years to stop making excuses for Carr.

12. Is the Texans' offense multidimensional enough to warrant playing it safe with Andre Johnson this week? And what is playing it safe--can you dress 'Dre and play him as a decoy? Or do you give him two weeks to heal in preparation for the divisional battle with Indianapolis? I'd like to think the Texans can win one without 'Dre, but I would not want to be making that decision.

13. Alex Smith should send the Texans a nice care package for getting his career back on track. No disrespect to Smith, of course, but three (3) TD passes to the exact same player on what appeared to be the exact same route? He owes Frank Bush a bottle of scotch.

For all the positive vibes we've seen from the first winning streak this season, the Texans must keep it going on Sunday at Buffalo if they truly are in the hunt for a playoff spot. The Bills have had several chances to roll over and haven't, so they're not to be taken lightly, and a road game is a road game. Even with Andre Johnson, this wasn't going to be a picnic. Without him? Very, very dangerous.

49ers vs Texans coverage
Texans vs Bills coverage

New York Jets Run Offense vs. Houston Texans Run Defense

John B — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:00:30 -0000

by David J. Phillip - AP

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This will be a case of strength against weakness. The Jets had arguably the best running game in the AFC a season ago. The Texans were one of the five worst run defenses in the league. This should provide Thomas Jones and Leon Washington a real opportunity to start 2009 on the right foot.

The Texans made some upgrades up front. The one with the biggest impact will likely be Antonio Smith, who is a quality run defender at defensive end. The Jets love to run the ball to the right side with Brandon Moore and Damien Woody lining up over there. Gang Green will probably attack Smith's side, frequently pulling Alan Faneca as well. The rest of the defensive line is not great against the run. Mario Williams is developing into an elite pass rusher. His play against the run has been slower to develop. D'Brickashaw Ferguson surely improved a year ago run blocking, but it's still the weak point of his game. That will be less pronounced against Williams.

Houston is still searching for the right mix at tackle and will show a rotation of Lions import Shaun Cody, Amobi Okoye, Frank Okam, and DelJuan Robinson. It will be difficult for them against the interior of Moore, Faneca, and Nick Mangold. This combination in conjunction with Tony Richardson will bring the run game a lot of success if they can beat this unremarkable duo and hit the second level, getting bodies on Texans standout linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

One area where the Jets will have a disadvantage is a matchup between Brian Cushing and Dustin Keller. Gang Green telegraphed too many plays last season, constantly throwing with Keller in the game and putting in Wayne Hunter and Robert Turner before calling a run play. I would expect to see plenty of Ben Hartsock to play against Cushing on the run. If Keller can consistently beat Cushing on passing routes and force Houston into sticking a nickel to play Keller, the Jets will have a much easier time playing Dustin on run downs. The advantage will go away.

I anticipate the Jets trying to do what they do best, attacking Houston's interior weakness by running between the tackles and to the right, minimizing the amount of work Ferguson has to do. The Jets should run early and often to force eight into the box and open things up for Sanchez. Once the Texans start selling out on the run, it will be up to the rookie to perform.

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Houston Texans Pass Defense

John B — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:00:40 -0000

by James Nielsen - AP

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Mark Sanchez's debut comes against a team searching for a new defensive identity. New defensive coordinator Frank Bush is installing a 4-3 under defense. He's never been a coordinator before so it's impossible to say exactly what his philosophy will be. He was a disciple of current Kansas City defensive coordinator, Clancy Pendergast, a guy noted for attack schemes. You can assume Houston will be aggressive, attempting to attack and confuse a rookie quarterback.

There's a lot of uncertainty at cornerback for the Texans. At his best, Dunta Robinson is a lockdown corner. He looked a bit rusty last season, returning midyear from a torn ACL. He also held out until Sunday over a contract dispute, skipping all of training camp and preseason. It's tough to say how much this will hurt. Cornerback is a position where it's easy to jump right in and play well. Think of the way Darrelle Revis jumped right in and played at a high level after a holdout two years ago. Will Robinson be able to do the same. One figures they'll stick him on an island on Jerricho Cotchery a lot, take away Sanchez's best target, and force secondary players to get open.

Another key matchup will be Dustin Keller against Brian Cushing. The system Bush installed requires the strongside backer to be able to play man coverage against the tight end in addition to blitz and get off blocks in run support. Cushing is extremely athletic. His ability to hang with Keller will be critical for Houston's success against the pass.

The rest of Houston's pass defense is unproven. Starter Jacques Reeves will miss the game with a leg injury, leaving Fred Bennett, Glover Quin and Antwaun Moldin to match up against David Clowney and Chansi Stuckey. This might be one of the few matchups in the early going where one could argue the Jets have a slight edge. Domonique Barber and Nick Ferguson will start at safety for Houston.

Houston will look to generate pressure and force Sanchez to make quick decisions. The key matchup on the line will be between a pair of 2006 top five picks, Mario Williams and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Williams posted 12 sacks a year ago. The rest of the defensive line provides more questions than answers. His fellow end, Antonio Smith, is more of a run stopper than a pass rusher. He'll probably give way to rookie Connor Barwin on third down. The Texans are still waiting on Amobi Okoye to develop into a force on the line. The new system will likely give him more of a chance to work one on one and try to penetrate than he has in the past. Thus far, the youngster is still a work in progress (but still has plenty of time to get better at 22). DelJuan Robinson, Shaun Cody, and Frank Okam will likely rotate at tackle and aren't distinguished pass rushers.

With the Texans expected to attack, a first time starting quarterback, and a newfound devotion to Leon Washington, this would seem like a great game to utilize a lot of screens. They're high percentage throws that will help Sanchez get into the flow of the game and build his confidence. They will allow the playmaker to make a play. This could create a compelling Washington-DeMeco Ryans matchup in space.

I am optimistic. Last year opposing quarterbacks posted a 92 rating against the Texans. They changed the scheme, but they might not have the horses to successfully play the pass, especially with a starting corner out. David Clowney has been burned backups for two years in preseason. He'll have the chance to go to work against second tier players again.

Decision Day: 53-Man Roster Speculation

bigfatdrunk — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:13:47 -0000

More photos » by Steve Nesius - AP

3 months ago: Houston Texans' David Anderson (89) congratulates James Casey (86) after Casey's 11-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Rex Grossman during the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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With cuts due by 3pm CDT (I believe, please correct me if I'm wrong), I wanted to pontifibate one last time on the 53-man roster. It's not going to be much different than my first take.

As a refresher, here's the composition of the Texans original 53-man roster last year:

2 QBs
3 RBs
1 FB
5 WRs
3 TEs
5 OTs
5 Gs (1 C/G)
1 C
3 Special Teamers (P, K, LS)
6 DEs
5 DTs
6 LBs
4 CBs
5 Ss

Again, there's substantial reason to believe the roster will be similarly composed. So here goes:

2 QBs: Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky
3 RBs: Steve Slaton, Chris Brown, Arian Foster (over Ryan Moats)
1 FB: Vonta Leach
5 WRs: Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, David Anderson, Jacoby Jones
3 TEs: Owen Daniels, James Casey, Anthony Hill
4 OTs: Duane Brown, Cliff Washburn, Eric Winston, Rashad Butler
5 OGs: Antoine Caldwell, Chester Pitts, Kasey Studdard, Mike Brisiel, Chris White. Last year, there were 5 OTs and 4 OGs.
1 C: Chris Myers
3 Special Teamers: P - Matt Turk, K - Kris Brown, LS - Clark Harris
5 DEs: Antonio Smith, Mario Williams, Connor Barwin, Tim Bulman, Jesse Nading
5 DTs: Amobi Okoye, DelJuan Robinson, Frank Okam, Shaun Cody, Jeff Zgonina
6 LBs: Zac Diles, Xavier Adibi, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Buster Davis, Kevin Bentley
5 CBs: Jacques Reeves, Fred Bennett, Brice McCain, Glover Quin, Antwaun Molden
4 Ss: Dominique Barber, Eugene Wilson, Nick Ferguson, John Busing

Again, that leaves us with 52 of the 53 spots. I think it's going to come down to:

Rex Grossman: He'll be tough to cut after last night's performance.
Glenn Martinez: Was a fiend on special teams all preseason.
Joel Dreessen: Your basic, but very good, utility TE.

After Anthony Hill's performance last night, I believe Dreessen takes the last spot. While Casey needs some time to mature into the position, Hill is definitely not ready. Dreessen will be the steady hand.

As far as Grossman, I believe there's a chance he still makes the team over Jeff Zgonina. Kubiak hasn't shown any indication he's going to take three QBs, and after last night's game, he seemed pretty non-committal about keeping Rex. Personally, I don't believe Rex makes the team.

I'll be out of town when the cuts are made, but I'll be back this afternoon.

Preseason Or Not, I'm Worried About The Texans' Run Defense

Tim — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:41:42 -0000

Q: What does the Houston Texans' run defense have in common with the author of this post?

A: They're both woefully soft in the middle.

There's a whole lot to be agitated about after Saturday night's egg. Yes, it's only preseason, so we shouldn't be marching to Reliant with torches and pitchforks. Yet. But if what we saw out of the first-team defense is any indication of what we have to look forward to once the games start to count, 2009 could be another long season for all of us. Yes, I understand that the Saints boast one of the best offenses in the league, Reggie Bush's dubious status as a franchise running back be damned. That's no excuse for getting gashed the way the Texans did two nights ago.

Let's put things into perspective: When I find myself wondering whether Travis Freaking Johnson is the best DT on the roster, it's enough to make me want to lay down in the middle of the far left lane of I-10 during rush hour. I know I'm not the only one thinking that (the Travis-Johnson-as-best-DT-on-the-roster thing; your willingness to become roadkill over a football team may vary). Amobi Okoye and Frank Okam were so unbelievably unimpressive for the vast majority of the game (e.g., Amobi got to Drew Brees once, which was nice) that you would've thought that the Texans were playing 9-on-11. My frustration with Amobi will be more fully fleshed out in a separate post (spoiler alert!), so I'm going to save my concerns about the individual players for another time. Instead, let's focus on the Texans' run defense as a unit. A unit that could be well on its way to earning a nickname analogizing it to a donut.

Your Houston Texans finished 23rd in the league last season in rushing yards yielded per game, giving up an average of 122.6 yards each week on the ground. What, if anything, has the organization done in the offseason to shore up its run defense, especially at defensive tackle? DeMeco is a golden god and all, but his ability to wreak havoc upon the opponent's running game is severely compromised when the DTs in front of him are easily contained by a single blocker. As much as I'd love to say that Richard Smith's scheme was responsible for the team's poor run defense last year, I haven't seen anything to make me think that Frank Bush has a magic elixir to cure what ails it. Granted, it's preseason, so maybe Bush is just waiting to wow all of us until the Jets come to town in a few weeks. The more likely outcome, I'm afraid, is that the Texans' starting defensive tackles are so bad that they're going to have treadmarks on their chests all season long. Couple that with what can be perhaps most kindly be described as a beleaguered secondary, and we could be in real trouble.

Could the 2009 Houston Texans be the NFL's version of MLB's Texas Rangers of the late nineties and early aughts? A fatally flawed team that features a breathaking offense and horrendous defense (pitching, in the Rangers' case)? Or am I overreacting for no good reason? Speak out in the Comments below.

bfd's First Take at the 53-Man Roster

bigfatdrunk — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:31:53 -0000

Great discussion last week on the possible composition of the 53-man roster started by Texans-Brocos. Here's my take with a little bit of background.

Last year, the Texans' opening roster consisted of:

2 QBs
3 RBs
1 FB
5 WRs
3 TEs
5 OTs
5 Gs (1 C/G)
1 C
3 Special Teamers (P, K, LS)
6 DEs
5 DTs
6 LBs
4 CBs
5 Ss

I think it's reasonable to believe the 2009 roster will be similarly composed. After last night's game, here's my guess as to how the 53-man is shaping up:

2 QBs: Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky
3 RBs: Steve Slaton, Chris Brown, Ryan Moats (depending on his injury)
1 FB: Vonta "Human Coke Machine" Leach
5 WRs: Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, David Anderson, Jacoby Jones (almost by default)
3 TEs: Owen Daniels, James Casey, Anthony Hill (no Joel Dreessen, which is our loss)
4 OTs: Duane Brown, Cliff Washburn, Eric Winston, Rashad Butler
5 OGs: Antoine Caldwell, Chester Pitts, Kasey Studdard, Mike Brisiel, Chris White. Last year, there were 5 OTs and 4 OGs.
1 C: Chris Myers (depending on his health, obviously)
3 Special Teamers: P - Matt Turk, K - Kris Brown, LS - Clark Harris
5 DEs: Antonio Smith, Mario Williams, Connor Barwin, Tim Bulman, Jesse Nading
5 DTs: Amobi Okoye, DelJuan Robinson, Frank Okam, Shaun Cody, Jeff Zgonina (no Travis Johnson)
6 LBs: Zac Diles, Xavier Adibi, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Buster Davis (depending on Cato June's health), Kevin Bentley
5 CBs: Jacques Reeves, Fred Bennett, Brice McCain, Glover Quin, Antwaun Molden (no Dunta Robinson...just in case)
4 Ss: Dominique Barber, Eugene Wilson, Nick Ferguson, John Busing

Several differences from last year, though nothing crazy. Last year, we carried 6 DEs and 5 DTs, whereas I have us carrying 5 DEs this year. Sadly, I still have us carrying Jeff Zgonina as I just don't see anybody on the roster otherwise. There's the difference in OGs and OTs, and I have us keeping 5 CBs and 4 Ss, where that was swapped last year.

Also, and I doubt you noticed, but I have listed only 52 players for 2009. If Dunta signs, I do believe we'll keep 6 CBs on the roster as I believe the Texans, rightly so, would be afraid to release either McCain or Molden, who are the two I believe to be most on the bubble. I also believe that one of the CBs will be in line for a position change to S.

One guy who really intrigues me is Glenn Martinez, as he was the most "on" last night. He can return punts and kickoffs and looks like an excellent gunner on special teams. As I said in the game thread, he reminds me of Steve Tasker in the way he plays. There's a chance he overtakes Jones, but because we're carrying extra CBs, it'll make it tougher for Martinez to win a job.

What do y'all think?

Texans Down 'N Dirty: Day 17 Recap Edition

DreKeem — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:00:23 -0000

I am quite possibly one of the least creative people on the planet. "Day [insert number] Recap Ediiton" again?

I love me some training camp fights! Yes, if anyone was seriously injured I would not love them, but fights such as the one that broke out between DeMeco Ryans and Jeremy Shockey can be entertaining. Ryans put the b*tch in his place. For that alone he deserves a new contract.

One look at the picture accompanying this article, and you may begin to lick your chops at the thought of the defensive line this season. Frank Okam looks like he means some serious business. I don't know what it has been that has made him so commited this off-season. Even at Texas he had a reputation for being boom on one play and bust on the next. That certainly continued over into his first professional season (though there were never any booms). This year, though he still has his moments of inconsistency, he has lowered his weight and shown increased ability to disrupt the quarterback. Keep it up, big guy.

Amobi Okoye recently sat down for an interview with team reporters. I'll touch on the on the interesting material in the quotes section.

Richard Justice thinks the Texans will make the playoffs. We're doomed.

Here's yesterday's recap from the Chronicle and the team website. Drew Brees made his first appearance against the Texans yesterday. It's unfortunate the defense did not get to work against him more during the joint practice, as he truly is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Glover Quin and Brice McCain are still staging an intense battle for the nickel corner spot. There is no clear cut favorite at this point, both have been outstanding thus far.

And now the best quotes of the day:

"I thought we were a bit sluggish, to be honest with you. We need to pick up the tempo. And we will." - Gary Kubiak

"I thought we were sharp and crisp in what were doing. Guys were getting into it mentally." - Matt Schaub

It's probably not a good thing when your starting quarterback and head coach are on different ends of the spectrum regarding practice. Still, it's nothing to be concerned about. It's natural for a coach to expect the best out of his team and rarely be satisfied.

Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston watched his teammates get into six fights with the Saints in the morning practice. He compared it to a movie but not Fight Club.

"It was very Gangs of New York-esque," he said. - John McClain

Sorry, BFD. You were close.

Last year, I had a good, decent year for a second-year player. I just didn't have the expected year that I wanted, and so definitely there's always going to be pressures to be better." - Amobi Okoye

Wait a second? Amobi calls one sack and 24 tackles "decent" for a sophomore? Please, raise your expectations.

(on who will be playing on Saturday night) "We'll just up the ones. They'll basically play about a quarter-and-a-half of the game, then the twos will play about a quarter-and-a-half and then the threes will finish the game. Play count's probably going to be somewhere around 25 for the first group." - Gary Kubiak

Starters should be out there a little longer this game. Still, the backups are always the focus point of intense fans in the pre-season and they will continue to be.

(on if RB Arian Foster will play) "Well, I saw how he looked this morning, and he looked like he was OK. Obviously, he's missed a lot of time, so we'll see how he comes out of today and if he's fine, then I'd like to play him." - Kubiak

Foster needs to play in his first game on Saturday. It will be a huge step for him to be healthy enough to participate. It's time for him to prove why he believes he should be the backup running back. The way Chris Brown has looked so far, he's quickly running out of time.

(on LB Brian Cushing) "You know what, he's doing really well. He ran yesterday a little bit, I don't know if y'all have watched him. It's my understanding he ran a little bit today. He's on schedule; we don't have any doubts that he'll be ready to go opening week. Do we play him in the preseason next week or Tampa Bay? I think that's still up in the air. Our target date is to make sure he's ready to go against the Jets." - Kubiak

Given his injury history, I wouldn't want to jeaporadize his regular season by playing him too early. However, he's progressed quickly and could be back earlier than we expected.

(on what happened between he and Shockey) "Oh, he just got to pushing and shoving on a little pass play, and I told my defensive guys that we're not going to just let them come into our house and think they can take over when they come to Houston. This is our house, and we had to let them know that, and we get a chance to do that again on Saturday." - DeMeco Ryans

Where's his money?

Texans Down 'N Dirty: Day 15 Recap Edition

DreKeem — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:23 -0000

While reading James Casey's latest (and as usual, extremely interesting) rookie diary entry, I noticed a shocking connection. On James Casey's first play as a Texan in a pre-season game, he made the tackle for his team. Similarly, in DeMeco Ryan's first pre-season play, he managed the first tackle. Just sayin'.

Kasey Studdard has performed admirably in camp and throughout the pre-season filling in for Chester Pitts. I'm really excited to see Studdard continue to progress throughout the year, as Pitts' contract has reached its last year. Though Pitts hasn't missed a game in franchise history and had an extremely good season last year, he will be 31 at season's end and you have to be skeptical about giving in to what is sure to be hefty demands by his agent. We've been over the situations with DeMeco and Owen Daniels, so adding Pitts to the list just makes my head hurt. Studdard's solid play makes me believe the likely loss of Pitts may not be as harsh as it might have seemed earlier.

Here's the day's recap from the Chronicle and the team website. Former Baylor fullback Jonathan Evans was signed as a camp body to take away a few reps from Vonta Leach. As expected, Antwuan Molden isn't quite up to full speed yet and still isn't participating fully in all team drills. Luckily, there were no signs of pain for the returning cornerback. John Busing continues to make plays. He added another interception to his list yesterday. He didn't particularly stand out in the Chiefs game, but he could see more playing time against the Saints.

And now the best quotes of the day:

It was a tough morning practice for fourth-round pick Anthony Hill, a tight end known primarily for his blocking ability. The Texans ran several pass plays to Hill, and he missed multiple passes thrown by quarterback Matt Schaub. One time, coach Gary Kubiak said, "Come on, 87, make the play!" On a similar pass play about 15 yards up the middle, Hill caught a pass but was stripped by free safety Brandon Harrison. Later, Hill caught a touchdown pass in the red zone and got a lot of encouragement from his teammates. He has to catch the ball in practice and continue to prove his ability to block. - Jordan Godwin

Hill will see playing time regardless if he blocks as well as he was said to in college, especially in the red zone. That being said, he needs to become a better pass catcher to see consistent playing time and become a regular contributor with the team. Is it a lack of focus or a lack of soft hands in general? Either way, Hill has to sort the issue out.

After a huge game on Saturday against the Chiefs, defensive tackle Frank Okam deflected a pass thrown by backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky. Okam made a leaping effort and deflected the pass with his mammoth right hand. The pass ricocheted into the air and strong safety Nick Ferguson made a diving catch for the interception. If Okam can continue to play up to his potential, the injured Travis Johnson may have some competition when he returns. - Godwin

Hahaha. Some competition? Hilarious.

(on why he was running with his team after practice) "I was late to the Bowling Derby (on Monday night). A bunch of coaches working, a few minutes late, so we hold ourselves to the same standard." - Gary Kubiak

Good man.

(on the team working on the Wildcat offense in practice) "We've got to work against it. We're going to see it during the season, so our defense needs to see it. We've got a few guys capable of doing it, but that's not how we make our living. Like I said, we've got to work on our cat, and work on the wildcat later." - Kubiak

Wait, something about a cat? I'm lost. If I had to place a bet, I'd say James Casey, Jacoby Jones (due to the one, albeit miserable, play they ran with him at quarterback last year), and Andre Davis (he's an explosive athlete) all tried their hand at the Wildcat.

(on the Minnesota preseason game suddenly becoming bigger with Brett Favre joining the Vikings) "I'm worried about New Orleans. One week at a time. I didn't even know until I came over here and heard some guys talking. For sure, that will add some spice to the story next week when we get together, but we've got a lot of work to do between now and then." - Kubiak

Please. No. Brett. F*cking. Favre.

For the second consecutive day of practice, linebacker DeMeco Ryans randomly yelled out at the top of his lungs, "GREAT DAY TO BE ALIIIIIIVE!!!" Maybe it's after the Texans' preseason victory over the Chiefs, or maybe Ryans is just genuinely happy to be alive. - Godwin

GREAT DAY TO BE ALIIIIIIVE!!!