Houston Texans State of the Roster: Wide Receiver
The day that many Houston Texans fans feared has come and gone. The man, the legend, No. 80 has left the building. While Houston overcame the shock and mourning at the loss of a city staple, most fans and analysts alike recognize that Andre Johnson parting with the Bulls on Parade was in the best interest of both parties. Now that he’s moved on to the Indianapolis Colts in pursuit of the ring that he rightfully deserves, Houston is left doing damage control – or are they?
When Bill O’Brien and Bob McNair spoke to Johnson the day the news of his departure broke, it was reported that the veteran was told, after years of being the singular blue chip offensive talent on the team, that he should not expect to start. Perhaps it was a ploy to send him along his way or a bluff to shoehorn him into taking a pay cut, but the possibility exists that the Texans’ front office may have had someone else in mind. This season’s draft promises bountiful talent at the position, but Houston may feel they already have their man signed to their roster.
Houston has seen meager days at the wide receiver position, and while it could be argued that the current receiving corps, as it stands pre-draft, leaves much to be desired, there are still some high points worth exploiting.
Houston Texans State of the Roster: Quarterback
It’s the most important position on a football team, but as far as quarterback situations in Houston go, things traditionally have fallen along the continuum of “pleasantly sufficient” to “ugly”.
Really, really ugly. Well, not anymore!
Maybe.
After the disaster that was David Carr, taken first overall in 2002, (the benefactor of one of the worst offensive lines ever witnessed and consequently the proud owner of the title “Most Sacked QB in a Single Season” with a whopping 76 – ouch), the Houston Texans have since never invested a first-round pick in the position again.
It’s doubtful that they’ll make a change this year, either. With three quarterbacks already signed to their roster, Houston will have to decide whether they have enough fondness for one of 2015’s new wave of signal-callers to pull the trigger (at any point), effectively moving on from one of their passers once the season begins. Bill O’Brien has hand-selected the three men currently signed to the roster – they’re his guys and they’re in Houston because he wants them there, not remnants of an old system, meaning they all possess any number of skills he specifically is looking for.
Fans have been itching for the franchise guy to finally enter the building, and would undoubtedly love to see a fresh face, but is that guy already in Battle Red, Deep Steel Blue and Liberty White?
Houston Texans State of the Roster: Tight End
Long gone are the days of the primarily run-blocking, massive, lumbering tight end, and ushered in are the agile, pass-catching matchup nightmares. In this era of the NFL, tight ends are essential, coveted, physical specimens, and the position is often filled by the most athletic men on the team. Naturally, every team would seek to have one, right?
Sort of.
While well-known superstars like Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski (as well as Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Julius Thomas – need I continue?) have proven the position is indispensable, the Houston Texans have neglected to secure a top-flight, starting-caliber tight end in recent history.
Prior to his departure, former head coach Gary Kubiak adored his two-tight end sets and utilized reliable talent like Owen Daniels (now reunited with him in Denver) in a variety of fashions (but most prominently as the sure-fire, third down crossing route) – and why not? The modern-day tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, even serving as the ultimate security blanket for a signal-caller in distress (or one with quite a bit of inexperience).
Inexperienced quarterback? Cue Ryan Mallett, presumed starter of the Texans!
Production from the group signed to the Texans roster last season was, well, pitiful, and should be amended immediately. However, since the Texans neglected to go shopping for Mallett’s new bestie, they’ll be forced to dive into the draft (which seems to hold little promise at the position, though a day-of trade is always possible) or within their current roster.
Houston has some talent worth believing in, but head coach Bill O’Brien will have to trust in the group enough to call for more receptions their way – and the potential will have to turn to fruition in order to garner that trust.
Houston Texans State of the Roster: Running Back
The NFL may now be a passing league, but there is often nothing more valuable than a dominant running attack. Converting on third-and-short, barreling into the end zone, taking the pressure off the quarterback, setting up play-action, and sometimes making a crowd-igniting play are all what the league’s best backs are capable of.
Even in recent history, running backs have proven invaluable. It was the top-shelf running of Marshawn Lynch who helped bring the Seattle Seahawks to their second consecutive Super Bowl, and many would argue, the absence of that running in the waning minutes of that contest which cost them a ring.
Since 2010, the Houston Texans have been the proud owners of one of the more dominant running squads in the league, but that production has seen some decline. For one, the offensive line has been less dominant, but the blocking presence from others, like former Texans full back Vonta Leach, is also missing (and has yet to be replaced), while the men carrying the rock have had difficulty staying healthy as well.
Recent history has had few question marks surrounding the ground game, but, with Bill O’Brien entering his second year, there is speculation that the head coach may divert from Houston’s traditional feature and change-of-pace back, one-two punch in the pursuit of the Patriot-like running back by committee system.
Regardless of what he chooses do with them, O’Brien and his Texans do have pieces to work with. The Houston running game, as it stands, is truly less about how to make something out of nothing (as other position groups seem to be), but how to make something good, great.
10 Men the Texans Should Have Never Allowed to Leave Town
Football teams are built through the draft and supplemented through free agency. So goes the timeless philosophy, but what happens when, inevitably, some of those men move on to supplement another team? When the time comes to distinguish players as either indispensable or expendable, what criteria does an organization utilize to decide who should stay and who should go? Hindsight is 20/20, but it’s the one thing that will never be at the disposal of any team when decision-making time comes.
When the Houston Texans fell from their franchise-record 12-4 to 2-14, it shocked not only the presumed contenders and their fans, but the league on the whole as well. It seemed as if, finally, all the pieces were there. However, upon closer examination, many of the pieces they did have simply no longer were.
Now, as the Texans look to get back to the playoffs, a year removed from climbing atop .500, they are also looking to improve in areas of weakness – weaknesses that exist largely because of missing men who cannot so easily be replaced.
In the past five years alone, the caliber of the players which has been allowed to leave NRG Stadium is astounding. When accounting for their absence, Houston’s lackluster seasons suddenly start to make sense, and an alternate reality wherein the Texans were somehow afforded the capabilities to make them stay likely leads to a championship ring.
Ordered by their date of departure, from least to most recent, these are the men that, for their talent, their character, grit, leadership or their plain fit with the organization should have remained in Battle Red, Liberty White and Deep Steel Blue.
Jay Prosch: Houston’s Newest Vontae Leach
Even in today’s increasingly pass-happy league, battles are most often won in the trenches. Keeping a clean pocket has become more crucial than ever, and deadly run attacks have become about much more than grinding out a game – they’ve become spectacles of excitement all on their own.
Offensive lineman, as a result of this, have been appropriated their deserved credit, as evidenced by the praised heaped upon the Dallas Cowboy’s O-line just a season ago. Tight ends, too, are given mountains of due diligence, particularly as a result of their transition as a position less focused on blocking, instead converting into high-octane offensive weapons. But fullbacks, the forgotten warriors of the football field, have not been shown the same respect.
It seems that, with the exception of rarities such as Green Bay’s beloved John Kuhn, name notoriety for the position does not exist. Today’s fullbacks spend little time on the field, mostly garnering attention during fourth down or goal line situations. To make an average fan-noticeable impact on the game, fullbacks must be extremely overachieving and consistently the best at their position. Such was the case with Vontae Leach – three-time Pro Bowler and five-year Houston Texan. Leach far exceeded the confines of his positions “expected” production, earning respect from fans, coaches and fellow players week in and week out, ranking as high as No. 45 in the NFL Top 100.
Although the price of his services increased as mightily as his production, the Texans should have made greater efforts to keep the 6’0”, 262 lb Leach on the roster. After turning a corner in their franchise history – overcoming a two-win season, ushering in a new head coach and saying goodbye to legendary receiver Andre Johnson – the organization has begun righting some of those previous wrongs. Perhaps the least spoken about of these actions will be finding, albeit several years later, their star fullback’s replacement.
Yes, fullbacks rarely get name recognition, but this is one man that Houston Texans fans will want to remember: Jay Prosch.
12 Texans Training Camp Takeaways: Sunday, August 2
Two days into training camp and there is already so much we have learned about what to expect from the 2015 Houston Texans, a team which much of the country seems to know little about, despite their upcoming appearance on HBO’s Hard Knocks.
After observation, analysis and press conferences with head coach Bill O’Brien and players DeAndre Hopkins and JJ Watt, here are the twelve things that every fan must know about the Bulls on Parade at this point in their season
Five Fast Texans Training Camp Takeaways: Tuesday, August 11
The Houston Texans have returned from Richmond, Virginia, and, after experiencing their first taste of facing true opposition this season, they returned roaring and in terrific, energetic form.
For the most part, it was business as usual for the Bulls on Parade, but there were some notable highlights from today’s training camp (JJ Watt hugging children not included).
It’s Time for a Return Specialist Replacement in Houston
What if there existed a player who could make offensive work easier, put defenses on their heels, and shorten a field? Imagine if such a player could add points in a single play, ignite a crowd and even swing momentum in not minutes, but seconds. What a gift such a player would be.
Such a player, a blue-chip return specialist, has not been seen in a Houston Texans uniform since the preseason of 2012, when diminutive Trindon Holliday scored three return touchdowns in four games – one season after his predecessor, prolific returner Jacoby Jones, was all but ushered out the door.
Naturally, men of legendary status like Devin Hester are hard to come by, but finding a man with even the successful combination of size, speed, vision and courage to sprint headlong into a swarm of opponents to seems to be difficult.
Yes, uncovering and retaining a top-shelf return man is not only a rare prize but also understatedly critical. It’s also something Houston has failed to do since Jones’ departure, consistently finishing among the league’s bottom in average starting field position and yards per return.
Speedy Keshawn Martin, who inherited the Texans’ punt return duties in October 2012, has failed to replicate the success he had at Michigan State, and veteran primary kick returner Danieal Manning is no longer on the roster, which begs the question: is it time for a change?
With either inexperienced Ryan Mallett or newcomer Bryan Hoyer starting at quarterback for Houston in the upcoming season, lessening the burden of a long field will be more crucial than ever, and with a handful of legitimate replacement options on their roster, the Texans would be wise to give players not wearing No. 82 an opportunity.
Houston Texans Impress in 2015 Preseason Opener
The Houston Texans opened the 2015 preseason with a victory, facing the San Francisco 49ers at NRG Stadium to a crowd of 71,403 people, all eager for some football. While the NFL’s glorified joint practices are not typically known for their awe-inspiring performances, this one did not disappoint.
Fans got a large serving of their home team, as the Texans dominated time of possession with an impressive 40:06 minutes of offense versus the visiting Niners, who managed only 19:54.
Total yardage told the same tale. Houston’s 400 yards are a little more than double San Francisco’s 199, and equally as important, the Bulls on Parade, while forcing a turnover, did not give the ball away themselves.
Obviously, few conclusions about the Texans’ upcoming season should be drawn from tonight. After all, the team opened up the preseason last year with a 32-0 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals and went on to narrowly miss the playoffs. However, given the lack of optimism following news of star running back Arian Foster’s injury, tonight’s performances should be reassuring for Houston, whose fans will have a lot more to smile about tonight.
Texans’ GM Rick Smith: Trending Up or Heading Out?
When rumors broke in December 2014 that Houston Texans’ general manager Rick Smith might be vacating his role in the organization for an alternate, more prestigious office position (in a move that appeared to be more in order to save face than to grant Smith a promotion), the general consensus seemed to be that the decision was a good one. Smith had, overall, provided a net positive effect on the team, but had appeared to lose some of the shrewd decision-making he had exhibited earlier in his tenure. It was time for change.
Very soon after, the Texans shot down any and all information suggesting that they were moving on from their nine-year GM, and obviously, Smith remains, for now, in office.
However, the question lingers: Should the Texans look elsewhere?
On paper, this year’s draft seems to be one of Smith’s best and so far appears to be one of the more complete, positive drafts the Texans have seen in recent history. A likely pressured Smith dealt both players and picks to go after quality talent found in the likes of Benardrick McKinney and Jaelen Strong – a stark contrast to his traditionally conservative approach. While time will tell if his more aggressive tactics will prove to be fruitful, at the very least, it suggests that Smith might still have talents to contribute in Houston.
Alternatively, it could be viewed as a temporary push to regain job security. After nearly a decade, the Texans are very aware of Smith’s tendencies – the same tendencies that have failed to progress the team past the AFC Divisional Round. While a successful draft can often do a great deal of good, it won’t change that fact, and it likely won’t be the singular difference-maker in helping the Texans attain that goal.
Smith, as with most front office men, has had his fair share of both highlights and regretful decisions, all of which should be weighed carefully as the Texans look to the future (to say nothing of the burden of finding his replacement). Owner Bob McNair has expressed his unwavering approval, but I find myself to be less convinced.
Back in the Mix: Texans Regain 12-4 Form with ’15 Schedule
Every once in a while, a schedule comes along, one so beautiful and full of promise, that one can’t help but be thrilled for the season to come. This is such a schedule.
While 2014 saw a fair mix of challenges and easy contests, the same was far from true in 2013, when the Texans fell to the bottom of the NFL, due in large part to a schedule stackedwith quality teams. The Texans were not nearly as bad as their 2-14 record lead many to believe.
This season, things will be much the opposite. Whereas the Texans had then suffered from tough scheduling, 2015 promises to inflate the Texans’ record to the top of their conference. Whether their talent will match that record remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: there will be free Sonic slushies. Many of them.
Strong Move by Texans Creates Instant Elite WR Duo
Welcome to Houston, Jaelen Strong!
When this pick was announced, I’ll admit that I screamed. A lot. Then, when I read what the Houston Texans gave up for this pick, I screamed some more.
First, the positive.
Wow, I can’t quite believe I’m even talking about this pick. How did Houston get such a steal in the third round? (Well, yes, there were the health/wrist concerns, but still). It is my firmest belief that, following the upcoming season, as well as years to come, people will wonder why Strong fell this far. He was, after all, projected to go as high as the first round and certainly in the second. Naturally, Houston would be the team to scoop him up. There’s nothing the Texans love more than a player with a chip on his shoulder.
I can’t stress enough how proud I am that general manager Rick Smith and Co. pulled the trigger and made a move for this guy. He is and will be incredible!
With Johnson, Texans Combat Young AFC South QBs
The day is upon us! The NFL Draft!
No more mock drafts, no more rumors, smokescreens and speculations – just the real McCoy.
Traditionally, the Houston Texans have chosen defensive over offensive players (of which they only selected four all-time) in the first round, and the organization has always firmly followed the tried and true method of taking the best player available. In fact, it has paid off as seven of their last first-round picks are starters still on the team.
Houston is also always very cognizant of character, emphasizing that they love players who are not only leaders on the field, but in the community. Trades have also occurred on the odd occasion for Houston, but they’ve always been more inclined to move down. In all, they’ve characteristically been the team that did things the “right” way – the safer, consistent and expected picks – but those same picks have resulted in truly quality talent (looking at you J.J. Watt).
For the team, this draft has been surrounded with several questions: Do you find your Andre Johnson replacement early or, do you wait in such a wide receiver-deep group? Where do you find another signal-caller to compete with the quarterbacks currently on the roster? Do you find depth to add behind injury-prone running back superstar Arian Foster? Do they take a less-flashy but valuable offensive lineman? Does Houston grab (yet another) defensive lineman and improve upon an already terrifying pass-rush?
For 2015, however, the questions have been answered, and developing, youthful Texans history continues to be made.
With the 16th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson, the third first-round cornerback ever chosen by the franchise.
10 Texans Veterans Threatened by 2015 Draft Class
With the excitement of every new draft class comes the realization that, for every newcomer’s rise to prominence, there is the inevitable replacement of a veteran.
After all, there are only 53 spots on a football team roster, and only 11 men representing that team on the field at once. While these veterans are not likely to be bumped from the squad, the probability that their positions on the depth chart will be compromised by a recently drafted player is high.
Draft selections, particularly those from the early rounds, do tend to get many looks, as well as opportunities which is, in it of itself, sometimes enough to get the nod on a job. They’re simply expected to come in and make a splash. What’s more is that football teams most often draft for positions of need, meaning that, rookies are often introduced to pick up the slack the organization feels the vets are letting down.
However, as with all things in football, anything can happen. Competition in the offseason means than every man’s job is essentially his to lose – some will just have to try harder.
In Houston, like any other team, this is no different. Here are 10 guys who will have to step up to avoid being passed up.
JJ Watt Could Be 2015’s Most Intriguing Two-Point Weapon
As most NFL fans have now been made well aware, the league has decided to add some spice to extra-point attempts by moving them back to the 15-yard line – forcing kickers to knock one through from 33 yards away in order to tack on the seventh point of a drive.
Seeing as no kick is ever a given, particularly when tried in “football weather” (any combination of rain, wind or snow that makes the sport so challenging), many have speculated that teams will turn to two-point conversions instead.
Certainly, we can expect some of the NFL’s more risk-inclined coaches to roll the dice and gamble for the extra two, but it’s difficult to believe that some of the league’s more conservative play callers will break from tradition so soon, particularly if they have a reliable leg to count on.
Players will, as is typical, determine the decision in those situations. Yes, kickers, naturally, as they will be most often responsible, but teams with short-yardage offensive stars may find themselves entertaining the idea of going for two on more than the rare occasion.
Enter, JJ Watt – defensive legend-in-the-making, moonlighting as top-shelf tight end talent.
Travis Labhart Could Make Case for Texans’ Slot WR Position
After witnessing an offseason which saw the Houston Texans part ways with one of the franchise’s most legendary players, Andre Johnson, many assumed that the wide receiver position took a monumental step back, when in reality, that simply is not the case.
What the Houston Texans may have lost in pure talent, they gained in depth, inking deals with players from their own division (Cecil Shorts III and Nate Washington), the draft (Jaelen Strong and Keith Mumphery), and retaining men already on their roster (Damaris Johnson).
Combined with Pro Bowl reserve DeAndre Hopkins and young role players like Keshawn Martin and Alan Bonner, this Texans wide receiving corps boasts tremendous potential, from their guaranteed Week 1 starter to a man who spent last season on the practice squad – Travis Labhart.