Debate the Texans’ offseason needs in The Football Fan Forum
2010 Preview:
The Texans lost 7 games last year, 5 by a touchdown or fewer, 6 by 10 points or less. You would think that a team as talented as this bunch would win a few more of those games and finally make the playoffs, but I’m going to say otherwise. First, they have one of the toughest schedules in the league with 11 games against teams that won 8 or more games last year and 13 games against teams that won 7 or more games last year.
Second, it’s not like their record in games decided by 1 touchdown or less was bad. They lost 5 by a touchdown or fewer, but they also won 5 by a touchdown or fewer. People saying this team is going to win 10 or 11 games and citing their amount of close losses are misinformed.
This wasn’t a team that got unlucky in the clutch last year. This is a team that played a lot of close games. Unless they step up and become a clutch team and start winning 60-70% of their close games, they aren’t going to be better than last year. With a tougher schedule this year, I think they’ll actually have a worse record this season than last, and once again miss the playoffs.
Projection: 8-8 3rd in AFC South
Power Ranking: 19
Draft:
#20 CB Kareem Jackson (Alabama)
He fills a much needed hole left by Dunta Robinson, who left for big money in Atlanta. The Colts were able to destroy the Texans through the secondary all last year and that would only get worse if the Texans didn’t address the position, so I like the position. I just had other players (Kyle Wilson, Brandon Ghee) rated higher, like by a whole round’s worth.
Grade: B-
#58 RB Ben Tate (Auburn)
He fills a need at running back, which they said numerous times they would try to address. Tate is good, but has a very inconsistent motor and doesn’t like to take contact. I wouldn’t have given him a shot in the 2nd round, but he is a decent fit for their cut and go run blocking scheme and he fills a need.
Grade: C+
#81 DT Earl Mitchell (Arizona)
This is a bit of a reach, but it again fills a need. I just get the sense that the Texans’ draft board is pretty different than mine, which is not necessarily a bad thing, and unlike some teams, they are actually addressing important needs. Mitchell is a solid player, but he’s a former fullback with a maxed out frame, short arms, and lacks bulk. He’s a solid nickel rusher and rotation player, but not the future starter type you like out for a 3rd round pick.
Grade: C-
#102 OLB Daryl Sharpton (Miami)
Sharpton is a bit of a reach, but not a huge reach. He played middle linebacker in college, but I think he can kick to the outside and help them at strong side outside linebacker a bit. However, linebacker wasn’t a big need and Sharpton is a bit of a reach and position changes are never easy.
Grade: C
#118 TE Garrett Graham (Wisconsin)
Garrett Graham is a solid player and all, but the Texans have a Pro-Bowl caliber tight end in Owen Daniels and they also drafted two tight ends last year, so I don’t see the need for a guy like Graham.
Grade: D
#146 CB Sherrick McManis (Northwestern)
A slight reach in round 5, but he’s still a decent pick. The Texans needed to double dip in the cornerback position this year to try to defeat Peyton Manning and the Colts.
Grade: B-
#187 G Shelley Smith (Colorado State)
The Texans needed some interior depth coming into this offseason and Smith fits the scheme and is a decent, but not great, value.
Grade: B
#197 WR Trindon Holliday (LSU)
Holliday is undersized, but an explosive kick returner who should have an immediate impact on the Texans in the field position game. If Holliday can get 3-5 more yards per carry than their kick returner last year, that could be a huge difference for a team that seemingly lost every game by less than a touchdown.
Grade: A
#227 TE Dorin Dickerson (Pittsburgh)
Wow. Their 4th tight end they’ve drafted in the last two years, despite the fact that they already have Owen Daniels on the roster (who by the way they gave a 1st/3rd tender this offseason). Dickerson will probably be moved to another position, which is the only explanation for this. He can play fullback and wide receiver and help on special teams and he’s an outstanding value in the 7th.
Grade: A
Overall:
As I said before, I think the Texans just had a different looking draft board than me, which is fine assuming their players pan out. However, I don’t really like the haul of players they caught. They do earn extra points for actually addressing needs though.
Grade: B-
Key Undrafted Free Agents
OT Adam Ulatoski (Texas)
S Aaron Webster (Cincinnati)
DT Malcolm Sheppard (Arkansas)
OT Jason Watkins (Florida)
OLB Will Patterson (Indiana)
OT Cole Pemberton (Colorado State)
FB Jack Corcoran (Rutgers)
Positions of need:
Cornerback:
The Texans corners got a grand total of 1 interception from their cornerbacks last year. To make things worse, top shutdown corner Dunta Robinson is a free agent this offseason and he wants big money that the Texans don’t appear to want to spend. If either Donovan Warren or Kyle Wilson slip past the Falcons to the Texans at 20, they could pull the trigger.
Drafted Kareem Jackson (#20)
Safety:
Eugene Wilson was great last year…until he got hurt. He’s missed 29 games in 4 years and they don’t have depth behind them. They need to be strong in the secondary everywhere to have a shot to beat Peyton Manning. In state safety Earl Thomas would make sense at 20 if he’s still there, as would a guy like Nate Allen in the second.
Defensive Tackle:
Amobi Okoye had a down year last year, but I expect him to bounce back in the future. Either way, they’ll need at upgrade at the other defensive tackle position. If they can’t get Dan Williams in the first, they’ll look for guys in the mid rounds.
Drafted Earl Mitchell (#81)
Outside Linebacker
Taking Brian Cushing in the first round was a great decision, but unfortunately they needed two linebacker upgrades last offseason and only got one. They can focus on the other side this year and should take advantage of the depth of the outside linebacker class by finding someone they feel will fit their scheme in the mid rounds.
Drafted Daryl Sharpton (#102), Signed Danny Clark
Running Back:
Gary Kubiak enjoys starting random guys at the running back position. I literally think he puts the name of every running back on his roster into a hat and draws one and then runs with him for that drive and then repeats. Steve Slaton probably won’t be ready for the start of next season, plus they don’t seem to like him because he fumbles too much. Jahvid Best has an outside shot at the 20th pick. If not, they’ll still target one in the late rounds. At the very least, they need a goal line back because they really struggled to run the football in the red zone.
Drafted Ben Tate (#58)
Wide Receiver:
Kevin Walter is a free agent leaving them without much next to Andre Johnson except a few guys who are best suited as slot guys, Jacoby Jones, David Anderson. They could resign Walter, but if they have a receiver like Dez Bryant fall into their laps, they’ll pull the trigger.
Guard:
One, if not two, upgrades are needed inside. Gary Kubiak likes building in the trenches, so they could target one in the 2nd-4th rounds.
Signed Wade Smith, Drafted Shelley Smith (#187)
Free agents:
QB Rex GROSSman- signed with Redskins 1 year
RB Chris Brown
RB Ryan Moats- signed with Vikings
WR Kevin Walter (restricted)- resigned 5 years 21.5 million
TE Owen Daniels (restricted)- resigned 1 year 3.1 million
OT Rashad Butler (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million
G Chester Pitts- signed with Seahawks
G Chris White (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.2 million
G Mike Brisiel (restricted)
DT Tim Bulman (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million
DT Deljuan Robinson (restricted)- tendered
MLB DeMeco Ryans (restricted)- resigned 6 year 48 million
MLB Chaun Thompson
#8 CB Dunta Robinson- signed with Falcons 6 years 57 million
He’s fast and would be a good fit in a zone style defense, but he has hands of stone, 7 picks since 2004, and 0 all last year, and has some character concerns. I think he gets a reputation as a #1 corner, but 65.9% of the passes thrown on guys he was responsible for were completed last year and he’s also one of the more penalized defensive backs in the league. I think someone will overpay him.
S Bernard “Patriot Killer” Pollard (restricted)- resigned 1 year 2.5 million
S Josh Busing (restricted)
S Nick Ferguson
P Matt Turk- resigned 1 year
Offseason moves:
Texans re-sign TE Owen Daniels
Texans waive RB Ryan Moats
Texans sign OLB Danny Clark
Texans re-sign OT Rashad Butler
Texans re-sign G Chris White
Texans re-sign RB Ryan Moats
Texans sign K Neil Rackers
Texans re-sign S Bernard Pollard
Texans resign MLB DeMeco Ryans
Texans re-sign DT Tim Bulman
Texans sign G Wade Smith
Texans re-sign WR Kevin Walter
Texans re-sign P Matt Turk
Texans tender S Bernard Pollard
Texans tender TE Owen Daniels
Texans tender MLB DeMeco Ryans
Texans tender OT Rashad Butler
Texans tender RB Ryan Moats
Texans tender DT Tim Bulman
Texans tender G Chris White
Texans tender DT Deljuan Robinson
# refers to unrestricted free agent rank
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