The Ward signing was the most shocking thing to me this offseason. I think it is a good move for the Texans, but I figured he would try to find another team where he could have a bigger role. I have to think that with Tate being a 2nd round pick last year they are going to give him every opportunity to prove himself and take the #2 RB spot. I guess this was the last move to show that the organization has lost all faith in Slaton getting back to form. Too bad his stock is so low we couldn't get anything for him now.
From Peter King's latest article: Emphasis, mine. So if McNair is showing some financial restraint because of the pending lockout/shutdown/whatever, is that good business or just cheap? Reliant, apparently cost $449MM to build back in 2002 with 57% of the finding coming from private financing. McNair (and his partners) put up $700MM to get the team in expansion fees and another $254MM towards the construction of Reliant Stadium. I think the perception of McNair will change when the new deal is struck. He got penalized by other owners for the appearance of being in the "large-city" owners group during the last round of negotiations. People have speculated that this is one of the reasons Houston keeps getting shut out of the Super Bowl rotation. The smaller market owners are holding the last negotiations against him. This time, McNair is trying to toe the line, and I think he'll loosen up the purse strings when the time is right - I hope! It's funny, on one hand, people complain that McNair is cheap, but on the other hand, just as many people are quick to say that he's spent money foolishly.
You are right, and it is often exaggerated (even by me) that Mcnair is cheap when they don't go out and sign washed up vets or pay top dollar in the free agent market. But, when you choose not to do those things and trot out the worst pass defense in the league and an abysmal record, you deserve criticism. Unfortunately for Mcnair, the timing of this couldn't be worse. Tightening the purse strings because of external issues when the team is coming off of a third straight season of failed expectations and the head coach was not fired does not bode well for his popularity.
It's ironic that the other team mentioned in the part you bolded just signed a safety. A good safety. And they didn't even have to overpay him. Could we use a safety right about now? Did we even contact Atogwe? Not according to the article. I never said he was cheap, just conservative. Never wants to make a big move that might upset the oh-so-fragile chemistry of the (6-10) team. Like say, firing a coach who loses 8 of his last 10 games in a year where people were talking playoffs. Or a coach who takes 4 years to go from 6-10 to 6-10. Or a coach with a 37-43 record and no playoff appearances after 5 years. But I guess none of that matters because Kubiak got Bum Phillips endorsement. And Bum Phillips is a HOUSTON ICON. Remember Love Ya Blue? Bum Phillips was the coach. None of this is directed at you, desihooper. I'm just venting.
On Atogwe, I'm thinking Phillips has a guy who has played in his system in mind to upgrade our secondary. On the big move front, I'm thinking that's a function of Smithiak wanting to "build the right way" and wanting to show off their smarts to their boss by being good custodians of his purse book. That might change this year because Smithiak can't think that their jobs are safe without a playoff berth this year. Hoping against hope...
[rquoter] The Texans completed their coaching staff today when they hired Bobby King as a defensive assistant, replacing John Butler, who left to become the special teams coordinator at the University of South Carolina. This past season, King worked in quality control and was the assistant linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys under Wade Phillips and Reggie Herring. [/rquoter] http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl...(chron.com+-+Top+Stories)&utm_content=Twitter
i find it hard to find anything about the offseason moves when you make everything in one thread. do we really have to be that anal about it on this this particular area of the board?
From the National Football Post: Looks like the Texans might be looking to upgrade the NT position, or maybe they signed Cody to an extension because they found out Soliai was going to be Franchised.
Packers will shop Barnett after re-signing fellow LB Hawk: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...esigned-packers-will-look-to-trade-lb-barnett Let's trade for Barnett! DeMeco and Nick togheter at MLB, Cushing and Barwin OLB? :grin:
I agree they didn't pay Cody a lot of money so if another guy who they feel is an upgrade comes along, I am sure they will take a look at him.
Nah dude I prefer Cushing inside at MLB because that gives the Texans another chance for a true 3-4 pass rushing outside linebacker to go along with Connor Barwin and Mark Anderson. Von Miller won't be there unless they trade up. Robert Quinn may be there at 11 if players like Julio Jones and JJ Watt continue to move up in the draft.
Define "true pass rushing OLB" Cush is bigger, stronger, and faster than Clay Matthews, do you consider him a true pass rusher?
Somebody who can get the QB consistently. Cushing isn't that guy. At least he hasn't shown that. He is a better fit as a 3-4 inside linebacker which is where they said they will play. Cushing isn't in Matthews league when in comes to pass rushing skills.
Just a guess on my part but I predict Eric Weddle will be a Texans assuming there is a new CBA and he is an unrestricted free agent. He played for Wade Phillips in San Diego and will instantly become the greatest safety in Texans history. He will cost a ton of money but with the Texans major need at safety, he would be worth it.
How would you know that? he has never been asked to be an exclusive pass rusher. I do know that he was the most consistent player on the team last year at putting pressure on the QB when asked to do so. What makes you think Clay can do it but Cushing cannot? Especially when they essentially played the same position on the same team in college and like I said, Cushing is bigger, stronger, and faster
I don't agree with that assessment, especially given how conservative Bush was until mid-December, how piss poor our tackles were at occupying blockers, how ineffective Mario Williams was after week 5, and how disastrous the secondary was at keeping the ball in the QB's hands. Cushing didn't get sent all that often, but when he did, he got back there. Just wasn't much to show for it. He put pressure back there, twice causing interceptions. That said, I wouldn't want him as a WOLB pass rushing specialist like Matthews. You're just throwing away all the other things he very effectively brings to the table, in particular TE coverage and run stopping.
My opinion, as well. Matthews seems very much a one-trick pony. Now, he does his one-trick especially well - but Cushing looked like an all-around defensive playmaker his rookie season. I'm hoping with an increase in talent around him and better coaching/scheme, he returns to '09 levels.
I think the fact that Cushing is bigger and stronger actually makes a better case for him playing inside. You need some heat from the middle too, not just the outside. And remember...ILB in a 3-4 isn't the same as ILB for a 4-3.
