He deserves to be paid as one of the top 3 fullbacks in the league. No question about it. The Texans are a poorly run organization. They supposively make more money than most of the league and you can't give your star fullback the money he wants. You better be over paying for the corner from Oakland or this crap just doesn't make any sense to me.
He performed like a top-3 fullback last season, no question. Should the Texans spend top-3 money on a fullback? I actually say no. With a hard cap it doesn't make much sense to me to pay for a star fullback when you have 4 other pro bowl level offensive players (QB, WR, TE, RB). You wanna pay for an all-pro lineman? Fine. But another skill player? It's just not necessary.
again, paying is relative, paying a fullback top dollar is only a marginal increase from hi current salary
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoy_en_la_revolucion/5427460002/" title="Cover story: NFL lockout Pending- NO LEAGUE FOR OLD MEN by The son of krypton, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5427460002_f227a943a4.jpg" width="337" height="500" alt="Cover story: NFL lockout Pending- NO LEAGUE FOR OLD MEN"></a> we can just draft a rookie fullback in the seventh round. Experience is overrated..what could possibly go wrong? =(
I'll wait until free agency begins before hootin and hollerin. We don't exactly have a small payroll. In fact, it's been larger than the Cowboys' in the last 2 seasons.
It would hardly be unprecidented. Lorenzo Neil was one of the best run blocking FB's in the history of the NFL and he played for something like 8 teams in 15 years. For most teams, the third reciever is on the field more than the FB. If his comps are pass-catching H-back types, he will be disapointed. For whatever.reason, the NFL values those guys more than run blockers.
I would warn against going the "we can draft a late round FB and start him" idea. We have the Other Gronkowski brother and he cost us Tony Romo this year. Pay for the quality y'all have at that position.
I haven't seen it mentioned here, but if Leach leaves, the obvious replacement -and possibly reason - would be James Casey in an H-back role. He's backed up Leach and occasionally filled in at FB over the past couple years. And with OD now locked up long-term (along with Dreessen), reps at TE are going to be hard to come by for him. Casey has excellent speed and hands for a FB... the question would be his blocking, which I honestly haven't seen enough to judge. But if the offensive staff are convinced by practices that he's developed as a blocker, I do think he could be a very effective FB, and an upgrade on Leach in certain areas.
It's not like they're paying through the nose for Foster. The super skeptical side of me thinks that this is some trial to see what Arian can do without a stud blocker, and if he doesn't perform at a high level, that gives Rick/Bob a pass to not pay Arian also. Hypothetically, they're being cheap bottom dollar jerks. I really hope we keep him, because you just know karma will end up having him on a team that's on this year's schedule or heaven forbid, plowing the path for Chris Johnson.
Defense on Paper RDE Mario Smith NG Mitchell Cody LDE Watt Smith ROLB Barwin Mario RILB Ryans LILB Cushing LOLB Reed Barwin CB1 Oh God, please fill this position. * CB2 Please see CB1 FS Quin Shiloh SS Nolan *For the atheists, the Texans will lose every game this year, if played.
If wade makes that D even average he should win defensive coach of the year. You don't know how ryans will comeback. You don't know if cushing will be properly trained. I question the NG situation. And our entire secondary still sucks on paper. We have been very fortunate that we didn't have many injuries on the offensive side. This has the possibility to be a disastrous season.
Use those 2 lines and pretty much any team could say that though On the flipside, I'm gonna hope that OD 2 years later is fully recovered and back to being Pro Bowl caliber. And that the O line depth allows for efficiency and health.
true..but there is no team in the league that is as poorly balanced (in terms of comparison between relative offensive and defensive strength) as the Houston Texans. there is no defense here that will keep us in a game if the offense isn't hitting.
It could be as low as one rookie starting if Mario starts at OLB. I think the Texans will add a veteran corner whether it be Asumugha, Bailey, Joseph, Grimes, or Rogers.
