I noticed that 3 of the 4 players the Texans picked up off waivers today were ex-Cowboys. Is this a scouting ploy aimed at getting a peek at the Cowboys schemes/gameplan for the Texans/Cowboys game on Sunday? If so, I applaud the effort. Just seems odd that of four players picked up, three are Cowboys. Now if the Cowboys were the team most loaded with talent in the NFL, then it becomes a little more plausible, but we all know that is far from the truth.
Who were they? I may be able to say some stuff about them, since I follow the Cowboys. If you guys picked up Woody Danztler,(Sp?) I'm going to be slightly angry. edit: nevermind. I saw the names on the Texans site. Nobody really great. Also, we did have a bunch of great players we had to cut.
Texans claim four, release four September 2, 2002 HOUSTON – The Houston Texans today made several roster moves. Four players were claimed on waivers: DT Willie Blade, CB Jason Bell, CB Pat Dennis and OT Tarlos Thomas. Four players were waived: OT Jelani Hawkins, DT Howard Green, CB Jacoby Shepherd and CB Hakim Akbar. Three players were signed to the Texans practice squad: TE Rashod Kent, WR Atnaf Harris and RB Michael Jenkins. Two additional players may be signed to the five-man practice squad. Bell, 6-0, 182, played in all 16 games last season with Dallas as a rookie free agent. He led the Cowboys with 21 special teams tackles in 2001. As a senior at UCLA, Bell had 42 tackles and nine passes defensed. During his junior year, he led the team with 14 passes defensed and recorded 38 tackles while starting every game. Blade, 6-3, 332, was a third round draft choice by Dallas in 2001, however he spent the season on injured reserve following a dislocated wrist. As a senior at Mississippi State, he was a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy with 51 tackles, 13 quarterback pressures and a team-high four sacks. Dennis, 6-0, 203, was a fifth round draft choice of Kansas City in 2000. As a rookie he started 13 of 16 games played, totaling 70 tackles, seven passes defensed and one forced fumble. He was waived by the Chiefs in 2001 and claimed by the Dallas Cowboys. He played in 11 games with Dallas, recording 14 tackles and eight special teams tackles. At Louisiana-Monroe, Dennis recorded 180 career tackles and a school record 36 passes defensed. Thomas, 6-5, 330, was waived by the Tennessee Titans. He signed with Philadelphia as a rookie free agent in 2001 and spent the majority of the season on the Titans practice squad. A two-time All-ACC selection at Florida State, he played both right and left tackle during his career. The Texans currently have 56 players on the active roster. The Texans acquired 12 players in the expansion draft, 9 players in the 2002 college draft, ten by trade/waivers, one restricted free agent, 5 rookie and first year free agents, 9 veteran free agents, and 10 unrestricted free agents - RB James Allen, WR Corey Bradford, SS Chris Carter, G DeMingo Graham, OT Jimmy Herndon, C/G Steve McKinney, LB Jeff Posey, TE Rod Rutledge, CB Jason Simmons and LB Kailee Wong. http://www.houstontexans.com/news/index.cfm?page_type=sub&cont_id=125118
i thought jacoby shepard was supposed to be pretty good...not great...but certainly good enough to make an expansion team's nickel package.
Hmm.. if memory serves, Shepherd was a relatively high draft pick by the Rams last year (2nd round?). They cut him for whatever reason, as did we. Maybe the skills are there, but the attitude isn't. Or maybe the Rams just made a poor draft choice.
Bell is more of a Special Teams player. He's extremely quick, and was easily one of Dallas' best ST players last year. Should excel on an expansion team. He's been kind of a disappointment. He has the talent to be a very good DT. Or at very least a solid backup. Motivation seems to be his main drawback. Before training camp he was expected to challenge for the backup spot behind LeRoi Glover. Unfortunately he showed up to camp extremely out of shape, and just never really showed the promise he showed last year before getting hurt. Dallas was hoping he would clear waivers so they could sign him to the practice squad. I'm actually suprised that Dennis was cut. He more than has the size to play CB in the NFL, and until the last preseason game was playing pretty good. He would start for most teams if he were moved to FS. He's a very good tackler. These are some very good pickups for Houston. Bell, and Dennis should be able to help you guys out this year. I don't think they were picked up to help you guys this week though (as far as telling the Cowboys gameplan vs the Texans). Teams don't usually start game planning for the first game until after the last cuts have been made. For the record Woody Dantzler was signed to the Dallas pratice squad.
I am so happy now. He looked pretty good from what I saw. I realize he's not really ready to play right now, but if he could get some reps at catching the ball, he could be a pretty good return man. Not to mention his ability to pass the ball as well. (for HB and QB.) BTW, do you know why Wright was cut? My dad and I think he could have possibly competed with QC for the starting job, let alone beating out Chad and Stoerner. My only guess was that he was not a team player or something like that.
For all you Cowboy-hatin' Texans fans, here's more rain on your parade. In a recent issue of SI I remember it saying that David Carr wears number 8 in honor of Troy Aikman, one of his favorite quarterbacks on one of his favorite teams (at least before he became a Texan). How 'bout that! How you like them apples, eh?!
ahhh...the memories, huh, moomoo??? all distant memories for cowboy fans today...don't fight the future, moomoo...don't fight the future. the texans are coming!!!
David Carr was pretty funny on the ESPN rookie special. I loved when he called the play that didn't exist. Everybody walked up to the line to run the play and then they all said wait a minute. Michael Williams on Buffalo. Guy lost his wallet in the aiport. Couldn't make it to the team on time. Shockey was caught sitting in the coaches golf cart. Some other player slept in his limo because he got to the hotel too late. Rookies.
My guess is that Dantzler will also be sent to NFL Europe. As for Wright, I think you are 100% correct that he was cut for not being a team player. It's clear that he has more talent than Stoerner (although I personally think Stoerner is underrated), and is more prepared to start than Hutchinson. QC is still better in my opinion. Last year when Wright got hurt he was told that the knee didn't require surgury right away. He could have played through the pain in order to help the team. He decided on the surgury instead. This year he had already made it clear that he was not happy being the 3rd string QB, and felt he should at least be the backup to QC. Hutch is making too much money to be the 3rd guy so that means that Wright would be #3. He would have caused problems if QC got hurt, and Hutch was put in before Wright. With Stoerner we don't have that problem. He's a role player that knows his role. Chemistry can be just as important as talent when it comes to your 3rd QB. Also with Wright knowing that he is better than a 3rd string QB if he ever did have to go into a game he would be playing with the thought of making himself look good for other teams as oppose to being commited to helping the team win that particular game.
That would be nice. His returns looked real good.He can just learn to catch the ball in a game atmosphere, which is pretty good. I assume he'll proabably get some time at HB also. I noticed his blocking wasn't great. I guess he could work on that, as well. BTW, is Copeland on the practice squad as well? He looked ok. IMO, QC is better, as well. My dad thinks they are probably thinks they are a little closer than do, though. I don't know why. I will say Wright seemed to play very well when we needed him to. I don't remember much of Stoerner. How much did he play last year? I want to say he played some after Wright, but then they got Leaf and played him some. He was ok in the preseason game, though. Besides, hopefully all he'll have to do is hold the clipboard. J/K CS.
I haven't heard anything about Copeland. I don't think any team has picked him up. Dallas has already filled up their practice squad so they won't be able to sign him. Hopefully he'll catch on with another team. As for Stoerner ... personally I think he's a little underrated. He won't take you to the Super Bowl or anything but he's at very least just as good as Jason Garrett was. Oh yea, and just FYI, Antonio Bryant will be wearing #88.
Yeah, I saw that in today's paper where I live. It also had an article about the starting offensive line and how they hadn't been together much. I think we should stop talking about the Cowboys here. I don't think they belong here. This is for the Texans. I don't want to make them mad. If I have any more questions or stuff about the Cowboys, I'll put it in the Hangout. Sorry Texan fans for making this into a Cowboy discussion.
You guys might acctually want to keep an eye on your boy Carr. The Dallas defense has been talking about giving Carr a "Proper Initiation" into the NFL. By the end of the game Carr may need to be surgically removed from Ellis, and Glover's shoulder pads.
I say the "knockout" hit is provided by the NFL Rookie of the Year: Roy Williams, S, Dallas Cowboys ..... P.S. I forgive Roy for being a Sooner. He looks better in silver, blue and white.....
