http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3098637 Coaches evaluate defense with eye toward linebackers By CARLTON THOMPSON Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Missing were the ponytailed dreadlocks of Jamie Sharper and the clean cut 'do of Jay Foreman, for the moment replaced by Morlon Greenwood's bushy Afro and more questions than the Texans have answers. The extreme makeover of the Texans' defense is under way. The Texans put their players through annual conditioning tests Tuesday, signaling the start of the offseason program. Getting a gauge on fitness is a necessary part of the process, but the more critical work will be done in the classroom, where the Texans will spend the offseason searching for the best way to re-shape their defense. Foreman was released last week. Sharper has permission to seek a trade, but he's likely to be cut at some point if he isn't dealt. What the Texans do know is Greenwood fits best at Sharper's inside linebacker position on the weak side and that Jason Babin is set as the strong-side outside linebacker. There are questions beyond that. Kailee Wong, who has played both outside positions, could be moved inside to Foreman's former spot. That would open an outside position for Antwan Peek, or the team could look to upgrade through the draft. Wong plans to meet with coach Dom Capers next week when Capers returns from the NFL owners' meetings. As of Tuesday, Wong said he hasn't been told where he would play. "I just want to play," Wong said. "That's the biggest thing. As long as I'm playing, and I get to play a lot of plays, I'm happy. We're going to definitely have to work harder in minicamp to get everyone on the same page." The face of the Texans has changed significantly since their inaugural season of 2002. Only six players are still starting at the same position — three on offense and three on defense — where linemen Gary Walker and Seth Payne and cornerback Aaron Glenn are projected starters at their original spots. The Texans ranked 23rd in total defense in 2004, 31st in 2003 and 16th in 2002. They'll likely need their highest finish to accomplish owner Bob McNair's goal of a playoff berth in 2005. Furthermore, they'll have to do it without Sharper and Foreman, their two leading tacklers each of the past three years. "I'm surprised on one hand, but on one hand I'm not," Glenn said of the decisions regarding Sharper and Foreman. "In this business, people come and go real quick and you have to fly with it. Hopefully, the people who come in are going to step in and pick up where those guys left off." In other news, the Texans will host the Denver Broncos for two days of practices before the preseason opener for both at Reliant Stadium. The date for the game will be announced. carlton.thompson@chron.com
As of this moment, i have been extremely dissapointed with the Texans off season 'or lack of' moves. When the franchise opened for business, everyone thought we would be a contender by this year. A few bad draft picks and a lack of free agent signings aren't helping our cause any. BTW...I thought Sharper was a productive player last year. Granted football is not my #1 sport, am i missing something?
I think the Texans realize that for the team to be successful, there has to be a few anchors at certain key spots. It's good to have a leader, but there must be leaders who show performance. Sharper should have been a pro bowler his first and 2nd years with the Texans. But, Charlie sees that Sharper is not getting any better, and he wants to get paid more? I don't know what the thinking is. But I can see why Charlie Casserly wants to trade him or release him. If the handwritting is on the wall he isn't coming back next year, let's get his replacement as much experience as possible. The linebackers and their attitude are the defenition of the 3-4 defense. If the attitude isn't there for everyone, the entire defense struggles. Babin and Wong are freeks on game day from all accounts. Peeks is clinically insane all of the time. And the new guy I don't know much about. All indications are that he is FAST. The linebackers have to get the opposing quarterbacks. Until they do, this defense, this team, this franchise will just be dreamers.
Charles Hill is the franchise's worst draft pick. Joppru is more an unfortunate draft pick than a bad draft pick since a bad draft pick implies the scouting department made a mistake.
Those were all bad because most considered them to be "reaches" when they were made and they've turned out as predicted. Many thought Hollings would go between rounds 3-6. Even without the injury Joppru was a reach all the way. Ragone was a joke considering they already had Carr and needed playmakers and not insurance.
IIRC, Hollings was actually predicted to go higher in the Supplemental Draft. Some teams were scared off by the knee problems. He was not taken in the main draft. He definitely has the talent. It was a chance taken and is still too early to determine if he is a bust or not. Bennie Joppru was actually predicted to be a late first round pick. The Texans took him in the 2nd. He's been injured but I believe that he will contribute this season and prove to be the player that they drafted. Dave Ragone was taken purely to be a backup qb and no more. Who cares if he doesn't become the best 3rd qb in the league? If those 3 are your best examples for "bad draft picks," you will have to do much better than that to convince anyone that you know anything about football.
I think you're the one who doesn't know anything about football. Unless you have evidence to the contrary, here's an article on Hollings - most teams had him 3rd round or lower with a few in the 2nd round - one being us. I don;t think anyone projected Joppru to be a 1st round pick. As far as Ragone, what expansion team uses a high pick to draft a backup QB when you have about 20 holes to fill. The draft strategy was to take the best player available and Ragone was not the best player available. Excuse me if your opinion is is pulled from your arse "...Until the last few days, conventional wisdom had been that Hollings would not be chosen before the fourth round. But a survey of franchises legitimately interested in Hollings, who petitioned for inclusion in the draft after he was declared academically ineligible for the '03 season, indicated there is now a possibility he could be chosen higher. "Because there are two or three teams who seem pretty hot for him, we may have to go a little higher than we thought, if we decide we really want him," said a personnel official from one of the teams considering Hollings. "It's not inconceivable he could be taken in the third round now. I've heard some people say the second (round) and, if that really is the case, then we won't get him. But we might go as high as a (third-round pick)." On Joppru from NFL.com Analysis by position: Tight ends This isn't quite as talented a group as the one from 2002, from which three were drafted in the first round. There are no Jeremy Shockeys here — no one who can make a huge, immediate impact — but the Big Ten, SEC and Pac-10 have yielded some promising players that could make this a better-than-average group. Tight ends Dallas Clark, Iowa Robert Johnson, Auburn Mike Pinkard, Arizona State Trent Smith, Oklahoma Ben Joppru, Michigan Jason Witten, Tennessee George Wrighster, Oregon Other tight ends Another prospect who had a breakout senior year, Joppru has probably seen his stock rise more during the offseason than any other tight end. His weight was in the 240s at Michigan, but went up to 259 at the Senior Bowl and 272 at the Combine! He never missed a game at Michigan and was a team captain. He seems to have done enough to become a first-day selection, possibly as high as the second round.
Thank You! 2nd and 3rd round draft picks can get you solid linemen and people to clear the trenches. They tend to just need a little more time to adjust to the NFL, which our organization preached all along. I can't really fault them for Joppru. He looked like a stud but has been hampered by injuries. In my mind, i consider that a wasted draft pick even though we didn't have the hindsight we have now. That's still a 2nd round pick which can bring you a very talented player. I'm not saying you can really blame anyone on him, but it was still a major bust for a new franchise. Ragone and Hollings.....Well, they're play will speak for themselves. Hollings was definantly overated. However, i doubt we will ever see Ragone play. Why would he stick around when his contract is up? He's benched behind a young franchise QB. But still the main things i don't quiet get, are why aren't we filling these gaps via free agency? We have nobody that collects sacks. Our O-Line gets runover giving Carr no time to read his recievers because he's running 3 steps back and throwing. Of course his completion % is horrible. Peyton wouldn't do any good behind that line. I just expected a more interesting post season for us. We were only missing a few quality pieces to be a legitimate contender.
i agree with redgoose to the extent he talks about this offseason. it seems they made an effort with Pace to fill a huge hole on the OL. and that's beyond just a need, really. carr is going to get killed without some help up front. the problems with the texans SEEM so obvious. i hate playing the online GM role...but it just seems like much isn't being done to address those so far. a good draft could make up a lot of ground on all of this, though.
This is not 20/20 hindsight. Here's a Q&A from April 2003 on why the Texans drafted Joppru and Ragone. Readers obviously didn;t believe it was a good iea then either. The rationale was for Ragone to develop and then traded. Unfortunately, he has been so bad, nobody wants him. April 28, 2003, 10:34AM McCLAIN Q&A Looking back at the NFL draft Q. Tell me why I should be excited about Bennie Joppru. I'm quite sure they were disappointed when Detroit took outside linebacker Boss Bailey in the second round. I was under the impression that in the second round, teams should draft for need or draft a player too good to pass up. Joppru doesn't fill a big need and doesn't seem to be spectacular at any specific tight end duty. I really enjoy your online columns out here in West Texas. It's the only Texans news I can get out here in Cowboys country. Chad in Lubbock A. Joppru started one year at Michigan, last season when he set a school record with 53 catches for 579 yards and five touchdowns. Chad, he was outstanding at the Senior Bowl, where the Texans' staff coached, and the scouting combine. He's a good athlete for his size, has strong, quick hands to snatch the ball and works hard as a blocker. Because he started one year, the Texans think he's going to get a lot better. As for Bailey, they wouldn't have drafted him early because of injury concerns. That's what dropped him out of the first round. Thanks for reading and writing, Chad. Q. Why did the Texans feel it necessary to draft the Michigan tight end in the second round when they probably could have gotten him in the third round? I know the staff coached him at the Senior Bowl. Do they have doubts about Billy Miller? John in Houston A. As you know, John, Miller was quite a find last year when he became David Carr's favorite target. Miller's a good receiver who can't clear a path in the running game. He's more of an H-back. Joppru is a 274-pound load who blocks like a lineman and improved immensely last season as a receiver. Don't be surprised if he starts right away. Q. Are the Texans looking at Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone's size and athleticism and grooming him as a guy who can run from the tailback position, or are they really that down on backups Tony Banks and Mike Quinn? Hunter in Houston A. Ragone's a legitimate NFL quarterback prospect, Hunter. No way anyone would use him at running back. He'll be the third quarterback behind David Carr and either Banks or Quinn. Even though the Texans don't need a quarterback, they selected Ragone because he was the highest-rated prospect on their board at that time. Remember how Ron Wolf used to draft a quarterback every year in Green Bay, then trade them for draft choices two or three years later? That's what could happen to Ragone. Q. Picking Dave Ragone is big. It sends a message to David Carr. General manager Charley Casserly will give the usual, "We picked the best athlete" answer. But there are 22 positions. Surely, there were other best athletes at positions they need to fill. Ron in Houston A. Picking Ragone doesn't send a message to Carr, Ron. It gives them another prospect at the most important position on the team. More importantly, Ragone could become valuable trade bait in two or three years. Remember Rob Johnson in Jacksonville? Mark Brunell was injured. Johnson started a few games and played so well Buffalo gave up a No. 1 pick for him. Johnson's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the time was Chris Palmer, who has the same positions with the Texans.
The "hey let's pick all the guys from our senior bowl team" thing worked w/D.Davis, not so hot with Joppru & Ragone.
So an expert seemed to think that Joppru and Ragone were good picks at the time. It seemed to me that the readers were just looking for insight FROM SOMEONE THAT KNOWS BETTER. If Ragone goes out and has a great spring in Europe, then his stock just might rise. It's the kid's 3rd year. Give it time. As far as Joppru goes, they took a player that they wanted. They wanted a TE that could catch AND block. The mere fact that he's been injured for 2 years has nothing to do with your assertion that he shouldn't have been drafted where he was.
You have to consider the source. He's the team's beat writer so he's not going to say anything negative. The problem with those picks is they didn't fill a desperate need and probably weren't the best player available - two key factors when you're building an expansion franchise. The Texans have done a good job with their very high picks but have not excelled in rounds 2-5 of the draft. That's where championship teams are built. The 70's Steelers, 80's 49ers, 90's Cowboys, 00- Patriots did a fantastic job finding key starters. Round 2-5 should produce a lot of very good players, especially when you have multiple picks like we did early on. We just haven't done a great job capitalizing on those opportunities.
If you read my 2nd post you will see i said we didn't have the hindsight on Joppru. The team would be alot better if we had 20/20 hindsight for all of our picks. I don't think anyone here is really trying to be an armchair QB. But the fact remains that if we are not patching up the holes via the draft, then we need to do it via free agency. That is my main point and why i am very dissapointed this off season. Also i still believe no matter how talented a player is, if you draft him and he never plays due to injuries, that is a wasted draft pick. These are the kind of things that can hold a new or rebuilding franchise down unless they aggresivley attack the free agent market if they have the cap space. Especially for a team like the Texans who are just missing a few key pieces.
I still have to see Joppru play more to see if he is a bust but Hollings and Ragone were a waste of picks IMO. Hollings hits the hole and just falls down before someone touches him and Ragone is a 3rd string qb at best. You don't take a Qb in the 3rd round when you just drafted a QB #1 the year before. Casserly has done a great job in the draft so far but those 2 picks make me scratch my head.
I don't think Hollings has had enough playing time to truly make an accurate judgment. He's been pretty banged up. Ragone was a great value in the third round, he has first round talent and would have been selected in the first had he come out as a junior. However he stuck around and was beat up by a crappy o-line and his stock dropped. Let him get some seasoning in NFL europe and a season or two as the primary backup and I'm sure he'll become good trade bait.
He also wasn't taken with our pick. When he was selected, we used a 2nd rounder from the Raiders who were fresh off a Super Bowl appearance. No one predicted the slide they'd have the next season.
