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[Official] Texans Off Season thread

Discussion in 'Houston Texans' started by Castor27, Jan 28, 2008.

  1. clutch citizen

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    Article after the visit:

    He took a physical before the meeting, I'm not sure if that is normal, but it's interesting. He and Smith have history. Smith recruited Colvin at Purdue.

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/5819819.html

     
  2. King of 40 Acres

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    Got a chance to go to the Texans practice this morning, don't have a full report (next time I'll bring a pad to take some notes on) Chris Brown impressed me with his running style - he's a north and south guy who won't shy away from contact. If him and Ahman Green can stay healthy this year the Texans should have a soild backfield.

    Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels looked good for a practice, Quinn Gray was unimpressive.

    On defense Frank Okam looked good and Mario was Mario.

    Tomorrow I'll take more extensive notes and try and post them here.
     
  3. clutch citizen

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    How did Molden, Slaton and Duane Brown look?
     
  4. rusHour

    rusHour Member

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    I believe Slaton has been a little banged up, nothing serious, and was held out yesterday...
     
  5. gucci888

    gucci888 Member

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    Thanks for the update. Was Okam playing with the first team?
     
  6. speed star

    speed star Member

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    I can't wait for the season to start :D
     
  7. SuperBeeKay

    SuperBeeKay Member

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    I hope Adibi pans out to be a steal.. and Okam as well..

    Our only hole on defense is now our secondary because of Dunta's injury
     
  8. clutch citizen

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    Quinn Gray has been released.

    He and Mathis must have been sipping from the same pitcher. They both had a sign and cut offseason. Jordan Black has been released as well.

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/5826910.html
     
  9. Boomhauer

    Boomhauer Member

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    Surprised about Gray but not about Black. The Texans brass must have seen a lot of development in Boyd and Brink to make this decision. Gray was insurance in case we traded Sage but that did not happen. I heard he was over weight, must have been all the time spent with Leftwich. :eek: Jordan Black's release may be a sign that Spencer will be around come Training Camp.
     
  10. rikesh316

    rikesh316 Member

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    Gray looked overweight in some pics I saw of him from OTA. I think they will carry 2 QB's and Brink on the practice squad. The four tackles who will make the roster are Duane Brown, Eric Winston, Ephraim Salaam, and Rashard Butler so Jordan Black really didn't have a chance. Also, I think Spencer will be placed on either the PUP list or be cut. Kubiak didn't seem optimistic.
     
  11. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Member
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    I guess we now know why we were able to get Gray so cheaply. I wondered, at the time, why there was so little interest in the guy.
     
  12. bigtex76

    bigtex76 Member

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    If i am not mistaken, they have been working Spencer in at a guard position. the guy has too much upside to release outright.
     
  13. Nice Rollin

    Nice Rollin Member

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    i suggest you change your name......someone might confuse you for a small town voter who turn to issues like guns and religion
     
  14. Smacktle

    Smacktle Member

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    Is it true that Anna Megan from the Chronicle made the cheerleading squad?
     
  15. noscrusir

    noscrusir Member

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    I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.
     
  16. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    Praise for Super Mario from the ESPN guys, talking about the upcoming season.

    <object width="440" height="361"><param name="movie" value="http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3447252"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/player.swf?mediaId=3447252" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="440" height="361" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object>



    Improved running game shaping up for Texans

    [​IMG]
    Injuries slowed Ahman Green in 2007, but now healthy and behind a revamped offensive line, Green should return to his Pro Bowl form.

    Gary Kubiak is ready for the Texans to make their first true playoff run, and the key word is run. Kubiak hired blocking guru Alex Gibbs to revamp the offensive line and install his athletic, attacking zone-blocking scheme. Though much of the success of the running offense depends on the health of veteran running back Ahman Green, the early reviews of the transition along the line are good.

    What we learned from minicamp

    The offensive line is set to get younger and better at the expense of a few veterans. First-round pick Duane Brown moved ahead of veteran Ephraim Salaam, and Salaam wasn't too happy about the move. Most teams considered Brown a second-round pick, but Gibbs can usually take non first-round talents and turn them into solid blockers. Athletically, Brown fits perfectly in Gibbs' scheme. It also helps that he will be working next to left guard Chester Pitts, who has been a mentor to Brown. Chris Myers, acquired from the Broncos, has taken over at center. Mike Brisiel is holding down the right guard spot until veteran Fred Weary is healthy. Eric Winston is set at right tackle. The members of Gibbs' retooled line have an average age of 25, and he has veterans available to replace them in case they fail.



    Finally, the Texans have options along the line. No longer are they going to patch the line with veteran free agents as they did the past season. The Texans felt so good about their depth that they released veteran tackle Jordan Black, whom they signed to a two-year, $3.4 million contract last year. The running options have also improved. Green is the starter. Chris Brown is a more athletic replacement as the backup instead of departed Ron Dayne. Steve Slaton, the team's third-round choice, could be a sleeper. On paper, this is the best the running offense has looked in the history of the franchise.

    Still unresolved

    The Texans have to figure out a plan at cornerback until Dunta Robinson returns from reconstructive knee surgery, and they appear to have everything covered. Robinson may miss the first six games of the season, which is more optimistic than the original plan of a November return. Jacques Reeves was given a five-year, $20 million contract to be the insurance policy, but he will have to be the No. 1 cornerback going into the season. Fred Bennett, who's coming off a good rookie season, will start on the other side. Third-round choice Antwaun Molden might be too raw to be the third cornerback, but veteran DeMarcus Faggins is still around if needed. Molden had a solid minicamp.

    The loss of Robinson was a big blow. He was developing into one of the top corners in the AFC, and good cornerback play is needed in this conference and particularly in this division. What is encouraging is the pass rush looks good with the improvements along the defensive line, particularly defensive end Mario Williams.

    Injury analysis

    The biggest concerns are Robinson, who is on schedule for an October return, and tackle Charles Spencer, who seems to be nowhere close to coming back from two missed seasons because of knee problems. Guard Fred Weary needed a scope as he continues to rehabilitate his fractured leg and may not be ready for the start of camp. But he should be ready for the regular season and has a chance to compete for the starting job at right guard.

    Halfback Ahman Green had a good offseason because he didn't push his recovery from knee problems. Wide receiver Andre Johnson looked good after having a couple of knee procedures in the past year. Halfback Chris Taylor is coming off ACL surgery and was active at camp. The best news is that quarterback Matt Schaub is showing no ill effects from the injury to his nonthrowing shoulder last season.

    Biggest sign of optimism

    Kubiak cited defensive tackle Amobi Okoye as having the team's best offseason. That took some doing. Defensive end Mario Williams, motivated by not being selected to the Pro Bowl last season, was unblockable in OTAs and minicamp. To beat out Williams for that praise says a lot for Okoye's spring. All of a sudden, the Texans have an inside-outside threat along the defensive line that might remind opponents of the Warren Sapp-Simeon Rice days in Tampa Bay. The Texans have the makings of a great defensive line. Travis Johnson and Anthony Weaver should be free to draw single blocking because of Williams and Okoye, which could make them more effective.

    If the Texans can generate a great pass rush, it will make the transition in the secondary a lot easier. The Texans had only 31 team sacks last season, 14 by Williams. That number has to increase. The Texans signed former Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin Monday to help on third downs and rush the quarterback.

    Training camp start date: July 25

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3452045
    By John Clayton
     
    #296 Uprising, Jun 22, 2008
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2008
  17. Creepy Crawl

    Creepy Crawl Member

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    Thanks for the video and the article ! Thats a nice article . The video really seemed kind of half and half . The one guy was praising Mario, but the others seemed to have more negative or neutral comments about the Texans than good positive things . Any props are good props for this team right now though . Good stuff . :cool:
     
  18. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    I just can't wait till the season. got into a HUGE Texans mood tonight. Just finished watching the top 25 highlights of the season from houstontexans.com , and some other vids.

    The season can't come soon enough lol.
     
  19. Shroopy2

    Shroopy2 Member

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    Almost a sigh of relief there. Figured this would be short but I still half expected a usual Houston Texans mention to come with the slight chuckle, saying good things but in a lets-be-real-here way, and talking about something lame like changes to the coaching staff.
     
  20. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    Best part of the whole article. Can't come soon enough...
     

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