I understand the argument but if you watch the ints he had, you'll see that a lot of them came from reading the QB and using his closing speed to make a play on the ball. I think you'd also see a lot more INTs from Big 12 players if that were the case.
Some of the Pre-Draft Visit for Texas according to PFT. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/21/pre-draft-visits-recap-afc/ Bruce Campbell, offensive tackle, Maryland. **Jonathan Dwyer, running back, Georgia Tech. Armanti Edwards, quarterback, Appalachian State. **Mike Iupati, offensive guard, Idaho. Robert Johnson, safety, Utah. *Brandon LaFell, wide receiver LSU. Marc Mariani, wide receiver, Montana. Ryan Mathews, running back, Fresno State. *Kevin Matthews, center, Texas A&M. Robert McClain, cornerback, Connecticut. Kade Weston, defensive tackle, Georgia. * = Confirmed "local" visitor ** = Believed to be private workout only
Before this thread gets inundated with draft talk the next few days, there is something I would like to mention. The NFL Films show "Hey Rookie: Welcome to the NFL" will air on NFL Network next week. Part 1 will air on Tuesday at 8:00pm. A couple of bits of the show will feature James Casey. Other rookies in part 1 include Sanchez, Moreno, Crabtree, Curry, Oher and Britt. The show originally aired in September on ESPN2. Part 2 will air on Wednesday at 8:00pm. Brian Cushing is one of the featured rookies. Other rookies include Sanchez, Stafford and Harvin. It's nice to have a couple of Texans on that show. Any exposure for our team is a good thing.
The Texans signed free agent TE Michael Gaines to a one-year deal today. I believe he played for Cleveland last year.
Did we sign a TE? So we now have: Daniels, Dreessen, Casey, Hill and Gaines. Nice group, but I could see Casey play more FB next season.
Henderson getting released today. 31 years old and doesn't miss a lot of games. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/26/jaguars-bid-farewell-to-john-henderson/ Jaguars bid farewell to John Henderson Posted by Michael David Smith on April 26, 2010 8:15 AM ET John Henderson is about to leave the only team he's ever played for. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Jacksonville will release Henderson today. The Jaguars had been shopping Henderson in a trade, and Schefter reports that the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants had expressed some interest. But now he'll become an unrestricted free agent. The Jaguars used their top two draft picks on defensive tackles, which made it clear that they wanted to get younger at the position. Henderson had two years and $11 million left on his contract. The 31-year-old Henderson was drafted by the Jaguars in 2002 and has been a starter on their defensive line ever since. He has missed only four games in eight seasons, but now he'll have to find a new trainer to slap him in the face every Sunday.
Wow, imagine adding Henderson and Faneca.... Not only are you upgrading key positions, but you are also adding depth and veteran leadership. This is similar to what the Saints did last season, with the addition of players like Darren Sharper.
Free agency is almost working backwards this year.... whereas when it began, it was literally a snooze-job with very few players available... now that the draft has come, we're seeing veteran players with big salaries get the axe... things are getting interesting again.
Adding players like Faneca and Henderson are the kinds of moves the Texans need to make in order to take that next step. Even if they don't work out on the field, these are the kinds of players that bring veteran leadership, and teach the younger players how to win games. If we keep bringing in marginal talent, and keep adding depth through the draft, we are never going to be able to take the next step as a team. To me, that was the biggest problem last year. The players on the field didn't know how to close out games, and how to react in pressure situations, and that to me SCREAMS lack of leadership. Faneca and Henderson would change that.
great point, and kinda what i have been saying all along. It's time to bring in proven vets to put this team over the edge. They are close, but they NEED a guy like Faneca or even Henderson
I agree. Don't forget Chris Hovan. Henderson and Hovan would be an upgrade over Shaun Cody, Deljuan Robinson, Frank Okam, and Jeff Zgonina. Faneca would be an instant starter at LG over Kasey Studdard. These veterans wouldn't cost a lot of money and would bring leadership and toughness.
The Texans learned how to close out games with the Patriot game last year. Add in some veteran leadership, like you said, and this team will go deep in the playoffs. Easily I think. The talent on this team is ridiculous and we should at least have ten wins this year.
While I'd like to believe that, more evidence is needed before I consider us a team that can consistently close out a game. The Pats pulled Brady for several series' during that one, including the final drive- it was still a great comeback, but no reason to claim we have turned the corner. Not to mention their normal starting defense wasn't playing, hence the reason we shouldn't get too high on Arian Foster just yet.
That is only 1 game, playing a team with no incentive to win, who benched their starting quarterback. I have doubts about them learning how to close out games from that experience. But a lot of learning how to close games is on Kubiak, and I have never seen that killer instinct from him.
Yup, and when the killer instinct doesn't come from the coach, it's gotta come from the players. Coaches like Bill Cowher, and Tom Coughlin are fiery guys who want players to walk a line for them at any cost, but Kubiak is more of a players' coach who doesn't use fire and brimstone as a means of getting what he wants. This doesn't always work for younger guys who don't always have the discipline and work ethic that savvy veterans do, which is why bringing in guys who have been in the league for a long time to guide the younger guys is never a bad thing on an up-and-coming team like the Texans. For example, look at the OKC Thunder. By all accounts, Scotty Brooks isn't a yelling type of coach, which is why somebody like Kevin Ollie is almost priceless to them. He reinforces everything the coach tells them in practices, and since he's been in the league for a long, long time, the younger guys are more inclined to listen. Every good young team has this type of influence, and I can really see Faneca and/or Henderson taking this type of role for the Texans.
I was waiting for someone to come in with this again. The Texans made key turnovers while Brady was IN the game (Pollard INT anyone). Hoyer only went back in on their last drive. If you don't think that helped the team, especially with the support of the crowd (for those who were at the game, it was something new), then I don't know what to say.
Arian Foster ran all over a pretty good Dolphins defense the week before, too. Maybe all a team needs is that one game for it to click.
Again, it was a sinlge game, you learn something by repetition. Those players know Tom BRADY was not in the game when it mattered. The Pats had absolutely noothing to play for, the texans were fighting for their playoff lives. Until they do it on a regular basis, they have not learned anything.
Tom Brady may have not been in the game when it mattered (the last drive), but he was in there when the Texans were making their comeback (the crucial third down stop and then the interception on the very next drive).
