It's hard to say who's better between AP and Foster. I think if a national poll was done it'd be close. Obviously on this board Foster would be favored and I'd probably lean towards Foster now considering AP's injury. Of course AP has been doing it longer... excellent year in and year out. If Foster can keep up his production for more than 2 seasons it'd go a long way in making a case. Just a couple seasons ago it was actually CJ2K who was considered the best along with AP and before that it was LT that was considered the best along with AP and now Foster long with AP. Thing is AP is always in the debate. As for Walter being a vastly superior blocker to Harvin. I have to strongly disagree. I don't even know if Walter is a better blocker let alone vastly superior. I realize Harvin's like 5'11 190 but he packs some freakish strength, speed and technique and blocks with the best of them at the WR spot.
No, but I have a gut feeling the Texans will make WR priority number one on the first day of the 2013 draft.
Kevin Walter maybe was #2 WR in the WR depth chart, but in the passing chart 4 players were before him: 1. AJ 2. Foster 3. Daniels 4. Dressen the 5th spot was between him and Jacoby Jones. and now if one rookie WR does a nice job, he could be 6th passing option. and to be on topic I would trade Harvin for a 3rd or 4th pick.
He's not getting traded anyway, but Harvin with mediocre QBs, migraines and injuries finished ahead of Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Marshall, Dwyane Bowe and Mike Wallace in total yards. If it ever happened them coming to Houston, I'm sure THOSE guys would come in expecting to be a #3 receiver.
For darn sure that when you lead the league in rushing attempts like the Texans did, you need players committed to or skillful at blocking. Can't have WRs loafing it. Though for all the intangible blocking expertise especially needed in the Kubiak schematics, its interesting that the Texans drafted players who fit very generic descriptions of route running, passing catching wideouts, who didnt have blocking as a strength. Just like cornerbacks in the end are paid to cover and not tackle, receivers in the end are paid to catch and not block.
Percy is a legit deep threat and a game changer on special teams. If a 3 is all it takes to get him here then Rick better be all over that.
On any particular pass play the QBs read order is determined by coverage. Ie. man coverage read: X, Y, Z, R; zone coverage read: X, R, Z, Y
I think the Texans would be better suited going after James Jones from the Packers. He fits the big receiver mold and would cost less, you would assume, in terms of draft pick compensation.
His salary is too high (about the same as Jacoby's was) for it to be feasible. We'd have to cut players to make it happen, therefore it's unlikely.
That ain't you John McClain is it? He says no interest. Ain't gonna happen. He has baggage and wants to get paid. They won't do patterns(guys with history) or 'me guys'. They think they can win with good people. They'd go after Wallace but not Harvin. Also says unless a receiver steps up, he won't be surprised if they draft a WR 1st next year.
The best chance the Texans have of making the Super Bowl is by sticking with their dominant running and play action passing game on offense and relying on their dominant defense. Trading for Harvin means losing a draft pick and having less cap flexibility with the re-signing of Schaub, Brown, Barwin and Cushing looming. Is Harvin a potential # 1 receiver? Could he replace Andre Johnson? If he is going to be a good slot receiver and return man, maybe they already drafted that player. I would pass.
If we're discounting the Steeler game as neither with or without AJ, they averaged 27.6/game without AJ healthy and Schaub. And keep in mind - that includes 6 games; AJ/Schaub were only together for three. So, OK - "zero" might be extreme - but it's minimal. More minimal than it's previously been.
Schaub absolutely has a read progression - but very few plays involve what is traditionally considered "WR#2" as one of his hot reads. Kubiak's bread and butter is a high-low crossing pattern, with AJ deep and, more often than not, OD underneath (though this sometimes is Walter). Schaub play-actions and rolls with the receivers. It's a virtual pick-your-poison design that has been widly effective at blowing up both man and zone coverage. The devestating wrinkle they added last year was slipping Foster or Dressen out to the vacated spot behind the play. My guess is that the new wrinkle this year will involve James Casey. It is such a well-designed offense.
I will agree it is less than it has been before and he is much less important than Schaub and Foster. I would not call AJ's contribution minimal, but he is no where near critical. Foster was getting up to speed just as AJ went down.
Percy Harvin is a superstar and a #1 receiver on most teams. Putting Kevin Walter over him is just insanity, stupidity.
