Im really stoked about the Texans this year. We did really well without our starting QB Schaub, without our starting RB Green, without our Top receiver Johnson and without or #3 receiver and kick returner Jones. We went 8-8 in the TOUGHEST divison in NFL. One aspect of the game we clearly lacked wasnt out passing game, it was our running game. As the season wore on, I think alot of fans realized that Ron Dayne isnt the solution. We start this year with 5 running backs, all possibly with the talent and ability to start. We have.. 1. Ahman Green- Injured last year, aging, but has the most experience. 2. Chris Taylor- IR list last year, and didnt play the year before but the coaches are ecstatic about him for reasons other fans dont know 3. Darius Walker- Rookie last year, showed his speed and versatility, not a big back and not proven whether he can carry a bigger load. 4. Chris Brown- A big back with quick feet, has ability to break tackles, but is known to have nagging injuries. 5. Steve Slaton- Rookie out of WV, has breakaway speed and the "home run" threat, but lacks size and strength to carry a big load of carries. The problem here however is that Coach Kubiak and GM Smith will probably not keep all 5 backs... I think minimum ONE will be cut and possibly 2. Out of these 5 backs... Which do you think will make the roster (Name 3) Which back do you think will start (Name one) Which back do you think will surprise us to most? (Name one) If you can, Id like to see some reason with your responses, not just the name Post away Ps- 2nd thread made by me since I became a member
If Green isn't cut after June 1st, he'll be the starter with Brown splitting carries. Unfortunately, since both of those guys are prone to injuries, I bet Slaton is kept on the active roster. Expect Walker or Taylor to be cut and the one that isn't will be placed on the practice squad. Look for Slaton to be the suprise player, he has a lot of talent that can fit well within the system.
I think all of the RB's on the roster will see lots of playing time this year. Can't expect Green or Brown to both stay healthy all year. I don't know, the limited times I've seen Darius Walker, the more I've liked him. He plays with a lot of heart and energy. He looked good the last part of last season. The kid didn't get a lot of carries, but he averaged 4.6 yards every time he got one and had a 41-yard TD against J-ville. Looking forward to see what we can do with Slaton as well.
Walker is going to get cut. 1) Keeping Chris Brown because they think he still has something left in the tank, 2) They love Taylor 3) Drafted Slaton for a reason (maybe for 3rd down situations) 4) .....and we're stuck w/ Green
Agreed Walker's replacement and upgrade is Slaton. And one of either Brown or Green will not be on the opening day roster unless injury to another back.
Expectations Green starter Brown Backup Slaton will be part time player but get time when others banged up. Taylor or Walker will go and this will most likely be done in camp. This isn't set and my hope is that Slaton proves he's better than Green and wins job. Either way, I don't think starter gets more than 15 carries a game very often as I expect the Texans will rotate the backs unless someone gets hurt. Knock on wood.
Taylor will start. Slaton and Walker will back up. Brown will be your 3 yards and a cloud of dust type guy. Green will be shown the door in a cost cutting move.
I pretty much agree with this. I believe Walker will be cut and Taylor will be on the practice squad.
With the exception of Green and Walker, the Texans have some absolute burners in the backfield. Our running game is going to rock!
I doubt they cut Green just to cut costs. They invested too much into him to only give him one season, and they'd take a hell of a cap hit with the signing bonus he got. Unfortunately looks like Walker will be the easiest to cut, even though he looked good last year. His only shot is if Taylor doesn't look healthy or hasn't recovered well.
Green/Brown/Taylor - will compete for the "feature back" position. I'm rooting for Taylor because he is youngest and has longer term potential. I think it will be Brown Slaton will be the 3rd down/situational back (and kickoff returner). Green is possibly a 3rd down back because he blocks and catches well. My hope is for Slaton to be used like Warwick Dunn. Green and Brown both get hurt getting out of bed, so there's going to be a lot of play in the feature back spot.
If healthy, Ahman Green will be the starter. Chris Brown will be on the team as well (if healthy) as a backup, probably getting the majority of the split carries with AG. Chris Taylor will be kept unless he bombs in camp. The coaches love him and they think he can double as a fullback. Steve Slaton will be on the team as well. His carries will depend entirely on how he produces in training camp and preseason. he could be anything from a non entity on the roster to a 3rd down back to a big time backup. Darius Walker is cut unless Chris Taylor bombs or someone gets hurt. The other cut will be Jameel Cook.
I would think: 1 if not 2 out of Green-Brown-Taylor have a PUP or IR in their future come September. Walker is on the chopping block if only 1 of the above is out, which is unfortunate. Slaton isn't going to be competing to be a feature back, he'll be a scatback used for situational downs and largely as a backfield receiver or motioning out to be a slot receiver. I very much doubt they expect him to be capable of pass protection, which is a big expectation Kubiak has of his primary back. Evan
It's unfortunate, but I think Darius is going to be the odd man out unless they make Ahman Green a June 1st cut (which is possible). They just brought in Chris Brown so he is safe and as its been said in this thread, the coaching staff loves Chris Taylor for some reason. So unless Ahman is cut, Darius and Chris will be fighting for the last spot.
I would say Walker is the one to go. The kid showed some promise last year and has the heart to compete, but I just don't think he has the talent. He may catch on somwhere, but I just can't see him carrying a load or getting enough touches with the other backs we have. I think Taylor is still up in the air also. He did look pretty good in his limited action, but there were a couple of games that Dayne looked good as well. I'll reserve judgment on him until he gets some more carries and proves it on a weekley basis. There have been plenty of RBs of his caliber in the NFL that have a couple of good games and flame out the rest of their career. Add that to the fact that he was hurt last year and it seems like he has a lot of work to do to make this team. Anyone know if he is even eligible for the practice squad anymore? Unless he gets cut I see Ahman being the starter with Chris Brown backing him up and Slaton as the 3rd string RB and kick returner. I think if Brown stays healthy he could take over the starting role. When he is healthy he is a very good back. Guess we will all have to wait and see but I think we have more talent at RB than we have had before. I ready for the season to start.
I'll make a prediction, it's early, but I can't wait til football kicksoff: Chris Taylor wins starting position (with a healthy Green). Chris Brown is the second back. Steve Slation is the situational back. Darius Walker and Ahman Green are out.
I think Chris Brown will prove he belongs until he inevitably gets hurt. So I think he starts but gets ~15 carries a game just b/c they want to prevent an injury as much as possible. Ahman.. man, I don't know. I think he'll get cut... not purely for salary, but because he's not enough of an improvement over the other guys to justify the salary. So that leaves Taylor backing up and almost splitting time and Slaton working his way in and eventually getting 5-7 carries a game. Walker on the practice squad
