Weaver is better suited to be a 3-4 DE...we brought him into a 4-3. Smith is a 4-3 DE...and will be playing that opposite Mario. You really cant compare the two...
It's hard to judge players on their stats in AZ because it seemed nobody meets expectations there and Warner is already their best QB in history, while a talent like Edrin James couldn't do anything his entire time there. Even Fitzgerald an NFL prototype WR, IMO, wasn't playing up to potential until Boldin went out and then was the talk of the country during their fluke Super Bowl run. I think this signing is a great deal for multiple reasons and he'll have his best year by far with or D Line and coaching. The best thing is we don't have to sign another D lineman now with our #1 pick and can focus on our secondary in round #1 and maybe a RB in round #2 or #3 depending on the offensive lineman available. I don't know our cap situation as it went up this year, but it would be an even bigger plus if we could address another above need via free agency. We could still use another WR, but i think TJ Housmandah or Harrison want #1 reciever money and their really #2 receivers and that could cripple us especially with our running game. Teams wouldn't worry the run and just concentrate on the WR's. I still miss DD at the RB. Such a shame as he could put up great stats while playing with a bad O-Line.
WR is probably one of our strongest positions, no upgrade needed there. Slaton at RB is just as good as DD, so we just need a bruiser type back to spell Slaton during short yardage situations.
Maybe you're right. I still think DD was still a better RB because of his build and low to the ground running style, IMO, just not an all around player like Slaton. You're absolutely right we need that late 3rd down and short power running back like Brandon Jacobs you might be able to find in the late rounds that could give us 2 or 3 extra first downs per game giving us a chance to put an extra score on the board. That could be a difference of a couple wins and our first winning season. I say we need another talented WR because we had to play AJ at the Slot position many times just to get him yardage he could easily get with numerous other teams at his regular position.
Well, we put Andre at the slot to give defenses more of a hard time. If we kept him at the same spot all the time, not only will defenses be able to account for him on every play, but we would also not be taking advantage of his versatility. We put him at the slot at times because its to our advantage, not because we are shorthanded at WR...these kinds of maneuvers are just some of the reasons we were able to have a top 3 offense last year.
I see your reasoning and understand in moving AJ around. I just don't recall #1 receivers on most teams playing the slot as much as he did. He should be a long ball threat every time he lines up unless it's a 3rd and 10 yard route. I might be wrong but out of all the stud receivers, it seemed like AJ had one of the least amount of long breakaway receptions. Maybe somebody could inform me of others? That's my concern with him and don't want him going to another team that gives him that chance. Wasn't that part of the reason AJ was slightly unhappy last year? Lack of usage and yardage? I thought that was when and why he played more and more slot to get him 100 yard games. For such a classy and talented guy like AJ to complain when he's played for a losing team his entire career definitely says something.
I'm very wary of signing like this because as others have said, it seems like a strong possibility to be Weaver part 2. But there haven't really been a lot of really bad FA signings by this regime (I suppose you could count Ahman Green...but that would have been good had he stayed healthy. Shouldn't be a problem with A. Smith). So I'll give this front office the benefit of the doubt here.
Redgoose....you're not the only one thinking that the Texans should go with a WR. Sports Illustrated posted this in their free agency blog last night: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/02/27/signings/index.html?eref=T1 • Houston made a nice move by signing Cardinals defensive end Antonio Smith to play opposite Mario Williams. That opens the way for the Texans to use their No. 15 pick in the first round on a position than the defensive line. Receiver makes a lot of sense, because the Texans need to draw some coverage away from the sensational Andre Johnson. Missouri's Jeremy Maclin, Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey or Florida's Percy Harvin might all be there to choose from. Personally, I know its not flashy, but I'd like them to draft defense all day long. We had a top 5 offense and an embarassing defense. I want to see Manning, Collins, and Garrard on the turf all season long. However, if someone amazing falls to #15, this free agency signing just gave us the ability to grab him.
Why not? Look what was written about Weaver when we picked him up. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2364565
I was thinking it would be interesting if one of the stud receivers or o-lineman fell to us. Either of the Smith's, Maclin, Harvin, and Heyward-Bey would all be interesting choices...
I'd gamble on Harvin if he's there. I know we have a talented offense, but I'd love to have a homerun type player to move around the field.
Andre Smith has sabotaged his career and could fall late into the first round based on just how terrible he behaved from the time he was basically kicked off Alabama to his immature, lazy antics at the NFL combine. He could have been a top 3 pick if he had just done what everyone else was doing. There are also questions about Oher after he performed not nearly up to expectations. Eugene Monroe from Virginia is likely now the #1 tackle by default, but Jason Smith from Baylor actually put up the best Combine numbers and he could easily move up. As for the Antonio Smith signing, I wouldn't call him a great pass rusher who is going to take all the pressure of Williams, but he's pretty balanced against run... certainly an upgrade over Weaver.
just the fact that linemen will not be asked to go out on coverage will make us better. Also, hopefully, Dunta locks down the best receiver and not just a side of the field. I don't know how frank bush is going to handle that.
Jason Smith and Monroe will surely be off the board at #15, Oher and Andre Smith will likely be there. Oher would definitely be a tempting pick and I wouldn't be disappointed for one second if we picked him up. As far as picking up another receiver, I think we'd be better off waiting until later rounds to pick one up. I'm starting to jump on the Perjia Jerry bandwagon, I think Orakpo, Everette Brown, and Raji will be off the board at #15 and Jerry would provide some much needed help in the middle of our DL.
It says... Its not saying that he was a traditional 4-3 LE...but compared to the players on the roster. Given that we had been running a 3-4, I wouldnt say that's saying much. In any case, the guy made his career with the Ravens in a 3-4 defense. So, since entering the pros, he had yet to play in a 4-3.
The benefit of this signing is that it allows the Texans to upgrade at linebacker, or secondary in the first round and look for another defensive lineman later. Maybe they can roll the dice on a high upside guy at defensive end. I really hope they can get another stud linebacker. I like Adibi and Diles, but they are coming off injuries and were not exactly great prospects coming out of college. As for Smith, 41 tackles for a lineman is great. He is coming out of the same system and he produced. Good signing.
