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2021 Houston Texans - (2 Viewers)

Tommy Collins said:
Did Texans homers see anything different in week 4 with O'Brian calling the plays? I saw Fiedorowicz had a good game and has been getting the lions share of the snaps this far. Is he someone that could potentially be utilized more in the offense moving forward? I don't have much knowledge about O'Brian's play calling tendencies or his reliance on TEs being involved in the passing game.
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O'Brien definitely used the TE's more, not just fiedorowicz but Griffin as well. Fiedorowicz got hurt so I don't know how sustainable this will be in their offense.

 
Gottabesweet said:
Texans fans, is Fuller now full time at Punt return for those of us in yardage leagues?  Tyler Ervin was/is handling them right?
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No, I think O'Brien is going to use him on punt returns only in crucial situations. Kind of like what the Eagles used to do with Desean Jackson. I believe the punt return after Fuller went for a TD, Ervin was back in there.

 
dhockster said:
Gottabesweet said:
Texans fans, is Fuller now full time at Punt return for those of us in yardage leagues?  Tyler Ervin was/is handling them right?
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No, I think O'Brien is going to use him on punt returns only in crucial situations. Kind of like what the Eagles used to do with Desean Jackson. I believe the punt return after Fuller went for a TD, Ervin was back in there.
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That's what I observed too.

They have run some kickoffs where Ervin handled the kickoff and Fuller ran a sweep to the other side where he was available for a pitch, but they haven't pitched it.  I almost wondered if they had Fuller on the field for something like that again (Ervin was out there too but in the middle of the field I believe) and they just kicked it to Fuller's side to where he fielded it directly.  But, maybe not, could have just been then they wanted him to handle it.  Might look at the coach's film on Game Rewind later and see.

Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing Fuller back there more, but seen nothing yet to expect that will be the regular situation.

 
And @Gottabesweet, on Fuller's punt Ervin was in the middle of the field with Fuller off to one side possibly even with him (coaches film started focused on the punter, couldn't see them until after the punt).

So I'd interpret it as Ervin was meant to be the primary guy catching the ball, with 2/3 of the field his  So a gadget play pitching it to Fuller to the other side might have been what they had in mind.  Only they kicked it right to Fuller so he handled it.

 
GregR said:
Vegas has the Vikings as a 6 point favorite.

Man would I love a Texans win.
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I would love a Texans win but I would be all over Minnesota -6 in this game. Minnesota is on pace for 60 sacks and forcing 44 turnovers. Osweiller is on pace for 24 ints. The Texans won last week but the defense looked pretty average without Watt against a weak Tennessee offense. I think Minnesota scores some points off of turnovers and wins pretty easy. Osweiller is going to have to show me something before I pick him going against an undefeated team with a pretty good defense on the road.

 
dhockster said:
I would love a Texans win but I would be all over Minnesota -6 in this game. Minnesota is on pace for 60 sacks and forcing 44 turnovers. Osweiller is on pace for 24 ints. The Texans won last week but the defense looked pretty average without Watt against a weak Tennessee offense. I think Minnesota scores some points off of turnovers and wins pretty easy. Osweiller is going to have to show me something before I pick him going against an undefeated team with a pretty good defense on the road.
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I think I called this pretty well (pats self on back)

 
Non-scariest 4-2 team in the league, but we seem to be on the way to another division championship at the 1/3rd mark of the season. Surprised how well the defense has held up with no Watt and the offense being atrocious. Schedule lightens up considerably after the Bronco's, statistically at the moment the best defenses we face the rest of the year after the Bronco's is the Jags (2x) and Tenn again. Feels like a division championship and then blown out in round 1 or 2 of the playoffs type year. Maybe we can hope that Brock builds some confidence and starts to play better against lesser defenses along the way.

 
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Buckna said:
FWIW, PFF had Allen as the 10th best guard in the league last year. Brooks was rated the 37th best guard. I'll see if I can find links but have seen a number of blurbs talking about Allen being the best rated guard as a FA behind Osemele.

Edit: And his contract is significantly cheaper than Brooks. Although kind of like I mentioned with Doug Martin, I'm always skeptical of guys that have their best year just before becoming a FA and Allen fits that bill.
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Boy was I wrong about this guy, he has absolutely stunk. He didn't play last night due to injury and thank goodness, he has been a turnstile and a terrible run blocker.

Guessing Smith drafts at least 2 O'lineman in the first 4 rounds next year.

 
Buckna said:
Guessing Smith drafts at least 2 O'lineman in the first 4 rounds next year.
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Make that 3 after Newton tore both patellar tendons last night.

With the injuries mounting winning this horrible division is looking less and less likely. If Os still looks terrible after the Bye when the easier stretch of the schedule starts, how soon before they bench him? My guess is by the Packers game. Unfortunately, the team is too good even with an awful QB to end up with much of a draft pick next year. Still time to turn it around but looks like Smith and Bob hitched their horse to the wrong wagon, maybe this will finally be enough to get rid of Smith but it will probably take at least 2 seasons of awful before firing them.

 
Terrible O-line

Awful QB

Injuries on both sides aren't helping

Bad management and coaching with vanilla offensive plays

 
pretty much just not a good team right now. Not sure if there's even a path to being a good team. We could have a good defense next year when players get healthy, but offensively I don't see it ever being better than average with what we're working with now. 

 
Who cares? This team is always gonna be mediocre and boring. Then we'll slip to being the worst team in the league when it's a year without a no-brainer top QB pick. We'll pass over the 2nd/3rd/4th round QB that ends up being good. Then we'll battle toward .500 with a retread QB and hear a bunch of positive company line BS, then shove a Schaub/Osweiler clone in our faces again. Lots of optimistic local BS but it will always be mediocre. Mix in some curious Bob McNair quotes along the way. Rinse. Repeat. Rinse. Repeat. 

I feel nothing when I watch this team. Not even sure I'm a fan anymore. This team is garbage regardless if they win a horrible division. Business as usual just like always here....

 
Just as I suspected no one even cares to elaborate further or ##### about this team. Complete apathy because they've given us a history of nearly nothing. Other than the JJ Watt pick six playoff game the highlight for this franchise is the first game we've ever played. We've got 5 pages on here since February. What I wouldn't give to have some tradition and respect as a franchise and a booming active thread. But I can't blame you other guys, I haven't been on here either. Why the hell should we? Mediocrity is inevitable and we all knew it.

Thanks for bringing back football Mr. McNair but this starts at the top. You don't have a clue. Sometimes I think you're perfectly happy making money with your well-run business side and nondescript football side. Stop doing interviews and giving us the company line and an occasional head scratcher that proves you know dic# about football. No one has ever figured out the GM/HC dynamic. Well, we've at least figured out that it doesn't work. Kick your buddy Rick Smith to the curb or an administrative position. Pick one. Hire a shrewd personnel man to run the show. Let him pick his coach. If you don't get results get another one. Don't give a guy 10 years as a GM when it's proven whatever the dynamic is doesn't produce great results. Demand more... you're the freaking owner. And tell them to find an exciting QB or else.... even if he sucks he's still exciting, compared to snoozefests Schaub, Fitz, Hoyer, and Osweiler. Scramble meekly to the right, throw out of bounds. Good god no wonder we have no tradition.

The sad thing is I was writing the same thing 10 years ago, save for the QB dilemma. Carr didn't work out but he was like the Rick Smith of QBs. They stick with everyone crappy way too long. 

Being a fan of this team sucks. I'm off to watch more Scott from HEB commercials and Osweiler in an awkward cowboy hat. Good times.

 
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I feel your pain @Houston turmOiler.   I watch the Raiders and think that could be us (a team with a bright future) if we had a GM, Coach and Owner worth their salt.   Playing in a weak division is a curse as it breeds mediocrity since our owner deems a division title success.  I'll continue to watch passively and won't expect anything out of this team until Rick Smith and O'Brien are shown the door.   

 
Ever thought we would see the day when a win in INDY is greeted with such little fanfare?

Looks like it will come down to us and Tenn. If I have done my math right, if Hou takes care of business against Cin & Jax (not a given on either) then we will need to win @Tenn to take the division if they win out. If Tenn loses @KC (10-3) this coming week (then they have the Jags) (and we win our next 2) it won't matter whether we win or lose in week 17 @Tenn because of our 4 division wins. Except maybe in terms of being the 3rd or 4th seed.

So would we rather a division title and probably a 1st round loss? Or lose out on the division with something like an 8-8 or 9-7 record? I'm not sure that is bad enough for McNair to fire anybody or for them to seriously consider a replacement for Osweiler yet. I want to be optimistic since "anything can happen in the playoffs" but the offense is so poor, I don't think we can really take on any of the cream of the crop of the AFC.

 
Buckna said:
Ever thought we would see the day when a win in INDY is greeted with such little fanfare?

Looks like it will come down to us and Tenn. If I have done my math right, if Hou takes care of business against Cin & Jax (not a given on either) then we will need to win @Tenn to take the division if they win out. If Tenn loses @KC (10-3) this coming week (then they have the Jags) (and we win our next 2) it won't matter whether we win or lose in week 17 @Tenn because of our 4 division wins. Except maybe in terms of being the 3rd or 4th seed.

So would we rather a division title and probably a 1st round loss? Or lose out on the division with something like an 8-8 or 9-7 record? I'm not sure that is bad enough for McNair to fire anybody or for them to seriously consider a replacement for Osweiler yet. I want to be optimistic since "anything can happen in the playoffs" but the offense is so poor, I don't think we can really take on any of the cream of the crop of the AFC.
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I think you hope for a slim chance at a run in the playoffs. Because even if they lose out, they would still end up in the McNair sweet spot of "Yep, I need to give them (Osweiller and O'Brien) one more year to see if they are the ones to win with"

 
"We haven't had consistency at the quarterback position and we really feel like the move to add Brock gives us that stability, and hopefully that will allow us to advance a little further than we've done before" -- Texans GM Rick Smith on March 10

 
GregR said:
Savage, 260 yards in 2 1/2 quarters of work.

Osweiler's best full game this season?  269 yards.
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It was nice seeing a QB with accuracy.  Savage looked composed and the offense flowed nicely.  It's just a shame BOB didn't make this move earlier in the season to give him some time to develop.  I'm a little concerned about his ability under pressure and whether he'll be able to perform against a stout Defense but anything is an improvement over Oswelier.  

 
So Bouye has played himself into a huge contract next year, we think we pony up the $$$? Projected for 18M under the cap despite the boatload due to Suck weiner and Miller. A lot of money could be saved moving on from JJoseph, RT Newton and RG Allen. Joseph is old and if you resign Bouye and have a healthy Kevin Johnson, should be good there at Corner. Newton's injuries you would assume are career ending, and Allen has plain sucked.

Gotta wonder about a Hopkins extension and what those contract numbers look like given the offenses awful performance this year.

 
I really hope the team doesn't try to lowball Hopkins based on how this year has gone. I don't think there are many who are going to lay the drop in production at his feet.

 
If the Bills don't exercise his option, and it will cost them a lot to exercise it, I would like to see the Texans go after Tyrod Taylor, As long as he is not too expensive. Let Savage compete, and keep Suckweiller as a $19 million in cap space 3rd stringer. He gets cut after next season.

 
So absolutely ideal playoff scenario...

Week 17: Chiefs lose, Dolphins beat Pats.  Dolphins end up 5 seed, Chiefs the 6 seed

Wild card:  We get the Dolphins at home and win.  Meanwhile Chiefs go to Pittsburgh and win.  Setting up...

Divisional round:  We go to Oakland and win.  Chiefs go to New England and win.

Which would set up an AFC conference championship game with the Chiefs at Reliant.

Yeah, not a lot of hope, but a guy can dream.

 
GregR said:
So absolutely ideal playoff scenario...

Week 17: Chiefs lose, Dolphins beat Pats.  Dolphins end up 5 seed, Chiefs the 6 seed

Wild card:  We get the Dolphins at home and win.  Meanwhile Chiefs go to Pittsburgh and win.  Setting up...

Divisional round:  We go to Oakland and win.  Chiefs go to New England and win.

Which would set up an AFC conference championship game with the Chiefs at Reliant.

Yeah, not a lot of hope, but a guy can dream.
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Yeah, the Texans would have to beat the unholy triumvirate of QB's, Matt Moore, Matt McGloin, and Alex Smith. If that happens and the Texans get to the Super Bowl, they would be the luckiest team ever to make it. Of course, then they would get blown out by the Cowboys in their own stadium, and Cowboys will have eternal scoreboard over the Texans. So the Gods could be setting the Houston fans up for  the biggest letdown ever (moreso than the Oilers blowing the playoff game to the Bills).

 
Nice to see a few points on the board finally. Like their chances against KC a lot more than New England obviously, but either way they are going to need to play a solid all around game and not turn the ball over. Hope the defense plays well and gets some pressure, and can keep it a low scoring game, whichever the opponent.

 
Still troubling to hear O'Brien rumors if the choice is between him and Rick Smith. Smith must have compromising pictures of McNair or something. O'Brien has his faults as a coach but I'd much rather retain him over Smith if that's the choice. O'Brien leaving and Smith staying sounds like a quick recipe for repeating the cycle and quickly dropping back to the ranks of 2-14. Hopefully McNair surprises and sides with O'Brien. Enough of Rick Smith. We know how that story goes.

 
Major said:
Anyone think Houston will keep Saturday's matchup respectable?   I'm thinking 31-10.  
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Going to take a lot of bounces going right, I think.  If I remember what the radio said right, this is the 4th biggest point spread in playoff history, and a Texans win would be the second biggest upset.

 
GregR said:
Going to take a lot of bounces going right, I think.  If I remember what the radio said right, this is the 4th biggest point spread in playoff history, and a Texans win would be the second biggest upset.
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What is the point spread?  There was a team in 2002 who was a 14 point underdog and ended up winning the SuperBowl.  I can't recall who that was.

 
Onto the offseason...

I looked back once bad Brock showed himself in the second half to check myself on how awful the Texans' QB play has been in elimination games. 

In 2011, Yates threw 3 picks in Baltimore. Last year we all remember the Hoyer meltdown that contained 4 picks and a fumble. This year Brock gave us 3 picks. Suffice to say when the Texans get deep enough in the playoffs, the cause of elimination has so far pointed clearly back to QB play. It isn't all them, but fool me thrice?

The defense isn't a concern going into the offseason. JJ will be back and they'll certainly have to shore up Bouye and work out an extension for Hopkins. I didn't like what I saw from the WR this year and it's frustrating because on paper they should have been better. Was that Brock or are we still searching for a more solid corps? I think OL is a clear need in the draft but who knows what they do with QB again as well in the draft. 

 
The Texans need to do 5 things to make me happy going into next year.

1) hire a good OC

2) sign Bouye and extend Hopkins

3) Trade for Romo. Cut Cushing, Jackson, Weeden to help stay under the cap.

4) Draft a RT with 1st round pick

5) Strengthen defense with the rest of the draft

The Texans are much closer to the Denver "dominant defense" approach to winning a championship, then an overall balanced good team. Still I think you need more at QB to get there. Romo, when he is healthy, is the best option out there.

 
dhockster said:
The Texans need to do 5 things to make me happy going into next year.

1) hire a good OC

2) sign Bouye and extend Hopkins

3) Trade for Romo. Cut Cushing, Jackson, Weeden to help stay under the cap.

4) Draft a RT with 1st round pick

5) Strengthen defense with the rest of the draft

The Texans are much closer to the Denver "dominant defense" approach to winning a championship, then an overall balanced good team. Still I think you need more at QB to get there. Romo, when he is healthy, is the best option out there.
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I generally like where your heads is but have a few counter points:

1. Yes, yes, and yes. We have got to get someone who will actually see we should throw Miller the ball once in a while. We need to take more shots down the field too as the QBs had ridiculously low YPR stats this year; some Brock, some scheme.

2. Agreed

3. Ehh, no. He would kill the cap unless Dallas eats a lot of it. If you're Dallas and everyone makes you eat a ton of money, what do you really gain by cutting Romo? I think they will sit on his contract rather than trade him, but you never know with Jerry Jones. I'd rather we find someone in the draft as the FA pool for QBs looks like former Texans' starters (Fitz, Keenum, Mallet) and the only QB of potential consequence is Cousins, who'll likely be re-signed.

4. Yes, but don't just stop in the first round. I think the focus on this coming draft needs to be on OL.

5. I don't agree here. I get the Denver model, but NE still put 34 points on this defense. JJ will help some, but the offense has got to score next year. Brock may not be the answer at QB, but whenever we find that guy we have to protect him. We have had notoriously bad pass protection since the franchise's inception and have at best been a good running team with a good defense. The defense now borders on excellent at times but we need an OL to bring the offense forward and hopefully find a QB to really take this team to the next level.

 
Jayded said:
3. Ehh, no. He would kill the cap unless Dallas eats a lot of it. If you're Dallas and everyone makes you eat a ton of money, what do you really gain by cutting Romo? I think they will sit on his contract rather than trade him, but you never know with Jerry Jones. I'd rather we find someone in the draft as the FA pool for QBs looks like former Texans' starters (Fitz, Keenum, Mallet) and the only QB of potential consequence is Cousins, who'll likely be re-signed.
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A team can't "make Dallas eat a ton of money" in the trade.  All of the dead money is from previously paid bonuses and the rules are static about this.  Dallas will eat the dead $20M in remaining bonus allocations regardless.  Romo's only cap number for the new team would be his salary, which is a very modest $14M in 2017 and not guaranteed.  A team acquiring could even re-work the deal to lower it at the expense of pushing part of the hit into future years if they chose to. 

If there were guaranteed unpaid money then a new team could conceivably negotiate with who would have to pay what, ala the Kaepernick speculation last year, but I can't recall that ever actually happening.

 
Agree with 1 & 2.

3. I would cut Newton & Joseph (assuming you keep Bouye) that's a savings of almost $10M right there. Try to negotiate a 2 year extension with Brown and lower/spread his 2 $10M cap hits over 4 years. He's still playing at a high level despite his age.

4. They should cut Brock now and eat his contract, he's a negative to have on the team and if he's still there you'd be tempted to go back to him in season during 2017. (Just can't see Smith doing this though, they will talk themselves into "he's just a 21 game starter and could still develop" despite the rest of the world seeing he's horrible.)

5. Draft is a total wildcard. NT seems ok with the play of Reader if Wilfork retires. Need a QB, O'line help at Guard & RT, a safety, and another LB'er when Cushing inevitably gets hurt. Consensus seems to be that it is a weak year for O'line but we are picking late enough that there might be a bargain. Honestly would be jazzed if one of the top QB's falls some and we jump on them like Denver did this past year. Start Savage and develop the draft pick.

Romo's a non-starter unless he was willing to take a significant paycut, we can't afford him without some sacrifices due to Os' contract.

 
Was going to start a 2017 thread but maybe we should just get this renamed and keep one thread across the seasons?  Anyway, some info:

Texans 2017 salary cap link.

Cap room: $24.6m


2017 Cap Totals


2017 NFL Salary Cap


$168,000,000


2016 Rollover Cap


$4,781,819


Adjustment


$0


Adjusted Salary Cap


$172,781,819


All Contracts


$115,377,908


$22,805,566


$6,653,227


$1,200,000


-


$2,000,000


-


$148,036,701


Top 51 Contracts


$114,447,908


$22,805,566


$6,653,227


$1,200,000


-


$2,000,000


-


$147,106,701


Dead Money


-


$59,710


-


-


-


-


-


$59,710


Total (All)


$115,377,908


$22,865,276


$6,653,227


$1,200,000


-


$2,000,000


-


$148,096,411


Total (w/Top 51)


$114,447,908


$22,865,276


$6,653,227


$1,200,000


-


$2,000,000


-


$147,166,411


Cap Space (w/All)


$24,685,408


Cap Space (w/Top 51)


$25,615,408



Free Agents:

Vince Wilfork     DT     35     HOU        TBD     $4,500,000     UFA     -
Devon Still     DT     27     HOU        TBD     $675,000     UFA     -
Antonio Smith     DE     35     HOU        TBD     $985,000     UFA     -
John Simon     OLB     26     HOU        TBD     $1,671,000     UFA     -
David Quessenberry     LT     26     HOU        TBD     $568,363     UFA     -
Nick Novak     K     35     HOU        TBD     $965,000     UFA     -
Shane Lechler     P     40     HOU        TBD     $1,800,000     UFA     -
Don Jones     FS     26     HOU        TBD     $675,000     UFA     -
Johnathan Grimes     RB     27     HOU        TBD     $900,000     UFA     -
Ryan Griffin     TE     27     HOU        TBD     $559,670     UFA     -
Akeem Dent     ILB     29     HOU        TBD     $2,250,000     UFA     -
Quintin Demps     SS     31     HOU        TBD     $1,500,000     UFA     -
A.J. Bouye     CB     25     HOU        TBD     $1,671,000     UFA     Market Value
Oday Aboushi     G     25     HOU        TBD     $589,750     UFA     -

 
dhockster said:
The Texans need to do 5 things to make me happy going into next year.

1) hire a good OC

2) sign Bouye and extend Hopkins

3) Trade for Romo. Cut Cushing, Jackson, Weeden to help stay under the cap.

4) Draft a RT with 1st round pick

5) Strengthen defense with the rest of the draft

The Texans are much closer to the Denver "dominant defense" approach to winning a championship, then an overall balanced good team. Still I think you need more at QB to get there. Romo, when he is healthy, is the best option out there.
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I know Jackson had a really bad game against the Patriots, but did you mean Joseph there in the cuts?   Jackson is a $2m cap savings, Joseph is $6.5m.

 
GregR said:
I know Jackson had a really bad game against the Patriots, but did you mean Joseph there in the cuts?   Jackson is a $2m cap savings, Joseph is $6.5m.
Click to expand...
No, he meant Jackson, said the same thing in the Romo thread. I thought Jackson had been pretty good and a big part of a stellar secondary but I could be mistaken. Joseph is getting up there in age, was injured part of the season and played pretty poorly the rest, he seems a much more obvious cut. And I think you have to keep someone considering Johnson's injury and some team may throw a ton of money at Bouye we can't afford to match.

Cushing is interesting as a possible cut, he has obviously played well below his salary due to all those injuries (honestly can't find any metrics on the internet on how well he did this year, but I know 2015 was particularily bad) but you get the feeling the Texans brass love him and wouldn't even think of cutting him. Maybe with McKinney blossoming and taking over a lot of the defensive captain on the field duties they would actually consider moving on from Cushing but that would create a big hole that we would need to draft a LB'er to replace him.

Wilfork likely retires, but Reader filled in pretty well for him and his playing time grew over the season.

Romo is too expensive, old and injury prone IMO. If he can't stay healthy behind Dallas' line, how the hell will he stay healthy behind ours? I think we're basically ####ed as far as QB goes unless one of the top 3 rookies slips like Lynch did and we can get him. Although I don't think we would be interested in Watson who seems the most likely QB to be available later due to his inaccuracy issues. I don't like any of the FA QB options (Cutler, Kaep, etc.)

Knowing Rick Smith, we keep Cushing, Newton (who should be another cut after that bad injury), and Osweiler and they bring in another journeyman with a "competition" between Savage, the Journeyman and Os. Probably draft a Tackle with one of our first 3 picks but spend the first on something like a safety or a TE.

 
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