Player Spotlight: Eric Moulds (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

2006 Player Spotlight Series

Over the course of the offseason, we will be evaluating a multitude of players at every fantasy position. One such way we go about that is through the Player Spotlight series. Think of the Spotlights as a permanent record on some of the more intriguing players for the upcoming season. Each Spotlight will be featured in an article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Eric Moulds, WR, Houston Texans

Player Page Link: Eric Moulds Player Page

Each article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide sustainable value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDsBest of Luck and ENJOY!

 

[Winning IS Everything]

Eric Moulds is still a good quality wide receiver that can help move the chains. Eric still has some of the speed left and will have AJ on the other side to draw plenty of attention away. I think Kubiak will try to establish a passing game and with an iffy line Moulds will get plenty of intermediate action.

60 receptions - 800 yards - 4 touchdowns with upside if Johnson struggles again.

Edit to add: In the AJ thread I had Moulds penciled in for slightly more than this, but I was figuring the upside in that I think is actually just a possibility.

 

[Jason Wood]

In recent years, the ability of WRs to make an immediate impact on their new teams has increased substantially. Moulds had several options but ultimately decided to head to Houston.

I realize that David Carr is no proven commodity, but you have to like a coaching staff that has Gary Kubiak and Mike Sherman involved. Whatever you thought about Sherman as head coach, much of his coaching experience (collegiate and the pros) revolved around the offensive line; and Kubiak's credentials are substantive.

Moulds steps into an interesting situation and warrants some discussion. Yet, he's on an EIGHT YEAR decline in his average yards per reception and hasn't been a top-20 fantasy option since 2002.

What are your expectations for Moulds and where would you feel comfortable drafting him?

 

[Rev]

In recent years, the ability of WRs to make an immediate impact on their new teams has increased substantially. Moulds had several options but ultimately decided to head to Houston.

I realize that David Carr is no proven commodity, but you have to like a coaching staff that has Gary Kubiak and Mike Sherman involved. Whatever you thought about Sherman as head coach, much of his coaching experience (collegiate and the pros) revolved around the offensive line; and Kubiak's credentials are substantive.

Moulds steps into an interesting situation and warrants some discussion. Yet, he's on an EIGHT YEAR decline in his average yards per reception and hasn't been a top-20 fantasy option since 2002.

What are your expectations for Moulds and where would you feel comfortable drafting him?

I would give Houston at least a 50% boost in their passing game production this season, especially with a more seasoned coaching staff and more streamlined system. In particular, I would imagine that Moulds and AJ would feed off of each other and open up space in the secondary which hasn't happened in Houston for years. In the best case scenario, if they could spread defenses in a way that Fitz/Boldin do (though on a lesser scale), they could statistically break down this way:Moulds: 65 receptions for 750 yards and 6 TDs

AJ: 85 receptions for 1050 yards and 11 TDs

 

[MLBrandow]

71 / 1060 / 8

call me crazy, but I believe in David Carr, Gary Kubiak, Domanick Davis and a 9-7 Texans team.

 

[Tau837]

you have to like a coaching staff that has Gary Kubiak and Mike Sherman involved. Whatever you thought about Sherman as head coach, much of his coaching experience (collegiate and the pros) revolved around the offensive line; and Kubiak's credentials are substantive

Not only is the addition of Kubiak and Sherman a positive for the passing game... so is the removal of Dom Capers. Here are his teams' passing game rankings:1995 - Carolina - 18th in attempts, 25th in yardage1996 - Carolina - 23rd in attempts, 20th in yardage1997 - Carolina - 14th in attempts, 25th in yardage1998 - Carolina - 19th in attempts, 11th in yardage2002 - Houston - 32nd in attempts, 32nd in yardage2003 - Houston - 31st in attempts, 30th in yardage2004 - Houston - 24th in attempts, 16th in yardage2005 - Houston - 29th in attempts, 30th in yardage :X I'd definitely expect more attempts and yardage this year. And the anomaly 2004 rank of 16th in yardage shows that this offense has the capability to do much better, since most of the same guys are still there.

 

[MLBrandow]

you have to like a coaching staff that has Gary Kubiak and Mike Sherman involved. Whatever you thought about Sherman as head coach, much of his coaching experience (collegiate and the pros) revolved around the offensive line; and Kubiak's credentials are substantive

Not only is the addition of Kubiak and Sherman a positive for the passing game... so is the removal of Dom Capers. Here are his teams' passing game rankings:1995 - Carolina - 18th in attempts, 25th in yardage

1996 - Carolina - 23rd in attempts, 20th in yardage

1997 - Carolina - 14th in attempts, 25th in yardage

1998 - Carolina - 19th in attempts, 11th in yardage

2002 - Houston - 32nd in attempts, 32nd in yardage

2003 - Houston - 31st in attempts, 30th in yardage

2004 - Houston - 24th in attempts, 16th in yardage

2005 - Houston - 29th in attempts, 30th in yardage

:X

I'd definitely expect more attempts and yardage this year. And the anomaly 2004 rank of 16th in yardage shows that this offense has the capability to do much better, since most of the same guys are still there.

That wasn't an anomaly, it was Domanick Davis!Great info though. I knew there was an underlying reason why Carr consistently ranked so high in Joyner's QB metrics, yet always ended up at the bottom of the barrel in the FF Production category.

This seems like a key piece of evidence

 

[coolnerd]

you have to like a coaching staff that has Gary Kubiak and Mike Sherman involved. Whatever you thought about Sherman as head coach, much of his coaching experience (collegiate and the pros) revolved around the offensive line; and Kubiak's credentials are substantive

Not only is the addition of Kubiak and Sherman a positive for the passing game... so is the removal of Dom Capers. Here are his teams' passing game rankings:1995 - Carolina - 18th in attempts, 25th in yardage

1996 - Carolina - 23rd in attempts, 20th in yardage

1997 - Carolina - 14th in attempts, 25th in yardage

1998 - Carolina - 19th in attempts, 11th in yardage

2002 - Houston - 32nd in attempts, 32nd in yardage

2003 - Houston - 31st in attempts, 30th in yardage

2004 - Houston - 24th in attempts, 16th in yardage

2005 - Houston - 29th in attempts, 30th in yardage

:X

I'd definitely expect more attempts and yardage this year. And the anomaly 2004 rank of 16th in yardage shows that this offense has the capability to do much better, since most of the same guys are still there.

should note that the only year that the Texans had protection the approached anywhere near that of an NFL calibur was in 2004. Obviously, that takes away pass attempts and yardage as well as discourages the team from passing as much as they would if protection was at least mediocore.

 

[mlball77]

With Kubiak in town, I think the offense has to start improving... even if its not by leaps and bounds, but instead by baby steps. I think both Andre Johnson and Moulds can be productive in 06, although I suspect AJ will be the most productive of the two.

As for Moulds, I see:

Recs - 67

Rec Yds - 750

Rec Tds - 5

 

[Sinrman]

Predicting Moulds' production in Houston will be one of the toughest ones of the year, methinks.

The OL is still a major question, and whether they can protect Carr long enough to get the ball out of his hand. If they can give him a LITTLE time, and Davis can stay somewhat healthy, I predict decent numbers from him and Johnson this year.

71 receptions

898 yards

6 TDs