Projected Roster?
 

Here is what I consider the known guys:

QB: Schaub, Leinart, Yates (3)
RB: Foster, Ward, Tate, Slaton (4)
FB: Casey (1)
WR: A. Johnson, Walter, Jones, (3)
OT: Brown, Winston, Butler, (3)
OG: Smith, Brisiel, Caldwell, (3)
OC: Myers (1)
TE: Daniels, Dreessen, Graham (3)
21

DE: Watts, Smith, Jamison, (3)
NT: Cody, Mitchell (2)
ILB: Ryans, Cushing, Sharpton, Adibi (4)
OLB: Williams, Barwin, Reed, Nading (4)
CB: Joseph, Jackson, Allen, McCain, Harris (5)
S: Manning, Quin, Nolan, (3)
21

K: Rackers
P: Maynard
LS: Weeks
3

That is 45 guys. That means 8 more guys on the bubble. Who and what positions?

Well we know 2 more WRs, and we can assume an offensive lineman or 2. So that would mean 4 more guys from the defense.

So who are the defensive bubble guys? Keo, Braman, McMannis, Barber, Keglar, Dobbins. Friday.

I really think Braman can be slide to the practice squad, he has not been as sharp since the Jets game.

I also think we are picking up a player or two from other teams rosters, maybe a WR, and a guard.

This is going to be a tough cut down, I hate the 53 man limit, wish it was closer to 60 man.

You think Slaton stays over Ogbanaya?

A few guys, like Keo, could be practice squad material. IOW, they could be cut but you haven't seen the last of them. For that matter, the same could happen with Yates.

I think Vickers over Slaton. My thoughts/additions in bold:

QB: Schaub, Leinart, Yates (3)
RB: Foster, Ward, Tate (3)
FB: Casey, Vickers (2)
WR: A. Johnson, Walter, Jones, D Dickerson, B. Johnson (5)
OT: Brown, Winston, Butler, Wallace (4)
OG: Smith, Brisiel, Caldwell, Gardner (4)
OC: Myers (1)
TE: Daniels, Dreessen, Graham (3)
25

DE: Watts, Smith, Jamison, Bulman (4)
NT: Cody, Mitchell, Lewis (3)
ILB: Ryans, Cushing, Sharpton, Adibi, Dobbins (5)
OLB: Williams, Barwin, Reed, Nading (4)
CB: Joseph, Jackson, Allen, McCain, Harris (5)
S: Manning, Quin, Nolan, Keo (4)
25

K: Rackers
P: Maynard
LS: Weeks
3

IMO - The bold guys would also be the first to be replaced come waiver wire season, specifically @ WR and DE/NT. I am fully expecting 2-3 of these guys to be replaced.

It is tough, too bad they don't have another like 5 protected guys somehow.

I agree that some guys Texans cut will be picked up by other teams and vs, Texans will likely pick up a few more good depth/special teams players.

ie. if you aren't part of that first 45, better be real good on ST .

Saw twitterings from Dickerson saying good bye....

Also saw something saying D. Lewis is a goner.

Bummer

http://twitter.com/#!/scorindorin/st...50320010907648

Not surprising considering the guy was a 7th Rd. pick who basically never set himself apart from anyone else. He should consider changing his Twitter name, tho.

I guess it wouldn't surprise me, especially if they keep only 4 WR.

Is he just disappointed in his results, or did they tell him already?

I wonder if he's gone for good or if he'll be back on the PS. I'd hate for him to go somewhere and go Tramon Williams on all our asses. I'd like to see him stick around. He's more athletic than Tolliver. Dickerson, I mean.

Before I say this let me say I am a fan of Steve Slaton's and hope he somehow gets sprinkled into our offensive plans though I realize that that is highly unlikely. So that being said does anybody make anything of this part of the comments made by Kubes:

On not playing Steve Slaton against the Vikings with the final cut looming: “He was healthy enough to play. That was strictly me. He was coming off hamstring. We only had two practices and one of them was a walk-through. I didn’t feel comfortable putting him out there on turf after he’d been gone so long. I think you keep good football players. Steve is a good football player. We’ll have to see how that pans out. I know what Steve is. I (didn’t play him) because I didn’t think it was real smart. That was just a decision on my part.”

It almost seems to me like they are going to keep him. Just was wondering about ya'lls thoughts.

It wouldn't be a shock keeping 4 RB's what with all the nagging injuries. All four (Ward, Slaton, Tate, Foster) have had something bothering them. Ironically, the only one (Ogbonnaya) who has remained healthy might be the one that is cut or PS'ed....

No way do I keep slaton. He's been terrible for 2+ years.

So you're saying that Kubiak deliberately kept him out of the game Thursday so he could cut him today? With Kubiak at the helm I suppose anything is plausible.

Just my opinion, but I think it was a business decision. I don't think you can't cut an injured guy without a settlement. There's zero trade market, since everyone is assuming that he will be cut. He gets knicked against the Vikes, we have to settle with him.

If we do end up keeping him, that will likely mean Foster is out wk 1, and Slaton will be cut whenever he gets back.

I have no idea what kubiak will do. We rarely think alike. I would not consider keeping him though.

I think the Texans keep Slaton or trade him. He's easily more likely than any other 4th running back out there to actually fight for PT and actually has "starting RB" potential. He did not do bad in limited time last season. Do I expect him to be the starting RB, no.

I just see no reason to throw away a cheap young player that can actually help as a third down back if Foster stays hurt. I'm a Longhorn fan so I do hope Chris gets on Texans PS.

I would like to see the Texans add another guy for the secondary. The Texans also may need to find some OLine reserves.

Not sure if you know this but the steve slaton you are talking about no longer exists. He had neck surgery and has not been the same in years. The current steve slaton is bad at returning kicks and good at missing games.

$1.4MM for a 4th stringer is not exactly cheap. If they are gonna keep 4, I just assume keep Chris Obi, he is better for the cap, and isn't ever gonna see the field anyway unless something bad happens.

Show's ya what I know.....Slaton sticks, for now at least. Doesn't appear to look good for Foster for week 1, IMO.

LOL - No punter......

http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/a...rs-2154415.php
The Texans reduced their roster from 80 to 52 players on Saturday. Some players waived will be signed to the practice squad:


Offense (24)

Quarterbacks (3): Matt Schaub, Matt Leinart, T.J. Yates.

Running backs (4): Arian Foster, Derrick Ward, Ben Tate, Steve Slaton.

Fullbacks (2): James Casey, Lawrence Vickers.

Tight ends (3): Owen Daniels, Joel Dreessen, Garrett Graham.

Receivers (4): Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones, Bryant Johnson.

Offensive linemen (8): Eric Winston, Duane Brown, Wade Smith, Mike Brisiel, Chris Myers, Rashad Butler, Antoine Caldwell, Derek Newton.

Defense (26)

Linemen (6): Antonio Smith, Shaun Cody, J.J. Watt, Earl Mitchell, Tim Jamison, Tim Bulman.

Linebackers (9): Mario Williams, Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Darryl Sharpton, Brooks Reed, Jesse Nading, Tim Dobbins, Bryan Braman.

Defensive backs (11): Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, Jason Allen, Brice McCain, Sherrick McManis, Brandon Harris, Roc Carmichael, Glover Quin, Danieal Manning, Troy Nolan, Dominique Barber.

Specialists (2)

Kicker (1): Neil Rackers.

Snapper (1): Jon Weems.

I am very, very surprised that the team kept Slaton over Chris O both for cap reasons and performance reasons.

I am encouraged, though, at their optimism in waiving their only punter.

The Giants are reportedly keeping punter Steve Weatherford and looking to deal Matt Dodge if they can get something for him, so that's one situation to watch.

Slaton is not enough of a cap hit to worry about. Unless there is some great player out there that the 700k or whatever the extra for Slaton makes over Chris O, cap isn't an issue for this season.

Performance? Slaton is the same age as Chris O. Chris O. has 69 total yards in two seasons. Chris O. can't even average 4 yards per carry through preseason. A guy that can't even get 100 yards in two seasons is a better player than Slaton? Some major injury problems won't make me give up on a guy that was the 6th best runner his rookie year in favor of a guy of the same age that has only 69 yards to his name in two seasons.

Steve? Is that you? welcome to the board.

But seriously, going on performance in this decade it's edge ogbonoya.

Have you seen any practices? I did and Slaton looked like he was back to his old self at practice. Then he strained the hammy.

I also watched Chris O at practice. He is a solid practice squad guy. He is not as quick through the hole when he was against the 2s. When he played against the the guys that are now on the street he looked decent. He is not ahead of Slaton right now based on talent and knowledge of the playbook. Slaton is worth a flyer on while Foster is on the shelf.

I'll take your word on practices. But part of playing in the NFL is playing. The hammy is the latest in years without being healthy. But I hope he proves me completely wrong. I'd love to see the old slaton.

Either way, there's no way this guy sees the field, unless Foster is out, Ward goes down, and then Tate goes down. While Slaton may have shown "flashes" in camp, who's he gonna take carries away from? That's my biggest problem with keeping him. Just a plain ole "Why?".
He doesn't seem to serve a purpose to me at all.

When you are up against the cap, $2.2MM at the last report, $700k is a very big deal, especially for a guy the will only see the field if three other very bad things happen.

The concern I have about releasing Chris O. is that while he might be the least talented of the whole RB-crew, he is the only one who's remained healthy/uninjured thru all of TC if I'm not mistaken ? And that should be worth something ?
And on the subject of injuries, I'd bet right now that Foster dosen't play 9/11 because I suspect if he has a third "event" this soon with his hammy it's going to be a really long reovery period ?

Ummm....He has zero performance in the regular season from this decade.

Only reason to keep Chris O over Slaton would be enough injury concerns with 1st three running backs.

Saw some tweets from Jabba on the PS:

Key members of practice squad: S Shiloh Keo, WR Trindon Holliday, RB Chris Ogbonnaya, WR Jeff Maehl, G Andrew Gardner, LB Mister Alexander.

C Howard Barbieri also on practice squad.

Also, they claimed a G from the Pats, so someone is about to go:

Texans claimed G Thomas Austin on waivers from Pats. He gives them inside depth. They lost 2 backup guards for season.

Texans re-signed P Brett Hartmann to replace Brad Maynard. To make room on the roster, they waived OLB Jesse Nading.

IMO the interesting thing here is the signings of Maehl and the two UDFA WR placed on IR. That is three guys being red shirted.

Also they kept punt returning back up Holliday, who looked solid as a punt returner the other night. Nice insurance there. Gives him a longer look, if he stays in the tub any longer he is cut.

Ogbonnaya is exactly where I thought he would be after a week of training camp, he is only valuable as an emergency guy. He does not have NFL quickness, but he can play if we have a few RBs go down.

Shocked we have not signed a punter yet or David Anderson.

They kept Braman and released Nading. Kinda surprising ? Not that I disagree with their judgement because Bramans the one with the potential IMO ?

Hooo boy, I thought Bulman might've been on the bubble... Turns out it was Nading....

Colorado State players are dropping like flies. Just two left on the active roster - Brisiel and Dreessen.