Is it Time to Cut Trindon Holliday?
 

Said it before and I'll say it again, the STs quite possibly will be the downfall of this season. Holliday should be cut today so we can pickup a MLB, and the kickoff depth is a joke. I'd rather Graham just kick line drives and hope the other team muffs and fumbles it around a bit. That would be more effective, IMO.

Holliday was getting swarmed at the ten yard line. I'm not arguing to keep him but his blockers were not doing him any favors.

I agree ST blocking sucks too and I know you're not happy w/Holliday either, but it's not only last night and kick returns. He continously brings out kicks he shouldn't, bobbles/drops the ball way too many times, apparently has horrible communication skills on punts judging by how close numerous punts have come to hitting our guys this year (almost happened 3 times last night alone), and generally has been ineffective. It's time for Kubiak to give KR/PR duties to Forsett and/or Martin. We have bigger needs now than a pigeon-holed, mediocre PR/KR. I jest, but at least Slaton could get it close to the 20 at times (granted, with the occasional run out of bounds at the 2 :o).

Split this from the Jets game thread.

Just a thought... is it worth risking Danieal Manning to let him have a go at returning again? He's pretty good at it from his days with the Bears. Returned a handful for the Texans last year iirc, too.

What Popanot just said. He caught one about 6 yards deep in the end zone, with the pursuit already well down the field. I thought he would down it. He didn't, and he made it out to about the 10. And, like Popanot said, it isn't the first time. Someone said cut him and get some MLB depth. I agree. One question, though. Has anyone heard anything about when Sharpton will return? I think he's eligible to come off of the PUP list after next week.

Yes he is and no I have not heard a word. I am thinking we hear something about him today. IIRC, once he comes off the PUP he has two weeks to be activated, or placed on IR.

It's past time to release Holliday IMO, I'm surprised Kubiak has kept him on the roster this long ? So far in the regular season he's shown none of the upside we
saw in preseason. I honestly think somene like Keo would be an improvement, all things considered.

No way would I use Manning at KR/PR unless it's totally for in-game emergency purposes. And especially now that we've lost one key player in Cushing.

What just baffels me to no end is why Kubiak didn't give Martin some reps at KR/PR during the preseason. It wasn't like Holliday had the position locked down and it was a waist of time trying anyone else (i.e., low-cost, low-risk) back there. Martin proved quite skilled at returning kicks while at Michigan State. Who knows, maybe he's one of those dual-threat guys like Devin Hester or Randall Cobb. Won't find out until they try it. Trindon's gotten his chance. Time to move on.

Manning is too critical to expose him on returns. Martin makes more sense but he was not exactly Mr. Ball Security either. What's Andre Davis doing these days?

Yes, lets' get some ILB depth in here. Cushing will go to IR and then we will have a spot for that but you may need two guys just because Cushing did so much in our defense.

Who's gonna run all those secret reverse plays we haven't shown yet?

Not with Cushing gone for the season.

Yes, yes it is.

Cut and signed Rudd.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans...-barrett-ruud/

When Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he wasn’t happy with Trindon Holliday’s punt and kickoff returns, he meant it.

Holliday was placed on waivers today when the Texans also placed inside linebacker Brian Cushing on injured reserve.

To replace Cushing, the Texans signed eight-year veteran inside linebacker Barrett Ruud, a former second-round pick in 2005. Ruud will provide depth behind starters Bradie James and Tim Dobbins.

The Texans also promoted offensive guard Cody White from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Holliday returned three kicks for touchdowns during the preseason but he hadn’t been able to generate any of that magic in the regular season. He was averaging 9.2 yards on punt returns and 19.4 on kickoff returns.

The Texans have one of the league’s best kickoff returners in safety Danieal Manning, but last year, they didn’t want to risk him getting injured on that return team. Veteran running back Justin Forsett and rookie receiver Keshawn Martin could be the leading candidates to return kickoffs.

Martin also could return punts. Shiloh Keo also returned some punts as a rookie last season.


Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) tweeted:
The Texans have signed LB Barrett Ruud & practice squad G Cody White, released KR Trindon Holliday & placed LB Brian Cushing on IR

Nick Scurfield (@NickScurfield) tweeted:
Another team had expressed interest in signing practice squad G Cody White to its 53-manroster. #Texans didn't want to lose him

So, that's why this was done although I thought we had too many OLs already. Hope he can help on special teams. BTW, when you saw Graham whiff on that kickoff return, did anyone but me decide they missed Neil Rackers?

Kubiaks post-practice presser - K Martin will return punts and kickoffs.
Manning there as a back up (and likely for the playoffs, but he didn't come right out and say that).

Graham didn't just whiff, his whiff actually blocked another one of our guys.

Good move to let Martin return kicks and punts.

Best of luck to him, at least till the playoffs.

@caplannfl: KR Trindon Holliday got claimed by the denver Broncos, according to his agent, @iangreengross.

With Holiday being claimed by Denver, what does that do to our salary cap?

Nothing, I'm not the salary cap expert, but the cap only includes the top X? number of guys, and Holiday would not have been in that number. He was only getting league minimum.

Keith or one of the others can fill in the blanks above as to what the salary cap is based on.

Does Cushing's base salary come off for the rest of the year since he's on IR?

Any signing bonus he still had on the books (he may not have had any) plus any game checks he already earned (i.e. 5/16ths of his base pay) remain on the salary cap. That "top 51" business pk mentions only applies to the preseason. Once we get to the regular season, anyone on the active roster counts toward the cap.

No, his cap figure remains in tact.

IIRC no. Keith will correct me if I am wrong. Cushing is getting paid, so he counts.

Thanks Keith

Trindon Holliday Update
 

Holliday is still undefeated on the season, winning as a Houston Texan for the first five weeks of the season then as a Denver Bronco for the last five weeks (including the bye). He's also run back two kicks for touchdowns in the past two weeks, a kickoff return for a score against Cincinnati (longest play in Broncos history) and a punt return for a TD against Carolina.

First Jacoby and now Trindon. I nearly crap my pants every time Keyshawn gets ready to receive a kick. Ugh, maybe I should just close my eyes from now on...