Post Draft Roster - 53 Man Projections
 

Normally by the Monday following the draft, I am writing up a cherry pick version of the Draft. I admit this year I did not see a clear choice at 26. A few weeks ago I switched from WR Stephen Hill to OLB Shea McClellin. According to some interviews from Wade and Rick Smith, the Texans did consider trading up to try and draft McClellin, so I don't feel bad about my desire for him as our target. But he went much earlier than I thought and to a team I don't think he fits as well as he would have with a 3-4 team. OH well.

I never in my wildest dream thought we would have Mercilus fall to 26. I thought he would be gone by 20. So that is a very nice pick up. No complaint from me on that one. I had a few of the guys drafted on my radar, but most were typical for me during Kubiak's tenure, I had no clue that they would ever look at that guy type picks. But I can live with every pick.

So that leads me to this exercise.

Lets try to project the 53 man roster and the practice squad guys. If you can give us your starters by week 17 with no injuries. I can see a rookie or two being in play by week 17.

I'll give my projection later, I want to see what you guys think.

DT - Cody, Mitchell, Fangupo
DE - Smith, Watt, Crick
OLB - Barwin, Braman, Reed, Mercilus
ILB - Cushing, James, Sharpton, Dobbins
CB - Carmichael, Harris, Jackson, Joseph, McCain, McManis
S - Demps, Keo, Manning, Nolan, Quin

C - Myers, Jones
G - Caldwell, Sh. Smith, W. Smith, Brooks
T - Brown, Butler, Newton
QB - Schaub, Yates
WR - Johnson, J. Jones, Walter, Martin, Posey, D. Jones
RB - Foster, Tate, J. Williams
TE - Casey, Daniels, Graham
FB - Brock
ST/TBD - Mondek(NT/TE - GL/OT/FB?)

K - Bullock
P - Hartmann
LS - Weeks

There are still a few changes to be made before training camp. There are still some FAs out there that could help and the big question out there is whether the Texans will be able to trade Jones or Walter to make room for the new receivers. My expectation is that they will be June 1st cuts (at least Jones, maybe Walter) for which we will get nothing.

Another big question is whether the Texans will find a veteran backup QB or if Kubiak will use Yates and Keenum as his backups. If he finds a veteran, I think Keenum moves to the practice squad.

With all that said, my best if-it-started-today roster would be:

QB - Schaub, Yates, Keenum
RB - Foster, Tate, Meggett
FB - Casey
WR - A. Johnson, Walter, Jones, Posey, Jean, Maehl
TE - Daniels, Graham
T - Brown, Butler, Newton
G - W. Smith, Caldwell, Brooks
C - Myers, B. Jones

DE - Watt, A. Smith, Bulman, Crick
DT - Cody, Mitchell, Harris
OLB - Barwin, Reed, Mercilus, Braman, Nading
ILB - Cushing, James, Sharpton, Dobbins, Alexander
CB - Joseph, Jackson, McCain, Harris, McManis, Carmichael
S - Manning, Quin, Demps, Nolan

P - D. Jones
K - Bullock
LS - Weeks

PS - Martin, Mondek, others

Does anyone have the position number breakdown from last year's opening day roster? (ie 3 QBs, 3 TB, etc...)

All you guys have Jacoby Jones on your team, need to make some changes. :D

Tough cuts this year. I'm sure IR will provide a couple of slots.

DT Cody, Mitchell, Fangupo
DE Watt, Smith, Crick, Jamison
LB Cushing, Barwin, Reed, James, Dobbins, Ming, Braman, Loiseau,Sharpton
CB Joseph, Jackson, McCain, Harris, Carmichael
S Manning, Quinn, Nolan, Demps

OL W. Smith, Brown, Meyers, Caldwell, Butler, Jones, Brooks, Mondek Newton
TE O.D., Graham, Free Agent
RB Arian, Tate, Ward
FB Thor, Ford
QB Schaub, T.J., Case
WR A.J., Walter, Posey, Martin, Jean

P Jones/Hartman
K Bullock
LS Weeks

Hope I counted right. If Jones is a good enough long snapper, it could free another position.

QB - (2) Schaub, Yates (I love Keenum but we almost never carry 3 QBs)
RB - (3) Foster, Tate, ??? (I bet our opening day #3 is not on the roster, maybe ogbonoya with Richardson's drafting)
FB - (1) Casey
WR - (5) A. Johnson, Walter, Posey, Martin, Maehl (or a vet)
TE - (3) Daniels, Graham, ???
T - (4) Brown, Butler, Newton, (draft pick, can't recall the name)
G - (3) W. Smith, Caldwell, Brooks
C - (2) Myers, B. Jones

DE - (4) Watt, A. Smith, Bulman, Crick
DT - (3) Cody, Mitchell, Harris
OLB - (5) Barwin, Reed, Mercilus, Braman, Nading
ILB - (4) Cushing, James, Sharpton, Dobbins,
CB - (5) Joseph, Jackson, McCain, Harris, McManis
S - (4) Manning, Quin, Demps, Nolan

P - D. Jones
K - Bullock
LS - Weeks

And an extra LB/DB/WR/FB depending on who can play special teams.

It should be real interesting preseason and tough cuts. I guess will they add experienced QB and fullback or not are questions..

QB - Schaub, Yates
RB - Foster, Tate, Ward
FB - Casey,
G/C - Meyers, Caldwell, Smith, Brooks, Ben Jones
OT - Brown, Butler, Newton
TE - Daniels, Graham, unsigned
WR - Johnson, Walters, Jean, Posey, Martin, Dwight Jones
23

DE - Watts, Smith, Jamison, Crick
DT - Cody, Mitchell, Fangupo
OLB - Barwin, Reed, Mercilus, Braman, Nading
ILB - Cushing, Sharpton, James, Dobbins
CB - Joseph, Jackson, McCain, Harris, Carmichael, McManis
S - Manning, Quin, Nolan, Demps, Keo
27

P - Hartman
K- Bullock
LS-Weeks
3

Sitting right now, having not seen a few of these guys practice or play in games, this is my best guess. As Nconroe said, there will be some tough cuts on this roster. The guys in red are on the bubble. They need to step up.

Also we had better hope that AJ stays healthy the entire year, cause we only have unproven guys behind him at this time. Cutting Jacoby may come back to haunt them, but then again it was Jacoby, keeping him may have come back to haunt them.

And I know Ward is a FA, but he is looking for a better deal than we have offer him, vet minimum, I am guessing he will resign with us and be the #3

Not sure of the PS, but these are my best preseason guys to make the squad.
Practice Squad
WR Maehl
OT Mondek
QB Keenum
S Pleasant
FB Ford
RB Meggett

A couple of things re: the 53 man roster

1. Keenum makes the club because Kubes loves him.

2. Keshawn Martin picks up where Jacobe left off, without the knuckle head boners.

The 2012 Draft for the Texans, which at first blush didn't look all that sexy, But on reflection may turn out to have some very good "Diamonds in the dirt".

I am excited to hear about the new guys starting on Monday.

There are a handful of UDFA that have a legitimate shot at making and helping this team. Guys like QB Case Keenum, WR Dwight Jones, S Eddie Pleasant, NT Loni Fangupo, ILB Shawn Louiseau, RB Davin Meggett, and FB Jason Ford.

On a roster that already did not have many holes, the Texans have added some interesting guys that should push the vets and maybe make a name for themselves.

Add to that a handful of young guys that for various reason we have not seen much of. Guys like CBs Roc Carmichael, Brandon Harris, Sherrick McManis, G Shelley Smith, ILB Mister Alexander, S Shiloh Keo, T Derek Newton, TE Garrett Graham, WRs Juaquin Iglesias, Lestar Jean, and Jeff Maehl.

I cannot wait for the open practices to get a chance to see these guys live.

Time to revive this old thread. Names not on my previous roster in Red, Bubble Players in Blue


QB - Schaub, Yates (2)
RB - Foster, Tate, Forsett (3)
FB - Casey, Smith (2)
G/C - Meyers, Caldwell, Smith, Brooks, Ben Jones (5)
OT - Brown, Butler, Newton (3)
TE - Daniels, Graham (2)
WR - Johnson, Walters, Jean, Martin, Posey (5)

22

DE - Watts, Smith, Jamison, Crick (4)
DT - Cody, Mitchell, Fangupo (3)
OLB - Barwin, Reed, Mercilus, Braman, Nading (5)
ILB - Cushing, James, Dobbins, Alexander (4)
CB - Joseph, Jackson, McCain, Harris, Carmichael, McManis (6)
S - Manning, Quin, Nolan, Demps, Keo (5)

27

P - Donnie Jones
K- Bullock
LS-Weeks
KR/PR - Trindon Holliday
4

PUP - Sharpton

PS
TE Logan Brock
OT Mondek
QB Keenum
RB Jonathan Grimes
DE Keith Browner
ILB Shawn Loiseau
S Eddie Pleasant
RB Meggett

Fangupo is on the Bubble, he is helped due to the injuries to Cody and Sonny Harris. Crick is getting some reps at NT also, but he is battling his own injuries. We need some luck to stay healthy.

***Edit note, I forgot to take Hartman out of the punters slot. I think Jones is our guy.***

There might be a surprse move, but pretty much agree with your latest post.

I think you mean Holliday, not Holland at KR. I think he also becomes the emergency WR6 just as Casey is the emergency TE3 (and possibly QB3 in a dire emergency).

BTW, are your projecting for Ball to be cut from the DBs? I know he's had a tough camp but he's supposed to be the veteran.

Yes I meant Holliday, and yes I think Ball gets cut over the younger guys.

***I've correct the post to Holliday***Thanks Bob

That's gotta be pretty close.

Seems like there's always a surprise or two on the last cutdown day.... Whether it's letting a vet go or maybe keeping 3 QB's, something along those lines usually happens....

My first miss of the preseason. The Texans have put Bullock on the IR

So Graham is the kicker. Red Shirt season for Bullock. I'm OK with this move.

I am, too. The next kickoff of Bullock's that reaches the end zone will be his first.

Among Texans cuts: OT Nick Mondek, C Thomas Austin, LB Omar Gaither, P Brett Hartmann, WR Bryant Johnson, RB Davin Meggett, G Studdard. . -- John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL)

Other Texans cuts: WR Mario Lewis, DE Jimmy Saddler-McQueen, FB Derrell Smith, G Kasey Studdard, CB Torri Williams. K Randy Bullock IR. -- John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL)

NT Sunny Harris, LB Greg Williams waived/injured. LB Darryl Sharpton PUP. Rosters will be final 53 on Friday. -- John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL)

Shocked by the waiving of Sunny Harris, but this also means if he is healed up by December they can resign him, right?

Also I missed on Derrell Smith, I thought they might keep him. IMO a few of these guys, Smith, Mondek and possibly Meggett, will be on the practice squad.