Season's Over - Time To Talk Roster Upgrades
 

Well, the Texans are history for this season. :(

Let's talk about three things: Holes and anticipated holes (players we may cut to get below the cap)

Possible free agents we may want to target (unlikely they go after any big-money players so give us some sleepers)

And, of course, draft prospects. Who has impressed you that could really help the Texans? Don't mention any names that won't be around by the bottom of the first round short of a police incident or a failed drug test.

Myself, I'm not afraid to let Barwin walk, particularly if it allows us to keep Quin. If the loss of Mario meant anything, it's that the 3-4 OLBs in Wade's system may be the stars but they are replaceable.

What we need most is interior defensive help and depth. I'd like us to solidify the right side of the OL but experience may accomplish this. I'd also continue to look for upgrades in the receiving corps and the return game.

Who have you got in mind that could help us to the next level? Would you go FA to upgrade at ILB or would you look to the draft? How about safety? Happy with who is back there? Okay with Martin and Posey or would you look to upgrade? Ready to move Ben Tate or stick with him?

No idea is bad on paper. Tell us what you'd do if you were Rick Smith.

IMO the middle of the defense will need to be upgraded, and added to. The loss of Cushing really stood out the last month and a half. Also Cody and his iffy back are in need of an upgrade.

I am with you on the OL, I think most of the guys are in place, the right side will need to mature together. Now as for what the offense needs, more weapons. Having only 3 options is not working well enough. Where we are picking WR or TE would be an easy pick. With Posey hurting his Achilles, adding more talent is paramount.

Lastly, and this is the one thing I least expect to happen. Gary needs to learn to put his foot on the gas and not take it off like the Pats do. It forces the other team to play mistake free football. Stop being predictable on 1st and goal from the 4. You can read the Texans like a book in the red zone.

Guys to watch in the draft for our 1st round pick. Not in any order.
DB Kenny Vaccaro 6-1 218 Texas
DL Ezekiel Ansah 6-5 270 BYU
LB Chase Thomas 6-4 248 Stanford
WR Terrance Williams 6-2 205 Baylor
WR Cobi Hamilton 6-2 209 Arkansas
TE Tyler Eifert Notre Dame 6-5 252
OLB Alex Okafor Texas 6-5 265
ILB Kevin Minter LSU 6-1 245
OT D.J. Fluker Alabama 6-6 335
NT John Jenkins Georgia 6-3 358
WR Robert Woods Southern California 6-1 190
TE Zach Ertz Stanford 6-6 252
OT/OG/OC Barrett Jones Alabama 6-4 305

ILB, DT, WR, in that order. Even with a healthy Cushing (if that ever comes to pass) the team needs help at ILB. It's obvious that Sharpton is never going to stay on the field and the rest of the gang is roster fodder at best.

Getting stronger at DT is hugely important also.

If we had a head coach with a measurable IQ and a quarterback with an ounce of testosterone I would say we need a WR. But since a second WR is hardly ever used effectively in this offense much less a third I say go for defensive secondary help next. In fact, if they drafted a corner who could start right away I would be happy. They won't, of course, because they love Kareem.

Since I'm Rick Smith, and I don't care about being popular.......

Goodbye to:
Barwin, Casey, Walter ($3.5MM), Cody, and A. Smith ($6MM).

Re-sign Quin as a priority.
I'd like to see McCain and Forsett back as well.

In FA, I target Mike Wallace or Greg Jennings at the top with Smith's and Walter's $, and bring in some depth at DT/NT.

In the draft, I'm looking at another DT, OLB, and ILB in the top 3 spots. Not sure what order yet, but BPA at our spot in the round from those three spots is what I would look at.

At least, that's where I'd start......

Speaking of just the first round, ILB, DT, OLB and WR are worthy positions. And I doubt anyone feels comfortable enough with the depth on the OL. But I see plenty more positions where the team could fill needs.

Safety - Saw way too much Shiloh Keo. If you think Keo improves, then maybe this is less of a need. I would not bank on it. This need becomes glaring if Quin is not re-signed, or worse, gets injured mid-season.

Tight End - I am done making fun of the Texans for getting that mid-round TE. This offense needs 3 TEs every gameday. If Casey is gone, a free agent at FB can replace him (if Clutts isn't the answer, never saw him play on offense this year), but having just Daniels and Graham isn't enough. Nobody talks about how the team missed Dreesen this season.

Running Back - It's not that I don't like Tate and Forsett, but apparently the Texans don't. Remember all those snaps these two had against the Pats? Me neither. Bound to be a late round pick at this position.

Cornerback - Is Brandon Harris really getting better? Can he make a Kareem-like jump in 2013? Brice McCain should be back, but unless you're a believer in Harris, I don't want to pin any hopes on the likes of Alan Ball filling the need. I subscribe to the theory that drafting a mid-round cornerback every year is a good idea.

Just to play Devil's Advocate, the Texans played from behind most of the game and Foster gives them the best chance to sell the play action so I think you saw a lot of Foster and none of Tate and Forsett because those two would probably tip off the Patriots that it was a pass and we needed them to respect the play action.

Besides, we kept Foster rested during the end of the season specifically so we could ride him in the playoffs.

I thought we might see Tate in that goal line situation.

That was a much bigger loss than it appeared at the time, especially when coupled with Brisiel and Winston moving on. They need another TE who can block like Dreessen. The good news is that it won’t necessarily take a high draft pick or big free agent contract –- Dreessen was a former sixth rounder who the Texans picked up off the street.

There was talk during the season that the NFL may make all cut blocks illegal. Cut blocks (often confused with chop blocks, which are already illegal) are a big part of zone blocking. If that happens, are the Texans going to need to revamp their scheme, and possibly their OL personnel?

Even if the team still has total confidence in Schaub, they still should recognize that he’ll be 32 when next season starts and it’s time to at least be thinking about the future. Unless Yates or Keenum has been secretly tearing it up in practice, they need to take a developmental QB in the middle or late rounds.

After showing some flashes Posey tore his Achilles tendon, which could mean he won’t be ready for the start of the season. The rest of the WR youth movement, Martin and Jean, had a combined 16 catches during the regular season, so that position is far from solid.

ILB has been a big need on defense even before Cushing got hurt. I think 3-4 teams should be looking to draft an OLB at some point in every draft, but especially if Barwin isn’t back. Mercilus had twice as many sacks as Barwin and should be able to step in as a starter. It’ll be interesting to see if Braman is ready to make the jump, but even if all that works out there’s not much depth.