2012 Draft Needs?

[HPF Bob]

Thinking outside the box, what if a stud TE is available late in the first? More teams, particularly the Patriots, are using tight ends in various ways and formations to create mismatches. Perhaps instead of a #2 wide receiver, we might look for another Aaron Hernandez and run more 2 TE sets with Daniels.

[Nconroe]

My thought is you are in a bad spot if your QB throws into triple coverage repeatadly and it won't helpbwho your second WR or TE's are if that is where you are.

Don't we already have 4 good TE if we want to run those sets?

Ok. Plenty time to discuss draft alternatives.

Could be just BPA when we draft.

[NBT]

So what's the big deal with a NT? In Wade's system we don't need one. And what was so wrong with the job that Cody did? We were #4 against the rush with him.

[Nconroe]

You may be right. We have apparently got 54 players under contract including Cody.

I guess that includes RFA Adrian Foster and Quentin Demps.

Texans seem to have 15 FA , several on Oline, so keeping that consistency may be high priority.

Unrestricted Free Agents )

QB Jake Delhomme
QB Jeff Garcia
RB Derrick Ward
WR Bryant Johnson
TE Joel Dreessen
OG Mike Brisiel
OC Chris Myers
OG Kasey Studdard
DT Tim Bulman
LB Tim Dobbins
LB Mario Williams
CB Jason Allen
S Dominique Barber
K Neil Rackers
P Matt Turk

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

You may be right. We have apparently got 54 players under contract including Cody.

I guess that includes RFA Adrian Foster and Quentin Demps.

Texans seem to have 15 FA , several on Oline, so keeping that consistency may be high priority.

Unrestricted Free Agents )

QB Jake Delhomme
QB Jeff Garcia
RB Derrick Ward
WR Bryant Johnson
TE Joel Dreessen
OG Mike Brisiel
OC Chris Myers
OG Kasey Studdard
DT Tim Bulman
LB Tim Dobbins
LB Mario Williams
CB Jason Allen
S Dominique Barber
K Neil Rackers
P Matt Turk

Delhomme just retired. Garcia, Johnson and Turk can be scratched off the list. Ward, Dreesen, Studdard, Bulman, Dobbins, Allen and Barber are back-ups and thus non-essential. I'm ambivalent about Rackers, So that really leaves Brisiel, Myers and Mario as the key players. I want Mario re-signed but mostly as a trade chip we can hopefully barter for draft choices or upgrades but if he stays with the Texans, I'm good with that too.

Deep down, I still think Mario is a 4-3 DE and has major trade value as such.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Deep down, I still think Mario is a 4-3 DE and has major trade value as such.

Deep down I think Mario had five sacks in five games playing a brand new position in a defense he didn't understand very well. A rotation of Mario, Connor and Brooks would be outrageous. Tom Brady can't throw a first down pass to Wes Welker if he's on his ass.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by chuck

A rotation of Mario, Connor and Brooks would be outrageous.

But you can only play two of them at a time. I understand, this adds depth and perhaps you can move Mario down to DE in obvious pass situations.

To me, this is like the Cardinals and Albert Pujols. No question Pujols is a great player and his absence leaves a hole in the Cardinals lineup but the cost to keep Pujols would keep them from upgrading other positions for a decade. They were smart to lose him, just as the Rangers were smart to get rid of A-Rod.

Likewise, the Texans will miss Mario's abilities if he goes elsewhere but his absence - if done right - allows us the freedom to upgrade elsewhere and, as we could see from Mario's injury the second half of this season, the Texans can still play very well without him.

Dealing Mario is not like dealing Hunter Pence where it is done just to dump salary. Dealing Mario is to upgrade the entire roster because of the talent we can get back and the cap flexibility it gives us.

[NBT]

Correct me if I am wrong, but since Arian was an undrafted FA back when, and he has played out his 3 year initial contract, by the CBA, isn't he an URFA?

[WMH]

Originally Posted by NBT

Correct me if I am wrong, but since Arian was an undrafted FA back when, and he has played out his 3 year initial contract, by the CBA, isn't he an URFA?

Nope, he is a RFA.