Texans FA's

[Nconroe]

I might be the only one, but I'd be ok with Jacoby staying as 3,4,5 WR and punt returns, as long as they can teach him when to leave a punt alone during preseason. And, maybe if he reworks his contract like Walters did.

stats for Kevin Walters receiving past 5 years is much better than many no. 2 receivers
YR Team GP REC Yds
2007-08 Houston 16 65 800
2008-09 Houston 16 60 899
2009-10 Houston 14 53 611
2010-11 Houston 16 51 621
2011-12 Houston 15 39 474

stats for Jacoby not bad for third, four WR, not that many plays available for all, he really hasn't fumbled that much, we just remember when
2007-08 Houston 14 15 149
2008-09 Houston 16 3 81
2009-10 Houston 14 27 437
2010-11 Houston 15 51 562
2011-12 Houston 16 31 512

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I might be the only one, but I'd be ok with Jacoby staying as 3,4,5 WR and punt returns, as long as they can teach him when to leave a punt alone during preseason. And, maybe if he reworks his contract like Walters did.

stats for Kevin Walters receiving past 5 years is much better than many no. 2 receivers
YR Team GP REC Yds
2007-08 Houston 16 65 800
2008-09 Houston 16 60 899
2009-10 Houston 14 53 611
2010-11 Houston 16 51 621
2011-12 Houston 15 39 474

stats for Jacoby not bad for third, four WR, not that many plays available for all, he really hasn't fumbled that much, we just remember when
2007-08 Houston 14 15 149
2008-09 Houston 16 3 81
2009-10 Houston 14 27 437
2010-11 Houston 15 51 562
2011-12 Houston 16 31 512

I think he's a bad punt returner. And it's not about the one poorly timed muff. He shuffle steps every punt like he is devin Hester. Only he is not quick. He is big and fast for a PR, but not quick. He needs to catch it and go instead of giving away 10 yards every time in the hope he might make 11 guys miss by standing in place.

And as a wr he is an average deep threat (without ball skills), who can't run a route.

[HPF Bob]

Up until his gaffe against the Ravens, I thought Jones stepped up rather well in Andre Johnson's absence until Schaub got hurt, then the deep ball was taken out of our game plan and that is Jones' chief weapon as a receiver.

He's a good return man when he doesn't dance or run backwards, and he occasionally cracks the long one so I'm fine with him back there as long as he learns from his mistakes - and that's the real question. I felt he had made good progress last year until Schaub went down and then he had the gaffe in the Ravens game.

It should be noted Jones made some big plays last year and would have set us in Ravens territory with one punt return that got called back for a block in the back. He's not as bad as some folks around here make him out to be but he is starting to exceed his value salary-wise and just doesn't play smart at times.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

stats for Kevin Walters receiving past 5 years is much better than many no. 2 receivers

YR Team GP REC Yds
2007-08 Houston 16 65 800
2008-09 Houston 16 60 899
2009-10 Houston 14 53 611
2010-11 Houston 16 51 621
2011-12 Houston 15 39 474

I don't like the trend I see here. KW hasn't been a productive #2 since '09. KW was smart to take a pay cut because he was probably at risk of working as store manager at his local Krogers. Factor in those recent numbers, JJ's inconsistency and AJ's increasing injury status, and you have a pretty huge area of need. I see the Texans spending at least 2 picks at WR, signing a scrap-heap veteran (hello Braylon or Ocho) and hoping like hell Lestar Jean can become something.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by popanot

I don't like the trend I see here. KW hasn't been a productive #2 since '09. KW was smart to take a pay cut because he was probably at risk of working as store manager at his local Krogers. Factor in those recent numbers, JJ's inconsistency and AJ's increasing injury status, and you have a pretty huge area of need. I see the Texans spending at least 2 picks at WR, signing a scrap-heap veteran (hello Braylon or Ocho) and hoping like hell Lestar Jean can become something.

And here is where looking at stats can get you in trouble. Our receivers have fewer catches in the past few seasons because a) we are running the ball more effectively and b) we are playing from behind less. That means fewer balls in the air which means smaller stats for our receivers. When Foster can chew up big chunks on the ground, why throw as much as we did when the ground game sucked?

I do think a legit #2 receiver is a definite need (in part because Walter has never been Ed McCaffrey) but I'm not sure we need to draft two and sign another one. The WR corps isn't a huge need, just one of a few. I could go for several other positions at #26 besides WR.

BTW, on Keith's chart regarding cap space, remember we still have to sign our draft choices so there is less cap space than you might believe. We might even have a June 1st cut just to open up more space after the draft (so those hoping for Jacoby to get cut, watch to see whether we draft a WR at #26 and then cut Jones on June 1st to free up cap space).