Texans FA Tracker

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by bikerack

John Simon to Indy

I saw 17M with 5.5M guaranteed. Those numbers seem reasonable for Simon but guess Rac & Vrabel didn't think he was worth it.
I would have restructured or cut Cushing to retain Simon but maybe they don't want to keep either of them.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I saw 17M with 5.5M guaranteed. Those numbers seem reasonable for Simon but guess Rac & Vrabel didn't think he was worth it.
I would have restructured or cut Cushing to retain Simon but maybe they don't want to keep either of them.

I love Simon, but you can't pay him that money to be your 4th edge rusher, and I don't think you can pay him that money with the plan that JJ/Mercilous/Clowney are getting hurt again.

Stinks that he went to Indy though.

[HPF Bob]

It's good, really. Now we can exploit Simon's inability to cover backs out of the backfield just like Indy would do to us.

[chuck]

I never really thought Simon was anything more than just a guy.

Bouye we'll miss; Simon, I doubt it.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

It's good, really. Now we can exploit Simon's inability to cover backs out of the backfield just like Indy would do to us.

34 OLBs cannot cover backs out of the backfield. Nor should they be asked to for longer than 1-2 seconds. That has nothing to with Simon.

Also, the Colts did little in the passing game against us in general last year, and even less with their RBs. What little they did get to their RBs had nothing to do with Simon. So I have no idea where this comment comes from.

[Nconroe]

I think we will miss all three guys lost from Defense so far, all three had positive contributions.

Wonder when we will start spending our 30 mil free cap space?

And, I am not one hoping for Romo. Though QB for sure our biggest need.

Further, pretty surprized they had a reasonable end to Osweiler story. Seemed like a nice guy so wish him well.

[barrett]

I hope for Romo even expecting him to play less than 6 games next year. I think this defense is so good that if we get above average playoff QB play, we could win a super bowl. You have to take a shot at the only way you get that QB play.

But don't let Romo stop you from drafting a QB on the first 2 days.

[Keith]

I will miss Bouye, Simon, and Demps, but this was the #1 defense because of several other guys. Those guys leaving opens a door for players like Robert Nelson, Brennan Scarlett, and Eddie Pleasant. Not impressed? How impressed were you when the Texans first added Bouye, Simon, and Pleasant to the roster? I'll wait as you scroll back your memory banks to when they were signed.

And, oh yeah, they're going to get to add J.J. Watt back to a front-7 that features J.D. Clowney just now hitting his peak. Shed no tears for the Texans defense. They're fine.

If you want to wring your hands over something (besides QB, duh), then think about what's happening (or not happening) at right tackle. And TE, too. For the second straight year the team has not signed Martellus Bennett in FA, instead losing him to the Patriots and Packers, a couple teams that know a thing or two about offense.

As for TE, it has been a huge need ever since Owen Daniels left. I am optimistic about Stephen Alexander's development in the passing game, but the Texans have used him so little they seem less than enthused.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

I hope for Romo even expecting him to play less than 6 games next year. I think this defense is so good that if we get above average playoff QB play, we could win a super bowl. You have to take a shot at the only way you get that QB play.

But don't let Romo stop you from drafting a QB on the first 2 days.

Assuming he's willing to come to Houston and play ball what's the price tag on Romo gonna be ? 2-year deal at 15M a year front-end loaded where all of the guaranteed money hits the cap in 2017 ? That may all be moot as Romo might just up and retire now.
Even if we sign him I expect them to draft a QB this year and in the first round it they like their Board. In other words no more procrastination on drafting a young QB.
I'm starting to really like this MaHomes kid out of Texas Tech but he may be too wild and wooly for O'Brien but he's got a tremendous arm.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by barrett

Also, the Colts did little in the passing game against us in general last year, and even less with their RBs. What little they did get to their RBs had nothing to do with Simon. So I have no idea where this comment comes from.

Just a quick scan of the play-by-play log for the first game against the Colts last year include these entries.

1 10 HTX 26 Andrew Luck pass complete short right to Robert Turbin for 9 yards (tackle by Benardrick McKinney)

2 7 CLT 43 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Frank Gore for 13 yards (tackle by Kevin Johnson).

2 10 HTX 34 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Robert Turbin for -1 yards (tackle by Kevin Johnson)

2 14 CLT 17 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Frank Gore for 2 yards (tackle by Kevin Johnson)

3 12 CLT 19 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Robert Turbin for 2 yards (tackle by A.J. Bouye)

3 4 CLT 30 Andrew Luck pass complete short right to Robert Turbin for 12 yards (tackle by John Simon)

This on a night when Gore rushed 22 times for 106 yards.

My point being that the Colts do throw to their backs on a regular basis as part of their game plan. Neither Simon nor McKinney were all that effective in pass coverage.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Just a quick scan of the play-by-play log for the first game against the Colts last year include these entries.

1 10 HTX 26 Andrew Luck pass complete short right to Robert Turbin for 9 yards (tackle by Benardrick McKinney)

2 7 CLT 43 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Frank Gore for 13 yards (tackle by Kevin Johnson).

2 10 HTX 34 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Robert Turbin for -1 yards (tackle by Kevin Johnson)

2 14 CLT 17 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Frank Gore for 2 yards (tackle by Kevin Johnson)

3 12 CLT 19 Andrew Luck pass complete short left to Robert Turbin for 2 yards (tackle by A.J. Bouye)

3 4 CLT 30 Andrew Luck pass complete short right to Robert Turbin for 12 yards (tackle by John Simon)

This on a night when Gore rushed 22 times for 106 yards.

My point being that the Colts do throw to their backs on a regular basis as part of their game plan. Neither Simon nor McKinney were all that effective in pass coverage.

I'm not sure what play by play you perused. The night where Gore ran for 106 he had 1 catch for 2 yards.

For the season Gore had 277 yards receiving and Turbin had 179. This makes them 23 and 42 in the NFL among RBs. And that on a team with the 5th most passing yards. They have 3 WRs and 3 TEs who had more receiving yards. The RBs are not a big part of the gameplan for the Colts.

And like I said, Simon is a 34 OLB and is not expected to cover much. McKinney is a MLB who was on the field a lot on 3rd down. It was expected to be part of his game. McKinney and Cushing are guys who need to cover RBs or they have limited value. Simon and Clowney/Mercilous are not.

[HPF Bob]

After I posted, I looked up the second Colts game and RBs Gore and Turpin were targeted on 9 pass attempts of which Indy completed 6 for 66 yards and a touchdown.

You're welcome to pretend this is insignificant but, for years, the Texans do not defend well against screens and flat passes to the backs. Indy, in particular, knows this and makes it a regular part of their gameplan. Sure, they'd rather pass it to Hilton instead and last year they rediscovered their tight ends as receivers (Allen and Doyle) but dinks and dunks to the backs is also a significant part of their plan.

As for the OLB responsibilities, we have pressure guys (Mercilus, Clowney) and we have cover guys who fill the zone (Cushing, McKinney, Simon). Cushing used to be fantastic before his knees blew out. McKinney is slow but he's learning angles and is improving. Simon was "just a guy" out there for the most part. I certainly wouldn't have paid what the Colts paid for him.