Our boy Stevie Slaton deserves this.....
VOTE HERE!!!!!!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
It's never to early to start thinking......
The 08 season is in the past and with a promising 8 - 4 record down the stretch to finish out the season Texan's fans have a lot to be excited about. With the 2009 NFL draft only 109 days, 22 hours, 55 mins, and 44...43...42 sec away ether's no better way to get the off season juices flowing than with some player previews.
The Texans have been around for seven years but, with all due respect to the C.C. Brown's and Will Demps' of the world, they have never had a great safety. That would change with this pick. Just a junior, Taylor Mays is already somewhat of a legend in draftnik circles and if his workout numbers are anything close to what has been rumored he could be long gone by this point on Draft Day. The phrase "Hits Like a Linebacker, Runs Like a Cornerback" was made to describe guys like Mays, who checks in at 6-3 and 230 pounds and has reportedly run a 4.3 forty. Granted USC has a fast track and is known for inflating their players times but even if Mays runs a 4.45 it will still be very impressive at that size. 
If Mays is gone or if they want to go in another direction defensive end will also be a strong possibility. Mario Williams is one of the leagues elite pass rushers but Houston is not happy with Anthony Weaver on the other side and there should be a lot of good defensive ends still on the board here. Don't rule out a linebacker either. However, guys like Mays just don't come around very often and Houston may have a hard time passing up the chance to add such a freakish athlete and potential impact player to their secondary.
Steve Slaton has been a great surprise for the Texans and thus they can bypass the RB. 
This pick comes down to upgrading the safety position or giving a complement pass rusher to Mario Williams. With only 2 star power safeties in this draft, I believe the Texans take William Moore. Moore would be an instant starter and immediate help to a team who showed major improvement at the end of the season. After Moore, there is a major drop in safety talent, unless Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle does forfeit his scholarship for the NFL.
Texans CB Dunta Robinson is a pending unrestricted free agent. 
If the Texans don't use the franchise tag on him, he could easily be snatched up by another team in early March. Vontae Davis is young and still somewhat raw, but he has incredible athleticism and, in the right learning environment, could mature into being an elite NFL talent. And as long as the Texans have to face Peyton Manning twice a year, being strong at corner will be a major need for the team.
The Texans have been around for seven years but, with all due respect to the C.C. Brown's and Will Demps' of the world, they have never had a great safety. That would change with this pick. Just a junior, Taylor Mays is already somewhat of a legend in draftnik circles and if his workout numbers are anything close to what has been rumored he could be long gone by this point on Draft Day. The phrase "Hits Like a Linebacker, Runs Like a Cornerback" was made to describe guys like Mays, who checks in at 6-3 and 230 pounds and has reportedly run a 4.3 forty. Granted USC has a fast track and is known for inflating their players times but even if Mays runs a 4.45 it will still be very impressive at that size. 
If Mays is gone or if they want to go in another direction defensive end will also be a strong possibility. Mario Williams is one of the leagues elite pass rushers but Houston is not happy with Anthony Weaver on the other side and there should be a lot of good defensive ends still on the board here. Don't rule out a linebacker either. However, guys like Mays just don't come around very often and Houston may have a hard time passing up the chance to add such a freakish athlete and potential impact player to their secondary.
Steve Slaton has been a great surprise for the Texans and thus they can bypass the RB. 
This pick comes down to upgrading the safety position or giving a complement pass rusher to Mario Williams. With only 2 star power safeties in this draft, I believe the Texans take William Moore. Moore would be an instant starter and immediate help to a team who showed major improvement at the end of the season. After Moore, there is a major drop in safety talent, unless Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle does forfeit his scholarship for the NFL. 
Texans CB Dunta Robinson is a pending unrestricted free agent. 
If the Texans don't use the franchise tag on him, he could easily be snatched up by another team in early March. Vontae Davis is young and still somewhat raw, but he has incredible athleticism and, in the right learning environment, could mature into being an elite NFL talent. And as long as the Texans have to face Peyton Manning twice a year, being strong at corner will be a major need for the team.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Mob Has Spoken!
After many weeks of countless bickering from both fans and the media, the Texans have decided to fire defensive coordinator Richard Smith, defensive backs coach Jon Hoke and defensive line coach Jethro Franklin.
What does this tell me? It tells me that the expectations around this team are high and that mediocrity will NOT be tolerated. I'm anxious to see who we can lure in! Given the talent on our defense at key positions, I don't know who WOULDN'T want to jump at the chance to coach this defense. Stay tuned...
Monday, December 29, 2008
All things considered, a perfect ending to a wild season
I can't express the joy I felt watching this team defeat the Bears on Sunday. As a good friend of mine put it:
"We are no longer a team who strives for 8-8, but one who underachieves at 8-8"
I like that. Think about it for a second. We finished with only our second non-losing season ever, and the first thing that comes to our minds is a whole lot of "what ifs" and "almosts." As this season showed it is going to take a good number of wins to get into the playoffs in the AFC. At a first glance of the opponents we will have to face in 2009, I can honestly say that I see 10, possibly 11 wins on that schedule. And for some reason, this time, it doesn't feel like blind optimism. That is the feeling this team gives me. The feeling that when we play our best football no one in this league can stop us. As long as we don't stop ourselves, we can win our fair share of games. Just ask the Titans. Ask the Dolphins. Ask the Bears. You know what, ask the Colts if they still look forward to playing us.
Everybody may not agree with me. The thing that we can all agree on is the fact that we are certainly heading in the right direction. We have always had the heart. What we have now is what we have always lacked: serious talent. Talent at serious positions. We have the type of players that you can pencil in for upper echelon production for the duration of their tenures with the team. Mario Williams is and will be the cornerstone of our defense for many years to come. Demeco Ryans is the incumbent-in-waiting for the AFC Pro Bowl roster as soon as Ray Lewis hangs it up. Dunta Robinson is a luxury to have in the secondary, both in pass defense and in run support. Steve Slaton has single handedly filled our perennial running back void. Matt Schaub is our quarterback. Period. And Andre Johnson, what can you say about Andre Johnson? He is the best wide receiver in the NFL, pure and simple. These guys are some of the best players in the NFL, and they are ALL under the age of 27!
The Texans are rising as fast as the Cowboys are falling, and there is a reason for it. We play as a team and we play for eachother. This team has been ridiculed since its inception. It has been been under constant scrutiny, a lot of the time by its own fan base. Mario has become a monster because he doesn't let the drama of the outside world affect his effort and performance. If you met Demeco Ryans on the street, you would never guess that he was a complete beasticon on the football field. Not only is Andre Johnson the prototypical wide receiver, he is the prototypical professional. He is soft spoken, outworks everybody and gives his best effort at all times while continuing to be the definition of role model off the field. It is nice to see a professional athlete that understands what a blessing and privilege it is to be in such a fortunate position. He reminds us every day with his work ethic on the field and his charitable contributions off of it. The only time you will read about his in the newspaper is because of a humongous football performance or a saintly act of charity and kindness off of it. There is no ego in this wideout. Can't say the same for the "other" Texas team.
The future is bright for the Houston Texans. I've said it before, but I can't wait for next season. For some reason it has a greater ring to it this time around...
Texans 2009 Opponents
It's not to early to start thinking about next season. Here are the teams we will face next season:
Home:
San Fran
Seattle
NY Jets
New England
Oakland
Indy
Jacksonville
Tennesee
Away:
Cincinnati
Buffalo
St. Louis
Arizona
Miami
Indy
Jacksonville
Tennesee
Looks like a perfect season to me...
Home:
San Fran
Seattle
NY Jets
New England
Oakland
Indy
Jacksonville
Tennesee
Away:
Cincinnati
Buffalo
St. Louis
Arizona
Miami
Indy
Jacksonville
Tennesee
Looks like a perfect season to me...
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