Texans’ OTA objectives

Source: The Houston Chronicle by Dale Robertson

Greatest Undrafted Houston Texans in Franchise History

Source: Bleacher Report

The number of undrafted free agents that contribute to their team's success in the NFL are noticeably few. For the great franchises like the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, there may be a distinct, but certainly not large, list of undrafted free agents that will be remembered forever in the team's lore.

The Houston Texans, however, have only played a total of 10 seasons in the NFL, and the list of the franchise's greatest undrafted players is not one full of stars and Pro-Bowlers. Rather, the best undrafted players in Texans history are mainly athletes who made a small, yet meaningful impact for the franchise.

These players may have contributed to the Texans throughout the majority of their careers, or they may have just been important to the team for a single season.

In Texans' history, they have had two undrafted players that went on to become Pro-Bowlers and members of the First Team All-Pro, and they have had a total of 14 undrafted players who have started for them.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the undrafted players in Texans franchise history who have made the most major contributions to the team.

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OTAs will help Texans put an ETA on newcomers

Source: The Houston Chronicle by Dale Robertson

Without a single offseason organized team activity or minicamp and no communication whatsoever between players and coaches for more than five months because of the lockout, the Texans still went on to have their best season last fall.

NFP's Sunday Blitz: Kellen Moore, Russell Wilson fight to overcome size concerns (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Are Russell Wilson and Kellen Moore big enough? Plus, all the latest dope.

NFP Sunday Blitz (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Are Russell Wilson and Kellen Moore big enough? Plus, all the latest dope.

Saturday Night's Alright For Commenting: BRB Food Open Thread (05/19/12)

Source: Battle Red Blog by bigfatdrunk

A couple weeks ago, DreKeem was nice enough to grace us with his presence with a music open thread. I thought I'd do something a little different, as well, with tonight's open thread. Now, don't let me stop you from celebrating Chelsea's win today (EnglishTexan, that's for you, brother) or the merits of turtle stacking. Yes, this is fully an open thread. But I thought tonight would be fun to talk about food, as well. Before you stuff yourself to the point where movement is no longer an option, jump with me, won't you?

As we all know, last Sunday was Mother's Day. I spent the day grilling and smoking for the family.

DeVier Posey Talks With SB Nation At The NFL Rookie Premiere

Source: Battle Red Blog by Tim

A few days ago, we had a post discussing SB Nation's role in the NFL Rookie Premiere. That partnership is already bearing fruit for BRB, thanks to SB Nation's ability to sit down and chat with DeVier Posey. The full interview will be up on SB Nation's YouTube channel later, but some selected quotes await you after the jump to whet your appetite.

So sayeth DeVier...

On Houston: "Everyone tells me I'll love the city but it's hot. They had the hottest camp

AFC South links: MJD not helping himself

Source: AFC South Blog

Houston Texans Matt Schaub isn't in the elite Tom Brady-Peyton Manning class of NFL quarterbacks, but with the talent Houston has assembled around him on both sides of the ball, he's good enough to take the Texans to a Super Bowl. That, anyway, is the contention of SB Nation's Brian McDonald, taking issue with fans' grumbling about Schaub. Indianapolis Colts The NFL Network confirmed a Boston Globe report that former Colts tight end Dallas Clark worked out this week for the New England Patriots.

Houston Texans reportedly turn down 'Hard Knocks'

Source: NFL.com by NFL.com

So many teams have been linked to appear no HBO's series "Hard Knocks" but so far there haven't been any takers. The Houston Texans have become the latest team to decline the offer or publicly state their lack of interest.

Debate: Is Schaub's Foot Injury a Legitimate Concern for the Texans?

Source: Bleacher Report

Leave your response below! Agree with someone's comment? Vote for it to make the Debate Highlights section. Disagree with a comment? Reply and voice your opinion.

Read more Houston Texans news on BleacherReport.com

Is Matt Forte worth as much as LeSean McCoy? (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Chicago running back deserves a new contract, but should he be paid as much as the Philadelphia Pro Bowler?

NFL Notes: Drew Brees, Mychal Kendricks and McDonalds

Source: The Houston Chronicle by Lance Zierlein

NFL News and Notes If you are going to bet on somebody to have a big season, it probably shouldn’t be Jets RB Joe McKnight.  I’m all for players re-shaping their bodies in the offseason to get ready for rigors of an NFL season, but I’m not sure about how McKnight went about adding 16 [...]

Texans Say No To Being Featured On HBO's "Hard Knocks"

Source: Battle Red Blog by Tim

This is interesting, if only because I seem to recall Bob McNair and/or the organization pushing hard to be the featured team on "Hard Knocks" a couple of years ago. The Texans were passed over then, so it would seem they'd jump atthe opportunity to be featured now, especially after the success they had last season. What changed?

Could Wade Phillips, who has presided over the spectacle that is a team starring on "Hard Knocks" during his time as the head coach in Dallas, have talked Gary Kubiak and/or Bob McNair out of it? Is it simply a case of the Texans

AFC South links: No 'Knocks' for Texans

Source: AFC South Blog

Houston Texans The Texans became at least the fifth team to beg off of being the subject of HBO's "Hard Knocks" series, John McClain reported. The Texans join the Jets, Redskins, 49ers and Falcons as teams that have declined to be on the show. Indianapolis Colts The Colts signed Justin Anderson, the Georgia guard whom they selected in the draft's seventh round, and David Legree, an undrafted quarterback from Hampton University. Indianapolis also waived tight end Brody Eldridge.

Jaguars may get Hard Knocks by default (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Texans latest team to turn down HBO series.

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Source: Yahoo! Sports

Eagles RB McCoy gets new deal through 2017 (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) LeSean McCoy ran his way onto the short list of the best running backs in the NFL. He can now stamp his name among the highest paid.

No Sophomore Slump for Cam Newton or Andy Dalton - Because it Doesn't Exist! Fan's Analysis (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Fans of the Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals - you can stop panicking. Your stellar rookie quarterbacks Cam Newton and Andy Dalton will not suffer from the dreaded "Sophomore Slump" in 2012. How do I know this? Well, there is one simple reason:

Jonathan Vilma Sues Roger Goodell For Defamation

Source: Battle Red Blog by Tim

Jonathan Vilma Sues Roger Goodell For Defamation

"Mr. Vilma, the state bar forbids me from promising you a big cash settlement. But just between you and me, I promise you a big cash settlement."

Seriously though, I'll be shocked if Vilma is successful in what seems at first glance to be a very ill-advised crusade.

Replay Wednesday’s Texans/NFL chat with John McClain

Source: The Houston Chronicle by Luis Perez

Bring your football questions for John McClain at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Houston Texans players as The Avengers

Source: The Houston Chronicle by Stephanie Stradley

Saw The Avengers with the family the first night it came out. Loved it. With movies like that, I like to see them early in their run so that the ad previews don’t ruin everything. Because the human brain thinks odd thoughts, there’s been some discussion among fans that if you were casting The Avengers, [...]

11 value picks to remember for August (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

An early look at the market has these players undervalued entering the summer.

No ‘Hard Knocks’ life for Texans this summer

Source: The Houston Chronicle by John McClain

It’s the second time the Texans have declined an appearance on the HBO sports reality show.

Texans Say “No” to HBO for Chance to Be on “Hard Knocks”

Source: Texans Gab by Matt Loede

Pro Football Talk reports that the Texans are the latest team to say “no” to HBO for the chance to be the team to be on “Hard Knocks” this August.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans turned down an invitation to be on the show this year. As a team coming off their first playoff appearance in history and a playoff win over the Bengals with designs on more this season, it is easy to see why the Texans would be an appealing choice for the program.

No one from the Texans has commented on the report. On Twitter, McClain called Gary Kubiak “about as private a coach as you’ll find” by way of explaining why the Texans passed on the opportunity.

Schaub heavily restricted by Kubiak entering OTAs (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

HOUSTON -- The Texans begin their OTAs next week, and coach Gary Kubiak will have to keep a close eye on quarterback Matt Schaub to make sure he doesn't try to do too much.

Checking The Pulse: Post-Draft, How Do You Feel About The Texans' Offensive Line?

Source: Battle Red Blog by Tim

Yesterday, we talked running backs. Today, we talk offensive line.

Since the 2011 season ended, there was not a position group that suffered more potentially impactful turnover than the offensive line. First, Eric Winston was cut. Then, Mike Brisiel left, signing a monster contract with the Raiders. This meant that your

Tennessee Titans Aren’t Worried About Kenny Britt’s Latest Knee Surgery: Local Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt tore his ACL and MCL in his right knee during a regular-season game against the Denver Broncos on September 25, 2011. Britt has been making a rapid recovery as he was running in workouts at Baptist Sports Park fewer than eight months since his injury. ACL injuries normally take anywhere from 8-to-12 months to heal.

Pressure point: Titans

Source: AFC South Blog

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Titans and why. Running back Chris Johnson could get away with one off season. He was a tentative runner in 2011 no matter what he or the team says about it. He got sick of early contact. He gave up too often. He went down too easily. The Titans have made some changes that should help. Whether Eugene Amano remains at center or is replaced, the pivot man will be next to veteran guard Steve Hutchinson.

Pressure point: Jaguars

Source: AFC South Blog

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Jaguars and why. Blaine Gabbert can deliver some big-time passes. In a rookie season when he was on the field sooner than the Jaguars initially intended, the offensive framework a young quarterback needed was not in place. Injuries on the offensive line meant less-than-stellar pass protection. The receivers were a motley crew. Mike Thomas’ play dropped off after he got a new contract.

AFC South links: Colts pining for Luck

Source: AFC South Blog

Houston Texans Former Texans receiver Jacoby Jones welcomes his move to new surroundings in Baltimore. "Change is good in life," said Jones, whose muffed punt in last season's playoffs led to a Ravens touchdown in a game Baltimore won by seven. "It’s always good to have a breath of fresh air.” Indianapolis Colts The Colts appear to be feeling the absence of top draft pick Andrew Luck, who is missing this week's organized team activities and can't report to the team's facilities until after his final exams at Stanford.

Pressure point: Colts

Source: AFC South Blog

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Colts and why. The Colts are changing in a big way on defense -- they aim to be bigger, more physical and better against the run. Although they talk of being a hybrid, they want to be a base 3-4 front. To me, the pressure point will be split between two guys: Coach Chuck Pagano, the architect of the scheme, and the guy who will have to answer for its progress. His coordinator, Greg Manusky, will help spread the message, install the system and draw up game plans.

Pressure point: Texans

Source: AFC South Blog

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Texans and why. Matt Schaub's been Houston’s starting quarterback for five seasons, and he’s played all 16 games only twice. You can’t blame him for a bad luck injury like last year’s right foot Lisfranc issue that required serious surgery. Still, to be a big-time quarterback, you need to be on the field. Schaub has yet to play in a postseason game. Although the Texans weren’t able to hold everything together off their first playoff team, they still have a strong roster.

Separate Hearings In Bounty Case

Source: Scout.com

Hot News for Other Roger Goodell

Daniel Jeremiah: Top Ten Players Under 25

Source: Battle Red Blog by Tim

Daniel Jeremiah: Top Ten Players Under 25

How is J.J. Watt not at least mentioned in this article?

Alternate commentary: Dwight Jones is furious he is not No. 1 on this list.

Houston Texans: How James Casey's Utility Role Will Keep Them Moving Forward

Source: Bleacher Report

Houston Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak announced last week that James Casey will be playing multiple roles in the 2012 season, especially at tight end and fullback.

He’s going to play everywhere. He’s our starting fullback today; he’s our starting Tiger [second tight end] today if we go to two tights, so James is going to play all over the place. It’s still about versatility with James, so that really hasn't changed.

Casey is no stranger to this kind of versatility, either. He spent his time at Rice University on both sides of the ball and proved to be a tremendous runner with good hands. When he entered the draft in 2009 as a sophomore, Casey was lauded as an all-around athlete with a professional sports resume (he’d already been drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of high school). Furthermore, Casey also proved he could return punts and throw.

But that kind of collegiate utility was one of the greater concerns scouts had about Casey. His atypical football career kept many wondering if he’d actually find a position that would allow him to develop into a professional talent.

Since his joining the Texans in 2009 as a fifth-round draft pick, it seemed Casey was doomed to that prediction. He began learning both tight end and fullback while the team decided what to do with him. But the Texans had already invested in tight ends Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen and fullback Vonta Leach.

Now, Casey steps in as the starting fullback, replacing FB Lawrence Vickers whom the Texans released to free up cap space. As Kubiak explained, though, Casey’s listed position doesn’t fully describe his actual role on offense in the upcoming season.

The Texans also lost Dreessen to the Denver Broncos, and while Casey will compete with Garrett Graham for the No. 2 tight end spot behind Daniels, his utility role means the Texans can stay versatile as they realize the potential in their depth.

This solves another question mark the Texans face in 2012: moving linebacker Derrell Smith to fullback. The team will likely spend quality time developing Smith and UDFA Jason Ford at the fullback position, and Casey’s mobility will provide both time for these players to develop and, perhaps, opportunities to prove themselves on the field.

Despite using Casey’s utility role as an umbrella for developing depth, the Texans will likely find him a strong candidate on whom they can pivot their offense. Perhaps the scouts were right; it will be hard for Casey to land in a certain role. What the Texans seem to be figuring out, however, is that for Casey to shine, he doesn’t need to.

This is welcome news for a team that lost so much talent to their cap-space woes. They can allow Casey to be versatile while developing young talent and, in the meantime, save money to develop their offense further after watching their performance in 2012.

Given Casey’s performance history and its measure of his potential, my guess is that some of that money could go to re-signing Casey in 2013. Casey still has a lot to prove, but when he’s been given the opportunity in the past, he’s done just that.

Moreover, Casey’s presence on the field as fullback allows the Texans more opportunities in their play-calling. Casey can run and catch well, making him dangerous from the backfield. Even better, he has the size and the athleticism to be a lead blocker and likely has the instincts to pick up the blitz if he stays back.

It’s this kind of versatility—the kind that extends way beyond the ability to simply run and catch—that makes Casey a player to watch. He can strike a balance between playmaker and the player who allows plays to be made. The Texans desperately need this kind of capacity as they rebuild for a season in which there are huge expectations.

And as Casey enters his last year under contract, how this relationship develops may be the most important thing for the futures of both the player and the team.

Read more Houston Texans news on BleacherReport.com

Live: Join the Texans/NFL chat with John McClain

Source: The Houston Chronicle by Luis Perez

Bring your football questions for John McClain at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Top Position Battles to Watch in Houston Texans Training Camp

Source: Bleacher Report

The Houston Texans are an extremely talented team, and most of their positions are filled effectively by very skilled players.

The roster, however, is not perfect, and every position does not have a clear starter. There will be several important position battles occurring in the Texans' training camp, and players will have to prove they have what it takes to earn the job they believe they should have.

Here are the top position battles to watch for in the upcoming training camp, as well as in the preseason.

Begin Slideshow

Checking The Pulse: Post-Draft, How Do You Feel About Running Back?

Source: Battle Red Blog by Tim

When last we discussed our feelings, the topic of conversation was quarterback. We now turn our attention to running back.

As your Houston Texans have been fortunate to employ the best RB in the league for the last few years, they made the wise decision to ask Arian Foster to stick around. He said yes, and we

AFC South links: MJD wants extension

Source: AFC South Blog

Houston Texans The Texans don't plan to hand the starting kicker's spot to rookie Randy Bullock, drafted out of Texas A&M in the fifth round. Rather, special-teams coordinator Joe Marciano told SportsRadio 610, Bullock will have to beat out veteran Shayne Graham. "He has to compete to make the team first," Marciano said, per the team's official site. "If he can beat Shayne out, then I think he’s going to be very good for us." Defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo, a free-agent signee from BYU, hopes to impress coaches during upcoming rookie camps.

AFC South Advanced Stat of the Week: Houston Texans

Source: Bleacher Report

I love advanced football statistics.

Often fans and analysts use "the eye test" as a way of justifying their own unfounded biases. Stats don't replace a solid understanding of the game, but they tend to root out falsehoods.

This week's advanced stat is among the more controversial I'll cover. DVOA is the primary stat of the FootballOutsiders. It stands for Defense Adjusted Value Over Average. It creates a per-play percentage of how much better or worse a player or team is than average. The stat is expressed as a percentile with zero percent serving as a baseline: a player over zero on offense is more valuable than average; a player with a negative DVOA number is worse than average.

DVOA can apply to teams, units or players. It is an efficiency stat, not a volume stat. It indicates how well a team or player performed, rather than how much they performed. There are other numbers that better indicate volume.

There are objections to DVOA. It's complicated. It's a "black box" stat, which means that no one can calculate it thanks to the Outsiders' use of a proprietary formula. It also relies on game-charting data, which can be inconsistent.

The benefits, however, far outweigh the objections. What makes DVOA useful is the fact that it accounts for the strength of the opponent. In a short season, traditional statistics are often heavily influenced by the level of competition a team or player faces. DVOA attempts to account for that.

DVOA for units is also vastly superior to traditional NFL rankings based on yards. Yard-based rankings should never be used for serious analysis. They ignore context entirely. Teams that trail in games will typically post higher passing yard totals than teams that are winning. Good teams will face inflated pass totals and suppressed run totals. Yard-based rankings have no place or value in modern football.

DVOA is a great way to look at quarterback efficiency. It provides a nice balance to traditional passer rating. In this case, it can help us figure out where Matt Schaub ranks in the hierarchy of quarterbacks.

If we measure Schaub by yards per game, he was much less effective in 2011 than in previous years, when he was always in the top five in the league. Even the most casual Texans fan knows that wasn't the case, however.

As the Texans threw less, they improved as a team, and Schaub was well on his way to becoming a dominant quarterback. DVOA had him as the fifth-most efficient passer in 2011. In other words, Schaub was bordering on elite status before he got hurt.

The traditional passer rating usually puts Schaub in the six-to-nine range in terms of league rank. That's often where he falls when ranked in the league. He hasn't been in the Manning, Brady, Rodgers class, but fit nicely in that second tier of quarterbacks that included Phil Rivers, Eli Manning and Tony Romo.

That didn't quite go far enough, however. There has always been something frustrating about Schaub's game. Whether it was his injuries or the nebulous chargers that he was "clutch," there's been the sense that his gaudy numbers didn't quite reflect his real value. DVOA shows this as well.

Passer rating and yards put 2010 Schaub as a top-10 quarterback. DVOA moved him down to 13th. Anyone who watched the 2010 Texans knows that Schaub wasn't always as effective as he could be. It's those little inefficiencies that often get lost in a sea of yards that this metric can flesh out.

Schaub at his best is an elite quarterback, capable of winning the Super Bowl. At other times, he slides back toward the middle of the pack. No stat captures that better than DVOA.

If the Texans want to take the next jump to being an AFC power in the playoffs, they'll need Schaub to be healthy and sharp all season.

Read more Houston Texans news on BleacherReport.com

Join the Texans/NFL chat at 11:30 a.m.

Source: The Houston Chronicle by Luis Perez

Bring your football questions for John McClain at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Will James Casey Be A Texan In 2013?

Source: Battle Red Blog by Tim

Today's article on James Casey in the Chronicle got me thinking, especially as I was reminded that Thor is entering the last year of his rookie contract. Will your Houston Texans re-sign him, or is he bound for greener pastures after this season?

I don't think it's hyperbole to say that James Casey is the most versatile member of the Texans. He's a huge weapon in the passing game, and Kubes made it a priority to figure out a way to get him on the field last year (though it did appear to become

Ranking the AFC South defenses

Source: AFC South Blog

1. Houston Texans: Wade Phillips did some great things with this defense a year ago. But he’s not the only member of the Texans’ organization who deserves credit for an incredibly improved defense from 2010 to 2011. Houston’s front office was very aggressive in addressing the defensive side of the ball last offseason. Now, Houston has big-time players at each level of its 3-4 defense. For those who don’t yet know, J.J. Watt immediately established himself as one of the up-and-coming defensive players in this league.

Check Out Ball Park Great Moments in Guy Time

Source: Texans Gab by Matt Loede

Hey guys – won’t it be great to tell your lady that you could have a chance to win a year’s supply of groceries? Our friends at Ball Park are running a Facebook contest, asking fans to share a photo or video showcasing a funny/crazy example of “something only a guy would do” to win BIG.

To enter, follow this link: http://on.fb.me/GreatMomentsInGuyTime

So if you have a photo/video of a great tailgating moment, showing your team pride at the stadium, or just celebrating great times with your buddies, enter now for a chance to win a year’s supply of groceries. Nine others will win Ball Park grilling packages, complete with a grill and plenty of Ball Park products to keep your summer sizzling.

AFC South links: MJD may miss OTAs

Source: AFC South Blog

Houston Texans Houston has signed five members of its 2012 draft class: center Ben Jones, receiver Keshawn Martin, defensive end Jared Crick, kicker Randy Bullock and tackle Nick Mondek. Coach Gary Kubiak told James Casey that the team plans to use him as both a fullback and tight end this season, reports the Houston Chronicle's John McClain. "He’s going to play everywhere,” Kubiak said. “He’s our starting fullback. He’s a starting [tight end] if we go to two tights.

Casey to Get a Shot at Both Fullback and Tight End in 2012

Source: Texans Gab by Matt Loede

James Casey wasn’t as involved as many thought he would last season, but head coach Gary Kubiak said in the Chronicle that the team will use him in both the fullback and TE roles in 2012.

“He’s going to play everywhere,” Kubiak said. “He’s our starting fullback. He’s a starting (tight end) if we go to two tights. It’s still about versatility with James.”

In 45 games, including 11 starts, over the last three seasons, Casey has 32 receptions for 422 yards and one touchdown with one rushing attempt for 11 yards. Most of that production came last year when Casey’s playing time increased from 15 percent in 2009 and 2010 to over 30 percent in 2011.

The Texans lost Lawrence Vickers and Joel Dressens this offseason, another reason why the team will turn to Casey to see what he can do in the duel role of FB and TE.

“It was sad to see those guys leave,” said Casey. “I was really close to Joel. He taught me a lot when I came into the league, and I really looked up to him.

“You have to understand that it’s part of the business. I look at it as an opportunity because there are spots available at tight end and fullback. I don’t really know what my role will be right now, but I’m hoping to take another step forward and be a major contributor to this offense, whatever position it is.”

James Casey to pull double duty for Houston Texans

Source: NFL.com by NFL.com

Lawrence Vickers and Joel Dreessen are out in Houston, but the Texans' might have found their replacement for both in the versatile James Casey.