We Are Texans: A Houston Texans Franchise (Madden 25)

[Jumpman14]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gronk4M13

Following for sure.

Thanks Gronk

[Jumpman14]

Breaking down 3 Texans position battles
By Tim @battleredblog

1. Third-string running back

Last season the Texans had a real luxury with Justin Forsett on the roster. Forsett was a veteran with some NFL experience under his belt. He ended up with 63 rushing attempts (374 yards) last season, just two fewer than backup running back Ben Tate.

Tate had a great 2011 season, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards. But in 2012, a hamstring injury kept him off the field. He also missed his entire rookie season due to injury.

That's why the third-string running back job is so important for the Texans. They have a running back in Arian Foster, who ran the ball 351 times last year, and a backup who has trouble staying healthy.

In 2013, the Texans will have a few options for that third running back spot. It seems like the best candidates for the spot are Deji Karim, and undrafted rookies Dennis Johnson and Cierre Wood. They also have undrafted rookie Ray Graham.

Karim is the only one with NFL experience. He's been in the league since 2010 and the Texans know him well; he played for division rival Jacksonville.

But Karim isn’t the frontrunner. In the end, the job might come down to Wood and Johnson. Wood, from Notre Dame, seems like the better pure runner. He's the type of guy who might be able to fill in for Tate, who will be a free agent after this season.

Johnson is smaller, 5-7, 193, but is built well and does everything. He can block, catch out of the backfield and return.

Ultimately, this job might come down to this: Do the Texans need Johnson to return? If not, Wood might make more sense.

2. Right tackle

The right tackle position continues to be the biggest question mark surrounding the 2013 Texans and it could end up being a big problem.

There are really four possible starters at that right tackle spot: Derek Newton, Brennan Williams, Ryan Harris and David Quessenberry.

Newton and Williams were supposed to be the two battling for the job but both missed just about the entire spring with knee injuries. They are both expected to be back for training camp but will have to work to get back into shape. Newton was last year’s starter but is coming off a knee surgery. And Williams is talented but the rookie lost valuable OTA and minicamp time.

Harris re-signed with the Texans on a one-year deal but he’s not supposed to be a starter. The team likes him as a backup. He did work with the first team during the spring out of necessity and could be an option if Newton and Williams aren’t ready.

Then, there’s Quessenberry, a sixth-round pick from San Jose State. He looked good this spring but it’s probably a stretch to expect him to be a starter. Heck, he might have trouble making the team. How many tackles can the team really carry?

3. Backup nose tackle

OK, as long as Earl Mitchell stays healthy, the backup nose tackle position might not be that important. But the battle itself is pretty intriguing. It looks like it’s going to come down to Chris Jones vs. Terrell McClain.

Jones was a sixth-round pick this year and has been working at NT since rookie minicamp. McClain is a former third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, who has never lived up to his draft status. McClain was actually the first pick in the third round of the 2011 draft.

This battle is interesting. The Texans would probably love to keep their draft pick. In fact, Rick Smith, when asked shortly after the completion of the draft, said Jones was his pick for a late-round player that will surprise people. But will the Texans keep a recent draft pick if McClain is outplaying him, even if it’s just by a little bit?

McClain has looked very good through the spring practices but those practices don’t have any hitting, so we’ll get a better idea once training camp starts. It’s possible the Texans keep McClain and try to get Jones to the practice squad.

[Rizzlefish]

Defiantly following, Yates is one of my favorites.

[Jumpman14]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rizzlefish

Defiantly following, Yates is one of my favorites.

Appreciate it man

[Jumpman14]

Preseason Week 1 Preview || vs Minnesota

	Texans (0-0, 0-0 away)	Friday August 9, 2012 7:00 PM CT Mall of America Field Minneapolis, MN
	Vikings (0-0, 0-0 home)
FORECAST: 72°		COVERAGE:

Houston

Minnesota

TEAM LEADERS
Matt Schaub	PASS	Christian Ponder
Arian Foster	RUSH	Adrian Peterson
Andre Johnson	REC	Kyle Rudolph

Key Players

A. Foster - HB Car: 351 Yds: 1,424 Avg: 4.1 TD: 15

A. Peterson - HB Car: 348 Yds: 2,097 Avg: 6.0 TD: 12

Gronk4M13 likes this.

[Hockey_Fanatic12]

Just thought I would let you know that I am following

[Jumpman14]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hockey_Fanatic12

Just thought I would let you know that I am following

Thanks. Still waiting on the next roster update

[Jumpman14]

Texans vs. Vikings final score: T.J. Yates, Case Keenum combine to beat Minnesota, 27-13

By James Brady  @JamesBradySBN on Aug 9 2013, 10:59p


The Texans shut out Minnesota in the second half on their way to victory.

The Houston Texans put together a complete performance to best the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, 27-13. Backup quarterbacks T.J. Yates and Case Keenum combined to throw for 276 yards and two touchdowns, while receivers Lestar Jean and DeAndre Hopkins each finished with 52 receiving yards.

Matt Schaub didn't account for a touchdown, but he did complete all five of his pass attempts for 34 yards, and he got out of there without suffering an injury.

Christian Ponder isn't exactly locked in a quarterback battle with Matt Cassel, but after throwing an interception on his second pass of the game -- which was also his final pass of the game -- Cassel took over and played well. Cassel completed 12 of 19 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception, before giving way to McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

What's next?

Aug. 16, 7 p.m. ET: Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills

Aug. 17, 8 p.m.: Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans

Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings
Aug 9, 2013	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Houston Texans (1-0)	3	7	3	14	27
Minnesota Vikings (0-1)	3	10	0	0	13

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		HOU	MIN
10:56	(HOU) R.Bullock 48 Yd	3	0
5:50	(MIN) Blair Walsh 22 Yd	3	3
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		HOU	MIN
12:26	(MIN) Zach Line 61 Yd Pass From Matt Cassel (Blair Walsh Kick)	3	10
6:24	(HOU) Deandre Hopkins 34 Yd Pass From T.J. Yates (Randy Bullock Kick)	10	10
1:19	(MIN) Blair Walsh 33 Yd	10	13
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		HOU	MIN
4:28	(HOU) Randy Bullock 21 Yd	13	13
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		HOU	MIN
10:26	(HOU) Lestar Jean 2 Yd Pass From Case Keenum (Randy Bullock Kick)	20	13
4:31	(HOU) Ray Graham 5 Yd Run (Randy Bullock Kick)	27	13

Houston Texans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT T.J. Yates 13/21 151 1 0 Case Keenum 13/18 125 1 0 Matt Schaub 5/5 34 0 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Cierre Wood 10 59 5.9 9 Ray Graham 4 26 6.5 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Lestar Jean 6 52 8.7 1 DeAndre Hopkins 4 52 13.0 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Terrell McClain 5 2.5 0 0 Earl Mitchell 4 1 0 0

Minnesota Vikings PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Matt Cassell 12/19 212 1 1 McLeod Bethel-Thompson 4/9 26 0 0 Christian Ponder 1/2 15 0 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Toby Gerhart 4 7 1.8 0 Bradley Randle 3 16 5.3 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Cordarrelle Patterson 4 54 13.5 0 Zach Line 1 61 61.0 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Brandon Burton 7 0 0 0 Stanford Keglar 5 0 0 0