UDFA's

[WMH]

SO nice to be back in the business of football.

Saw a couple of LZ tweets on UDFA's. Actual signings to come @ 9AM, but I'm sure these would stick.

From: @LanceZierlein
Lance Zierlein

Florida Atlanta WR Lester Jean headed to the Texans. Jean is a big target with better timed speed than game speed but good signing.

Texans sign Colorado State FB Zac Pauga. I'll be very surprised if Leach is re-signed by the Texans. They have to free up money somewhere

Oregon WR Jeff Maehl is signed by the Houston Texans. Productive college WR, but lacks speed and seems smaller than his 190 from combine

[WMH]

Even if my blood is purple, this is SOLID!

Tweet from @LanceZierlein
------------------------
@LanceZierlein: Terrence Tolliver from LSU has agreed to a deal with the Texans

[Arky]

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2011-nfl-undrafted-free-agents

Texans
Bubba Bartlett (TE/FB, Carroll College)
Jeff Maehl (WR, Oregon)
Zac Pauga (FB, Colorado State)
Pete Hendrickson (OT, Tulane)
Lestar Jean (WR, Florida Atlantic)
Terrance Tolliver (WR, LSU) ???
Bryan Braman (LB, West Texas A&M)

Mostly offense so far....

[painekiller]

Add Adrian Taylor (DL, Oklahoma) 6-3.5 310

He is described to be an immovable object. Not much of a penetrator.

Could be just a body. Remember they will need to have 10 extra bodies, so IMO they are no where near done with UDFA.

Sadly my #1 choice of punter signed with the Eagles. Henry from Florida. My #2 choice is still not listed. Looks like we sign someone on Friday.

[painekiller]

Add Jason Teague CB 6-2 190 TCU doesn't have long speed, or recovery speed.

[painekiller]

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2011-nfl-undrafted-free-agents

Texans
Bubba Bartlett (TE/FB, Carroll College)
Jeff Maehl (WR, Oregon)
Zac Pauga (FB, Colorado State)
Pete Hendrickson (OT, Tulane)
Lestar Jean (WR, Florida Atlantic)
Terrance Tolliver (WR, LSU) ???
Bryan Braman (LB, West Texas A&M)

Mostly offense so far....

This kid was cut by his football team because he was arrested for manufacturing mushrooms, the mind altering kind not the kind you put on your salad. He pleaded guilty.

His college LB coach has ties to Wade and that seems to be how he ended up here. Do you think Bob knows about this kid?

As for the mostly offense comment, they need bodies in order to practice, they are short handed at WR and FB when it comes time to practice. Also last year they sign two UDFA FB for camp, so don't read to much into that, doubtful any of the FB signed make the 53 man roster.

As for the lack of defenders, I am guessing right now that they sign a lot of vets to fill out the roster, we are going to need ILBs to practice. I doubt Ryans will get a full schedule of reps.

[Nconroe]

Likely this will go up to 15 our so by end of today.

Looks like some reasonable WR to look at and a couple FB

now up to eight
Texans
Bubba Bartlett (TE/FB, Carroll College) Height: 6'1 Weight: 246
1st Team AFCA All-American. He led the nation for TE’s with 85
receptions for 951 yards and 7 touchdowns. Academic All-Conference.


Jeff Maehl (WR, Oregon)Height:6'1" Weight:190 lbs.
Maehl's time in the 3-cone drill (6.42) is the fastest recorded since the
combine became keeping records in 2000.


Zac Pauga (FB, Colorado State) The 6-1, 246-pounder is considered a
strong receiver out of the backfield. played 49 consecutive games.

Pete Hendrickson (OT, Tulane)Height / Weight:6-8 / 310
He’s a big guy that’s athletic.

Lestar Jean (WR, Florida Atlantic)Height:6'3" Weight:215 lbs. Jean is a very raw receiver, but he has great size and speed to develop

Terrance Tolliver (WR, LSU) ??? Height:6'4" Weight:212 lbs. Toliver's frame and speed are coveted but needs to develop skills

Bryan Braman (LB, West Texas A&M) 6'5" Height, 240 lbs Weight "I really want to make something happen, work hard and take advantage of this opportunity."

Adrian Taylor (DL, Oklahoma) Height / Weight:6-4 / 302 Solid run defender, plays assignment-sure and eats up blockers while maintaining his gap discipline. quite a few injuries in college.

Jason Teague(CB, TCU) Height: 6-2 Weight: 197 finishing first on the team and tied for seventh in the Mountain West Conference with nine passes defended, 2 INT, i1 ret for TD

[Arky]

Brett Hartmann P, Central Michigan

Unconfirmed....

[painekiller]

I heard Rick Smith told Lance Z, that they had agreed to terms with 18 guys last night. So they should have around that number sign today.

[Nconroe]

saw the blog at Houston Texans with several nice updates, twitters, so on
http://blog.houstontexans.com/

added this to mentioned 18 UDFA
"The Texans had 52 players under contract heading into today, along with eight draft picks and two tendered veterans, Arian Foster and Mike Brisiel. That leaves them room for 28 players to add to the roster, including UDFAs."

So, that could imply 10 experienced FA to add yet which might be some of their own FA most likely.

added another UDFA not mentioned above

Zane Parr, Virginia , LB/DE Height / Weight:6-6 / 275
combination of size, speed and agility , came out as a junior

[nunusguy]

I remember Maehl from his play at Oregon last year. Real hustle guy with outstanding work ethic, plus he's got very good hands. Real "blue-collar" type. I don't see any history as a punt or kickoff return guy which would help him ? With all of the UDFA WRs they signed, maybe they're not going to try to retain Jacobey ?

[painekiller]

Don't read anything into the UDFA signing as to who will be resigned or not. Every year they load up at WR so the QBs can get there work in. Otherwise the WRs would be dead long before the QBs had gotten enough work.

They need bodies for camp at WR and FB so they can practice all formations with 3 different teams of players, plus they have drills to run.

They do that every year. Hopefully one or two of them impresses enough to be on the roster or practice squad.

[painekiller]

For those interested in Braman here is an article on him

http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2010-10-12/west-texas-am-football-player-faces-drug-charges?page=1#.Ti7vu2HAF8F

[painekiller]

Per john mcclain (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/7670138.html)

A list of 18 undrafted free agents signed by Texans
By JOHN MCCLAIN HOUSTON CHRONICLE
July 26, 2011, 2:23PM

The Texans have agreed to contract terms with 18 undrafted free agents, including receiver Terrence Toliver, the Hempstead native who played at LSU and was voted the Most Valuable Offensive Player in this year's Cotton Bowl.

NFL teams were able to negotiate with undrafted free agents on Monday, but they couldn't sign until today. The Texans are in the process of signing their undrafted free agents.

Toliver, 6-5, 203, caught five passes for 112 passes and three touchdowns in LSU's 41-24 victory over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

The Texans agreed with two other receivers, Lestar Jean (Florida Atlantic) and Jeff Maehl (Oregon).

Other offensive players agreeing to terms were fullback Justin Bartlett (Montana-Carroll), guard Howard Bargieri (Rutgers), fullback Zac Pauga (Colorado State), tackle Peter Hendrickson (Tulane) and tackle Darius Morris (Temple).

The Texans also agreed with nine defensive players: linebacker Mister Alexander (Florida State), linebacker Bryan Braman (West Texas A&M), linebacker Steve Friday (Virginia Tech), end Zane Parr (Virginia), end John Graves (Virginia Tech), cornerback Darian Hagan (California), cornerback Jason Teague (TCU), safety Maurice Rolle (Louisiana-Lafayette) and tackle Adrian Taylor (Oklahoma).

The Texans also agreed with punter Brett Hartmann (Central Michigan).

[Arky]

Brett Hartmann P, Central Michigan

Unconfirmed....

This punter doesn't have much info but seems he's good at hang time - not so much on distance, not a big leg guy.... And that's fine.... as long as he doesn't shank one when you absolutely don't need a shank....

[HPF Bob]

linebacker Mister Alexander (Florida State),

That's MISTER Alexander to you! :D

[HPF Bob]

I remember Maehl from his play at Oregon last year. Real hustle guy with outstanding work ethic, plus he's got very good hands. Real "blue-collar" type.

Jeff "You've got" Maehl is a Kevin Walters "possession" type. Or maybe more like a Wayne Chrebet "possession" type.

For return guys, why not that guy they drafted last year who got IR'd all season?

And the 6-5 "immovable" guy, remember we need nose tackles now in the 3-4. Their job is to be immovable.

[chuck]

Jeff "You've got" Maehl is a Kevin Walters "possession" type. Or maybe more like a Wayne Chrebet "possession" type.

For return guys, why not that guy they drafted last year who got IR'd all season?

And the 6-5 "immovable" guy, remember we need nose tackles now in the 3-4. Their job is to be immovable.

If these idiots could find a Wayne Chrebet clone I would be ecstatic. That guy was a very, very good football player.

[nunusguy]

Texans
Bubba Bartlett (TE/FB, Carroll College) Height: 6'1 Weight: 246
1st Team AFCA All-American. He led the nation for TE’s with 85
receptions for 951 yards and 7 touchdowns. Academic All-Conference.

Former Carroll College Saint tight end and undrafted rookie free agent Bubba Bartlett said on Monday that he has agreed to the terms of a deal with the Houston Texans of the National Football League.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Bartlett told the Independent Record. “I can’t even tell you how excited I am.”
**
Bartlett said he will fly to Houston at 6:20 a.m. on Tuesday to prepare for the Texans’ training camp, which begins Saturday.
Read more: http://helenair.com/sports/football/college/former-carroll-te-bartlett-agrees-with-texans/article_6f5c4902-b736-11e0-a99a-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1TIz5oV4u
&&&&&&
These small college guys that come out of the middle of nowhere to take their shot at an NFL career are the ones who intrigue me the most.
Carrol College is a private, Catholic school in Helena, Montana and this Barlett kid is a native of Spokane Wa. It was 100 degrees in Houston yesterday with a heat-index of 'bout 110 degress, while I'm guessing it was 75 or 80 in western Montana yesterday with dry, cool air. Good luck Bubba !

[Nconroe]

does seem to be a few guys with a chance at team and practice squad in these 18. found a little more info on each here:

http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/a_closer_look_at_the_texans_18_undrafted_free_agen ts/5743888

seems this Brett Hartmann Punter is also a KO specialist and can boom them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dP9QPFTW6c

some long KO, 73 yards, 4.63 hangtime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueugOWJ9aeo&feature=related

[painekiller]

does seem to be a few guys with a chance at team and practice squad in these 18. found a little more info on each here:

http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/a_closer_look_at_the_texans_18_undrafted_free_agen ts/5743888

seems this Brett Hartmann Punter is also a KO specialist and can boom them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dP9QPFTW6c

some long KO, 73 yards, 4.63 hangtime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueugOWJ9aeo&feature=related

I just watched the videos, and all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch these if you haven't. This is what the doctor ordered. Bye Bye Turk, thank you, but there is a new leg in town, and he is not getting paid a ton of money.

And also, I apologize to Coach Joe, if you found this guys my hats off to you. If it's one of the scouts, give that man a raise.

[Arky]

He's got a good leg for kickoffs obviously.... For the record, my comments earlier about him being "not a big leg guy" were based on his punting stats (http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/191371/brett-hartmann) for 2010 at C Michigan - 40.1 avg with a long of 63. Big leg guys do 60+ yds for breakfast.....

His punting does look better in this vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dP9QPFTW6c). He's kicking from the 40 and putting them in the endzone....

At any rate, I'm ready for ABT (anybody but Turk) and he'll do just fine....

[painekiller]

He's got a good leg for kickoffs obviously.... For the record, my comments earlier about him being "not a big leg guy" were based on his punting stats (http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/191371/brett-hartmann) for 2010 at C Michigan - 40.1 avg with a long of 63. Big leg guys do 60+ yds for breakfast.....

His punting does look better in this vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dP9QPFTW6c). He's kicking from the 40 and putting them in the endzone....

At any rate, I'm ready for ABT (anybody but Turk) and he'll do just fine....
Plus these videos are after this camp that is being promoted in the video. Supposedly the camp helped him with his distance on his punts. Plus his punting hang time was off the charts. If you only punt 40 yards but the other team can not return the ball then that is an improvement over Turk.

I also want to know how he is with pinning the ball inside the 20? But with hang time our guys can catch the ball so maybe not an issue. Grass is always greener, so my prediction is that we are cursing Coach Joe by mid-season for something