Which RB emerges as "The Man" this year?

[KJ3]

assuming the RB corps is ahman green, chris brown, chris taylor and steve slaton. walker gets mention because of the injury factor...and because he didn't look terrible last year during his time.

who sets himself up to be the guy? the #1 option. i think it's going to be chris taylor, although i wouldn't think he would do it in an overwhelming fashion.

i think ahman is too old, had too many injuries, and just can't keep himself healthy enough to take the pounding. he may give us a good game or two but i can't see him doing any more than he did last year. i think chris brown starts out well and shows his injury-prone reputation to be all too true. slaton is the uppercut, the knock-out, the homerun, the compliment to a #1, the change-up so i don't think his role ever will be "the man". walker may find time if the injuries get out of control again but i think this years' leading texan rusher is chris taylor. he's got good size (met him in person, he's ripped), quicks, the right mindset/running style for gibbs' system and all the oppurtunity in the world to be the next big thing. he may not rush for 1000 yards this season but i bet we see something special. i hope so anyway, cuz if not then this whole post makes me look silly!!!:D:mad::o:rolleyes:

[kravix]

I have to go with Green. He is the #1 back on the roster, and if healthy he should break 1k easy. I also have to hope and believe that Green is healty and can produce. The team has spent a ton of money on him and it would be nice to see some dividends from that investment.

[painekiller]

I say Chris Turner will be at the top of the heap.

[sescoyote]

No doubt it will be Green.......for part of the year until he gets hurt. He just won't stay healthy at this point in his career. I honestly feel Brown will be the regular when that happens.

[HPF Bob]

I'm hoping it will be Taylor with Slaton emerging as a third-down back. I don't think this is how it will turn out though.

[NBT]

I am hoping it will be either old man Green, or if not him then young Chris Taylor. Why not Chris Brown? From what I have read on the Titan's board, he is too fragile, calling him the "glassman"!

[jppaul]

My money is on Chris Taylor

[jaimeg]

My money is on Chris Taylor

After the Patriots, and Big Brown, I am betting on Darius Walker. Seriously.

[jaimeg]

After the Patriots, and Big Brown, I am betting on Darius Walker. Seriously.

I am serious.

[NBT]

I will raise your serious and bet you two question marks. Walker learned a lot last year, but he just doesn't have the afterburners one needs to really be an LT type of back.

[jaimeg]

I will raise your serious and bet you two question marks. Walker learned a lot last year, but he just doesn't have the afterburners one needs to really be an LT type of back.


Ask people in NOLA what afterburners get you. Vision, Vision. DW doesn't have the H2 O2 rocket boosters but he can get quality yards. He is not our long term solution, but I doubt Green, Brown or Taylor are healthy enough.

[NBT]

Green and Brown maybe, but let's just look at this post again after the season is well along, to see whether or not Chris Taylor is well enough. Oh, and if you were alluding to Reggie Bush when you mentioned NOLA, I don't think Darius Walker could carry his shoelaces, (at least as far as speed).

[KJ3]

no no no, reggie bush is faster than most including walker.

HOWEVER

as far as carrying shoelaces go, i'd rather have walker. and by shoelaces i meant footballs. 4.6 per and a great swing-pass option. what's bush got, like 2.4 per and an awesome slot reciever decoy? for what they are, bush belongs as the UDFA and walker the bust #2 pick hahaha....

as long as walker holds on to the football he will have a chance.

[cadams]

i really dont think anyone can say they would rather have walker than bush, even considering bush's lack of production so far.

[TexicanMexican]

I think it's Green's job to lose. My guess is that Brown would be next in line. I know there are high hopes for Chris Taylor but I'd like to see more from him. I actually hope Slanton emerges as the one back as the season goes on. That's just my wishful thinking though.

[KJ3]

I actually hope Slanton emerges as the one back as the season goes on. That's just my wishful thinking though.

well we would all love for there to be a reason behind reggie bush's hype but i'm thinking scatbacks are great #2 guys. we still need a thunder back to pave the road before we race our shiny new sports car.

as funny as it seems what with all the slow, fat, and hamburger jokes we've made....ron dayne would probably produce better with slaton switching it up than just pounding dayne. or dayne pounding. whichever, it looks like it hurts to take him down.

[cadams]

as funny as it seems what with all the slow, fat, and hamburger jokes we've made....ron dayne would probably produce better with slaton switching it up than just pounding dayne. or dayne pounding. whichever, it looks like it hurts to take him down.

the problem with having dayne again is he might kill all of our offensive linemen if he were to be around much longer.

[NBT]

Slaton makes up for anything Walker can do as far as the 3rd down slot back type, plus he has the speed Walker lacks. I would still like them to keep Walker around in some capacity such as the P.S.

[KJ3]

i really dont think anyone can say they would rather have walker than bush, even considering bush's lack of production so far.
um...i can. i will. i did. what else are we to consider besides production in determining who is better? should i consult espn?

the problem with having dayne again is he might kill all of our offensive linemen if he were to be around much longer.
for real. i wasn't trying to say we should get him though, please let me be clear on that. no more daynetrain.

he may have done our o'line some good though. seriously. we've got a few cats who are going to dive through the holes with some speed now. the o'line has been pretty used to holding blocks open for dayne for like 3.5 minutes while he grabs the ball from the qb, takes a few jogging steps, takes a breather/nap/hamburger, and runs into the 11 guys waiting for him at the line of scrimmage.

Slaton makes up for anything Walker can do as far as the 3rd down slot back type, plus he has the speed Walker lacks. I would still like them to keep Walker around in some capacity such as the P.S.
let's hope slaton can be walker with bush's speed. or bush if bush were bush.

[coloradodude]

Competition will be fierce at the RB spot which is a given.

It's Ahman's to lose and he will lose it if he just goes through the motions and tries to live off past performances. But Chris Brown is proven in the Gibbs system and a big back. Darius Walker showed huge potential and has a very smal contractcompared to the first two. Steve Slaton will be the home run hitter mix it up dude but if he comes in and does that more than once, more will be given to him.

Chris Taylor? Taylor has proved he can go on IR but have fumbling problems before he does.

Two points for the bottom line...

1. Injuries are part of the position so we might just see all four kept due to the history of Green and Brown.

2. Our front office and coaching staff have clearly demonstrated the direction they are taking this team and that is of contender. Make no mistake about it, we are building a team that imo will resemble the old 49er's. A RB that doesn't push for the touchdown or first down on every play will NOT make the team.


:D

[KJ3]

A RB that doesn't push for the touchdown or first down on every play will NOT make any team.

fixed :cool:

[Keith]

Added some thoughts to the main page of the site last night on this.

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2008/20080629.html

If I'm Green, I make priority #1 making it all the way through camp healthy.

[Texans_Chick]

Added some thoughts to the main page of the site last night on this.

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2008/20080629.html

If I'm Green, I make priority #1 making it all the way through camp healthy.

Nice article. :cool:

I think whoever survives camp and can block will be The Man.

At least in the Denver system, there have been many times where it has been unclear who the man was going to be. And often it ended up whoever was healthiest and sort of lucky.

Terrell Davis went from a back who was lucky to make the Broncos...to a guy who impressed people with his intense special team play...to one of the best out of nowhere stories ever in the NFL. He and Rod Smith are examples of how Kubiak doesn't care how you go to the team but only how you prepare and produce.

[Bigtinylittle]

Hey, Steph. Love your board, though for some reason I never post over there. I always enjoy hearing what you have to say because you clearly have a really good understanding of pro football. You can run circles around a lot of the local radio hosts. Keep up the good work.

For the record, I have no idea who will step up and be the man. I don't see Slaton getting a lot of carries, though.

[kravix]

Kieth,

I havent been able to find anything that says the Texans have spoken to Benson.

With the woes that our team has had at running the ball, bringing in a RB that has character issues, may miss 2-6 games because of it, on top of lackluster performances and health issues, is a bad idea to me.

[KJ3]

With the woes that our team has had at running the ball, bringing in a RB that has character issues, may miss 2-6 games because of it, on top of lackluster performances and health issues, is a bad idea to me.

well when you put it like that.....:D;)

[Keith]

Nice article. :cool:
Thanks, and I just stopped by FanHouse and saw the linkage (http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/30/cedric-benson-to-houston-texans-rumors/). Thanks again!

Saw Benson's mug shot in your post... not a pretty picture, but (in my non-professional opinion) I don't think any of these charges will stick to Benson.

Kieth,

I havent been able to find anything that says the Texans have spoken to Benson.

Me neither, which is why I wrote of any mention of Benson and the Texans as a rumor at this point.

It actually would not surprise me either if the Texans had some informal conversations with Shaun Alexander's agent -- just speculation here. The Texans have not been talked about in conjunction with Kevin Jones since his release, but I don't think Jones fits the same profile of what they'd be looking for like they might find in either Benson or Alexander.

Just something to keep an eye on here for now. No need for any of these guys to sign this far out from the start of camp. I would expect the music to stop by around the first of August though with all three of these guys under some sort of NFL contract.

[Keith]

Thanks, and I just stopped by FanHouse and saw the linkage (http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/30/cedric-benson-to-houston-texans-rumors/). Thanks again!
Looks like Florio picked up your blog. The couple of times HPF had a rumormill link from PFT, our site traffic went through the roof for a day or two.

CEDRIC TO TEXANS? (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/06/30/cedric-to-texans/)

Posted by Mike Florio on June 30, 2008, 3:47 p.m. EDT

There are rumors on the grapevine, courtesy of AOL’s FanHouse, that the Houston Texans might eventually take a chance (http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/30/cedric-benson-to-houston-texans-rumors/) on former Texas tailback Cedric Benson.

[Texans_Chick]

Thanks, and I just stopped by FanHouse and saw the linkage (http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/30/cedric-benson-to-houston-texans-rumors/). Thanks again!

Saw Benson's mug shot in your post... not a pretty picture, but (in my non-professional opinion) I don't think any of these charges will stick to Benson.



Me neither, which is why I wrote of any mention of Benson and the Texans as a rumor at this point.

It actually would not surprise me either if the Texans had some informal conversations with Shaun Alexander's agent -- just speculation here. The Texans have not been talked about in conjunction with Kevin Jones since his release, but I don't think Jones fits the same profile of what they'd be looking for like they might find in either Benson or Alexander.

Just something to keep an eye on here for now. No need for any of these guys to sign this far out from the start of camp. I would expect the music to stop by around the first of August though with all three of these guys under some sort of NFL contract.

In my professional opinion, if Benson's lawyer is worth anything and the public facts are roughly correct, those cases against him would be hard to make.

I'm not sure that Alexander fits the profile of what the Texans are looking for--I think the old, injured back spot is taken already. I mean, if you look on the outside of Ahman Green, he looks like a specimen. And he certainly has vision, like an Alexander has.

Its the parts of 30+ year old backs that you can't see that is the concern. I put Green in the gravy category for the Texans--I'm not counting on him to do anything, and if he sticks around and stays healthy, then that's gravy.

The comments at PFT are the funny part to me.

[NBT]

Kevin Jones is coming off ACL surgery, but he did the cone drill for several teams in 4.3 recently! Says he will be ready by TC. He is only what, 27?

Although we weren't one of the interested teams in attendance, it seems from the posts above, that we should at least be looking at a video of him. Any comments?

[jaimeg]

This is probably the where someone took it to the next level, assuming the Texans were talking to Benson

Solomon Wilcox on Sirius Radio mentioned (and has mentioned several times) that one of the better situations for Benson would be Houston because of what he called one the better up and coming teams, great offensive line coach and a comittment to run the ball.

He cited Benson could be in the same mold as Thomas Jones from the Jets who it took a few years and the right situation to be a solid back in the NFl.

[cadams]

Benson doesnt seem to be all that committed to his career, and seems to have a tendency to get himself into bad situations. that said, he would likely be cheap, and i wouldnt be upset if the texans took a flyer on him to check him out.

[KJ3]

i come to the conclusion that i think the Texans should leave benson alone. i've swayed back and forth on it but the reason that put me over the top for a "no" is i wouldn't want benson's (or while we're at it ahman green's, or chris brown's) contract to get in the way of drafting a guy next year.

benson is going to have to take a deal that shows he wants to play football for football. not for money, or intoxicants, or bitches, or anything but football.

[painekiller]

Thanks, and I just stopped by FanHouse and saw the linkage (http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/30/cedric-benson-to-houston-texans-rumors/). Thanks again!

Saw Benson's mug shot in your post... not a pretty picture, but (in my non-professional opinion) I don't think any of these charges will stick to Benson.



Me neither, which is why I wrote of any mention of Benson and the Texans as a rumor at this point.

It actually would not surprise me either if the Texans had some informal conversations with Shaun Alexander's agent -- just speculation here. The Texans have not been talked about in conjunction with Kevin Jones since his release, but I don't think Jones fits the same profile of what they'd be looking for like they might find in either Benson or Alexander.

Just something to keep an eye on here for now. No need for any of these guys to sign this far out from the start of camp. I would expect the music to stop by around the first of August though with all three of these guys under some sort of NFL contract.


I didn't want to start a new thread but wanted to ask the obvious question, who will the Texans pick up? Kubiak is on record yesterday saying they will pick up a RB for practice reps. Of course John McClain asked about Benson and if he was being considered. Kubiak stared at him for a moment and then said "No". That should answer that one.

Now who do you think it will be?

[Keith]

Now who do you think it will be?Well, when Mike Bell worked out a couple weeks ago, there were like two or three others invited with him, including Denzel Washington's son (NFLe alum, btw). Maybe it'll be one of those three.

Unless it is Bell that returns (or if Kubiak was bluffing about bringing in a bigger "name"), it probably won't matter. Even if it is Bell, this guy will be the 79th man on the roster (assuming Dunta is 80th at the moment), so chances are it will be a UDFA type that they could maybe try to develop on the practice squad.

A lot of us, even in this thread, were touting some of these younger guys - Taylor, Walker, and Slaton - to get a shot... now we need to see them step to the plate. There will be opportunities in the next three preseason games.

[Joshua]

In my professional opinion, if Benson's lawyer is worth anything and the public facts are roughly correct, those cases against him would be hard to make.



For what it's worth, LZ gave his two cents on Benson's pending charges this morning on 1560. He's hearing through his grapevine that Benson should easily beat the boating charges but that the other case is much stronger and he will have a much tougher time beating the rap.

[cadams]

i was very disappointed with the running game saturday night.

[Joshua]

Eric Winston's take on the running game Saturday -

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcsouth/0-3-59/Winston-reviews-the-premier-game-for-Gibbs--run-scheme.html

[Keith]

Eric Winston's take on the running game Saturday -

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcsouth/0-3-59/Winston-reviews-the-premier-game-for-Gibbs--run-scheme.html
Shame we can't get this kind of insight from our local media.

You know, a trade with another team isn't out of the question. Remember when the Texans sent Morency for Gado?

Off the top of my head, I think the Eagles have some depth at RB. Westbrook is the starter there of course, and they just traded for Lorenzo Booker, so both of them are going nowhere. That leaves Correll Buckhalter ('01 4th), Tony Hunt ('07 3rd), and Ryan Moats ('05 3rd). CBuck is 30 this year, so maybe he's cut, but Moats has had injury problems, and Hunt just doesn't seem to be liked by the coaches there for some reason.

Maybe a trade is really far-fetched, but I'd love to see Hunt acquired by the Texans. I liked his game out of college.

[NBT]

Pretty hard for a first game to try to run the ZBS against the team that wrote the book on it. So saying, I think I will wait to see how we do against the Saints.

As for Benson, I saw the same interview that PK did. It seemed that Kubiak had a pretty definite NO!