Alternate title: “THE BLOODLETTING!!!”

See the previous entry on offense if you haven’t already, also includes explanations of a couple of important assumptions regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement issue.

Now, keep in mind – this is not what I *think* is going to happen. It’s what I would do. I know you can’t just go around cutting guys willy nilly when they are still under contract, and I don’t feel like I’m being reactionary AT ALL here – I’m simply playing this the way I think the Texans SHOULD be playing it. By that I mean, the Texans made their choice. Kubiak stays. Wade Phillips is in. Sure, there’s a scheme change on the defense, but there’s certainly not going to be a “culture change” there. So the Texans just need to cut bait with players that aren’t working out, rather than try year after year in the HOPE that some of them come around. That SHOULD be the old way of thinking. Put some fear in guys that they can’t hang around just on special teams prowess alone, and that their spot can’t be protected by an injury. So, you’re basically about to see me tell a bunch of players – young players, even – that just need to pack it up and look for NFL employment elsewhere.

Note – I did not include players who had little-to-no positive or negative impact on the team, such as Tim Jamison, Quintin Demps, and others of that type.

THE FREE AGENTS

SS Bernard Pollard
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: Terrible in coverage, regressed against the run. Used to be a sure tackler and a guy you could count on as the last line of defense in case of a long run. That was then, this is now. “Now” is a guy who misses tons of tackles, and went from bad at coverage to HORRIBLE. Still, I think he could be much more effective if the Texans had a good free safety playing alongside him.
What would I do? Pay him if his price is reasonable, which I do not expect it to be. I know he’s a fan favorite (you know I love the guy too) but get ready to say goodbye to Bernard. I think he’s going to be out of here.

DT Shaun Cody
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: Cody has played well enough to be a backup, but they need much more out of a starter at DT. He’s had games where he played the run fairly well, but I haven’t seen anything that shows me he should be a priority to re-sign. Wade Phillips says he’s a fit at NT in the 3-4 defense, but no matter what system they’re running – he’s not starter material. He does, however, wear a sombrero in the locker room, and according to his Twitter bio, he’s “awesome at football.”
What would I do? He’s a decent run defender, but if he wants starter money, let him walk. No way do I pay him more than top-end reserve money.

CB Jason Allen
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: Picked up by the Texans after he was cut by Miami. Sadly, Allen, who is an average player at BEST was instantly the second-best CB on the Texans’ roster the second he set foot in Reliant Stadium.
What would I do? Allen is solid depth, and I would most definitely try to pay him as such. If Allen is the second-best CB on your roster, your CBs are terrible. But if he can get pushed down the depth chart a couple of notches, you could do a lot worse than Allen. Sign him if the money works.

LB Kevin Bentley
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: Did an okay job for a while, but lack of speed and playmaking ability (i.e., he’s not DeMeco Ryans) hurt him after a while.
What would I do? Bentley’s a good special teams player, but he also has value as depth on this team, though not nearly as much as a year or two ago. Lowball offer, but I expect the Texans to find “another” Kevin Bentley-type in free agency this year.

LB Zac Diles
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: Not good. Actually very bad. Lost his starting job to a rookie.
What would I do? I don’t really know that Diles fits the 3-4. He’s not a guy who can shed blocks well, he can’t cover well, he’s not particularly strong. Can he be depth somewhere? I don’t know. I just know that at the beginning of the season, Gary Kubiak said he was on the verge of being a Pro Bowl player, and by the end of the year, he had been supplanted by a rookie. If Wade thinks he can work in the 3-4, MAYBE make a lowball depth offer. If you’re into the whole brevity thing, then I’m sure you can detect what I’m really saying is – let him walk.

DE Mark Anderson
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: With Mario Williams on injured reserve, Anderson was the best thing going on the Texans as far as a pass-rusher. Still, he’s nothing spectacular. I think a lot of Texans fans will be more enamored with him than they should be, because we’re just not used to having any sort of pass rush.
What would I do? He’s still pretty young… but I suspect he’s not the kind of guy Wade is going to be able to do much with. He’s not a 3-4 DE. He’s not a 3-4 OLB. Unless I’m wrong and Wade can work him in effectively, I say let him walk. Even in 4-3 passing situations, I’d expect that Connor Barwin will get snaps ahead of him, and you can’t overpay Anderson “just in case” Barwin gets hurt again.

DT Damione Lewis
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: Came in and played pretty well. An unexpected bright spot on the D-line.
What would I do? I’ve seen people say he could be depth at NT in the 3-4, but Wade Phillips didn’t mention him when asked about potential guys at that position next year. Of course, that could just mean that he isn’t very aware of Lewis since he’s down the depth chart and Phillips just joined the team. Lewis is 32, and though he played pretty well, I’m sure Wade will have other guys in mind to play NT in 2011. Let him walk.

SPECIAL TEAMS

P Matt Turk
Contract status: Unrestricted Free Agent.
2010 Performance: Below average to terrible.
What would I do? Let him walk. I would have gone in another direction two years ago, but that’s me.

K Neil Rackers is under contract through 2011.

STILL UNDER CONTRACT

DT Amobi Okoye
Contract status: Singed through 2012.
2010 Performance: Certainly his best season since his 2007 campaign, but he’s still nowhere near what anyone (fans or organization) hoped he would be. If you’re still looking for him to get there, I feel bad for you. Still, he’s been solid at times. He just won’t ever live up to his draft status.
What would I do? Well, I definitely wouldn’t cut him, but he is a very questionable fit in the 3-4 scheme, and the way his career has gone to this point, I don’t expect him to quickly and effectively make the transition. He’s very clearly not suited to play NT, even if he did add weight. He doesn’t have the kind of build you want for a DE in any defensive scheme, so I’m not sure where he fits in other than a DT in 4-3 passing situations, which I expect the Texans will run some in Wade’s system. Me, I trade him if they get a good offer (5th rounder? But I’d be surprised if they even got that much offered). If not, he stays on and continues his contract, which isn’t unreasonable considering where he was drafted (due $850K in 2011).

S Dominique Barber
Contract status: Singed through 2011.
2010 Performance: Good on special teams, has shown nothing otherwise.
What would I do? Barber has had a few chances to show what he can do at safety and hasn’t done anything with it. I realize he is a strong special teams player, but I don’t like the idea of him dragging the safety depth chart down just because he’s good on special teams. If he doesn’t show improvement as a position player in camp or preseason, I send him packing on final roster cutdown weekend.

CB Brice McCain
Contract status: Signed through 2012.
2010 Performance: Terrible. He’s got great speed, but no instincts. Couldn’t cover a lick all season long.
What would I do? Cut him. Without hesitation. The Texans can’t just keep holding on to their draft picks because they’re cheap, unless of course – they can play a little bit. McCain can’t play at all, at least not at this point. Cut and move on. I realize he’s cheap depth, but he needs to be gone based on his 2010 play alone.

CB Antwaun Molden
Contract status: Signed through 2011.
2010 Performance: Allegedly a decent special-teamer, but I haven’t seen it. Has been healthier this season than he has been in the past, and we were told that health was the only thing keeping him from making an impact as a CB. Yeah, not so much. He couldn’t crack the current group, and got less time playing defense than rookie Sherrick McManis.
What would I do? Cut him. For the love of God, this Molden thing has gone on long enough.

LB Xavier Adibi
Contract status: Signed through 2011.
2010 Performance: Well, he got injured a lot. When he did play, it wasn’t pretty. If he could stay healthy, he might be worth keeping around at the bottom of the depth chart and on special teams, but he’s not going to stay healthy.
What would I do? Cut him. Hasn’t shown enough when healthy to keep around. He’s the Antwaun Molden of linebackers.

In conclusion…
I realize this isn’t entirely realistic. The Texans already have a lot of positions they’re going to have to fill, and it’s not likely they’re going to have as much turnover as I’d like them to – but at least a couple of the guys who are still under contract just need to be gone. Molden is a lock to be gone. McCain should be, but probably isn’t. I’m sure Barber and Adibi will stick, but what’s the point? “Solid special-teamers” are a dime a dozen in the NFL. Maybe get a few who can be less than terrible at their natural positions? Sure, it’s not that easy, BUT THIS BUNCH ISN’T WORKING.