| NFL teams better come prepared to play the
expansion Houston Texans next year. After coming away from the expansion draft with
eight high-caliber starters, general manager Charley Casserly is quickly building the
Texans into a winner.
With Monday’s expansion draft, Casserly not only improved his team, but weakened
teams around the league, such as the New York Jets, who lost starting ORT Ryan Young and
both starting cornerbacks, Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman, to the Texans.
Jets general manager Terry Bradway said Casserly did his research prior to the draft.
"Obviously we lost three players that are pretty good," Bradway said.
"Charley knew the teams in cap trouble — us, Baltimore and Jacksonville."
And he capitalized from their salary-cap woes, snagging OT Tony Boselli and DTs Seth
Payne and Gary Walker from Jacksonville and LB Jamie Sharper and KR-WR Jermaine Lewis from
Baltimore.
Head coach Dom Capers came away from the draft excited with the team’s newfound
depth.
"We got experience at positions that are hard," Capers said. "We got two
starting offensive tackles, two starting defensive linemen and a playmaker in Jermaine
Lewis."
And more importantly, the Texans have found players who seem excited to be part of an
expansion club, such as Glenn, who played college football at nearby Texas A&M.
"I don’t know what the Jets were thinking," Glenn said. "But
I’ll tell you, they did a favor for us. I think me and Marcus will do well on this
team. The fact that we played together in New York will make it easier on us to
communicate."
Young, who was shocked to be placed on the expansion list after having started for most
of his first two seasons in New York, is thrilled about the opportunity to grow alongside
Boselli, a five-time Pro Bowl selection who has allowed a mere 14.5 sacks in his
seven-year career.
Walker, who started all 16 games for the Jaguars last season and ranked third among
defensive tackles in the NFL with 7.5 sacks, is familiar with the state of Texas, having
played two seasons for the former Houston Oilers. He also knows Capers, who was formerly
the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator.
In addition to the enthusiasm expressed by players drafted by the Texans, Capers has
found players who fit his scheme, such as Sharper, who fits the 3-4 defense Capers has
been fond of employing. The fact that the talented Sharper has been waiting for the
opportunity to establish his own identity is a bonus.
"I’m definitely ready to move on; I can get out of Ray Lewis’
shadow," Sharper said. "I can play for Dom Capers’ defense, the 3-4, where
linebackers have a bigger part to play. I’ll be able to get more sacks."
Casserly shrewdly combed through the list of available free agents and sagaciously
sought players who had some roots in Texas and would have no problem adjusting to playing
on an expansion franchise. He sought players who could unite a young team. And perhaps
most importantly, he has installed a coaching staff experienced in building an expansion
franchise.
Houston offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, who was head coach of the expansion
Cleveland Browns, believes the Texans are already at an advantage over those Browns, who
allowed rookie QB Tim Couch to be sacked 60 times in the Browns' first season.
"When I was hired in Cleveland, we had 21 days until the expansion draft,"
Palmer said. "We were trying to hire a coaching staff and get ready for the draft and
get organized. Here, we’ve had 18 months to put in our program. Dom has had time to
tell everyone what he wants, so we are a lot better off here."
Texans coaches have had time to tweak their schemes after scouting opposing franchises.
Texans management has had time to study the salary cap and identify top free agents.
Casserly has had time to spend weeks on college campuses evaluating top NFL prospects,
such as Fresno State QB David Carr and North Carolina DE Julius Peppers. You can be sure
Casserly will be prepared on Draft Day.
And NFL teams better be prepared for the Texans, who Casserly is proving should not be
taken lightly. |
