| Imagine for one minute that Charley Casserly and
Dom Capers weren’t just scouring the surface, graveling through the list of potential
2002 free agents and eyeballing every major college campus for the top pick in the NFL
draft. No, the Texans won’t be on the field this season. But the way some teams
approached offseason signings, they probably wish they were returning to the field in
Houston a year ahead of schedule.
There are always going to be cap casualties, but what follows is a look at the starting
22 the Texans may have sent to the field on opening day. A literal hodge podge of free
agents forced out because of lofty contracts or players who would have likely been left
unprotected.
Remember, the NFL salary cap is the issue that spawned this writing, so we’ll keep
dollar amounts in mind in deciding each position.
QB — Doug Flutie: Buffalo waived the veteran signal-caller when it decided
Rob Johnson was the future. Chances are good the Bills wouldn’t have protected the
mighty mite in an expansion draft format and Casserly would have gobbled up the seasoned
pro — or simply signed him as a free agent to avoid grooming a rookie or inflating a
bruised ego as part of a reclamation project. Don’t forget some kid named Vick
was the top QB taken.
Other options: Trent Dilfer, Tony Banks, draft pick.
RB — Charlie Garner: A solid runner and receiver for San Francisco, Garner
would want more money to relocate to unproven territory such as Houston.
Other options: Priest Holmes, Dorsey Levens, Antowain Smith (or heck,
anyone from Buffalo other than Travis Henry), ex-XFL runner John Avery, draft pick.
FB — Larry Centers: He wasn’t needed in Washington because Marty
Schottenheimer isn’t planning on airing it out. Centers isn’t your prototype
fullback, but you have to think the Texans would love to have a third-read receiver who
can catch 80 or 90 balls.
Other options: Lorenzo Neal, Howard Griffith, William Floyd.
TE — Rickey Dudley, Ben Coates, Mark Chmura: Dudley commanded, and
received, a nice pay day in Cleveland. Coates is brittle and Chmura has yet to be
granted a second chance.
Other options: Byron Chamberlain, Pete Mitchell.
WRs — James McKnight, Sean Dawkins, Charles Johnson, Torrence Small, Dedric
Ward: All of these guys were fairly low-dollar signings and no, you wouldn’t have
a No. 1 receiver. But you would have a plethora of experience and a little bit of speed.
Other options: Derrick Mayes, Kevin Lockett, Matthew Hatchette,
Jerry Rice, draft pick
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T — Erik Williams: A load with a load of experience. Could have stayed in
Texas and contributed with a little motivation.
G — Brenden Stai: Played a season with Capers on the staff in Jacksonville
and remains serviceable.
Other options: Tre Johnson.
C — Dermontti Dawson: So good for so long, signing the tired Dawson would
probably require a good deal of coaxing.
Other options: Casey Wiegmann, Mike Compton.
G — Frank Middleton: Youthful additions and overall reworked look up
front made Middleton expendable in Tampa Bay. The fifth-year offensive right guard has
plenty left in the tank.
Other options: Pete Kendall.
T — Richmond Webb: Don’t think Webb ranks Cincinnati ahead of Houston.
The Bengals picked Webb up from Miami, but there wasn’t exactly a bidding war for the
vets services.
Other options: Todd Steussie.
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DE — Simeon Rice: Signed for below market with Tampa Bay, but Houston could
have thrown big money his way.
Other options: Mike Mamula.
DT — John Randle: Intensity personified was given another crack in
Seattle — and why not?
Other options: Leon Lett, Chester McGlockton, Christian Peter.
DT — Dana Stubblefield: Could have had him for little, which is the type of
producer he’s been. A light role in Capers’ scheme makes that acceptable.
Other options: Cortez Kennedy, Ted Washington, Keith Traylor.
DE — Kevin Carter: He went to Tennessee for only a late first-round pick
(No. 29). Houston could have upped the ante.
Other options: Marcellus Wiley, Rich Owens, Tony Williams.
LB — Chris Slade: Out of New England, Slade seems like a perfect fit for
Capers' zone blitz.
Other options: Lee Woodall.
LB — Brian Cox: Err, maybe not around the young guys.
Other options: Glenn Cadrez.
LB — Sam Rogers or John Holecek: After spending big up front,
we’ll take the lighter wallet hit and sign the dependable ex-Bill, Holecek.
Other options: Cornelius Bennett.
CB — Deion Sanders: Prime Time was a hit in Texas. He’s lost a step,
but a slow Deion might be better than your next best option.
Other options: Todd Lyght, Ryan McNeil.
S — Brock Marion: Another bargain, Marion has started in Dallas and Miami
but wasn’t a needed commodity on the open market.
Other options: Jay Bellamy, Damien Robinson.
S — Kim Herring. If money became an issue, Herring is no longer an option.
But who could argue with bringing in a starter from the dominating Super Bowl defense.
Other options: Former Titans’ FS Marcus Robertson went to
Seattle. Larry Whigham is a bargain-basement option and Mike Logan and Shawn Wooden are
cheaper to ink.
CB — Terrell Buckley: The pair of FSU corners would work well in
Capers’ pressing man defense … and tell you about it.
Other options: Walt Harris, James Hasty, Darryll Lewis. |
