According to Gary Kubiak on the Monday 5:00 Coach's Show (live shows found here) and Kubiak's Monday press conference, Domanick Davis may end up not being on the 53 man roster for the Texans. This is what he said at the presser:
"I don't know. That is going to be a big call this week. It'll be interesting to see how he comes back. I know he ran well while we were gone. That was encouraging. We'll see what happens this week. We'll probably have a sit-down Thursday before the game with himself, possibly his agent, the doctors, and everyone to just have a big meeting about where we are at. You won't see him playing this week. For him to miss all this time, it's not like all of a sudden he's going to jump up there and play. It'll be a tough decision for the final 53 for us as a team, and we'll make that decision in the best interest of Domanick. I could probably have a better answer for you this time next week."
The Texans will be doing their final roster cut downs on Friday, a day before the deadline.
As I discussed before, and what most fantasy sites have not been following closely, is that Domanick Davis' knee has been a concern for the team, even before the draft. He had arthroscopic surgery before the season, practiced the first day of camp, but had immediate swelling in his knee. He obtained an outside MRI that gave him the good news that there was nothing he had that required another surgery, but that he had a "knee bone bruise" and that his knee may never end up feeling the same as it did prior to the surgery.
I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on the web, but apparently an MRI showing a bone bruise is something that can be very serious, is difficult to treat and predict healing and may lead to posttraumatic arthritis. It's handy for a running back to have his knees.
Edit: After I posted this, the Houston Chronicle's John McClain wrote this good article that I thought should be added here. He explains:
Davis can't be placed on the physically unable to perform list because he passed the team's physical before training camp.
The gossip as stated by John McClain on his radio show a couple of weeks ago is that the Texans believe that Davis' knee will never feel right again, and that his issues at this point are more mental than physical. That Davis is just going to have to get used to the fact that his knee will never feel the same when he runs. It is possible that the Texans feel this way, though just my non-doctorly review of the medical literature suggests how difficult it can be coming back from a bone bruise that shows up on an MRI.
It might also be that this latest comment at the press conference is more of a nature of lighting a fire under Davis to get him to practice. The Texans throughout camp have been very harsh in their assessments of players who haven't performed up to expectations, such as Travis Johnson during the OTAs. Personally, I don't think this is the case with Davis, given these further comments by Kubiak:
"I'm very concerned. There is not much we can do about it, but I am very concerned about that situation. I'm more concerned about him, to be honest with you. Selfishly I could sit here and understand our problems at running back and playing with those young kids, but I see a guy that has done everything the doctors have asked him to do. There's a guy that walked out there the first day of training camp and was feeling great, excited about the season, excited about what we're doing. I watched him work for two days and then watched the knee respond the way it did. I know it's been very frustrating for him. All we can do is be there for him. We're concerned about him right now and doing what is right for him."
Also according to the press conference, Kubiak says that Wali Lundy and Vernand Morency will be a part of the team and that the Texans will continue to evaluate running backs that may be available after Tuesday's cuts.
The AP article on the Davis roster situation further suggests that:
If Davis does not return this season, it will lead to more questions about whether the Texans made the right decision by passing on Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush to pick defensive end Mario Williams first in the draft.
Some might see it that way, but I don't. My contrarian view is found here where I make the point that Davis' knee situation illustrates how in a salary capped league, you might not want to spend first pick money on the position that takes the most beating on the field. In addition, at least at Week 3 of the preseason, Kubiak is trying to show that he can make his style offense work with his type of running backs. The 6th round rookie Lundy is ranked 6th in the league for rushing yards, and 3rd round second year player Morency is ranked 9th. Bush is currently 29th. I'm not contending that Lundy and Morency are better players than Bush, but that maybe they are just a better fit for more of a system-oriented offense.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-28-2006 @ 10:01PM
BeaverRam said...
Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!...
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8-28-2006 @ 10:12PM
Stephanie Stradley said...
BeaverRam,
Your comments are starting to concern me. Do you have a reading comprehension problem? Just wondering.
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8-28-2006 @ 10:28PM
BeaverRam said...
Reading comprehension, problem, no. Problem with Reggie Bush (sorry for assuming you would know I was referring to Reggie Bush and not Reggie Jackson) not being on the team that needed him most - yes! Reading comprehension problem? I believe I read that if Dom doesn't make the roster, the Reggie BUSH controversy will be in full effect. How is me promoting Reggie Bush not relevant? Please do tell.
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8-28-2006 @ 10:33PM
Stephanie Stradley said...
In this post, I gave numerous reasons and links to explain that Reggie Bush is not the greatest need for Kubiak's style offense and given the state of the Texans defense last year.
And your response was Reggie cubed. And then that the Texans needed Reggie Bush the most.
Actually, locally there is more discussion of the QB position than the running back position.
Sigh, you can lead a horse to water...oh well...
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8-28-2006 @ 10:58PM
BeaverRam said...
Must..have..water...Ah hell, I'm just jealous that you're such a better writer than I. Back to the stable I go!
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8-29-2006 @ 12:23AM
RHill said...
Stephanie, don't get upset that BeaverRam continues to believe that Bush would've been the right pick for the Texans. Although your post does a very good job of explaining why the Texans' decision to take Williams was the right choice, it certainly doesn't prohibit others from having other beliefs.
And I'm certainly still in the boat that the Texans should've chosen Bush, particularly if they knew of Davis's injuries. It's not just a matter of choosing a player at "the position that takes the most beating on the field," but taking a player that is the most exciting rookie since (at elast) Michael Vick. Players like Reggie Bush mean more than just X's and O's, they mean dollar signs for organizations.
Guess my point is relatively simple - if you're gonna post a blog, don't be shocked when others disagree.
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8-29-2006 @ 12:39AM
Stephanie Stradley said...
Nah, I understand about disagreement. I am just trying to create dialogue that goes beyond the superficial. It's cool when that happens in blog comments. (You should see some of the *interesting* comments on my other blog. LOL.).
New Orleans needs excitement and ticket sales and they got that. The Texans, without Reggie Bush, have almost eclipsed the record for the most season tickets sold for any sporting event in Texas, close to breaking their record in 2005. All the games since their inception have sold out, and the Texans per Forbes is the third most valuable franchise in the league.
After going 2-14 last season, the only excitement I want as a season ticket holder is to see wins. That wasn't going to happen with the last place defense in the league.
Time will tell whether the Texans made the right decision, but I understand the reasons behind it, and think other people should hear the point of view that is usually ignored by the ESPN highlight peeps.
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8-29-2006 @ 8:15AM
Stephanie Stradley said...
Ferguson I believe will be an excellent lineman and one that could excel in a zone blocking scheme, but that would be a waste. A ZBS needs mobile lineman, but from a salary cap perspective, getting the one domanant guy on your line isn't as important for a ZBS as it is when the pocket mostly stays in one place.
Rookie Olineman make mistakes and probably have steep learning curves like defensive ends. There have been DEs who have made immediate impacts, and though a lot of it doesn't show up in stats, as a fan you can already see what Williams is doing is effecting play.
The Texans were ranked pretty much dead last last year in defense. They needed more up front help given their switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3. The Texans have been fortunate to draft two promising Olinemen in the third round of the draft, and though they may not end up having the individual talent of Brick, hopefully as a part of a unit they'll suit the Texans needs.
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8-29-2006 @ 8:16AM
Stephanie Stradley said...
Ferguson I believe will be an excellent lineman and one that could excel in a zone blocking scheme, but that would be a waste. A ZBS needs mobile lineman, but from a salary cap perspective, getting the one domanant guy on your line isn't as important for a ZBS as it is when the pocket mostly stays in one place.
Rookie Olineman make mistakes and probably have steep learning curves like defensive ends. There have been DEs who have made immediate impacts, and though a lot of it doesn't show up in stats, as a fan you can already see what Williams is doing is effecting play.
The Texans were ranked pretty much dead last last year in defense. They needed more up front help given their switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3. The Texans have been fortunate to draft two promising Olinemen in the third round of the draft, and though they may not end up having the individual talent of Brick, hopefully as a part of a unit they'll suit the Texans needs.
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8-29-2006 @ 10:58AM
KL said...
Just the prospect of seeing Peyton Manning get harrassed for the rest of his career makes Mario Williams the obvious choice.
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8-29-2006 @ 2:21PM
Andrew Fuerstenberger said...
Speaking of the QB controversy, I am rooting for my fellow alumni Sage Rosenfels. He lead Miami to a couple of big wins last year and if given the shot to start I think he can be a very solid QB. Plus, given the shortage of former Cyclones in the NFL, I have to hype my guy :) I picked up Lundy the 1st day after our draft waivers were up and I picked up Morency. The DD owner is begging for a trade at this point. I am getting an Andre Johnson and TJ Duckett offer. Any takers? My other two backs are LJ and Chester the Molester. Let me know.
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8-29-2006 @ 2:52PM
JC Steeler Fan said...
The Texans are the dumbest team in football. Of course you take Bush. Passing on him for some Defensive bust will go down as one of the worst draft moves in history. Whenever a team in the future makes a dumb draft choice the announcer will say "they just pulled a Mario Williams". Even if New Orleans goes 3-13 this year, which they could do given their awful defense, I am going to watch a lot of their games because I want to see Bush make big plays. Unless the Texans are playing the Steelers, I have no interest in watching them play. One last thing, While we all are impressed by Lundi in the preseason, does anybody really think he's a legitimate starting RB in the NFL? Hardly.
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8-29-2006 @ 3:44PM
Stephanie Stradley said...
JC-
Hmmm, me personally, I would rather watch my team win than go through another losing season even if they were flashy losers, but I'm funny that way.
Rumor has it that the Texans tried to trade up to the end of the first round for another Williams--running back DeAngelo Williams. It didn't go through, which is fine given that the Texans used their second pick on DeMeco Ryans who has looked fabu in the preseason.
BTW, not all successful backs in the NFL were the #1 pick in the draft. Terrell Davis, like Wali Lundy was a 6th round pick by the Broncos, and he seemed to do just fine in their system.
Why is it that Mario Williams was seen as a monster prior to the draft, someone that anybody in the draft would have coveted for their teams, but just because he was the #1 pick, he is considered a bust by some before he plays a regular single down? Mostly a rhetorical question, no need to answer. Tho my own theory is that most people are stupid and watch too much TV. YRMV.
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8-29-2006 @ 4:13PM
mars said...
"...trying to create dialogue that goes beyond the superficial." Thanks to Deadspin I think I've found some serious blogging goodness about the Texans. Finally. And yes I have drunk the Kool-Aid and think not taking Reggie Reggie Reggie and drafting Mario was actually borderline brilliant. Look forward to checking out this site early and often.
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8-29-2006 @ 6:35PM
Tommy said...
Hey Ilanin, I'm sure if you took a poll in Detroit you wouldn't find too many people that think the Lions wasted the 3rd overall pick in '89 on Barry Sanders.
But Green Bay opted to use the #2 pick on OT Tony Mandarich, and were chastized at the time because they had need at the RB position, much like the Texans. Which team regrets their decision do you think?
I went over the last 25 drafts just to see how well the highest-picked RB's did compared to the defensive lineman that so many people seem to covet. I am only considering players picked in the top ten of the draft.
Way, way back in 1982 the Patriots selected Ken Sims, a DE, #1 overall. Running backs Gerald Riggs for Atlanta and some guy named Marcus Allen went #9 nd #10, respectively. Some of you miht remember Allen, he was a USC tailback coming off a Heisman Trophy as well. In 3 seasons he was MVP of Super Bowl XVIII. I'm sure the Raiders don't regret that pick. And Riggs only rushed for over 8,000 yards and went to the Pro Bowl 3 times. He had 1,719 yards rushing in 1985.
I'm sure you remember Eric Dickerson. He went #2 overall after John Elway in 1983. He set the rookie record for rushing yards in '83 with 1,808, with 18 TD's. Then he eclipsed O.J. Simpson's rushing record with 2,105 yards, which still stands. I don't think the Rams regret selecting Dickerson.
In 1986 the Buccaneers selected Bo Jackson. Even though Jackson nver played a down for the Bucs, he was hands-down the best player in his draft. I do not think if the Bucs had selected Tony Casillas, listed as a Nose Tackle who went 2nd overall to the Falcons, they would have been happy. Jackson may have had a long and promising careeer in Atlanta instead.
Jackson is of course known for his dual careers in baseball and football, and had a great but short NFL career with the Raiders before a hip injury ended his football career in 1991.
Okay, we found a bust. In 1987 the Houston Oilers selected Alonzo Highsmith 3rd overall. He would have 3 lacklustre seasons with them compromised by injury.
In 1989 the Detroit Lions picked Barry Sanders 3rd overall. As per above, they're still pretty happy with that. MVP's, 2,000 yards rushing, spot in Canton, etc.
in 1990 the Jets screwed up and picked Blair Thomas #2 overall. I'm not sure he has been heard from since. DT Cortez Kennedy was picked 3rd by the Seahawks and yes, I'm sure the Jets want a do-over on that one.
in '92 the Browns (surprised) picked FB Tommy Vardell 9th overall. He almost slipped out of the top 10 but counts nonetheless. This one shouldn't count, because come on, it's Cleveland...
On a similar note the Cardinals picked bust Garrison Hearst #3 overall in 1993. Hearst had some good seasons for Cincinnati and the 49ers once he escaped the desert, but that's a bad pick at 3rd. But again, it's the Cradinals, come on...
in '94 the Colts picked Marshall Faulk #2 overall, no regrets there -- oh, except for the Cincinnati Bengals who picked monster bust DE Dan "Big Daddy" Wilikinson with the number one pick. Wilkinson sucked up a signing bonus and cap space similar to the way he could suck up the post-game buffet table. But, I digress.
The following year the Bengals got their RB at #1 with Ki-Jana Carter, who proceeded to bust up his knee in training camp and was never the same. Nonetheless, he's a bust RB pick and the Bengals could've used another Carter, Kevin. The DE was picked by the Rams at #6 that same year.
In '96 the Rams went for the RB and got the often-arrested Lawrence Phillips 6th overall. He blew several chances and even got himself kicked out of the CFL, where even Ricky Williams is embraced these days...so far the 90's weren't kind to RB's.
Honourable mention to Warrick Dunn in 1997. The diminutive RB went 12th overall to the Bucs, and should have gone higher. Can't say as I blame anyone after the poor track record the previous 7 draft though...
1998, the trend continues. Curtis Enis goes #5 to the Bears. Can't remember what happened to that guy.
1999 made up for it. After welcoming Cleveland back to the NFL by giving them #1 overall, they continued screwing things up selecting Tim Couch (was he an armchair QB or what?) 1st overall. The RB class includes Edgerrin James at #4 and Sir Smoke-a-lot Ricky Williams at #5. Say what you want about Rickey but these are two solid picks for the ages. No defensive lineman here. (Editor's note: the other Ohio screw-ups Cincinnati pick QB Akili Smith at #3, passing on James or Williams -- Carson Palmer is 4 years away, guys)
in 2000 the RB's continue to bounce back with Jamal Lewis at #5 overall. He has a Lawrence Phillips kinda thing in 2005 but he's still solid, with a Super Bowl and a 2,000 yard season unde his belt. Cleveland picked first overall and messed it up again getting DE Courtney Brown -- (they needed Jim Brown).
in 2001 #5 is a solid spot for the first RB taken with San Diego getting LaDainian Tomlinson, as solid a RB as there has been the past 5 seasons. Oh and the Browns took the first defensive lineman two picks ahead of Tomlinson. That would be total bust Gerard Warren at #3 overall. (Apparently even U. of Miami products aren't immune to the Cleveland jinx).
Hey, 2002 and the Houston Texans arrive. They could have picked that "franchise defensive end" everyone glows about, but they pass on sure thing DE Julius Peppers and pull a Cleveland and pick QB David Carr. (Is this why everyone has their panties in a bunch about Mario Williams now?) Hell, even Houstonians have to admit the Panthers would be nuts to trade Peppers for Carr now, right?
2003, there were no high draft picks of RB's, but the Saints messed up and picked a Big Daddy of their own, Jonathan Sullivan, who did next to nothing except at the dessert cart. They swapped him to New England this off-season for Bethel Johnson and Sullivan will be lucky to escape Bill Bellichick's next round of cuts from what I hear...
In 2005 you had 3 high draft picks of RB's -- even though they are mostly unproven, I'd say #2 Ronnie Brown is ready to bust out after Sir Smoke-a-lot screwed up and left down in a cloud of -- well, you know. #4 overall Cedric Benson has the makings of a bust but could still turn things around. And #5 overall Carnell "Cadillac" Williams looked like the real deal 3 games into the 2005 season, but then injuries took a toll. All things said, the RB's look solid from this crop.
Look, the draft is a crapshoot. But there have been more solid RB's taken at the top of the draft than DE's. For every Blair Thomas there has been a Steve Emtman.
But you can't go wrong with the likes of Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Jamal Lewis, LaDainian Tomlinson and Ronnie Brown.
Yes, you might get a Lawrence Phillips or a Ki-Jana Carter. But no more than you would get a Ken Sims or a Courtney Brown.
To that end, name a great RB the last few years that is not a top 10 pick in their draft. Terrell Davis? Sure. Priest Holmes & Larry Johnson? Yep. Curtis Martin? For sure. Core Dillon? Definately. Maybe Willis McGahee, who was a top 3 pick before he busted his knee in his final college game and was a question mark at his draft. That's all I could come up with.
The argument against picking Regie Bush is a silly one. Yes, maybe Mario Williams will be great, but not right away. Houston fans have waited long enough. Apparently the Texans knew Domanick Davis' knee was hurting and still passed.
And as a forethought to the mentioning of "wouldn't you want a Reggie White?" Sure, Houston. Why not do what the Packers did and sign your defensive stalwart as a free agent. It was the Eagles that got White in the USFL dispersal draft in 1984, 4th overall. The Packers grabbed White 8 years later as a free agent. His glory came soon after that...
Hey, when is Juilus Peppers' contract up?
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8-29-2006 @ 7:16PM
hmm said...
i was looking for information on this and you did a great job. Since you seem very informed, I was wondering if you would speculate as to who possible suitors would be for davis IF he were to not make the roster?
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8-29-2006 @ 7:22PM
BCRAMP said...
I THINK THE HOUSTON FANS SHOULD SUPPORT GARY'S OFFENSE. YOU NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN WHAT THE BRONCOS HAVE PROVEN YEAR END AND YEAR OUT. ITS NOT THE RUNNINIG BACK IT'S THE OFENSIVE SYSTEM.
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8-30-2006 @ 12:11AM
Skipper "Skippy" Skipperson said...
Mario's a hoss.
Don't worry. It's not that I've changed my mind. Just want to see if you can say ho here.
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8-30-2006 @ 6:32AM
Ilanin said...
Disclaimer: I'm a Steelers fan. What I know about Texans football can be written on a stamp.
I have, however, seen a lot of the Broncos system, and I've got a fair idea as to what Kubiak seems to be doing. I agree with the basic premise that running backs are fungible (well, I would. See under Parker, Willie and undrafted free agents), so drafting Bush would have been a waste of the top pick.
I don't agree that Ferguson wasn't suited to the zone-blocking scheme. The Denver zone-blocking scheme likes lighter, mobile linesman, and Ferguson is certainly that - in one of the Jets' preseason games he got a block in 30 yards downfield! Zone-blocking schemes also have occasional difficulties in pass protection (though admittedly in Atalanta they're not helped by who the QB is) and Ferguson would certainly have helped there.
Now, it may be that Kubiak was thinking that he can generally pick up zone-blocking linemen significantly cheaper than with a #1 pick, and that's probably true; but Ferguson would have represented a massive and more immeadite upgrade on the Texans' line. Williams is doubtless a good pass rusher, but it tends to take much longer for a DE to come good in the NFL, and Kubiak has to know that after passing on Bush, there's going to be a big demand for a player who makes an immeadite impact.
Oh, and in terms that Mr. Ram can understand...would you rather have Reggie White or Barry Sanders? Only one of these players won a ring, remember...
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8-30-2006 @ 8:06AM
Tommy said...
Ilanin, before you get on the "Reggie White won a ring" bandwagon, don't forget White won that ring for his second team and second league. He had a short USFL stint with the Memphis Showboats and was then plucked in the 1984 NFL supplemental draft by the Eagles. He signed with the Packers as a free agent in '93.
So to compare Mario Williams to Reggie White is a stretch.
To make a fair Reggie White-type comparison, let's look maybe 4 years from now and the Texans finally have a contending team and they sign a DE in his prime that's a sure thing, say like Julius Peppers or Kevin Williams.
That's a great way to get a franchise DE. Just throw money at it...hey, sounds like the Cowboys doesn't it?
There are just as many Defensive Lineman busts at the top of the draft as there are RB busts, so one or both of Bush or Williams could be a failure. The draft is a crapshoot.
Some of the busts? At RB, there's Alonzo Highsmith, Oilers, #3 in '87, Blair Thomas, Jets, #2 in '90. Cleveland picked RB Tommy Vardell #9 overall in '92, Cardinals selected Garrison Hearst #3 overall in '93, the Bungles -- err, Bengals, picked Ki-Jana Carter #1 in '95, the Rams picked RB Lawrence Phillips #6 in '96, and the Bears picked Curtis Enis #5 overall in '98.
How about the defensive lineman you ask? The Patriots selected DE Ken Sims #1 overall in 1982, passing on USC tailback Marcus Allen who went #10 to the Raiders.
Dallas picked DT Russell Maryland #1 in 1991 and Cleveland followed that up with DT Eric Turner at #2. Both players were average at best and not nearly franchise players. Hard to believe players like Ricky Watters, Brett Favre and Aeneas Willaims weren't first rounders in this draft.
Indianapolis selected DT Steve Emtman with the first pick in 1992, and the Bengals picked DE Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson #1 in 1994. The Raiders picked DT Darrell Russell #2 overall in '97. DE Andre Wadsworth was picked #3 by Arizona in '98.
In 2000 Cleveland picked DE Courtney Brown first overall. They followed it up by blowing the 3rd overall pick the next year with DT Gerard Warren in 2001.
So there's no guarantee no matter which way you go. Personally, I like the running back angle, because the rewards are high and immediate. I think Texans fans have suffered long enough.
Besides, if DE's are so highly regarded by the organization, why didn't they spend their initial draft pick in 2002 on DE Julius Peppers? He was as sure a thing as there was at the time. Instead they opted for QB David Carr, even though they had no offensive line to protect him.
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