Predicting the Texans roster ahead of Preseason Week 1
2019 Houston Texans 53-man prediction
Aug 6, 2019, 5:11 pm
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The Houston Texans will kick off their preseason slate Thursday in Green Bay against the Packers. I didn't head north to face the balmy Wisconsin heat for the Texans' two joint practices against the Cheeseheads, before their Thursday night showdown.
Despite not seeing the last couple of practices, I feel like I have a good feel for where the roster is as of this moment. I've decided to lay out my first prediction for what the Texans' final 53-man roster might look like, once the rosters cuts are finished, before the kickoff to the regular season.
It's worth noting that injuries will happen and the team is most likely to make roster additions via trade, claiming guys as they are waived and/or signing guys off the street. This article should serve as a simple exercise in letting you know, based off of my sole observations, where I believe the roster stands as the Houston Texans enter Preseason Week 1.
53 -man roster
K - Ka'imi Fairbairn
Not enough is made out of how great of an addition Fairbairn has been. The kid is golden.
P - Bryan Anger
Trevor Daniel may be the safer pick here, but I like the boom or bust of Anger. I believe Anger has the bigger leg, but Daniel is more consistent and safe. Brad Seely turned the Texans' special teams into a Top 10 unit in his first season. In a game of inches, I could see Houston going with the guy that can swing the field.
LS - Jon Weeks
He plays a position that isn't the most glamorous and that's the only reason that he's not a household name.
QB - Deshaun Watson / AJ McCarron / Joe Webb
Watson is king, AJ has been a pleasant surprise (assuming the injury that saw him leave joint practices isn't severe) and Webb is a value third string quarterback that sticks due to his ability to play specials.
RB - Lamar Miller / Damarea Crockett / Karan Higdon / Cullen Gillaspia / Taiwan Jones
Lamar is the stalwart that actually looks quicker than in his past, if you can believe it. Crockett looks to impress with his size, blended with patience, vision and instincts. Higdon, another undrafted running back like Crockett, brings a stoutness and ability to get north and south quickly with great balance. Gillaspia brings the fullback position back into the fold and gives the offense even more versatility. Taiwan Jones gives the position return ability and all around special teams coverage. Jones is also another veteran, despite limited carries in his career. Overall, this is a young running back group outside of Miller and Jones.
NOTE: I'd be surprised if this is the roster come week 1 as I expect the Texans to sign, trade or claim another running back that's not on the current roster.
WR - DeAndre Hopkins / Will Fuller / Keke Coutee / Vyncint Smith / Tyron Johnson
DeAndre Carter has struggled to get healthy. In his absence, the young guys, Smith, Johnson and Steven Mitchell Jr. have stepped up. Keeping five running backs and mainly, Taiwan Jones, makes Carter's spot disappear. I couldn't get Mitchell onto the roster, but he's right there in the running with Smith and Johnson. Starting the year on the practice squad will be most likely for Mitchell and it gives the Texans insurance for injury or even struggles from the other young wideouts.
TE - Darren Fells / Jordan Thomas / Jordan Akins / Kahale Warring
It's hard to keep four tight ends, but that's what the Texans need due to their talent at the position and the versatility of the unit. Fells gives an offensive line with issues, extra protection. Thomas is that hybrid weapon that can inline block, along with move the chains and become a red zone threat. Akins is a move tight end that gives Watson another weapon in the passing game. Warring is developmental with a nice upside. While he may not factor in a lot in his rookie season, his status as a third round pick and future potential prevents the Texans from trying to slide him to the practice squad as he would be quickly picked up in the waiver process.
OL - Matt Kalil / Tytus Howard / Nick Martin / Zach Fulton / Seantrel Henderson / Max Scharping / Greg Mancz / Julien Davenport / Martinas Rankin / Roderick Johnson
Yes, 10 offensive lineman. Quantity over quality, I guess. The guy that will draw the most wide eyes is Johnson. It was a struggle to pick between Senio Kelemete and Roderick Johnson. Houston has a bigger issue at offensive tackle than on the interior in my opinion. Johnson has shown flashes and with Henderson and Davenport as the right tackle and swing tackle ahead of him, I believe it's worth keeping him around for a long season in the case that Henderson and Davenport either struggle or get bit by the injury bug.
DL - JJ Watt / Jadeveon Clowney / DJ Reader / Angelo Blackson / Charles Omenihu / Brandon Dunn / Carlos Watkins
It's difficult to leave Joel Heath off of the 53-man roster. He's an NFL player and could easily beat out Watkins for the seventh spot among the defensive line. Watkins is in year three and was always a three-year project. I wouldn't cut bait with him too early.
LB - Whitney Mercilus / Benardrick McKinney / Zach Cunningham / Dylan Cole / Brennan Scarlett / Peter Kalambayi
Scarlett could find competition in the form of a player cut from another team as they fight to get their own roster to 53. Kalambayi was a freak on special teams last season and has shown up a few times in training camp at the linebacker position.
CB - Johnathan Joseph / Bradley Roby / Aaron Colvin / Johnson Bademosi / Lonnie Johnson Jr / Briean Boddy-Calhoun
Bademosi is that special teams stud for the cornerback group and it'd be a surprise if he's not around, especially due to the lack of talent at the position that would force him off. Boddy-Calhoun needs to be on alert, even after making the 53-man roster, as the Texans will have to upgrade the position at some point. Houston needs to look for superior cornerback talent via the trade market but could settle for a roster cutdown addition.
S - Justin Reid / Tashaun Gipson / Jahleel Addae / AJ Moore
As weak as the cornerback position is, Houston really has replaced the talent at safety. Reid is a veteran, despite the fact that he's only going into year two of his career and was a third round pick. The Gipson and Addae additions were solid. Moore has been a ballhawk in training camp and can leave a mark on special teams. The Texans would be wise to play a lot of "big dime" this season as opposed to the regular dime formation that puts four cornerbacks on the field with two safeties. They're better equipped to play three safeties along with three cornerbacks in a "big dime" look.
First 5 Off:
1) Joel Heath
2) Senio Kelemete
3) Jerell Adams
4) Steven Mitchell Jr
5) DeAndre Carter
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It's no secret to Astros fans that the ascension of Hunter Brown is one of the primary reasons the team was able to rebound from a disastrous start to the season.
Astros manager Joe Espada has seen enough from Brown to start throwing around the word “ace” when talking about him.
Joe Espada on Hunter Brown: "He's having that ace feeling to him. We are expecting him to go out there and deliver what he just did. We knew all along that is in him and now he's starting to turn the corner. He's starting to have that swag where he knows 'my team needs a win.'"
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 24, 2024
And it appears the biggest key to Brown's turnaround was mixing in a two-seam fastball to keep right-handed hitters honest. Brown needed a pitch that could command the inside of the plate, which allows his other pitches to be more effective.
We learned just recently, from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, that Alex Bregman was the one that suggested the addition of the two-seam fastball to Brown's arsenal.
Come to find out, Bregman often shares advice on how to attack hitters. Or he'll ask pitchers why they chose a certain pitch in a specific situation.
This just goes to show that veteran leadership can make a big difference. Especially on a team with so many young pitchers and catchers. Bregman was able to help Brown when no pitching coach could.
For Brown, this small tweak could be the catalyst that changes the course of his career. And the Astros season for that matter.
However, some will say the difference in Brown is more about confidence than anything else. But confidence only builds after repeated success. Nobody knows where Brown would be without the two-seam fastball.
Looking ahead
If the Astros do make the playoffs, where will Espada slot Brown in the playoff rotation? Framber Valdez has the playoff experience, so he'll probably be penciled in as the number one starter.
Justin Verlander (neck) still isn't facing live batters, so it's hard to count on him. Ronel Blanco has been an All-Star level pitcher this season, but he doesn't have any experience pitching playoff games for the Astros.
So it wouldn't be surprising at all if Brown is the team's number two starter. In all likelihood, whoever is pitching the best at the end of the season may get the nod. But it's fun to discuss in the meantime.
Finally, how does Hunter Brown's arrival impact the Astros' plans at the trade deadline? And how could that affect Justin Verlander's future with the club?
Be sure to check out the video above for the full conversation!
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