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Texans Rosterology: Pre-Training Camp Edition Making the 53 man roster for any NFL team is tough work. The uphill battle begins when you walk in the building during OTAs and minicamp; it does not end until September 1st Womens Brandon Dunn Jersey , when the league mandates roster cuts. There are some important dates ahead in the football season, but roster cuts are always part of the more interesting narratives in the offseason. Last year started a new era in the NFL, one where there is only one roster cut - from 90 to 53 - instead of a preliminary cut to 75 after Week 3 of the preseason. This change allows every player on the roster to get a better look by the franchise they signed with, but it consequently blurs the line for us to see who has separated themselves from the pack at training camp.As a result, every Monday and Friday until the first 53-man roster is released I will deliver to you updates on the players at training camp who are battling for the final spots on the team. The last spots on the roster are always up for grabs, and as the Texans found out (and the Eagles demonstrated) last year, having depth can make or break your season. The Texans have 90 men on the roster as of now. The battle for the last 8-10 spots on the team will be a vigorous competition between unproven veterans looking to prolong their career in the NFL and newcomers looking to begin their career in the NFL. For more clarification, I’ll list out the supposed depth chart as the roster would stand today at the end of this article each week. Safe, But In Position BattlesStephen AndersonAnderson was good for about one or two catches every game this past season. Will that workload be increased now that C.J. Fiedorowicz is gone?Will Anderson’s targets get gobbled up by the many other mouths to feed? The Texans have four tight ends with legitimate claims to roster spots, but there may be only three spots to be had. Anderson in his third season must make leaps in route running and blocking to see more time on the field. Corey MooreThis past season was a streaky one for Corey. He started the season as a major contributor in the secondary, playing 68.8% and 85.9% of the defensive snaps in the Texans’ first two games. After that, he played less and less until he was placed on IR during the last week of the season. Moore is used to battling for a roster spot; his entire career since being signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Texans in 2015 hasn’t given him any reason to feel like he’s a lock for the roster. He is now up against Kevin Johnson, Kurtis Drummond, and a flurry of rookie defensive backs looking to start their careers.Alfred BlueThe Love Ya (Alfred) Blue days are still rolling along as the Texans re-signed Blue to a one-year contract about three months ago, With D’Onta Foreman’s injury last season, Blue stepped up and was a relatively productive backup running back. His return to Houston for another season is due to the trepidation behind both Foreman and Tyler Ervin’s injury recovery and potential availability for the start of the season. Blue could easily seal his spot on the roster with a quality preseason of good reps, or he could be the first to fall off the 53-man roster when the younger, more agile running backs get back to health.Tyler ErvinAnother running back on this list shows that there is not much confidence in this entire group. I said earlier in the offseason that Ervin would make this team over Braxton Miller, and I have not seen anything that changes my mind about that. The injury-prone running back really must flash his talents in the coming weeks, because the Texans have given him a ton of slack after putting him on IR for the past two years. I am definitely an Ervin fan, but the Texans cannot waste their time on a third-year project. Last Four InTreston DecoudThe move from corner to safety should fit Decoud’s skill set better, but may not increase his playing time by much. Although Decoud was a renowned tackler at Oregon State, he must prove that he can be a long-term option for this team. Young safeties take time to develop - and given the circumstances and having seen his play last season - Decoud should be on the roster come September 1st, but he needs to show out during training camp.Kyle FullerFuller was a sufficient guard late in the season when everyone was injured. He is a massive figure and is a prototypical guard in this offense. The biggest need for the Texans is on the offensive line; if Fuller could develop into even a rotational guard piece, it would take a giant load off. Coming from Baylor, Fuller’s technique was definitely in need of reconstruction. I wrote previously that I believe he will become a long lasting part of the Texans’ offense with some time to develop.Braxton MillerProbably the best match-up of the offseason will be Braxton vs. Keke Coutee. We have been waiting awhile for Braxton to turn the corner in his NFL career. Watch any highlight video of Miller in college and you will immediately start dreaming of that athleticism on the same field with Deshaun Watson. The slot receiver battle for Houston will definitely be one to watch. As of now, Miller is in, but one slip up and he is a free agent.Joe Webb IIIWebb’s here because the Texans do not like to keep more than two quarterbacks on the active roster at a time - I do not know why since we have such a GREAT history of healthy QBs.Webb can contribute on special teams as well Jordan Akins Jersey White , which makes him a unique option to have in Houston. If Watson stays healthy and the team has other needs, Webb could be placed on the practice squad or jettisoned fairly quickly.First Four OutKurtis DrummondThe Texans made the secondary a priority this past offseason. Adding Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid, combined with Kareem Jackson switching to safety, immediately swipes roster spots away from other defensive backs. Drummond played only 7.23% of the plays on defense and was primarily a special teams asset last year. Although Drummond has been with the Texans for a couple years now, he will be in a dogfight to make the roster.Sammie CoatesThere are a lot of factors that could affect Coates’ future with the Texans, like the tight end battle, injury, and changes in the offense, just to name a few. All of those will be deemed insignificant if Coates can resurrect his career during training camp by demonstrating his top-level speed and decent hands. He needs to be more than a Will Fuller backup plan - he has to be a deep ball threat as well as a red zone target. Don't sleep on Coates, but as of now, it is an uphill battle for him.Jermaine Kelly Jr. Rookie seventh round draft picks have a hard time making this, or nearly any, roster. The Texans have a history of drafting defensive backs late in the draft, so it will be interesting to see if Kelly Jr. is a playmaker or not. We could desperately use him on special teams and in nickel packages. He’s a tall corner, but he does not have the athleticism to keep up with top level receivers. Due to depth and unknown talent, I have Kelly on the outside looking in.Chis ThompsonI like what Chris Thompson has to offer: a speedy receiver who runs good routes in the middle of the field. The numbers game has Thompson on the free agent market after camp, but you can tell the Texans see him as a weapon and do not want to give up too quickly on his career. Biggest RiserTerry SwansonI have been high on Swanson since the Texans signed him as an UDFA. Even Swanson’s former teammate Kareem Hunt has voiced his own excitement about Swanson when he told “Good Morning Football” that “this young cat has got some skills”. It won’t take long for a running back to shine in this system, and Swanson could quickly make a move up the depth chart in the coming weeks.Biggest FallerKurtis DrummondSee above.The Texans have acquired talent that will leapfrog Drummond on the depth chart, but his reliability on special teams makes him hard to move on from. With that, here is the current projected Texans’ 53-man roster:LDE: J.J. Watt, Carlos WatkinsNT: D.J Reader, Brandon Dunn,RDE: Christian Covington, Joel HeathLOLB: Whitney Mercilus, Brennan Scarlett, Peter KalambayiILB: Benardrick McKinney, Brian PetersILB: Zach Cunningham, Dylan ColeROLB: Jadeveon Clowney Braxton Miller Jersey , Duke EjioforCB: Aaron Colvin, Kevin JohnsonCB: Jonathan Joseph, Johnson BademosiFS: Justin Reid, Kareem Jackson, Treston DecoudSS: Tyrann Mathieu, Corey MooreQB: Deshaun Watson, Brandon Weeden, Joe Webb IIIFB: Jay ProschRB: Lamar Miller, D’Onta Foreman, Alfred Blue, Tyler ErvinTE: Stephen Anderson, Ryan Griffin, Jordan Akins, Jordan ThomasWR: DeAndre Hopkins, Keke Coutee, Braxton Miller WR: Will Fuller, Bruce EllingtonLT: Julie’n Davenport, Kendall LammLG: Zach Fulton, Kyle FullerC: Nick Martin, Greg ManczRG: Senio KelemeteRT: Seantrel Henderson, Martinas RankinLS: Jon WeeksK: Ka’imi FairbairnP: Shane Lechler The Houston Texans roster can still stand an upgrade or two..." Red Zone PlayRed Zone Play: Best of the Rest (Part I)New,6commentsThe Houston Texans roster can still stand an upgrade or two... CDTWith just about everyone handing in a below average to failing off-season grade for the Houston Texans, and glaring holes still visible to anyone with a passing eye for NFL team construction, it’s not a stretch to think the Texans might still bring in some more players to help in 2019. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some players that are still out there that, theoretically, could still come along and be the best teammate they can be... Cornerback Morris ClaiborneHouston still needs a solid upgrade in the defensive backfield and while Claiborne isn’t the next Deion Sanders, he’s certainly able to add depth Whitney Mercilus Jersey , savvy and veteran leadership to a cornerback room that spent most of last season getting torched. Claiborne has started 73 of his possible 77 games during his career, only a few more than Kevin Johnson (sic) which makes his best ability - his availability - an asset to whatever team signs him. Since Houston is one injury away from calling guys off the couch this season, getting ahead of the curve now makes sense. Defensive Tackle Muhammad WilkersonAnother solid player with a stout, injury-free career. Wilkerson wasn’t re-signed by the Green Bay Packers this off season, although rumors swirl that that Pack is looking to bring him back once they get a handle on their cap situation and projected roster. With J.J. Watt nearing the twilight of his career, bringing in a guy like Wilkerson, or even Ndamukong Suh to force teams to think twice before double-teaming Watt and Jadeveon Clowney makes a lot of sense. Sure, Suh isn’t the Captain “Boy Scout” America persona Houston usually goes for, but a little bit of nasty along the defensive line might be the spark this defense needs to get over the top. Offensive Tackle Donald PennWhile 36 years old is a bit long in the tooth for offensive linemen (or any NFL player to be honest) Penn most likely still has gas in the tank, can offer a lot of wisdom to the likes of Tytus Howard and Max Scharping and can play both left and right tackle. He aged out of Oakland, and is most likely still on the couch due to age, but that doesn’t mean he’s done. For a team like the Houston Texans, who are clearly thinking about the future instead of the right now, Penn can help bridge the gap between Deshaun Watson’s lung injury and a future with a solid, young offensive line that protects the franchise on nearly every down. Running Back Alfred MorrisSpeaking of Captain America and the Avengers, Alfred Morris is a clean cut, high honor, solid role model kind of guy who might offer a great change of pace for RB1 Lamar Miller. In 2018 Morris ran with a 3.9 yard per carry average, which is enough to move the chains. He’s certainly not going to light the world on fire, but he won’t burn it down either. And, anyone who thinks he’s not a solid upgrade over Alfred Blue hasn’t been paying attention. Other Potential Houston Texans Roster Upgrades:Wide Receiver Jermaine Kearse - he can fill the gap Demaryius Thomas was to fill last yearRunning Back Jay Ajayi - a 4.1 yards per carry average might be just what the A-Gap needsOffensive Tackle Jared Veldheer - at 6’8” 321 lbs, if he just makes edge rushers run around him, it gives Watson a few extra seconds in the pocket. Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn - a little veteran savvy and swagger can’t hurt, right? What do you think? Is there a player or players on this list you think the Houston Texans should target? Have someone else in mind? Give us your thoughts in the comments box(Stay tuned for part II)