Watching Smithiak work this offseason has left me hungry for the next 23 weeks of football.  Specfically Texans football.  This Saturday we're finally getting the hor'dourves of this football feast. 

Sitting here writing this getting ready to watch the guy lost in Mario Williams 6'7" shadow hang out with his former QB and his own shadow problems, got me thinking about what I want to see during the Texans pre-season.

 

Continue reading this post »

I know its only preseason, but we have so few games we should savor each one. The most games your team can play is 24, if you play a wild card game and eventually advance to the super bowl. That's only one third of an NBA season, and one sixth of a MLB season. I know the preseason games don't count and the starters play very little with the exception of the third preseason game. I'm especially excited about the Texans rookies this year and I cannot wait until Saturday night. Besides if you actually attend the game, the price is the same. So why not watch out Texans on Saturday with passion and interest in guys who may or may not make the team. All I'm saying is................. HOUSTON, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

Chris at HoustonDiehards.com has upped the ante for all of us hacks in the Texans blogosphere.  Over the past month or so, he's been tinkering with some new gadgetry and it looks like all his hard work has paid off.

Continue reading this post »

For the past two years, Texans GM Rick Smith has proven to be a shrewd negotiator and an excellent judge of talent.  He was a part of the team that drafted impact rookies DT Amobi Okoye and CB Fred Bennett, as well as acquiring the talented veterans FS Will Demps and WR Andre Davis. 

Saturday morning, Rick Smith was once again being applauded for brokering a fantastic deal.  The impact of this deal could rival that of any the general manager has made to date.

Continue reading this post »

They can't all be gems, people. But according to Brooke Bentley's training camp report, your Houston Texans brought Dexter Wynn back for another tour of duty in light of Jimmy Williams' move to the injured reserve list. While this probably won't have an impact on the opening roster, it's worth noting because of Wynn's ability to contribute on special teams as well as the secondary. Wynn's a long shot to make the squad to be sure, but you never know. Some other brief thoughts, inspired by the article linked above unless otherwise noted:

1. Chris Brown practiced! I hope someone took a picture of the NFL's version of Our Lady of Fatima.

2. Speaking of miracles, that's what it's going to take for Brown and/or Mike Bell to make the team. Injured and/or winded are not exactly endearing qualities for players trying to make a Gary Kubiak-coached team. I like to think of C. Brown and M. Bell as gazelles, and Smithiak as a cheetah.

3. Don't play 'Dre on Saturday night, Kubes. There's no possible way it can be worth the risk.

4. Call me a sadist, but my first response when I read the report about the shoving match between the OL and DL was, "I really hope Travis Johnson went Steve Smith on someone." Alas, I ain't living that right.

5. Real, live, exhibition football that doesn't mean anything is less than a week away. I need a change of pants, stat.

We've been getting some great Fan Posts and Fan Shots here, and we want to recognize them.  We'll be moving some of them to the main page so everyone can see and discuss them.  Obviously, it'll be pretty subjective.  If you think your Fan Post(s) merit the front page and they haven't made it there, e-mail us at battleredblog@gmail.com.

 

This community keeps growing, and we're working to bring you the best Texans coverage possible.  The great part is that you're a part of that.  The bigger and more engaged this community gets, the better coverage we can provide.  When you break a story or have a fabulous insight, we want everyone to know.

 

It's because of you that agents listen when we call for interview requests.  They know who you are.

December 2, 2007.  3rd & 7.  Rosenfels is back in the shotgun.  The ball is snapped and Rosenfels passes over the middle to Ron Dayne for a short gain.  Fred Weary goes down with a knee injury.  Back in Houston, Mike Brisiel saw it all on TV.  His stomach turned.  One of his teammates and good friends was hurt.  As he kept watching, he saw Chris White come in and also go down with an injury.  

It was a bittersweet day for Mike.  He had just seen 3 teammates injured, but in the back of his mind, he knew that the team would be calling him up.  He'd been working on the practice squad for 2 years, competing week in and week out for his chance.  And when it came, he took it.

Game day came, and Brisiel took the field with the starters.  He spent most of the game working against Kevin Carter.  Mike said he'd always remember that first game and having to move Carter off the ball because he was so big and had such long arms.  Yet as we all saw, the Texans and Mike Brisiel got it done.

Continue reading this post »

Megan Manful of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Texans have signed free agent running back Mike Bell.  For the Texans, it adds another former Bronco who is familiar with the offensive system being implemented by head coach Gary Kubiak. 

Whether or not this means the end of the the Chris Brown experiment in Houston is yet to be seen, however it does indicate that the Texans are serious about establishing a consistant running game in 2008.

Manful also reported that S Brandon Mitchell was released to make room for the newly acquired running back.

Feel free to leave your opinions of the signing in the comments below.

(h/t to Robb for breaking the story in the fanpost section)

Wednesday’s practice session came and went without much in the way of breaking news.  However, there was a report from the Houston Texans' own Brooke Bentley that said free agent running back Mike Bell would be paying the Texans a visit Thursday morning. 

As Texans training camp marches along, a handful of players continue to nurse injuries while others are making a case for being a part of the 2008 starting lineup.

Continue reading this post »