Texans in L.A. for next preseason test
TODAY: AT LOS ANGELES RAMS IN THIRD PRESEASON GAME, 3 P.M. TV/RADIO: KTRK; 610 AM, 100.3 FM, 101.3 FM (SPANISH)
Gaine’s mission statement as GM has been to build a roster of tough decisions
Brian Gaine’s eight months on the job as general manager may feel like eight years based on time devoted to overhauling the Texans’ personnel department and improving the roster.
With two preseason games remaining — Saturday at the Los Angeles Rams and Thursday at home against the Dallas Cowboys — Gaine is being pulled in two directions.
He oversees the roster and works closely with coach Bill O’Brien and the pro personnel department. They’re evaluating a roster that has to be reduced from 90 to 53 after the Dallas game.
With college football beginning, Gaine also is in charge of the college scouting department.
Gaine remains a scout at heart, and he’ll be on the road as much as possible evaluating college players.
Gaine is quick to credit his department heads like director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan, director of college scouting James Liipfert and director of pro personnel Rob Kisiel. As Gaine pointed out, he couldn’t do his job without them and their staffs.
“There’s a lot of good scouting experience in all areas of player personnel,” he said.
The most pressing order of business, though, is the Texans’ roster that is undergoing a transformation in Gaine’s first season after replacing longtime general manager Rick Smith.
As Gaine mentioned this week during preparations for the Rams, the last two preseason games are crucial for many players.
“There’s a lot of evaluation going on, a lot of position battles, a lot of roster battles for starting and backup jobs and especially fourth-down jobs (special teams),” Gaine said.
When evaluating the roster, depth is
paramount, and special teams figure into every decision. One of the goals has been to improve special teams. O’Brien hired highly respected Brad Seely as special-teams coordinator. Now they have to decide on which players fit what Seely wants to accomplish.
“Fourth down is a critical component as to how we shape the rest of our 53,” Gaine said. “We feel like there’s more depth and maybe more competition at more positions. That competition’s a good thing.
“With our efforts to improve team speed and athleticism and our efforts to get bigger, longer and stronger, we’re hoping that has an impact on our depth and the spots where there’s good competition.”
The Texans have important decisions to make at almost every position. Health is always an issue.
For instance, will they keep Joe Webb as the third quarterback because of his versatility?
Who will be the running back behind Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue with D’Onta Foreman likely headed for the PUP list?
Who’ll be kept at receiver behind DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Bruce Ellington and Keke Coutee? Braxton Miller, Sammie Coates Jr. or both?
Will there be a tougher cut than the defensive line?
How many linebackers and defensive backs will the Texans keep?
Decisions, decisions. Through free agency and the draft plus undrafted free agency, Gaine brought in a lot of new players. Now the evaluation period is winding down, and decisions that can impact winning and losing have to be made.
“We’ve gotten very positive returns on our new acquisitions as far as them blending in with our program,” Gaine said. “We’ve gotten a lot of work accomplished in West Virginia and since we came back to Houston.
“We’ve set a good foundation that’s given us a good jump-start on the season.”
Gaine better knock on wood because the Texans have two more preseason games before they begin the regular season Sept. 9 at New England, but they’ve been fortunate with injuries so far. After the way injuries destroyed the team last season, the Texasn are due some good luck in that area.
One goal has been achieved, at least to this point.
“The overall health of the team and ensuring we’re getting back our players healthy and strong and ready to perform when we kick off in New England,” Gaine said.
Once rosters are reduced to 53 and practice squads are set a day later, expect Gaine and his staff to still be looking for players they believe can help as the team tries to rebound from a 4-12 record.
There are certain characteristics Gaine looks for when making personnel decisions.
“There’s the physical profile, but there’s also the intangible profile — the general makeup of the athlete,” he said. “Is he a good scheme fit and program fit based on what we know about his football background and character?
“If those boxes are checked, we feel more comfortable that he can have a chance to excel in our environment.”
What Gaine wants to see in his first season isn’t complicated.
“It’s difficult to win games in this league,” he said. “My wish for our team is to play to our ability, and my focus is to never look beyond the next opponent.”