Roster-cutting time
Caserio, Culley have tough decisions to make on both sides of the ball to get to 53
Now that training camp and preseason are over, the Texans have turned their attention to the start of the regular season Sept. 12 against Jacksonville at NRG Stadium.
The Texans started preparing for the Jaguars last week. Player evaluation in Saturday’s 23-16 loss to Tampa Bay was more important than winning.
General manager Nick Caserio and coach David Culley have some difficult decisions to make by Tuesday at 3 p.m., the NFL deadline for rosters to be reduced to 53.
Imagine you’re Caserio. You’ve got defensive coordinator Lovie Smith in one ear and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly in the other. Both are lobbying to keep more players on their side of the ball. Culley is playing the diplomat. Decisions, decisions.
Let’s take a look at what Caserio has done and what he might do as the roster is reduced and, one day later, he can sign as many as 16 players to the practice squad, in
cluding many he placed on waivers.
On Sunday, Caserio traded defensive end Shaq Lawson to the New York Jets for a sixthround draft choice. That was a shrewd move because Lawson was expected to be cut.
Caserio has been working the phones trying to get draft choices for players who aren’t going to make the team.
When looking at what could transpire, let’s start with quarterback. Unless Caserio sees another quarterback he likes, Tyrod Taylor is the starter and Davis Mills the backup.
Deshaun Watson should be the third quarterback who’ll be inactive on game days unless teams give the Texans a trade offer Caserio likes, which hasn’t happened in eight months.
Interesting decisions have to be made at running back. The Texans have veterans Mark Ingram II, Phillip Lindsay, David Johnson and Rex Burkhead. They also have Scottie Phillips, their leading rusher in preseason, and Buddy Howell, who made the team the last three years because of his contributions on special teams.
You know Caserio is trying to trade a back to a team with a need. Whether he can pull it off as he did with Lawson remains to be seen.
Another intriguing cut is tight end. Do they keep four and use one to double as a fullback? Do they keep former tight end Paul Quessenberry at fullback, or do they look for a veteran fullback who becomes available?
When Caserio worked for the Patriots and Culley for the Ravens, both offenses used true fullbacks. Odds are that a couple or more fullbacks will be available when rosters are reduced to 53.
At wide receiver, four are secure: Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, Nico Collins and Keke Coutee. Anthony Miller is injured and will have to be among the 53 if they plan to put him on injured reserve. Alex Erickson is a slot receiver who can return kicks.
An intriguing decision will be made on receiver Andre Roberts, who was signed because he’s a Pro Bowl return specialist. He’s been injured and has missed most of camp and all of preseason. Special teams coordinator Frank Ross has found other returners like Erickson and cornerbacks Desmond King II and Tremon Smith.
By the way, injured players have to be part of the 53-man roster before they’re placed on injured reserve and become eligible to return after missing a minimum of three regular season games. Teams can activate as many players from injured reserve as they want for the second consecutive season.
Like every offensive line coach, James Campen will campaign to keep as many of his players as possible. They might keep as few as eight.
Tackle Marcus Cannon and guard Lane Taylor, both of whom missed camp and preseason while rehabilitating knee injuries, could be moved to the reserve/physically unable to perform list. If they are, they have to miss six weeks before becoming eligible to return or being lost for the season.
Because of the way the defense recorded 11 sacks — all by linemen — that helped create 10 turnovers in three preseason games, Smith can make a strong argument for keeping as many linemen as he needs.
Teams that utilize a 4-3 base defense keep more linemen than linebackers. Smith has 12 linemen — 11 veterans and rookie tackle Roy Lopez, who registered 2½ sacks in preseason, one-half behind end Charles Omenihu’s team lead.
Outside linebacker Zach Cunningham missed the Tampa Bay preseason game because of “personal reasons,” as Culley put it.
Could Caserio be trying to trade him? Kamu Grugier-Hill started in Cunningham’s place and played well next to Christian Kirksey.
Keep in mind how much special teams influence decisions made on linebackers and defensive backs. As many as 10 and as few as eight defensive backs could be retained.
And don’t forget the 16 players who can be added to the practice squad have to clear waivers. The same rules are in place as last season. Teams can sign as many as six veterans to the practice squad, which helps ease the pain of difficult cuts. Four can be protected each week.
It won’t be surprising if Caserio signs a lot of players he placed on waivers to the Texans’ practice squad. And it also won’t be surprising if he saves a few spots for former Patriots who become available.