Texans are Regular Season Ready
The Texans officially wrapped up their Preseason on Thursday night, beating the Minnesota Vikings, a foe who they will face later on in the regular season, Head Coach Gary Kubiak decidied to rest his starters so that backups fighting for a roster spot could compete and earn a spot on the 53 man roster.
It seems to go without saying, but the show was ultimately stolen by kick returner Trindon Holliday, and running back Justin Forsett. Holliday returning a punt for 76 yards for a touchdown and Forsett rushing for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
On Friday, when the Texans released the final roster, Holliday had earned the roster spot he worked so hard for this Preseason, also making the team, Forsett, and in one of the biggest shockers to fans was that former University of Houston quarterback Case Keenum was cut from the roster in favor of John Beck who outplayed Keenum in the final game against Minnesota, but to many fans, it seems that Keenum was the logical choice to go with since Beck has six years of experience and was in a system similar to Houston’s during his tenure in Washington with the Redskins.
“I think John had an excellent camp,” Kubiak said. “After what we went through last year, obviously it’s a concern of mine going with two… I thought last night, (Beck) played exceptional. He gives us some security there. He knows our system.”
“I think he (Beck) played better than he was practicing.” Kubiak said. “When he went on the field at Carolina, I thought he played very very good. We were trying to get Matt (Schaub) going, so there weren’t a lot of (practice reps) going around, but every time I give him a chance to move the ball at practice or to go into a preseason game, he’s (Beck) handled himself like a pro and he has started some games in this league and it gives us a comfort zone to fall back on. I think he earned it, I think he did a good job.”
“Why would they get rid of the young Case Keenum?!” you ask? Well, should Schaub or Yates go down, and we seriously hope they don’t, we would want a guy in there who would know what he is doing, exactly why we added Jeff Garcia and Jake Delhomme during our quarterback drought during last year, having the scramble at the last second. I feel that I am the only one who is NOT upset at the releasing of Keenum, rather I am glad that he is off the active roster, and hopefully, we could sign him to the practice squad, possibly getting him more reps.
“Obviously, we think a lot of Case and what he’s done, and we’ve got to put a practice squad together,” Kubiak said. “He’s getting great consideration from that standpoint, so we’re going to make sure we got enough guys knowing our system moving forward so we don’t get caught like we did last year and having to scramble in such a tough time.”
Also getting cut was three year safety, Troy Nolan, Nolan, the top back up safety for 2010 and 2012, was cut in favor of Quentin Demps and Shiloh Keo.
The Texans traded Sherrick McMannis for a full back in Tyler Clutts (6-2, 260), 27, will back up James Casey. The Texans released Moran Norris on Friday, which would have left them without a traditional lead-blocking fullback if the Texans had not traded for Clutts. Clutts also played in all 16 games for the Bears last season, starting eight. He blocked for Matt Forte as he rushed for 997 yards in just 12 games. Clutts played defensive end at Fresno State before spending three years in the UFL, AFL and CFL, and he broke into the NFL in 2010 by joining the practice squad for the Cleveland Browns.
The Texans will be keeping six cornerbacks on their 53 man roster, Alan Ball, Roc Carmichael, Brandon Harris, Brice McCain, Jonathan Joseph, and Kareem Jackson.
– Richard Perez