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HOT TOPIC
Phillip Buchanon wanted to be the first one to address "the play." He didn't wait for a second meeting with coach Gary Kubiak. The first time he crossed Kubiak's path in the hallways of Reliant Stadium, Buchanon started talking and then steered the conversation toward "the play."
Buchanon was sure that Kubiak had already heard of the infamous time he missed a tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers and gave up a big play to Willie Parker. It was after that game -- just the second of the season -- that Buchanon was demoted and criticized for not being a good tackler.
"I had no idea," Kubiak said. "I hadn't seen the play or talked about it."
Eventually Kubiak and defensive coordinator Richard Smith heard about Buchanon's struggles in 2005. They heard of his problems tackling, and Smith called Buchanon in for a one-on-one meeting. He wanted to make sure Buchanon knew they weren't going to carry those problems into this season.
It was just the message Buchanon needed to hear after a tumultuous 2005.
"They blamed me for not tackling, but I was just trying to make a play and it ended up looking like I didn't want to tackle," said Buchanon. "I talked to a lot of guys who play my position and they told me to stay calm and do what you do. Things happen, and I just look forward to bigger and better things."
Buchanon can't completely escape last season. He still has a reputation for being a poor tackler, and so the Texans are working with him on it. Even though he insists tackling is not an issue for him, he doesn't complain as he remains after every practice to deliver extra hits to a tackling dummy.
Smith has emphasized with the defensive unit that everyone will cover and everyone will tackle. He has been impressed with Buchanon's speed, athletic ability and cover skills. He now wants to make sure there are no more questions of Buchanon's tackling abilities when the season starts.
"Players will do what you emphasize them to do," Smith said. "Let's not assume we've got it fixed. Let's make sure we've got it fixed because that's what they pay you as a coach to do."
Buchanon now just looks to prove the Texans never made a mistake trading a second and third round pick for him in 2005.
He prided himself on making plays during his three seasons with Oakland. He scored four touchdowns off interceptions with the Raiders, and returned three punts for touchdowns.
He has yet to reach the end zone as a Texan, and he's ready to change that.
"My thing is, I like making plays," Buchanon said. "I like when people see me and say, 'Hey, that's Buchanon. He makes plays.'
"Last year, it was a long year without me making any plays. Last year was just a real down here, a real bad year for the team and individually."
PLAYER NOTES
--Defensive end Mario Williams, the Texan's No. 1 overall pick in the draft, was unable to participate in the team's first two days of mini-camp. He recently had the toenails removed on each of his big toes.
"He'd had some problems with them over time, and some infection had set in," coach Gary Kubiak said. "So we said let's go take them both out. That was our decision to do that, so it's not something that holds him off down the road."
--The Texans have also practiced without running backs Domanick Davis, Vernand Morency and Wali Lundy. Middle linebackers Sam Cowart and Kailee Wong continued to sit out, as well as offensive tackle Todd Wade.
Kubiak had hoped to have Davis participate in the mini-camp, but he is remaining cautious on bringing him back too soon.
"(Davis) did a little bit the other day in the walk through," Kubiak said. "I think he's going to be fine. I don't want to do anything that's going to set him back. As long as I see him back there, paying attention and he's ready to go July 27, that's what's important."
--The Texans continued to make changes with their roster by releasing tight end Matt Murphy and replacing him with offensive lineman Chris Watton, 6-feet-2 and 290 pounds. Watton played at Baylor, and was with the Denver Broncos last season.
Murphy had been trying to make the transition from tight end to tackle this offseason.
"We thought he might have a hard time making our team at tight end, and then all of a sudden we draft two tackles and we've been very fortunate with some of these free agents we've gotten," coach Gary Kubiak said. "It was going to be a tough transition.
"Had Matt had the ability to go on a practice squad, it might have been a transition he could make. So I wanted to be fair to him. I think he can make somebody's team at tight end as a physical tight end."
--The Texans haven't been altogether surprised by DeMeco Ryans' quick progress during the offseason. The only surprise came in April when Ryans was still available in the second round of the draft.
Ryans, one of the most celebrated players -- on and off the field -- in Crimson Tide history, started 37 career games and ended his career ranked fifth on the all-time tackle list with 307 career stops.
Ryans is currently sitting behind Morlon Greenwood at outside linebacker and Wali Rainer in the middle. He is making big strides at both positions, however, and will be pushing for the starting jobs in training camp.
"We think he has a bright, bright future," defensive coordinator Richard Smith said. "And he's a young person that we feel can come in here and compete for a starting position on this team. But he's got to earn that spot. And that's what we're trying to get accomplished right now. We're trying to develop him into a starter. He brings youth, speed, and athletic ability to the position."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Texans filled many of their needs through the draft, but still have questions on the depth chart as their offseason programs begin. The biggest position they were able to fill in was at defensive end, where they drafted Mario Williams and announced they will move Antwan Peek and Jason Babin to end as backups.
Along with free agent Anthony Weaver, the Texans will have a formidable group of pass-rushers. On a team that has struggled to harass quarterbacks, their presence will be important in the change to a 4-3 scheme.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--RB Jonathan Wells (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Antwan Peek (tendered at $1.573M) is very much a part of the Texans' future. He will likely switch to defensive end and focus on rushing the passer.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--TE Matt Murphy played early on but then spent the end of the season on the inactive list. Not much of a factor on offense.
--LS Bryan Pittman is one of the Texans' most consistent performers.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--DE Mario Williams (1st): $54M/6 yrs, $26M guaranteed.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--RB Jason Anderson: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Derick Armstrong: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--LB Troy Evans: UFA; terms unknown.
--S Jammal Lord: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DE Alfred Malone: ERFA; terms unknown.
--CB Chris McKenzie: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Donovan Morgan: ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB Shantee Orr: ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB Kenneth Pettway; ERFA; terms unknown.
--LB DaShon Polk: UFA; terms unknown.
--QB Dave Ragone: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--S Ramon Walker: UFA; terms unknown.
--G/T Seth Wand: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--OG Fred Weary: Potential UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--FB Jameel Cook: UFA Buccaneers; $5M/5 yrs, SB unknown.
--LB Sam Cowart: UFA Vikings; $1.5M/1 yr, $710,000 SB.
--C Mike Flanagan: UFA Packers; $8.85M/3 yrs, $3M SB; 2006 cap: $1.75M.
--LB Barrett Green: FA Giants; terms unknown.
--DE N.D. Kalu: UFA Eagles; $750,000/1 yr.
--OG David Loverne: FA Lions; terms unknown.
--WR Eric Moulds: Trade Bills.
--TE Jeb Putzier: FA Broncos; $7.5M/4 yrs, $1.85M SB.
--LB Wali Rainer: UFA Lions; terms unknown.
--QB Sage Rosenfels: UFA Dolphins; $6.4M/4 yrs, $2M SB.
--OT Ephraim Salaam: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.
--RB Antowain Smith: UFA Saints; terms unknown.
--S Michael Stone: UFA Patriots; terms unknown.
--WR Kevin Walter: RFA Bengals; Bengals did not match offer of $6.4M/4 yrs and will receive 7th-round pick in 2006 draft as compensation.
--DE Tony Weaver: UFA Ravens; $26.5M/5 yrs, $12M SB.
PLAYERS LOST
--QB Tony Banks (released).
--CB Jason Bell: UFA Giants; terms unknown.
--WR Corey Bradford: UFA Lions; $7.4M/4 yrs, $2M SB.
--OG Milford Brown: UFA Cardinals; $12M/4 yrs, $3M SB.
--LB Frank Chamberlin (released).
--S Marcus Coleman (released).
--NT Jerry DeLoach (released).
--WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--RB Tony Hollings (released).
--DE Junior Ioane (released).
--TE Matt Murphy (released).
--FB Moran Norris (released).
--QB Dave Ragone (released).
--TE Marcellus Rivers: UFA Raiders; terms unknown.
--DE Gary Walker (released; post-June 1 designation).
--C Tyson Walter: UFA Redskins; $465,000/1 yr.
--C Todd Washington (released).
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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