February 17th, 2012 
Matt Loede 
Posted in The Texans face a difficult decision this offseason: Should they re-sign their best defensive player, Mario Williams, or save money by replacing him like they did when we was injured in ’11?
Mario Williams Says He Wants to Play in a Good System in 2012 – Houston or Elsewhere
Texans defensive end-turned-linebacker Mario Williams has elite pass-rushing ability that is sure to make him a popular target when free agency opens on March 13. But the No. 1 overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft is concerned more about being in the right system than he is about being the highest-paid defensive player in league history, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.
“I was the first pick (2006), and I’ve already had everything I really wanted, so my biggest thing is to be in a good position, a good scheme, a good system and continuing my career. Hopefully, it works out,” Williams said. “It’s always important to be in a position to be successful. That comes with teammates around you, coaching, having that winning attitude. You want to (play) where you can thrive no matter where you are.”
A defensive end his first four seasons in the NFL, the 6-foot-7, 295-pound Williams quickly adjusted to the 3-4 defense under first-year defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, posting five quarterback sacks in five games before suffering a season-ending pectoral muscle. That injury has healed, and the Texans would like Williams back, but using the franchise tag is not a feasible option at it would cost the Texans $21.99 million in guaranteed base salary, 120 percent of Williams’ 2011 salary cap number.
“This is home,” Williams said of Houston. “Everything that’s happened here has made such an impact on my life. It’s been great. Hopefully, it continues with whatever decision they make.”
Forget About Manning Come to Play for the Texans
According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, there is no way that Peyton Manning will play for the Texans despite a report that he would be interested in the Texans.
McClain offers the following arguments:
Teams don’t know if he’ll play again. The Texans have Matt Schaub, whose rehab from foot surgery is ahead of schedule. Schaub works out almost every day. T.J. Yates is the backup. Matt Leinart is third.
Think about the Texans’ offense.
That’s not Manning’s offense. He doesn’t roll out and throw the boot. He’s a pocket passer. Manning will go to a team that plays the same offense and is willing for him to basically run it because that’s what he did so well with the Colts until his three neck operations.
So forget about Manning coming to the Texans. It’s not going to happen.
Texans Free Agents for 2012 – Who Should Stay and Who Should Go?
Now that the 2011 season is officially over following the Super Bowl, now we can all look ahead to free agency.
The Texans have a number of players that will be unrestricted come March 13th when they can sign with other teams. You can see the complete list below, and give your thoughts about what players the team should keep, and what ones they could let go.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents (1)
LS Jonathan Weeks
Restricted Free Agents (2)
RB Arian Foster
S Quintin Demps
Unrestricted Free Agents (15)
QB Jake Delhomme
QB Jeff Garcia
RB Derrick Ward
WR Bryant Johnson
TE Joel Dreessen
OG Mike Brisiel
OC Chris Myers
OG Kasey Studdard
DT Tim Bulman
LB Tim Dobbins
LB Mario Williams
CB Jason Allen
S Dominique Barber
K Neil Rackers
P Matt Turk
Karl Dorell Named the New Texans QB Coach
The Texans have a new QB coach, as the team has come to terms with Karl Dorell to take over that spot on the coaching staff.
Dorell replaces Greg Knapp, who is now the offensive coordinator with Oakland.
Dorrell was the head coach at UCLA from 2003-07 and has previous NFL coaching experience with the Broncos from 2000-02, where he was worked as a receivers coach on Mike Shanahan’s coaching staff that had Gary Kubiak as offensive coordinator.
Dorell, 48, has spent the last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, coaching receivers from 2008-10 before becoming the quarterbacks coach in 2011. The Dolphins lost starting quarterback Chad Henne early in the 2011 season and had to turn to free agent addition Matt Moore in October. In 13 games, including 12 starts, Moore completed 60.5 percent of 347 pass attempts for 2,497 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions for passer rating of 87.1.
Knapp Leaves the Texans to Join the Raiders as OC
The Texans are in search of a new quarterbacks coach today, as Greg Knapp is heading to Oakland to join Dennis Allen as the teams new offensive coordinator.
Knapp held the same position with the Raiders in 2007 and 2008. He also has previous NFL coordinator experience with San Francisco (2001 to 2003), Atlanta (2004 to 2006) and Seattle (2010). Allen and Knapp worked together as Falcons assistants in 2004 and 2005.
Knapp, 48, earned high praise this season for the work he did with Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. Forced into action because of injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, Yates helped guide the Texans to their first postseason appearance and a first-round victory over Cincinnati.
Texans Have a Problem – What to do With Williams and Foster?
The Texans have a big task ahead of them before the start of free agency, and that will be to try and get OLB Mario Williams inked to a long-term deal.
The team will also do what they can to get running back Arian Foster inked, but he will be a restricted free agent, so there’s some time to spare in a deal with him.
The Texans can’t afford to carry Williams at $22.9 million for one year. They can’t trade him because you can’t trade a player who’s not under contract.
One likely move would be to franchise him. That way they could still work with him on a long-term deal. But, Williams will be in the cat bird seat, since he knows the team cannot afford to keep him at $22.9 mil.
It seems like an easy solution, Williams wants to stay, and it sounds like the Texans want him to stay. But, make no mistake, if he hits the open market, teams are going to throw a lot of money at him.
The Texans have to think this through, it may come down to Williams or Foster, and the team really doesn’t want to lose either one, but in the end may have to.
Video: Is Wade Phillips the Best Assistant Coach in the NFL?
Five times, Wade Phillips has joined a non-playoff team as their defensive coordinator. And for the fifth time this season, he turned them into a playoff team, this year with the Texans.
