Bradie James is joining the Texans

[Bonecrusher#31]

Bradie James is joining the Texans
Posted by Josh Alper on April 12, 2012, 3:28 PM EDT


Free agent linebacker Bradie James won’t be back with the Cowboys, but he won’t have to get used to life in a new state.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that James will sign with the Houston Texans for the 2012 season. He’ll be reunited with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who was the head coach of the Cowboys for four of James’ nine years with the Cowboys.

Brian Cushing is secure at one inside linebacker spot for the Texans, but there’s an opening alongside him after Houston traded DeMeco Ryans to the Eagles. James and Daryl Sharpton should compete for the job and James’ familiarity with Phillips’ system means that he won’t have any learning curve to deal with before making a bid for playing time.

James’ production dropped sharply last season after five straight years with more than 100 tackles. He started 13 games, but rotated out more often and seemed to have lost a step from his previous campaigns. A return to a familiar system could help him recover a bit of what he seemed to lose last year or he could just be on the wrong side of his career trajectory.

 

[dbair1967]

Interesting they picked James, wonder if that means Brooking is going to retire.

Wade never really liked James and was a huge Brooking proponent from his days when he was a DC in Atlanta.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

In James defense, unlike Brook he is not 612 years old.

 

[Iamtdg]

Another good reason drafting Kuechley wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[dbair1967]

Another good reason drafting Kuechley wouldn't be a bad thing.

Us?

I will throw something if we draft him. We dont need him. Wasted pick here. We have capable ILB guys.

 

[Iamtdg]

Us?

I will throw something if we draft him. We dont need him. Wasted pick here. We have capable ILB guys.

You don't always draft for need. If Barron, Cox, and the others on our top 5 list are gone, he is the BPA, and you take him.

Regardless.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

You don't always draft for need. If Barron, Cox, and the others on our top 5 list are gone, he is the BPA, and you take him.

Regardless.

Him and Sean lee manning the middle would be pretty sweet

 

[dbair1967]

You don't always draft for need. If Barron, Cox, and the others on our top 5 list are gone, he is the BPA, and you take him.

Regardless.

No, you dont.

 

[dbair1967]

Him and Sean lee manning the middle would be pretty sweet

It'd been fine if we didnt have Bruce Carter and Dan Connor here already.

 

[Iamtdg]

No, you dont.

So, answer me this. I'm honestly asking.

Do you always draft for need?

 

[Rock Slamdance]

It'd been fine if we didnt have Bruce Carter and Dan Connor here already.

Dan Connor!

 

[dbair1967]

So, answer me this. I'm honestly asking.

Do you always draft for need?

No, in fact drafting for need is usually what gets teams in trouble. We did it alot after Jimmy left.

But there's also something called overkill.

If we hadnt just spent a 2nd on Bruce Carter, and on top of that signed Dan Connor too then Kuechley would be a great add here.

 

[Iamtdg]

No, in fact drafting for need is usually what gets teams in trouble. We did it alot after Jimmy left.

But there's also something called overkill.

If we hadnt just spent a 2nd on Bruce Carter, and on top of that signed Dan Connor too then Kuechley would be a great add here.

So, we also shouldn't target a future all pro in DeCastro since we signed a couple of guards in the offseason?

Jerry loves fans like you.

 

[dbair1967]

So, we also shouldn't target a future all pro in DeCastro since we signed a couple of guards in the offseason?

Jerry loves fans like you.

Those guys are stopap JAGS. Carter was a guy who would have certainly been a first rounder if not for the ACL tear. He's going to be a really good player. Connor is nice depth behind him and Lee

 

[Iamtdg]

Those guys are stopap JAGS. Carter was a guy who would have certainly been a first rounder if not for the ACL tear. He's going to be a really good player. Connor is nice depth behind him and Lee

Carter is an unknown at this point. Granted, so is Kuechley, but imo he has way more upside than Bruce Carter.

 

[cmd34]

Carter is an unknown at this point. Granted, so is Kuechley, but imo he has way more upside than Bruce Carter.

I don't know. I like Kuechly but 2 years ago, both in the ACC, I'd say Carter was the better player. Of course he was 2 years older than Kuechly but still, Carter was damn impressive.

 

[dbair1967]

Carter is an unknown at this point. Granted, so is Kuechley, but imo he has way more upside than Bruce Carter.

I doubt alot of scouts would agree with that. I think most would say Kuechley is more of a finished product right now, but that Carter athletically is far superior once he is 100%. And Carter was a really good player himself at UNC. The concensus was without the knee injury, Carter would have been a fairly early 1st rd selection, which is where Kuechley is likely to go.