Last week on Facebook, Houston Texans superfan Emma Beard came up with a brilliant question for my weekly 'Dear Drew' segment. She asked "Who's your Texans Dream Team using past or present players?"
It was worded perfectly, because it gave the option to include current Texans, and it also didn't set parameters that would exclude some who lacked experience.
Statistical leaders at a certain position aren't necessarily making the cut.
In the comments section below, let me know who would've made YOUR Dream Team.
Here's who I had on offense:
QB-Deshaun Watson
RB-Arian Foster
WR-Andre Johnson
WR-DeAndre Hopkins
WR-Will Fuller
TE-Owen Daniels
LT-Duane Brown
LG-Wade Smith
C-Chris Myers
RG-Chester Pitts
RT-Eric Winston
I went with Watson at quarterback because of the explosion offensively we saw this season in the month of October. I know he doesn't have the numbers yet that Matt Schaub put up, but hey, this is MY Dream Team.
It would be fun to see him under center with Arian Foster lined up behind him. Foster's the franchise's all-time rushing leader AND touchdowns leader, and he was very capable catching passes out of the backfield.
Plus, think of the other weapons Watson could throw to: Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller at receiver, and Owen Daniels at tight end. You'd have two elite pass-catchers in Johnson and Hopkins, and elite speed in Fuller, who caught seven touchdowns in October this year with Watson. Daniels remains the organization's benchmark at tight end, and would find himself wide open again and again in this offense.
Johnson appeared on a radio show with us earlier this season, and we asked him what he would've been like if he'd played with Watson. He joked that he'd catch 20 touchdown passes a year, which would better his career-best in a season by 11.
Blocking for Watson and company up front is a line anchored by left tackle Duane Brown, as well as fellow Pro Bowlers in guard Wade Smith and center Chris Myers, and stalwarts in guard Chester Pitts and right tackle Eric Winston.
That front would be excellent in pass protection, and a well oiled machine in run blocking as well.
I'd go three-wide, with a tight end and lone running back. If I needed a fullback, Vonta Leach would get the call, obviously.
Here's the defense I chose:
OLB-Jadeveon Clowney
DE-J.J. Watt
NT-Vince Wilfork
DE-Antonio Smith
OLB-Mario Williams
ILB-Brian Cushing
ILB-DeMeco Ryans
CB-Johnathan Joseph
CB-Aaron Glenn
S-Glover Quin
S-Danieal Manning
I went with a 3-4 alignment, and had Clowney and Williams out on the edges. Watt and Smith, both Pro Bowlers, were the defensive ends. Wilfork got the nod at nose tackle because of his steadiness and dependability, despite the short tenure here. Ryans and Cushing were my inside backers, but Benardrick McKinney, Zach Cunningham and Dylan Cole might have something to say about that in the years to come.
The secondary was basically the 2011 and 2012 bunch, but with Aaron Glenn mixed in.
Here are the special-teamers:
LS-Jon Weeks
P-Shane Lechler
K-Kris Brown
PR/KOR-Jacoby Jones
Weeks made a Pro Bowl as long snapper in 2015, and he's been with the club eight years now. Lechler's dropped bombs since he signed as a free agent in 2013. Kris Brown is my kicker, because of his longevity and overall effectiveness in his time as a Texan. Even though Jerome Mathis was a Pro Bowler in 2005 as a returner, he played in just 12 games that year. So I went with Jones. He was a threat to take it to the house every time he settled under a punt or a kick. He also made things interesting, but I decided to ride with the electricity.
