Tag: Tashaun Gipson

Texans Talk Podcast: Evaluating the 2020 NFL Draft, Laremy Tunsil extension, and Tashaun Gipson release

On the “Texans Talk Podcast,” SportsRadio 610’s Landry Locker helps evaluate the 2020 NFL Draft, the Laremy Tunsil deal, and the Tashaun Gipson cut.

The Houston Texans had the smallest draft class in team history when they took five players in the 2020 NFL Draft, but the hope is that coach and general manager Bill O’Brien selected top quality prospects.

Landry Locker from “In the Loop” on SportsRadio 610 [KILT-AM] joins the podcast to help host Anthony Wood evaluate the Texans’ draft class. The co-host of “In the Loop” also takes a look at the Laremy Tunsil extension, the Tashaun Gipson release, and what other free agent options could be out there for Houston, especially on the back end.

Penn State coach James Franklin and Rhode Island coach Jim Fleming stop by to give their takes on CB John Reid and WR Isaiah Coulter respectively.

Make sure to keep up to date with all of the latest Texans news, rumors, and analysis by subscribing to the “Texans Talk Podcast” on Apple, Google, Stitcher, or Audioboom.

Report: Texans releasing safety Tashaun Gipson

The Houston Texans are releasing safety Tashaun Gipson after the Pro Bowler spent one season with the team.

The Houston Texans are parting ways with safety Tashuan Gipson, who started 14 games for the AFC South champions in 2019.

According to report from the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Texans are releasing the 29-year-old safety.

Releasing the former Pro Bowler won’t be cheap, at least according to Over The Cap’s numbers. Cutting Gipson before June 1 means the Texans would lose $4.25 million of their salary cap space in dead money. If they designate Gipson a post-June 1 cut, they would still lose $3.75 million in dead money.

While it is not known if the Texans tried to find a trading partner for Gipson during the NFL draft, that route would have saved the Texans more money. Even a pre-June 1 trade would have resulted in just $1 million in dead money. A post-June 1 trade would have been even more advantageous with just $500,000 million lost in dead money.

Texans Wire asked the question on April 19 if Gipson’s job was safe via information from the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain.

The 6-1, 212-pound safety produced 51 tackles, three interceptions, including a return for a touchdown, eight pass breakups, and two tackles for loss in his 14 starts. Gipson was absent for two regular season games and the Texans’ entire two-game playoff run.

Houston has Jaylen Watkins, Eric Murray, A.J. Moore, and Justin Reid on the roster at safety.

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4 Texans who could be traded during the 2020 NFL Draft

If the Houston Texans are looking to add draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, here are four players who could be traded to add to their war chest.

The Houston Texans have a total of seven draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft with two picks in the top 100 at 40th overall (second round) and 90th overall (third round). According to the draft value charts, the Texans have the third-lowest draft capital.

If the Texans want to add more draft picks, here are four players who could be on the move during the draft.

1. WR Keke Coutee

watch-wr-keke-coutee-scores-texans-td-colts
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The former 2018 fourth-round pick from Texas Tech landed in coach Bill O’Brien’s doghouse in his second year, and it isn’t easy to get out of there. Coutee has also become redundant with the club signing slot receiver Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills being able to fill in at any receiver spot in the offense. Even Steven Mitchell got playing time over Coutee in Week 8’s 27-24 win over the Oakland Raiders. Coutee may find playing time even more difficult to come by in Houston in 2020.

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Is S Tashaun Gipson’s job safe with the Texans?

Safety Tashaun Gipson started 14 games for the Houston Texans, but his job may not be safe.

Tashaun Gipson may not have a secure spot with the Houston Texans in 2020.

Friend of the “Texans Talk Podcast,” Pro Football Hall of Fame voter John McClain with the Houston Chronicle, played the part of a Bill O’Brien whisperer in his latest column. The General’s main premise was that fans shouldn’t be shocked if the Texans trade down from the 40th overall pick in Round 2 of the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. However, McClain’s breakdown of where the Texans could go doesn’t bode well for Gipson.

Now, though, I’m thinking a safety might be the Texans’ first pick. In his conference call, O’Brien mentioned every cornerback and safety on the team who played in the NFL last season, but he omitted one — Tashaun Gipson Sr., a starter last season.

Gipson, who turns 30 in August and is entering his ninth season, missed the two playoff games with a back injury. He missed two games in regular season. Maybe O’Brien is looking for a replacement.

The Texans didn’t re-sign safety Jahleel Addae. [Eric] Murray and [Jaylen] Watkins have primarily been reserves in their careers. I’m sure O’Brien would like to find another talented safety like Justin Reid, a third-round pick in 2018 who has become one of their better players.

“Safety is another position I think we can add to,” O’Brien said.

The complication with getting rid of the 6-1, 212-pound safety is the impact on the salary cap. According to Over The Cap, if the Texans outright cut Gipson before June 1, they eat $4.25 million in dead money. A post-June 1 is still pricey at $3.75 million.

However, if the Texans are able to find a trade partner, they can save more money. A pre-June 1 trade — during the NFL draft perhaps — would cost them $1 million in dead money. A post-June 1 trade — possibly during training camp or the preseason — would cost Houston only $500,000 in dead money.

The circumstances have to be favorable for the Texans to part with Gipson. Even though he missed two regular season games and two playoff contests, the former 2014 Pro Bowler logged 51 tackles, picked off three passes, including one for a touchdown, batted away eight others, and recorded two tackles for loss. The Texans would have to be confident they can replace or build on that production with the safeties and defensive backs leftover.

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Texans are counting on S Jahleel Addae to fill void Tashaun Gipson leaves behind

The Houston Texans secondary is counting on safety Jahleel Addae to step up in the aftermath of safety Tashaun Gipson going on injured reserve.

The Houston Texans secondary took quite the hit on Tuesday when it was announced that safety Tashaun Gipson was going to injured reserve.

The former Pro Bowler sustained a transverse process fracture in his back. Without Gipson starting alongside second-year safety Justin Reid, the Texans will have to rely more on Jahleel Addae to fill the void.

“He’s played quite a bit and done a nice job for us,” defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said of Addae on Wednesday .”We’ve used him in several different spots. So, I like what he brings to the table.”

Addae produced 42 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups in his 16 games with the Texans, three of which he started.

With Gipson out of the lineup, the Texans will have to find a suitable replacement to cover tight ends. Crennel knows that only time will disclose the truth.

“Only time will tell, but he was a starter and he made plays in the game,” said Crennel. “He helped us, so we’ll have to see how that goes. We still have experienced players that can play on the back end and we’ll have to see how they play and if it impacts us positively or negatively.”

Gipson collected 51 tackles, three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and eight pass breakups in his 14 games for Houston, all of which he started.

What Addae does bring to the secondary is playoff experience. With the Chargers franchise, the former 2013 undrafted safety from Central Michigan played in four postseason games, collecting 32 tackles, two for losses, forcing a fumble, and recovering another.

The Texans could use that level of playmaking when they take on the Buffalo Bills at 3:35 p.m. CT on Saturday at NRG Stadium. Houston seeks their first playoff win since Jan. 7, 2017, while the Bills are long-suffering after experiencing their last on Dec. 30, 1995.

Report: Texans place S Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve with back injury

The Houston Texans placed safety Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve after he aggravated his tranverse process fracture in his back in Week 17.

The Houston Texans’ task to dispatch the Buffalo Bills became a little more difficult.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans placed safety Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve Tuesday after he aggravated a transverse process fracture in his back against the Tennessee Titans in the 35-14 loss at NRG Stadium in Week 17.

The Texans will have safeties Justin Reid, Jahleel Addae, and A.J. Moore to fill the void as they will lack Gipson for their entire playoff run, as short or as long as it may be.

Addae is not exactly the picture of health either as he was limited in Tuesday’s practice with an Achilles injury.

Gipson signed a three-year, $22.55 million contract in free agency to join the Texans. Through 14 games, all of which Gipson started, the former Pro Bowler collected 51 tackles, three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, eight pass deflections, and two tackles for loss.

A telling stat that proves the Texans upgraded their secondary in 2019

The Houston Texans are reaping the benefits of bringing in new secondary members, as four are allowing less than the league average passer rating.

The Houston Texans entered the 2019 offseason with a major concern, among others: their secondary.

In 2018, Houston’s secondary struggled mightily, no matter the personnel or schematics. They sought to fix that in the offseason by bringing-in numerous members to the group. Four of those new members have paid off as coverage players.

The Texans boast four secondary members allowing below the league-average in passer rating (90.9). All four of those players were not on the roster in 2018.

Safety Tashaun Gipson has allowed a 47.4 passer rating in coverage in 2019, per Pro Football Reference. Cornerback Bradley Roby follows with a 79.4. Corner Keion Crossen follows Roby with an 81.9. Rounding out the group is safety Jahleel Addae with a 90.8.

Cornerback Gareon Conley nearly made the group; he allows a 92.4 in coverage.

Perhaps the most telling statistics are Gipson’s and Roby’s, who are both starters in the Texans’ defense. Houston plucked both of them in free agency, signing Gipson to a three-year deal and Roby to a one-year contract. Both have proven to be revelations in the Texans’ secondary.

Crossen has not seen a start in the Texans’ defense. His third-ranked, for the Texans, passer rating allowed comes while playing 103 snaps in Houston’s secondary.

Addae rounds-out the list. Though not a starter, he plays an integral role as Houston’s third safety behind Gipson and Justin Reid. The former Los Angeles Charger has 489 defensive snaps on the season.

The Texans remain to be a leaky pass defense, allowing the third-most passing yards per game (270.9). However, that may not be due to the secondary. The pass-rush has struggled mightily throughout the year, acting like the NFL’s worst since J.J. Watt’s torn pectoral in Week 8.

Houston’s secondary may not be all-world. However, it’s not one of the biggest wholes on the roster. They targeted help in the offseason and found just that. If the pass-rush can improve, the Texans can slowly build-up a pass defense that can hold-up.

Texans S Tashaun Gipson trying to be the Grinch to Titans’ playoff hopes

Houston Texans safety Tashaun Gipson wants to play the Grinch to the Tennessee Titans’ playoff hopes in Week 17.

The Tennessee Titans’ playoff hopes go through Houston. If the 8-7 Titans can beat the 10-5 Texans, they will move onto the postseason as the sixth-seed in the AFC. If not, they will need help to get in.

Texans safety Tashaun Gipson isn’t trying to play Santa Claus for the Titans. He wants to be the villain, the Grinch.

“If you can crush somebody’s dreams in the process, play Grinch if you will, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Gipson said on Thursday. “Everybody likes a Grinch a little bit.”

As repeated throughout the week, the Texans may enter the 3:25 pm CT kickoff with nothing to play for. If the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston will lock into the fourth-seed in the AFC postseason.

No matter if Sunday’s bout with the Titans is meaningless or not, Gipson just wants to play spoiler to Tennessee’s playoff hopes. What better way to cap off a season by not letting a divisional rival get into the playoffs?

“Since I’ve been here, I understand the importance of beating the Titans,” Gipson said. “It’s going to be a fun game. If we can keep an AFC South foe out of the playoffs, why wouldn’t we want to do that?”

Though an impactful safety throughout his career, Gipson is not used to finding himself in the postseason. He never did so with the Cleveland Browns and did so once with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017 — the only time in the last five years the Texans have not won the AFC South.

“I understand that they’re fighting for their playoff lives,” Gipson said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be on this side of the spectrum. 11-5 sounds a lot better than 10-6.”

Gipson signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Texans in the offseason. He has started all 13 games he’s played in 2019, allowing a 47.4 passer rating in coverage while doing so, per Pro Football Reference.