Houston Texans: Which Players Were Put on Notice After NFL Draft?

Each year, the NFL Draft represents new beginnings.

NFL teams select the most elite of college football talent in the hopes that those shiny new toys will help lead their football teams to the promised land.

Those same college players will finally realize their dreams of becoming NFL players.

For others, though, the NFL Draft means that there are new kids on the block foaming at the mouth to take their jobs. Those veteran players of which I speak have been put on notice by their respective NFL teams. If they don't produce, they have someone coming up behind them that they are willing to give a shot.

In this regard, the Texans are not unlike every other team. There are several players already in Texans uniforms that aren't resting as easy after last weekend's draft.

Which Texans players are feeling the most heat?

Amobi Okoye

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 17: Defensive tackle Amobi Akoye #91 of the Houston Texans sacks quarterback Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs on the final play of the game to secure a 35-31 win at Reliant Stadium on October 17, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by

Prior to the draft, Okoye was the most likely player to fill the role of a pass-rush specialist at defensive end in the 3-4 defense and defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense.

If Okoye wasn't in enough hot water for his inconsistent play, he certainly is now that the Texans have drafted JJ Watt.

The competition between Watt and Okoye will be one to watch in training camp. Of course, that's working under the assumption that there is a training camp this year.

Even if Watt ends up getting most of the starts, there will be plenty of opportunity for Okoye to see the field. It's just that, now that the Texans have some depth along the defensive line, Okoye may find himself riding pine more than ever if he doesn't produce.

Kareem Jackson

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans braks away from Kareem Jackson #25 of the Houston Texans during the first half at LP Field on December 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The inclusion of Jackson on this list should surprise no one. We can argue back and forth over whether or not it was fair to put Jackson in a position where he had to start from Day 1 after being drafted, but what can't be argued is that he had a disastrous rookie season.

During that rookie season, the Texans had little choice but to throw Jackson out there and let him sink or swim.

With the drafting of Brandon Harris and Rashad Carmichael, the Texans have some flexibility. If Jackson does more sinking than swimming next season, he likely won't be on the field near as much.

If Jackson swims beautifully next season, though, the Texans are in a great place in their secondary. Harris and Carmichael would provide depth behind Jackson and Glover Quin (another cornerback under fire) and give the team the option of using more five defensive-back (nickel) packages.

Dan Orlovsky

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NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 21: Dan Orlovsky #7 of the Houston Texans in action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on August 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The position of backup quarterback doesn't seem all that important given where the Texans are as a franchise. Matt Schaub is among the most prolific quarterbacks in the league, and the Texans have many other needs on the defensive side of the ball.

I've always been of the opinion, though, that a team should always have one young quarterback on the roster they are bringing along. With Matt Leinart likely to leave to have a chance to start somewhere, the Texans are left with only Orlovsky behind Schaub.

Orlovsky obviously doesn't fit the profile of a developing quarterback. We know what he brings, and while he won't embarrass you out there, he isn't going to win you games either. In short, there is little difference between the production Orlovsky gives you and what TJ Yates would bring to the table.

Gary Kubiak has also been known to only carry two quarterbacks on his active roster. That's a fact that might not bode well for Orlovsky. Kubiak could choose to carry Yates on the practice squad, but I doubt they'd use a fifth-round pick on a guy that they don't intend on utilizing when there were so many defensive players on the board that could have stepped in and played immediately.

Connor Barwin

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HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 29: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks for a receiver as he is pressured by defensive end Connor Barwin #98 of the Houston Texans in the third quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on Novembe

I'll admit that it's not fair that I have Barwin on this list. He had a solid rookie season in 2009 that included 3.5 sacks in limited duty. He then missed all of the 2010 season.

He has personally done nothing to end up on this list, but the circumstances around him have changed.

With the drafting of JJ Watt, Brooks Reed and even Cheta Ozougwe, the Texans have added three more players to the defensive-line rotation.

We're also not sure how well Barwin will fit in with more 3-4 defensive packages being used. He is a natural fit at defensive end in the 4-3, but in the 3-4, he is probably a bit small for defensive end, and he has never been asked to play outside linebacker.

There is no threat of Barwin losing his spot on the roster as the Texans are still high on him, and he is locked up under contract for two more seasons. It's just that he might not see the field as much as he would like moving forward.

When he was drafted two seasons ago in the second round, the Texans were hoping that Barwin would be a featured pass rusher. Now they are hoping he'll simply fit in somewhere in the rotation. While that might be bad news personally for Barwin, it means that the talent is improving. That's good news for the Texans and their fans.

Zac Diles

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 3: Running Back Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raider tries to avoid the tackle of linebacker Zac Diles #54 of the Houston Texans during an NFL football game October 3, 2010 at The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Cal

For years, Zac Diles has been a consummate professional for the Texans. Diles is undersized, isn't all that fast and was drafted late, but he works hard, shows up early, leaves late and has found his way on to the field more often than not.

With the aforementioned increase in talent on the roster, his place isn't so secure.

His place on this list has more to do with the shift in defensive philosophy and less to do with certain players being drafted.

Diles is a poor fit for the 3-4 defense that Wade Phillips is hoping to use more often. He is too small to play inside linebacker in that set, and he isn't enough of a pass rusher to play outside linebacker in that defense.

Diles has made a career of proving doubters wrong, and I'm hoping that he does it again. Every good team needs players like Diles who get the most out of their talent. Guys like London Fletcher have made Pro Bowl careers out of doing just that.

Diles will have to work hard in training camp to prove that he still belongs, but if he has proven anything, it's that he is willing to work to secure his place on the team.

Tim Bulman

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs out of the pocket as he his pursued by defensive end Tim Bulman #93 of the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Lev

Much like Diles, Bulman is a good story about how hard work and determination can get you a long way.

Bulman is a blue collar, pass-rushing defensive lineman who has gotten better over his time in Houston. After appearing in only 10 games over the first three years of his career, Bulman has appeared in 29 games for the Texans over the last two seasons.

He tallied four sacks in 2009, earning him playing time in that season and a spot on the roster for 2010. Now, with Connor Barwin back healthy and the addition of three pass-rushing defensive lineman in the draft, I don't know that there's room on the roster for Bulman.

Bulman is a nice insurance policy to have if you end up with depth issues and injuries (of which the Texans have had both in the recent past), but he isn't someone you want to have holding a roster spot when you have younger players you want to bring along.

Even if Bulman is cut prior to the season or on the practice squad, the Texans are sure to keep his number in their Rolodex should they incur an injury like the one to Connor Barwin before last season.

Any Safety Currently on the Roster

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HOUSTON - JANUARY 02: Troy Nolan #33 of the Houston Texans celebrates after recovering a Jacksonville Jaguars' fumble in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The Texans have made it abundantly clear that the safety positions are wide open heading into the season. Both starting safeties from last season, Eugene Wilson and Bernard Pollard, are gone.

Of all the safeties on the roster, only Troy Nolan has had significant playing time. Even then, you're having to stretch the definition of the word significant.

I'm guessing Troy Nolan and the recently drafted Shiloh Keo will be given every opportunity to get playing time. Once a collective bargaining agreement is reached, I also expect the Texans to bring in a veteran to help push these youngsters, but don't expect it to be anyone of significance.

There is also talk of moving cornerback Glover Quin to safety. With the drafting of two cornerbacks to help fill the void there, the Texans could afford to move Quin to safety.

For my money, the battle at the safety positions will be the most interesting battle to watch in the preseason. Everyone will be given a chance to prove themselves and seize playing time.