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Antwaun Molden: Breaking the Mold

Heading into the 2008 off-season, the cornerback position was a major issue of concern. With Dunta Robinson expected to start the season on the physically unable to perform list, the Texans had to take decisive steps to ensure that the secondary wouldn’t sink the 2008 season. Right away the Texans secured the genius of defensive mastermind Ray Rhodes. Then Rhodes and the defensive coaching staff lobbied for the Texans to sign the speedy free agent cornerback Jacques Reeves. With the secondary starting to take shape, the Texans knew they had to add an impact player through the draft. Enter the little known, but highly regarded cornerback from Eastern Kentucky University, Antwaun Molden.

Star-divide

Coach Robert Andrews has seen many a project player in his day. Aside from being a high school football/track coach, he runs a camp designed to help athletes reach their potential. So when he decided to take the then 5’ 9" 130 lb high school freshman under his wing, he knew he had a real project on his hands. Antwaun stuck by his mentor’s side, even transferring schools midway through his senior season to follow Andrews who took a coaching job at another high school. Through years of hard work and perseverance, the once gangly kid emerged as a heavy hitting force on the football field.

Molden began his collegiate career at the university of Toledo. There, he was relegated to scout team because of the controversial proposition rule 48 that disallowed his scholarship eligibility. With out a scholarship or a real shot of getting on the field, Antwaun Molden transferred to Robert Andrew’s alma mater, Division 1-AA Eastern Kentucky University. At EKU he was received the scholarship and the playing time he had longed for.

Antwaun played behind starters Tremayne Perkins and Derrick Huff in 2005 and 2006 respectively. In his senior year (2007), he got his shot to be a starter and he didn’t disappoint. A leader on defense, Antwaun helped the EKU Colonels go 8-0 during the regular season and win the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. Despite playing with a cast on his left hand for seven weeks of the season, Antwaun amassed 70 tackles and two interceptions. His ability to play through pain at a high level speaks volumes about his tenacity and grit, but Antwaun feels he could have done more.

"It hindered me a lot from being physical," he said. "I think that's one of my strengths. I had to rely on my finesse and instincts more. Given the circumstances, I think I played real well."

Despite his heroic efforts, he was greatly overshadowed by another cornerback coming out of the Division 1-AA Ohio Valley Conference – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.  There is no doubting DRC’s athletic ability, but Antwaun Molden doesn’t shy away from telling people who he feels he was the better of the two.  In a quote taken from Mike McLain’s Tribune Chronicle article, Molden had this to say:Drc_vs_am_medium

‘‘The film doesn’t lie, Cromartie is a great athlete, but if you watch the film you can determine who’s the better athlete. I can’t say that myself because I’m basically biased because I think it’s me.’’

As impressive as Molden’s combine numbers were, he has a legit reason to think he could have done even better. As quoted in Joe Scalzo’s Vindy.com article:

"I expected better of myself," he said. "I was sick that day and I had a temperature of 100 [degrees]. I had a high standard and I fell short, but it was a great performance to the scouts."

His numbers don’t lie. He is a hard working athlete who seems to never settle. Antwaun has a work ethic that is almost uncommon in today’s athletes.

"I always worked hard during and after practice," he said. "I was the guy who went out at 12 o’clock at night and ran steps in the stadium when everyone else was partying."

He is confident, if not a little cocky, but make no mistake, he is built on a solid foundation of character and commitment. It’s easy to see why the Texans were targeting this kid from the beginning. Check out what Texans GM Rick Smith had to say in an interview with Texans TV’s Brooke Bentley.

We were sweating it there because going from the first round all the way to the third round to our pick – we were just really fortunate he was there. What he is, he’s a big corner. He’s like 6-foot and a half and he weighs close to 200 pounds. He’s got the size you’re looking for and he also has the speed. He’s a 4.4 40-guy. What we did personally was we had Jon Hoke, our secondary coach – we sent him out there to work him out. He came back with really high remarks on this kid with his work ethic, his athletic ability where he’s got the feet and the hips, which are the things you need to do to play the position. And with that and watching the film on him, we were really excited. We think he’s got a big upside.

So in Molden, the Texans drafted a player with size, speed, agility, skill, and a tremendous work ethic. He can play through pain and lead his team to victory.Through hard work and dedication, Molden has fashioned himself into one of the most intriguing players of the 2008 NFL draft class. Unlike many of the other cookie cutter cornerbacks who all seem to fit the mold of a safe pick (big program, big numbers), Antwaun Molden is one of the few who got drafted on pure potential; the potential to refine his skills, the potential to use his work ethic to his advantage, and the potential to contribute on gameday. It’s that potential that has fans far and wide believing that he just might break the mold.

 

Below is an in-depth analysis of Molden’s abilities from Draftguys TV

Comment 13 comments  |  2 recs  | 

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seeing good things for molden.

great post.

“It hindered me a lot from being physical,” he said. “I think that’s one of my strengths. I had to rely on my finesse and instincts more. Given the circumstances, I think I played real well.” i’m loving that he thinks finessse and instinct are almost crutches. we may have DR2 on the roster. another CB that loves to hit.

thanks for doing the digging. very cool that he followed his coach to another program and then again in college.

the Texans have a lot of players now who are characterized as “hard working”. get out there and see if you can outwork Demeco.

by marroncito on May 13, 2008 8:46 AM CDT reply actions  

Again I say....

I really like this pick (200 lbs, 23 reps, 4.39), especially with the Force Out rule being eliminated. There are going to be some WRs absolutely lit up on the sidelines this year. It should make for some badass DVR replays.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go TexanHornStros!

by Shake on May 13, 2008 1:01 PM CDT reply actions  

Don’t the Colts run a comeback play to the sideline?

by marroncito on May 13, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

All the time

Thinking big picture, I’m holding out hope we Dunta on the field by mid season. With Dunta, Fred, and Antwaun all ready, willing, and able to lay the lumber – I can’t help but hope for the rebirth of the House of Pain.
He who breaks the law goes back to the House of Pain….”

Last I read, Marvin was getting himself into a little trouble….

Got Texans? Visit BattleRedBlog.com for the latest news and views of your Houston Texans!

by SOLIS on May 13, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions  

You force Marvin out...

and his boys will bust a cap in your ass.

Just sayin’.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on May 13, 2008 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions  

Great work

I am continually amazed at the quality of work Solis and marroncito (and maybe Tim) are putting out.

This franchise had a rough start with Casserly and Capers, but McNair hit the muthalode with Smithiak. Tell me who has ever been a better GM than Rick Smith. Has a draft ever been more thoroughly researched than the Texans did this one? From the post-draft articles and interviews, and from what we’ve seen in this first mini-camp, Smithiak addressed this team’s needs with one diamond-in-the-rough pick after another.

In case you can’t tell, I’m bursting with excitement for the prospect of this season.

Go Texans!!

by knave64 on May 13, 2008 11:07 PM CDT reply actions  

Re: Tim

Tim is definitely the weak link in the BRB chain. Since they came aboard, Solis and Marroncito are carrying his arse. He’d better step up his game, or management might well pull the plug on him.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on May 14, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yep

Apparently he just finished his night classes at Matt-U taking courses in Riding your Co-Blogger to Victory…

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go TexanHornStros!

by Shake on May 14, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions  

Wait...

I have a co-blogger? It’s been so long since he posted, I’d completely forgotten.

(I kid because I love.)

Yay, sports.

by MDC on May 16, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions  

True

He’s really starting to F-up my running jokes, and that is a sin which is unforgiveable.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go TexanHornStros!

by Shake on May 17, 2008 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions  

Molden is a gem

Nice post SOLIS. The Texans were fortunate that this year’s draft was so deep at CB, that a gem like Antwaun Molden slid all the way to the third round. I am confident that he will contribute early, based on if nothing else the play of Fred Bennett, a 4th round selection in the ‘07 draft. Who could have projected that he would come on as strong as he did in the 2nd half last season? Smith is already a superb drafter. We are so fortunate to have him in the front office. Reeves and Bennett are definitely the starters heading into camp, but Molden shoud win the nickel position and push the starters.

I love the fact that Molden is bigger and stronger than DRC. I can see a day in the not too distant future where Dunta and Molden will be one of the hardest hitting pair of CB’s in the league. Plug in Bennett and Reeves at the nickel and dime and we are putting together a secondary that can compete with the best passing teams in the league.

Smith and Kubiak are doing a tremendous job building a deep and talented team. I am fighting hard trying not to get my hopes up too high, but I cannot wait for the action to begin.

GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on May 13, 2008 11:35 PM CDT reply actions  

Molden

I’m still not high on the Duane Brown pick, but taking Molden got me truly excited. He’s the one I am looking forward to seeing the most of the rookies – easily.

by bigfatdrunk on May 14, 2008 8:20 AM CDT reply actions  

Re: Duane Brown

I’m not as ecstatic with the rookie LT as I am with our picks at RB, CB, LB, and DT, but I’m looking forward to seeing what Gibbs and Benton can make of him. Salaam has shown he can man the post adequately until Brown develops. I think the big wild card here is Charles Spencer. While I don’t expect Big Nasty to take over LT again to start this season-apparently he has a better chance of taking the RG spot-it wouldn’t surprise me, either, if he wound up there at some point this year.

by knave64 on May 14, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions  

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