The Solution For Cushing's Absence

by curtisdisco on May 10, 2010 11:54 AM CDT

As I suspected, it looks like Zach Diles will move to Strong Side Linebacker for the first four weeks with Xavier Adibi and Darryl Sharpton battling it out to see who will get time at weak side linebacker for the newt five months or so. I think this is the best move as Diles was very good at the SAM position the first 8 weeks of 2008 before the practice injury that crippled his season and it will give two younger players in Adibi and Sharpton the chance to get meaningful time. I think Kevin Bentley is just a good special teamer and back-up and I really am happy he's not going to be starting.

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i was kind of hoping

for an adalius thomas signing. Then when Cuch is back he could move over to the other side and we’d have best line backing corps in league

It's hard bein whimpy

by WhimpyJimmy on May 10, 2010 11:59 AM CDT reply actions

Adalius Thomas = Rosy Colvin

A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com

by bigfatdrunk on May 10, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

If Diles can cover as well as Cushing did on the pass.

He should fit right in at strong side linebacker. Cushing did not exactly have great cover skills, but he did have 5 picks.

A statement to the players of the Jazz and Mavericks: Please stop flopping all over the court.

by Rockets 4 Life on May 10, 2010 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

What About Keith Bullock?!?!?!

Where The Fuck Is He At!!!!

by TexansFan4Life on May 10, 2010 3:29 PM CDT reply actions

Off the roster thankfully

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on May 10, 2010 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

He'd Be Better Than Kevin Bentley

LOL

by TexansFan4Life on May 10, 2010 3:45 PM CDT reply actions

Not so fast

Look at your source :-)

Kubiak has said that he believes Diles is close to being a Pro Bowl WLB (BWAHAHAHAAH!!!) and he has no intention of moving him to SLB to replace Cushing.

Now, and a moment of rarity, I think it’s most likely Diles moves to SLB, agreeing with Pancakes. However, until I hear otherwise, I’ll go with the coach than with the guy who is wrong all the damn time.

A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com

by bigfatdrunk on May 10, 2010 3:51 PM CDT reply actions

Solomon said the same thing

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on May 10, 2010 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Kubiak also believes

In 5 TE sets.

by JimboTexan on May 11, 2010 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

HAHAHA Totally Understandable!!!

by TexansFan4Life on May 10, 2010 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

The hatred for Zac Diles is ENTIRELY unfounded. He was the best 4-3 LB in coverage in the ENTIRE LEAGUE and is a solid run defender; I don’t think he’s much worse (if at all) than DeMeco Ryans (who ranks near the top of the most overrated players in the league). This is the only cloister of Texans fans on the entire internet who hate on this guy, and I defy you to justify your dislike of his on-field product.

Diles at SLB won’t be a problem. Bentley would be the best solution at WLB because Adibi is god-awful at everything and Darryl Sharpton is probably the worst pick in terms of value that I’ve seen Rick Smith make. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sharpton is cut relatively soon (within the next 1 to 2 seasons); he’s slow, makes no impact in the running game despite hitting pretty hard, and CAN. NOT. COVER.

by krkenney on May 10, 2010 7:39 PM CDT reply actions

I would...

back you on the Diles thing. I don’t think he’s as bad as people paint him out to be. He’s not on Cushing’s level as a tackler, but he’s definitely a better cover LB.

I will disagree that Sharpton’s getting cut. You don’t cut a 4th round pick before camp, you don’t cut a LB when the position is hurting for depth, and he’ll end up starting at WLB. Bentley’s a special team guy and Adibi’s too far in the doghouse to ever see the light of day.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on May 10, 2010 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions

He’s not on Cushing’s level as a tackler

but then again how many LB’s can say they are on the same level

living the Texas dream

by Joe25 on May 12, 2010 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions

DeMeco Ryans (who ranks near the top of the most overrated players in the league).

You do know your on the BRB right?

living the Texas dream

by Joe25 on May 12, 2010 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I misread one of the posts. Ignore my first paragraph; although I know Diles isn’t well-liked here… so you can still try and justify disliking him, but I realize that it wasn’t necessarily relevant to the topic at hand.

My apologies.

by krkenney on May 10, 2010 7:41 PM CDT reply actions

Why do you think Diles isn't well like?

by kozanack on May 10, 2010 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions

A few months ago when I first discovered the site...

… there was a post heavily critical of Zac Diles. I can’t remember who it was posted by, and I don’t remember if that was the entire objective of the post, but I do remember being stunned because I couldn’t imagine what would warrant anyone disliking Diles. It’s stuck around because of constant suggestions that he needs replacement… which I will be okay with after we get a NT, LT, replacement for Andre, C, back-up QB who didn’t lead a team to the worst season in league history, CB, FS, K, and P.

Right now, I think Diles is the one player offering any sort of redeeming quality about the 07 draft. I don’t think Kubiak is too far off in his suggestion that Diles could be a Pro Bowler, but because he’s so low-profile and to the rest of the league is “that one guy who plays next to the best LB in the game and DeMeco Ryans,” if he ever gets there it’ll be 10-12 years down the line, in the twilight of his career after a long and impressive body of work.

by krkenney on May 10, 2010 11:13 PM CDT reply actions

Diles=Demeco?

“I don’t think he’s much worse (if at all) than DeMeco Ryans (who ranks near the top of the most overrated players in the league)” You’re kidding right? Like I’ll agree with you that a lot of the Diles hate is over stated, but I have to say this is an absurd claim. Demeco is not overrated, he is consistent, he is a leader, and he is a hell of a football player. Diles is not on Demeco’s level because frankly I think few linebackers are.

All these boundaries - Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America - are set by men. But you don't have to look at boundaries when you are looking at a man - at the character of a man. The question is: What do you stand for? Are you a follower, or are you a leader? -Hakeem Olajuwon

by SlatonShuffle on May 11, 2010 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Disagree completely

I don’t know how much it has to do with our defensive tackles, but aside from leadership, he’s not great (read: NOT bad, but definitely not at a level “few linebackers are”).

He’s significantly worse than both Cushing and Diles in coverage, and I already mentioned the problem that DTs might cause him, but he does NOT make an impact in the run game very often. He cannot blitz, either. He’s a reliable tackler and a fiery leader, but we have several players on defense who outclass him in terms of impact. I’d be in favor of giving the green dot to Pollard and leaving Diles on the field in Nickel situations. It’d give us a fighting chance against TEs in coverage.

I love Ryans, but Diles is every bit the player Ryans is and perhaps better in some aspects.

by krkenney on May 11, 2010 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions