We need a pass rushing running back...

by SOLIS on Feb 15, 2008 10:04 PM CST Comment 56 comments

I know a lot of the Texans faithful are big on us drafting a CB in the first round - but this is where I'll respectfully disagree. Our two biggest areas of concern, as I see it, are Pass Rush and Running Back. Seriously - think back to our 8-8 season. Remember all those games where everyone not named Mario was rackin up sacks? Or do you remember all of those break away, game changing runs? No? Me neither.

Look, I'm not saying that it wouldn't be wise to get help in the backfield - but I think that would be better addressed through free agency. Our defensive backfield can not endure another half of season worth of learning curve for a rookie. The Fred played admirably, but was only brought on because Petey couldn't cover tupperwear. My thinking is that we get some experienced DB help (ala Demps last year) and address those other glaring holes.

First Pass Rush: True, Amobi needs to take a Marioesque stride in his sophomore season, but we also need another speed rusher off the edge. I'm thinking either a Suggs-like DE/OLB or a Tuck-like DT/DE that can play towards mismatch. So with our first pick, I'm thinking we should go with a Keith Rivers at OLB or a Derrick Harvey at DE to add that bookend opposite Mario, if available... and if not, go RB.

Now for the sexy pick, Running back: I think we have a shot of landing Mendenhall or Stewart, but not having a choice of both. Meaning only one will be there at 18. Now - that said, and knowing the track record of Kubes, I see us taking a Ray Rice in the 3rd or 4th if available and quite possibly a Mike Hart in the 4th or 5th if available. The reason I like us taking one of the smaller, quicker backs, is that they both can cut and turn it up field. Hart killed it in the RB skills challenge. He's quick and has good hands. Much the same for Rice. I'd would be interesting to see what he could do w/ Gibbs' blocking scheme.

That's just this fan's take. Let me know what you think.

There you go Tim.

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re: RB

I'm hoping that East Carolina's Chris Johnson is still available for us in the 3rd. You want a guy who has breakaway speed? Look no further...check out his 40....

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=32966

by BigTexBD on Feb 16, 2008 2:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

DE and RB

First, RB...I would LOVE for Ray Rice to be a Texan, especially if it was in the third round. Any worry that he doesn't last that long?

DE--no disagreement that more pressure off the edge is needed. But who besides Harvey is a legitimate possibility in the second half of the first round?

Oh, and thanks, Solis.

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

by Tim on Feb 16, 2008 2:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

"What do you know about PRESSURE?!"

I have no idea where Auburn's Quentin Groves is supposed to go, but beginning Thursday at the combine, his stock should soar.

He's a DE naturally, but his size might encourage coaches to use him as a LB, too. But the kid runs a 4.4 and hits QBs like they were a sand-weighted punching clown.

If you want pressure off the end, this guy could be an answer if he's there. Also, Florida's Derrick Harvey and Ohio State's Vernon Ghoulston are a couple of DEs who can play almost immediately, but would have to be first round picks.

by BigTexBD on Feb 17, 2008 6:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you already said Harvey. me = slow

I meant to say someone like Miami's Calais Campbell, USC's Lawrence Jackson (slower, though), or a sleeper like South Carolina's Casper Brinkley.

by BigTexBD on Feb 17, 2008 6:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

5, 4, 3, 2, ....

Cue MDC's slobbering over the suggestion of taking a flyer on Hart in the 5th Round.

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Feb 16, 2008 4:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I believe

that I have said I am not in favor of drafting Hart. I love Mikey, but he is small and not really what we need.

That said, in the fifth, oh HELLZ YEAH I'd take a chance on the guy.

by MDC on Feb 17, 2008 9:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, I remembered...

That's exactly why I was so specific in the comment.

And yeah, if Smithiak believes Hart is a fit....and hasn't taken a RB in the 1st 4 rounds....then I'm in.

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Feb 18, 2008 9:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember Babin?

Let's not try to convert an outside linebacker to defensive end. We tried that with Jason Babin, Shantee Orr, and Charlie Anderson. Babin had the best results, and he got shipped off to Seattle.

by Leein3D on Feb 18, 2008 12:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but

We were running an entirely different scheme... It's a tougher assignment to turn a smaller OLB into a DE in the 3-4. Here I'm proposing we take a stud athlete who can play hands down in pass rush and hands up in coverage. Some of the better ones in the league are cut from that mold. Merriman, Ware, Suggs, etc... Basically I'm looking for someone else in our front seven that needs to be accounted for on every play, not just passing downs.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 18, 2008 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But...

Those are all guys who play in a 3-4. They also all primarily rush the passer. If you want a blitzing linebacker, send DeMeco. He seems to have a knack for getting to the quarterback on the rare occasion they do send him on the blitz.

by Leein3D on Feb 19, 2008 1:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True

First thing is first. The DE in a 3-4 is supposed to occupy linemen and get to the QB by stunting. That's why that beast Gary Walker was so effective. He would generally require a double team to keep him out of the backfield leaving the LB, usually the weak side, to pressure the QB.

It's true DeMeco does have a knack for getting to the QB - but that leaves a huge hole up the middle. I think DeMeco's strength is playing the run and defending the short route. His pro-bowl performance is a testament to his ability to defend the pass. Besides, DeMeco is a mike. I want a pass rushing will. Some one who can blow up a chip block and bring down the QB or atleast get him to errantly float one to the secondary.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 19, 2008 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's fine...

But we still don't play a 3-4. We don't blitz that often, and it has become apparent that Richard Smith would prefer to get pressure from the front four. That being said, if we go after a pass rusher, it will definitely be an end, not an outside linebacker. In our system, I'm not sold on converting a tweener to defensive end. It hasn't worked in the past two years, and I don't think it will work now.

by Leein3D on Feb 19, 2008 11:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah-ha

But think back to that terrific two game stretch v Tampa/Denver. We blitzed more than we had all season, in our conventional 4-3 no less. And it paid major dividends. Mario rattled the cage till it broke and we even had an Anthony Weaver sighting in the Denver game. All that said, Morlon Greenwood was definitely the unsung hero of the defense. That's what good OLB play can do for a team.

Besides, you can't tell me that those any of those 3-4 tweeners I mentioned wouldn't succeed in a 4-3 being the 5th pass rusher on a blitz. They'd only have to shed the second tier blockers as opposed to trying to beat an LT, et al at the line.

Look, I respect your opinion, and believe me, I don't think Jason Babin II would work either... But I do think a OLB with a penchant for attacking the ball, be it on the run or on a blitz, would help this team tremendously, for obvious reasons. And if a top flight DE is available, the potential for being developing a dominant defense abounds as well.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 19, 2008 12:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

I agree that when we blitzed, it worked. And I also would love to see us blitz like that on a consistent basis. But in my opinion, getting an outside linebacker who's specialty is the blitz wouldn't be the smartest thing in the world. Yes, they would succeed in getting to the quarterback. But how would they fare against the run? What about dropping into coverage?

by Leein3D on Feb 19, 2008 1:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sr. Lee

If you agree that we should be blitzing on a more consistant basis - then shouldn't we have a LB in place who is capable of doing just that?

Yes, I agree we need to get someone who is solid in all facets of the OLB posistion: run support, short route coverage, and pass rush. That's why I want to see someone who is fast enough to have to accounted for both at the line and in the flat. With Mario, Amobi, and DeMeco anchoring the front seven, the addition of another playmaker will most definately go a long way to making this a playoff caliber defense.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 19, 2008 2:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Shameless Entertainment

This is great stuff. I'm not even picking a side in the debate.....I'm just going to get some more popcorn.

Seriously though, well done fellas with bringing the elevated discourse to BRB.

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Feb 19, 2008 2:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Swiss Army Shake

Slices, dices, and juliennes.

Thanks for the props.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 19, 2008 3:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Sr. Lee

As long as the guy isn't a liability in coverage or against the run, then I'm okay with it. :D

by Leein3D on Feb 19, 2008 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I Concur

Well said bro.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 19, 2008 3:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait...so you guys agree?

Does this mean the movie is over?

Damn it. Someone pick a fight with Matt, so that I can remain entertained for the 2nd half of this week.

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Feb 20, 2008 8:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MDC

Is he even alive? BFD's shoulders must be awfully tired from carrying him over at DGDB&D.

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

by Tim on Feb 20, 2008 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You are just jealous...

because my co-blogger actually exists.

by MDC on Feb 20, 2008 11:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BURN!

Bwahahahaha!

I kinda wanna be a co-blogger :\

by Leein3D on Feb 20, 2008 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent...

Things are going just as I planned......

Although, I wouldn't have to incite these riots if I had....oh, I don't know....another Texans blog to read that wasn't blocked as a p0rn site. You know, hypothetically.

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Feb 20, 2008 12:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait...

Are you telling me that there is a Texans blog that also has porn?!?!

by Leein3D on Feb 20, 2008 12:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

Depends on your definition of porn...

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 20, 2008 12:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Are there donkeys or midgets? crosses fingers

by Leein3D on Feb 20, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

DGDB&D

No but there is a pic of an old dude in a leotard... not to mention a handful of drawn dicks, you know, if you're into that sorta thing.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 20, 2008 12:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Not so much. :\

by Leein3D on Feb 20, 2008 1:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't sell Liston short...

those are WAY more than a handful.

by MDC on Feb 20, 2008 7:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

According to Urban Legend...

My co-blogger exists too, though he only shows his "face" when I've guzzled one too many Zima and/or ingested one too many 'shrooms.

Lee--keep up the excellent commenting and I'll have little choice but to make you a co-blogger. Aside from the quality of your contributions, it'd also allow me to cut back to thrice weekly visits with my shrink instead of the current five visits per week pattern.

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

by Tim on Feb 20, 2008 1:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Zomething Zhitty

Do they still sell Zima or are you still babysitting that case your cousin scored you in high school?

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 21, 2008 12:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Zhitty

Still babysitting, of course. That stuff's liquid gold; I only drink them on special occasions (e.g., when my mom lets me stay up late).

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

by Tim on Feb 21, 2008 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

On the brightside

Once you guzzle that last Zima, you could always save your allowance for a sixer of Smirnoff Ice. And if you're lucky, Moms will let you watch a PG-13 movie - by yourself.

Rated R is still out of the question mister.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 21, 2008 11:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Funny you mention PG-13...

right, Tim?

by MDC on Feb 21, 2008 7:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What's that about?

Did he camp out in his wizard gear to be the first in line to see the new Potter movie --- again?

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 22, 2008 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey now

Don't bash on Harry Potter. Those are some good movies! Besides, I WILL marry Emma Watson.

by Leein3D on Feb 22, 2008 11:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

PG-13

I think MDC is referring to a story I once told him about how I was refused entry to "Spiderman" (rated PG-13) because the usher didn't think I was old enough.

I was 22 at the time.

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

by Tim on Feb 22, 2008 2:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn...

You don't shave much do you? Ah nevermind, its all gravy. In anycase, I just wanna see how far over we can push these replies.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 22, 2008 7:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

re:

Just helping to fulfill your request to push right.

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Feb 22, 2008 10:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

a record?

is this a record for the most number of comments in a diary? keep it goin!

by BigTexBD on Feb 23, 2008 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

dilemma

as a political centrist, it is painful to lean this far to the right.

by knave64 on Feb 23, 2008 7:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Realistically

Its all a matter of perspective. Or in this case, resolution.

by Leein3D on Feb 23, 2008 11:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gibbs-smibbs

If only the new look offensive line can get this kind of push...

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Feb 24, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Diles?

I thought I remembered hearing that Diles was going to get moved to OLB. Is he being moved to SLB, or WLB, and how does this affect, if at all, this debate on taking a DE to play OLB?

Also, how much further right does this thread have to go before no one can/will read it?

by Gryften on Feb 26, 2008 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Diles

Great point, Gryften; Diles has slipped my mind. I know the staff is allegedly high on him and hopes to get him on the field more; I just don't really know where.

If the team does like Diles, it would seem that taking a collegiate DE in the hopes of making him an OLB makes very little sense.

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

by Tim on Feb 26, 2008 12:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

All for it

From what I remember reading about Zach, he's a hard nosed player who has a high energy motor. I'd love to see what he could moved over from the Mike to the Will.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Feb 26, 2008 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

solis

uh, yea, just addin to the list,...was there a topic..

by 1Texan on Feb 29, 2008 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

It was about playing Mario at halfback... or something.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Mar 1, 2008 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait...

then would we move Darius Walker to DE? I am so confused now.

by MDC on Mar 2, 2008 2:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

Kube's seemed hellbent on trying Vonta Leach at WR last year.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Mar 3, 2008 9:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Mar 3, 2008 9:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair...

that was a more successful experiment than Petey Faggins at CB?

by MDC on Mar 9, 2008 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jones

Maybe we can turn Jacoby into a shutdown corner... It would be like watching a baby cow on roller skates. I might pay to see that.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Mar 10, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possibly

Our first order of business should be turning Travis Johnson into an unemployed asshole.

by MDC on Mar 11, 2008 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paul Harvey

Former Fins' QB Trent Green is an unabashed Texans fan... so much so, he sacrificed his body to send a message to the Texans underachieving nose tackle, Travis Johnson. It was during the tumult of a broken play, that Green's true intentions were made clear: get Travis Johnson out of the game for good. But Green's plan backfired, and the QB was the one who ended up leaving on a stretcher.

Green since has chosen to go back to the NFC Rams to lessen the likelihood of having to play his favorite team again. And although he says he's put the incident behind him, a list with the crossed out names J. Wells, C. Stanley, and D. Carr was found in his Miami locker. T. Johnson's name was on the list also, but had yet to be crossed out.

And now you know the rest of the story...

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Mar 11, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs