Lb core for 2005

[cptnbreakdance]

we should be looking good Sharper, Wong, Peek, and Babin as starters. I know I've listed 3 outside lbs, but we could possibly move Wong or Even Peek to ILB. Forman has just about Burned out IMO. And if, and this is a BIG if, we are luky enough to draft DJ our LB core could potentially have one of the best in the Conference, if not the League.

[cptnbreakdance]

....Have one of the best. .... *be* one of the best

[TheTim5125]

It would be pretty amazing... but ya never know...

[TEXANS84]

I for one am all for the Babin/Wong/Sharper/Peek starting 4.

I saw #56 too many times falling behind the reciever in coverage.

[Cincinnatikid]

That should be the starting 4, but who knows what will happen. I for one have been disappointed that Wong was so up front about not wanting to play inside. If Babin Wong Sharper Peek are our best 4 LBs then they should be starting and wong should play inside. If he doesnt want to then I would sit him. However, i think this will be the starting 4 in 05.

[TexansTrueFan]

yeah the 4 mentioned sound good to me, but dont forget about polk, i mean he seemed to play pretty well to me when he filled in for foreman in the late part of the season, plus he's big and fast and seems to be a solid tackler. i say if wong dont wanna move to the inside it should be

ILB ( Polk, Sharper)
OLB ( Babin, Peek *alternate wong)

or

ILB ( Wong, Sharper )
OLB ( Babin, Peek )

[El Tejano]

I happen to still like Wong on the outside. He had a very good year adjusting to the new position on the outside.

[TexansTrueFan]

well if thats the case maybe we should see how peek would do moving to the inside position !

[Blake]

I think Wong did a great job this year at OLB. He had some nice numbers. The only way I see him posibly shifting back inside, is if we pick up a sack specialist like Merriman.

[texasguy346]

I kind of like a scenario Vinny alluded to in the Mock Draft. He picked up Marcus Ware as an OLB in the 2nd Round (not sure he'd fall that far on Draft Day but you never know), and mentioned he'd like to see Ware playing a similiar role that Peek played this year. That would leave Babin and Peek on the outside, and Sharper/Wong or Polk on the inside, and then you'd have Ware come in as a situational pass rusher. Sounds too good to be true, but I'll keep dreaming away.

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by Cincinnatikid

That should be the starting 4, but who knows what will happen.

I would like that to be the starting 4, but foxsports.com doesn't think so:

Draft buzz: The Texans focused on offense their first two years and defense last year, and while they still have holes on both sides of the ball, they'll probably go heavy on defense again. The team's biggest needs are protecting the passer on offense and rushing the passer on defense. It's unlikely they'll use a high pick on an offensive lineman, although they might choose to draft another pass rushing outside linebacker rather than give two-year pro Antwan Peek a chance at a starting job. Receiver and cornerback aren't major needs, but the Texans could improve at both positions.

[YoungTexanFan]

i think boomer grigsby should be drafted in the later rounds and given a chance at mlb. wong should stay outside. the weakest member of our lb group was formen and that was obvious, but babin didnt have a great season for a first round pick. He had a great first two games and then struggled and never got back to where he was to start. IMO it should be:
babin and peek competing for olb spot
sharper
grigsby
wong

wong proved himself to be an good olb and peek is not a mlb. draft one. dj is not a mlb, and he will not be there for us.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by YoungTexanFan

i think boomer grigsby should be drafted in the later rounds and given a chance at mlb. wong should stay outside. the weakest member of our lb group was formen and that was obvious, but babin didnt have a great season for a first round pick.

Actually Babin had an exceptional season for a DE tweener conversion. They rarely start and rarely produce in the manner he did as a rookie.

[texan279]

think boomer grigsby should be drafted in the later rounds and given a chance at mlb. wong should stay outside. the weakest member of our lb group was formen and that was obvious, but babin didnt have a great season for a first round pick. He had a great first two games and then struggled and never got back to where he was to start. IMO it should be:

Don't forget Babin played DE in college so this was his first year to play OLB in a 3-4 defense, and yes he did have a pretty good season considering the play of the D line in the '04 season....he had 63 tackles 5th on the team, 4 sacks 2nd on the team, and 2 fumble recoveries, 2nd on the team. And don't forget, it will probably take him another year or two for him to totally adjust to playing OLB for us. You can't expect a player to come into the NFL and put up Pro Bowl numbers in his first season, especially when he is learning a new position.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by texan279

You can't expect a player to come into the NFL and put up Pro Bowl numbers in his first season, especially when he is learning a new position.

Add to that the DE most affecting Babin's play had a very off year. If Walker can return to 2002 form or split time with a rookie to solidify the position Babin will get a big boost as well.

[TexansTrueFan]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Add to that the DE most affecting Babin's play had a very off year. If Walker can return to 2002 form or split time with a rookie to solidify the position Babin will get a big boost as well.

thats very true i didnt even think about that, i guess some people think that one player makes the differnce when actually it takes all elements of the team to make everything work right ! Good post infantrycak.

[Texans Pride]

Originally Posted by cptnbreakdance

we should be looking good Sharper, Wong, Peek, and Babin as starters. I know I've listed 3 outside lbs, but we could possibly move Wong or Even Peek to ILB.

It looks as if the Chronicle is kicking around the same idea. Hopefully the Texans are talking about it as well.

Let Peek learn on job
The Texans should move Kailee Wong inside next to Jamie Sharper, whose contract needs to be restructured to be more cap friendly. Then, find another outside linebacker like Babin or — drum roll, please — put Antwan Peek on the field and leave him there.

If the Texans' coaches were all that high on Peek, he would have played more and been given a chance to fail alongside Babin, Robinson and left tackle Seth Wand. Still, Peek's speed and quickness are breathtaking.

There are several prospects who might be able to make the move from college defensive end to outside linebacker in a 3-4, but it's doubtful the Texans will use another No. 1 pick on a player at this position.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3042298

[BuffSoldier]

I would love to see Peek on the outside more perminently. After 2 NFL offseasons/training camps, Peek has had time to learn to play the OLB role in the 3-4 and hopefully learn to play coverage. That along with his natural pass rushing brilliance would create a monster playing on one side and a beast in training(Babin) on the other.

[AndreJ]

I know pretty much noone is high on Jay Foreman, but I dont see anyone taking his job. The coaches and announcers haven't really gave any indication that he hasn't been playing like garbage and I for one don't think they are going to let him ride the bench next year. I have no idea as to how our LB core will look next year, but i am very anxious to see.

This will be Peeks 3rd year, usually the year in which a tweener in the 3-4 comes of age so we should see him compete for the starting spot this year. Wong would be pretty hard to beat at the ROLB spot with the good year he had. Peek needs to be a smarter player and prove he can play more than a couple of games while not getting hurt before he can unseat Wong. These are the things that may be hampering him. It's a guarantee we are going to draft an ILB this year as we have not done in the previous 3 drafts. If we pick a starter there then I look for a Babin, (rookie), Sharper, Wong lineup. Then again, I'm crossing my fingers for the acquisition of Bell.