KC Joyner praises Bennett

[281]

this is a snippet from an article off ESPN insider:

As was the case with the receivers, this metric review measures medium (11-19 yards), deep (20-29 yards) and bomb (30-plus yards) pass attempts on a yards-per-attempt basis. Because cornerbacks tend to see fewer passes than wide receivers, I lowered the qualifying-attempt mark to 24. The yardage totals once again include "pass in the air" penalty attempts and yards (i.e., pass interference, defensive holding, illegal contact, etc.).

Now that we have the rules out of the way, here are the top 10 vertical cornerbacks from 2007:

Player Team Vert Att Vert Yds Vert YPA
Fred Bennett Houston 24 67 2.8
Quentin Jammer San Diego 35 159 4.5
Deshea Townsend Pittsburgh 35 178 5.1
Charles Tillman Chicago 34 199 5.9
Fred Smoot Washington 32 197 6.2
Terrence McGee Buffalo 44 271 6.2
Eric Wright Cleveland 46 300 6.5
Antonio Cromartie San Diego 29 202 7.0
Sheldon Brown Philadelphia 40 279 7.0
Will Allen Miami 30 211 7.0

Fred Bennett might be the best young cornerback in the NFL. He not only posted a phenomenally low vertical YPA but also gave up only six completions in those 24 attempts, none of which were at the deep or bomb level. Bennett's overall YPA of 4.7 was third-best among cornerbacks last season, which is another reason I think he might be only one full season as a starter away from being a serious Pro Bowl candidate.

---

interesting.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by 281

...which is another reason I think he might be only one full season as a starter away from being a serious Pro Bowl candidate.

Pro Bowlers generally come from teams that win. Having said that, I think Bennett is a good young CB. Like the rest of the Texans secondary, he was mainly beaten on the underneath routes.

I think the Texans have tried to address this problem on multiple levels this offseason (speed at LB, depth at CB). There's a lot of young talent on this defense, and I think we'll see them improve over the course of the year. Especially if Robinson returns healthy.

[Tailgate]

I let myself become skeptical of Fred I think simply due to where he was drafted. Considering that they love Diles who was drafted in the 7th, the way they drafted in 06... its obviously no longer an issue for me. Especially after the way he came around on the field so quickly and via threads such as these!

In theory, if Molden comes around as anticipated...and Dunta can regain his form, our secondary has a bright future.

Loving the way this team is shaping up!

[HOU-TEX]

Couple these stats with the fact that he ain't skeered to lay the wood to somebody and you have a larger version of Dunta.

BTW, how did Faggins measure up?

[281]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Couple these stats with the fact that he ain't skeered to lay the wood to somebody and you have a larger version of Dunta.

BTW, how did Faggins measure up?

not sure... here's the bottom ten from the article:

Player Team Vertical Att Vertical Yds Vertical YPA
Ellis Hobbs New England 51 630 12.4
Cedric Griffin Minnesota 43 532 12.4
Ike Taylor Pittsburgh 56 710 12.7
Eric Green Arizona 24 305 12.7
Travis Daniels Miami 26 369 14.2
Corey Ivy Baltimore 38 552 14.5
Ron Bartell St. Louis 24 349 14.5
Patrick Surtain Kansas City 30 439 14.6
Drayton Florence San Diego 25 394 15.8
Jason David New Orleans 37 707 19.1

[Lucky]

Drayton Florence San Diego 25 394 15.8

How many $millions did the Jags pay this guy?

[TexansFanatic]

If the Texans have the same luck with Molden as they did with Bennett the Texans secondary will be stacked. And by luck I mean getting a Pro Bowl caliber young corner with a middle round pick.

[Silver Oak]

Originally Posted by Lucky

How many $millions did the Jags pay this guy?

too many, but the guy does know how to cheap shot a QB.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by TexansFanatic

If the Texans have the same luck with Molden as they did with Bennett the Texans secondary will be stacked.

There are similarities between Molden & Bennett. Both are over 6' and just under 200 lbs. Their combine results were close, with Molden showing more straight line speed. But, Bennett was a 3 year starter in the SEC. So it may take longer for Molden to make a similar impact, if he does.

[TexansFanatic]

Originally Posted by Lucky

There are similarities between Molden & Bennett. Both are over 6' and just under 200 lbs. Their combine results were close, with Molden showing more straight line speed. But, Bennett was a 3 year starter in the SEC. So it may take longer for Molden to make a similar impact, if he does.

Hard to imagine how a 3 year starter in the SEC with that combination of size and speed lasts 'til the 4th round. Glad he did though.

[False Start]

Originally Posted by Silver Oak

too many, but the guy does know how to cheap shot a QB.

When I heard he signed with the fags , it gave me just one more reason to hate them .

[alphajoker]

Originally Posted by 281

not sure... here's the bottom ten from the article:

Player Team Vertical Att Vertical Yds Vertical YPA
Ellis Hobbs New England 51 630 12.4
Cedric Griffin Minnesota 43 532 12.4
Ike Taylor Pittsburgh 56 710 12.7
Eric Green Arizona 24 305 12.7
Travis Daniels Miami 26 369 14.2
Corey Ivy Baltimore 38 552 14.5
Ron Bartell St. Louis 24 349 14.5
Patrick Surtain Kansas City 30 439 14.6
Drayton Florence San Diego 25 394 15.8
Jason David New Orleans 37 707 19.1

I'm not surprised to see Jason David at the bottom...he got lit up quite often last year. More specifically on one by Andre Johson!

[281]

Originally Posted by TexMexVato

I'm not surprised to see Jason David at the bottom...he got lit up quite often last year. More specifically on one by Andre Johson!

the second i realized it was play action, i knew it was gonna be a TD for dre. i just knew it.

[ObsiWan]

Wonder where are trade acquisition, Reeves, falls..??

and where's da link?

...never mind.

link

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

Wonder where are trade acquisition, Reeves, falls..??

found that too in a Joyner article on F/A acquistions...
link2...

Jacques Reeves, CB, Texans:
Reeves, formerly of the Cowboys, had a 7.9 YPA in 2007. That number alone says he is average, but it is skewed somewhat by three of his games. Reeves struggled in Week 2 at Miami, got beat for a 69-yard touchdown by Donte' Stallworth in Week 6 against New England and had a subpar showing in Week 11 against Washington.

Take those three tilts out of his numbers, and Reeves' YPA drops to 7.0, which is a starting-cornerback level YPA. He might not be a shutdown cornerback, but he certainly is an upgrade for a weak Houston secondary that can use all the help it can get.

Antonio Cromartie, San Diego -- 29 -- 202 -- 7.0
Sheldon Brown, Philadelphia---- 40 -- 279 -- 7.0
Will Allen, Miami --------------- 30 -- 211 -- 7.0

sounds like Reeves'll do as a #2 until Dunta comes back

[Giant Tiger]

Originally Posted by Tailgate

I let myself become skeptical of Fred I think simply due to where he was drafted. Considering that they love Diles who was drafted in the 7th, the way they drafted in 06... its obviously no longer an issue for me. Especially after the way he came around on the field so quickly and via threads such as these!

In theory, if Molden comes around as anticipated...and Dunta can regain his form, our secondary has a bright future.

Loving the way this team is shaping up!

My thoughts exactly. I'm really looking forward to this season.

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Should Molden turn out to be a bigger version of Dunta, what a steal that would be in 3rd rd. I just love the way this year's draft shaped up for us.

Excellent work FO!!

GO TEXANS!!

[Leahmic223]

Freddy as I like to call him is definitely a starter, and would start if Dunta was healthy. Had a great rookie season last year, our defense is really shaping up. Hopefully Adibi and Frank Okam can fill some holes. (I think Adibi is going to be awesome...but its better to wait and see, can't wait.)

[BigTimeTexanFan]

Maybe our secondary will go from being a glaring weakness to the strength of the team like it did last year with our receiving corps! One can only wish.