Chronic: Rookie Okoye fitting in nicely with Texans

[Texans34Life]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4820901.html

AMOBI Okoye was lined up in front of a tackling dummy and waiting for the go-ahead from defensive line coach Jethro Franklin.

As soon as he heard the orders, Okoye ran right at the bag and did a spin move as he rolled around it. As Okoye walked back to his place, he straightened a football lying at an angle on the ground next to his bag.

"Don't touch my ball, rook!" Franklin yelled.

Okoye backed away and said nothing. Another lesson learned.

Weaver and Williams will line up on the outside with Jason Babin as a situational pass rusher. Inside, Okoye will start alongside Anthony Maddox, Travis Johnson or Zgonina. Okoye, Williams, Babin and Johnson were selected in the first round in the past four years.

[infantrycak]

Interesting to see Okoye mention both Bush and Franklin and not mention Smith. Good to see the new coaches having an impact though.

[TheRealJoker]

Is anyone else creaming their pants at the amount of depth we have on the DL?

This is even more than this time last season (before Smith got cut and TJ/Payne got IRed)

Zgonina, Weaver, and Kalu are veterans who know how to win (all have been to the playoffs, and Zgonina has won a Super Bowl) and all of them are good enough to be contributors on the DL this season. I think Zgonina will help the most, he's been in the NFL for like 14 or 17 seasons and is still a solid DL. I am hoping his work ethic (you have to have one to be in the NFL as long as he has) will rub off on our young DL.

*Add in our younger guys like Williams, Okoye, TJ, Maddox, and Babin and I think we are going to have a VERY solid DL!!!

*Please note that this is said every year and should be taken with a grain of salt until the season starts and they are in fact a solid DL.

[Rex King]

I suppose it's because Bush and Franklin are probably having more direct contact with the d-line than Smith. I was worried about a possible power struggle or mish-mash of defensive philosophies when Bush was signed, but it looks like his role is pretty well-defined.

I like this part:
"Throughout the week, defensive end Mario Williams was first in line for drills."

[TheRealJoker]

Karmelowicz is now a consultant correct?

I didn't like how Mario was handled last by him and Smith. All that shuffling on the DL for him kind of stunted his growth imo.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by TheRealJoker

Is anyone else creaming their pants at the amount of depth we have on the DL?

One word. Yes.