What about Okoye?

[BigTimeTexanFan]

I haven't been able to attend any practices, so I was hoping someone who has can update. I hear a lot of talk pretty much everyone else on the team, but not much about our #1 draft choice. How is he doing?

I hear he's inconsistent, but most rookies are...

I think yesterday or the day before he was sucking and they pulled him to put in Travis Johnson....

No need to panic though...He's just gotta get some snaps under his belt...

[Vinny]

from Zierlein's Aug 1 blog

Texans Update
Amobi Okoye is finding out that life with the grown-ups is a little tougher than he probably expected. As one source tells it, Okoye was having some trouble remembering what to do in some of the drills on Wednesday morning and defensive coordinator Richard Smith jumped him and made a comment that he better keep his nose in the playbook. Then, after continuing to make mistakes during practice, he was yanked out of the rotation and Travis Johnson replaced him.

http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootba...erpt_from.html

[Hardcore Texan]

Hopefully this is just rookie-itis and he gets it worked out by the middle of the pre-season.

[Double Barrel]

I hope to see signs of greatness this year, but it is unrealistic to expect greatness from a rookie DT.

He looked small next to his teammates, and he's got a lot to learn in order to use his quickness to his advantage. These NFL offensive linemen aren't the college guys he's been facing, so there's a learning curve involved just for him to get up to par.

[BigTimeTexanFan]

Thanks for the update guys

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I hope to see signs of greatness this year, but it is unrealistic to expect greatness from a rookie DT.

He looked small next to his teammates, and he's got a lot to learn in order to use his quickness to his advantage. These NFL offensive linemen aren't the college guys he's been facing, so there's a learning curve involved just for him to get up to par.

This is the reason I'm praying TJ, Zgonina and others in the rotation can step up when needed. I have a feeling they're going to get a boatload of playing time.

BTW, Zgonina is built like a brick poop house. I saw him up close last night and his legs are bigger than Earl's were.

[BigTimeTexanFan]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

This is the reason I'm praying TJ, Zgonina and others in the rotation can step up when needed. I have a feeling they're going to get a boatload of playing time.

BTW, Zgonina is built like a brick poop house. I saw him up close last night and his legs are bigger than Earl's were.

His legs are that big to support that cinder block he's got for a head. I have never seen such a square shaped man in my life.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

He looked small next to his teammates

He does, but he's got extremely long arms which has to be an advantage.
Now Babin looks really small comparitively speaking, too small to be an NFL DLineman IMO.
Wonder why Babin wasn't used as a backer in the 4-3 when they converted from the 3-4 like teammates Orr & C.Anderson were. After all they were all college DEs but drafted by Capers to play OLBs in his 3-4 ?

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Wonder why Babin wasn't used as a backer in the 4-3 when they converted from the 3-4 like teammates Orr & C.Anderson were.

Babin has always looked better moving forward, rather than backward.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

He does, but he's got extremely long arms which has to be an advantage.
Now Babin looks really small comparitively speaking, too small to be an NFL DLineman IMO.
Wonder why Babin wasn't used as a backer in the 4-3 when they converted from the 3-4 like teammates Orr & C.Anderson were. After all they were all college DEs but drafted by Capers to play OLBs in his 3-4 ?

he doesn't play well in space

[threetoedpete]

Originally Posted by Hardcore Texan

Hopefully this is just rookie-itis and he gets it worked out by the middle of the pre-season.

Been thirty something years, but we sarted running after the fourth of july weekend to get ready for the August heat in pads. Aombi thought he was in shape. Nothing more than that. He wasn't ready for the houston humidity. He has an elite first step. That is more than enough base to build from.

Originally Posted by threetoedpete

Been thirty something years, but we sarted running after the fourth of july weekend to get ready for the August heat in pads. Aombi thought he was in shape. Nothing more than that. He wasn't ready for the houston humidity. He has an elite first step. That is more than enough base to build from.

Wow...

This is one of the rare times that I actually agree with ya'....

[Texan_Bill]

I would agree, but didnt he spend time in Houston when he was a little younger??? Once you've been to Houston, you never forget the heat and humidity... Besides that Huntsville Alabama is no bed of roses either.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Vinny

he doesn't play well in space

Which suggests he's just not the pure athlete that Orr & Anderson are. Nothing he can do about that.
IMO he's gonna ultimately end up in the position he was drafted to play for
his best opportunity to succeed in the NFL.

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by KJ3

yea, houston's heat/humidity 1-2 punch can be pretty devastating to an atheletic endeavor. playing basketball sometimes is a chore...about 5 minutes in and your clothes have magically turned into disgusting weights from being covered in sweat. and i assume pro football practice is a little more physically demanding than me and my friends shooting around, playing 21 and such...

Hell yeah. I alwys take nice cold showers after playing basketball out in the Houston heat.

[texanfan2002114]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

He does, but he's got extremely long arms which has to be an advantage.
Now Babin looks really small comparitively speaking, too small to be an NFL DLineman IMO.
Wonder why Babin wasn't used as a backer in the 4-3 when they converted from the 3-4 like teammates Orr & C.Anderson were. After all they were all college DEs but drafted by Capers to play OLBs in his 3-4 ?

That was one think that I noticed about Amobi during the combine and draft process was has long his arms are.

Compared to Joe Thomas, Joe has an arm length of 32 1/2 inchs and did 225 on the bench 28 times and did not do a squat at the combine or campus workouts.

Amobi has an arm length of 33 1/2 inches and did 225 on the bench 33 times and did a squat of 605 pounds. Amobi has great strength in his lower body and his upper body. Justin Harrel from Tenn., who was picked 6 picks after Amobi only squated 500 pounds and didn't lift.

Once Amobi gets with the speed of the game and keeps his head in there 100% of the time, I believe that we will have a beast on the D-Line!!

Go Texans!!

[badboy]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

This is the reason I'm praying TJ, Zgonina and others in the rotation can step up when needed. I have a feeling they're going to get a boatload of playing time.

BTW, Zgonina is built like a brick poop house. I saw him up close last night and his legs are bigger than Earl's were.

Ya think it was Z gon the Commodores were singing about? It will be real nice if we could develop a solid rotation in Dline and keep all fresh and healthier for fourth quarter and 2nd half of season. From the Chronicle it seems the heat was whomping on Okoye. Good to hear that Travis J is doing better. Can anyone update me on DT Tim Bulman 6' 3" 300; Earl Cochran DE and The other TJ Thomas Johnson? I've heard nothing on Anthony Weaver recently concerning his injury. Thanks for any facts.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by badboy

Ya think it was Z gon the Commodores were singing about? It will be real nice if we could develop a solid rotation in Dline and keep all fresh and healthier for fourth quarter and 2nd half of season. From the Chronicle it seems the heat was whomping on Okoye. Good to hear that Travis J is doing better. Can anyone update me on DT Tim Bulman 6' 3" 300; Earl Cochran DE and The other TJ Thomas Johnson? I've heard nothing on Anthony Weaver recently concerning his injury. Thanks for any facts.

From what Kubiak said, Weaver's going to fine. They're in the process of building his upper body strength back up to par.

From what I've noticed, out of the 3 you mentioned Cochran's looked the best. Although, Bulman has been impressive from what Kubiak says.

[Vega]

Originally Posted by texanfan2002114

That was one think that I noticed about Amobi during the combine and draft process was has long his arms are.

Compared to Joe Thomas, Joe has an arm length of 32 1/2 inchs and did 225 on the bench 28 times and did not do a squat at the combine or campus workouts.

Amobi has an arm length of 33 1/2 inches and did 225 on the bench 33 times and did a squat of 605 pounds. Amobi has great strength in his lower body and his upper body. Justin Harrel from Tenn., who was picked 6 picks after Amobi only squated 500 pounds and didn't lift.

Once Amobi gets with the speed of the game and keeps his head in there 100% of the time, I believe that we will have a beast on the D-Line!!

Go Texans!!

Plus it doesn't hurt that he seems to be a super sharp guy with the ability to understand the mental side of the game.