Darius Walker getting moved up?

[drewmar74]

Just read this on McClain's blob, er, I mean blog...

Coach Gary Kubiak plans to move up rookie Darius Walker this week. I can't wait to see him. He was the fourth-leading rusher in Notre Dame history and came out a year early. Maybe he knew something about the Irish that no one else knew, that they'd be horrendous in Charlie Weis' third season.

Walker wasn't drafted. When he reported to the Texans, he was still in a funk, and it showed. When they cut him, they told him he better get serious about football. And he did. After he re-signed, he worked his tail off to get better. And he has. It's time to give him some carries off the bench against the Browns.

http://blogs.chron.com/nfl/2007/11/t...010_reach.html

Anyone else heard anything about this?

[Andrew6]

nope but I do like to hear that. I'd like to see what he can do.

[Carr Bombed]

Wouldn't it just be hilarious if Walker had a great game and stuck for the rest of the season and ended up alot more productive than Reggie Bush over the rest of the season.

[TEXANRED]

I am very excited to see him play. I want to know if he has got anything to offer or was he a kid that thought more of himself than what he was.

Putting him in against Cleveland is a good testing ground to decide whether or not he is NFL material.

[Carr Bombed]

I just wish Chris Taylor never hurt his knee........that guy flashed great promise and had the rare size and speed combination that's extremely hard to find. If he never got hurt, with the injuries to Ahman and Dayne's two yard runs, Taylor would've had a great chance to showcase his talent.

[TEXANRED]

Originally Posted by Carr Bombed

I just wish Chris Taylor never hurt his knee........that guy flashed great promise and had the rare size and speed combination that's extremely hard to find. If he never got hurt, with the injuries to Ahman and Dayne's two yard runs, Taylor would've had a great chance to showcase his talent.

But think about the possibility of having Walker be a great running back along with Taylor.

They could be our Barber/Jones combo.

Of course assuming Tayor can come back the same and Walker is worth the roster spot.

[Errant Hothy]

Originally Posted by TEXANRED

But think about the possibility of having Walker be a great running back along with Taylor.

They could be our Barber/Jones combo.

Of course assuming Tayor can come back the same and Walker is worth the roster spot.

Counting on two UDFAs to be as productive as two Day 1 RBs is way to optimistic for my tastes. Espically since on of those UDFAs had a serious knee injury, and the other has already been cut once.

[BeerTastesLikeVictory]

I'd like to see what he can do as well, just not right now, not this week. Some of you are buying into a little playoff hype, and if you are ;I don't think this is the right time to experiment. That is unless we can take a commanding lead in a game. I am not the biggest Ron Dayne fan, but I have to admit he has had 2 good back to back games. Let's roll with the hot hand for now and see where it takes us. If we are out of contention in the next few weeks, then by all means lets see what the kid has to offer.

[hookinreds]

Originally Posted by BeerTastesLikeVictory

I'd like to see what he can do as well, just not right now, not this week. Some of you are buying into a little playoff hype, and if you are ;I don't think this is the right time to experiment. That is unless we can take a commanding lead in a game. I am not the biggest Ron Dayne fan, but I have to admit he has had 2 good back to back games. Let's roll with the hot hand for now and see where it takes us. If we are out of contention in the next few weeks, then by all means lets see what the kid has to offer.

Ya never know the effects of the prime time lights have on some players. Just as I don't put a ton of merit in to speed time in combines, it's what they can do on the field under the lights that makes it or breaks it for me. Being #4 all time at ND merits me wanting to see what he can do with the rest of the boys that start on Sunday. I honestly don't see that he could do worse than Dayne

[eriadoc]

Originally Posted by BeerTastesLikeVictory

I'd like to see what he can do as well, just not right now, not this week. Some of you are buying into a little playoff hype, and if you are ;I don't think this is the right time to experiment. That is unless we can take a commanding lead in a game. I am not the biggest Ron Dayne fan, but I have to admit he has had 2 good back to back games. Let's roll with the hot hand for now and see where it takes us. If we are out of contention in the next few weeks, then by all means lets see what the kid has to offer.

You can spell Dayne by giving Walker 6-8 carries, as long as he doesn't put the ball on the ground, and see what he has. If he shows some ability, you gradually increase those looks. It's not really experimenting if you're not giving Walker carries at anyone else's expense. Right now, we have no one past Dayne.

[Insideop]

With Walker coming up, does this mean everyone is giving up on Echemondu? I hope not, and I hope the coaches don't give up on him either. I know the fumble he had on his 1st carry in this game doesn't look good, but I hope we're not ready to "throw him under the bus" already. He looked real good against SD and I just think it's too early to make any kind of judgement on him yet.

I know we are thin at RB with Green being down, and Kubes probably just wants another RB to go to in case Dayne goes down, but I'd hate to see them just leave Eche on the bench and forget about him. I just think it would be a waste. JMHO!

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by eriadoc

You can spell Dayne by giving Walker 6-8 carries, as long as he doesn't put the ball on the ground, and see what he has. If he shows some ability, you gradually increase those looks. It's not really experimenting if you're not giving Walker carries at anyone else's expense. Right now, we have no one past Dayne.

I agree somewhat. I don't think we have any RBs (other than a healthy Green) that is worth a flip. Sure, Dayne looked ok statistically. I still think there was a buttload of yards left on the field yesterday due to lack of speed, vision, coordination, etc. Seeing Dayne run to the outside is a loss waiting to happen (hence Walter running it once).

Even though it didn't hurt us, the 4th and one play royally pissed me off. The dude weighs 260 pounds, yet he stops and does a little dance before hitting the line. Hit the hole!

IMO, There were many holes opened up for him that any other back with a hint of speed would've outgained him by at least 50 yards or more.

Let the bashing begin.

[michaelm]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

I agree somewhat. I don't think we have any RBs (other than a healthy Green) that is worth a flip. Sure, Dayne looked ok statistically. I still think there was a buttload of yards left on the field yesterday due to lack of speed, vision, coordination, etc. Seeing Dayne run to the outside is a loss waiting to happen (hence Walter running it once).

Even though it didn't hurt us, the 4th and one play royally pissed me off. The dude weighs 260 pounds, yet he stops and does a little dance before hitting the line. Hit the hole!

IMO, There were many holes opened up for him that any other back with a hint of speed would've outgained him by at least 50 yards or more.

Let the bashing begin.

I'm with you on the short yardage issue. I'm not joking at all when I say that I'd like to see Okoye get some short yardage/goal line carries... he can't be too much worse than Dayne, if any.

[Second Honeymoon]

from the tone of Gary at his Monday presser, it seems that Walker has earned an opportunity to get in there. if the guy can make his cut and go upfield you could have some success here. maybe he can. with dayne, the OL can do a perfect job and we are only getting 8-10 yards best case. We need a guy that can turn that into a touchdown and not just a firstdown.