Texans' linebackers

[Fox]

About halfway through the season this year I was fairly convinced this team needed another linebacker with the ability to make big plays. Greenwood was in the midst of another lackluster year, and the forum seemed to be kicking around ideas of either picking up a new WLB or a new MLB and shifting Demeco to the will. After seeing Adibi get some playtime I'm not necessarily convinced that we need to go out and use a high draft pick or expensive FA acquisition to replace Greenwood. Diles was our most productive linebacker prior to his injury, and his broken leg shouldn't prevent him from coming back 100% next year. I think the suspicion that Demeco hasn't been 100% healthy this year is most likely valid, but he still provides us solid play regardless. Adibi has some injury concerns, but when he's on the field he's very productive. The three of them give us a highly athletic but undersized group (Adibi - 6'2, 220; Diles 6'0, 240; Ryans 6'1, 250).

The point of the thread is to see what your thoughts are about moving forward with this group. Do you see Adibi starting in front of Greenwood from the beginning next year with Diles returning at SLB? Do we need to go get a high priced FA or blue chip prospect at LB to stiffen up our D? I'm happy to move forward with Diles, Ryans, and Adibi, and I wouldn't necessarily go out of the way to address this position before others such as DE and safety. On the other hand, Diles and Adibi were solid but not spectacular. I wouldn't pass up the chance at a great LB (a la Patrick Willis) if they were the BPA.
Thoughts on our LB corp moving forward?

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by Fox

About halfway through the season this year I was fairly convinced this team needed another linebacker with the ability to make big plays. Greenwood was in the midst of another lackluster year, and the forum seemed to be kicking around ideas of either picking up a new WLB or a new MLB and shifting Demeco to the will. After seeing Adibi get some playtime I'm not necessarily convinced that we need to go out and use a high draft pick or expensive FA acquisition to replace Greenwood. Diles was our most productive linebacker prior to his injury, and his broken leg shouldn't prevent him from coming back 100% next year. I think the suspicion that Demeco hasn't been 100% healthy this year is most likely valid, but he still provides us solid play regardless. Adibi has some injury concerns, but when he's on the field he's very productive. The three of them give us a highly athletic but undersized group (Adibi - 6'2, 220; Diles 6'0, 240; Ryans 6'1, 250).

The point of the thread is to see what your thoughts are about moving forward with this group. Do you see Adibi starting in front of Greenwood from the beginning next year with Diles returning at SLB? Do we need to go get a high priced FA or blue chip prospect at LB to stiffen up our D? I'm happy to move forward with Diles, Ryans, and Adibi, and I wouldn't necessarily go out of the way to address this position before others such as DE and safety. On the other hand, Diles and Adibi were solid but not spectacular. I wouldn't pass up the chance at a great LB (a la Patrick Willis) if they were the BPA.
Thoughts on our LB corp moving forward?

Diles is ok, but OLB is a big need. We need to get more athletic. Diles is great special teams, and a good flexable back up, but he can be upgraded. We need guys who know how to blitz. I think thats what our guys do worst, is blitz. Coverage is another weakness. They also dont always tackle great. Greenwood is at risk of not making this team.

[Vinny]

Greenwood is done here...he was awful off the bench Sunday. I think Diles, DeMeco and Adibi will be our starters next season.

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Greenwood is done here...he was awful off the bench Sunday. I think Diles, DeMeco and Adibi will be our starters next season.

I agree, but I dont think Diles and Adibi are SO good you dont look at OLB as something to be upgraded.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Greenwood is done here...he was awful off the bench Sunday. I think Diles, DeMeco and Adibi will be our starters next season.

Should be. Adibi has outplayed him. 2009 is the last year of his contract and the Texans can create $4.77 mil of cap space by dumping him.

[Hervoyel]

Wish we could get our hands on Derrick Johnson. Still Diles, Ryans, and Adibi is going to be better than anything we've seen this season so far. I'm pretty sure of that.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by BigBull17

I agree, but I dont think Diles and Adibi are SO good you dont look at OLB as something to be upgraded.

Early in the draft I see us looking at a DE, a S or a G/C before we look at linebacker. I honestly think we have our starters in place...heck, before Diles was injured he led the team in tackles, not Demeco.

[disaacks3]

Originally Posted by BigBull17

Greenwood is at risk of not making this team.

Best news I've heard all day! Adibi is definitely a speed upgrade and looks to have reasonably good instincts as well.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by BigBull17

Diles is ok, but OLB is a big need. We need to get more athletic. Diles is great special teams, and a good flexable back up, but he can be upgraded. We need guys who know how to blitz. I think thats what our guys do worst, is blitz. Coverage is another weakness. They also dont always tackle great. Greenwood is at risk of not making this team.

Did you watch the games he played in? He was leading the team in tackles up until he got injured. he would have been the biggest surprise of the year if he hadn't gotten hurt

[b0ng]

Originally Posted by BigBull17

I agree, but I dont think Diles and Adibi are SO good you dont look at OLB as something to be upgraded.

It Could be upgraded but I think both diles and adibi play well enough that we aren't going to make a huge splash landing a bigtime OLB. Look for an upgrade along the DL or the Secondary (Specifically either S position) that would qualify as a big expenditure.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Greenwood is done here...he was awful off the bench Sunday. I think Diles, DeMeco and Adibi will be our starters next season.

IMO, I still think we should look at LB on the first day if there's a top prospect still available at our spot.

Diles can play the run good, but I question his pass coverage. He's still young and inexperienced so he should improve.

Adibi's still a huge question mark for me. If he'd add another 10-15 pounds of muscle and stay healthy, he'd likely be pushing D-Ryans as our best LB.

Bentley's been impressive at times since Diles went down.

IMO, we should look at DE, OLB, S, G/C, CB

[Texan_Bill]

DB's, DL's, LB's.... rinse and repeat.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

DB's, DL's, LB's.... rinse and repeat.

I agree. I know I've mentioned it quite often, but this draft should focus entirely of the defense. Maybe mix in a C/G somewhere in the 7 rounds, but the rest on defense. That way if SmithDC is still around for next season (Gag me!) the "not enough talent" BS can't be used as an excuse.

[Wolf6151]

I think that the top DE's (Johnson and Orakpo) will be gone by the time we pick and Greg Hardy has some mental issues and will probably be available in the 2nd round. The only DT worthy of us picking in the 1st round is B.J. Raji but if he's not available then I'd like to see us take Aaron Curry SLB from Wake Forest. Curry would be a major upgrade over Diles and would add alot to our run support defense and to our pass coverage of TE's and RB's who seem to kill us over the middle. Defensive linemen also seem to have a very high bust factor and usually take a couple years to develope into a player worthy of their draft position if taken in the 1st round. I think our starting LB's next year should be WLB Xavier Adibi, MLB Demeco Ryans, and SLB Aaron Curry. Then take the best, fastest, meanest SS in the 2nd round (Chung, Cook, Hamlin, or Chancellor).

[Goatcheese]

I'm excited to see Adibi Ryans and Diles get to play together.

That could be a really good linebacker corps.

[Jackie Chiles]

If Diles comes back 100% I really like our LBing core. He would probably have a bit of a battle to retake his spot from Bentley who has played very well. Diles really impressed me with his ability to penetrate and get after runners, especially on plays to the outside. He is not polished in coverage but he made a great play against Indy getting that pick and I think he can become more than adequate in that area. All three are very young and we have bigger problems on the DL and at safety as far as I am concerned. I believe LB next year will be a strength of this team. Jettison Morlon, Bentley is the first backup at each position and bring up Coley to help out with ST. If there is someone in the draft that is just too good to pass up either take him or trade down but hopefully we find the value elsewhere.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by Wolf6151

I think that the top DE's (Johnson and Orakpo) will be gone by the time we pick and Greg Hardy has some mental issues and will probably be available in the 2nd round. The only DT worthy of us picking in the 1st round is B.J. Raji but if he's not available then I'd like to see us take Aaron Curry SLB from Wake Forest. Curry would be a major upgrade over Diles and would add alot to our run support defense and to our pass coverage of TE's and RB's who seem to kill us over the middle. Defensive linemen also seem to have a very high bust factor and usually take a couple years to develope into a player worthy of their draft position if taken in the 1st round. I think our starting LB's next year should be WLB Xavier Adibi, MLB Demeco Ryans, and SLB Aaron Curry. Then take the best, fastest, meanest SS in the 2nd round (Chung, Cook, Hamlin, or Chancellor).

I would be shocked if Curry last until we pick. There is a thread about who most likely will be available where we are most likely to be picking.

[steelbtexan]

I would like to see us pick up solid veteran LB in FA (Mike Peterson) He can be had cheap.

We need to re-sign Bentley I have been very impressed with his solid play @ SAM. He also is a good ST guy & provides veteran leadership.

[noxiousdog]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Early in the draft I see us looking at a DE, a S or a G/C before we look at linebacker. I honestly think we have our starters in place...heck, before Diles was injured he led the team in tackles, not Demeco.

I agree. You could even throw DT in the mix.

[Mr teX]

We've got our guys.....

I don't think i can recall another player on the texans who everyone noticed when he got in the game except Adibi. Demeco maybe, but surely noone else after him. My guess it that he's going to be entrenched as a starter & will be fine, he just needs that 1 pro offseason under his belt to be able to put on a little more weight. another year of possibly being under the same scheme isn't gonna hurt him either. These were the main reasons Diles was able to emerge as a starter this past year & Adibi's route to getting better as a down in/out starter likely isn't going to be much different. I thought it was huge that he got some PT this year b/c now he knows what it's going to take to be a dominant player on this level like he was at VT.

Unlike Adibi, Diles didn't get much of any PT last year & i think that kinda of hurt what he might've been able to do this year but all in all still good upside for him. As long as he comes back 100%, he'll be a starter & finally do what everyone thinks he's capable of.


As for Meco, i don't think he's been hurt. his production maybe down but that might just be a side effect of him getting better talent around him & Mario emerging the way he has over the last couple of years.