Kubiak Interview at the Combine......

[4Texans]

This is over on the Texans website, but not sure everyone gets over there to see it.

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/St...?story_id=5151

(on moving DE Mario Williams or LB DeMeco Ryans and the direction of the defense under a new defensive coordinator) “I’ll go back to the coordinator. Obviously, we decided to go in a new direction this offseason. We just felt like we weren’t making the progress that we needed to be making from a year-to-year basis. Frank will take over from that standpoint. Our philosophy is not going to change much; we are still going to be a 4-3 football team from that standpoint. Hopefully, the direction and what we become on the defensive side of the ball will be more aggressive and naturally be better.

(on if the Texans are looking to be a more aggressive pass-rushing team) “First off, we have to establish an identity, exactly what we want to be from a standpoint of our base defense, what we are going to play, the simplicity of what we are doing and doing that good. I think if you are simple from that standpoint, your players can naturally be more aggressive. So we have to establish that first. Whether we pressure more or not will have to do with how we are playing on the backend. We’ll wait to see what happens here through free agency and the draft, but obviously we’ve got to get better on the defensive side of the ball.”

(on how good DE Mario Williams can be) “Obviously, there is another step for him to take. In my opinion, he’s taken steps forward as a player all three years. I thought he had a Pro Bowl year in year two, even though he didn’t make it that year. Of course, he had a Pro Bowl year this season, but he can definitely get better. He still is very, very young. He wants to get better; he listens. The game has become easy for him from a preparation standpoint, and when that happens for a player, usually their talent starts to really take over. So I think you can see him continue to step forward.”

(on getting Williams help on the opposite side) “That’s obviously an important part of our football team. We feel like we’ve got to get him some help. We’ve got to get better pressuring the quarterback and we’ve got to get better as a defense as a whole. But Mario’s career could improve drastically the more help we can get him upfront, so that is a point of emphasis for our football team.”

[PHAROAH]

I think we are moving in the right direction but I hope we don't reach for a D-Lineman in the first round I think we need to draft the best available player at #15 or move down in round one to pick up extra picks.

[threetoedpete]

So reaching in your mind would be passing on a guy who has a better first step than Dwight Freeney ? Or a guy like Orakpo who's already locked and loaded and ready to go ? Pass rush will make the DBs better. Orakpo looked like a very healthy 269 to me at his interview with very little body fat. Good Christ what do you want ?

[Goldensilence]

Originally Posted by threetoedpete

So reaching in your mind would be passing on a guy who has a better first step than Dwight Freeney ? Or a guy like Orakpo who's already locked and loaded and ready to go ? Pass rush will make the DBs better. Orakpo looked like a very healthy 269 to me at his interview with very little body fat. Good Christ what do you want ?

Him to fall to the 15th slot?

[WolverineFan]

Originally Posted by Goldensilence

Him to fall to the 15th slot?

I know that's what I want. But after he works out at the combine I don't see that happening.

[threetoedpete]

That's a long drop in terms of talent from Orakpo and Maybin to the gamble with Micheal Johnson or the kid from A & M. You want one better go get them.

[PHAROAH]

Originally Posted by threetoedpete

So reaching in your mind would be passing on a guy who has a better first step than Dwight Freeney ? Or a guy like Orakpo who's already locked and loaded and ready to go ? Pass rush will make the DBs better. Orakpo looked like a very healthy 269 to me at his interview with very little body fat. Good Christ what do you want ?

If Brian Orakpo fell to us at #15 we would be stupid to pass on him pete I was talking about reaching for a guy like Everette Brown who checked in at 6'1" 255 pounds!!! I just don't want us to reach for a DE who is really a linebacker and who would be a bust like DT-Travis Johnson.

[BattleRedToro]

Originally Posted by threetoedpete

That's a long drop in terms of talent from Orakpo and Maybin to the gamble with Micheal Johnson or the kid from A & M. You want one better go get them.

Maybin is more of a gamble than Michael Johnson is.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by BattleRedToro

Maybin is more of a gamble than Michael Johnson is.

Maybin plays with heart, Johnson appears to be the tinman, no heart. I'll take heart all day long.

[beerlover]

Both maybin & johnson could be excellent nfl players, key word could. however, I don't see could as a player the Texans spend their 1st rd. pick on

[edo783]

Originally Posted by beerlover

Both maybin & johnson could be excellent nfl players, key word could. however, I don't see could as a player the Texans spend their 1st rd. pick on

Although I understand your point and that you don't think they are worth the 15th pick, it also applies to every other player trying to make the NFL. They all COULD be a good NFL player, but not one of them is, nor are any actually already players. At this point, it's just conjecture and pretty much a crap shoot.

[beerlover]

Originally Posted by edo783

Although I understand your point and that you don't think they are worth the 15th pick, it also applies to every other player trying to make the NFL. They all COULD be a good NFL player, but not one of them is, nor are any actually already players. At this point, it's just conjecture and pretty much a crap shoot.

Never said maybin or johnson are not worth the 15th pick, I said they could both be excellent nfl players.

Free Agency will greatly effect this draft. I fully expect the Texans to address DL via F/A in combination w/draft, in other words one known quantity one developmental. First pick being proven & very productive CB or LB they don't need to use the 1st rd. pick on another (LT/DT) project- immediate impact is what we should expect

[BattleRedToro]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Maybin plays with heart, Johnson appears to be the tinman, no heart. I'll take heart all day long.

Where you see lack of heart I see lack of discipline. Discipline can be taught.

I should have been a little more specific as to why I consider Maybin a greater risk. The reasons are first, because Maybin doesn't appear to be suited to playing DE in a 4-3, and second although Maybin appears to be better suited to playing 3-4 OLB he has never played that position before and might not be able to make that transition.

From his NFL.com profile(bolded by me):

Analysis
Positives: Tall with a frame to add a needed 10-15 pounds of muscle in his upper body. Superior quickness off the snap on wide rushes. Combines that speed and length to challenge tackles in passing situations. Very good straight-line speed to chase plays down the line or hustle downfield. Keeps cut blocks off his knees, recovers and maintains his balance well. Great length and vertical to affect passing lanes. Dropped into zone coverage often; got into his zone in a hurry when decisive. Breaks down in space and can change directions in the backfield to handle cutbacks and misdirections. Improving his hand usage as a pass rusher.


Negatives: A bit thin in the hips, and may not grow into a defensive end build. Does not always use his length to get off offensive tackle or tight end blocks. Lacks the strength to bull rush. Runs stiff and upright, looks much better straight-ahead than laterally. Doesn't turn the corner as fast as you'd like because of his inflexible lower body. Needs more pass rush moves. Always runs straight upfield, allowing tackles to direct him around the pocket. Demoted to backup status during the week of the Rose Bowl for undisclosed reasons.

Compared to Michael Johnson's profile(again bolded by me):

Analysis
Positives: Rare athleticism for the position, making a switch to outside linebacker possible at the next level. ... Lanky, athletic frame with the room for considerable growth. ... Gained upper- and lower-body strength in his senior year and flashed the ability to bull rush tackles into the backfield. ... Takes advantage of his long arms to keep pass blockers at a distance. ... Able to keep tackles off his knees to avoid the cut block. ... Locates the ball quickly and can re-direct his charge. ... Good lateral agility and balance. ... Good straight-line speed. ... Accelerates quickly and has legitimate closing ability. ... Flashes the ability to punch, rip off and back up tackles using his length and increasing strength. ... Able to drop quickly, handle coverage responsibilities in the flat and has the hands to break up or intercept balls thrown in his area. ... Reads the quarterback's eyes to get hands in passing lanes. ... Able to force fumbles using his length to get a hand on the ball.


Negatives: Is an unfinished product who needs to be more consistent in his technique and effort. ... May be relegated to a role as a pass-rush specialist at defensive end until he gains more strength. ... Too often relies on his speed to the outside to generate his pass rush, losing all gap responsibility. ... Inconsistent in his explosiveness off the ball and as a tackler. ... Has the speed and length to make life difficult for NFL tackles but must give more constant effort. ... Washed out when blockers (even smaller tight ends) get into his pads; his height is a detriment in those situations. ... Tends to stand around too much instead of chasing plays. ... Johnson has struggled with various injuries over his career.

My point is the only physical negative against Johnson is the last one " struggled with various injuries over his career." I am not going to wholly discount that either because that is a big deal. A few of the other negatives are about technique and almost all of the rest are about discipline. Both technique and discipline can be taught at the next level. The major concern should be about his injury history though.

As for Maybin, almost all of his negatives are physical in nature. It is possible that he will be able to add weight without losing his speed, but the greater concern is his inflexibilty in the lower body. That might really limit him at the next level.

[buddyboy]

When I read the above post, I was really liking Johson until I saw the words "must give more constant effort". You might think that that's an issue of discipline, I see that as an issue of motivation. And players without motivation can be great, or can be huge busts. You can't *teach* motivation. You have to just have it. You have to want to be great. But if you don't have motivation, you're just working for the paycheck and once you get that contract, all bets are off and players will start taking plays off. I'd rather have someone who gives 100 percent effort and maybe not as athletic than an athletic freak who takes plays off because he just doesnt care.

Saying that, I still don't want Maybin. Definitely best suited for a 3-4 OLB.

[Texans_Chick]

Originally Posted by buddyboy

When I read the above post, I was really liking Johson until I saw the words "must give more constant effort". You might think that that's an issue of discipline, I see that as an issue of motivation. And players without motivation can be great, or can be huge busts. You can't *teach* motivation. You have to just have it. You have to want to be great. But if you don't have motivation, you're just working for the paycheck and once you get that contract, all bets are off and players will start taking plays off. I'd rather have someone who gives 100 percent effort and maybe not as athletic than an athletic freak who takes plays off because he just doesnt care.

Saying that, I still don't want Maybin. Definitely best suited for a 3-4 OLB.

Eh.

Both Julius Peppers and Mario Williams had the knock on them coming out of the draft that they took plays off.

Of course both of them match their stunning physical skills with insanely good production in college up through their junior years and weren't the type of project that Johnson seems to be.

I'm am not looking for a project. I want a player whose size projects to the next level and who demonstrated that they could play on a high level in college. This defense is too young already to add a project player on it.

[beerlover]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Eh.

Both Julius Peppers and Mario Williams had the knock on them coming out of the draft that they took plays off.

Of course both of them match their stunning physical skills with insanely good production in college up through their junior years and weren't the type of project that Johnson seems to be.

I'm am not looking for a project. I want a player whose size projects to the next level and who demonstrated that they could play on a high level in college. This defense is too young already to add a project player on it.

well said, you have a gift for words. another rep your way

[Tailgate]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Eh.

Both Julius Peppers and Mario Williams had the knock on them coming out of the draft that they took plays off.

Of course both of them match their stunning physical skills with insanely good production in college up through their junior years and weren't the type of project that Johnson seems to be.

I'm am not looking for a project. I want a player whose size projects to the next level and who demonstrated that they could play on a high level in college. This defense is too young already to add a project player on it.

Thats why we are hoping someone who fits a need that is in more of a "ready" mode falls to us. Or we hopefully trade back and leverage before we go with the aforementioned. 15th spot is definitely a tricky one for us.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Eh.
I'm am not looking for a project. I want a player whose size projects to the next level and who demonstrated that they could play on a high level in college. This defense is too young already to add a project player on it.

Our "project-player" quota is already full as our top 2 picks from the 2007 Draft, Okoye & Jacobey, both fit that description. As a matter of fact that's shaping up as a very disappointing Draft. Rick Smith probably would have had more luck in Vegas on that April, '07 weekend than he did in NYC.

[Big Poundcake]

I'd be fine with Orakpo, Everette Brown or Maybin if any of them are available at #15. Yes, I do think Orakpo and Maybin can play DE in a 4-3. They may not be prototypical for a 4-3, but I think they both can succeed in a 4-3.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Eh.

Both Julius Peppers and Mario Williams had the knock on them coming out of the draft that they took plays off.

Of course both of them match their stunning physical skills with insanely good production in college up through their junior years and weren't the type of project that Johnson seems to be.

I'm am not looking for a project. I want a player whose size projects to the next level and who demonstrated that they could play on a high level in college. This defense is too young already to add a project player on it.

While I generally agree with what you're saying, I think one of the dangers of a losing organization that's looking to take the next step is a tendency to alter it's view of the draft: instead of going after the best prospect, it will go after immediate help out of a desperation to finally achieve that first big goal of playoffs. I think we need to coninue to draft for the future and not create obstacles that may actually set back the organization moving forward. I think that our remaining holes can be adequately filled in FA this season. Keeping in mind, even the championship teams have some significant holes.

Pittsburgh: average OL, pretty weak at both tackle spots
New England: mediocre secondary, poor run game
Indy: poor run defense, poor running team

etc...