Texans targeting DE Antonio Smith/in town Saturday

[TEXANS84]

Per Bob Allen on ABC13 Houston. No link, heard and saw it.
Bob stated a "perfect compliment to Mario Williams on the defensive line".

LINK to player profile

Seems like another Anthony Weaver to me. If he is for depth and really cheap, sure. Big contract and I'll lose faith in the Smithiak regime.

[Jackie Chiles]

Is it Bob's opinion that he is a perfect compliment and they should target him or does he have a Texan source saying they will pursue him?

[kiwitexansfan]

Doesn't exactly seem like a pass rushing specialist that I thought we would be after.

At least he is a bit on that 'who dat' side so we shouldn't have to break the bank on him.

[J-Russ]

Found this scouting report on him, pre-superbowl:

Defensive line: Pittsburgh nose tackle Casey Hampton gobbles up double teams, and ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are strong at the point of attack. The Cardinals don't play with great technique up front. Antonio Smith has been the best lately, recording four sacks in his past six games. Edge: Steelers

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/f...6610.htmlstory

Here's another one from Fox Sports, before he was drafted:

Smith has a lot of potential for success at the next level. In 2003, he came up with a total of five sacks and 29 tackles. He has the size and frame to get even bigger. Smith is noted for his strong work ethic and physical attributes. He is also known for giving 100 percent on every play and never giving up on a play. Some scouts are concerned with Smith's speed as an edge rusher. He often has difficulty shedding tackles once a blocker locks on, but improving his pass rushing skills should help him eliminate this problem.

http://foxsports.foxnews.com/nfl/sto...couting-Report

One more by Scott of NFLDC:

Strengths: Has good size with the frame to get bigger...Hard worker who always gives 100%...Tall...Good strength...Good un pursuit and never gives up on a play.

Weaknesses: Doesn't have the top speed of an edge pass rusher...Needs to develop some more pass rush moves...Once he gets locked on to he rarely makes a play.

Notes: A project who still needs to get bigger but could eventually develop into a solid pro.

http://web.archive.org/web/200404081...oniosmith.html

He was ranked as the 27th DE by Scott, in the 2004 draft. That's right, he was ranked 23 spot below the immortal Jason Babin.

Also, he was drafted in the 5th round of the 2004 draft. About 6'4, 285lbs, and is 27 years old.

Oh btw, he's from A&M. What a shocker.

[TEXANS84]

Originally Posted by Jackie Chiles

Is it Bob's opinion that he is a perfect compliment and they should target him or does he have a Texan source saying they will pursue him?

A source told him per his 10pm sports report.

[DiehardChris]

Hm. John McClain has openly pined for this guy, now Bob Allen. It would be nice if they would put the video of the segment on their site so we could get the full context. I echo Jackie's question - are you SURE he was actually saying that the Texans are going to pursue him? Or is he just throwing some names out?

I don't get how he's a "perfect compliment." I mean, he's okay... but he's not a dramatic upgrade IMO. They wouldn't sign this guy for depth, so I wonder how this will affect their draft plans for a DE.

[DiehardChris]

Originally Posted by TEXANS84

A source told him per his 10pm sports report.

Ah. Thanks for the clarification.

[J-Russ]

Originally Posted by DiehardChris

Hm. John McClain has openly pined for this guy, now Bob Allen. It would be nice if they would put the video of the segment on their site so we could get the full context. I echo Jackie's question - are you SURE he was actually saying that the Texans are going to pursue him? Or is he just throwing some names out?

I don't get how he's a "perfect compliment." I mean, he's okay... but he's not a dramatic upgrade IMO. They wouldn't sign this guy for depth, so I wonder how this will affect their draft plans for a DE.

I doubt it would have any marginal affect to their plan of drafting a DE high. They know there's a good chance that a rookie DE might not be able to start/contribute right away. They had first-hand experience of that with Mario. Smith isn't a player that will make you "set" at that position, he's a stop-gap guy. He's a guy that will fill in for a year or two, play in his prime for us, while we ease the rookie in.

[J-Russ]

Card's fan take on Smith potentially leaving them.

He probably won't be back next year. He looked amazing in the playoffs, and he earned a big payday. Smith is good, dont get me wrong, but he will get overpaid like Calvin Pace. I wish the Cards would resign him, but I think he will end up leaving. Can Calais Campbell replace him? Thoughts?

http://forums.azcardinals.com/showthread.php?t=40532

Atleast he actually raise his game in the post-season, unlike most Houston sport players. *cough* Yao *cough*

I really hope we don't overpay this guy, but then again I'm not watching tapes of him and reviewing him as a player like Smith/Kubiak are. The only knock on him was his fundamental part of his game, his techniques. It sure wasn't his athleticism, size, nor love for the game. Maybe the game just "clicked" for him, and he became a better player through the years. Kubiak/Smith would know whether or not he can help our team, and I know they're doing their homework to find out. Whatever Kubiak/Smith does, I will trust them.

Let's just hope he won't be another big FA bust.

[DiehardChris]

Apparently he started slow and got stronger at the end of the year. I don't know if that's because the defense as a whole got so much better, or if he was just kind of Cadillac'ing it and decided he needed to get it in gear to earn a fat new contract.

[texanfan2002114]

I really think the Texans are targeting Smith. I feel that our new DC (Frank Bush) said he wants Antonio Smith and he would know better than any of us since he coached on that Cardnials team and coached Smith for 2 years and has seen Smith's ability and work ethnic.

[Nawzer]

For what its worth, Yahoo Sports has him listed at no.38 in their top 100 free agents list.

[Specnatz]

Originally Posted by Nawzer

For what its worth, Yahoo Sports has him listed at no.38 in their top 100 free agents list.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

Yeah, behind greats such as:

9. Phillip Buchanon, CB: Florida native likely to return to Tampa Bay. Bucs have the cash.

27. Drayton Florence, CB: He never fit in Jacksonville, but his age and experience will make him a commodity again.

35. Cedric Benson, RB: Finally showed some determined production in ’08, but he’s still too risky for a major contractual commitment.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by J-Russ

Oh btw, he's from A&M. What a shocker.

Also his coach until two years ago was Frank Bush. This sounds like Bush getting one of his guys. Not that I like the pick up. Sounds like a Weaver type to me.

[Jackie Chiles]

Originally Posted by J-Russ

Oh btw, he's from A&M. What a shocker.

Everything I have read says Oklahoma State.

[Mari-OWNED!]

I'm fine with the Texans picking this guy up in Free Agency for cheap, so long as it doesn't change the fact that the Texans should STILL draft a DE in the 1st or 2nd round.

[ChampionTexan]

Originally Posted by Nawzer

For what its worth, Yahoo Sports has him listed at no.38 in their top 100 free agents list.

Prisco at CBS Sportsline him ranked #4 overall behind Haynesworth, Jason Brown, and Chris Canty.

CBS Sportsline

Scouts.com (Fox) has him at #29, but the list looks a bit dated, and at least 14 of the guys ahead of him have either been franchised, or re-signed (or in the case of Brandon Jacobs, both).

Fox Sports

Obviously, it's all pretty subjective, but it does appear there's a pretty good case to be made that he's one of the top FA DE's out there this year

[Big Poundcake]

I'd be fine with this.

Would this mean the Texans might draft a OLB with their 1st pick and pick up another DE with a later pick?

Which OLB's would likely be available at #15? Brian Cushing

[Jackie Chiles]

Originally Posted by Mari-OWNED!

I'm fine with the Texans picking this guy up in Free Agency for cheap, so long as it doesn't change the fact that the Texans should STILL draft a DE in the 1st or 2nd round.

If he was cheap the Cardinals would have re-signed him. This guy is going to get paid a ton of money. I would wager it will be significantly more than we paid Weaver in 2006. I think they could still draft a DE early but man, if you think hes gonna be cheap you are going to be sorely disappointed.

[Sal Rosenberg]

We need a DT.Plain and Simple ! Shawn Rogers?No thanks!Fat Al?


How about this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQgnF...next=1&index=1