Texans Defense Switching To Tampa 2?

[Texan JBZ]

This is a thread I've been meaning to post ever since they signed Cato June, Buster Davis, and Shaun Cody. It seems to me that Frank Bush's approach will be tailored around a 4-3 Multiple/Tampa 2 scheme. It makes all the sense in the world. June thrived in the system while in Indy. Tampa Bay had him playing the strong side which did not fit what he does well. That is why his production dropped sharply. Both Davis and Cody know the scheme well also, with Davis learning in Indy under Dungy and Cody in Detroit under Marinelli.

My theory fits what they've been talking about all offseason in creating a more aggressive, get up the field approach to defense. The Tampa 2 is perfect for this. That is why draft picks like Connor Barwin, Glover Quin, and Troy Nolan make a ton of sense to me. Barwin can get after the QB off of the edge. Quin and Nolan aren't blazers, but they're smart and above average tacklers. Amobi Okoye will thrive in this type of scheme because it will allow him to shoot the gaps. Bennett will also do better in this type of defense because it allows him to use his size to play physical against WRs which is his strength. It's just my opinion, but don't be surprised if we see the defense playing a lot of Tampa 2 next season.

[RipTraxx]

Its possible, however i think Bush, Kubiak, or Smith would've mentioned it before.....

While affective...the tampa 2 isnt necessarily aggressive.

[Texan JBZ]

Originally Posted by RipTraxx

Its possible, however i think Bush, Kubiak, or Smith would've mentioned it before.....

While affective...the tampa 2 isnt necessarily aggressive.

That's not true. The Tampa 2 isn't aggressive as far as blitzing, but it is very aggressive as far as pressuring the QB with the front four. That's why drafting a guy like Connor Barwin makes sense, because pressuring the QB is his specialty.

[RipTraxx]

Originally Posted by Texan JBZ

That's not true. The Tampa 2 isn't aggressive as far as blitzing, but it is very aggressive as far as pressuring the QB with the front four. That's why drafting a guy like Connor Barwin makes sense, because pressuring the QB is his specialty.

by agressive i meant blitzing i shoulda been clearer.....i know what you mean tho.

[Goatcheese]

Their personnel moves would make a lot more sense if they were moving to a Tampa 2(Indy 2 since Tampa is dumping it?). Glover Quin is a poor man corner, but an aggressive play maker in zone coverage.

[Fox]

The Tampa 2 scheme sounds like an improvement over the Give-up-lots-of-yards-and-points scheme we've been employing the past couple seasons.

[CloakNNNdagger]

We may play SOME Tampa 2. BUT, if we try to go mostly Tampa 2, we will have just wasted the main strength of our 1st round pick. And that would almost mean that we would have the equivalent of 2 GREAT free safeties covering 1/2 of the ball field. Last time I looked we don't even have one free safety we would bet the farm on. Ain't gonna happen.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by Fox

The Tampa 2 scheme sounds like an improvement over the Give-up-lots-of-yards-and-points scheme we've been employing the past couple seasons.

They said it was a kind of "bend but don't break" defense but I think it was more of a "bend and get ****ed".

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

We may play SOME Tampa 2. BUT, if we try to go mostly Tampa 2, we will have just wasted the main strength of our 1st round pick. And that would almost mean that we would have the equivalent of 2 GREAT free safeties covering 1/2 of the ball field. Last time I looked we don't even have one free safety we would bet the farm on. Ain't gonna happen.

That's my thinking. I think it will be a hybrid kind of 4-3 where we impliment a lot of different approches. The main being aggressiveness/athletecism/versatility/speed etc. did we hear those words enough the past few days?
As for the safety... I hope Troy Nolan develops into that kind of FS! I know it may be wishful thinking but look at our FO's success in 6th/7th rounders so far!

[Goldensilence]

I dunno about full blown tampa 2 but Looks like we're looking like we could continue to move away from more man up coverage to zone in the secondary. Makes sense with the personnel we have and what we've added.

I hope the new additions on defense help us dictate the LOS rather than hold it like in Dick's read, react and give up a ton of yardage scheme.

[False Start]

Its better than the go-ahead...... go ahead and let em' score so we can get the ball back.

[RipTraxx]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

We may play SOME Tampa 2. BUT, if we try to go mostly Tampa 2, we will have just wasted the main strength of our 1st round pick. And that would almost mean that we would have the equivalent of 2 GREAT free safeties covering 1/2 of the ball field. Last time I looked we don't even have one free safety we would bet the farm on. Ain't gonna happen.

Well put....Cush doesnt fit the mold of a Tampa 2 OLB.

[TexanSam]

I just want a good defense. Shoot, I'll even settle for average. Just give us something better than what we've had in the past.

[bah007]

Originally Posted by RipTraxx

Well put....Cush doesnt fit the mold of a Tampa 2 OLB.

Not necessarily. He may not be a prototype Tampa 2 OLB, but his abilities do lend itself to the SAM position in a 43 Tampa 2.

I do agree that he would be better in a different scheme, but I think he would still be successful in a Tampa 2.

Adibi is pretty close to the prototype WILL in a Tampa 2. June is as well.

[bah007]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

They said it was a kind of "bend but don't break" defense but I think it was more of a "bend and get ****ed".


That's my thinking. I think it will be a hybrid kind of 4-3 where we impliment a lot of different approches. The main being aggressiveness/athletecism/versatility/speed etc. did we hear those words enough the past few days?
As for the safety... I hope Troy Nolan develops into that kind of FS! I know it may be wishful thinking but look at our FO's success in 6th/7th rounders so far!

These are integral approaches to the Tampa 2 defense.

Vinny started a thread similar to this one before the draft and I have to admit that the way we drafted on defense has sorta convinced me that we will play a significant amount of Tampa 2.

[Mr teX]

Yeah, you're refering to the "zone dog" look. I can't see us running it full time b/c we're a 4-3 defense & we don't have the FS's just yet. But you're right, with Smithiak placing emphasis on versatility in the draft with Cushing & Barwin as well as the speedy lb's we already had, we could certainly flash it for a couple of series' a game.

I think Kubiak gave bush a chance to showcase this look last year during that run of games we won beginning with Cleveland when our defense "miraculously" started putting it together at the end.

[pbat488]

The read and react defense was a bore and a pain to watch sometimes, but we never really got burned by a big play, at least from what I can remember. Now, going to an aggresive, high pressure defense, we are opening the door for teams to get more long plays on us, but that is a risk I'm willing to take in order to increase the chance of sacks/QB pressure's/INTs instead of offenses walking through us.

With that said, I am excited to see how we implement and execute running a Cover-2. I think we have the players up front to be able to do this in certain situations, but it all depends on our secondary and playing smart in the system.

[DocBar]

Pretty nice analysis, however it works out. We are definitely getting the talent and high motor players to run some interesting schemes and blitz packages. I can see us doing a Steelers type of blitz package by coming from just about anywhere on any down and distance. Yeah, I know they're 3-4 and were 4-3, but, on paper, we have the raw talent to do that now. Maybe even do a Patriots style hybrid. I absolutely cannot wait for TC. DAMN the offseason!!!!

[Texan JBZ]

Originally Posted by DocBar

DAMN the offseason!!!!

Right! That's why I made this thread. It's just something interesting to think about while we all bide our team until football season is back again.

[bah007]

A common misconception is that you need great safeties to play a Tampa 2. You don't.

Great safeties help any scheme but they aren't integral to the Tampa 2 because it is basically a Cover 3 shell. You need smart safeties who can diagnose routes quickly and make plays on the ball, but they don't necessarily have to be fast or playmaking ball hawks.

You need to have CB's that can tackle in the open field (Robinson and Bennett).

You need OLB's that excel in coverage (Adibi and June).

You need DT's that can shoot gaps and collapse the pocket (Okoye and Cody).

You need DE's that can consistently put pressure on the QB (Mario and Barwin?).

The key is the MLB. Ours is pretty good.

[mussop]

If so we should of drafted Victor Harris. I dont beleive we are though. The kind of defensive back we have been looking for the last couple of years are the exact opposite of what the Tampa 2 calls for right?