BR:New Defensive Staff, Playbook Changes For Houston Texans in 2009?

[Wolf]

The Houston Texans have a new defensive staff for 2009 and could have changes in their defensive playbook.

Frank Bush Sr. replaces Richard Smith as defensive coordinator. Smith was fired at the end of last season after the Texans went 8-8.

David Gibbs is the new defensive backs coach. Gibbs replaces Jon Hoke who was fired at the end of the season. Bill Kollar takes over coaching the defensive line after Jethro Franklin was fired.

Last season the Texans were 27th in points allowed averaging 24.6 per game. Houstonwas 22nd in total yards allowed, 17th in passing yards allowed, 23rd in rushing yards allowed, 27th in sacks, 21st in interceptions and 16th in fumble recoveries.

Houston only had three defensive categories last season that they ranked in the top half of the league: fumble recoveries, forced fumbles and tackles.

The change that could be in the Texans playbook is more blitzing. This could help the Texans stop more runs in the backfield and get more pressure on the opposing quarterback. By getting in the backfield and pressuring the quarterback it can force their opponents into longer yardage situations.

Houston has a strong defensive end with Mario Williams who made his first Pro Bowl last season. Additionally, the Texans strengthened their defensive line in the off-season by adding Antonio Smith and Shaun Cody.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...anges-for-2009

[Texans_Chick]

The change that could be in the Texans playbook is more blitzing. This could help the Texans stop more runs in the backfield and get more pressure on the opposing quarterback. By getting in the backfield and pressuring the quarterback it can force their opponents into longer yardage situations.

Has there been a statement from any Texans coach or player that says Texans new defense = more blitzing? Anybody have a link to anyone from the Texans (not outsiders guessing) saying that there is going to be more of the B-word?

We've heard generic statements of being more aggressive, but aggressive defenses aren't necessarily ones that blitz more. We've also heard stuff about disguising coverages, and playing more press.

[thunderkyss]

I hope that isn't the extent of the changes to come. "more blitzing"........ surely there's more that can be done to improve this defense, from and Xes & Os perspective.

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Has there been a statement from any Texans coach or player that says Texans new defense = more blitzing? Anybody have a link to anyone from the Texans (not outsiders guessing) saying that there is going to be more of the B-word?

We've heard generic statements of being more aggressive, but aggressive defenses aren't necessarily ones that blitz more. We've also heard stuff about disguising coverages, and playing more press.

I doubt any of this is news to you guys but I feel compelled to say it anyway:
Its too soon, don't you think, for the new defense (whatever that may be) to get installed. This is only the first week of OTAs. They've only been doing position drills and 7-on-7s. This past week and next are pretty much to find out which vets are really in shape (we know T.J. isn't) and which rooks are the hungriest, need the least schoolin', and can help us the quickest.

When they put on the pads in minicamp and T/C, we'll see what "more aggressive" really means
...and if Bush's philosophy really is > Smith's.

Patience, Grasshoppas

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Has there been a statement from any Texans coach or player that says Texans new defense = more blitzing? Anybody have a link to anyone from the Texans (not outsiders guessing) saying that there is going to be more of the B-word?

We've heard generic statements of being more aggressive, but aggressive defenses aren't necessarily ones that blitz more. We've also heard stuff about disguising coverages, and playing more press.

I think the "more blitz" thing is a huge assumption. I think that they're expecting the change in the d-line paradigm from a read/react to a penetrate first to create a more aggressive defense and they're expecting that to equal more pressure on the QB.

I think they're also using the word "aggressive" to mean they're going to play more press coverage.

People are then reading their statements about being more aggressive and they're thinking that means blitzing.

[barrett]

I've heard both Bush and Kubiak state that the Defensive scheme will remain mostly the same with some changes. It seems to be more about how they approach this scheme rather than a grossly different scheme.

[BigBull17]

Maybe this year our LB's won't get lost on the way to a QB. We had maybe the worst blitzing LB's in the NFL last year. It was painful to watch.

I don't understand the perception that we didn't blitz before...

Guess they went unoticed since no one was getting there..

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by Polo

I don't understand the perception that we didn't blitz before...

Guess they went unoticed since no one was getting there..

Greenwood would just find the closest guard and run into him. Sometimes, they would try and disguise the blitz and start 5 yards awaya, then never get anywhere near the QB. Just awfull.

Originally Posted by BigBull17

Greenwood would just find the closest guard and run into him. Sometimes, they would try and disguise the blitz and start 5 yards awaya, then never get anywhere near the QB. Just awfull.

Demeco was our best blitzing LB. Dude knows how to bring pressure from a LB position. His timing and ability to shoot gaps is top notch.

No one else really impressed me in that regard. Diles was ok/ slightly above average in that regard.

IMO, Last year, the only problem with blitzing Demeco was that in doing so, you were essentially taking your best overall LB out of the play if he didn't get to the QB or ball carrier on the blitz.

Hopefully this year we have more LB's capable of making plays on the back-end which would allow us to take advantage of Demeco's blitzing prowess.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by BigBull17

Greenwood would just find the closest guard and run into him. Sometimes, they would try and disguise the blitz and start 5 yards awaya, then never get anywhere near the QB. Just awfull.

Yeah, but that guard did not score many touch downs did he?

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Polo

Demeco was our best blitzing LB. Dude knows how to bring pressure from a LB position. His timing and ability to shoot gaps is top notch.

No one else really impressed me in that regard. Diles was ok/ slightly above average in that regard.

IMO, Last year, the only problem with blitzing Demeco was that in doing so, you were essentially taking your best overall LB out of the play if he didn't get to the QB or ball carrier on the blitz.

Hopefully this year we have more LB's capable of making plays on the back-end which would allow us to take advantage of Demeco's blitzing prowess.

Personally, I'd rather have D-Ryans as the blitzing LB due to being a liability in pass coverage. Covering RB's, TE's and slot WR's is not something I'd like to see him doing on a regular basis.

I might get flamed for my line of thinking, but I'd almost be tempted to take D-Ryans off the field at times during nickel and dime packages.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Polo

Demeco was our best blitzing LB. Dude knows how to bring pressure from a LB position. His timing and ability to shoot gaps is top notch.

No one else really impressed me in that regard. Diles was ok/ slightly above average in that regard.

IMO, Last year, the only problem with blitzing Demeco was that in doing so, you were essentially taking your best overall LB out of the play if he didn't get to the QB or ball carrier on the blitz.

Hopefully this year we have more LB's capable of making plays on the back-end which would allow us to take advantage of Demeco's blitzing prowess.

Ever wonder what coulda been if we had had a run stopping MLB and two excellent DTs that would have allowed Demeco to stay on outside when he was drafted?

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by badboy

Ever wonder what coulda been if we had had a run stopping MLB and two excellent DTs that would have allowed Demeco to stay on outside when he was drafted?

We would have drafted Patrick Willis. Then we would have one of the best LB corps in the league.

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Personally, I'd rather have D-Ryans as the blitzing LB due to being a liability in pass coverage. Covering RB's, TE's and slot WR's is not something I'd like to see him doing on a regular basis.

I might get flamed for my line of thinking, but I'd almost be tempted to take D-Ryans off the field at times during nickel and dime packages.

Demeco was not good in coverage last year. He was better his rookie year when he was a bit quicker and lighter though. That said, he was better than the other guys not named Adibi or Diles.

Greenwood wasn't good at anything IMO, other than knowing the plays and knowing his responsibility. Other than that, he brought absolutely nothing to the table for his entire tenure. Not a playmaking bone anywhere in his body.

And I agree with you about the nickel situation stuff...

I was thinking about a package with Adibi and Diles, or Adibi and June(if he makes the team), but if we're in a nickel package on 3rd and 5, the other team could still run a draw, so that means the Adibi/June mix wouldn't be too realistic...

But overall I agree...Demeco isn't great in coverage, although he seems to do better when he's behind all the action and he can come up to make a play on the ball or reciever (like when he's in deep zone)...If he's playing man to man he's in trouble...

Originally Posted by badboy

Ever wonder what coulda been if we had had a run stopping MLB and two excellent DTs that would have allowed Demeco to stay on outside when he was drafted?

Honestly, I'm not sold on Demeco playing OLB. I know that many feel like he could succeed there, but I don't see the kind of athleticism from Demeco that I like to have in an OLB.

I like Demeco's straight ahead burts....When he has to turn and flip his hips he's not so good...Especially last year when he looked like he was creeping up to 250lbs...

Of course all this is JMO. I think that if Demeco were playing OLB he'd be really good, but I think that MLB is his niche.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Polo

Demeco was not good in coverage last year. He was better his rookie year when he was a bit quicker and lighter though. That said, he was better than the other guys not named Adibi or Diles.

Greenwood wasn't good at anything IMO, other than knowing the plays and knowing his responsibility. Other than that, he brought absolutely nothing to the table for his entire tenure. Not a playmaking bone anywhere in his body.

And I agree with you about the nickel situation stuff...

I was thinking about a package with Adibi and Diles, or Adibi and June(if he makes the team), but if we're in a nickel package on 3rd and 5, the other team could still run a draw, so that means the Adibi/June mix wouldn't be too realistic...

But overall I agree...Demeco isn't great in coverage, although he seems to do better when he's behind all the action and he can come up to make a play on the ball or reciever...If he's playing man to man he's in trouble...

Agreed, he has recently said he's shed the added pounds this off-season.

Agreed, Greenwood's performance was comical, at best.

I could dig that. I could eventually see Cushing involved in some fashion as well.

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by Polo

Demeco was not good in coverage last year. He was better his rookie year when he was a bit quicker and lighter though. That said, he was better than the other guys not named Adibi or Diles.

Greenwood wasn't good at anything IMO, other than knowing the plays and knowing his responsibility. Other than that, he brought absolutely nothing to the table for his entire tenure. Not a playmaking bone anywhere in his body.

And I agree with you about the nickel situation stuff...

I was thinking about a package with Adibi and Diles, or Adibi and June(if he makes the team), but if we're in a nickel package on 3rd and 5, the other team could still run a draw, so that means the Adibi/June mix wouldn't be too realistic...

But overall I agree...Demeco isn't great in coverage, although he seems to do better when he's behind all the action and he can come up to make a play on the ball or reciever...If he's playing man to man he's in trouble...

I'm pretty sure June will make it, and think the nickle package is why. He is really good in coverage, and solid depth as the Will. Diles/Adibi, Ryans/Bently, Cushing/June. Or Adibi/June, Ryans/Bently, Cushing/Diles. That's how I see the LB position working out.

And Greenwood was a complete and total waste of space. A multi-million dollar waste of space.

Originally Posted by BigBull17

I'm pretty sure June will make it, and think the nickle package is why. He is really good in coverage, and solid depth as the Will. Diles/Adibi, Ryans/Bently, Cushing/June. Or Adibi/June, Ryans/Bently, Cushing/Diles. That's how I see the LB position working out.

We'll see with June. I'm not saying he won't make it though...He might...

But from where I'm sitting he is a one dimensional player. He only excels against the pass. Not great against the run, and I haven't heard anything about him being a good special teamer....

To me it seems like he is there to push Adibi because Adibi is IMO, the younger more talented version...I don't really see a need to keep June because I think that if Diles doesn't win that job (gonna be a great competition) then he will be the primary back-up at Will...

I can't see us keeping a guy just to play nickel situations...

I see June as an almost colvin-esque type signing...If he doesn't show something tremendous in camp I don't think he makes it...If he comes in and is just o.k or 'solid' then I think he will be cut....JMO

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by Polo

We'll see with June. I'm not saying he won't make it though...He might...

But from where I'm sitting he is a one dimensional player. He only excels against the pass. Not great against the run, and I haven't heard anything about him being a good special teamer....

To me it seems like he is there to push Adibi because Adibi is IMO, the younger more talented version...I don't really see a need to keep June because I think that if Diles doesn't win that job (gonna be a great competition) then he will be the primary back-up at Will...

I can't see us keeping a guy just to play nickel situations...

I see June as an almost colvin-esque type signing...If he doesn't show something tremendous in camp I don't think he makes it...If he comes in and is just o.k or 'solid' then I think he will be cut....JMO

I just think we keep 6 LB's, and he would beat out Thompson in a heartbeat.