SLB in Cushings Absence?

[Rey]

Who you got?

[Rey]

I'm going with Adibi. He looked good last night...

He got juked in the open field one time, but other than that I really like his aggressiveness and how he played downhill.

Also, I think that by him starting the night off in that position was basically Kubes way of saying that it was his spot to lose.

I don't think he did anything to lose it.

X marks the spot: Linebacker Xavier Adibi made his preseason debut after missing several weeks with a groin injury. He finished with four tackles.

"It looked impressive, what (Adibi) did," Kubiak said. "I thought he played pretty good. I wanted him to play 25-30 snaps. We'll go see where he's at. What I thought I saw was pretty good, so that's nice that we have that option again."

Adibi is one of the leading candidates to start at strongside linebacker during Cushing's suspension.

"There's definitely a chance," Kubiak said. "He was option one when we started camp. He missed camp; there's nothing you can do about that. Can he still be the guy? Yes, he can."

[IDEXAN]

Adibi looks much more like a WIL than a SAM, but he played with intensity last night and has excellent athleticism.

[Wolf6151]

I'd put Diles at SLB and Adibi at WLB. Adibi is good he's just got trouble staying healthy and hopefully he can hold it together for 4 games.

[HOU-TEX]

I don't even think Kubiak knows yet. They might stick with a rotation until somebody can step up. Adibi made a few decent plays, but made up for them with bad plays (missed tackles, blocked out of plays). If Clark makes the roster then it'll be clear to me that they think he's the answer. Right now, the spot's still up for grabs, IMO.

I wouldn't move Diles anywhere. He's done nothing but secure his spot at the WILL and I wouldn't want to take the chance at messing that up.

[Rey]

I'm actually kind of surprised no one has picked Either sharpton or Bentley yet.

[Rey]

I don't think this will be as big of an issue against the Colts as I see us playing Nickel most of the game.

I haven't noticed, but who has been getting the LB reps in Nickel next to Demeco? Diles?

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Rey

I don't think this will be as big of an issue against the Colts as I see us playing Nickel most of the game.

I haven't noticed, but who has been getting the LB reps in Nickel next to Demeco? Diles?

Cushing. D-Ryans and Cush are the nickel LBs

[Rey]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Cushing. D-Ryans and Cush are the nickel LBs

Yeah I know that Cush has been the other LB in Nickel, but they haven't played anyone else there in the pre-season?

Since Cushing is going to be out I would have thought that they would have given someone else some tick in Nickel...

Maybe they will just go with Diles until Cushing returns...Or maybe they rotate...

[HOU-TEX]

It's not really related, but Monty Beisel was cut from the Cards. He's a decent LB

[datchapin]

I went with Bentley. He knows the system, is a consistent tackler, and I mean c'mon you can't deny he has the coolest name. Joking aside, Adibi last yr. was really burned in the pre-season and while he played decent last night he hasn't been consistent enough where I would put him over Bentley. Sharpton has played well, but due to his size and being a rookie, I wouldn't put him out there in real life action just yet.

I really like Bentley's discipline. He's really good at wrapping up and taking his guy down. Nothing showy just gets the job done.

[b0ng]

I went with Bentley only because what I've seen of him in regular games as opposed to Adibi and Sharpton has been solid if unspectacular. Either way though, it's going to hurt the defense.

DAMN YOU HCG!

[beerlover]

Sharpton is the next best LB on this team & should be inserted regardless of position. He is always around the ball, very productive, consistant & brings starter type intangibles. Adibi is too inconsistant, Bentley doesn't have the speed anymore & will get toasted by Manning.

Everyone is getting too hung up with position. Bottom line put your best LB's in regardless where they line up. I really would like to see DeMeco get a shot to play some SAM & apply his coverage & pass rushing skills, which would be a much better match-up against Peyton. Let Sharpton stay home & do the ditry work inside, plug the holes & take responsiblity for the middle of the field, his special skill is abiltiy to shed, avoid trash inside with a nose for the ball in space.

[The Pencil Neck]

I've been a pretty big Sharpton proponent but I voted for Adibi.

I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of rotation to get Sharpton some experience but get Adibi and Bentley in there on a situational basis.

Eventually, I think Sharpton surpasses Adibi (and possibly Diles) but I don't think he's quite there, yet.

[DexmanC]

Anybody's better than Morlon Greenwood, which is who Cushing
replaced. He even took the guy's number. Either way, Cushing's
replacement is better than our SAM option in '08.

[beerlover]

4 those who picked Adibi do you actually beleive he can stay healthy four games?

[Ole Miss Texan]

Sharpton

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by beerlover

4 those who picked Adibi do you actually beleive he can stay healthy four games?

Ride him until he gets injured. Hopefully that gives us a little more time to get Sharpton up to speed.

I just don't want to trot Sharpton out in front of Peyton in Sharpton's first pro game.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by beerlover

Sharpton is the next best LB on this team & should be inserted regardless of position. He is always around the ball, very productive, consistant & brings starter type intangibles. Adibi is too inconsistant, Bentley doesn't have the speed anymore & will get toasted by Manning.

Everyone is getting too hung up with position. Bottom line put your best LB's in regardless where they line up. I really would like to see DeMeco get a shot to play some SAM & apply his coverage & pass rushing skills, which would be a much better match-up against Peyton. Let Sharpton stay home & do the ditry work inside, plug the holes & take responsiblity for the middle of the field, his special skill is abiltiy to shed, avoid trash inside with a nose for the ball in space.

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

I've been a pretty big Sharpton proponent but I voted for Adibi.

I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of rotation to get Sharpton some experience but get Adibi and Bentley in there on a situational basis.

Eventually, I think Sharpton surpasses Adibi (and possibly Diles) but I don't think he's quite there, yet.

I'd like to see Sharpton play up field more.

Not that he can't do it, but as a will you aren't generally playing over the TE, stepping up into him on running plays.

As a Sam, you have to kind of attack the line, wheras if you are the will you are kinda hanging back and closing down the cutback lane. When you play will you will get a lot of tackles after the back has already gained some yards.

I don't recall if he ever played SAM this pre-season, but I'd like to see him do it just so I can get a better visual of him doing so.

Right now, I see a gut who is pretty good in space that knows how to make plays when the ball is in the air. That screams Will to me...But we'll see...

[Rey]

Originally Posted by beerlover

4 those who picked Adibi do you actually believe he can stay healthy four games?

I don't know...

I didn't know if Schaub could stay healthy all year either, but that didn't mean I wanted Sage to start.

Whoever the Texans choose, I hope they go with the best option and not make these type of decisions due to injury concerns.

Heck, if they go with Adibi, and he goes down, just go on to the next man in line.