Why the Texan D will be much better in 2011

[nytexan]

Okay call me Mr. Koolaid but after all it is May and the draft choices haven't busted yet.

1) drafting JJ Watt improves the D line, this guy is the best 5 technique in the draft and should help out from the get go. Big, strong and is a smart football player. Smith, Watt and Mario is a pretty good DE core and 2 of the 3 can play inside on passing downs. I don't see a downside here. If Okoye shows anything, I think he plays DE this year, it's all to the good.

2) From last year we pick up 4 guys to improve the LB core. We get Barwin back for the year, Reed as an improvement over Diles at OLB, Cushing/Ryans for the whole year and the addition of Mario on the outside. Health of course is paramount but this looks like a strength of the team for not just this year but for years to come

3) the secondary can't possibly be as bad again as last year. Coaching, younger guys getting better, draft picks dropping some guys from the team and hopefully a couple of veteran additions at CB and S, should improve this group as a whole to hopefully at the very least below average which will be the biggest upgrade from atrociously bad.

4) Defensive coaching is already apparent to me to be much better. Just listening to these guys gives me the optimism to think somebody over there has a clue to how to run a defense and what kind players are needed to make this defense better. The fact whether you agree with the Mario move to OLB or not, the idea that they are thinking outside the typical Texan box is reason to celebrate.

5) The rookies should improve the special teams which should help with field position. Reed, Carmichael and Shilo should be big time additions to this area at the least.

6) The offense with the addition of Daniels will be more of a ball control team and won't feel the need to score 30 a game to win and will take some time off the clock allowing the defense to get less time on the field. The addition of Tate to go along with Foster and a full year of D.Ward will give Dennison more confidence to stick with the running game more. The key here will be the health of the O.Line

7) The real key is to get healthy and to stay healthy. I'm seeing 11-5 and a possible overthrow of the dreaded Colts this year.

[76Texan]

While I share the concern of those who have suffered through bad to mediocre play from the D, I also share your optimism.

Heck, with all the draft picks and Wade can't improve the defense?
He will not have excuses, unless there's an incredible number of injuries.



(There shouldn't be any excuse for Kubiak as a HC either!)

[brakos82]

8) It can't get any worse!

[gtexan02]

To me it all depends on how quickly the lockout is ended. When implementing a new defensive system, you can't afford to lose ANY time

[HJam72]

Demeco Ryans had a huge impact in his rookie season.

ANDRE JOHNSON DID NOT... He did by his 2nd season.

I'm ALWAYS skeptical of assuming rookies will have an immediate, positive impact, particularly a really big one.

[Thorn]

Post draft last year I was all exicited about our chances, then what happens? Tate, whom we all expected to shine, is out for the year and some undrafted free agent guy runs all over the place and our defense became the worst pass defense in NFL history. How could you have predicted that?

So not this year. I'm just gonna sit back and hope for the best but realize everthing we are thinking now either probably won't work or will change drasticly by early to mid season. Again. And it'll do it again next year as well.

[Rey]

Having a better defense than last year will make me happy...

But what I really want is a BAD ASS defense. And I just don't see that happening this next season.

[badboy]

NYTexan, you have posted a good review but I have to protest as you left my guy completely out. Brandon Harris. No he is not Asomugha or Revis but he might just be them in their first year. Even if he becomes what I think he will be, corner is our weakest position. I am down with Quin moving to FS and mentioned it as a possible move long before Wade did. That does weaken the platoon of guys we have. I hope KJ can improve enough to nail down one of the starter roles or if not maybe McMannis or Allen will be there. I am also hopeful that Carmichael will do well.

Things we do not know, will the coaches be as good as we hope and who if anyone we will get in free agency.

[DBCooper]

Our defense will be better because of one man......

The son of Bum!!!!!!!!!!!

[DocBar]

I'm not counting on pre-injury production from Barwin and/or Ryans. I hope they return 100%, but I'm preparing myself for Sharpton to start at ILB instead of Ryans and Brooks instead of Barwin. I hope Cush comes back from HIS procedure 100%. His was just cleaning up his knee and all, but that's what leads to artheritis setting in.

[silvrhand]

Guys.. in reality it's going to be better in 2011 cause there isn't anywhere else to go.. set low expectations given the lockout at this point..

[NBT]

ASSUMPTION: After this past draft and the talent already in place, we have the makings of a kick-ass defensive front 7.

PREDICTION; from the past we have this; Last time Phillips took over a defense as bad as the Texans was 2004. San Diego was 31st in defense in 2003 when the Chargers finished 4-12. In Phillips first season, they ranked 11th in defense and finished 12-4, with an explosive offense roughly similar to ours is now. There is no reason not to think Phillips will do the same sort of job here for the Texans defense. 11-5, possibly 12-4, and we win the division, or at least make the playoffs.

[checo446]

Originally Posted by DocBar

I'm not counting on pre-injury production from Barwin and/or Ryans. I hope they return 100%, but I'm preparing myself for Sharpton to start at ILB instead of Ryans and Brooks instead of Barwin. I hope Cush comes back from HIS procedure 100%. His was just cleaning up his knee and all, but that's what leads to artheritis setting in.

I'm still trying to figure out Sharpton's role and whether if needed he would be able to step in for Demeco coming off ACL surgery. Another factor in this is I could still see Cushing moving to the OLB slot if things don't work out with Brooks/Barwin or even Super Mario (since it sounds like he will be lining up there quite a bit this year).

Of course, this speculation by me is for selfish reasons (i.e. I own Sharpton in a dynasty IDP fantasy league), but depth on the inside sure does seem like a concern given the injury of Demeco.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by checo446

I'm still trying to figure out Sharpton's role and whether if needed he would be able to step in for Demeco coming off ACL surgery. Another factor in this is I could still see Cushing moving to the OLB slot if things don't work out with Brooks/Barwin or even Super Mario (since it sounds like he will be lining up there quite a bit this year).

Of course, this speculation by me is for selfish reasons (i.e. I own Sharpton in a dynasty IDP fantasy league), but depth on the inside sure does seem like a concern given the injury of Demeco.

Just to clarify, D-Ryans had achilles tendon surgery.

[Hardcore Texan]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Just to clarify, D-Ryans had achilles tendon surgery.

And he won't be even close to 100% in 2011 and the odds of a full recovery ever are not even good.

[wolf123]

The biggest reason for optimism is for the first time ever we have a system in place on defense. The sum of the parts will be much better this year.

Look at our system on offense. Most of the players are really just average players that have been put into a system where they can excell.

[gary]

I am just not getting high or low on this team because I have been down that road before and have been truly let down every year. This year I am not going to do that anymore and it just is what it is.

[Playoffs]

It'll be better because of better coaching, especially Wade.

[Texecutioner]

Well hell, the title of this thread is almost a no brainer considering the fact that they can't get any worse, so they've got nowhere to go BUT UP!

[nytexan]

Originally Posted by Texecutioner

Well hell, the title of this thread is almost a no brainer considering the fact that they can't get any worse, so they've got nowhere to go BUT UP!

Well I didn't say a little bitty better, I did say much!!!!