4th Round, Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

[2002whitegt]

I'm pretty excited about this guy, I hope he can develop into a JJ clone.

I found a quick combine/draft video on him and Bullock which I thought was pretty cool.

http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx...thing-to-prove

He's the third guy they feature and Randy Bullock is featured right after.

[drs23]

Originally Posted by 2002whitegt

I'm pretty excited about this guy, I hope he can develop into a JJ clone.

I found a quick combine/draft video on him and Bullock which I thought was pretty cool.

http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx...thing-to-prove

He's the third guy they feature and Randy Bullock is featured right after.

Thanks for the vid. That Trend Richardson is a hell of a sculpture. What a bod! (where does a guy get one of those?) He's gonna knock some heads for a few years at least.

[Allstar]

Originally Posted by 2002whitegt

I'm pretty excited about this guy, I hope he can develop into a JJ clone.

I found a quick combine/draft video on him and Bullock which I thought was pretty cool.

http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx...thing-to-prove

He's the third guy they feature and Randy Bullock is featured right after.

Nice find.

[TexansFanatic]

Originally Posted by drs23

That Trend Richardson is a hell of a sculpture. What a bod! (where does a guy get one of those?)

[VTexan]

Originally Posted by drs23

What a bod! (where does a guy get one of those?)

[drs23]

Originally Posted by VTexan

I think you need to dig a little deeper, with a sense of humor, and intelligence even. Maybe.

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by drs23

I think you need to dig a little deeper, with a sense of humor, and intelligence even. Maybe.

.....Blacksburg .... where they dont even spell Burgh correctly and you are asking for him to dig deeper , a sense of humor and intelligence ?! Forgetaboutit.

[drs23]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

.....Blacksburg .... where they dont even spell Burgh correctly and you are asking for him to dig deeper , a sense of humor and intelligence ?! Forgetaboutit.

Yeah, what the hell was I thinking?

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by drs23

I think you need to dig a little deeper, with a sense of humor, and intelligence even. Maybe.

Calm down, it's okay. A lot of people didn't find out they were gay until later in life.

[beerlover]

Finding the Fits: Texans find perfect match in 4th round DL Crick

Excellent article by Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

At 6-4, 279 pounds and possessing good strength, instincts and hustle, Crick is actually a better fit as a 3-4 defensive end than he would have been remaining at his customary defensive tackle position for a 4-3 team in the NFL. While he isn't likely to supplant either Watt or veteran Antonio Smith as a starter as a rookie, he'll provide excellent depth at the position and could see significant rotational time. He has the strength to set the edge against the run, as well as excellent hustle to pursue laterally and downfield. He's also a better pass rusher than most 3-4 defensive ends, giving the team extra value.

Crick emerged as the second of a two-headed monster on the Nebraska defensive line while playing with Ndamukong Suh. Starting for the first time in 2009, Crick registered 73 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, garnering First Team all-conference honors from Big 12 coaches. A year later, while Suh was earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors as a member of the Detroit Lions, Crick proved more than capable of starring on his own, posting eerily similar numbers (70 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks) to earn All-America accolades.

Considering his size, effort both on and off the field and consistency, Crick entered the 2011 season as a possible first round prospect. An injury-plagued season, however, contributed to his surprising fall to the fourth round, where the Texans nabbed him exactly 100 selections after Mercilus, the only other defensive prospect Houston drafted in 2012.

A torn pectoral muscle ended Crick's 2011 season after just six games, but some scouts were also worried about a knee injury that kept him out of spring practice prior to the season's start. With "just" 22 tackles, three tackles for loss and a single sack in his six games, Crick clearly was not the same player in 2011 that he'd been the past two seasons... that doesn't mean he should have slipped to the draft's third day, however.

By falling to the fourth round, Crick joins a list of former collegiate standouts who suffered an injury as a senior and as a result saw their stock plummet despite having already proven legitimate NFL starting talent. In recent years, we've seen several such players wind up "surprising" as middle or late round picks -- not the least of which includes defensive end Arthur Jones (Baltimore Ravens, 2010), outside linebacker O'Brien Schofield (Arizona Cardinals, 2010) and running back Michael Bush (Oakland Raiders, 2007). Bush, has since signed with the Chicago Bears as an unrestricted free agent.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/b...round-dl-crick

Crick was a personal pre-draft target of my own, thinking Texans would trade out of the first & take him with one of two second round picks (of course that never happened) but a 4th rd pick is a steal, because he is scheme diverse, fits team profile (work ethic/character) & provides excellent depth now with possible starting role in the future @ a very desirable, hard to fill 3-4 DE position. Rob Rang is a pretty good analyst to boot

[Wolf6151]

I'd sure like to see him add approx. 10-15 lbs. without losing athleticism or speed, but I'm sure glad we got Crick when we did, he was great value in the 4th. I can't wait for the preseason games to begin and would like to see him with the 1st team going against another teams starters as well. If he plays great this year, I really hope that he can take Antonio Smith's roster spot as a starter in 2013, it would scratch one need off our list for next years draft.

[IDEXAN]

Is Crick a Tim Bulman clone, which arguably he appears to be, or will he be something more ?
Still puzzled why he fell all the way to the 4th round, and very deep into the
4th round at that ? Wouldn't think the kind of injury he had would result in that kind of free fall in the Draft ?

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

Is Crick a Tim Bulman clone, which arguably he appears to be, or will he be something more ?
Still puzzled why he fell all the way to the 4th round, and very deep into the
4th round at that ? Wouldn't think the kind of injury he had would result in that kind of free fall in the Draft ?

It seems that there may have been a multitude of factors giving pause to teams. Besides his pec rupture from which he should recover fully, he also played with a bum knee (classified "strain"), he weighed in a little too light for most NFL teams' taste (279 at 6'4"), he had relatively short arms (32") especially if considered for DE, and didn't demonstrate very impressive Combine numbers (40 - 4.99; no bench [although he went on to bench 26 at his Pro Day).

There were many comments pre-draft that he needed to bulk up for the NFL. After a surgically repaired pec rupture, it is not unusual that the patient is discouraged from high-weight, low repetition barbell bench pressing indefinitely, and encouraged to bench presses with light weight and high repetition. This may not give the player the most impressive bulked up "look," but the ability to not compromise muscle endurance is maintained............and in Wade's type of system, that is what would be more important.

******************************
For those of you that may be concerned about him maintaining strength with the above regimen (which could have been a scouting concern):
A study that was just released ~1 month ago:
High reps with low weights can also build muscleStudy shows that lifting a ton is not the only way to bulk up

[beerlover]

Originally Posted by Wolf6151

I'd sure like to see him add approx. 10-15 lbs. without losing athleticism or speed, but I'm sure glad we got Crick when we did, he was great value in the 4th. I can't wait for the preseason games to begin and would like to see him with the 1st team going against another teams starters as well. If he plays great this year, I really hope that he can take Antonio Smith's roster spot as a starter in 2013, it would scratch one need off our list for next years draft.

He is the same size as Antonio Smith, cmon guys. His ultimate playing weight may turn out to be closer to 290 but really not neccessary IMO. What is important is getting stronger & being 100% healthy again like he was next to Suh (solid 307) in Nebraska.

[Texanmike02]

Originally Posted by Honoring Earl 34

Kevin McHale says the Texans remind him of the 86 Celtics .

@%*! That team.

Mike

[mussop]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

It seems that there may have been a multitude of factors giving pause to teams. Besides his pec rupture from which he should recover fully, he also played with a bum knee (classified "strain"), he weighed in a little too light for most NFL teams' taste (279 at 6'4"), he had relatively short arms (32") especially if considered for DE, and didn't demonstrate very impressive Combine numbers (40 - 4.99; no bench [although he went on to bench 26 at his Pro Day).

There were many comments pre-draft that he needed to bulk up for the NFL. After a surgically repaired pec rupture, it is not unusual that the patient is discouraged from high-weight, low repetition barbell bench pressing indefinitely, and encouraged to bench presses with light weight and high repetition. This may not give the player the most impressive bulked up "look," but the ability to not compromise muscle endurance is maintained............and in Wade's type of system, that is what would be more important.

******************************
For those of you that may be concerned about him maintaining strength with the above regimen (which could have been a scouting concern):
A study that was just released ~1 month ago:
High reps with low weights can also build muscleStudy shows that lifting a ton is not the only way to bulk up

I found at an early age that lifting lower weights with more reps worked better for me. I was in MMA before the term MMA was thought of. I also boxed at a young age. I never had (or wanted) a bulky build yet I was never out muscled. I always held my own (strength wise) and when the bigger/more muscular guys would tire I would still be going strong.

In fact that is how I got the nickname Possum. One of my instructors said it was like I was playing Possum early in the fight. I'm surprised that more athletes don't go this route.

[76Texan]

I've been watching some Jared Crick's tapes and I noticed a few things that many of you folks might be surprised when I mentioned them.

First of, the Cornhuskers ran a different defensive scheme in 09 (with Suh) and 2010 (without Suh) when they were still in the Big 12 (as opposed to 2011 in the Big 10).

As confirmed by an interview with Crick before his Senior season (I need to relocate the link), Bo Pelini employed a 4-man front with both DT playing head-up on the Guard between 90-95% of the time (according the interview).
The Center is left uncovered in this scheme.
I'm not exactly sure why Pelini chose this particular scheme, but as I understand, it was to combat the spread offense normally found in the Big 12.
(The Big 10 are different; they consist mainly of teams running a pro set or a WCO).

Different Big 12 teams combat this defensive scheme differently; the net effect I found so far in 2-1/2 games (with Suh) shows that Crick did not benefit from Suh being double-teamed; if anything, it's the opposite.
As I have more time, I will get further into it.

[76Texan]

I've been watching some Jared Crick's tapes and I noticed a few things that many of you folks might be surprised when I mention them.

First of, the Cornhuskers ran a different defensive scheme in 09 (with Suh) and 2010 (without Suh) when they were still in the Big 12 (as opposed to 2011 in the Big 10).

As confirmed by an interview with Crick before his Senior season (I need to relocate the link), Bo Pelini employed a 4-man front with both DT playing head-up on the Guard between 90-95% of the time (according the interview).
The Center is left uncovered in this scheme.
I'm not exactly sure why Pelini chose this particular scheme, but as I understand, it was to combat the spread offense normally found in the Big 12.
(The Big 10 are different; they consist mainly of teams running a pro set or a WCO).

Different Big 12 teams combat this defensive scheme differently; the net effect I found so far in 2-1/2 games (with Suh) shows that Crick did not benefit from Suh being double-teamed; if anything, it's the opposite.
As I have more time, I will get further into it.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

Is Crick a Tim Bulman clone, which arguably he appears to be, or will he be something more ?
Still puzzled why he fell all the way to the 4th round, and very deep into the
4th round at that ? Wouldn't think the kind of injury he had would result in that kind of free fall in the Draft ?

Am I missing something? He looked like a JJ Watt clone to me. Had a couple of issues so we were able to get him on the cheap.

[76Texan]

Fast-forward to the Big 12 Championship game vs UT in 2009, there was a brief interview with Suh before the game. Suh was saying how Crick does the "dirty" work so he (Suh) can go make play. Supposedly, the coaching staff will create opportunity for Crick to go make play as well.

It didn't quite turn out to be that way.
From what I saw, in the passing game, it was Suh who had a few more one-on-one opportunities as Crick attacked the inside gap, forcing more help from the Center.

Suh had a great game; Crick had a good game.
Suh played very well on his own, but he also benefited from the entire D-line as the two DEs both had solid games.

In the run game, whichever side the ball is going, it's where the double-team occured - par for the course.

Oh, and by the way, if Suh is bigger than Crick, it wasn't by much.

Also, in the 3 games (from 2009) I've watched so far, in the few instances when the Cornhuskers went to a 3-man line, Crick was at NT.