Undrafted Free Agents

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by clandestin

oh and Sears is 2 years older then payne, so he's not exactly "young and developing"

True, but Payne is entering his 8th year in the league (6th as a starter) and Sears is entering his 6th (and has only been a starter due to injury).

[keyfro]

casserly and the texans made it official today these are the nine udfa's we've signed:

OT Ryan Bachman (Kearney State)
DE Brandon Casavan (Wyoming)
FB Tim Gale (Northeastern)
OT Brad Lekkerkerker (UC-Davis)
C Andrew Martin (Northern Colorado)
NT Ifo Pili (BYU)
DE D.J. Renteria (New Mexico)
G Chavis Smith (Tennessee)
WR Kendrick Starling (San Jose State).

and we will be working out these five:

WR Toby Christensen (BYU)
WR Chris Coleman (Alabama State)
G Brandon Evans (Houston)
P Nate McKinney (Appalachian State)
DE Bryce Wyatt (LSU).

all in all a pretty nice list...some very good small school players...renteria is one of the more attractive prospects to us since he's played in a 3-4 style defense throughout his college career...hopefully some of these guys make the team and push the other players harder

[Vinny]

Ryan Bachman

Brandon Casavan

Tim Gale

Brad Lekkerkerker

Andrew Martin

Ifo Pili

D.J. Renteria

Chavis Smith

Kendrick Starling

[Lucky]

A fix on the Brandon Casavan link.

Ifo looks like your typical stay-at-home, tie-up-blockers version of NT. If he can accomplish that on the pro level, we might have a backup nose after all. Like most BYU draftees, Pili is a little older than most rookies. Redshirted & went on a Morman mission, he's 7 years removed from his HS graduation.

[Vinny]

Thanks for the fix Lucky. Everyone wanted a NT in the first round this year for some reason. I'm glad we took a cornerback. NT's can be developed. Heck, Payne was a late pick when he was a rook. He developed just fine.

[El Tejano]

I think Walker was also second rounder and Smith was a late rounder too and look where they ended up. I aint going to lie though, I really wanted Sopoaga but hey we got some good DBs and our DLine was and will be addressed in FA.

[keyfro]

i looked up chavis smith on the nfl.com website to see his stats at the combine here they are:

5.33 in the 40-yard dash … 475-pound bench press … 600-pound squat … 325-pound power clean … 33½-inch arm length … 9¾-inch hands.

may not be the fastest gaurd but might be one of the strongest

[done88]

Looks like of the none theTexans recieved the guard out of Kansa has the most upside. How many lineman do you think the Texans will carry next year? Will Wand stat in the near future. Is Wand making as much progress as the Texans would like?

[keyfro]

we'll find out when training camp gets here

[texasduece]

I was glad to see this guy hope he is able to help us!


Ifo Pili Nose Tackle BYU


95 Ifo Pili Defensive Tackle Brigham Young
Year: Sr Height: 6-3 Weight: 325 40: 5.05 Hometown: Orem, UT
Positives: Ifo is a massive force in the middle of BYU's 3-4 defense. He is extremely effective in his role as a NT. He does not get moved off the line of scrimmage. He is really strong, especially in his lower body. He uses his hands well and plays the run very well. He has better than average feet for a man his size. His best attribute is keeping blockers off of the linebackers. He absorbs blocks.

Negatives: Ifo is not extremely quick. He is not a good pass rusher; doesn't collapse the pocket very well. He also does not have great endurance and will need to be part of a tackle rotation in the NFL. Needs to do a better job pursuing the play and moving down the line of scrimmage laterally.

Bottom Line: Ifo is an effective run stopper and keeps blockers from getting to the second level. Look for Ifo to go in rounds 5-6.

[infantrycak]

Sounds like a great competition between Pili and Renteria for spelling Payne.

[keyfro]

well renteria is actually a DE for us...the NT position battle this training camp will be between pili, ioane, and slechta...deloach of course is the first back-up for all three positions

[Vinny]

Right now the team is listing Slechta and Robaire Smith as DT's and Renteria as a DE.

[infantrycak]

OK, my bad, I thought I had read somewhere that Renteria had NT experience with a college that ran a three man front.

Out of all the free agents, Casavan has the most potential. He had his redshirt pulled his true freshmen year, and only got to play two seasons at his natural position(DE). If he would have had a redshirt season, and would have had the oppurtunity to play DE his whole college career, he would have been first team all conference at least twice, IMO. He possesses really good spead for someone his size along with good strength

[rittenhouserobz]

I remember reading that Renteria was sub-300 lbs. I am not sure NT would be his best place on our line.

[Vinny]

NT's don't have to be big and fat to be effective. Seth Payne is barely 300 pounds himself.