Did the Texans find their ILB?

[Doppelganger]

A lot of people are unhappy that the Texans did not draft an ILB. Some of them are disappointed with the idea that Brooks Reed may be moving to ILB. Clearly the Texans will sign a couple of vet ILB and let them compete.

However, what if the Texans did find their ILB in the draft...or more accurately as an UDFA?

Now as I say this you may be saying, Ok, Dopp, which one of
Ja'Gared Davis, Kenny Demens, LB, Evan Frierson or, Justin Tuggle are you referring?

What would you say if I told you I was referring to Zac Boren? But Dopp, you might say, he is a FB. True, but he also played very well as a LB for the last 6 games. In 6 games he racked up 50 tackles and averaged 8.2 tackles per game. His best game was 12 tackle effort and 7 solo tackles in an overtime game against Wisconsin. His best game may have been against Michigan where he picked up 9 tackles along with a sack on Denard Robinson.

He may not be the starter right out of the gate, but I could see him becoming that starter next to Cush down the road.

[rmartin65]

No. Its a nice idea, but Boren does not move well enough to play ILB in the NFL. He is FB/ST or bust.

[Rey]

Would have to see him play.

That said, I highly doubt he's going to be starting next to Cushing anytime soon if ever.

[Tailgate]

When the Ravens jump in front to nab the ILB you were targeting, you just have to adapt and move on. After Brown was gone, no ILB they liked matched up with the value of that pick.

Just have to hope Cushing and this unit ARE and stay healthy this season and we will be fine.

Texans to find their ILB next off season most likely.

[kingtexan]

Interested to see more of Tuggles skill-set. Good bloodline.

[HOU-TEX]

Has anyone thought of the possibility of moving Trevardo Williams inside? I know it's a reach, but he seems to have the measurables to play ILB.

6'1" 240-245, runs a 4.5 and is pretty darn strong. I can see it

[TexanSam]

I'm guessing the Texans probably sign a veteran later in the offseason to back up Cushing and Dobbins. They wanted Arthur Brown in the 2nd, but the Ravens traded up to get him.

[Blake]

Texans could trade for Joe Mays but his contract makes that seem unlikely.

I do not like the idea of moving Reed to ILB and manning the OLB with rookies and Merc. Its just very risky to assume all 3 ILB will remain healthy all season.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Has anyone thought of the possibility of moving Trevardo Williams inside? I know it's a reach, but he seems to have the measurables to play ILB.

6'1" 240-245, runs a 4.5 and is pretty darn strong. I can see it

I think his speed off the edge and getting to the qb make him more valuable as an wolb.

[bckey]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

I'm guessing the Texans probably sign a veteran later in the offseason to back up Cushing and Dobbins. They wanted Arthur Brown in the 2nd, but the Ravens traded up to get him.

I keep seeing this posted about Arthur Brown but nothing to back it up. Does anyone actually know for a fact that the Texans were taking Arthur Brown in the 2nd? They may have had a higher priority on picking a good safety to learn under Reed.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by bckey

I keep seeing this posted about Arthur Brown but nothing to back it up. Does anyone actually know for a fact that the Texans were taking Arthur Brown in the 2nd? They may have had a higher priority on picking a good safety to learn under Reed.

Ive heard the rumor too, but asking for factual data might be a bit much. Teams dont generally say "Well we really wanted Brown, but settled for Swearinger when Brown went off the board."

Lance Z thought the Texans wanted Brown, and apparently so did Baltimore who paid to jump ahead of the Texans.

[Insideop]

Originally Posted by Tailgate

When the Ravens jump in front to nab the ILB you were targeting, you just have to adapt and move on. After Brown was gone, no ILB they liked matched up with the value of that pick.

Just have to hope Cushing and this unit ARE and stay healthy this season and we will be fine.

Texans to find their ILB next off season most likely.

Yes! The one I would like to see them get is Andrew Jackson from Western Kentucky. Another could be Shane Skov from Stanford. Both were expected to come out this past year but chose to go back to school.

As for which UDFA they could use to fill an ILB spot, I think it could be Kenny Demens from Michigan, but that's just a guess. I just don't have enough knowledge about all the UDFAs to give a good opinion.

[Rey]

I don't think we wanted Brown. I think we got the guy we wanted.

We didn't take an ilb anywhere else in the draft, so if they thought ILB was important enough to take in the second round I would imagine they'd have taken another one somewhere else.

I felt better about ILB than I did about the safety depth.

The third safety probably plays more than the second ILB anyways. Texans went cheap with that position last year and I expect them to do the same this year. Probably just get some good depth behind dobbins and just let him start...which I'd be fine with.

[Rey]

Y'all need to check out Davis from SMU that we signed. That dude is a baller.

[Playoffs]

Originally Posted by Doppelganger

A lot of people are unhappy that the Texans did not draft an ILB. Some of them are disappointed with the idea that Brooks Reed may be moving to ILB. Clearly the Texans will sign a couple of vet ILB and let them compete.

However, what if the Texans did find their ILB in the draft...or more accurately as an UDFA?

Now as I say this you may be saying, Ok, Dopp, which one of
Ja'Gared Davis, Kenny Demens, LB, Evan Frierson or, Justin Tuggle are you referring?

What would you say if I told you I was referring to Zac Boren? But Dopp, you might say, he is a FB. True, but he also played very well as a LB for the last 6 games. In 6 games he racked up 50 tackles and averaged 8.2 tackles per game. His best game was 12 tackle effort and 7 solo tackles in an overtime game against Wisconsin. His best game may have been against Michigan where he picked up 9 tackles along with a sack on Denard Robinson.

He may not be the starter right out of the gate, but I could see him becoming that starter next to Cush down the road.

Interesting, DG. I wonder if they'll explore that possibility?

I do think someone will rise from the ranks and fill the void. With Cush next to him(fingers crossed), whoever it is just needs to hold his own. It would be cool if we got a bonus baby out of this group who's more than just a body, though.

[mussop]

Everyone mentioned better be ready to play if we go into the season with our current group of NT's. our ILB's are going to get wore down.

[TexanSam]

Originally Posted by bckey

I keep seeing this posted about Arthur Brown but nothing to back it up. Does anyone actually know for a fact that the Texans were taking Arthur Brown in the 2nd? They may have had a higher priority on picking a good safety to learn under Reed.

According to Peter King, the Texans were going to take him. Paul Kuharskey quotes it in his AFC South blog on ESPN.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/pos...n-arthur-brown

The Texans drafted two defensive linemen they are going to turn into strongside linebackers in Sam Montgomery and Trevardo Williams in the third and fourth round.

But Peter King of SI.com says they were ready to go linebacker at No. 57 in the second round until Baltimore jumped ahead of them to take Kansas State’s Arthur Brown.

From King’s Monday Morning Quarterback:
“Baltimore had the 62nd pick overall, late in the second round. In the first round, they'd gotten the safety they liked most, Matt Elam. Now as the picks ticked by, they knew they risked losing the linebacker they liked most at this point, Kansas State's Arthur Brown. So the Ravens dealt the 62nd pick along with fifth- and sixth-round picks to Seattle for the 56th pick. They picked Brown.

"Sources tell me Brown was going to be Houston's pick at 57, and he was a strong consideration for Denver at 58. Brown's a potential captain, the kind of leader the Ravens hope two or three years down the road will start to fill the void left by Ray Lewis. Great trade."

[HOU-TEX]

I think it's pretty obvious we were going to take him.

[bckey]

I still say it is speculation. Alot of talking heads assign Ozzie Newsome some extra sly reason for moving and picking who and when he does. He is one of the best but he could have just made sure the Ravens got who THEY wanted. Just in case Houston or Denver who have needs at ILB lets make sure we get our man type of deal. Leave nothing to chance.

I agree with Rey here:

Originally Posted by Rey

I don't think we wanted Brown. I think we got the guy we wanted.

We didn't take an ilb anywhere else in the draft, so if they thought ILB was important enough to take in the second round I would imagine they'd have taken another one somewhere else.

I felt better about ILB than I did about the safety depth.

The third safety probably plays more than the second ILB anyways. Texans went cheap with that position last year and I expect them to do the same this year. Probably just get some good depth behind dobbins and just let him start...which I'd be fine with.

[Rey]

Sounds like the Texans did a good job of keeping their intentions close to the vest to me.