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UDFA: Going Against All Odds

HOU-TEX

HOU-TEX

Ah, Football!
There's an interesting video and transcript on HT.com with Turk, Ferguson and Deljuan explaining their experiences as an UDFA. It kind of got me thinking how we (fans) tend to over look these guy's as just camp fodder or PS players. Here are a couple quotes:

Ferguson: “Rick saw what I could do on the field,” Ferguson said. “He said, ‘Let’s get him to Denver. Let’s give him another chance.’ I don’t think at that particular time they expected me to make the team, but I just kept making plays after plays after plays.
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“All my life I have been playing through hard trials and tribulations,” Robinson said. “I take the same approach when I am out on the field. I have to beat the next man out, and if not, just make him better. I want him to know that I am right there, waiting on my opportunity and waiting on my chance.

“Right now, they just signed a lot of drafted guys and other free agents. So what am I going to do? I am going to hold it down and show them my worth. I know they are going to sign other people, but I am going to always show them how hard I work and what I can do on the field.”
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http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5283

So, considering we're at the beginning of the worst part of the off season, let's discuss UDFA's of the past. What UDFA's of the past beat the odds and are now successful or have see success in the past for the Texans or any other NFL team?
 
Briesel is the best....I think Foster and JJohnson could be pretty darn good football players in Kubiakspeak
 
Mike Brisiel may not be the "best" but I think on our team he's proabably the most valuable since he's been our starting RG and only improving. He's #1 on my list.

I think Tim Bulman deserves some credit. Played well and improved last season and I see him being a part of the rotation this year.

Darius Walker, while not great or playing with us anymore, did decent in my opinion. I expect Forster or Johnson to at least have a similar impact as Walker.


I'd also like to note Chris Myers (6th rd pick), Kevin Walter (7th rd pick), Jacques Reeves (7th rd pick) as some guys that contribute a whole heck of a lot and are late round picks (not undrafted though).
 
My favorite non-Texan NFL player Bart Scott was, incredibly, undrafted.

Also - I believe the Defensive player of the year James Harrison was undrafted.
 
I don't think Antonio Gates was drafted either.



edit... nevermind ^^^^^... I got scooped.


What about Jake Delhomme?
 
Ole Miss Texan said:
Darius Walker, while not great or playing with us anymore, did decent in my opinion. I expect Forster or Johnson to at least have a similar impact as Walker.
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Does "I expect Foster or Johnson to atleast have a similar impact as Walker" mean you are secretly hoping for Friday's with Foster edition on HT.com? :)
 
Kurt Warner, Willie Parker, Ryan Grant, Wes Welker, James Harrison, Adam Vinatieri, Leigh Bodden

Polo said:
Does "I expect Foster or Johnson to atleast have a similar impact as Walker" mean you are secretly hoping for Friday's with Foster edition on HT.com? :)
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I loved those clips with Walker!!
 
Since his days in Denver, Kubiak gives a speech at the beginning of the year on UDFAs and lower drafted players who have made teams and excelled. Denver traditionally had a number of those players. Rod Smith says he owes his career to Kubiak.
 
Texans_Chick said:
Since his days in Denver, Kubiak gives a speech at the beginning of the year on UDFAs and lower drafted players who have made teams and excelled. Denver traditionally had a number of those players. Rod Smith says he owes his career to Kubiak.
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I bet that's pretty interesting!

Here's some players currently on our roster that, in my humble opinion, are great to have, solid contibutors, great rotation/depth or that Kubiak speaks highly of:

QB- Dan Orlovsky- originally 5th rd draft pick, Kubiak really likes his potential
FB- Vonta Leach- Undrafted free agent
TE- Owen Daniels- 4th round pro bowl TE
WR- Kevin Walter- originally 7th round draft pick
C- Chris Myers- originally a 6th round draft pick (6th rd pick traded too)
G- Mike Brisiel- Undrafted free agent
DL- Tim Bulman- Undrafted free agent
DT- Deljuan Robinson- Undrafted free agent
DE- Antonio Smith- originally a 5th rounder
LB- Zac Diles- 7th round draft pick
LB- Cato June- originally a 6th round draft pick
CB- Jacques Reeves- originally a 7th round draft pick
S- Domanick Barber- 6th round draft pick
K- Kris Brown- originally a 7th round draft pick
P- Matt Turk- undrafted free agent
 
Señor Stan;1182808 said:
I don't think Antonio Gates was drafted either.



edit... nevermind ^^^^^... I got scooped.


What about Jake Delhomme?
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Gates was a 2nd round pick just so you guys know :user:
 
Texan4Ever said:
Gates was a 2nd round pick just so you guys know :user:
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I believe, that's incorrect...........he wanted to go into the NBA but decided to give up basketball and get into the NFL...............He was signed as an undrafted FA by the Chargers in 2003. BTW, he had not played any football during college (only HS).
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
I believe, that's incorrect...........he wanted to go into the NBA but decided to give up basketball and get into the NFL...............He was signed as an undrafted FA by the Chargers in 2003. BTW, he had not played any football during college (only HS).
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yep

After being told by scouts that he was too much of a “tweener” (6′4″) to make the NBA, Gates arranged a workout in front of NFL scouts. As many as 19 teams were believed to have contacted Gates about a try out. Gates chose to work out first for the San Diego Chargers. Recognizing his enormous potential, the Chargers immediately signed him to a contract as an undrafted free agent.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Gates
 
With UDFAs, you have some very hungry guys who don't have a sense of entitlement. Those types of guys can push those guys at the top of the roster who have become insta-millionaires. Part of the draft process these days is trying to identify those guys where the money won't mess them up.

/I'm a pretty responsible person but I'm not sure if I could have been trusted with multi-millions when I graduated from college.
 
Texans_Chick said:
With UDFAs, you have some very hungry guys who don't have a sense of entitlement. Those types of guys can push those guys at the top of the roster who have become insta-millionaires. Part of the draft process these days is trying to identify those guys where the money won't mess them up.

/I'm a pretty responsible person but I'm not sure if I could have been trusted with multi-millions when I graduated from college.
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Kubiak really seems to go after the hardworking type and a lot of these UDFA's do fit that bill. It's that underdog mentality and fighting to make the team. I think Mario and Demeco were two high picks that just want to be the best at their position and havn't/won't slack off because of money. I see Cushing and Barwin being really similar.
 
Another UDFA I think that has a chance to compete for a roster spot is Todd Verdell from Fla. St.

A classic WILL from what I can see. 6'2 - 225 lbs - low 4.60s speed.
I was pleasantly surprised while reviewing some of his games (against Florida, BC, Wisconsin, Clemson.)

Good, flex hips.
Smooth lateral movements.
All that translates into a guy who can cover.
Playing safety in JC also helps.

Good agility.
Knows how to use his hands and his own body to get off bigger blockers.
That allows him to be efficient in the running game.

The only video I can find is this one.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Toddrick-Verdell-El-Dor-18039
You can see that he can flex his hips to move sideway and turn pretty well.

I've seen his back pedaling, and it's pretty good.
Stop and go in a smooth transition.

I think he will give Coley a run for his money.
Maybe even another LB.

I'm still checking out others.
Right now there's one more guy who looks pretty good, but I need to watch more than 2 games though.
 
I need to see some recent clips of him or wait to watch him with the Texans, but I don't see anything special
 
The battle for back-up jobs on the O-line should be fun to watch.

Dan Stevenson (G) looked pretty decent protecting Brady Quinn and blocking for Darius Walker.

Adam Stenavich (LT/G) did the same for Mike Hart and Chad Henne.

Jason Watkins (RT) did it for the Gators last year.

All three are in the athletic mold of OLs.
We'll see what Gibbs can do with them.
 
mexican_texan said:
Jackie Butler is the one to keep an eye on.
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You mean Rashad Butler?

He probably has the upperhand at the moment, but his job isn't guaranteed.

Also, inside, let's not forget Adrian Jones who got ten starts last year for the Chiefs.
I'm checking him out now. Looks like the ZBS agrees with the guy.
Studdard would better step it up, or else.
Brisiel's starting job isn't guaranteed either.
 
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