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How many defensive tackles texans keep ?
- Thread starter newtexan
- Start date
I am going to guess around 4. Maybe 5, but since Antoine Smith will play DT on passing situations 4 makes more sense to me.
Okoye
Cody
Mitchell
Robinson
Okam is as good as gone. Huge (not in the good way), not very mobile, and seemingly unmotivated.
Your man-crush Sheppard has a shot, but I dont think he sticks this year.
I really liked Unrein coming out of college, but it does not sound like he is impressing coaches in practice, nor did he look great during the game. So, barring a miracle, he is out.
Okoye
Cody
Mitchell
Robinson
Okam is as good as gone. Huge (not in the good way), not very mobile, and seemingly unmotivated.
Your man-crush Sheppard has a shot, but I dont think he sticks this year.
I really liked Unrein coming out of college, but it does not sound like he is impressing coaches in practice, nor did he look great during the game. So, barring a miracle, he is out.
6? With the bevy of TEs the Texans have? A bunch of talented wide receivers? Incredible depth at linebacker? No way 6 stay.
Some packages Smith could play DT along side Mitchell, how long do you experiment with Okam because of girth, its obvious Sheppard is more active and explosive than Robinson and Okam and he's only been a Texan a few months, these next few games will help clear the air, looking at the highlights above Sheppard clearly holds his own every play in the early qtrs. against their twos ,remember Okoye's contract is up in a couple of yrs. Texans are looking beyond this season, Sheppards a lock.
The fact that Smith can move to DT on some packages i think opens the door for the Texans to do what i think they really want to do , invest in Sheppard, over-weight DT'S come a dime a dozen in this league, and then they're gassed after a couple of plays, Texans have a good problem on the DT side , too bad for who-ever come up short, but don't be surprised if Sheppard makes it.
13 out of your 19 posts have been about Sheppard. Just curious, do you know the guy?
He was undrafted for a reason. It may have been a deep class, but the fact remains: undrafted. Yes, some UDFAs make rosters, become starters, become stars. But that is the exception rather than the rule. For every Kurt Warner there are 100 guys who are still bagging groceries.
He was undrafted for a reason. It may have been a deep class, but the fact remains: undrafted. Yes, some UDFAs make rosters, become starters, become stars. But that is the exception rather than the rule. For every Kurt Warner there are 100 guys who are still bagging groceries.
Really? Thats your argument, that first round picks bust? Of course they do, the draft is not perfect. But pick a random UDFA any given year, and then a first round pick any given year. Who do you think is still in the league 3, 5 10 years later? I would bet on the guy taken in the first.
Just my point, THE DRAFT IS NOT PERFECT !!, most great head coaches never played a down in the NFL , there are some things that can't be measured, like HEART,DETERMINATION,DRIVE,MOTIVATION,... and for some players going UNDRAFTED when all the experts say you should have been drafted, they know every day must be 100%, CHRIS LOW of espn says it was a shock that sheppard was'nt drafted, stay tuned you'll see why i posted a lot on the guy nicknamed the wood.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
How did Mitchell play Saturday?
Jackie Chiles
Veteran
4, Cody, Okoye, Mitchell, Robinson. Sheppard on the PS.
Okam has been exposed for long enough. Hes soft and we have better options, let some other team have a go at him. I could see us looking for a veteran after cuts to replace Deljuan if he doesn't show some more during the rest of the preseason.
Okam has been exposed for long enough. Hes soft and we have better options, let some other team have a go at him. I could see us looking for a veteran after cuts to replace Deljuan if he doesn't show some more during the rest of the preseason.
Jackie Chiles
Veteran
I thought he showed some nice flashes, Lance Z has a good writeup:
http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2010/08/post_164.html
"I saw very active hands from Earl Mitchell in the first half, but I didn't see much from him in that half in terms of productivity. I did, however, think he played much better in the 2nd half including a sick spin move during a pass rush where he was able to get pressure on the QB. Don't be surprised to see Mitchell get 3rd down snaps with the first unit at times during the season."
nero THE zero
All Pro
I wouldn't be surprised to see DelJuan not make the team. He's impressed a lot of fans, myself included, but, for whatever reason, the coaches don't seem to feel the same way.
I wouldn't be surprised for our final DT rotation to be:
Okoye
Cody
Mitchell
Sheppard
Though, that's mighty underwhelming when you see it written out like that.
I wouldn't be surprised for our final DT rotation to be:
Okoye
Cody
Mitchell
Sheppard
Though, that's mighty underwhelming when you see it written out like that.
No way we get anything for him. If TJ was a conditional 5th/6th, Okam is a nothing.
I want Zgonina back...
ubecool454
Veteran
I don't know how many they keep but I just hope Mitchell and Sheppard stay and then we sign Schobel which will give us more flexibility to sometimes move Antonio Smith and maybe Mario inside.
ubecool454
Veteran
I cqn live with that as long as Mitchell or Sheppard can put Okoye on the bench where he belongs.
Texas T
Veteran
Schobel said he's not playing this year-retirement with beer!!
painekiller
All Pro
He was undrafted due to a shoulder injury that was uncovered at the combine. His play had him graded as a 4th or 5th rounder, and that was only due to questions of his size.
ubecool454
Veteran
Yeah I saw that after I posted but he may be doing his Brett Farve impression. It's all good anyway because most big name free agent vets we bring in here always screw us around.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
Since the Pats are thin at D-Line and need another fattie, maybe we could package Okam with something to get Maroney from them.
Not a superstar, but he could fit in nicely.
Not completely sold yet. Other players get drafted with serious injuries. Other players have size issues. I just dont see this guy as an NFL DT.
He's bigger than Okoye, Mitchell is around 295/300, Sheppard is said to be 289/290, true your typical DT is a 320 lb. run stopper but most of these guys are limited at what they can do, clog the middle, ok, rush the passer,not often, Sheppard fits the mold of smallish DT's that can get in the backfield and cause havoc, you really need to do your homework on Sheppard if you think he's a guy thats just lucky to be here, his jr. year he was mention amongst the best in the nation, that sucess caused every team he faced to double-team him, yet he still was an all SEC player his senior year, if you have time compare his college career stats and level of week to week competition with Mitchell and get back wit me.
Do my homework?
Get off of Sheppard's junk. Look at the facts. In the 2010 draft there were 24 DTs drafted, according to NFLDRAFTSCOUT on CBS.com. Sheppard was not among that group. That means, at best, NFL GMs thought him to be at best the 25th best DT in the draft.
Get back wit you? I was far from thrilled with the Mitchell pick, but I would rather have him than Sheppard. The draft is not all about college production. It is about taking the best players for the next level, the NFL. Hell, the runningback with the most career yards in NCAA history did not make a team last year (Nate Kmic). The guy who had that previously (Danny Woodhead) went undrafted, and has been on the Jets PS for the last couple seasons.
Mitchell is faster, quicker, stronger and more explosive. He has higher upside when you consider he has only played the position for a handful of years.
Brandon420tx
Flounder
5
4 active 1 inactive on gameday
The extra is there to rotate during practice/injury insurance
4 active 1 inactive on gameday
The extra is there to rotate during practice/injury insurance
Your'e just like all of us on this site, arm-chair GMs,... you probaly didn't like the Mario Williams or Andre Williams pick, and those guys that you mentioned breaking all those records probaly played in a grapefruit conference, and you meant get off Sheppards JOCK not JUNK, besides i'm a Texans fan ,you're a Texans fan, i like Mitchell and Sheppard as a tandem, time for a change, remember ,......what you eat don't make me $#!&6.
Brandon420tx
Flounder
Andre Williams?
Calm down buddy I don't think anyone is trying to attack you
Calm down buddy I don't think anyone is trying to attack you
Brandon420tx
Flounder
Nope, I meant junk. I was going to say dick, but did not feel like it.
Yes, I am an arm-chair GM. I like watching college football and thinking about the players, thinking about their potential at the next level.
Ron Dayne has the most yards in FBS history. He played in the Big 10, and is now out of the NFL (I believe), and was never considered a good starting back. There are QBs that have great college stats that dont amount to anything in the pros. Guys win Heismans and dont get drafted. So I am not surprised with Sheppard.
But you are right, we are both Texans fans. I just have a problem wrapping my head around your obsession with one player.
pbat488
gig 'em
That's not really fair to compare. Kmic was at a Division III school while Woodhead was in D-2.
Sheppard played in the best college football conference in the country against some of the best competition week in and week out.
I went ahead and posted the Ron Dayne example, as you and newtexan are right, it was not exactly apples to apples.
It was why I switched it out. And to be fair, I never called you a dick.
Hey, he is a Texan. I will root for him until he is off the team.
Newtexan, it's not like posters here haven't discussed Sheppard!
http://www.texanstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72773&page=5
And this was my take:
I've watched 8 or 9 games that Sheppard played in, and I don't understand why he wasn't drafted.
Sure, he was very inconsistent.
He could look really, really good, and then turn to bad, very bad.
He played patsies a bit too much in the pass rush.
But the guy is versatile.
He played NT, DT, DE in the 4-man front.
He also played NT and end in the 3-man front.
I imagine his techniques are not polished having to play at so many different positions.
He has a decent chance of making the team.
If he shows too well in the Pre-season, we might not be able to stash him on the PS.
http://www.texanstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72773&page=5
And this was my take:
I've watched 8 or 9 games that Sheppard played in, and I don't understand why he wasn't drafted.
Sure, he was very inconsistent.
He could look really, really good, and then turn to bad, very bad.
He played patsies a bit too much in the pass rush.
But the guy is versatile.
He played NT, DT, DE in the 4-man front.
He also played NT and end in the 3-man front.
I imagine his techniques are not polished having to play at so many different positions.
He has a decent chance of making the team.
If he shows too well in the Pre-season, we might not be able to stash him on the PS.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
The bottom line is that Sheppard is a Texan and we all want him to have a HOF career as a Texan. We all should what ALL our Texans to have HOF careers as Texans. 
But he is an UDFA and he's got a long way to go.
But he is an UDFA and he's got a long way to go.
Long way to go ?, you talk as though the Texans are stud- stacked at the DT. position, heck if he don't make the DT rotation he can always go back to DE,...Texans just brought a guy in that haven't played a full season in 4 yrs. at least Shep knows the playbook, getting too late in the season for experiments.
Are you his brother or something? You act like he is a pro-bowler already. Dude was not drafted for a reason. Yeah, he's got a long way to go. He looks good on some plays, but is way too inconsistent at this point.
Which is probably why he came here.
Lets just look at it this way. Say, 5 players make it on the 53 man roster, 4 on the active. The players in contention are Amobi Okoye (lock), Shaun Cody (lock), Earl Mitchell (lock), Frank Okam (bubble), DelJuan Robinson (bubble), Malcolm Sheppard (bubble), and Mitch Unrein (bubble).
Already, 3 of the 5 spots are taken. That leaves 4 guys competing for 2 spots. We have to assume that either Okam or Robinson makes the team as the backup to Cody. Right now, my money is on Robinson taking the spot. Okam has the size, but is too lethargic for the attacking style Bush utilizes. Robinson gets the 4th spot.
4 down, one to go. The contenders are Okam, Sheppard, and Unrein. Each of these players have their pluses and minuses.
Frank Okam is a 3rd year DT out of Texas. Big (6'5", 346 lbs), strong (32 reps at his combine) and intelligent, with a few years to know the playbook, he could be the best run stopper on the team, if only he would obtain that killer mentality that guys like Pollard and Cushing have. Unfortunately, those things are not teachable. You either have them or you dont. Occasionally a player will "ignite", but I am not holding out hope. Also, out of the 3, he is the slowest and the worst fit for the D.
Malcolm Sheppard is a UDFA out of Arkansas. A DT/DE tweener (6'2" 280 lbs), he played in the SEC and was very productive. His best attributes are his suddenness and his work ethic. He impressed the coaching staff during camp.
Mitch Unrein is a UDFA out of Wyoming. Another DT/DE tweener (6'4" 300 lbs), Unrein actually played DE in college and packed on 20 odd pounds to make the conversion to DT. He is a quick, penetrating tackle, much like Mitchell and Sheppard.
At this point, I dont know who I pick here. Okam is not a good fit, but he knows the system, knows the NFL game, and has the size to be a nightmare. Sheppard and Unrein have PS eligibility (which may actually hurt their odds of making the 53), and have very similar skill sets. Sheppard had 33 tackles (11 for a loss) and 2.5 sacks. Unrein had 41 tackles (6 for a loss) and 4 sacks. Each had 4 QB hurries, and Unrein had a safety. I give Sheppard a small edge in terms of production, but I have to give Unrein an edge in raw athleticism. Right now, its a toss up. Those next 3 pre-season games are very important.
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I agree with pretty much most of this, but I am not sure about Robinson. It seems like the coaches are not talking about Robinson or Okam. I know Okam played a bunch Saturday, did Robinson?
TimeKiller
Guest
I think it's possible, especially in the wake of Bulman's injury to carry Sheppard on the team. He does look like he has some skill and since we loves our DE/DT tweeeners I say let him learn from A-Smith and emulate his game as best he can.
Mario-Smith-Barwin-Okoye-Mitchell-Cody-Robinson/Okam-Sheppard
Mario and Barwin would be the only true DE's. Smith is a tweener, as is Sheppard (who is effectively replacing Bulman, another tweener). Okoye, Mitchell rotate. Cody, Robinson/Okam rotate. I believe every type of DL skill set can be found in that rotation which goes solidly 8 deep with talent. Not bad, lots ability to maximize different skills at different times. Smith would be a run down DE/pass down DT. Mario lion shares his reps, Barwin fits in where he can. Smith, Okoye, Mitchell occupy DT reps against the pass. Cody, Okam/Robinson occupy run down DT reps next to Okoye. See? It's possible AND quite plausible, if I say so myself.
Mario-Smith-Barwin-Okoye-Mitchell-Cody-Robinson/Okam-Sheppard
Mario and Barwin would be the only true DE's. Smith is a tweener, as is Sheppard (who is effectively replacing Bulman, another tweener). Okoye, Mitchell rotate. Cody, Robinson/Okam rotate. I believe every type of DL skill set can be found in that rotation which goes solidly 8 deep with talent. Not bad, lots ability to maximize different skills at different times. Smith would be a run down DE/pass down DT. Mario lion shares his reps, Barwin fits in where he can. Smith, Okoye, Mitchell occupy DT reps against the pass. Cody, Okam/Robinson occupy run down DT reps next to Okoye. See? It's possible AND quite plausible, if I say so myself.