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Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Frank Okam 370 Pounds.............

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
...... and pounding everything in sight!


Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Frank Okam pushing for extensive playing time

TAMPA — In the Bucs' defensive scheme, the nose tackle isn't usually thought of as a penetrator or pass rusher.

But Frank Okam is putting his own spin on the position, making a push for extensive playing time and, perhaps, a starting job. After Okam consistently penetrated the Dolphins' front in Saturday's preseason game and leveled RB Reggie Bush in a goal-line stop, Bucs coach Raheem Morris said Okam's impact has been undeniable.

"Okam is a space eater, a penetrator, a problem," Morris said.

Okam is listed at 350 pounds, but Morris has a different stance.

"He's 370 pounds, and I'm proud of it," Morris said. "He is huge. He called up after the lockout and said. … 'I'm 370.' I said, 'We've got to get him down!' Then he showed up and he just looked big and square. We got him going, and I said, 'Let's just keep him right there.' I don't know what weight that is, but whatever it is, he's playing at a high level and with great energy."

With last season's starter, Roy Miller, still out with a knee injury, and Brian Price playing a limited role coming off a pelvis injury, Okam has taken advantage of his opportunity. The former Houston draft pick might or might not start, Morris said, but he has carved out a much bigger role.

"He's unique," Morris said. " … He's impressive, so you do want to get him more snaps. I'm less concerned about who (starts). I'm just happy we have those problems."
As it might turn out, the Texans "failed experiment" could have SOLELY been on the shoulders of the defensive coaching staff................they probably had him on celery sticks and broccoli sprouts to keep his weight down. :kubepalm::wadepalm:
 

Dutchrudder

Hall of Fame
...... and pounding everything in sight!


Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Frank Okam pushing for extensive playing time



As it might turn out, the Texans "failed experiment" could have SOLELY been on the shoulders of the defensive coaching staff................they probably had him on celery sticks and broccoli sprouts to keep his weight down. :kubepalm::wadepalm:
Another square peg in a round hole type of issue. I don't care how much weight he puts on, as long as he produces. If he turns out to be successful there, then we only have the coaching staff to blame. We have needed a big body in the middle for years, but have never gotten it for whatever reason. Oh well, good luck to Frank and his new team, except when he plays us.
 

fiasco west

All Pro
Course it was on the coaching staff, they didn't know how to utilize players. Use their strengths and what not. I bet Okoye plays much better in Chicago too. At least now we have a real defensive staff.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
I just don't see this player holding up at that weight for long. He had his chance and then some to succeed in Houston. This one is not on the coaches.
 

Trap_Star

SiteContributor
he's just soft...for as big as he was here, he would still get pushed around like if he was half that weight.
 

ATXtexanfan

Hall of Fame
Course it was on the coaching staff, they didn't know how to utilize players. Use their strengths and what not. I bet Okoye plays much better in Chicago too. At least now we have a real defensive staff.
totally agree, our former staff seemed to destroy young talent
 

El Tejano

Hall of Fame
Another square peg in a round hole type of issue. I don't care how much weight he puts on, as long as he produces. If he turns out to be successful there, then we only have the coaching staff to blame. We have needed a big body in the middle for years, but have never gotten it for whatever reason. Oh well, good luck to Frank and his new team, except when he plays us.
And that seems to always be the case with guys we let go ie..Jason Babin, and that corner at Green Bay.
 

TheCD

Rookie
And that seems to always be the case with guys we let go ie..Jason Babin, and that corner at Green Bay.
It seems to me (and correct me if I'm wrong here) that our previous staffs (is that the right word?) have had a rigid idea in mind of what they wanted their defense to do. They would draft guys they thought would fit (a la a quick, undersized DE in Okoye) and force him to do certain things regardless of whether he was good at them or better at doing something else. Coaching can develop great talent, but not if you're forcing to do something that is unnatural to them or that they will just flat-out never be good at (such as if Kubiak tried to tell Matt to throw 40+ yard passes on every drive, that would be painful).

I think the difference is that Wade knows what he wants to do with his defense, but in the meantime will put all the players he has in a position to succeed and slowly work towards his goal. This is readily apparent by their statements of starting out slow and easy, and only introducing new plays/concepts after they've mastered what they currently are working on.
 

Dutchrudder

Hall of Fame
It seems to me (and correct me if I'm wrong here) that our previous staffs (is that the right word?) have had a rigid idea in mind of what they wanted their defense to do. They would draft guys they thought would fit (a la a quick, undersized DE in Okoye) and force him to do certain things regardless of whether he was good at them or better at doing something else. Coaching can develop great talent, but not if you're forcing to do something that is unnatural to them or that they will just flat-out never be good at (such as if Kubiak tried to tell Matt to throw 40+ yard passes on every drive, that would be painful).

I think the difference is that Wade knows what he wants to do with his defense, but in the meantime will put all the players he has in a position to succeed and slowly work towards his goal. This is readily apparent by their statements of starting out slow and easy, and only introducing new plays/concepts after they've mastered what they currently are working on.
I agree, it seems like our previous DC's were trying to make the players fit their scheme, rather than the scheme fit the players. Wade appears to be doing some of that too (Mario to OLB), but he is playing some guys to their strengths, like moving Cushing to ILB, Barwin to OLB, leaving Smith at DE. I do wonder what Wade would be doing with Okam if he were still here. Okam would be interesting as a NT in this 1-gap system. I would think he could beat out Cody for the backup spot.
 

TheCD

Rookie
I agree, it seems like our previous DC's were trying to make the players fit their scheme, rather than the scheme fit the players. Wade appears to be doing some of that too (Mario to OLB), but he is playing some guys to their strengths, like moving Cushing to ILB, Barwin to OLB, leaving Smith at DE. I do wonder what Wade would be doing with Okam if he were still here. Okam would be interesting as a NT in this 1-gap system. I would think he could beat out Cody for the backup spot.
I really do think that if Brooks were NFL-ready right now (meaning able to play the run as well as Mario) that we would have strongly considered Mario at DE. I would be in favor of that along with kicking Antonio inside to fit that one-gapping DT Wade has been preaching. As much as Smith would be against it at first, I think he'd realize (as with SF) how much easier pass rushing the interior line would be than the exterior with his abilities. Mario is Mario and he should be able to play both the run and pass regardless of his position.

That being said, I think there's a "bigger picture" that Wade has in mind that we're just not seeing yet. I think he's thinking long-term Mario at OLB is better/more valuable (at least for this season) than at DE. Maybe it's solely because we're lacking another well-rounded candidate at WLB, maybe it's because Wade knows more about his abilities than we do.
 

Dutchrudder

Hall of Fame
I really do think that if Brooks were NFL-ready right now (meaning able to play the run as well as Mario) that we would have strongly considered Mario at DE. I would be in favor of that along with kicking Antonio inside to fit that one-gapping DT Wade has been preaching. As much as Smith would be against it at first, I think he'd realize (as with SF) how much easier pass rushing the interior line would be than the exterior with his abilities. Mario is Mario and he should be able to play both the run and pass regardless of his position.

That being said, I think there's a "bigger picture" that Wade has in mind that we're just not seeing yet. I think he's thinking long-term Mario at OLB is better/more valuable (at least for this season) than at DE. Maybe it's solely because we're lacking another well-rounded candidate at WLB, maybe it's because Wade knows more about his abilities than we do.
I can agree with that in general as I trust Wade saying that we have only seen 50% of the defense. I wish there were 3 DE spots available for Smith, Watt and Mario because I think that's where all of them belong, but since there are only two, Mario gets to be the defacto 'third DE' as an OLB. It might work out, but I don't think we will be getting the most out of him there. Combine that with the alternative of starting a rookie on the strong side, and you get what we have now. It's not ideal, but I think it will get the job done, I just wish we had a natural OLB in there instead of Mario.

For the future though, I don't think Mario will be an OLB after this year. I think it's a temporary move for him and that he will go back to DE next year with or without the Texans.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
I love it. After three years here the almost universal opinion was Okam was a bust and needed to be cut. Heck after two, many wanted him cut. Now he is an example of the coaching staff not being able to assess talent?

C'mon - dude in 5 years has 17 total tackles (no other stats of any kind). This is an example of another team taking a gamble rather than a failure by the Texans.
 

DexmanC

Hall of Fame
We kept the defensive line coach.
The same D-line coach who had a rep as one of the best in the NFL, and
he coached with Wade back in the day. It's gonna take about 12 games
before I decide if this staff is good, or the old staff was a load of gobbage.

5-7 is hypnotizing me with the monotony.
 

jtexas

Waterboy
It seems to me (and correct me if I'm wrong here) that our previous staffs (is that the right word?) have had a rigid idea in mind of what they wanted their defense to do. They would draft guys they thought would fit (a la a quick, undersized DE in Okoye) and force him to do certain things regardless of whether he was good at them or better at doing something else. Coaching can develop great talent, but not if you're forcing to do something that is unnatural to them or that they will just flat-out never be good at (such as if Kubiak tried to tell Matt to throw 40+ yard passes on every drive, that would be painful).
You have a good point, but this is completely opposite of what we are doing on defense. Half the defensive unit is sized to play the 4-3. We have Mario losing weight, Cody and Bennett trying to gain, Cushing and Ryans both undersized run stoppers. Everyone, but the corners and Manning are playing a new position (assignment wise). Wade deserves coach of the decade if this works. It's about as unnatural as it gets.
 

fiasco west

All Pro
We kept the defensive line coach.
Yes I know that.

But good coaching is about putting players in the right position to succeed. The Dline coach ain't calling the shots, he's just teaching techniques and what not. He does not have a bigger impact than the DC.
 

TheCD

Rookie
You have a good point, but this is completely opposite of what we are doing on defense. Half the defensive unit is sized to play the 4-3. We have Mario losing weight, Cody and Bennett trying to gain, Cushing and Ryans both undersized run stoppers. Everyone, but the corners and Manning are playing a new position (assignment wise). Wade deserves coach of the decade if this works. It's about as unnatural as it gets.
It's true our guys fit a 4-3 better, but if you look at the videos posted with Reggie Herring discussing the LB duties in another thread, he basically states that this defense can be called a 3-4 or a 5-2, it doesn't really matter. The key seems to be that they want strong pass rushers on the edge at OLB, and they have the added benefit of Mario being strong at playing the run as well.

And again, we're moving back to a 4-2-5 in nickel situations (in otherwords, the entirety of Colts games), so things will seem more familiar there. I don't think we're as far off as you think we are. I think we've got a pretty good chance to be around the 16-18th ranked defense in points allowed this year.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
You have a good point, but this is completely opposite of what we are doing on defense. Half the defensive unit is sized to play the 4-3. We have Mario losing weight, Cody and Bennett trying to gain, Cushing and Ryans both undersized run stoppers. Everyone, but the corners and Manning are playing a new position (assignment wise). Wade deserves coach of the decade if this works. It's about as unnatural as it gets.
WTF are you talking about? Other than Mario nobody is unusual. Cushing undersized? You lost it right there. 259 lbs is not undersized. You might find a couple ILB's heavier but they will be the exceptions rather than the norm.
 

jtexas

Waterboy
WTF are you talking about? Other than Mario nobody is unusual. Cushing undersized? You lost it right there. 259 lbs is not undersized. You might find a couple ILB's heavier but they will be the exceptions rather than the norm.
That was his weight coming into the league. He says he only lost 10lbs this off-season, which would put him at 249, but the guy looks considerably smaller. That may be an appropriate size for an inside LBer, but my point is that it's unnatural to him to play smaller. You always hear about guys losing or gaining to make them faster, stronger, more durable, but in the end they always go back to what go them here.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
That was his weight coming into the league. He says he only lost 10lbs this off-season, which would put him at 249, but the guy looks considerably smaller. That may be an appropriate size for an inside LBer, but my point is that it's unnatural to him to play smaller. You always hear about guys losing or gaining to make them faster, stronger, more durable, but in the end they always go back to what go them here.
Whatever. Your assertion was our players were sized to play 4-3 not 3-4 and it is absurd. Cody goes 310 lbs. That isn't sized for a 4-3 more than a 3-4. Assuming 249 lbs (which I have seen no support for) Cushing is plenty big to play 3-4 ILB - ask 250 lb Ray Lewis. Smith and Watt are built to be 3-4 DE's and Barwin was projected by many as a 3-4 OLB during the draft. Mario is the only unusual person we have.
 

jtexas

Waterboy
Whatever. Your assertion was our players were sized to play 4-3 not 3-4 and it is absurd. Cody goes 310 lbs. That isn't sized for a 4-3 more than a 3-4. Assuming 249 lbs (which I have seen no support for) Cushing is plenty big to play 3-4 ILB - ask 250 lb Ray Lewis. Smith and Watt are built to be 3-4 DE's and Barwin was projected by many as a 3-4 OLB during the draft. Mario is the only unusual person we have.
Woah there tonto, slow your aggression. I will clarify my point. It is a fact that everyone on our starting defense, but J.J. Watt and Barwin, were drafted and best suited to play the 4-3. IMHO, weight and body changes that differ from a players "natural" or drafted size are rarely effective.

Some stats of the best DTs in 3-4 systems -
Haloti Ngata - 340lbs
B.J. Raji - 337lbs
Paul Soliai - 344lbs
Vince Wilfork - 325lbs
Sione Pouha - 325lbs
Casey Hampton - 325lbs
Dan Williams - 325lbs

Shaun Cody is a backup at best and is about 20lbs lighter (listed at 306lbs), than the average "best" DTs.

"Cushing, who has lost 10 pounds to help his quickness, won’t play in Monday night’s preseason opener against the New York Jets. - John McClain 8/10/11"
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-08-10/houston-texans-training-camp-brian-cushing-progresses-slowly#ixzz1Wr1FcfZP

My whole point was to give Wade Phillips credit for what he has started to accomplish with this squad, not to bash the defense.
 

DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
I love it. After three years here the almost universal opinion was Okam was a bust and needed to be cut. Heck after two, many wanted him cut. Now he is an example of the coaching staff not being able to assess talent?

C'mon - dude in 5 years has 17 total tackles (no other stats of any kind). This is an example of another team taking a gamble rather than a failure by the Texans.
Coming out of college, wasn't the knock on Okam that he was lazy and didn't give it 100% all the time? Maybe getting cut by the Texans was an eye opener to him. Giving 100% playing in the NFL beats the heck out of getting a job in the real world.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Coming out of college, wasn't the knock on Okam that he was lazy and didn't give it 100% all the time? Maybe getting cut by the Texans was an eye opener to him. Giving 100% playing in the NFL beats the heck out of getting a job in the real world.
He took one look at what Obama's done with medicine, and decided it's not for him anymore!
 
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