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Our new look ILB position moving forward.

Tailgate

Fall of Hame
Demeco gone. Cushing out. Here is our new unit for the rest of 2012:

Tim Dobbins
Bradie James
Mister Alexander
Darryl Sharpton

Can this unit be enough come January? Whats the status on Sharpton? Can we expect him to make an impact post injury? Where can we find an upgrade, if possible?
 

MojoMan

Hall of Fame
Demeco gone. Cushing out. Here is our new unit for the rest of 2012:

Tim Dobbins
Bradie James
Mister Alexander
Darryl Sharpton

Can this unit be enough come January? Whats the status on Sharpton? Can we expect him to make an impact post injury? Where can we find an upgrade, if possible?
Might make sense to add another reasonably high draft pick at ILB this year.
 

fiasco west

All Pro
Might make sense to add another reasonably high draft pick at ILB this year.
Yeah. Could be a first round pick.

Either that or RG-RT depending on how those young guys continue to look. I'd put ILB first priority though, even before the injury because James hasn't been that good IMO.
 

rmartin65

Phil Kessel: Nice Guy. Tries Hard.
Might make sense to add another reasonably high draft pick at ILB this year.
A lot of us wanted one this past draft.

I think ILB becomes a weakpoint in the D. I am comfortable with Dobbins, but that is it out of that group. James, maybe. But the other guys are depth guys, and if they are seeing regular playing time, we are in trouble. Sharpton is still coming off an injury, and I was never high on him to begin with. Alexander is young and has potential, but he is still far from ready.

That said, I think Wade will cook up some stuff to lessen the weakness. But in my opinion the two weakest positions on the D are ILB and NT. Right up the gut. That is a problem.
 

MojoMan

Hall of Fame
Yeah. Could be a first round pick.

Either that or RG-RT depending on how those young guys continue to look. I'd put ILB first priority though, even before the injury because James hasn't been that good IMO.
A third or fourth rounder would probably do it. Cushing will return.

In the first I would love to see a really good nose tackle. Not that our current guys are terrible at that spot, but the Texans really have no glaring weaknesses at this point that demand a first round pick, and the NT position may well be the weakest position on the team.
 

Errant Hothy

Hypermediocrity
Cushing is our TE and RB coverage guy as well. This is going to hurt us in the passing game a lot.
When the D is in dime, which has been a bunch this year, Glover covers the TE usually.

Rotate the three; James, Dobbins and M. Alexander; and go with 3 linemen (Watt, the DT rotation, Smith), 3 backers (Brooks, Barwin and the ILB shuffle) and 5 dbs (KJ, JJo, Quin, Manning and Nolan/Ball).
 

fiasco west

All Pro
A third or fourth rounder would probably do it. Cushing will return.

In the first I would love to see a really good nose tackle. Not that our current guys are terrible at that spot, but the Texans really have no glaring weaknesses at this point that demand a first round pick, and the NT position may well be the weakest position on the team.
He will return but with major injuries like this you always have to ask if his performance will remain the same.

Although I wouldn't argue with a NT at all.
 

gtexan02

Working?
A third or fourth rounder would probably do it. Cushing will return.

In the first I would love to see a really good nose tackle. Not that our current guys are terrible at that spot, but the Texans really have no glaring weaknesses at this point that demand a first round pick, and the NT position may well be the weakest position on the team.
This is a good point. Additionally, we can only have one ILB on the field in our nickel and dime packages, so whoever is the #2 ILB is not an everydown player.

The only issue for me here is that ILB has consistently been one of the easiest positions to draft. Very few 1st round ILBs turn out to be busts. DTs, on the other hand, are second only to QBs in bust potential. The Texans have not been good at drafting interior lineman.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
A lot of us wanted one this past draft.

I think ILB becomes a weakpoint in the D. I am comfortable with Dobbins, but that is it out of that group. James, maybe. But the other guys are depth guys, and if they are seeing regular playing time, we are in trouble. Sharpton is still coming off an injury, and I was never high on him to begin with. Alexander is young and has potential, but he is still far from ready.

That said, I think Wade will cook up some stuff to lessen the weakness. But in my opinion the two weakest positions on the D are ILB and NT. Right up the gut. That is a problem.
I am looking at Kevin Minter LSU
if there in second. Would still take Andrew Jackson in 5th. Minter had 20 tackles & two sacks in losing to Florida. He cramped and left game for 20 minutes and could have been the difference. I also think your evaluation of current linebackers is correct.
 

rmartin65

Phil Kessel: Nice Guy. Tries Hard.
I am looking at Kevin Minter LSU
if there in second. Would still take Andrew Jackson in 5th. Minter had 20 tackles & two sacks in losing to Florida. He cramped and left game for 20 minutes and could have been the difference. I also think your evaluation of current linebackers is correct.
Minter is a beast. I hate LSU, but Minter is fun to watch. Te'o is definitely the cream of the crop, but he should be gone before the Texans pick. Minter may be as well, but there is a shot.

As for Jackson, if he is not projected to go in the top couple rounds, then he should stay in school. He is only a junior, he has no reason to go. If he does declare, I think I would take him in the 3rd. He is definitely not going to be an ILB that can cover, but down around the LOS I think he could be one of the best.
 
Once we get Demps back I wouldn't mind seeing extra safeties (and no ILBs) on the field for the dime package assuming the distance is long enough.

Other than that, Dobbins is going to make his fair share of plays and I expect to see quite a bit of blitzing from our ILBs, both against the run and pass to compensate.
 

ItsMyFault

It's on me.
I'll have to see it on the field. Nobody's going to replace Cushing, but I hope the defense steps up as a group to play even better than have been.
 

JVL713

Practice Squad
We drafted a LB last year. Not an ILB, granted, but if ILB does become an issue, should we try to get one of either Mercilus, Barwin, or Reed to play inside and allow the other two to play outside? None of the above are lacking in size or athletic ability.
 

DX-TEX

#TomSavageDontCare
Time for our OLB's to step up their game! Barwin, Reed, Mercilous....Im looking at you....
 

LikeMike

Veteran
The question is: are we comfortable with only 4 ILBs including Sharpton who looks to be a long way to being ready again? If not, do we pick up a player from the street, do we trade for one, or do we make one of our OLBs into an ILB? Before the season there was some talk about Reed going inside on some plays...
 

b0ng

Bad Hombre
I am holding out hope that Sharpton can come back and be at least decent. Other than that we are probably going to be even weaker against short/intermediate passes going to TE's and slot guys.
 

SAMURAITEXAN

All Pro
The question is: are we comfortable with only 4 ILBs including Sharpton who looks to be a long way to being ready again? If not, do we pick up a player from the street, do we trade for one, or do we make one of our OLBs into an ILB? Before the season there was some talk about Reed going inside on some plays...
Is this Reed talk thing by fans, Media or coaching staff? Reed to Mo and OLB will be Braman?
 

rmartin65

Phil Kessel: Nice Guy. Tries Hard.
OLBs and ILBs have completely different skill sets. Reed, Barwin, Braman and Mericlus are not ILBs, their skill sets are not conducive to the position. Maybe, maybe Wade can cook something up, but I am not counting on it.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Demeco gone. Cushing out. Here is our new unit for the rest of 2012:

Tim Dobbins
Bradie James
Mister Alexander
Darryl Sharpton

Can this unit be enough come January? Whats the status on Sharpton? Can we expect him to make an impact post injury? Where can we find an upgrade, if possible?
If you're talking about January, I'm assuming you mean before the draft, as in Play-offs.

We drafted Merci in the first, & Barwin is underperforming there, if you ask me. It's time for Mercilus to step up & be what we drafted him to be. Put him in at WOLB, move Barwin to SOLB, where he's supposed to be. Move Reed inside to Mo, Leave Bradie James at Mike & groom Sharpton for that position when he returns.

Shouldn't be too big of a transition for Reed & imo he's better than Dobbins & Alexander.
 

Tailgate

Fall of Hame
If you're talking about January, I'm assuming you mean before the draft, as in Play-offs.

We drafted Merci in the first, & Barwin is underperforming there, if you ask me. It's time for Mercilus to step up & be what we drafted him to be. Put him in at WOLB, move Barwin to SOLB, where he's supposed to be. Move Reed inside to Mo, Leave Bradie James at Mike & groom Sharpton for that position when he returns.

Shouldn't be too big of a transition for Reed & imo he's better than Dobbins & Alexander.
Very few guys would I want figuring out how to best replace Cush than Phillips.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Very few guys would I want figuring out how to best replace Cush than Phillips.
I hear you. I'm just "hoping" based on who/what I believe to be play-makers & putting the most play-makers on the field as possible. So far, Alexander & Dobbins are role players. Reed is a play-maker, so is Barwin though we've only seen flashes (yesterday only) this year. Merci was drafted in the first round, so the expectation is that he is/will be a play-maker.
 

wolf123

Rookie
I would put Reed at MLB in nickle and dime situations because he can cover, run and blitz well. That allows Barwin and Mercilous to rush from the edged and you can still blitz Reed up the middle. That's a hell of a 5 man rush to stop...:splits:
 

LikeMike

Veteran
I may be wrong, but I think I´ve read a Wade quote after the draft, that they will find ways to put Barwin, Reed and Mercilus on the field at the same time. And if I remember correctly, he was specifically calling Reed as an ILB a possiblity. Of course only in obvious passing situations...

But the question remains: are we condident that our 4 ILBs will suffice, or will we try to find another ILB somewhere?
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
The question is: are we comfortable with only 4 ILBs including Sharpton who looks to be a long way to being ready again? If not, do we pick up a player from the street, do we trade for one, or do we make one of our OLBs into an ILB? Before the season there was some talk about Reed going inside on some plays...
Not sure we have any trade bait we could or should give up. Probably have to be a trade of a pick for a back up. I am not into panic mode yet. KJ and Joseph should hold down their guys with safeties maybe playing more shallow. I want to see our offense cranking to keep our defense off field even more & continue the high point total to allow if more scoring by opponent.
 

coon

Waterboy
If you look at the combine results, Braman, Reed, Barwin, and Mercilus all ran around 4.6 40 with a 4.2 20 yard shuttle. I would be most comfortable shifting Braman to the middle, he seems to looks the most athletic. All seem to be better options than Bradie James
 
IIRC Jesse Nading got some time at ILB during training camp when Cush missed some time. He did not look bad. Dobbins is the next man up, Nading should be in the rotation and we wait a to hear on Sharpton.

As for Draft picks I want to add Shayne Skov into the conversation. I love Te'o but he is top 10 so he is long gone, Minter also looks like a solid 2nd round option for this team.

In Wade I trust!
 

GP

Go Texans!
IIRC Jesse Nading got some time at ILB during training camp when Cush missed some time. He did not look bad. Dobbins is the next man up, Nading should be in the rotation and we wait a to hear on Sharpton.

As for Draft picks I want to add Shayne Skov into the conversation. I love Te'o but he is top 10 so he is long gone, Minter also looks like a solid 2nd round option for this team.

In Wade I trust!
If there is an ILB in 2013 that is worth it, I'd sell our draft for the guy. But he has to be THE guy who is the next big thing. No wiggle room, he has to be the business or I don't do it.

I'd then pretend Cushing will never play another down for us, and take the next new Cushing in the draft class and be done with it. Call it a draft for 2013. Wrap it up, pack up the laptops early and leave New York feeling like a million bucks. Then use free agency to fill gaps. Barwin is not a $$$ problem because he won't be brought back, which should help free up some cap space for FA.
 

76Texan

Hall of Fame
IIRC Jesse Nading got some time at ILB during training camp when Cush missed some time. He did not look bad. Dobbins is the next man up, Nading should be in the rotation and we wait a to hear on Sharpton.

As for Draft picks I want to add Shayne Skov into the conversation. I love Te'o but he is top 10 so he is long gone, Minter also looks like a solid 2nd round option for this team.

In Wade I trust!
Nading is like a cat with nine lives! :boogie:
 

Premier

Rookie
wasnt cushing an olb that wade converted.. different responsibilities but i look at guys like mercilus and think hes way too athletic not to be able to drop into coverage or go after te's and backs.. his skillset is probably best utilized getting after the qb but this is a special situation here.. obviously you dont replace the iq and intensity cushing brings...
 

Errant Hothy

Hypermediocrity
wasnt cushing an olb that wade converted.. different responsibilities but i look at guys like mercilus and think hes way too athletic not to be able to drop into coverage or go after te's and backs.. his skillset is probably best utilized getting after the qb but this is a special situation here.. obviously you dont replace the iq and intensity cushing brings...
He was an OLB in a 43 who made the move to ILB in a 34, which is a bit differenent than moving 34 OLB inside to become a 34 ILB.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
He was an OLB in a 43 who made the move to ILB in a 34, which is a bit differenent than moving 34 OLB inside to become a 34 ILB.
It is a bit different but sometimes the difference gets exaggerated. Jamie Sharper was a 4-3 OLB to get his SB ring with Baltimore and then became an excellent 3-4 ILB in Houston. Derrick Johnson played 4-3 OLB to begin with and now plays 3-4 ILB.
 

Errant Hothy

Hypermediocrity
It is a bit different but sometimes the difference gets exaggerated. Jamie Sharper was a 4-3 OLB to get his SB ring with Baltimore and then became an excellent 3-4 ILB in Houston. Derrick Johnson played 4-3 OLB to begin with and now plays 3-4 ILB.
Both, like Cushing, moved from an 43 outstide to inside in a 34 and all did well. Which I posted was possible, and often done with good results.

I cannot recall any 34 OLB moving in to play 34 ILB or 43 MLB. Nor can I remember anybody making the move in the other direction.
 

76Texan

Hall of Fame
Wade had moved his own guys back and forth between ILB and OLB before: Mike Croel and Michael Brooks when he was with the Broncos, for example.

Croel was drafted by Wade and played at RILB in first season before moving to LOLB.
Brooks played ROLB for several years but moved to RILB in 1992.

Also, in Wade's last season with the Broncos (94), he converted the defense to a 4-3; Croel was moved back to SAM.
 

Errant Hothy

Hypermediocrity
Wade had moved his own guys back and forth between ILB and OLB before: Mike Croel and Michael Brooks when he was with the Broncos, for example.
Did not know that. Maybe the idea of moving somebody like Reed inside isn't as far fetched as I first thought. I wonder how Wade feels about Mercilus at this time?
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
The Steelers James Farrior was a OLB and he moved inside. Lawrence Timmons started as an OLB also.
 

HOU-TEX

Ah, Football!
The Steelers James Farrior was a OLB and he moved inside. Lawrence Timmons started as an OLB also.
I'd have to guess these transitions weren't made mid-season. I think all the Reed, Mercilus, etc to ILB talk is just that...talk. I don't think we could ask a rookie or a 2nd year player still transitioning to 3-4 OLB to jump right in and perform at a high level as ILBs

FYI, just piggy-backin your post
 

76Texan

Hall of Fame
Did not know that. Maybe the idea of moving somebody like Reed inside isn't as far fetched as I first thought. I wonder how Wade feels about Mercilus at this time?
I like to get him on the field, but I think he's a bit tight in the hip to handle the change of direction at the ILB position (4.53 in the shuttle and 7.17 in the 3-cone.)

At the MO I think he can get by with his good initial burst to jump on the RB out of the backfield (and his long arms can help him from missing too many tackles), but as the lone LB in the nickel and dime, it can get tough.
 

b0ng

Bad Hombre
I may be wrong, but I think I´ve read a Wade quote after the draft, that they will find ways to put Barwin, Reed and Mercilus on the field at the same time. And if I remember correctly, he was specifically calling Reed as an ILB a possiblity. Of course only in obvious passing situations...

But the question remains: are we condident that our 4 ILBs will suffice, or will we try to find another ILB somewhere?
At this point in time though, the talks about Reed moving to ILB have all come from fans. None of the coaches have been quoted saying anything about that.

Of course, it's like, maybe 18 hours after the injury occurred so the Coaches haven't really had a lot of time to think it out and then put it out to the media.
 

rolyat93

Waterboy
A third or fourth rounder would probably do it. Cushing will return.

In the first I would love to see a really good nose tackle. Not that our current guys are terrible at that spot, but the Texans really have no glaring weaknesses at this point that demand a first round pick, and the NT position may well be the weakest position on the team.
I'd prefer an O Lineman if there's a someone that falls. The Texans should be drafting BPA though so it doesn't really matter.
 

EVOLVIST

Kid A
It's time to pick up the phone and call DJ Bryant.

For depth, for rotation, for familiarity, to move inside (if need be). He's an athlete.
 
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