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Brooks to move to ILB

srrono

All Pro
http://www.stateofthetexans.com/?p=10129

PDS ‏@PatDStat
So LZ is using a source saying that Reed will bump inside if they resign Barwin. #Texans

Lance Zierlein ‏@LanceZierlein
We just had @nfldraftscout on from radio row and he told us his sources indicated that Texans considering moving Brooks Reed inside

Barwin OLB Resign
Brooks ILB
Cushing ILB
Mercilus OLB

If this is the case. Wade is putting all our our rushers on field at same time so Offenses don't know where blitzer is coming from. Plus I am thinking this means HOU finally targets a new NT. Coaches can't be thinking the pass rush will suddenly be better with same personal.
Barwin OLB Resign
Brooks ILB
Cushing ILB
Mercilus OLB
Watt
Smith
Rookie? or FA? at NT
 
Last edited:

Double Barrel

Texans Talk Admin
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Hmmmm...not sure about Brooks at ILB, but honestly not thrilled at all about potentially re-signing Barwin. That dude never really showed up this year.

Does Brooks have coverage ability required at ILB in this system?
 

deucetx

Rookie
Heh, ironically, it is what I did in Madden for my second season with the Texans.

Some saw this coming and I can see why the Texans might do it if they resign Barwin. Reed is good against the run and decent in coverage. His pass rush...well, that left something to be desired. If he could get the reads down he could be a benefit inside and give the defense some flexibility in blitz packages too. One of the issues I felt we had was over reliant on sub/dime packages where we had one backer and used a safety as a pseudo LB. But if we have two ILB's actually capable of being halfway good in coverage like Cush and Reed we could use nickle more.

Course remains to be seen how it all plays out. Barwin should come at a reasonable price but it would mean Mercilus needs to pick it up and be that edge rusher we need since Barwin's rushing abilities are still unknown. Good one moment and then you're wondering if he is still on roster.
 

Lurvinator11

Veteran
Assuming this does happen, it takes away the need to draft an ILB first round, so we could potentially focus on WR, OT, or another position where depth is needed.
 
i like it. i like the effort.

i never understood the whole brooks cant play ILB because he was a converted olb from de from college crowd.

This is something bill belicheck would do. I really like the effort. Kubiak finally has the balls to think outside the box and show some risk.

Kubiak's conservative mentality has been slowly contaminating the fanbase where you see them so reluctant to move away from kevin walter, move away from matt schaub etc...

Finally some gumption to try something different, take some risk, by kubiak.

It might not work, but I really like the effort. Im all for it and see if it works.

You will never know unless you try.

This is so bill belichikian. I like it. I really do.
 
PDS ‏@PatDStat
So LZ is using a source saying that Reed will bump inside if they resign Barwin. #Texans

Lance Zierlein ‏@LanceZierlein
We just had @nfldraftscout on from radio row and he told us his sources indicated that Texans considering moving Brooks Reed inside

Barwin OLB Resign
Brooks ILB
Cushing ILB
Mercilus OLB

If this is the case. Wade is putting all our our rushers on field at same time so Offenses don't know where blitzer is coming from. Plus I am thinking this means HOU finally targets a new NT. Coaches can't be thinking the pass rush will suddenly be better with same personal.
Barwin OLB Resign
Brooks ILB
Cushing ILB
Mercilus OLB
Watt
Smith
Rookie? or FA? at NT

Several of us in the mock forum have been saying this for months. Shift Reed to ILB next to Cush, resign Barwin and start him as SOLB and make Mercilus the WOLB.

Hmm...Texans front office seems to be reading the Texans Talk Draft Gurus!!!
 

amazing80

Hall of Fame
i like it. i like the effort.

i never understood the whole brooks cant play ILB because he was a converted olb from de from college crowd.

This is something bill belicheck would do. I really like the effort. Kubiak finally has the balls to think outside the box and show some risk.

Kubiak's conservative mentality has been slowly contaminating the fanbase where you see them so reluctant to move away from kevin walter, move away from matt schaub etc...

Finally some gumption to try something different, take some risk, by kubiak.

It might not work, but I really like the effort. Im all for it and see if it works.

You will never know unless you try.

This is so bill belichikian. I like it. I really do.
First, LOL if you think Gary had ANYTHING to do with this

2nd, this is a great move but IMO you can add olb to our list of needs even if we resign barwin.....still need a legit 3rd rusher to rotate in there

Not to mention NT is still a big need
 

srrono

All Pro
Several of us in the mock forum have been saying this for months. Shift Reed to ILB next to Cush, resign Barwin and start him as SOLB and make Mercilus the WOLB.

Hmm...Texans front office seems to be reading the Texans Talk Draft Gurus!!!
Ok here is the plan every one make sign Wallace threads only for now on till FO gets the point lol
 
First, LOL if you think Gary had ANYTHING to do with this

2nd, this is a great move but IMO you can add olb to our list of needs even if we resign barwin.....still need a legit 3rd rusher to rotate in there

Not to mention NT is still a big need

yeaaa because he's a head coach so it wouldnt be up to him right?


smdh....
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
I am mocking ILB in 4th and an OLB at one of our fifths and that will not change based on re-signing Barwin or moving Reed. If Barwin is here next year, it opens another area of focus on Kubiak's decisions.
 
why do you guys want to resign barwin?

WTH is up with you guys giving extensions to players who are not performing?
this is what im talking about. Kubiak and schaub contaminating the fan base.
yeaaa he's funny and has goofy hair lets give him an extension even though he sucked. yeaa lets keep walter as #2 reciever because he blocks good.


This team and now this fan base has no accountability whatsoever.

It sickens me.
 

mussop

Hall of Fame
Assuming this does happen, it takes away the need to draft an ILB first round, so we could potentially focus on WR, OT, or another position where depth is needed.
DT. We have to get better in the middle. Brooks reed is a start but we have to upgrade Mitchell and Cody. They really got pushed around this year. We need someone that can not only hold their ground but push the pocket back.

You find a guy that can do that and it transforms this defense imediantly to elite status. No more double teaming Watt. LBs can now come up clean and our outside pass rushers get more sacks and cause more turnovers because the QB can't step up in the pocket.

Star Latui, Jonathan Hankins, kawaan short and John Jenkins should all be at the top of our draft board.
 

Wolf

100% Texan
why do you guys want to resign barwin?

WTH is up with you guys giving extensions to players who are not performing?
this is what im talking about. Kubiak and schaub contaminating the fan base.
yeaaa he's funny and has goofy hair lets give him an extension even though he sucked. yeaa lets keep walter as #2 reciever because he blocks good.


This team and now this fan base has no accountability whatsoever.

It sickens me.
We need jackets for the new draft picks coming in
 

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Clearly moving Brooks inside is more about his inability to perform up to what Wade is looking for in his OLB and less about his ability as an ILB.
 

Wolf

100% Texan
In all seriousness. I am ok with Barwin coming back. He knows the system.

Last year, I don't know why he didn't show up. Hm or reed. Could it be missing Demeco and Cushing? idk.

But as usual it is the game of how much will it take to bring him back. I believe the Texans have much more leverage than in the past. We dot ave to over pay to bring players in now. If Barwin wants too much money, I would honk the Texans would say " hit he road"
 

mussop

Hall of Fame
In all seriousness. I am ok with Barwin coming back. He knows the system.

Last year, I don't know why he didn't show up. Hm or reed. Could it be missing Demeco and Cushing? idk. "
Because we were so weak up the middle. No push. It's not rocket science.
 

Wolf

100% Texan
Interesting from earlier this year. Maybe if the rumor is true. Wade might have a change of mind or this is more smoke screen as the draft approaches on who the Texans target

With Brian Cushing now on injured reserve, many fans are wondering if the Texans will move one of their top three outside linebackers – Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed or rookie Whitney Mercilus – to inside linebacker.

They won’t.

Asked Thursday if he had given any thought to that idea, Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips responded with a resounding “no” – before the question was even completely finished being asked.

That’s because they’re not inside linebackers, right?

“That’s right,” Phillips said as he walked through the Texans’ locker room at Reliant Stadium.

Simple as that?

“Yeah,” Phillips said. “You don’t take guys that do well at what they do and try to change ‘em into something that they’re not as adept at. But, we’ll work some things out. And like I’ve said, we played OK last week when Cush was gone. Hopefully, we’ll get better.”
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/article-2/Texans-not-moving-Mercilus-Reed-Barwin-to-ILB/dc7eff55-5ac0-4b8a-bb87-49e00b4d4bfc
 

Double Barrel

Texans Talk Admin
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Give Braman a shot, I think he could do it.
I like Braman, too. He's rough around the edges, but he's a high motor player. If they move Brooks inside, this will definitely create a hole for a guy like Braman on the outside.

why do you guys want to resign barwin?

WTH is up with you guys giving extensions to players who are not performing?
this is what im talking about. Kubiak and schaub contaminating the fan base.
yeaaa he's funny and has goofy hair lets give him an extension even though he sucked. yeaa lets keep walter as #2 reciever because he blocks good.


This team and now this fan base has no accountability whatsoever.

It sickens me.
Your Kubiak rant aside, I don't want Barwin back. I was not impressed with him at all in 2012.

Clearly moving Brooks inside is more about his inability to perform up to what Wade is looking for in his OLB and less about his ability as an ILB.
This mentality is what concerns me. They seem to be trying to make players fit a system instead of customizing a system to fit available talent.
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
Hmmmm...not sure about Brooks at ILB, but honestly not thrilled at all about potentially re-signing Barwin. That dude never really showed up this year.

Does Brooks have coverage ability required at ILB in this system?
I mentioned this potential move months ago , long before people were talking about moving Bawrin inside (which I think is a horrible idea) .... I think he instantly upgrades the position and he does have the ability to cover as he had to do it as an OLB. To be honest , I think he's a much better fit inside than out.

I can see him inside even of they dont resign Barwin.

This does open up the possibility for another OLB to be drafted early along with a guy on the front be it NT/DT/DE. This draft will be really interesting.
 

Wolf6151

All Pro
Several of us in the mock forum have been saying this for months. Shift Reed to ILB next to Cush, resign Barwin and start him as SOLB and make Mercilus the WOLB.

Hmm...Texans front office seems to be reading the Texans Talk Draft Gurus!!!
Yep we've brought this up numerous times in the mock forum, this move just makes sense.
 

76Texan

Hall of Fame
Deleted.

Can't seem to get the correct link to Photobucket to show Reed at LB in the 43 look from the Jags game last year.

I need to work on it.
 

Thorn

Dirty Old Man
I'm just gonna do what I always do for next season. Follow free agency, probably not get pumped up about that. The draft, I will probably get pretty pumped over that. Pre-season, well, there's no telling. And by the time the season starts, I'll be a brand new wide eyed fan ready to rock and roll again no matter who starts where.

It always happens that way. Can't help it.
 

Premier

Rookie
does this mean, in all likelihood, we will be drafting another 3-4 DE/OLB to sit behind merci and barwin.. if brooks can make the move then cush/reed inside tandem could be nice.. i heard they were considering moving brooks inside to cover gronk..
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
Hmmmm...not sure about Brooks at ILB, but honestly not thrilled at all about potentially re-signing Barwin. That dude never really showed up this year.

Does Brooks have coverage ability required at ILB in this system?
First, Wade deserves the benefit of the doubt. I didn't see Mario at OLB, but Phillips made it work. Brooks has looked as lost in coverage as most of the Texans LBs. Barwin does not deserve a big contract. I can't see re-signing him to anything more than a one year deal. But even if Barwin does sign a multiyear deal, that wouldn't be the worst contract decision the Texans have made.

Because we were so weak up the middle. No push. It's not rocket science.
Ever heard of this guy named JJ Watt? Wears #99? He got some push up the middle (and everwhere else). Blaming Barwin's failure on anyone but Barwin is laughable.
 

Nawzer

Alienz
I really hope they don't overspend on Barwin. I understand that good pass rushers are hard to find, but Barwin had a really down season and I wouldn't give him anything longer than a 2 year incentives laden deal. I think they still need to address the ILB and OLB positions this offseason.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
If Barwin doesn't lose the Popeye look and go back 12 pounds to his 256 weight, he will be no different than the 2011 lead-in-the pants version.......and a waste of any money he is thrown.
 

Rey

Guest
This could work or be a complete failure.

I'm nit a fan of the overall players that reed, barwin or merciless are. But they each have skill sets that can be useful.

I'd rather draft or sign a real MLB that won't have as many limitations that reed has. Hes not all that fluid and hes not all that quick or sudden when he's on the field. But if he's the silb then he's good enough to take in the fb, but he's going to get eaten alive in pass coverage in the middle of the field. If he has to cover for more than a few seconds.

Barwin is better suited for the solb position than the wolb position where he was counted on to be the primary source of outside pressure. But both are just average players. Nothing special about either and I'd be concerned with having both on the field for a majority of our snaps.

I'd rather add another dynamic player to the mix and not have so many blah guys with a returning from injury Cushing.

As far as merciless goes, he's good at getting to the qb when he's not touched or when he makes his second move to the qb once he starts scrambling or moving around. He's not shown that he can line up and beat tackles just from a pure skill stand point. Much of his sacks were unblocked or when a qb started to move around. But he has good quickness and closing speed. Again, a useful skill that is valuable, but I don't see him as being a dominant edge player. I think he can be ok if put in a good position...just like reed and barwin. I think they all have some big weaknesses to their games.

IMO, if this move happens and barwin re signs that won't be a good thing for the defense over the course of the year. I think they'd have some strong performances mixed with some awful ones, but overall I think they'd be an underwhelming group as a whole.

If I was the texans id let barwin go and leave reed at solb. Let merciless start as well, but draft another guy in the 1st or second round to put pressure on them both. I'm not thrilled with the ilb draft class, but there are guys in free agency that would be upgrades over what we had. Some older players, some younger guys. Pick one or two of them up.
 

tru80texan

Waterboy
I really hope they don't overspend on Barwin. I understand that good pass rushers are hard to find, but Barwin had a really down season and I wouldn't give him anything longer than a 2 year incentives laden deal. I think they still need to address the ILB and OLB positions this offseason.
I believe the Texans will offer Barwin a fair deal for multiple years. The 1 year deal or incentive laden only deal I can't see working or being enough to sign him. There are plenty of teams going to a 3-4 & pass rushers w/ the potential that Barwin possesses are at a premium. Let's not forget or disregard the facts that this is a 6'3" 268lb OLB who runs a 4.5 forty & accumulated 11 sacks in 2011. He is capable & 1 down season hardly constitutes him as a complete bust imo. If that was the case then Cushing should've been deemed a bust as well as he suffered a slump in his 2nd season as a starter as well. Barwin has been around for 4yrs, but this was only his 2nd season as a starter & I believe he still has room to grow.

I don't believe he earned a huge contract by any means, but for the right price I would be happy to have him back as opposed to the unknown w/ a raw rookie. The Texans do still need to address the OLB & ILB in draft, IMO, for depth purposes.
 

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
They need to address both ILB and OLB in the draft regardless of Barwin re-signing or Reed moving inside.
I dont believe they have the luxury of spending early picks on both spots , its one or the other as there are other positions that really need a dose of speed / youth.
 

Goldensilence

hipster elite
They need to address both ILB and OLB in the draft regardless of Barwin re-signing or Reed moving inside.
This was my exact thought. All moving Reed to ILB is make it less of a high draft need. They're still going to need depth there because James was on a one year contract and while Merciless started to turn it up more as the season went on and increased PT they're going to need a capable 3rd OLB to rotate in.
 

tru80texan

Waterboy
This was my exact thought. All moving Reed to ILB is make it less of a high draft need. They're still going to need depth there because James was on a one year contract and while Merciless started to turn it up more as the season went on and increased PT they're going to need a capable 3rd OLB to rotate in.
I guess you aren't big on Braman. I would actually like to see what he has to offer, but I do believe both ILB & OLB will need some depth. ILB more if Reed is moved & Barwin is re-signed.
 

Texan_Bill

Hall of Fame
JUP!! I heard this earlier this afternoon...

While his new role will be somewhat diminished (I don't know what his current role will be) from his time at Pittsburgh, He'll still have a big role in their O-Line.

Congrats Coach Z... & Lance.

*EDIT*

Although, now in retrospect this may be the wrong format for this............ My bad! I'll step out.
 

Nawzer

Alienz
I believe the Texans will offer Barwin a fair deal for multiple years. The 1 year deal or incentive laden only deal I can't see working or being enough to sign him. There are plenty of teams going to a 3-4 & pass rushers w/ the potential that Barwin possesses are at a premium. Let's not forget or disregard the facts that this is a 6'3" 268lb OLB who runs a 4.5 forty & accumulated 11 sacks in 2011. He is capable & 1 down season hardly constitutes him as a complete bust imo. If that was the case then Cushing should've been deemed a bust as well as he suffered a slump in his 2nd season as a starter as well. Barwin has been around for 4yrs, but this was only his 2nd season as a starter & I believe he still has room to grow.

I don't believe he earned a huge contract by any means, but for the right price I would be happy to have him back as opposed to the unknown w/ a raw rookie. The Texans do still need to address the OLB & ILB in draft, IMO, for depth purposes.
I don't remember where I heard this, but it was probably on the radio and they said that most of Barwin's 11 sacks from 2011 were sort of "fluky". Honestly, I don't remember his performance from 2011 and that maybe a clue as well that maybe he was never really that good. He plays a premium position and he's not terrible, so he'll get some offers for sure. I just hope the Texans don't overextend themselves on Barwin.
 

powda

The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
This puts the 4 best backers on the field at the same time (assuming we resign kramer.) Reed was good at setting the edge but not as explosive as mercy in pass rush. I dont think reed will be worse then bradie james in coverage and he's got the anchor to hold up well in the middle. This reshuffling improves the pass rush and improves interior run defense. We'll see how mercy holds the edge...if this happens, we have a need for olb depth that wasn't there.
 

Brisco_County

Apples and roadmaps
Re-signing Barwin is the right move. The salary cap ensures that no team can afford awesomeness at every position, and the best time to sign one of those "good enough within the system" players is right after he has a down year. Sign him while his market value is low, have him shed 15 pounds, and it'd be a pretty good deal for the team.

Also, Reed is the strongest pound-for-pound player on the team, so it'll be interesting seeing how well he stops the run. And he has great acceleration for stunted blitzes.
 

tru80texan

Waterboy
I don't remember where I heard this, but it was probably on the radio and they said that most of Barwin's 11 sacks from 2011 were sort of "fluky". Honestly, I don't remember his performance from 2011 and that maybe a clue as well that maybe he was never really that good. He plays a premium position and he's not terrible, so he'll get some offers for sure. I just hope the Texans don't overextend themselves on Barwin.
The same could easily be said about mario's sacks from that season, as well as many other seasons to be honest, & yet some hold him in high regards. Mario was extremely overrated, IMO, & he normally needed a clear advantage to even sniff a sack. Hardly the game changer, similar to Watt, that many falsely claimed he was. So that knock on Barwin by most in Houston is quite laughable after all the unearned attention Mario received.

Considering Barwin set a franchise record for sacks in 1 game w/ 4 & accumulated most of his sacks in the remaining 10 games when he took over Mario's position I would say his 2011 was quite memorable...at least it was to me. I think Barwin still has plenty of potential & 2 seasons is hardly enough for us to know what he is truly capable of IMO.
 
Psst, this isn't news...I've been doing this on Madden all year...

Barwin
Cushing
Brooks
Mercilus

All about putting the best players on the field...

If the Texans FO had half a brain, they would have done this at the beginning of this year when they traded Ryans to Philly. Then when Cushing went down, could have slid Books over and let James play where Brooks was...
 

Hagar

Drink up yall, its the Texans!
If Brooks moves into ILB, its going to make us really weak at OLB.

Whitney Mercilus
Connor Barwin
Jesse Nading

Nading has a lot of energy but isn't a starter or even 2nd string backup. Barwin had a terrible year. Mercilus had a good rookie season but he can't do it all by himself.
 

SAMURAITEXAN

All Pro
If Brooks moves into ILB, its going to make us really weak at OLB.

Whitney Mercilus
Connor Barwin
Jesse Nading

Nading has a lot of energy but isn't a starter or even 2nd string backup. Barwin had a terrible year. Mercilus had a good rookie season but he can't do it all by himself.
We got Braman too.
 

tru80texan

Waterboy
Do we plan on bringing back Dobbins? I'm a fan of his, he's nice depth.
I would hope they bring back Dobbins or Ruud over Bradie James. If they move Reed it seems that Sharpton will be the backup at ILB. Dobbins is decent on special teams & we all know that needs all the help it can get.
 
Clearly moving Brooks inside is more about his inability to perform up to what Wade is looking for in his OLB and less about his ability as an ILB.
There was talk of, and possibly intention to, play him in the middle since he was drafted.

I have posted about it before.
Herring also talked about Reed’s “linebacker body.”

“That’s where people get discombobulated with him,” Herring said. “Look, he’s 6-2½, 250. The fact that he was playing with his hand in the dirt (the three-point stance of a defensive end) in college turned him into a ‘tweener’ to some people. But he was always a ‘Mike’ linebacker to us. Half the teams in the draft wanted him bad, and the other half didn’t think he could (make the transition). We were in the half that saw the upside potential. He’s still projecting and growing as a player. The sky’s the limit.”
He's got the athleticism that we need, but it should be interesting to see if he has the "bulk" to live up to the pounding. I'd love to see this move paired with the drafting of a guy like John Jenkins. It'd really transform what's been a big weakness for our defense (i.e. the middle).
 
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