gary
Hall of Fame
Interesting piece on Amobi's dedicaton to football and the Texans.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0610/741850.html
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0610/741850.html
Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!
Amobi Okoye Says His Dedication Has Dipped Down Since His Rookie Seaon
- Thread starter gary
- Start date
gary
Hall of Fame
Maybe so. I hope you liked the read.
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
Amobi Okoye Says His Dedication Has Dipped Down Since His Rookie Season
Gee Amobi, ya think so? Welcome to 2008 buddy.
Gee Amobi, ya think so? Welcome to 2008 buddy.
gary
Hall of Fame
Ditto.
wagonhed
Team Gruden
Well, that's not exactly what he said. He said his dedication dipped down after his rookie season. As in, the offseason before his 2nd season. And then he realized it wasn't so easy. It wasn't really a statement about his current dedication. From what he says now, if he is telling the truth, it seems like his dedication is back up.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
That's an awfully cheap starting DT.
Wow, talk about saying things out of context. Good thing I didnt fly off half cocked and didnt read the article. Gary, you should write for ESPN with headlines like that.
HoustonFrog
Dallas Frog
In fairness to Gary..THE POSTER.
.. this was discussed on 1560 a week or so ago and Amobi did admit to his dedication dipping. Kubiak also admitted that he didn't know this until Amobi admitted it. He was confronted with it. He did say
Last edited:
beerlover
Hall of Fame
its disturbing Gary had no idea
now that he is confronted, what's he going to do about it
its disturbing Gary had no idea
now that he is confronted, what's he going to do about it
In his defense, he was an extremely busy young man under tremendous pressure to succeed. It is not a big deal for him to overlook this minor situation when faced with the enormous distractions such as the "Pay Me Rick" scandal and trying to deal the with the suckitude of Travis Johnson clouded the issue.
Now that Gary has escaped from HS, I fully expect he will be more cognizant of the happenings of his football team. I also expect his coaches in the booth to be more experienced and help him with better decision making in regards to challenges the team will face.
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
Since he got his rookie signing bonus.
ubecool454
Veteran
At the start of last year I got back into who I am and the way I like to play," he said. "I lost the love a little bit my (second) year, I wouldn't even lie, but all that is back. I'm back to having fun and playing good and just back to enjoying it." -------translation......"I got that big signing bonus and after that I got lazy and didn't care because I already got paid.....now that I might be a backup or traded or worse...CUT!.....My mom and dad told me that I better get up off my lazy azz because they weren't going to support my lazy azz".... Come on Earl Mitchell...push him out the door so he can go to medical school...pleasseeeee! haha
Indeed I did ! Thanks for making it available to us.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I wonder how many remember how Johnson gave and was always given excuse after excuse by the coaching staff for his poor play, and was hung onto until the Chronicle ran the article relating that Johnson was stunned by his trade........he didn't see it coming. When poorly performing players are extended and extended (and there are many examples of this in Texans history, earlier and later years), you have to begin questioning somebody's decision making.
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
I think some of y'all are being a little too harsh. Maybe Okoye is finally growing up. I know people don't like hearing it, but he was a kid when we drafted him.....maybe he's finally maturing. (mentally) This season is going to be his last chance here, so I'm going to give him that chance and restrain from bashing the guy until I see how he plays this season. He did play better last season under Kollar, let's see how he does in year 2 under Kollar.
P.S.
I can't ever call someone who managed to graduate from college by the age of 19 a "lazy ass". The difference from Johnson and Okoye is Travis came off as just a disinterested lazy slug on and off the field....Okoye looked like a kid who was beat down and discouraged by his early struggles on the field, but has never been "lazy" off of it. He actually does alot outside of football.
P.S.
I can't ever call someone who managed to graduate from college by the age of 19 a "lazy ass". The difference from Johnson and Okoye is Travis came off as just a disinterested lazy slug on and off the field....Okoye looked like a kid who was beat down and discouraged by his early struggles on the field, but has never been "lazy" off of it. He actually does alot outside of football.
Mr. White
Retired OLine Coach
I love the classic excuse. "He was 19 when we drafted him."
That means he'll be the same age as every other rookie that comes out of college by the time his contract's up.
It doesn't wash. The past 3 years, he's been getting paid to dominate O-Linemen, sack QB's, and plug holes at the LOS. And it hasn't been happening. I just hope that Kubiak and Smith have learned from this never to draft another teenager again.
I'm at the point now where I don't care how good his season is this year. I'm sure he will step it up this year so he can get another fat contract next year.
Let Am0bi Ok0ye walk and steal money from another team next season. It's obvious that he'd rather save Nigeria than play football.
Hopefully he'll run for office over there and then we'll be talking about him in the NSZ from now on.
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
It's not just a "classic excuse".....it's the truth and it's the reason why I was against drafting Okoye in the first place. Physical development aside....the mental maturity level of a 19 or so year old and someone who is 22 is completely different. It's hard enough to make it in this league as it is, which is why the deck was stacked against Okoye from day 1 when he came in as a 19 year old. Also this is the classic case why the NFL could never be like the NBA where players used to come straight out of high school on a regular basis.
P.S.
Never understand why people try to hold what he does for his native land against him..... It's great what he does for Nigeria and I applaud him for it.
Mr. White
Retired OLine Coach
It's not just a "classic excuse".....it's the truth and it's the reason why I was against drafting Okoye in the first place. Physical development aside....the mental maturity level of a 19 or so year old and someone who is 22 is completely different. It's hard enough to make it in this league as it is, which is why the deck was stacked against Okoye from day 1 when he came in as a 19 year old. Also this is the classic case why the NFL could never be like the NBA where players used to come straight out of high school on a regular basis.
Aside from the eyeroll, it looks like we're in agreement. The NFL Doogie Houser experiment has been a fail.
I also agree that he should be applauded for the work that he does in Nigeria. He's actually successful with that.
gary
Hall of Fame
It is a very nice day here in Houston the sun is out. It is hot but that is fine. Maybe it is raining in Round Rock or you are going through you are going through hardchips in your personal life. Anyway, if that is indeed true then I feel for you but that belongs in the No Sports Talk Allowed forum not here. I am very sorry my thread title does not work for you but there is not any need to call me out over something so small. I understand maybe you went to make you something to eat and you were out of whatever you wanted but that does not mean it is my fault. I would love to work for ESPN and you know you would too but the local Chron has already offered me a job and I start next week. If you feel the need to have the title changed then PM every Mod on this board untill you get that done because I want you to sleep well tonight. I am sorry I am not as perfect as you'd like me to be but I'll be sure and work on that.
Texans34Life
I BLEED TEXANS!
It's weird how they're reporting on the Texans from a Maryland TV station.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
GP
Go Texans!
I think Amobi might have too much of a life outside of football.
Not saying that's bad or anything. It is what it is, though.
He's not going to ever reach another level in the NFL. I think he's the best he'll ever be. Expectations were off-the-charts (I took the bait on draft day, I'll admit it) and I think we're all coming to the realization that he's a decent guy at DT but he isn't going to dominate unless other around him ALSO dominate and cause Amobi to have more opportunities.
Until Mario and Antonio (throw Barwin in there, too) become consistently dangerous on every down, Amobi is going to be stuck in the middle getting double-teamed and shoved into our DE or thrown to the ground and essentially become neutralized after that point.
I need to see our entire DL become dangerous. All of them. All at once. On every down. We see flashes of it, but it seems it's rare.
Not saying that's bad or anything. It is what it is, though.
He's not going to ever reach another level in the NFL. I think he's the best he'll ever be. Expectations were off-the-charts (I took the bait on draft day, I'll admit it) and I think we're all coming to the realization that he's a decent guy at DT but he isn't going to dominate unless other around him ALSO dominate and cause Amobi to have more opportunities.
Until Mario and Antonio (throw Barwin in there, too) become consistently dangerous on every down, Amobi is going to be stuck in the middle getting double-teamed and shoved into our DE or thrown to the ground and essentially become neutralized after that point.
I need to see our entire DL become dangerous. All of them. All at once. On every down. We see flashes of it, but it seems it's rare.
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
I don't think anything Amobi does off the field has anything to do with what he's able to do on the field. I think fans have too much of a tendency to automatically point to things like that when a player struggles to live up to his draft status. DT might be the hardest position to project to the NFL. I think Amobi would've struggled regardless if he was a humanitarian or not.
It's like if AJ wasn't the player that he is, people would be pointing to all the work he does off the field. Amobi does that stuff in his off time, during the offseason. Tons of players do that kind of stuff during the offseason and it has no effect on their game.
Maybe, just maybe...Amobi isn't a dominant DT....and wouldn't be one regardless of what he's doing or wouldn't be doing for Nigeria.
Last edited:
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
There's been plenty of "nice guys" who dominated on defense. Just look at DeMeco Ryans..or even Mario. That's another thing people point to when a player doesn't become the football player he was projected to be coming out of college.
Being "mean" isn't going to make Amobi bigger or any stronger at the point of attack.
Last edited:
I think fans are reaching for reasons for Okoye underachieving. When it may just be a case of his talent be overvalued as it relates to the NFL.
This is why I question the stuff that Kubiak says to the media. Okoye underachieves for 2 1/2 seasons, and we get:
This is during the same OTAs where he rips a 5'5" 6th rounder for not knowing "what the hell is going on out there". That still bothers me. For one, I usually root for the underdog. The guy that shows guts. And a 5'5" 160 lb guy trying to make it in the NFL has to be all guts. So why rip this guy while your coddling your project 1st round pick from 4 drafts ago? It makes no sense, and it sends a bad message to the team.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
This is what I was referring to.............the unending selective excuses. At this point in time age or no age, his value to the team over the past years have not shown good return. And Kubiak's "surprised" reaction has me somewhat concerned in the realm of evaluating players predraft...........but now even moreso in real time. How do you know how far you can push someone to max their performance if you have no idea what their capabilities and level of efforts are, even after 3 years.
And, Carr Bombed, with all due respect, with the overt admission of "letting down"........especially after getting the major upfront money, you don't have to look too far for where he has obtained the ability to be philanthropic. It's not a good sign when a player who has not shown value plays the card that "I let down, but have regained my interest (in football)"................but never lost my interest in what I've been paid for dearly to enjoy.
The philanthropic all pro
LOL
Hey AO where did your ability to become a philanthropic all pro come from?
I personally hope you have a crappy season. So that you will not be able to keep on raping this franchise. Using the potential card as the bait to hook McNair for your philanthropic endeavors.
awtysst
Draft Guru
And thats the difference between a guy like him and a Brian Cushing. (Toss out the 4 game suspension.) What was the first big purchase Cush made? It was a hyperbaric chamber so he could recover from workouts and get back on the field. After winning the DROY award what did Cushing do with his off season? He spent his time at MMA camp learning to use MMA hand techniques in order to become a better OLB.
Cush spends his off season in order to make himself a better football player.
Okoye spends his off season doing charitable work. Thats a nice cause, but Okoye would be better off emulating the Cushing example(sans 4 game suspension) rather than charitable work. The charitable work can be done when he retires.
I don't believe that doing charity has anything to do with becoming a better football player...Like he can't do both..
Brian Cushing also went to school...He multi-tasked, so I think Amobi could do the same thing...
I also have not given up on Okoye...He has not produced like we expected him to, but I think that he was miscast in Richard Smith's system, and I think that under Frank Bush and Bill Kollar played well last year. Not denying that he hasn't met expectations, but I just am not ready to throw in the towel yet.
Brian Cushing also went to school...He multi-tasked, so I think Amobi could do the same thing...
I also have not given up on Okoye...He has not produced like we expected him to, but I think that he was miscast in Richard Smith's system, and I think that under Frank Bush and Bill Kollar played well last year. Not denying that he hasn't met expectations, but I just am not ready to throw in the towel yet.
GP
Go Texans!
This is where a GOOD journalist would have asked Kubiak the following question: "Gary, you mentioned the 6th round draft pick not knowing what to do and needing to figure it out very quickly during his first set of organized practices here. But a 4th year, Top 20 draft pick continues to be penciled in as a starter on defense after he admits he lacked motivation in his second year. Is there a different measuring system for 6th rounders and first rounders? Especially after Travis Johnson's perpetual situation that left fans wondering how he could remain for so long while showing so little for the opportunity he had. Is the criticism of your 6th rounder warranted in what is only his first practice as a pro? Is there a double-standard?"
that's what a journalist would do. A real one, at least. But those guys are scared. They know they'll get ostracized by Smithiak.
that's what a journalist would do. A real one, at least. But those guys are scared. They know they'll get ostracized by Smithiak.
Bro, I was just ribbing you a bit. Take it easy!!! Great article but lighten up a bit. Just a joke, just a joke.
GP
Go Texans!
Yeah, gary. I took it as a good-hearted joke and not as a real slam against you.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
I sure hope he can get his speed from College back at 290. If not, he's going to be thrown around more than normal. IMO, Bush's defense is set up for Okoye. He just hasn't had the speed that gave him so much success in College.
I like Okoye and want him to succeed, but how long are we going to wait for him to mature and grow into the player he was drafted? Watching QB's consistently step up in the pocket with ease when Mario and Barwin come flying around the edge is aggravating.
I like Okoye and want him to succeed, but how long are we going to wait for him to mature and grow into the player he was drafted? Watching QB's consistently step up in the pocket with ease when Mario and Barwin come flying around the edge is aggravating.
You think its possible that the moves of Antonio Smith and drafting Barwin were to brace ourselves if Okoye fails this year? I mean, if we end up cutting/trading/getting rid of him, is it too far fetched to bump Smith inside full time and put Barwin at the end full time?
Or possibly run a mix of Mitchell/Smith/Barwin like a committee....
By that time, Barwin will be in his third year so hopefully his run defending will mature.......just spit ballin here.....
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
This is just my opinion, but I don't think Okoye's going anywhere anytime soon. The Texans, and most other teams, wouldn't be likely to give up on a player that young with that much potential at a decent pay.
I like Smith and Barwin where they are right now. Barwin hasn't proven he can be a 3 down DE yet. I'm also not so sure Smith would hold up 16 games as a full time DT. IMO, our biggest issue among the front 7 is the DT position and it appears it will be again this season. Unless, of course, we think the rookie's the answer? Or we actually believe what Okoye's trying to sell us?
badboy
Hall of Fame
I also think most of us agree that okoye did look to be playing better towards the end of season. I am willing to give him fresh start but he sure needs to come out playing strongly.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Yes, he did play better the 2nd half of the season against the run. He still was handled fairly easy in passing situations though.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Isn't that what every DT in the league gets paid to do? Considering that no DT on this team does any of those things consistently, his age or salary should be out of scope for the conversation.
gary
Hall of Fame
Hey, just lay this to rest I did not know because HoustonFrog and JB were defending me. It is always hard to tell via the MB consider it water under the bridge bro.
No More 8-8's
Waterboy
Just look at my Signature if you need to know why Okoye's dedication needs to improve.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
It looks like Tha Mitch was holding his breath a while in that picture. His freakin head's about to explode.