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Barwin moves to SLB-Mercilus moves to WLB

srrono

srrono

All Pro
Pro Football Weekly ‏@ProFootballWkly
RT @NickScurfield: Rookie Whitney Mercilus starts at Will LB while Brooks Reed is out. Connor Barwin moves over to Sam #Texans

Lance Zierlein ‏@LanceZierlein
The SAM LB spot is a much better fit for Barwin who is a natural at that position. Mercilus gives Texans better edge speed at WLB now.

Lance Zierlein ‏@LanceZierlein
The loss of Brooks Reed may end up changing the future of the Texans OLB rotation and starting spots for years to come. We'll see.

Nick Scurfield ‏@NickScurfield
Kubiak said 2nd-year OLB Bryan Braman will be part of the rotation w/ Connor Barwin & Whitney Mercilus #Texans

Tania Ganguli ‏@taniaganguli
"We went from suiting 9 linebackers up ... to now if we played a game today there'd be 7 available players," Kubiak #Texans

Tania Ganguli ‏@taniaganguli
"Braman's been an exceptional special teams player for us. ... He's very talented. He can rush the passer. He can run." Kubiak said.

Nick Scurfield ‏@NickScurfield
Kubiak said ILB Tim Dobbins (shoulder) should "definitely be available" this week #Texans
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I've been really surprised at how far back & how quick Barwin has been able to drop & maintain good coverage. If our ILBs can consistently bring what Ruud showed, our pass defense can get even scarier. scary good.
 
This is good, Barwin moves back to what I believe is his natural position. Strongside he is quick and agile, able to handle rushes and coverage, disguise the defense and play the run more often. I believe he sets the edge well and this should put him back on the radar. Weakside guy is supposed to be the stud, star rusher and he's not that. His strength is versatility. Mercilus and Braman should be rotating weakside and getting after the QB, they are both faster off the line and play with a little more instinct as pass rushers.

Sucks to lose Reed but he was under-performing anyway. I believe he is still a viable option anywhere in the LB core and should use the time off to study the plays from all angles.
 
I thought Barwin played SLB last year??? If true, whyd they change him and maybe this is why hes been ineffective???

Also, I thought Braman would be better inside, but at least he is getting play time
 
I hope Braman doesn't get any late hit flags. I don't know why I see him and think that.
 
PapaL said:
I hope Braman doesn't get any late hit flags. I don't know why I see him and think that.
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Da Caveman plays! LOL

I hope he gets in a few good plays. I've always liked the guy and hope he's able to show some stuff this weekend.
 
amazing80 said:
I thought Barwin played SLB last year??? If true, whyd they change him and maybe this is why hes been ineffective???

Also, I thought Braman would be better inside, but at least he is getting play time
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No, under Wade, Barwin always play a vast majority of snaps at WOLB.

The thought was that if the Texans resign Mario, only then would Barwin play at SOLB so that Mario never need to worry about the TE and just rush the QB almost all the time from the WOLB position.
 
76Texan said:
No, under Wade, Barwin always play a vast majority of snaps at WOLB.

The thought was that if the Texans resign Mario, only then would Barwin play at SOLB so that Mario never need to worry about the TE and just rush the QB almost all the time from the WOLB position.
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Except for that was never a thought. :bender:
 
amazing80 said:
I thought Barwin played SLB last year??? If true, whyd they change him and maybe this is why hes been ineffective???

Also, I thought Braman would be better inside, but at least he is getting play time
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Barwin played SOLB before Mario got hurt. After he got hurt, they swapped Barwin, don't know why. You'd think the weakside would be easier for the rookie Brooks Reed to play. All he has to do is go after the QB. He's playing against the LT, but it would cut down on his "responsibilities" & reads a lot.

Anyway, Barwin got hot there for a little while, then it continued into the play-offs, so I imagine they were going to give him an opportunity to earn that pass-rusher money.

Don't get me wrong, I think Brooks is more a SAM, just like Barwin, or possibly a MO. But Barwin was already doing a really good job at SAM that it didn't make sense to me to move him.
 
I don't know much about defensive formations... would Mercilus be lining up aside Watt or Smith? Or would it switch off as the situation required?
 
htownfan32 said:
I don't know much about defensive formations... would Mercilus be lining up aside Watt or Smith? Or would it switch off as the situation required?
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First post from the picture, he'd be in the "WLB" position, lining up next to smith for about 70% of the snaps, they move Watt around though so no guarantee.
 
rolyat93 said:
He's not "Houston Texans-worthy":texans:
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I think we've got a mini meme. It made the onion :P

I figured Watt's been moved around, especially after he became our only pass rusher...

I think this is going to be good for our pass rush. I've been wanting to see what Mercilus can do with more snaps.
 
Lance Zierlein ‏@LanceZierlein
The loss of Brooks Reed may end up changing the future of the Texans OLB rotation and starting spots for years to come. We'll see.

I think Mercilus has All Pro potential. Lance may be right but I want to see Brooks Reed back healthy for the final game or two of the season, just in time to be back in full game shape for the playoffs - hopefully with that first-round bye in the playoffs as well.
 
General manager Rick Smith

(on the changes in defense due to OLD Brooks Reed’s injury) “You start with the injury and we’re fortunate that we’re going to get Brooks back. He has a very predictable rehab process, and he’s diligently working at that. We will get him back. At this time of year, for all NFL teams, it’s how do you adjust to injuries at this time, how do you continue to play at a high level and if you’re not, how do you start to work toward that? Whitney (Mercilus) is a natural pass-rusher obviously so he fits at the Will linebacker position. I think we brought him along slowly, and what he’s shown is he’s productive when he plays. We expect he will continue to do that. And Bryan (Braman) is a guy that will have to back up both sides. You go back to last year and really Connor (Barwin) and Brooks played predominantly the whole season so you can play games with just outside guys, but we certainly felt good about Bryan and his ability to come in and function. He’s playing well on special teams right now. So, just a part of what happens this time of year in the NFL.”
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link
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
General manager Rick Smith

And Bryan (Braman) is a guy that will have to back up both sides. You go back to last year and really Connor (Barwin) and Brooks played predominantly the whole season so you can play games with just outside guys, but we certainly felt good about Bryan and his ability to come in and function. He’s playing well on special teams right now. So, just a part of what happens this time of year in the NFL.
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So, if you're Bryan Braman, you've shown the Texans that you are talented. The problem is that you simply aren't as productive or explosive or disruptive enough to be part of the regular rotation.

What would you have been doing to improve that, so that when you get an opportunity (which he has now) to become that productive, explosive, or disruptive player?

At the least, maybe you can replace Jesse Nading. The guy who sticks, because you're productive on special teams you'll probably have a job for a few more years, but you probably won't be a serious consideration when injuries beset the "regular" players. You don't want to be that guy. You want to be a "regular" player, if not for this team, then for another team.

How did you prepare for this day?
 
Fiddler said:
So, if you're Bryan Braman, you've shown the Texans that you are talented. The problem is that you simply aren't as productive or explosive or disruptive enough to be part of the regular rotation.

What would you have been doing to improve that, so that when you get an opportunity (which he has now) to become that productive, explosive, or disruptive player?

At the least, maybe you can replace Jesse Nading. The guy who sticks, because you're productive on special teams you'll probably have a job for a few more years, but you probably won't be a serious consideration when injuries beset the "regular" players. You don't want to be that guy. You want to be a "regular" player, if not for this team, then for another team.

How did you prepare for this day?
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Go to your coaches and ask what is keeping you from that status. They're the best source of direction. Try to find someone on the "other" side of the ball with the most challenging skills and try to find a way to practice against them. Poor challenge will only give you opportunity to remain a poor LB. That's why many players who haven't shown much all of a sudden become that diamond in the rough when thrown into the fire (the ultimate challenge) with little warning.
 
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