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Braman

Number19

Number19

Hall of Fame
There's been considerable comment as far as our two draft picks - Montgomery and Williams - but I believe, starting training camp, the key to our linebacking corp is going to be Bryan Braman. His progress is going to determine whether Brooks Reed is moved inside.

My understanding is that he made a positive impact during OTA's.

There was comments about size over in the Willie Jackson thread; he's 6'-5" and, I think he has said, he's up to 240 lbs. Well, Braman, also at 6'-5", has toned down to 242 lbs. At 251 lbs, Braman ran a 4.64. Losing 10 pounds, he's probably picked up a step or two.

Going into his third year, he has the experience now to pick it up a notch and, as he puts it, be the next man up. And I think the coaching staff expects it of him.

If Braman can start solidifying the SS OLB position to start camp, this will allow Reed to be moved to the SS inside, continuing what began during OTA's.

The rookies will get playing time to start the season (Philips wants a rotation) but I think it's Braman's position to loose. If not this, then Reed starts the season outside.
 
I don't think lack of speed has been Braman's issue. Holding the edge against the run and instincts have been. Losing weight seems to be regressing to me, but I guess we will see at camp and preseason.
 
I agree, I think, that losing weight seems to be regressing, and holding the edge against the run is the question mark. But who else do we have on the roster, except for Brooks Reed? Williams, Jackson, Montgomery - three rookies?

Tim Dobbins, with 7 years experience, is the elder vet on the team. Cushing is next with 4 years experience and Sharpton follows with 3 years. Reed and Braman have 2 years experience. Merci has 1.

From what I read, Bramen has taken this past off season very seriously, preparing to be "the next man up". If he lost 10 pounds, deliberately, in his preparation - why? Was this entirely his decision or was the coaching & training staff behind it?

I think the experience thing is why the staff are saying that Cushing + Sharpton and Merci + Reed are our starters going into camp. But probably Cushing + Reed and Merci + Braman are on their radar. I'd bet that one of these two options will be the opening game starters.

So take your pick.
 
Sucker looked pretty fit to me. Not much fat to get rid of.

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I don't see how loosing 10 lbs is going to help
 
not so sure that its as simple as weight, instincts or position. I happen to think he doesn't seem to have it upstairs. Nothing will get you doghoused or ****canned faster than missing assignments on the field. Put him on special teams, point him in the direction of the runner and and set him free, that's what he does best.
 
You have to remember, he is only going into his third training camp, and his football background before being signed by the Texans. He had practically none. It is instincts. He had no football instincts to speak of before signing. He was the text book example of a "project".

I can't link this, but one of his comments that I read somewhere on the net, that this off season he put in a lot of time studying and learning his playbook. Not mentioned, but I hope he also put a lot of time in the film room.

Basically, he said he had really dedicated his off season to preparing to take his game to the next level. When I read Kubiak's comment, during OTA's, about the progress he had made, my thoughts were that this preparation was showing up on the field.

This is Braman's year. His dedication and preparation has to start showing up on the field this training camp. If this happens, it will be an important key to our success this season.
 
I hope Braman takes the next step and becomes a bonafide starter outside. I like his tenacity and the heart he plays with. If he learns how to set the edge and how to read offenses better and anticipate things better, he could be a great player IMO.
 
amazing80 said:
I hope Braman takes the next step and becomes a bonafide starter outside. I like his tenacity and the heart he plays with. If he learns how to set the edge and how to read offenses better and anticipate things better, he could be a great player IMO.
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That's just a term for defending against rushing plays at the end of the los, something that's xtra challenging @ only 242 lbs. That's awfully light for a 3-down defender.
 
If Wade is who we think he is, we need guys like Braman & Jamison to step up & contribute big time to this defense. They can't all be 1st & 2nd rounders.
 
I think with all the guys we have the LB situation will sort itself out.

I don't know why Barwin got all season to not be productive when you had Braman and Merciless on the bench, but I'm hoping Wade will be liberal with his subs this year if the starters aren't making an impact.

The only think I'm worried about with Braman as an every down LB is his patience. But on passing downs, I'd like to see him get some rush opportunities. I think he'd be good in those spots.
 
Uncle Rico said:
not so sure that its as simple as weight, instincts or position. I happen to think he doesn't seem to have it upstairs. Nothing will get you doghoused or ****canned faster than missing assignments on the field. Put him on special teams, point him in the direction of the runner and and set him free, that's what he does best.
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Those are the same qualities that situational pass rushers throughout the league have...Fair criticism of Wade etc for not mixing in a really quick fast guy in obvious pass rushing situations to go get that guy standing 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

All the setting edges and understanding the defense does not preclude that guy from 5-10 snaps when there is a 90% plus chance of the team passing.
 
For those criticizing Braman's mental capacity, special teams is not for the dumb. A lot of it is just want to and a bit of craziness, but there are obviously responsibilities on special teams. Big responsibilities because one mistake can cost the team big time.

For those that don't know, you have to be disciplined in your lanes when you're running down the field. And most special teams will have a certain direction that you want to go around blockers..Either avoid right, or avoid left...That is because if you have two guys avoiding blocks in different directions you will create a huge hole. And then when you get withing 5 yards of the ball carrier you are taught to break down. There's a bunch of other stuff too..

Basically, Braman is not just some idiot out there running around with rocks in his head just being crazy on special teams. I'm not saying it's as mentally challenging as being on defense, but for him to be as good as he is on special teams it does show that he pays attention in meetings/practice and is able to apply it to games.
 
I've seen the guy get what 5 sacks in a game? Run down the field with no helmet and make the tackle (freaking awesome by the way) but what I don't see is what goes on at practice, film room or meetings and I can only suspect that the coaches have their reservations for good reason. I get that you can load up a physical freak on the outside and let her rip, but offenses will get hip to that pretty fast. I don't know, I hope ya'll are right and he does take that next step, his measurables were never the things in question IMO.
 
Uncle Rico said:
I've seen the guy get what 5 sacks in a game? Run down the field with no helmet and make the tackle (freaking awesome by the way) but what I don't see is what goes on at practice, film room or meetings and I can only suspect that the coaches have their reservations for good reason. I get that you can load up a physical freak on the outside and let her rip, but offenses will get hip to that pretty fast. I don't know, I hope ya'll are right and he does take that next step, his measurables were never the things in question IMO.
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When was this? :thinking:
 
I feel this is the best group of coaches in Texan franchise history & would be in the mix of best in the league if they can develop then exploit the talents of a player like Bramen. I believe he (they-coaches) WILL get it done!
 
I hope he's capabale enough to be a solid back-up. Our LB corps was decimated last season, so hopefully we have some depth their now. No more Barret Ruud's please.
 
beerlover said:
I feel this is the best group of coaches in Texan franchise history & would be in the mix of best in the league if they can develop then exploit the talents of a player like Braman. I believe he (they-coaches) WILL get it done!
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We have, offensively. Myers, Brisiel, Arian, Walter, even Casey all produced above their draft status. I'd say even OD has produced above his draft status. We just need to get that kind of production on the defensive side of the ball.

Quin was one. McCain is another. Everybody else was either a first or second round pick. We need to get production out of Jamison, Crick, Braman, Sharpton, etc.....

TexanSam said:
No more Barret Ruud's please.
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I thought Barret Ruud was our best ILB after Cushing & Sharpton. I like Dobbins, but I'd rather have brought Ruud back.
 
thunderkyss said:
We have, offensively. Myers, Brisiel, Arian, Walter, even Casey all produced above their draft status...

Quin was one. McCain is another. Everybody else was either a first or second round pick. We need to get production out of Jamison, Crick, Braman, Sharpton, etc.....
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My (etc...) is NoFlyZone Harris. We traded back into the second to get him. Coaches' son jibber, jibber and whatever else. The scouts and management saw something to make that trade up.

I've watched many folks here being down hard on the guy and I can't really get into that camp. No Kool-Aid here, he was junk when he was thrust into action in the beginning. I saw improvement as he was allowed playing time. I'd say his improvement was greater than McCain's regression and MUCH BETTER than Keo's improvement. If McCain can come back and be V.2011, no sweat. I'm just stating that I think Brandon Harris has a much greater upside than Brice McCain.

There. I said it. :)

Probably right field reasoning here but that pre-game where CushMonster was micked-up and the two butted heads, Cush says "That's all you got Brice, C'mon!"
 
Jesus jumped up Christ, did somebody really say that they would have liked to bring back Ruud? That guy was a good 5 yards behind every pass play he had to cover, and not that great a run stopper, not a thumper by any means. yuck. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
 
HOU-TEX said:
When was this? :thinking:
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that preseason game that had everybody hootin' and hollerin', I didn't remember the appropriate #, hence the 'what' prior to me typing an exaggerated figure for impact. Didn't think that It was a big deal, or needed research behind it since its a 3rd stringer that's in question, but yeah nice to break it down every once in a while. Thanks!
 
Ruud was a better player last year than Bradie James. I'd have taken Ruud back as depth and camp competition.
 
Uncle Rico said:
that preseason game that had everybody hootin' and hollerin', I didn't remember the appropriate #, hence the 'what' prior to me typing an exaggerated figure for impact. Didn't think that It was a big deal, or needed research behind it since its a 3rd stringer that's in question, but yeah nice to break it down every once in a while. Thanks!
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In the regular season over two years, Bryan Braman has 0.5 sacks, 8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 TD.

The most sacks he's gotten in a pre-season game is only 1.5 and that was in his first ever pre-season game in 2011.

So... he hasn't gotten CLOSE to 5 sacks in a game, not even a pre-season game.
 
drs23 said:
My (etc...) is NoFlyZone Harris. We traded back into the second to get him. Coaches' son jibber, jibber and whatever else. The scouts and management saw something to make that trade up.

I've watched many folks here being down hard on the guy and I can't really get into that camp.
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We definitely need to get production out of Harris, that should be a no brainer. He was a second round pick.

My point was if we're going to talk about how good our defensive coaching staff is, we can't continue to base it on the production from our blue chips alone.

I was surprised they signed McCain to such a sweet deal. Makes me think they don't share our view of Brandon Harris.

Can't have enough CB depth, I know, but you had Harris on the cheap & we've still got Carmichael & some other scrub.
 
thunderkyss said:
We definitely need to get production out of Harris, that should be a no brainer. He was a second round pick.

My point was if we're going to talk about how good our defensive coaching staff is, we can't continue to base it on the production from our blue chips alone.

I was surprised they signed McCain to such a sweet deal. Makes me think they don't share our view of Brandon Harris.

Can't have enough CB depth, I know, but you had Harris on the cheap & we've still got Carmichael & some other scrub.
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I think they re signed McCain because it was the smartest thing to do. One injury to one of your top three corners and if you didn't have McCain, all of a sudden your db's are a major weakness/unknown. If someone goes down now, you at least have guys that you feel could bump up one slot and not completely fail.

Plus, I think Harris and McCain have different styles.
 
Uncle Rico said:
that preseason game that had everybody hootin' and hollerin', I didn't remember the appropriate #, hence the 'what' prior to me typing an exaggerated figure for impact. Didn't think that It was a big deal, or needed research behind it since its a 3rd stringer that's in question, but yeah nice to break it down every once in a while. Thanks!
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Hey, if you're ok with throwing BS in your post without knowing or looking it up, fine, knock yourself out. I'll just hide you so I'll never have to 2nd guess myself when you post a bunch of hogwash.

Gooday, :tiphat:
 
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