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HPF:Paradigm Shift

Wolf

Wolf

100% Texan
Note: This is seventh in a series of college prospect profiles in preparation for the 2006 NFL Draft next April. This time we take a look at the top five prospects on the defensive line.

The Texans’ coaching change will have a drastic effect on the team’s defensive line if, as expected, they change their base defense from Dom Capers’ 3-4 to a 4-3. After four years of looking for massive block-eaters, the Texans’ front office will be paying added attention to the pass rushing and playmaking abilities of the D-linemen that they scout.

The transition to an even front should create a glut of defensive tackles as Seth Payne, Gary Walker, Robaire Smith, and Travis Johnson would all likely play inside in that scheme. Walker and Johnson in particular should thrive in a system that requires them to penetrate and disrupt rather than controlling the line and keeping blockers off the linebackers. The vets in this group will earn some hefty base salaries in 2006 ($4 million for Walker, $3.4 million for Smith, and $2.8 million for Payne), and since only two of them will play at a time, that means a big chunk of the salary cap is going to be standing on the sideline on any given defensive play.
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http://www.houstonprofootball.com/draft/
 
If anyone can answer this, I would be much oblidged:

Could the Texans' trade any one of the vets (Walker, Smith, or Payne) and not take a salary cap hit. I'm afraid I don't know the ins and outs of the whole salary issue.
 
bigTEXan8 said:
If anyone can answer this, I would be much oblidged:

Could the Texans' trade any one of the vets (Walker, Smith, or Payne) and not take a salary cap hit. I'm afraid I don't know the ins and outs of the whole salary issue.
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I don't think so, Walker and Smith are signed through 2009 and Payne through 2008. If we traded them in the last year of their contract, there would be no cap hit. I am not 100% sure, but it all has to do with how their contract is arranged as far as base salary/bonus goes. I am sure one of the gurus on here could explain it better.
 
Well, take them in and out....no excuses for getting tired in the 4th quarter. Less time on the field, more maximum effort and no running game wearing them down. So, it's not a total lost cause.
 
why not play gary walker at LE? i think he played there in jacksonville, and its not like we have anyone better to play at end.

Babin/Peek - Johnson - Smith - Walker
 
travfrancis said:
why not play gary walker at LE? i think he played there in jacksonville, and its not like we have anyone better to play at end.

Babin/Peek - Johnson - Smith - Walker
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DE's in a 4-3 arent 300 pounds...
 
Be careful what you wish for.

If you want them to go to a 4-3, and from what I hear, that's what's going to happen, then brace yourselves. No way, no how, are they going to keep 4 high dollar defensive tackles, all weighing over 300 pounds. Casserly has said it himself on the radio on more than one occasion. "If we go to a 4-3, we will have a surplus of defensive tackles".

Wanna take a guess on what the word "surplus" means to capologist Charley?

You have have Walker, Payne, Johnson, and Smith. Which two will be the next Sharper and Glenn?

:stirpot: :goodbad:
 
Almost Anybody said:
Be careful what you wish for.

If you want them to go to a 4-3, and from what I hear, that's what's going to happen, then brace yourselves. No way, no how, are they going to keep 4 high dollar defensive tackles, all weighing over 300 pounds. Casserly has said it himself on the radio on more than one occasion. "If we go to a 4-3, we will have a surplus of defensive tackles".

Wanna take a guess on what the word "surplus" means to capologist Charley?

You have have Walker, Payne, Johnson, and Smith. Which two will be the next Sharper and Glenn?

:stirpot: :goodbad:
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My money is that both Payne and Smith will be cut loose. They spent all this effort getting the right players for the 3-4 . . . but like Casserly said . . . you can't have 4 highly paid DTs if your going to a 4-3.

I just get this feeling a baby is being thrown out with the bathwater?:shrug:
 
I agree Payne would be one cut,because of injuries.But i believe Walker would be the other due to his age and seeming to get knicked up in every game last year.Smith is still relatively young and TJ is just getting started.
 
whiskeyrbl said:
I agree Payne would be one cut,because of injuries.But i believe Walker would be the other due to his age and seeming to get knicked in every game last year.Smith is still relatively young and TJ is just getting started.
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I agree it should be Payne and Walker, but I think it's going to be the two that will have the least effect on the cap. But no matter which ones he chooses, the cap hit will be huge.
 
Guys, if we are unable to unload Payne or Walker, it would only be one of them. There is such a thing as depth to worry about. One will go, 3 will stay. From quality of play last year and age, Payne will probably the one to go, if they can get rid of him.
 
run-david-run said:
Guys, if we are unable to unload Payne or Walker, it would only be one of them. There is such a thing as depth to worry about. One will go, 3 will stay. From quality of play last year and age, Payne will probably the one to go, if they can get rid of him.
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IF one is cut/traded I think it would be Walker .... he's more expensive and is oft injured and has underperformed the last couple of seasons .... Then again he can play DE on the strong side ....
 
We will sink this franchise further if we switch to a 4-3. Everyone knows that Fangio was incompetent in the 3-4, and also the 4-3. If we had ran the 4-3 under Fangio, you can bet your house our defense would have faired no better. Bring in an agreesive 3-4 coordinator to fix this ship.
 
The only problem with this is in a 3-4 half of our defensive personell are playing out of their normal positions,add to the fact that those i saw interviewed wanted to switch to a 4-3 so their strengths could be utilized.And if i'm not mistaken i believe management said we were switching to a 4-3,with a few 3-4 sets.
 
SESupergenius said:
Bring in an agreesive 3-4 coordinator to fix this ship.
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Why do I continue to see posters calling for us to bring in a coordinator to run the 3-4?? Didn't we already hire Richard Smith? Did I miss something?
 
Jack some people do not pay attention to Texans news. Anyway the thought on surplus of DTs and the such will be put to rest if Walker restructures his contract. As far as players go Smith and TJ will likely turn into our best DTs. They are our youngest and most athletic out of the top group being mentioned. Walker is the likely one to get cut and then they will likely retain the kid from the last two games that came off the practice squad. Also, look for Ioane and Deloach to be finding new places to play.
Babin and Peek can play weakside DE, but we still need a strong side pass rusher that will maybe command prescence and take pressure off of Babin and Peek. Hopefully a possible trade down and Mario Williams. This year will not be an overall switch to a 43 defense but a hybid of the 43 and 34 similar to what Miami ran this year.
 
Jack Bauer said:
Why do I continue to see posters calling for us to bring in a coordinator to run the 3-4?? Didn't we already hire Richard Smith? Did I miss something?
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He still had to hire positional coaches at that point, we need coaches familiar with the 3-4, calm down there.
 
SESupergenius said:
He still had to hire positional coaches at that point, we need coaches familiar with the 3-4, calm down there.
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The post (yours) I questioned directly was 12 hours ago and it referenced the coordinator. That is why I asked the question. I am not freaking out, I just thought I missed something. :)
 
Fiddy said:
DE's in a 4-3 arent 300 pounds...
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I think Walker could play some strong-side DE part-time but we need a full time solution. Walker has legit pass rushing skills, much more so than anyone else on this current line. Williamson is ideal for us in this draft since this position is a humongous need now. If we don't pursue one in FA I bet we see one first day. Our DE's are way too small as a unit if you throw out the 3-4 ends. No way RoSmith or Payne or Johnson can play and end but Walker can get you by in a pinch imo.
 
Vinny said:
I think Walker could play some strong-side DE part-time but we need a full time solution. Walker has legit pass rushing skills, much more so than anyone else on this current line. Williamson is ideal for us in this draft since this position is a humongous need now. If we don't pursue one in FA I bet we see one first day. Our DE's are way too small as a unit if you throw out the 3-4 ends. No way RoSmith or Payne or Johnson can play and end but Walker can get you by in a pinch imo.
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Well you said that the DEs are too small, what about our DTs? Are they undersized, or just right? I think that they are just right, but can they play that DT after being in the 3-4 for four years. Also, who is Williamson...can you get me a team or a link to that?
 
bigTEXan8 said:
Well you said that the DEs are too small, what about our DTs? Are they undersized, or just right? I think that they are just right, but can they play that DT after being in the 3-4 for four years. Also, who is Williamson...can you get me a team or a link to that?
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The problem....Our DT's are DT's and our DE's are DT's. Our entire line consists of DT's. Babin and Peek and the other OLB's are called 'tweeners' for a reason. This should end up as one of our team strengths next year. We should have quality and depth at DT.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/de/mariowilliams.html
 
Vinny said:
This should end up as one of our team strengths next year. We should have quality and depth at DT.
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I'm thinking this will be a good thing. It seems to me like ever since our inception our guys on the DLine always drop like flies throughout the season. Then we're paper thin in that area at season's end.
 
Julius Peppers is 283 pounds.

*edit*... now that I think about it.. that doesnt really add anything to the conversation.
 
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