scourge
Digression King
I cant blame him, but anyways, not sure if this had been posted, but...
from espn.com
from espn.com
HOUSTON (AP) -- Marcus Coleman admits his emotions were "kind of mixed" when the Houston Texans switched his job title to safety by drafting hotshot cornerback Dunta Robinson with the 10th overall pick.
On the field Monday for the first time since getting the news last month, though, the eight-year veteran pronounced himself fully committed to learning the position and helping revive a defense that ranked next-to-last in 2003.
"I knew at some point in my career I was going to move," said Coleman, who turns 30 next week. "Everybody has their own timeline, their own kind of plan. I'm just a year earlier, and it's really not a big deal. They need me in that position and think it's an upgrade, so I'll gladly move back there."
Coleman talked at length about his new duties as Houston's starting free safety, but he declined to discuss his misdemeanor drunken driving charge stemming from a minor one-car wreck May 6, leaving that to his attorneys.
On Monday, he was committed to relearning the position that made him a high school star in Dallas and then at Texas Tech.
During the first of 19 spring coaching sessions, Coleman spent nearly two hours of practice adjusting to his new job, including making defensive calls to get teammates positioned correctly in front of him.
"Once you get back there a couple of times you get the feel of everything, seeing everyone move around as opposed to just one or two guys," Coleman said, referring to "the island" of being a cornerback isolated on a receiver.
"It'll be an ongoing process, but Marcus is a good athlete and has the size and ball skills and most of the things you look for in a free safety," said Texans coach Dom Capers. "It went well for the first day with Dunta Robinson at right corner and Marcus at safety, so it's a good start."
The addition of Robinson and Coleman's move mark two of five positional changes on defense.
Left outside linebacker Kailee Wong moves to the other side to make room for either first-round draft choice Jason Babin or second-year player Antwan Peek. Linebacker Charlie Clemons no longer is listed on the roster and is expected to be a released just one year into a four-year contract, impairing the Texans' salary cap by $975,000 this season.
Also, the Texans landed former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Robaire Smith in free agency. He'll start at defensive end in Houston's 3-4 alignment.
On offense, things were much more businesslike. Right guard Todd Wade, Houston's other major free agent plum from the Miami Dolphins, is the only major newcomer.
"We're not going to have to trot rookies out there to start the season," said quarterback David Carr, who was one of a bevy of rookies to struggle through the Texans' inaugural 2002 season. "I feel comfortable with everyone in the huddle. I've started games with those guys." Notes
Every veteran attended the voluntary workout except for OG Milford Brown, who was on bereavement leave. ... The Texans, who had the league's longest injured reserve list last year, welcomed most of them back to the practice field. Among them were CB Aaron Glenn, DE Gary Walker and QB Tony Banks. The biggest question mark for the upcoming season is DT Seth Payne, who the Texans are hopeful -- but not sure -- will be recovered from multiple left knee surgeries.