Wolf
100% Texan
LZ report
http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2010/07/conner_barwin_paging_connor_ba.htmlLet me just get this on your computer screen and right in your face as soon as I possibly can. Connor Barwin might just be the most important piece on the defensive side of the ball this year.
Stopping the run became much easier with the addition of Brian Cushing and Bernard Pollard last year and Antonio Smith and Mario Williams are built to play the run pretty effectively for their position. The problem is that the Texans finished 25th in the league in sacks after finishing 27th the year before. The Texans added five sacks to their total (from 25 to 30), but that's still not good enough when you look at the money and draft picks they have put into their defensive line.
This year things are going to get even more dangerous for the Texans. Dunta Robinson isn't the cover corner he used to be, but his departure this year will still weaken the secondary as they wait for Kareem Jackson to become a player and gain more experience. The best way to cover up for an inexperienced or average secondary is to rush the passer well. I've seen some teams with average to below average cornerbacks and these teams made the playoffs because their pass rush was so good (Indianapolis Colts, anyone?) and their secondary didn't have the cover as long.
Amobi Okoye hasn't proven he can consistently rush the passer, but at a lighter weight this year, I'm hopeful. I like the quickness of third-rounder Earl Mitchell at defensive tackle but he's still a rookie. Antonio Smith isn't much of a pass rusher as a defensive end, but he does create matchup problems when he is bumped down inside. Mario only had 9.5 sacks, but he should be better this year; however, Mario simply isn't a classic pass-rusher and I don't know if he ever will be. He'll post the numbers, but I'm not sure he can terrorize quarterbacks and left tackles.
Believe it or not, Barwin could be the guy who turns the Texans pass rush around. Last year in training camp, you could see that Barwin had terrific feet and much better quickness around the corner than the player some like to compare him to - Jason Babin. I thought Barwin looked terrific in the preseason.