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From what your un-trained eyes have seen, is Amobi-Wan a bust?
the signs are concerning. But i'll wait to see how things settle out with a more stable supporting cast and more time to develop and season the "new attitude" and proposed "new d scheme."
I'm very critical of his play but I'd say it's too early in lieu of his age. It's not his fault the Texans made him a 10th overall pick. He gets a pretty nice apprentice wage though...must be nice. Now, I'm very concerned with his inability to anchor and sustain his gap integrity. That's a huge problem with a DT. It's like saying our QB is coming along but the only problem he has is he can't throw. I thought he shot gaps better as a rookie but I think the NFL Guards have figured out that he can't bull rush so it makes him too one-dimensional as a DT. Frankly, if I have a one dimensional DT, I'd rather him be a run stopper than a gap shooter.
Not to totally dog on Ak0ye so I'll say something positive about his play....His one consistent strength is that he is an asset when the play is away from him because he has the foot speed to be an above average player laterally. That's a big part of having lighter, quicker linemen. If you can seal off all your cut back lanes then your linebackers can tee off more recklessly and be more decisive about the direction they are headed when they know the DT's are right on their heels cleaning up the cut backs.
A one dimensional DT can be effective, if he's exceptional in that dimension. John Randle was an exceptional 3 technique DT, because he had exceptional quickness. I thought the Texans were getting that type of DT in 0-koye. Other than a handful of games at the beginning of his career, I haven't seen a glimpse of that Randle type ability.Frankly, if I have a one dimensional DT, I'd rather him be a run stopper than a gap shooter.
A one dimensional DT can be effective, if he's exceptional in that dimension. John Randle was an exceptional 3 technique DT, because he had exceptional quickness. I thought the Texans were getting that type of DT in 0-koye. Other than a handful of games at the beginning of his career, I haven't seen a glimpse of that Randle type ability.
http://www.texanstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1235180&postcount=9
And BTW, purposely butchering a player's name in order to make some kind of statement is lame, classless, and disrespectful, in my opinion.
I'm not even sure I get the pun....0-koye?
I'm very critical of his play but I'd say it's too early in lieu of his age. It's not his fault the Texans made him a 10th overall pick.
I believe it was supposed to be Ok0ye - zero in the middle. And meh ... it happens to every player that fans talk about. I guess the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.
I just got finished watching the replay of the game on NFL Network. I focused primarily on the o-line and d-line to see what kind of problems the team was having stopping the run and running the ball. The one thing that stood out to me was how bad Amobi Okoye played. I mean, he flat out stunk. He had no burst off the ball, wasn't strong at the point of attack, was blown off the line of scrimmage several times, played too high, and showed absolutely no penetration. No motor at all!
...
But, I also watched his pad level, his burst off the line, his strength at the point of attack when the Saints ran the ball at him. It was not good. He was consistently pushed off the ball and was a non-factor. I saw at least three times when they weren't running a stunt and Amobi had one man blocking him on pass protection. His man wore him out every time.
For a split second, I thought the title read "Is Amobi a robot?".
Smith has gotten lots of kudos for the good things he's done but seriously, this wasn't a good move for this team, at that time, and with those needs. I don't think anybody can truly refute that.
A robot would have made some noise by now or, if he proved incapable of doing so he'd have upgraded himself to get the job done.
Amobi has done neither of these things so far and therefore I conclude he is not a robot or even a cyborg sent from the future to sack Peyton Manning into oblivion. He's just a very physically gifted young man who was taken far too soon in the draft.
Sorry Herv, I can refute it. To say this wasn't a good move for the team in hindsight two years after the draft is a no brainer. But I was here, and so were you on that draft day, and #10 on the board was not considered a reach by anyone.
If all the GMs had crystal balls in their pockets that day, Amobi wouldn't have been drafted in the 3rd round, much less than the first.
But no one did have a crystal ball that day. All they had to go on was potential. That's why first round picks are crap shoots. But to say that Smith didn't make a good move for this team, at that time . . . yup, I gotta refute that.
Sorry Herv, I can refute it. To say this wasn't a good move for the team in hindsight two years after the draft is a no brainer. But I was here, and so were you on that draft day, and #10 on the board was not considered a reach by anyone.
If all the GMs had crystal balls in their pockets that day, Amobi wouldn't have been drafted in the 3rd round, much less than the first.
But no one did have a crystal ball that day. All they had to go on was potential. That's why first round picks are crap shoots. But to say that Smith didn't make a good move for this team, at that time . . . yup, I gotta refute that.
Im refuting youre rufute. There where just as many people (fans and pros) that thought it was a bad move. Most here (including myself) wanted Willis. Go back and reread the draft threads about him and you will find many who thought his age was a concern. Remember the guy on ESPN licking his hand and saying OL are going to be licking there chops when they line up across from a 19 year old. At the time and still to this day this team needs high draft picks to contribute quickly. Its not like we have the luxury of abundance quality depth where we can draft guys and wait for them to grow into roles.
They DID NOT draft Amobi Akoye with the 10th pick to wait for him to grow into a role. Where are you guys getting this stuff? How do you know they didn't draft him thinking he could be an impact player immediately?
Just because you wanted Willis means didley squat. Hell, even I wanted Willis at the time. And no, I don't need to go back and read those threads. YOU do if you think it that most people thought it was a bad move. Revisionist history once again.
then his contract is up and what did he accomplish for the Texans?
Knowing when the Texans should gamble and when they should play it safe and make the obvious selection has been a problem from day one here through two GM's and a pair of coaches. This was another case of that happening. It made no sense for a number of reasons.
That thing's awesome.I have nothing to add to this thread. Just playing with my WAcom tablet
This is pretty cool.
What problem? We're fans. What we say and when we say it has no bearing. What Kubiak and Smith do, and the results they get, is the only thing that counts. If Ok0ye (I prefer eriadoc's wordplay) busts, that's on Kubiak & Smith. Not the fans. No matter what their 2007 prognostication's were.There is still a problem here with the hindsight prospective.
What problem? We're fans. What we say and when we say it has no bearing. What Kubiak and Smith do, and the results they get, is the only thing that counts. If Ok0ye (I prefer eriadoc's wordplay) busts, that's on Kubiak & Smith. Not the fans. No matter what their 2007 prognostication's were.
What problem? We're fans. What we say and when we say it has no bearing. What Kubiak and Smith do, and the results they get, is the only thing that counts. If Ok0ye (I prefer eriadoc's wordplay) busts, that's on Kubiak & Smith. Not the fans. No matter what their 2007 prognostication's were.
I want the Texans to win, Marcus. Unlike the Sunshine Club, I couldn't care less who the head coach and GM are that makes that happen.You want Kubiak and Smith fired, Lucky.
Sorry Herv, I can refute it. To say this wasn't a good move for the team in hindsight two years after the draft is a no brainer. But I was here, and so were you on that draft day, and #10 on the board was not considered a reach by anyone.
If all the GMs had crystal balls in their pockets that day, Amobi wouldn't have been drafted in the 3rd round, much less than the first.
But no one did have a crystal ball that day. All they had to go on was potential. That's why first round picks are crap shoots. But to say that Smith didn't make a good move for this team, at that time . . . yup, I gotta refute that.
I don't see how. I mean, sure it is no doubt hindsight to say it was a bad move but at the moment he was picked I was sitting in a room full of Texans fans including Vinny and there was a definite "WTF?" moment there. Nobody freaked out over it or leaped directly into denial but the "I hope the Texans know what they're doing" vibe was very much present that afternoon. Vinny was there and I know he recalls the 15-20 minutes of light hearted joking about taking Okoye. There was lots of joking about what his nickname would be but there was clear concern about picking a guy that young that high.
You didn't need a crystal ball to know that grabbing a 19 year old with the 10th pick was a bit of a leap of faith. We had just taken Mario Williams in 2006, Travis "The Slug" Johnson in 2005, and the unforgettable force that was Jason Babin in 2004. Three first round picks on the DL in three years and Smith opts to make it four in a row with Okoye? We didn't need linebackers? Patrick Willis went right after Okoye. We didn't need cornerbacks? Darrell Revis went four picks after that. Our running backs were set? We didn't need Marshawn Lynch who went at the 12th spot?
I knew all of those guys names on draft day in 2007. I'm sure you did too. It was a big reach and arguably less of a need than any of those other positions I just named. Lack of a credible running back, secondary, or linebacker beyond DeMeco Ryans are all perfectly valid needs that could have been addressed with safer choices than a 19 year old "Phenom" like Amobi who built his legend at Louisville in the Big East.
Once the team has picked it's not like they can throw him back in and pick again. Once the team has picked we all get on board and hope for the best. Hindsight is 20/20. The first round is full of gambles. Knowing when the Texans should gamble and when they should play it safe and make the obvious selection has been a problem from day one here through two GM's and a pair of coaches. This was another case of that happening. It made no sense for a number of reasons.
Water under the bridge though. He's here now and I sure hope this is the year we see the Amobi Okoye that we hoped to see.