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Troy Nolan

I think the pick, if for any reason, was made not because they need help covering WRs from safeties but to have another enforcer SS type to replace Ferguson or help special teams. They don't exactly count on much coverage coming from the back with the personnel they keep and bring in and they did improve special teams quite a bit speed and size wise this offseason. From day 1 they set out to improve depth and have almost always done so. Plus, it's only a 7th rounder and they've had great success with them anyway. I'm gonna do what I always do with this guy every year...not expect much and either be pleasantly surprised or not super disappointed. He's got all the ability to be the next David Anderson or the next Brandon Harrison.
 
10 INT - 5 TD - 25 games at Arizona St.

Those are stats of a ballhawking safety...seem to always be in the right place at the right time. I like this pick a lot. I hope he turns out to be the same playmaker for the Texans as he was in college.
 
Marcus said:
The point . . . is that he's not fast enough to cover NFL wide receivers.
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The Rams Oshiomogho Atogwe ran a 4.62 40 prior to being drafted in 2005. Like Nolan, Atogwe was considered a smart, instinctive PAC 10 Safety who lacked top speed. All Atogwe has done the past 3 seasons is cause 27 turnovers.

I'm not saying that because Troy Nolan played in the PAC 10 and ran a 4.6+ 40 time, he's the next Atogwe. What I'm saying is that running a 4.6+ 40 won't preclude Nolan from becoming a success in the NFL. Free Safety is a cerebral position, where quickly diagnosing a play can more than make up a tenth of a second in stopwatch speed. And if you're truly concerned about speed at the Free Safety position, it must be mortifying to see Eugene Wilson at the backend of the defense. It's probably been quite a while since he has run a sub 4.6 40.
 
Some interesting safety 40's from this year's combine:

Kevin Akins
Boston College
6-2
218
4.83

David Bruton
Notre Dame
6-2
219
4.46

Patrick Chung
Oregon
5-11
212
4.47

Chris Clemons
Clemson
6-0
208
4.41

Emanuel Cook
South Carolina
5-9
197
4.61

Louis Delmas
Western Michigan
5-11
202
4.49

Kevin Ellison
USC
6-1
227
4.82

Courtney Greene
Rutgers
6-0
212
4.54

Michael Hamlin
Clemson
6-2
214
4.60

Nic Harris
Oklahoma
6-2
234
4.78

Stephen Hodge
TCU
6-0
234
4.49

Lendy Holmes
Oklahoma
6-0
206
4.71

Rashad Johnson
Alabama
5-11
203
4.54

Sherrod Martin
Troy
6-1
198
4.52

Darcel McBath
Texas Tech
6-0
198
4.57

Marcus McClinton
Kentucky
6-0
210
4.56

William Moore
Missouri
6-0
221
4.53

Troy Nolan
Arizona State
6-1
207
4.62

Derek Pegues
Miss State
5-10
199
4.62

Jamarca Sanford
Ole Miss
5-10
214
4.48

C.J. Spillman
Marshall
6-0
197
4.50

Curtis Taylor
LSU
6-2
209
4.64

Chip Vaughn
Wake Forest
6-1
221
4.51

Otis Wiley
Michigan State
6-1
213
DNP
Click to expand...
 
The 40 at the combine is overrated. Get those players running in full pads and maybe it'll be worth something. A lot of players have game-speed that doesn't translate to track running.

I haven't seen enough of Nolan to say whether I think he has the speed, but he seems to have a playmaking ability we've never had at safety.
 
Lucky said:
What I'm saying is that running a 4.6+ 40 won't preclude Nolan from becoming a success in the NFL. Free Safety is a cerebral position, where quickly diagnosing a play can more than make up a tenth of a second in stopwatch speed. And if you're truly concerned about speed at the Free Safety position, it must be mortifying to see Eugene Wilson at the backend of the defense. It's probably been quite a while since he has run a sub 4.6 40.
Click to expand...

If I remember correctly it was said that Demeco did not have great speed at LB. But he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Intelligence is a wonderful thing in the NFL. Makes .1 sec disappear on the field.

I have watched the video of the draft picks and what stands out play after play is awareness of what is going on around him, where all the receivers are, where the ball is and he seems to be in the right place at the right time to make plays - not just a few plays but almost all plays.

I know that the players highlight reels are just that - highlights of their best play, but this reel was more of the team footage as you can see the whole field. What I see is a player with a nose for the football.

I don't think we should be criticizing these guys play until you actually see them play at the NFL level. Look at what the Patriots have done by drafting intelligent, athletic players the past several years. Kind of looks like that is what the Texans are also doing - drafting intelligent, athletic players.

Looking like athletic ability combined with stupidity is being phased out. Athletic ability will not get you far when you are serving time in jail or suspended for being stupid.
 
Grams said:
If I remember correctly it was said that Demeco did not have great speed at LB. But he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Intelligence is a wonderful thing in the NFL. Makes .1 sec disappear on the field.

I have watched the video of the draft picks and what stands out play after play is awareness of what is going on around him, where all the receivers are, where the ball is and he seems to be in the right place at the right time to make plays - not just a few plays but almost all plays.

I know that the players highlight reels are just that - highlights of their best play, but this reel was more of the team footage as you can see the whole field. What I see is a player with a nose for the football.

I don't think we should be criticizing these guys play until you actually see them play at the NFL level. Look at what the Patriots have done by drafting intelligent, athletic players the past several years. Kind of looks like that is what the Texans are also doing - drafting intelligent, athletic players.

Looking like athletic ability combined with stupidity is being phased out. Athletic ability will not get you far when you are serving time in jail or suspended for being stupid.
Click to expand...

Great point.:goodpost:
 
Marcus said:
The point . . . is that he's not fast enough to cover NFL wide receivers.
Click to expand...

Not true. There are plenty of safeties in the NFL running in the 4.6 range. Mike Brown, former starting safety for the Bears, never ran faster than 4.68 in college.

A safety who excels at reading and interpreting keys, reacts quickly and takes efficient angles to the football will do just fine in the NFL running a 4.65. You don't necessarily want Nolan covering slot receivers man to man, but he would be fine taking the deep middle or bracketing a receiver in tandem with a cornerback. If Nolan fails to succeed in the League, I doubt that speed will be the primary factor.
 
Texsker said:
Not true. There are plenty of safeties in the NFL running in the 4.6 range. Mike Brown, former starting safety for the Bears, never ran faster than 4.68 in college.

A safety who excels at reading and interpreting keys, reacts quickly and takes efficient angles to the football will do just fine in the NFL running a 4.65. You don't necessarily want Nolan covering slot receivers man to man, but he would be fine taking the deep middle or bracketing a receiver in tandem with a cornerback. If Nolan fails to succeed in the League, I doubt that speed will be the primary factor.
Click to expand...

IMO We shouldnt blitz our nickel anyway. I'd rather send the front six and force a bad throw.
 
mexican_texan said:
The 40 at the combine is overrated. Get those players running in full pads and maybe it'll be worth something. A lot of players have game-speed that doesn't translate to track running.

I haven't seen enough of Nolan to say whether I think he has the speed, but he seems to have a playmaking ability we've never had at safety.
Click to expand...

Agreed! ...the only combine info worth having is what you can learn about a guy from his position drills. and even those don't tell you if a guy is really a football player or just a gym rat.

Can he tackle? Can he cover? Can he read a route and jump it for a pick?
Does he love the game?
that's what I wanna know.
 
Marcus said:
The point . . . is that he's not fast enough to cover NFL wide receivers.
Click to expand...

Can't really add too much more then what's already been said but, unless my safety runs like Landry I don't want them covering guys full-time.

I think it's probable he makes the team considering our lack of real depth at safety. I like what Wilson brings to the table but I can't help but wonder if he turns into another Will Demps. Solid his first year but something soured the staff on him. I'm not sure I'm sold on Barber either but the staff seemed to be talking him up prior to the draft if i remember right.
 
Goldensilence said:
Can't really add too much more then what's already been said but, unless my safety runs like Landry I don't want them covering guys full-time.
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Even with a guy like Landry, and Palamalu(sp)......... with that kind of speed, you have to wonder why they are not CBs. Chances are they can't cover a WR anyway, regardless of speed.

For me, a Safeties speed is good for blitzing, and covering ground....... playing in the outfield, where they have the ability to make a play on the ball.
 
Nolan is a very active player who plays faster than his time speed.
However, his ability to diagnose plays is highly questionable.
He needs to learn to synchronize with his teammates better, taking correct pursue angle, avoiding arm tackling players with lower base/gravity.
He needs to remember that as a safety, his most important task is to guard against the long pass/TD.

Grading some of his games:

UCLA - Hot. One INT due to mistake by QB who was chased around by the D-line often.

UGA - Cold. Faggins 2.0 vs. Buffalo (even though Stafford wasn't 100% and couldn't make all of his throws.)

Oregon St. - Chill. Despite recording an INT (ball thrown straight to him in triple coverage - by a backup QB), still managed to make Faggins looks like a competent defender. Ouch!
 
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