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Hebron "Loni" Fangupo, DT

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My new favorite hopeful to make the team Texans signee is DT Hebron (hee-bron) "Loni" Fangupo (fan-goo-poe) -- not sure which name he prefers(?). Had a bit of a rocky childhood & trouble integrating in the U.S. until he found football: http://jameschoynews.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/qa-loni-talks-about-life-football-and-beyond/

lonia.jpg


Fangupo left USC of his own accord and landed at BYU looking for a safer environment for him and his then new wife:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90-aaxK8YwU&


The likeable (off the field) 6'1"/323 mauler was one of the keys to BYU's tough defense that finished 2011 ranked 14th in the nation in total defense and 19th against the run. ...his strength is evident, as he is able to occupy two blockers with absolute ease at times. Strength is his whole game and will define his value and effectiveness at the next level:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F7r_HJ0E4E&

Here's some positives from a scouting report on Hebron: USC transfer with a year of experience in BYU's 3-4 defense... Ideal frame for a 3-4 nose tackle and has also played a lot of 5-technique for BYU... Gets good pop on his hand punch, has some natural power, stout player who uses his low center of gravity and squatty build to his advantage; solid anchor, is too strong to be moved around, space eater, can occupy multiple blockers, collapses running lanes, keeps linebackers clean and allows them to roam free into the backfield... Has some stack and shed potential, flashed good hand play and showed the ability to slip blocks... Gets skinny to split double teams, can fight his way into the backfield and can dominate versus the run... Mature, served a two-year mission in the Philippines prior to junior college; married, has overcome a lot of adversity in his football career... Plays with a lot of physicality and energy, has an unselfish attitude and is well-liked by teammates, good locker room guy. -- http://www.sidelinescouting.com/rankings/2012/dt/hebron-fangupo/

Combine Results
Height › 6006
Weight › 323
Arm › 32¾
Hand › 10⅝
40-Time › 5.18
Vertical › 31.5
Broad › 8'3"
Bench Press › 36
Shuttle › 4.62
Cone › 7.94

Add to all of the above, how can you not like saying Fangupo? Fangupo! Fangupo!!!

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This is the big cheeseburger eating mofo Vinny has been talking about for a few years.

I'll be watching him.
 
I just watched his videos and I'm impressed. Not only is one of the most powerful DT around, but he runs the field as well. I know who I'm going to be rooting for during the preseason.

I think we should shorten his name down to just "Fang"
 
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Damn he looks impressive as hell. Why wasn't he drafted?

He has surprising burst and quickness off the snap.

I'm excited to see what he can do. Not only could he make the team, but he could push for playing time IMO.

I just don't know if 7 d linemen are going to make this team.
 
Rey said:
Damn he looks impressive as hell. Why wasn't he drafted?

He has surprising burst and quickness off the snap.

I'm excited to see what he can do. Not only could he make the team, but he could push for playing time IMO.

I just don't know if 7 d linemen are going to make this team.
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I'm guessing his age (27) kept teams from drafting him. I think it's a mistake. If the guy can play what's it matter if you lose a few years. Considering how few draft picks in the later rounds stay in the NFL more than a few years you'd think someone would take a chance. I really can't see any other reason for him to have gone undrafted. Maybe it's a BYU thing. It seems nobody gets drafted from there anymore.
 
From NFL.com draft prospects page
Weaknesses
Fangupo is an extremely slow mover. He doesn't even show poor footwork; he shows no footwork. He is reliable only to come off the ball slowly and hold up blockers. His size, body type and injury history don't indicate that he will get better here.

Not to be negative, just pointing out that there ARE reasons guys like this fall through the draft without getting picked up. But hey, if you can play, you can play. If you are good at one thing (clog the lane, don't get moved) and that one thing is all you really have to do, then thats good enough for me. Some people are specialists and if they are good enough at what they specialize in then that just might be enough to get them a spot. I hope he turns out to be great.
 
Clamp said:
From NFL.com draft prospects page
Weaknesses
Fangupo is an extremely slow mover. He doesn't even show poor footwork; he shows no footwork. He is reliable only to come off the ball slowly and hold up blockers. His size, body type and injury history don't indicate that he will get better here.

Not to be negative, just pointing out that there ARE reasons guys like this fall through the draft without getting picked up. But hey, if you can play, you can play. If you are good at one thing (clog the lane, don't get moved) and that one thing is all you really have to do, then thats good enough for me. Some people are specialists and if they are good enough at what they specialize in then that just might be enough to get them a spot. I hope he turns out to be great.
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I read that and maybe because I watched the clips on my phone o couldn't always tell who he was, but in those clips from the ut game big dude was moving. (or at least it looked like it)

His measurables don't indicate a stiff either.

But when I watched that film I saw a guy that was surprisingly quick and showed a bit of explosion.

He played some DE too so it's not like he was just the fat guy I'm the middle. You have to have some athleticism to be a 3-4 end.
 
I saw him played in Austin against Texas, and he was a force against our OL and had quite a few 3rd and 4th down stops. Wouldn't surprised me if he made the 53 man roster and back up Cody and Mitchell. Might even move Mitchell to his natural position at DE.
 
I can't wait to see this guy in some preseason games and really hope that he can make the roster. He'll bring a different look to our short yardage/goal line defense.
 
After watching his available film, I think exactly what we need is an extremely slow mover DT that doesn't even show poor footwork......i.e., in fact, one that shows no footwork at all.:spin:
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
My bad....I WAS thinking of Mercilus

Haitian typically tall and thin:vincepalm:
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Haha! No worries.

Yeah, it's funny --- if the dude is almost as wide as he is tall, has a funny name, and attends either USC or BYU, he's very likely Tongan or Samoan.

Fangupo attended both of those schools, almost as if to underscore his heritage.
 
Rey said:
Damn he looks impressive as hell. Why wasn't he drafted?

He has surprising burst and quickness off the snap.

I'm excited to see what he can do. Not only could he make the team, but he could push for playing time IMO.

I just don't know if 7 d linemen are going to make this team.
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Age probably. I had him rated 5th round was stunned we got him UDFA. Seems like this would put an end to "Wade prefers lighter NT." No he has said he has been successful with both and played the hand he was dealt. I think we will see Cody moving on after his contract expires and have a rotation of Fangupo and Crick. We seem to be setting up players to train and then replace expiring vets to keep costs down.
 
badboy said:
Age probably. I had him rated 5th round was stunned we got him UDFA. Seems like this would put an end to "Wade prefers lighter NT." No he has said he has been successful with both and played the hand he was dealt. I think we will see Cody moving on after his contract expires and have a rotation of Fangupo and Crick. We seem to be setting up players to train and then replace expiring vets to keep costs down.
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I was thinking the same thing. It sounds like a good plan to me.
Crick and Fang could be a helluva rotation at NT.
 
badboy said:
I think we will see Cody moving on after his contract expires and have a rotation of Fangupo and Crick.
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Crick's only 280 lbs. Isn't that a bit small to rotate at NT? I can see him playing 3Tech in the nickel and dime (in rotation with Antonio and JJ) as well as the 5Tech on first down (in rotation with Antonio and JJ) but I don't think he has the ass to play NT.
 
pec0sb0b said:
Crick's only 280 lbs. Isn't that a bit small to rotate at NT? I can see him playing 3Tech in the nickel and dime (in rotation with Antonio and JJ) as well as the 5Tech on first down (in rotation with Antonio and JJ) but I don't think he has the ass to play NT.
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Mitchell's current roster 6'3" 289. My ideal is for Fangupo to be used on obvious running plays and Crick to take the pass plays. Not sayig it is ideal but Mitchell was in on some good plays last season.
 
badboy said:
Mitchell's current roster 6'3" 289. My ideal is for Fangupo to be used on obvious running plays and Crick to take the pass plays. Not sayig it is ideal but Mitchell was in on some good plays last season.
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Crick is not going to be playing NT.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Had the link checked out by IT through 4 separate servers. The link is valid and working.

The problem has got to be on your end.
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The original link you posted takes you to nfl.com daily news. Are you sure the one you verified is the tied to "Combine Video"...??
 
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Bill Kollar
(on whether DE Jared Crick could play defensive end and defensive tackle) “No, not really. What happens is, with us playing the 3-4 now, he’s not an outside linebacker. Really what happens is we have outside linebackers, defensive ends, and then the nose men. The defensive ends usually play a five- and a three-technique, and that’s what we see him really playing. We don’t see him as a nose man, either, and then when we get into nickel, he’ll be an inside rusher, really, a defensive tackle for us.”
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http://www.houstontexans.com/news/a...ns-draft/303c7456-ecfd-4e9a-a042-5924ae1b9ae9
about 2/3 of the way down
 
ObsiWan said:
The original link you posted takes you to nfl.com daily news. Are you sure the one you verified is the tied to "Combine Video"...??
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I just tried again.............and now it also takes me to the nfl.comm daily news...........they must have changed the link target.
 
Playoffs said:
My favorite 20 undrafted free agent pickups
By Rob Rang | CBSSports.com

NG Hebron Fangupo, Houston Texans: One of my concerns with the Texans' draft is that they didn't fill their need at nose guard. Fangupo fell on draft day due to medical concerns but he's a quality run-stuffer who could fit the bill.
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He didn't play much in 2009 (playing only 3 - with 2 assists), and suffered a season-ending injury - broken fibula (ankle).

He played in 7 games in 2010 before suffering another injury (I don't know what it was). He recorded 2 tackles and 2 assists.

He also missed a few games in 2011 with another ankle injury (the same left ankle - but X-ray was negative).
 
I've been watching a bunch of Fangupo's games (10) and it's still difficult to place him, partly because of the injury.

Early in the season, he was new to the system and didn't start the first 3 games.
Then he injured his ankle after one or two plays in game 5 against Utah St.
He played in game 6 but was injured again (same left ankle) in game 7 against Oregon St. (after about 9 snaps). He was inactive in game 8 against Idaho.
He came back against TCU and played pretty well after the first two series when he looked a little tentative.
Against the next 3 opponents, he played less than 1/2 the snaps (due to the rotation and a big lead).

I don't think he ever played more than 1/2 the game in any of those 10 games .

He looked better in the limited time at NT.

But then again, he did line up against some pretty good RT (some were drafted and some were signed as UDFA), and perhaps the Centers are usually smaller and don't quite have the arm length of the OTs ???
 
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