Landry or Meriweather

[YoungTexanFan]

Griffin is better than average in coverage. Comparing him to Dwayne Slay is ridiculous. I cant say for sure, but I am very confident that he will be at least one of the 3 fastest safeties at the combine next year. Griffin lays the wood when he can but is also an awesome wrap-up tackler. In the open field, he is the best tackler on the Texas roster, which is saying a helluva lot.

Your baseball metaphor has merit but your basketball metaphor is ridiculous. Comparing a below average player to a league superstar doesnt make sense. I see the arguement you are trying to make, but Nash is just flat-out more talented than Sura.

I know Griffin is pretty fast, and I know he can tackle. I just want a pure "center fielder" type FS.

I was using Nash's style not his talents. Maybe Chris Paul or TJ Ford would have been better substitutes instead of Nash. The point is, they are naturals and can lead their team. I want that out of our FS.

 

[real]

I know Griffin is pretty fast, and I know he can tackle. I just want a pure "center fielder" type FS.

I was using Nash's style not his talents. Maybe Chris Paul or TJ Ford would have been better substitutes instead of Nash. The point is, they are naturals and can lead their team. I want that out of our FS.

You are saying that as if there haven't been other players to make a change of position when coming to the pro's or while in college and be more successful....

For instance...look at Hines Ward, Randle El, Matt Jones....I know there are a million guys in the leauge who've switched from DE to LB and vice vesa and had tons of success....You could even use Meco as an example...Going from OLB(his natural position) to MLB...If a player is good enough and a team has a need I don't see anything wrong with it...

But I wrote all this just to say I agree with you....somewhat....

If we got Griffin I would rather move Earl to FS...I think what Griffin would offer in run support, could be similar to what Polumalu does for the Steele guys...I think he could be that kind of player....

 

[TexansSeminole]

I think y'all are to focused only on the big names at the safety position when NFL teams have to look deeper into College ranks to pull roster spots. This is the reason both will slip farther than you think & not worth a high pick like the Texans will have next spring, so forget about it unless they hang around when the Texans pick again.

I focus mainly on these two guys (Griffin and Landry) because I believe it is our biggest need, safety. These are just the best guys in the draft so I try to compare them. I don't know much about any other safeties besides Meriweather, Wendling, and Rouse(sp? from Vtech). The only one of these guys I would like to have is Wendling. I am not impressed with Rouse or Meriweather.

I haven't seem to find a safety like Bob Sanders in this draft. I was very high on Bob Sanders when he came out, I was hoping we would get him but we did not. He had a 40+ vertical...played fast, had coverage ability and tackling ability and it translated to the NFL. The guy who looks like he might resemble Bob Sanders the most (atleast in where he will go in the draft, and ability) is John Wendling. We will see though.

.I think what Griffin would offer in run support, could be similar to what Polumalu does for the Steele guys...I think he could be that kind of player....

I think that you hit that nail right on the head. I hadn't thought about it before but he plays alot like Polumalu. I also think he could be that kind of player, and you see how that works out for the Steelers. The thing Polumalu has that Griffin hasn't quite developed yet is his ability to play sideline to sideline in coverage. I remember hearing an NFL QB say one that time Polumalu covers more ground in coverage than any other safety in the league. I don't think that Griffin could be that good in coverage right away, but I think that Coach Hoke could coach him up real nice, and hopefully get him to that level.

 

[painekiller]

If we got Griffin I would rather move Earl to FS...I think what Griffin would offer in run support, could be similar to what Polumalu does for the Steele guys...I think he could be that kind of player....

And Earl would be so out of position that you would be wondering why he is playing. Draft a FS not another SS.

 

[infantrycak]

I focus mainly on these two guys (Griffin and Landry) because I believe it is our biggest need, safety.

Between now and next April I will end up saying this several times but if we end up drafting in the top 5 the only way the Texans should even think about drafting a safety is if he is the best safety prospect ever and makes Sean Taylor look like a slouch. Cap wise a $7+ mil safety makes zero sense when the franchise tag for safeties is $4.1 mil. You can't justify spending twice as much as the league's pro-bowlers if you don't have a virtual certainty the guy will be the best in the league regardless of need.

 

[beerlover]

Between now and next April I will end up saying this several times but if we end up drafting in the top 5 the only way the Texans should even think about drafting a safety is if he is the best safety prospect ever and makes Sean Taylor look like a slouch. Cap wise a $7+ mil safety makes zero sense when the franchise tag for safeties is $4.1 mil. You can't justify spending twice as much as the league's pro-bowlers if you don't have a virtual certainty the guy will be the best in the league regardless of need.

very well stated, another reason if not another DE its going to be more than likely a franchise LT. have not read this myself, yet, but looks like a good read for those interested in such topics by Michael Lewis (author of Moneyball) concerning "Football's quiet millionaires" http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/13/commentary/sportsbiz/index.htm?section=money_topstories

I'd be fine with taking a FS in the 2nd rd provided Landry, Merriweather or Griffin are available & your guy, but where the Texans stand now in the pecking order of the draft (#5 overall) Carr should finally get his left side airbag

 

[dat_boy_yec]

Well, I don't think we'll be in the top 5 picks. Our team has greatly improved and should keep doing well in the second half. Top ten maybe, but Landry could be worth a top ten to us. I mean our secondary isn't really making plays yet, and right now it would be the best position to help the defense. LT I don't think will be addressed in the 1st rd. We got Spencer waiting and considering our offense calls for quicker linemen I don't see any reason to want him at G. the guy showed he was a good tackle before his injury and that should rule out any 1st rd. tackle for us. Also the way some people talk there are alot of good tackle prospects coming out this yr. moreso than I've heard FS's so I think we should take this opportunity to take a player that would help solidify one side of the ball.

 

[TexansSeminole]

Between now and next April I will end up saying this several times but if we end up drafting in the top 5 the only way the Texans should even think about drafting a safety is if he is the best safety prospect ever and makes Sean Taylor look like a slouch. Cap wise a $7+ mil safety makes zero sense when the franchise tag for safeties is $4.1 mil. You can't justify spending twice as much as the league's pro-bowlers if you don't have a virtual certainty the guy will be the best in the league regardless of need.

I don't think we will be in the top 5. I agree though, both of these guys aren't worth taking in the top 5. Picks 6-10 is Landry territory, IMO. Picks 10-15 is Griffin territory, IMO.

 

[real]

I don't think we'll be top 5, but if we are I hope they can trade down to about 10-13 and possibly pick up an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick....

 

[beerlover]

Well, I don't think we'll be in the top 5 picks. Our team has greatly improved and should keep doing well in the second half. Top ten maybe, but Landry could be worth a top ten to us. I mean our secondary isn't really making plays yet, and right now it would be the best position to help the defense.

Go Texans! another option is a bigger CB with good tackling/coverage skills that could be worked into the FS position with proper coaching from the 2nd or 3rd rds.

LT I don't think will be addressed in the 1st rd. We got Spencer waiting and considering our offense calls for quicker linemen I don't see any reason to want him at G. the guy showed he was a good tackle before his injury and that should rule out any 1st rd. tackle for us.

Nothing would please me more than to see Spencer return fully recoverd, but its not a slam dunk & even if he does his natural position is RT, IMO.

Also the way some people talk there are alot of good tackle prospects coming out this yr. moreso than I've heard FS's so I think we should take this opportunity to take a player that would help solidify one side of the ball.

Also by my count there is a 2:1 ratio of teams needing offensive line help over safety help, so with twice the Teams competing for the top tackles they should go earlier. the only other team with a pressing need @ FS is the Dallas Cowboys (who also need tackle help). So if the draft where today and there was a run on OT's early Landry very well might be a Cowboy with the 17th overall selection.

 

[powda]

to me its tougher to find a quality cb in the first then it is to find a safety in the third...and the payoff for a cb is much greater. when u consider richard smith's tendency to call a blitz and the success its caused, i think it makes cb an even more important need. i think as nickle and dime backs faggins and sanders are both above average; as #2 cbs both of those guys are lacking.

the question is: does the best player available happen to be a cb or an olb?

i think that should be our primary concern.

next season i want a new cb opposite d-rob.

1 new olb.

1 new safety (fs or ss).

and 1 new offensive lineman (wigert or weary replaced) via free agency.

travis johnson has yet to show me anything and payne's injury is wait and see...dt may become a need (maddox is NOT starting quality!)

all that being said, with just a foggy idea on the quality of the talent available im in favor of a trade down...

rb is not yet a high priority for me (pending lundy's progress and davis' injury.)

 

[beerlover]

the question is: does the best player available happen to be a cb or an olb?

NFL OLB is a projection type position- sometimes its a big physical SS or a explosive, non stop DE. While CB's are hard to find (this year is no exception-because there arent none warrenting a top 10 pick) is that really the Texans #1 need?

I watched Landry last night & he neither has the coverage skills of a FS or size of a OLB. the only position he looks natural at is Strong Safety, yet I wonder about his ability to read the playbook @ the next level (seems out of position alot) can he get by on sheer physical ability alone? Still could be a top 25 pick but would be a gamble in top 10.

So I do not foresee the bpa being either a CB or OLB unless you projected someone like Clemson Adam Gaines 6-5 260 DE to OLB

 

[Champ]

You must have watched a different game than I did, cause Landry was awesome this last Saturday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R211e6JdVew

 

[threetoedpete]

NFL OLB is a projection type position- sometimes its a big physical SS or a explosive, non stop DE. While CB's are hard to find (this year is no exception-because there arent none warrenting a top 10 pick) is that really the Texans #1 need?

I watched Landry last night & he neither has the coverage skills of a FS or size of a OLB. the only position he looks natural at is Strong Safety, yet I wonder about his ability to read the playbook @ the next level (seems out of position alot) can he get by on sheer physical ability alone? Still could be a top 25 pick but would be a gamble in top 10.

So I do not foresee the bpa being either a CB or OLB unless you projected someone like Clemson Adam Gaines 6-5 260 DE to OLB

I agree we're not going to convince anyone though beerlover. I've watch him three games and I see Ko Simpson II. Maybe we're missing something. Maybe the kid is holding back for injury purposes, I dunno. I'm in your camp. look for the big corner to groom for FS. We got two SSs. Adding another to the collection makes no sense to me. Looks like the center from Tech is going to be in the mix this year. Doubt he'll fall as far as your wish list...just saynig he's a big kid who might translate to RG also. Nice post beerlover. Keep em' coming.

 

[LORK 88]

You must have watched a different game than I did, cause Landry was awesome this last Saturday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R211e6JdVew

Agreed, heres what I saw from the game last week against Alabama. I normally take draft notes when I watch TV on Saturdays, they just tend to get ingnored when I post them here for some reason (my guess is length or not enough people care):

* Speaking of LSU, LaRon Landry is everything that he's supposed to be. 1st off, he can tackle very well in run support. What caught my eye most was his pass coverage. He was rarely thrown on. In fact, the only time I saw him get thrown on was a quick 3 yard out in which he read and almost picked it off. This guy mentally is just ahead of the game and looks extremely mature. I'm still going to try to watch more, but this guy justified my want for him in R1 next years draft.

 

[threetoedpete]

to me its tougher to find a quality cb in the first then it is to find a safety in the third...and the payoff for a cb is much greater. when u consider richard smith's tendency to call a blitz and the success its caused, i think it makes cb an even more important need. i think as nickle and dime backs faggins and sanders are both above average; as #2 cbs both of those guys are lacking.

the question is: does the best player available happen to be a cb or an olb?

i think that should be our primary concern.

next season i want a new cb opposite d-rob.

1 new olb.

1 new safety (fs or ss).

and 1 new offensive lineman (wigert or weary replaced) via free agency.

travis johnson has yet to show me anything and payne's injury is wait and see...dt may become a need (maddox is NOT starting quality!)

all that being said, with just a foggy idea on the quality of the talent available im in favor of a trade down...

rb is not yet a high priority for me (pending lundy's progress and davis' injury.)

Your fixing to get educated on the value of offensive lineman the last seven Texans games. And...the latest news is the last free agent OLT we tried to sign, Pace, just blew out his knee. Don't mean to bang on ya, but at this point in frachise history it's getting redundant to continully post this. How many dregs from FA will you require befor you see the light. You wanna bring in a skill guy, stray LB, safty, I got no problem with that. You wanna catch the Colts and go to the super bowl, you better make a habit of beating the other thirty two clubs to the elite OL's and DTs of the world early and often in the draft. If you don't have that, you're just a donut. You're a hamburger without the meat. You ain't going to the big dance. And the reason I know this is because the is no better tallent at the skill positons than they have at Zona. And they sux. You better draft one high OL every year untill you got your starting five pluss three very cabable reserves. Untill they do that, this team will be perpetually drafting in the top ten every year. I don't care who the QB/RBs are. Book it. There is a reason Andy Reid kept ten ol guys on the roster out of camp. I don't care who the coach is. Live by the dregs, die by the dregs. You'll see.

 

[bah007]

Highlights of Griffin from last year. He is a big time hitter. His form tackling is very good. The pick against USC is just sick. That's probably why they show it about 10 times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynFNxQ3b5-U

Haven't found a tape of combined highlights for this season.

Whoever drafts him would be stupid not to put him in on punt block.

 

[threetoedpete]

Agreed, heres what I saw from the game last week against Alabama. I normally take draft notes when I watch TV on Saturdays, they just tend to get ingnored when I post them here for some reason (my guess is length or not enough people care):

If you're correct and it's a function of teams not daring to chaallenge him. You may have point. I could well be blinded by my OLT view. He's supposed to be a playmaker, and I havn't seen no plays from him. That'll change in the bowl games. I have "danger Will Robinson" all over the guy though. I wanna see it.

 

[beerlover]

Agreed, heres what I saw from the game last week against Alabama. I normally take draft notes when I watch TV on Saturdays, they just tend to get ingnored when I post them here for some reason (my guess is length or not enough people care):

3 solo tackles, 2 assisted, 1 hurry & 1 break-up impressive

what he seems good at (to me) is finishing plays, excellent wrap up tackler with exceptional closing speed. recognizing coverage, being a student of the game thats another issue. To me he is a physical player, instinctive but in the NFL to be a FS or MIKE (look at DeMeco) you need to be smart & student of the game.

all that being said I like Eric Weddle of Utah as a possiblity in the 2nd. Could be another Bob Sanders (Colts) type with corner skills, experience w/football savy.

 

[bah007]

3 solo tackles, 2 assisted, 1 hurry & 1 break-up impressive

what he seems good at (to me) is finishing plays, excellent wrap up tackler with exceptional closing speed. recognizing coverage, being a student of the game thats another issue. To me he is a physical player, instinctive but in the NFL to be a FS or MIKE (look at DeMeco) you need to be smart & student of the game.

all that being said I like Eric Weddle of Utah as a possiblity in the 2nd. Could be another Bob Sanders (Colts) type with corner skills, experience w/football savy.

I agree.

If we dont go DB in the first then I would love to pick up Weddle in the 2nd if he is still there. He can play CB & FS in the NFL (think Michael Huff but not as fast).

 

[TexansSeminole]

If you're correct and it's a function of teams not daring to chaallenge him. You may have point. I could well be blinded by my OLT view. He's supposed to be a playmaker, and I havn't seen no plays from him. That'll change in the bowl games. I have "danger Will Robinson" all over the guy though. I wanna see it.

Teams gameplan around LaRon. He rarely gets challenged and when he does he usually shows the team why they gameplanned against him in the first place.

Only time I have seen him get challenged and didn't make the play was againt Tennessee. I am pretty sure I posted what happened on this play earlier in the thread...or maybe on a different thread.

Of course, I have not watched that many LSU games in the last 4 years. I've seen enough from Landry though...looks to me like a great player.

 

[LORK 88]

3 solo tackles, 2 assisted, 1 hurry & 1 break-up impressive

what he seems good at (to me) is finishing plays, excellent wrap up tackler with exceptional closing speed. recognizing coverage, being a student of the game thats another issue. To me he is a physical player, instinctive but in the NFL to be a FS or MIKE (look at DeMeco) you need to be smart & student of the game.

all that being said I like Eric Weddle of Utah as a possiblity in the 2nd. Could be another Bob Sanders (Colts) type with corner skills, experience w/football savy.

I see 2 major problems. 1st off, your reading way too much into his stats, which I assure you right now everyone will admit are deceptive in the entire game of football. Like I said, he rarely was thrown on and plays weren't normally to his side. 2nd, you call him instictive, but then say he needs to be smart? I really don't catch the difference here. I also feel that your misjudging Landry severely if you think he's an ideot (this is the only way i could spell the word with out it blocking it). Personally, I thought he looked mentally mature and ahead of the game by far . . .

 

[beerlover]

I see 2 major problems. 1st off, your reading way too much into his stats, which I assure you right now everyone will admit are deceptive in the entire game of football. Like I said, he rarely was thrown on and plays weren't normally to his side. 2nd, you call him instictive, but then say he needs to be smart? I really don't catch the difference here. I also feel that your misjudging Landry severely if you think he's an ideot (this is the only way i could spell the word with out it blocking it). Personally, I thought he looked mentally mature and ahead of the game by far . . .

its hard to even find defensive numbers regardless of significance, even harder for offensive lineman. I was responding to the last game specificly because that was the one I watched. I wanted to see what all the buzz was about that has stretched this thread over 6 pages. you could very well be correct that he is rarely thrown into the mix because teams will gameplan around him or that Pelini's defense is not safety-friendly as oppossed to Sabin who played him more up on the line of scrimmage. one way or the other it seemed like he was negated or a non-factor. Bama still threw for 100 yards more & total offense was within 50 of the Tigers they just could not score in the redzone.

Regarding intelligence I never said he was an ideot (communications major) I do favour a player who has to make up for his lack of athletic ability by outworking others in the film room, takes angles & makes reads without taking huge gambles. if there is a flaw in his game (besides misuse in the context of the LSU defense) its his overaggressiveness which seems more typical in gifted athletes but in the end fill up the highlight reel not the boxscore



I will say this LSU has at least as much talent on the field as any team in the country. they should be undefeated so maybe it is coaching. I like several of their players including Landry, he should have an excellent Bowl game, then on to the combines for some impressive numbers as well as a personel workout @ Relient.

 

[powda]

Your fixing to get educated

you'd have a leg to stand on ,and i'd be just part of the redundant crowd if capers and casserly were here...

news flash!


the short bus offense is gone.

maybe you missed it but kubiak has proven he can find value in the late rounds. since we dont run a typical offense with cornfed lineman we can wait just a bit longer to get the linemen you crave. denver made a habit of that for years.

im not suggesting we dont do anything to help our line...in fact i said just the oppostie (regarding the ol and the dt spots...) if you were paying attention
i said at this point the dt spot was wait and see.

i guess i have diffrent priorities, but thanks for the fire and brimstone speech about dregs. i feel educated now.

 

[elgonzo2003]

Does anyone have any information about the LSU safety Laron Landry. His stats look nice but I haven't seen him play on T.V., there is a sweet video of him on Youtube getting a sack against Alabama. ESPN has him being the best DB on the board, and since we desperately need help in the that position I like to know what everyone else thought of him.

 

[LORK 88]

Does anyone have any information about the LSU safety Laron Landry. His stats look nice but I haven't seen him play on T.V., there is a sweet video of him on Youtube getting a sack against Alabama. ESPN has him being the best DB on the board, and since we desperately need help in the that position I like to know what everyone else thought of him.

A ballhawk in coverage, solid tackler, very mature and to me it seems like he's ahead of the game. Good size, been productive since he was a freshman at a top school. Doesnt make too many mistakes and can be trusted.

 

[TexansCanes]

Laron had a pretty good game against ole miss. he didn't miss a tackle which was huge because he was left in a lot of one-on-one situations with with schaffer (sp). he didn't really get challenged though the air since ole miss was really sitting on the ball in the second half. i'm glad to see that pelini is starting to let him blitz more. rarely does he blitz and not get a good hit on the qb.

 

[AndreRulz]

merriweather looked very solid last night against BC, he laid some big hits on people and covered just as well as a corner. His all around skills I like better than Landry's.

 

[beerlover]

I was very impressed with Landry today against Arkansas, he is really an outstanding wrap-up tackler in the secondary something the Texans need. Not impressed with his foot speed or coverage ability, plays alot like a weakside linebacker I'm just wondering how much bigger he could get once in the NFL? imagine him next to DeMeco, he plays physical enough to seal off the edge, just not sure if he could shed the much bigger NFL blockers, TE's FB's & pulling guards.

I'm warming up to him as a FS @ the next level, just trying to imagine the options

 

[AndreRulz]

yes against arkansas he was very good the only one who could stop McFadden and felix jones

 

[TexansSeminole]

Some more Landry footage:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RvKaO78Ov2I