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Why are people so upset with Cushing and Barwin?

BigBull17 said:
I agree, and everyone knows how down on him I was. He's a Texan, so I'm his biggest fan.



Diles is excellent depth, a spot starter, but if he's your starter for 16 games you have a slight weakness on your D. This makes him a MLB back-up, which he is better suited for.
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Give Diles a lot of credit though...7th rd pick form 3 years ago. Statistics say he shouldnt even be playing still.
 
Honoring Earl 34 said:
You win when they run on 3rd and long .
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Tell that to to our defense..I recall a couple of third and longs converted via the run..even recall a big 4th and 8...heck even.. a fake punt run for a td.......at this point I dont care about sacks as much as I care about someone freaking anyone making stops...just tackle the fat qb already.
 
can I just say i'm tired of drafting players that used to play tight end and trying to play them at other positions. Barwin and Brown, I'm looking in your general direction. Lets draft some players with experience playing where we want them to paly.
 
swtbound07 said:
can I just say i'm tired of drafting players that used to play tight end and trying to play them at other positions. Barwin and Brown, I'm looking in your general direction. Lets draft some players with experience playing where we want them to paly.
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Barwin did manage to lead the Big East in sacks last year in only his first year as a DE...
 
swtbound07 said:
can I just say i'm tired of drafting players that used to play tight end and trying to play them at other positions. Barwin and Brown, I'm looking in your general direction. Lets draft some players with experience playing where we want them to paly.
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Eric Winston used to play tight end.

The Texans use a blocking system that values being able to move. Not just big cheeseburger eaters. Some of the most athletic offensive linemen in the league were former tight ends.

As for Barwin, name a speed rusher for the Texans. You can't? Because the Texans haven't had one. How's that been working out for the team? Barwin set the NCAA record for sacks by a first year defensive player so it isn't like he is a combine freak. And he is really athletic.
 
swtbound07 said:
can I just say i'm tired of drafting players that used to play tight end and trying to play them at other positions. Barwin and Brown, I'm looking in your general direction. Lets draft some players with experience playing where we want them to paly.
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"With the 46th pick in the NFL draft, SWTBound would like to take someone with elite talent, elite production, 4 years experience at the same position, and no red flags"... yeah, I don't think that should be a problem.
 
swtbound07 said:
can I just say i'm tired of drafting players that used to play tight end and trying to play them at other positions. Barwin and Brown, I'm looking in your general direction. Lets draft some players with experience playing where we want them to paly.
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I don't care if you played 3rd string punter in college. If you can rush the QB effectively and sack or harass the quarterback I want you on my team.

:roflcopter:
 
Texans_Chick said:
Eric Winston used to play tight end.

The Texans use a blocking system that values being able to move. Not just big cheeseburger eaters. Some of the most athletic offensive linemen in the league were former tight ends.

As for Barwin, name a speed rusher for the Texans. You can't? Because the Texans haven't had one. How's that been working out for the team? Barwin set the NCAA record for sacks by a first year defensive player so it isn't like he is a combine freak. And he is really athletic.
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i don't put too much stock in sportscenter qualifying stats like that. & even though we don't currently have a speed rusher on the roster, we've had 1 from the same university nearly the same size & speed in antwann peek. that didn't work out too well but maybe barwin's different in the sense that we've got more to work with on defense.
 
Mr teX said:
i don't put too much stock in sportscenter qualifying stats like that. & even though we don't currently have a speed rusher on the roster, we've had 1 from the same university nearly the same size & speed in antwann peek. that didn't work out too well but maybe barwin's different in the sense that we've got more to work with on defense.
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Except Barwin is a motor/work ethic type player, while Peek was a measurables/impregnate lots of females type player.
 
Frak The Jags said:
I agree on Barwin. I don't know much about him, but I like what Ive seen/read since the pick. I don't understand why everyone is calling him Jason Babin part 2. Do some research.
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I loved both of the picks.

Barwin is really being sold short right now because the last raw guy we drafted, Jacoby Jones....is still struggling. Now on the one hand you could say he's a risk because he has never stood up and played LB. On the other hand...the guys numbers are off the chart. Every time a coach has called upon him to step up for the team...he has done it. So the guy has heart. He may well must bust out. But if we're going by heart and history....and desire and shear athleticism...and got him in the second round....that there thingy is a bargain. There are not a whole lot of 4.6 guys in the league. Never mind attaining one in the second day. They break the thirty sack mark by thanks giving....everybody on the board will say they saw it coming. And Coner was their guy.
 
threetoedpete said:
I loved both of the picks.

Barwin is really being sold short right now because the last raw guy we drafted, Jacoby Jones....is still struggling. Now on the one hand you could say he's a risk because he has never stood up and played LB. On the other hand...the guys numbers are off the chart. Every time a coach has called upon him to step up for the team...he has done it. So the guy has heart. He may well must bust out. But if we're going by heart and history....and desire and shear athleticism...and got him in the second round....that there thingy is a bargain. There are not a whole lot of 4.6 guys in the league. Never mind attaining one in the second day. They break the thirty sack mark by thanks giving....everybody on the board will say they saw it coming. And Coner was their guy.
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I agree with this. I don't know that he'll have a well rounded game anytime soon, but he should be able to help the pass rush right away, and grow into a fine LB.
 
eriadoc said:
I agree with this. I don't know that he'll have a well rounded game anytime soon, but he should be able to help the pass rush right away, and grow into a fine LB.
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My understanding is Barwin was selected to be a DE not LB. I am cool with wherever he plays, but did Smithiac change their minds?
 
eriadoc said:
AFAIK, he'll be a hybrid guy. Joey Porter comes to mind.
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This is all I have seen Kubiak state on the subject:
Gary Kubiak said:
The other young man (Connor Barwin) was very intriguing for a lot of men in the NFL. He was very athletic, one of the best athletes in the draft, a young player, played one year at defensive end and lit it up from a sack standpoint. We need somebody who can rush the passer. We have an athlete there who we can work with and we think can be an impact player right away, can rush the passer and play for (special teams coordinator) Joe (Marciano) and has a bright future as a defensive end. So we felt very good about the first day, and that helped us as we went into Sunday.
...
There was even talk about (Barwin) being a linebacker. We see him with his hand down, playing defensive end. But what he does, he gives us flexibility. It’s third down and you move him to one end and you move Mario (Williams) wherever you want to put Mario. Antonio can go inside and rush the passer, which he has done very well. That does give us some flexibility. But, basically, you start with his athleticism and what he adds to our defense.
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Link

Immediately following Day One of the draft:

Kubiak said:
(on what position Barwin will play) “We will play him with his hand down. He’s playing defensive end.”

(on which side of the defensive line Barwin will play) “I think he can play both sides. Probably, if we started tomorrow, he would line up behind DE Mario Williams as we get going, but he’s going to have the ability to play both sides. On third down, he can rush the passer. He can go outside and rush the passer at either spot, and it gives us the flexibility of moving DE Antonio Smith inside to rush the passer on third downs, which is something that he does really well.”
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Link

And this from Rick Smith:

Rick Smith said:
(on the possibility of Barwin on offense) “It’s funny, I look at this release, defensive end, strong side linebacker, tight end, H-back. I think we’ll put him at defensive end and let him go sic’ other quarterbacks on offense.”
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Link
 
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eriadoc said:
AFAIK, he'll be a hybrid guy. Joey Porter comes to mind.
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a 4-3 DE who they can move around if they so choose, but I doubt it. somehow Bush is going to put a package on the field to best pressure the QB so you insert your speed & playmakers. I expect Mario is the hybrid - like a Lawrence Taylor, Barwin will be responsible for a specific area & benefit from Mario Williams versatility :texflag:
 
When the Texans begin their organized team activities on Monday, we’ll get our first look at the defense under new coordinator Frank Bush.

We pretty much know what will be expected from an offense that ranked third in yards and 17th in points - reduced turnovers and improvement in the red zone.

But the defense is another matter with Bush’s promotion, along with the hiring of Bill Kollar as assistant head coach/defensive line coach and David Gibbs as the secondary coach.

Bush was promoted and Kollar was hired in correlation with an anemic pass rush that produced only 25 sacks - 12 by Mario Williams. The Texans ranked 27th in sacks, and it’s up to Bush and Kollar to improve pressure on the quarterback.

Changes are coming to a defense that ranked 22nd in yards (336.6) and 27th in points (24.6). Those tweaks will be in the line and at linebacker because Bush knows that improvement in the front seven, specifically the pass rush, means a more efficient secondary.

With the addition of four free agents and five draft choices on defense, expect differences in the roster and the starting lineup.

Sizing them up
Outside linebacker Brian Cushing, their first-round draft choice, will start on the strong side. And expect Zac Diles to compete for the starting job on the weak side when he recovers from his season-ending broken leg.

Drafted in the seventh round in 2007 to back up DeMeco Ryans at middle linebacker, Diles played so well the coaches moved him to the strong side in his second season. At the time of the injury, he was leading the team in tackles. He should be 100 percent by training camp, which begins July 31.

The idea is to get the best players on the field. Diles has proven he can play in the middle and on the strong side. Because he’s quick, aggressive and makes plays from sideline to sideline, he often plays like an outside linebacker on the weak side.

If Diles is able to beat out Xavier Adibi for the other starting spot, he’ll give the Texans more size, toughness and experience.

Ryans (6-1, 250), Diles (6-0, 240) and Cushing (6-3, 243) have the kind of size the coaches like. Adibi, Kevin Bentley and Cato June would provide depth.
As far as the defensive line, left to right, the starters should be Antonio Smith, Travis Johnson, Amobi Okoye and Mario Williams.

In passing situations, expect Smith to move inside and replace Johnson. Smith would be replaced by Tim Bulman, who finished second in sacks last season with four.

Barwin could be steal
The coaches want the four best rushers on the field in passing situations, and, eventually, they could be - left to right - Williams, Smith, Bulman and Connor Barwin, the second-round pick from Cincinnati.

Barwin, who played end only one season at Cincinnati, will stay on the right side. He’s going to be behind when he’s able to report, since he’s going to miss OTAs because of Cincinnati’s late graduation date. He should be available for minicamp on June 15-17.

Barwin (6-4, 256) has outstanding potential as a pass rusher. Once he proves it, he’ll be on the field. That means Williams would move to the left side. Before Barwin was available in the second round, the coaches wanted to keep Williams on the right side if that says anything.

The Texans had a first-round grade on Barwin, and they think he has a chance to be special as a pass rusher. However, they know they’ll have to be patient because of his lack of experience on defense.

One of the best story lines of training camp will be Kollar trying to get Barwin ready to contribute in passing situations.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6421253.html
 
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6421253.html

Barwin, who played end only one season at Cincinnati, will stay on the right side. He’s going to be behind when he’s able to report, since he’s going to miss OTAs because of Cincinnati’s late graduation date. He should be available for minicamp on June 15-17.
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what law would he be breaking by quitting school to attend company training? If he's on target to graduate by this term's end, i'd understand his rationale - but it sure sounds like there is some sort of restriction based on his schools graduation. WHAT KIND OF AMERICA IS THIS?
 
Boris said:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6421253.html



what law would he be breaking by quitting school to attend company training? If he's on target to graduate by this term's end, i'd understand his rationale - but it sure sounds like there is some sort of restriction based on his schools graduation. WHAT KIND OF AMERICA IS THIS?
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It's the law of the NFL. You cannot report to an NFL camp before your graduating class has actually graduated. That really hurt Barber a couple of years ago because Stanford has their graduation ceremony so late.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
It's the law of the NFL. You cannot report to an NFL camp before your graduating class has actually graduated. That really hurt Barber a couple of years ago because Stanford has their graduation ceremony so late.
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Barber went to Minnesota. Harrison's the one who went to Stanford and missed his entire rookie season on IR due to an "injured hammy". Which I think was bogus, but they used that excuse to put him on IR. I think he was put on IR for the reason you stated. He was unable to catch up so the team had to find a place for him that would keep him out of the reach of other teams.

My .02
 
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