The Houston Texans will sign DE Mark Anderson, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Houston has been looking for pass rushing help ever since losing Connor Barwin in Week 1. Anderson is coming off three straight disappointing seasons after a 12-sack rookie year. He was unable to register a sack in 2010 opposite Julius Peppers, and will likely rotate with current Texans' DE Antonio Smith opposite current RE Mario Williams. One of the team's current backup defensive ends, Ryan Denney and Adewale Ogunleye, is expected to be cut. Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Haven't hit the internet on him yet, but does anyone have any info on this guy? How good he is? What he brings to the table?
It's starting to look like they're grasping at straws now. They should've just paid Schobel and let him play himself into shape by week 7-8
Here's something written before he was drafted... a bit of a scouting report: http://www.footballsfuture.com/2006/prospects/mark_anderson.html
This. Schobel would've been ready to go at full strength by the indy game. That's when the schedule gets tough
After the 2006 season, all we heard was "hey Texans,you wanted a pass rusher, you guys should have drafted mark anderson". Guess what, not only do we have Anderson but we also have Matt leinart. Scoreboard! Here is to acquiring reggie bush for special teams duties in 2011!
Anderson is a good player - the first DE with a real "burst" comparable to Barwin's that has been available. He's apparently a liability against the run and has had his role overextended in Chicago, but Bears fans seem to think he would be solid in a third-down pass-rushing role. Kudos to the Texans for jumping on it.
It's low-risk, high-reward... the guy's only 27, Demeco's college teammate, and he's had a 12 sack year on his resume. The question now is: who do we cut? Denney or Ogunleye?
He can Bush Push little Mattie in the hot tub all game long being the 4th string RB behind Foster, Ward, Slaton and Tate.
If what you say is true, he may actually work out here. With Cushing back, and Anderson only being needed for spot duty and 3rd downs, he might just be able to fill Barwin's role without his run deficiency hurting us. His production falling off a cliff since the Superbowl year is rather troubling, though. But hopefully he will flourish with more defensive talent around him here than in Chicago.
Wow, Texans are pickin up our Bears players left and right. First Ogunleye and now Mark Anderson. Anderson is weak sauce. He has lost his step from his rookie year and plateau'd on potential. Unless he can be driven to the point where he breaks past his plateau by a decent coach, he will be an average to below average end and eventually will be replaced with someone better at first chance. As for being surrounded by better talent, I think that's not that good of an argument. When you have Urlacher and Briggs and LB and Peppers upfront catching double teams, you should have a much easier time getting to the QB. Anderson hasn't done squat. 3rd down end, maybe. But once again, needs someone to light his fire, show him tape from his first year and attempt to build him back up. But his first year's stats are also skewed because he had increased opportunities with Tommie Harris and Ogunleye being much better and garnering more attention allowing for gaps.
I won't pass judgment on Anderson yet. At worst, they have to believe he'll have a bigger impact than Denney and Ogunleye. If they thought either of those two were on the verge of contributing, I don't see them making this move. Completely agreed about Schobel. I was steamed when they pinched pennies in the offseason and declined to bring him in when he was cut and expressed interest (and was in reasonable shape). They should have sent someone to his front door the moment Barwin was carted off in week 1 and declined. Every week they let pass, he got further from game shape. When I get cranky about the front office, it's because moves like this smack of the Astros and we all see Morey on the other side showing how a smart aggressive GM with a supportive owner works.
people keep knocking the texans for not getting schobel but it seemed like the guy just didnt want to play.
It seems more like he wanted to get paid full-season market value when he would only be in shape for half of the season. We're not talking about Roger Clemens here coming in to be the ace ... we're talking about a situational pass rusher. I think this Anderson signing is just the Texans seizing an oppportunity. He just became available after he was cut by the Bears, should be in shape, and they value him more than Denney/Ogunleye.
I thought there were comments that he made that he wasnt sure if he wanted to play just as a role player. Regardless, it's pure speculation either way. We do know that the texans have talked with him and made the effort. But it seemed pretty clear to me that the dude was just done with football and his heart isnt in it anymore. I'd much rather have someone in game ready shape now that still has his heart in the game.
1) Aaron Schobel is not just a "situational pass rusher" 2) The idea that he just didn't want to play is the Texans spin to avoid looking like crap 3) 1560 reported that he had a deal in place with the Texans, went in for his final workout and then they tried to get him to sign for a lower amount. He apparently got pissed on and ended negotiations and refuses to work with them going forward. He did walk away from $8 million to leave Buffalo and specifically stated his desire to come here.
