I believe he is smart enough and has about the same atheleticism for the spot...He will have a ton to learn, but instead of lead feet Bradie James I really wouldnt mind having Reed playing a more significant role... This will allow Mercilus to get some more playing time and allows him just to use his natural ability to pass rush the QB... The goal is to maintain speed on the edge and protect as much as you can in the middle...and every so often you can turn Reed loose on blitz packages... Thoughts? (Mind everyone that Cushing was an OLB at USC...and seemingly made an amazing transition to ILB)
i think reed is athletically gifted enough to make the switch to ILB. The problem is usually do these type of things in the off season not in the middle.
No. Completely different position. He's a converted DE, he's not going to become an inside LB. Same goes for Barwin and Mercilus. Cushing was 4-3 OLB and scouts thought he was capable of playing either inside or out. It's not the same as a 3-4 OLB pass rush specialist. Reed has learned how to drop back into coverage some from his position, but he'd be in way over his head as ILB. The Texans have been trying to convert Jesse Nading (another college DE) from OLB to ILB but reportedly that hasn't been going well.
brooks reed dobbins will be good enough to help in run support but cushing is a 3 down backer, he doesnt come off the field. i think james stays on the field most likely, idk.. brooks can drop into coverage but being an ilb on 3rd down is completely different. you have to watch the te/rb/qb and make the right decisions on who to pursue..
after scouring the web...for any possiblities...I guess i was pretty much wrong... lance zeirlien mentions this point on his blog... http://blog.chron.com/fantasyfootba...e-texans-options-for-replacing-brian-cushing/ scroll down to not an option... All it takes is one missed tackle inside for a RB to gain tremendous yards...Our LBs must be ready...GB and Baltimore will be our playoff tests... Anyways Go Texans...
I wouldn't mind seeing Mercilus out there with Reed and Barwin situationally, assuming Mercilus is ready to bring something to the table but yeah, probably not for your base set.
Nope. It sounds like a good idea moving Barwin or Reed to let mercilus get some starts but all it does is create 2 positions we are weakened at...instead of just ILB. Not to mention that both players have probably 0 reps at cushing position. Let dobbins and crew hold it down...did it for 2.5 quarters against the jets only giving up a fg
No, it may seem logical to think you can insert reed and expect good things but its really a whole different position. Cush called our defenses, he read protection, he worked in coverage. Brooks primarly just rushes the passer so while he may have the physical traits to do it mentally it would be a disaster. I'd think you'd be better off making glover Quinn play there for some nickel packages for coverage.
You're not wrong. Lance is the same guy that in 2009 told us the league had figured out the zone. he told us that ONLY schaub does not like being pressured, when it fact no qb does. He told us that wade was not the answer at D-coordinator. He is entertaining and the best on radio but is emotionally and fantasy football driven like all the experts. I posted in another thread that new england's mad scientist took a DE turned him into an OLB and due to circumstances made him go to the inside at age 29. Brooks has the athletic skills and Wade's beautiful mind to make the transition. I mean, He was a running back at one point catching tds in H.S with his big hands. However, it would require a full off season. But it's not crazy as lance or closed minded people would tell you. That's why I love wade..."I'm putting mario at LB". Fans and media experts reaction, "haha that will never work. This isn't remember the titans. you just can't stick mario at OLB and tell him go play."
Dobbins is the answer, and he will be fine. The kid has a nose for the football, and plugs the gaps about as good as Cushing. Where Dobbins lacks is his ability to go sideline to sideline, so his coverage ability is not going to be where Cushing's was. There's no reason to over-think this. Put Dobbins as the starter, allow Bradie James to read the offenses since he's a veteran who's done it before, and bring in Alexander and Ruud to spell them both when they need a breather. Passing downs are where we will see a distinct drop-off, but if the defense can continue to put offenses in third and long situations, the loss of Cushing won't be felt as hard. In Wade We Trust.
<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NAnpvysqFdE?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NAnpvysqFdE?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Why would you mess with something that's already working? Dobbins is alright filler until Sharpton gets back in few weeks.
You know the Texans are having a great season when silly threads start finding their way out of the GARM and into the Texans forum.
Jonathan Vilma? Isn't he kind of suspended, for, you know, the ENTIRE SEASON, cause of the bounty affair? Yes I'm sure a modest draft pick would get him...
