Routt is 6'1". McCain is 5'9" and Harris and Carmichael are both 5'10". Hopefully that added height means he can be more effective against tight ends than McCain was.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>CB Stanford Routt, who says he has officially signed with the Texans, is thrilled to be joining Houston where he played college ball for UH.</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/276170492866596864" data-datetime="2012-12-05T03:45:51+00:00">December 5, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Stanford Routt on learning Texans system: "With any transition there are growing pains. I don't think it's going to b anything really long"</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/276177631576203264" data-datetime="2012-12-05T04:14:13+00:00">December 5, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Are you really questioning Rick Smith...NOW? Weren't people questioning Alan Ball signing, have you seen Alan Ball on special teams? If there was an 11 man special teams unit he'd probably be in the pro bowl.
We play mostly man, so the transition shouldn't be hard at all. Potentially high reward, he show flashes of being really good, dudes only 29 age shouldn't be a problem yet Love the signing
Potentially could be as good a find as the Bernard Pollard pick up. I'd actually like to hear Moe's take...
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Fast, good size, has all the physical tools, but CB is arguably the hardest position in the game, especially with the contact rules. Routt's ability to close quickly sometimes works to his disadvantage because he's not very graceful when it comes to breaking up passes and usually ends up drawing flags. In 2010, opposite Asomugha, the Raiders Pass D was arguably the best in the entire league. Pro Football Focus had Routt's WR catch yield percentage at 42% which put him in Revis territory as far as shut-downs. In 2011 it was a completely different story. With Asomugha gone, Routt failed miserably to build upon his 2010 success and led the league in Pass Interference Penalties by a wide margin. What some people don't realize is how much bump and run the Raiders still played under Al Davis. Zone was rarely used. Al thought of himself as the defacto leader of the Defense until he kicked the bucket and that always took a toll on whoever was trying to implement a less antiquated scheme. I can't say I saw a lot of Routt's play this year with Kansas City, but it is possible a poor mix of Routt's confidence being a bit shaky, trying to learn a new scheme, and not getting along with his coach all contributed to him getting released. In a man-heavy system, Routt could excel as a #2 CB again, and he has always been able to handle speedy slot guys extremely well because of his size and speed combo. It is impossible to predict if Routt will regain that form, especially coming over so late in the season. A change of scenery could give him the jolt he needs, or he'll be lost and a flag-machine. All in all, he's a pretty good guy to take a chance on at this point, especially with the current group of inexperienced CBs the Texans have behind their starting 2.
I'm optimistic, I think he'll help us out. I'd bet he has at least 1 INT before the end of the regular season.
I think as a #3 CB he will be fine. Coming out of UH he was quick running a 4.27 at the combine! Hopefully hes still got some legs and can play well for the Texans defensively.
I've been hearing that he might not necessarily have the tools line up in the slot since he likes using the sidelines as a buffer. The same people are saying he'd be better served as being the backup to Kareem at the #2 corner position. What are your thoughts on that?
I kinda get the same feeling i used to get when the Patriots would sign some former good player from the scrap heap--oh, sure, NOW they start playing good, now that they're with a contender. except, we are the contender now. hopefully, he'll ball like he did in 2010. like moss when he left the raiders and went to NE.
