Anyone else concerned about the Texans pass rush going into this yr? In my opinion the elite qbs ((Manning, Brady, Rodgers, Brees) will pick us apart with what we currently have. Manning/Denver and Brady/NE also play for our biggest competition in the AFC. John Abraham is still unsigned. He'd be a HUGE addition, and having him opposite JJ would be significant. I know we're up against the cap, but just wondering if there was a way to get him signed? He might sign a one yr deal with an opportunity to win a Super Bowl. In order for the Texans to get pressure they're having to blitz. Elite qbs recognize this, and pick us apart. At the end of the day I think this (lack of pressure) will keep us from going to the Super Bowl. Have a feeling Abraham is going to sign with Denver (to replace Elvis).
Reed, Mercilus, Montgomery, and or Braman will have to step up and be a force next year. If they don't, Watt will eventually get neutralized - And yes, those teams that you mentioned will pick them apart.
I agree they have to step up but neutralize Watt? The texans pass rush wasn't that good last year, outside of Watt, yet they still couldn't stop him.
Very true, but I don't think it's likely for Watt to continue to rack up 20+ sacks a season. He'll continue to be a force, but he's going to need help. He can't continue to be the ENTIRE pass rush. But don't think for one second that I'm saying that Watt isn't a f'n BEAST.
I see what you mean. Texans need production from elsewhere and can't just rely on Watt having one of the greatest seasons by a defensive player ever.
I really liked what I seen from Mercilus in his limited time he had last year. I think he will greatly improve on that this year and help our pass rush out.
FWIW Mercilus was 2nd in sacks among rookies last year, that seems promising. Maybe he could blow up in year two like Watt. But I agree, making it harder for teams to neutralize Watt should have been a priority, and it's not clear what we have done in that area.
I think Mercilus is a stud. He didn't get to play any snaps until late in the year (Kubiak and Wade both stated he needed coaching) and still had a quote unqote successful numbers year. His production vs snap count though? Well, that would have put him somewhere between 14-17 sacks for a full year... I think he will get at least 12-14 this year, and I think Watt will have about the same. It's up to Braman and the rooks to get 2-3 sacks a piece to help us out. Remember, Brooks Reed will most likely put his hands in the dirt on dime
Having Cushing back should help in this area too. He is usually good for a handful of sacks each year and he will be someone else offenses will have to worry about. Cush has been our best defensive player for the last 4 seasons or so until Watt emerged as one of the best in the league. I wouldn't mind a pickup like Abraham but I doubt it happens. As other have stated, I have high hopes for Mercilus this year. He seems like an extremely talented pass rusher and given a season and a full training camp under his belt, he should be a force to reckon with this year.
No reason our pass rush cant improve drastically. Maybe with a little help from new blitz options. Reed - Could play ILB on 1-2 downs per snap then move outside. Always a pass rushing threat no matter where he's lined up. Could go from solid OLB to interesting wrinkle/weapon player Mercilus - Should naturally improve, plus he was playing a new position with no offseason prep time. Still probably atrocious vs the run but he's got the tools to be a menace in the pass rush game. Williams, Montgomery - I can see both of them contributing in different ways. All of a sudden we have depth at OLB and a ton of wrinkles we can throw out there. Braman - We drafted two OLB's, which tells me Braman is probably destined to be a special teamer. Healthy secondary? - McCain, the improved Jackson, a healthy Joseph and Ed Reed should buy the front 7 some time. Swearinger - Wrinkle #2 next to B. Reed. Could cause some chaos coming off the blitz. Didn't address concerns at NT or the return of Cushing.
This and the public tends to forget Watts first reg season had about the same number of sacks for Mercilus' rookie season... I really think our OLB sack production will get better
The Texans defense should be fine. Those quarterbacks are going to get theirs on most days, plain and simple. Our pass rush, with Watt, Antonio, Merciulus, Brooks Reed, Cushing, and the rookies is going to be fine. On top of that, we now have Ed Reed ballhawking in center field. He might not be the Ed Reed of yesterday, but he's still good for another Pro Bowl year or two, in my opinion. The biggest problem with the Texans defense, in my opinion, is scheming. Those top guys have almost always picked Wade Phillips' defense apart. The reason is because Phillips tends to lean to heavily on man coverage, leaving his corners on an island. When those elite quarterbacks have time, they're going to pick this apart almost every time. I know pass rush helps this, but not to the extent needed, most of the time. A slightly improved pass rush (yes, I said...our pass rush should be slightly improved this year), coupled with Ed Reed in center field, is probably the best thing the Texans could have done this off-season to counteract the elite qb's - far and away better than signing John Abraham. I didn't even mention Swearinger, who could be an elite blitzer from the secondary. Couple that with a legitimate second receiver, and I think we're just fine this year.
i'm always concerned about our pass rush. But i do think Mercillus is gonna be a force, and i'm actually more concerned about the fact that we only have one ILB that can actually cover (and he's coming off of a knee injury). I do think one of our rookies will surprise on the outside.
It'll always be a league of adjustments and maybe more teams than the Pats will start practicing against tennis rackets. It's up to Wade to keep up and use his new guys right while everyone adjusts to Watt. And I'd love if we could start getting some pressure with just our 4 man front, instead of having to send 5 so often.
Hoping we get similar production out of our starting DEs with improved performances from our OLBs. The only concern is the same one that plagued us at he end of last season and that is the middle of our defense with the NT and ILB positions. I know they are trying to convert Reed into a ILB but I just can't fully commit to that or starting one of our rookies or Brahman at the OLB spot.
I look for improvements in the secondary to create more opportunities for our pass rush. I'm not concerned especially getting Cush back.
Smith and Watt are probably the best tandem of DEs on any 3-4 system in the league. Cushing and Reed are among the best pass rushers from an inside position. Mercilus has shown he can get to the QB. As long as they get some production out of their rookies, they should be okay
why people forget how good was the defense when Cushing was on the field? I think with the draft picks, and the players back healthy. we have a good pass rush.
If just one of the rookies Sam Montgomery and / or T. Williams picks it up and is a stud we should be fine. This HAS to be Mercillus's year and Brooks Reed should be there too. I still disagree with us losing Mario Williams though. You have a stud you keep your studs on your team no matter what. You don't let em go.
