If teams are going to scrap their passing game just so they can run at Clowney, we've already won half the battle. Who instills more fear into a defense? Andrew Luck or Trent Richardson?
As long as Cushing is healthy, we can hold our own against almost any running team. That guy is just a beast in pursuit. Watching him run down Chris Johnson in his prime was a thing of beauty. Like watching a lion take down a gazelle.
Some teams HAVE to run the ball because they don't have competent players at the QB position. But, Chuck Pagano and Gus Bradley were both former defensive coordinators for run heavy teams (Baltimore and Seattle) and both are trying to bring the same format to their new teams Indy and Jacksonville. And apparently Tennessee is doing the same. And all 3 of those teams have talent at the running back position (especially Tennessee and Jacksonville) and have added to their offensive line. And by looking at the schedule for this year _ the Texans run defense is going to be tested a lot starting week one. I believe we will find out more about Nix this season than we will Clowney.
Not to mention, Bullough is a guy that is very solid in the run game. I'd love it if teams could only beat us by running at Clowney.
Are you referring to Toby Gerhart and Shonn Greene? CJ and MJD are no longer with their teams...the Titans and Jaguars do not have talent at the RB positions.
I'm referring to Toby and Storm Johnson (plus the kid they drafted last year) for the Jags. And I'm referring to Bishop and Greene for the Titans. So I disagree with you _ they do have talent. The Texans aren't the only team that had draft picks.
Jeremy Lamb would most likely have scored between 15 and 20 ppg if he wasn't traded by the Rockets as he would have been playing a lot of minutes. His scoring rate with OKC has been 17.4 points per 36 min his rookie season and dropped to 15.4 this past season as he has improved his efficiency. Also, I would like to see 4 clips of a TE walling off Clowney in the UNC game that lead to 10+ yards gained. I get that NFL teams will try to run at him in running situations. Good thing it is a team game as Clowney will need help when he is run at. If the Texans can get the other team into passing downs, Clowney should give the Texans a boost to the pass rush.
Well, I'm certainly not concerned about average nfl running backs (Gerhart and Greene) and rookies. If you rank running games in the nfl, the titans and jags would not be in the top half of the league.
Heh, I could pull up 3 or 4 clips of Adrian Peterson tripping behind the LOS....I guess that makes him a bad RB. I could pull up 3 or 4 clips of Andre Johnson dropping passes that hit him in the hands.....I guess that means he has bad hands. Clowney is a beast against the run....why do you think teams were running away from him all season long? Also, I just watched the tape of that game, I think you are talking about a down at 8:59 in the 3rd where he was lined up as the 7 tech jumping the D gap and the ball is run through the C gap....AKA not his responsibility unless he was in a 2 gap situation and he just played it wrong by trying to jump the D gap. Also, that was the only play of the entire game even remotely close to what you describe so, by all means, pull 3 or 4 clips.
Going to be interesting to see everything unfold right before our very eyes. RC will have this defense rocking helmets 4 sho. OP Great article
Hopefully the beast stays healthy. Imo he is the heart of our defense. Not taking anything from Mega Watt.
Yea, and I'm sure NFL defenses are concerned about Fitzpatrick... Lol... I also mentioned that both of those teams have improved their offensive lines. Luke only played in 5 games last year for the Jags. But those aren't the only teams we play. The NFC east have some good running backs in their division and plus we will be facing Kubiak this year as well and that's why I say the run defense will be tested and we will probably find out more about Nix this year than we will about Clowney (if anything we will find out if Clowney can defend against the run _ which is something he didn't do well this past season in college along with sacking the quarterback).
Yeah, I think the division used to have awesome RB's, but that's no longer the case. The Texans are the only team that will have even an above average running game IMO.
Clowney had a down year because he was playing not to get hurt. Plus he was double and triple teamed a lot. The youngster will do fine this year imo. Reason being every team will be focused on Mega Watts and Cushing if he is healthy. I also believe RC schemes will be very beneficial for Clowney. Dude wants to show everybody he is the real deal as well pimpn.
Which one? Trent Richardson is trash (never trust a RB from Bama) and while it's possible that either Vick Ballard or Ahmad Bradshaw could surprise people, I don't think it's very likely. Of those, I think Ballard has the best chance of being something worthwhile.
Trent imo will have a great year. The Colts upgraded the oline and will open up some decent holes for him. The youngster runs very hard pimpn
I don't think Richardson will be the best RB on his own team, you simply can't count on a RB from Bama unless their name is Shawn Alexander.
What does Fitzpatrick have to do with anything? You're trying diversion tactics because you have no other argument? Sure, their offensive lines our good...we amped up our DLine just as much. Fact of the matter is that neither of those teams have running backs that strike any fear in their opponents. They are very average running backs, much in the mold of Andre Brown for the Texans.
