Like quite a few others, that's what came to my mind when they drafted Nix. A great D-line can make up for a poor secondary, just ask the Giants in '07 and '11.
Wade had a bunch of healthy players. Cushing has been injured the past two years and so has J.Jo... D. Manning was a BIG part of this defense. Once he started losing a step and getting injured the defense started taking a step back IMO. Adding a playmaker to the safety position did wonders for this defense... Especially one who was use to winning and went to a super bowl. I think Romeo is going to need a year to turn this defense around. He's not getting the same advantages that Wade had when he got here.
Here are the projected starters http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000353013/article/projected-2014-starters-houston-texans This articles has Crick starting opposite of JJ and Nix clogging up the middle. defense. » Earmarked for the Willie McGinest role in Romeo Crennel's defense, Clowney will push Brooks Reed inside next to Brian Cushing. He should be joined in the starting lineup by Nix, who will fill the nose-tackle void left by Earl Mitchell's departure. We give Jared Crick the early edge to replace Antonio Smith opposite J.J. Watt. Free safety Chris Clemons is the favorite over Kendrick Lewis and Shiloh Keo alongside strong safety D.J. Swearinger.
Sounds about right. The only thing I really disagree with is they have Newton as a possibility at RT....I don't think there is any chance of that. As to Crick, he was trying to gain weight to push for minutes at NT last year so I think he'll have bulked up enough to handle 2 gap DE responsibilities and I think he's by far the most talented person for the job.
Crick had slow combine numbers coming out of college and that's when he was lighter... Maybe Crick will surprise me and win the job but I doubt it. If Romeo thought of Crick as a starter _ they wouldn't have concentrated on that position as much as they did with the limited resources they have and all the holes on this team. And I heard Jayson Braddock say that Mathews has been a "technician" in camp so far and Mathews has been in a "Romeo type" defense for the past two years... He's ahead of the curve over Crick and the rookies. And notice that Mathews and the rest of the guys Romeo has brought in is bigger than Crick. Around 100 miles and running till game day so we shall see.
As much as I love Clowney's athleticism, explosiveness, strength and potential, I can't help but to think that Khalil Mack may become the better player. I think Khalil Mack may be a safer pick simply because of his natural football instinct and his motor. Football instinct and motor alone is what made JJ Watt one of the best defensive player in the NFL. But I hope Clowney gets the best of training and with the new coaching staff and JJ Watt, Clowney will learn the fundamentals and skills to go along with his natural athleticism and strength to make him a great defensive player.
