As much as I hate to praise USC players, Sam Baker is awesome. I don't know where he projects, but I'd love to see him on the Texans.
Yes, it is scary. He might have just as much upside as Mario. Given the fact he is such a great kid the sky is the limit. I say kid even though I am 25! Anyways, the improvement of Mario from Season 1 to Season 2 is amazing and I think you will see that from Okoye as well. If the Defensive Line coach stays he can teach these guys to get better each and every year as long as they keep working hard to try to be the best.
Demps has played well, and I think he will be a very valuable backup. Heck, with his experience this season he may very well win the starting safety job next year. Competition is a good thing.
When Richard Smith decides to play it safe and sit back and wait for something to happen, the defense doesn't play well. When he decides to change things up and (gasp!) blitz every once in a while, look what happens.
that's what i've been screaming for them to do the whole season. that 4 man rush they were doing prior to the last 2 games wasn't doing much. i don't know what it took them so long. the secondary was getting burned anyways. a blitz here and there at least takes away from the predictable defense.
Very true. Just hope he stays aggressive against the Colts. The first inclination is to sit back and fill the passing lanes. When you've got a guy like Peyton Manning, he will find the holes.
By all accounts Travis Johnson has played pretty well this season. Much better than in years past, anyway.
Baker was a projected lottery pick last season (had he come out) but he's been pretty quiet this season so I see him going somewhere between 15-25. Not sure where the Texans will finish but I really hope we trade down and pick up a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Pick up a OL in the 1st and a RB in the 2nd or 3rd.
And don't forget Morlon Greenwood, who's second on the team in tackles and was up for defensive player of the week last week. This whole defense will be unstoppable in coming years. Maybe they'll bring back the nickname they had last year, "The Rock." It's more fitting this year then last.
This offseason we need to draft the secondary and hope Dunta comes back strong. Our defense will be nasty from now on and will only get better as Omobi and others develop.
Our future is bright, its freakin scary how good Mario and Demeco can be in a couple years. OMG I can't wait...
You got it, we need a S most of all. To be honest we're getting by with our O-line, but yes we need to upgrade. Look at the sacks this year though, they're doin pretty good. Our S position however needs work. Demps had a chance at 2 interceptions and it looked like the guy tried to catch them with his forearms...idiot. those 2 INTs would have been huge and in a close game would have screwed us over. Long story short, OL in the 3rd, and a S in the 1st. Kenny Phillips from the U is rated 18 overall on ESPN prospects, and #1 for S.Get it done Smith and Kubiak
Wait...*nothing* is more disappointing than Travis Johnson? You must have a charmed life! You are factually incorrect that Johnson has been "non-existent." He's clogged up the middle well enough. The Texans have a solid run defense and it's not *only* Demeco Ryans and Mario Williams doing all of the damage. Considering how susceptible Amobi Okoye is to getting pushed around, I think Johnson has done a solid job. The eyeball test *and* the stats back this up. He's in the upper third of defensive linemen in tackles, despite missing a few games and he has meshed with the players around him pretty well.