AFC's breakout players Brian Cushing, LB, Texans Cushing By Paul Kuharsky The Houston Texans believe a sturdy, rugged linebacker who could rush the passer and drop into coverage would have made a big difference for them in 2008. They believe they've added him to the mix in 2009, and I do too. Thus the selection of Brian Cushing as the breakout candidate for the AFC South. From strongside linebacker, where he should be able to fight off or stick with a tight end, Cushing should be able to help the defensive line and the secondary. The defensive backfield didn't get any big additions, but the Texans seem to think the group will be fine with the improvements on the front that result from the insertion of Cushing and free-agent lineman Antonio Smith. New defensive coordinator Frank Bush has promised a more aggressive style, and the 6-foot-2, 243-pound Cushing should fit it with his intensity and passion. They expect he can help harass Peyton Manning, Kerry Collins and David Garrard while helping contain tight ends such as Dallas Clark, Bo Scaife and Marcedes Lewis. "I haven't seen him in the pads yet, but I just feel like he's going to be that hard-nosed, tough, physical guy doing a lot of punishing out there," middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans said at the team's minicamp in June. "I'm looking forward to him bringing that aspect of the game. I think he has the natural ability to rush off the edge and I'm just eager to see him in game-time action and see how it goes." Keep in mind, please, that we steered clear of players such as Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who had 57 catches last season, Titans receiver Nate Washington, who had 40 for Pittsburgh, and Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, who was strong as a rookie in 2007 but struggled last year with an ankle injury. They and others are too established to be considered possibilities as breakout candidates. Cushing was drafted 15th overall out of USC, ahead of college teammate Clay Matthews, also a linebacker. Coach Gary Kubiak said the team's top pick was a starter as soon as he got off the bus. But even if he's not an impact player right away, he'll have plenty of time to make his mark with the Texans. http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-9-29/AFC-s-breakout-players.html
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Johnson-Slaton bond has been established By Matt Sohn, Pro Football Weekly Jul 6, 1:16 pm EDT Some people are destined to be eternally linked. Bird and Magic. Sonny and Cher. Siegfried and Roy. Whether it’s by choice or chance, every so often the identities two individuals forge become inextricably intertwined. Sweltering in the southern sun, the infancy of one such bond has commenced. Johnson, left, is always a threat to break away from the competition. (Leo Halip/US Presswire) On the heels of a Pro Bowl campaign as the Tennessee Titans’ dazzling dynamo, Chris Johnson is doing everything in his power this offseason to shed the notion that he is merely one-half of a running back tour de force. The self-bestowed “Smash and Dash” moniker has been shed as quickly as it was established. Johnson has appealed all the way to the court of Twitter. In LenDale White(notes), Johnson indeed may believe he’s burdened with the complement that even his ankle-breaking shimmies are hard-pressed to shake. But make no mistake, the doughy White is hardly the yin to Johnson’s yang. That would be Steve Slaton(notes). Choose a metric, any. Age? Both are 23. Experience? Each enters his second NFL season. Stats? Try 251 carries for 1,228 yards with nine touchdowns for Johnson, with Slaton boasting rookie numbers of 268-1,282-9. Both ply their craft in the AFC South, where Johnson’s Titans squad clashes with Slaton’s Houston Texans twice each season. Most importantly, both are gearing up for sophomore campaigns when they know they’ll be the hunted, and they know they must prevail for their teams to thrive. “I’m going to be more of a target this year,” Johnson acknowledges, “so it will be a little harder. But that’s why I got to work even harder than I did last year.” Adds Slaton: “My role got more important as the season was ending. In the last five games, I felt a lot more comfortable and I think the coaches felt a lot more comfortable knowing that I was the No. 1 guy.” Despite decorated collegiate careers at East Carolina and West Virginia, respectively, Johnson and Slaton didn’t rank among draft analysts’ “Most Likely to Achieve” candidates in the Class of 2008. Johnson, nabbed in Round 1’s waning stages, was dubbed a “workout warrior” courtesy of his blistering 4.24-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, even though his near 2,000 scrimmage from yards as a senior stood testament to his gridiron ability. Slaton, meanwhile, slipped to Round 3 as scouts doubted the durability of his wiry build and questioned how much of his production came courtesy of the Mountaineers’ spread offense that provided him with ready-made running lanes. Ironically enough, that system played a critical role in propelling his revelatory campaign. “During training camp, we were just doing a lot of reps trying to get a better grasp of the zone scheme,” Slaton said, referring to Texans offensive line coach Alex Gibbs’ famed system that churned out 1,000-yard rushers by the truckload during Gibbs’ days in Denver. “But in college we ran a lot of zone, and I feel that one of my best attributes is trying to read the offensive linemen.” Football synergy, if you will. The offensive linemen open the holes for the running backs, and the running backs take pressure off the quarterback. It’s Football 101 and Slaton’s at the head of the class. Slaton, with the ball, had five 100-yard games last season. (Brett Davis/US Presswire) “For [QB Matt Schaub(notes)] to be healthy, it’s going to be my job, the offensive line’s job and the receiver’s job to protect him.” If Johnson shares in his fellow second-year sensation’s team-oriented perspective, you wouldn’t know it by his offseason bravado. First, he solicited end zone celebration ideas on Twitter. (He got some good ones, he told PFW, yet declined to spoil the surprise). Then, he distanced himself from backfield buddy White, announcing his desire to be hereto referred to as “Every Coach’s Dream.” “When you look at all the top running backs throughout NFL [history], Eric Dickerson and those types of guys, people don’t refer to them as a group,” Johnson explains. “With me and LenDale, when it comes to the end of the day, we’re not going to be known as ‘Smash and Dash’ or any other nickname, but as LenDale White and Chris Johnson.” No disrespect to White, who shared the USC backfield with Reggie Bush(notes) and whose ’08 contributions included 15 trips to paydirt, Johnson contends. After all, the celebration “Tweet” was delivered with White literally watching his buddy type in the memo – just the most pertinent example of their amicable relationship. Whether they maintain that bond through the season remains to be seen, especially if Johnson’s rising profile and undeniable talent begin to dilute White’s contributions. Johnson spent OTAs and minicamp working extensively at receiver, as the Titans seek to exploit his blistering speed in the slot and out wide, in addition to his still-plentiful duties in the backfield. Slaton also is primed for a heavier workload. He has put on about 10 pounds from his rookie playing weight of 205, which should enable him to better handle the weekly diet of 20-plus touches he’ll be fed. Just don’t expect him to also choreograph his celebrations upon crossing the goal line. “I just give the ball to the ref,” Slaton said. “Act like I’ve been there before.” Game on. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...hnsonslaton070209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns&print=1
Has Cushing even signed his contract yet? Do they usually wait till closer to training camp to do that?
Yeah, the article confused me at first. I thought it was Slaton who was Tweeting for suggestions of end zone dances. But that last quote is awesome. I love players that mix class with skill. It's one of my favorite things about Andre Johnson. You know you get to watch greatness, but not at the expense of your team's dignity.
How do we (Houston) land the most modest guys? Its incredible the character/class per capita our teams have.
I can't wait for this season. Its not fan boy optimism this time, either. This team actually has tangible talent (not just "promising" players), a good coaching staff (Kubiak has improved every year he's been here, imo) and an easy schedule (easiest in the history of the franchise, at least) and *should* make the playoffs. I'm still curious as to who will get 10 carries a game beside Steve.
Is it partially because Houston is a modest town? I mean, the flambouyant-flashy types would seem to be drawn to flambouyant-flashy type places, and Houston's just too laid back for that. Love me some H-town. We'll kick your ass, and we'll yawn while we're doing it.
yeah, i loved the quote. although i've been waiting for the premier version of his jersey to come out so i can buy it.. since last year!
