I haven't seen this topic discussed, at least in it's own thread. How will our current personal fit with Romeo's scheme, we have some very talented players in JJ and possibly Cushing as well. Neither player IMO seems to fit his traditional roles for the position. JJ has been given freedom to beat his man and get after the QB, traditional 3-4 DEs are not asked or even wanted to abandon their gaps in any way. Can JJ be successful and more importantly, happy in this type of system or is this going to be the next in a very long line of Houston Texan gaffes that we look back on in a couple of years and say what were they thinking? I could easily see JJ being asked to tie up lineman almost exclusively in this defense and eventually wanting to go someplace where he can get a little more of the accolades for his game. In Cushing's case the traditional MLB is usually nothing more then a run stuffer, someone who is not as mobile as Cush is and usually a little thicker in body type. From the presser it looks like Cushing has dropped weight and I wonder how he will fit. both are very talented guys (when healthy) but I wonder if they can thrive and be pleased with the roles they will be asked to play.
O'Brien said he wanted an agile, run-stopping defense that was capable of keeping opponents on their toes. Crennel hinted that he would be adapting the system to fit the personnel. From what we've been hearing I was imagining a true hybrid defense that could give multiple looks. We actually do have good pieces in place to accomplish that. Unfortunately, the more I think about it, knowing how stubborn coaches are, especially older ones that have had success, the more I have my doubts. I imagine we'll get the traditional 3-4, the one the Patriots have let evolve into something a bit different. Watt very well may be misused. If Crennel doesn't have success it will probably cost him his job. But we'll see how it plays out. I still have hope we'll be in a lot of nickel and other 4-man fronts.
I think RAC is a clear step back when it comes to DC over Wade Phillips, but even a total idiot could manage to have a decent defense with Watt, Cushing, and Clowney in the front 7.
Whereas I love Cushing's play, he does seem to be "fragile." If we don't trade back with Cleveland for their #4 and #26 or their first pick of the second round, then I hope we draft Clowney because that that will make our defense intense. Other teams can protect against one or even two fierce pass/run disruptors, but three will be very, very difficult. I know I will be flamed for not going with a QB, but this year's crop does not include an Oliver Luck, RGIII or any other sure-fire success. We can get a quality QB for development with the first pick of the second round (Mettenberger, McCarren or Garropolo, for instance). Remember, the Texans had a really off year due to injuries. IMO, considering the quality of reinforcements we should be getting in this year's draft, Houston will be back in the Superbowl hunt.
Assuming RAC system, he would need a beefy NT in the draft. Watt and Crick would play the other two tackles...Mercilus would be the elephant, and if Clowney's drafted->he would be the rushing OLB. Cushing and Reed will be your ILBs.
To the Clowney guys, I think he is clearly miscast in RAC's defense. He is a pure 4-3 DE, I don't see him as a fit at all. JJ atleast fits the part in body type, I just feel he would be under-utilized in that scheme.
The elephant is the rushing OLB, and I honestly think Travardo Williams will break into the rotation and steal plays from Merc unless he steps it up.
Would Mack be a good choice for this defense? This guy looks like a double digit sack guy out of the gate.
He would be a good choice, but not because he'd be a double digit sack guy...he probably won't be. He's a very solid all around OLB who could drop into coverage and be solid against the run and has a really good speed rush if no one blocks him. His pass rush is pretty much non-existent if a halfway competent TE or OT gets their hands on him, but pass rush isn't really his strong suit anyway.
He seems pretty agile(very Von Miller like). Mack, Clowney, or TB. I would be satisfied with either of the three.
BTW....... Aaron Donald looks like a clone of someone on the Texans. Can we trade back with Cleveland and take Mack at 4 trade Cleveland's 1st and our second for Donald in the top 15?
I would be satisfied with Mack or Clowney, I would give Bridgewater a chance, but I wouldn't be thrilled. No worries, honestly if not for Mario being moved to that position, I wouldn't know it either. That was the first time I ever bothered to learn the names LOL Aaron Donald is a 5 tech in a 4-3. In that role, he'll thrive, out of it....well probably not. If we switched to a 4-3 I could see the pick.
More like very unlucky. Any player in the league would've been sidelined by the 2 freak/dirty hits he endured the last 2 years.
Absolutely. Any mortal human would have been injured on those plays. Your knee just can't take hits like that, it really sucks that he was so unlucky in back to back years though.
Clowney is just as fast and agile as any of the 34OLB's that will be available in this draft. And let's pretend Clowney is the real deal. We're going to move Watt out of position and draft for fit just because of... Romeo Crennel? On Watt, I think he's a better fit as a 43DT than he is a Crennel 34DE. I really hope Crennel is ready to adapt. He tried to fit pegs into his scheme in KC. It wasn't terrible but it didn't work. Now look at those guys.
Were his injuries on the same leg? Does the surgery help him come back stronger or could it lead to possible future problems?
Yeah, same leg, different injuries. The surgery doesn't help him come back stronger, but the work he has to put in rehabbing in theory should make him stronger than he was before. Any knee injury sucks, but the one this time around was minor by comparison.
Well, didn't JJ play in a traditional 3-4 at Wisconsin? He should have no problem filling that role again in this scheme. But you're right, even though I'm sure he can play well as a traditional 3-4 DE, it remains a question of how exactly they're going to use him and whether or not some of his talent ends up being wasted.
This is false... Most traditional 3-4 DE's usually only occupy blockers because that's all they are capable of doing because they can't beat the double teams fast enough to get to the quarterback. Richard Seymour was in the backfield putting pressure on the quarterback often when he played for Romeo and Seymour is no where near the player that J.J. is.
