DeMarcus Faggins couldn’t cover Christopher Reeve (and I am talking about right now)
May 16, 2007 2007 Draft, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Dunta Robinson, Secondary issues are primary, The Fred, Undrafted Free Agent watch list
From KC Joyner’s latest ESPN column (insider only):
The Texans have issues at two positions in the secondary. DeMarcus Faggins‘ 10.0 YPA in 2006 strongly suggests he may not be capable of holding down a starting job, and Dexter McCleon’s history indicates he is a big question mark at nickel back.
The Texans signed Jamar Fletcher in free agency, but his 11.4 YPA indicates he might not be much of an improvement. Fred Bennett, a fourth-round draft pick out of South Carolina, may help the secondary, but he has some durability questions. None of the veteran backups on the Houston roster — Roc Alexander, Von Hutchins, Chris McKenzie and Dexter Wynn — is worthy of a starting job.
Joyner’s first paragraph is pretty much what I’ve been bitching about since the end of last season. In fact, it boggles my mind that people continue to incorrectly harp on the Texans’ offensive line situation while simultaneously ignoring that the Texans have exactly one good DB (Dunta Robinson). Petey Faggins is beyond worthless and Dexter Mc hasn’t been good since the last years of the Clinton Administration.
The player Joyner overlooks in this whole mini-rant is non-drafted free agent signee Brandon Mitchell (S, Ohio State). A converted CB, Mitchell is 6′3″/205 and turned in a 4.5 40. He was also a second-team All Big Ten selection. If he can make coverage easier for Petey by helping over the top, this would be the same as getting an upgrade at CB2. (Of course, it is my opinion that a half-eaten ham sandwich would be an upgrade over Faggins…)
Finally, durability issues aside, Fred Bennett is a solid candidate for nickel back. He has size, he’s a big hitter, and he is paired with another former Gamecock (Dunta) in the secondary. (I firmly believe that such relationship can be an asset.) He could also work his way into a starting position at CB2 in 2008.
