Gary Kubiak is going Thunderdome at strongside LB
May 23, 2007 Gary Kubiak, Lance Briggs' open invitation, Michigan Wolverines, Super Mario, Training camp 2007
As is generally the case with young teams, several positions are in flux as OTAs and minicamps begin. With the Texans, there is competition for WR2, LT (until Charles Spencer returns), KR/PR, CB3 (nickel), and–apparently–SLB.
This year, the Texans are giving [Charlie] Anderson another opportunity to become a starter by pitting him against Shantee Orr at strongside linebacker. Orr, who has started the past two years, has had to battle for his job every offseason.
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Orr is athletic with pass-rush ability. In the 3-4 alignment in 2005, he set a team record with three sacks in one game and led the Texans with seven total sacks. Last season was Orr’s first in the 4-3, and he was rarely used to blitz. [Author's note: That was a mistake on Kubes' part.] He finished with 1 1/2 sacks and 32 tackles.Anderson, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason, is a talented athlete who is waiting for his first start after three seasons with the Texans. He has 36 career tackles, many of which have come on special teams.
I am on record as being an Orr fan. I liked him at Michigan, I like his motor, and I think he makes the perfect 5th rusher in this defense. With him behind Weaver and Manchild, you create a great opportunity for (a) one of those three to get free and (b) the opposing RB to be occupied with that side of the line, thereby ignoring Super Mario.
Still, the coaches have apparently seen something in Anderson that they dig. If there is one knock on Orr, it’s that he is less than stellar in pass coverage/zone awareness. Maybe Kubiak has seen something that suggests Anderson would be the better all-around LB. I dunno. Anderson is four inches taller than Orr and slightly faster, so that might play into the decision as well.
In the end, I think that Orr will win the starting job. However, if Kubiak is not going to blitz from the Sam position very often, Orr’s contribution is going to be significantly diminished. In that case, I would mind them going in a different direction and seeing what Anderson can do.
Either that, or see if Lance Briggs is interested in wearing battle red.
