DGDB&D: a Texans blog.

Ch-ch-changes

Aug 14, 2007 Athletes who don't stab people, Dan The Assassin, DeMeco Ryans, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Morlon Greenwood, Preview, Secondary issues are primary, The Fred, Training camp 2007

Building on my theory that the roster changes by the day, two roster-related moves were made by the team this afternoon. First, 610 reports that LB Charlie Anderson was supplanted as the starting SLB by Danny Clark. “The Assassin” has impressed Kubiak in camp, both in linebacker duty and on special teams, so he’s apparently the man now (dog) at the SAM position.

I like this move. Nothing against Charlie–he showed some ability on Saturday and he plays with a nice intensity–but Clark has some skills. Last year was a down year for him, but he had 129 and 113 total tackles in the two seasons prior to 2006. Plus, I think his size/speed combination alongside what DeMeco Ryans and Morlon Greenwood possess puts us in the position of having one of the most athletic and (dare I say it?) talented starting LB corps in the AFC.

Second, and you can file this under “what the…?,” the team signed Tyrone Poole. I suppose this was to add some depth at free safety. However, I really don’t understand the thinking here. Poole is a converted CB, just like Von Hutchins, and has the added super happy funtime bonus of being 35 years old. He hasn’t played a full season since 2003. In 12 games last year with Oakland, he managed 15 total tackles, 1 INT, and 3 passes defended. Wow.

I understand the idea that Smithiak have had a great track record with bringing guys in off the street (Anthony Maddox, anyone?). Still, I cannot figure out how this move makes sense. If you want to try a converted CB at FS, you have Hutchins. If you want to try an old converted CB at FS, you have Dexter McCleon. If you want to try an actual safety at FS, you have Brandon Harrison, Brandon Mitchell, and/or Jason Simmons. Depth is never a bad thing, but signing some random old guy simply because he had the best workout among some other random out-of-work defensive backs isn’t adding good depth. Even if we keep 5 safeties on the active roster, I don’t think it makes sense to keep Poole over any of the other guys listed here. I hope I am wrong and that Poole checks in with 6 INTs and 50 tackles by the season’s end. Still, I have to think that if he had that kind of Free Safety production in him, he wouldn’t have been eating Cheetos and waiting on a phone call.

UPDATE: There are rumors floating around that Poole will see time mainly at nickel and was signed more in response to the loss of Jason Horton than of Glenn Earl, meaning Kubiak is happy with the Brown/Simmons tandem (or a Brown/Hutchins possibility) as of now. This is good, but it still makes you wonder why we brought him in. I mean, Jamar Fletcher and Fred Bennett are the nickel guys right now (and Faggins should be there). Also, Jason Horton was playing like crap on Saturday, so who even knows if he was long for the team? I dunno. Hopefully the next few days will shed some light on it.