From his lips to Durga’s ears
Oct 31, 2008 Drunky Drunkerton, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Gary Kubiak, Inanity
With a nod to Tim, I present practice quotes from Friday. As is custom, some of these might not be 100% accurate.
(RB) Ahman (Green) did practice today. I have to go back and evaluate how he practiced. Most of his work was with the scout team, so we could simulate what it would be like to play Minnesota if Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor die before the game.
(on how much the team needs RB Ahman Green) Well, we need everybody except Petey.
Now, we have to go do it against a very good football team in their home stadium. So, we just have to play solid football and get ourselves in position to make that play to win a game and then make sure Sage Rosenfels is nowhere near the field.
(on anything else health-wise) No, we’re OK. 34 is ready to go. There will probably be a game-time decision on how many guys we suit up. Other than that we’re OK. Kevin is back to full speed, so Ahman should be the only question going into Sunday morning. But, fuck, we’re used to that by now.
Normally you’re sitting there as a coach grading 65 snaps and for Duane, 45 of those have been graded very good and 20 of them have been graded not good enough. So long as none grade as Jordan Black, I’m not that concerned.
[Duane] gets the chance now to go into a place that will be about as difficult to play, noise-wise and as great a player as he’s had this year (Vikings DE Jared Allen). To get him ready, we had Mario get drunk as fuck before practice.
Richard Smith and the Mystery of Pass Coverage
Oct 22, 2008 Drunky Drunkerton, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Dunta Robinson, Faggination, Fire Richard Smith, Fisted by Jessica Alba, Football 101, Fred Weary is dirty, I was told there would be no math, Rendhel and Sid, Richard Justice is a talentless hack., The Fred, Theft
If you have read any of the previous Xs/Os things here at DGDB&D, it should be pretty clear that I am defense-first kind of guy. For every one article on zone blocking, there are at least four on some aspect of our defense or lack thereof. It’s not that I don’t like offense, but given the choice I’d prefer to see Mario Williams knock someone unconscious than watch Owen Daniels get a first down. I’m just odd, I s’pose.
Anyway, because I’m a defensive guy, watching Richard Smith’s approach to my favorite side of the ball has been especially painful. Whether it’s repeatedly dropping Mario into coverage against a Tennessee team that didn’t really throw into the flat all day or benching his best cornerback in favor of someone who is in the conversation for worst player in the NFL, Smith consistently does everything wrong—and, conversely, nothing right—in his defensive playcalling. We’ve covered the lack of blitzing and general lack of common sense and even offered up a possible solution (that Smith would never apply because it takes courage and vision).
The one thing we haven’t really covered, however, except in post-game griping and general comments about defensive failure, is our pass-coverage philosophy. Yet, after seeing the predictable result of Petey Faggins one-on-one with a WR that only Nnamdi Asomugah could cover, I think it’s about time to tackle the defensive backfield. I hope to tackle it better than Will Demps is tackling right now.
First, some background. The Texans play a mix of man coverage (usually in the form of Cover-1 or Cover-2 Man) and Cover-2 zone. Just so we are all on the same page, let’s look at each of those schemes. (Note: as always, we are talking in generalizations here. There are a million tiny variations to all of these…none of which Richard Smith understands.)
Man/Cover-1 Theory. Our most common form of man coverage is the Cover-1. (Our second-most common form is the Cover-2 Man, but we’ll hit on that in a minute.) In Cover-1, the defense has one deep defender at or near the middle of the field (relative to the sidelines) and he is responsible for deep help. Underneath, you will generally have pure man coverage from your CBs and LBs, with the other safety—usually the SS—free to assist in man coverage, sneak up for run support, or blitz.
If you are paying attention, you can see the biggest flaw in the Cover-1: the deep safety is responsible for a TON of real estate and if he lacks the speed or guesses wrong on where to go, it is almost impossible for him to recover. Thus a Cover-1 requires a very good FS in the deep coverage.
Under Gregg Williams, the Redskins ran a Cover-1 as a base package quite a bit, with the thinking being that Sean Taylor was more than capable of playing the role. He was, but Williams continually failed to realize that the scheme put a tremendous amount of pressure on his corners—because they absolutely had to avoid getting burned deep—and they were most certainly not up to that task. Nevertheless, Williams’ reputation as an aggressive play-caller—a myth that we already addressed before the season—was due in large part to the Cover-1’s requirements.
What I mean by this is, because of the inherent flaw in Cover-1, teams that employ that coverage try to be more aggressive up front to prevent the opponent from having enough time to stretch the field and develop multiple deep routes, thereby protecting the safety. To do this, the Cover-1 attempts to employ many different blitz packages/man assigments, most of which revolve around bringing the SS up to LB depth and, from here, either blitzing him or blitzing a LB or CB with that safety picking up the appropriate receiver. For this to be effective, however, any non-blitzing CBs/LBs (especially the WLB) have to be able to cover until the pressure gets to the QB.
Cover-1 also suffers from plenty of room after the catch, as most or all of the underneath defenders are locked up in man coverage of their own and, should a WR catch the ball, are not in position to make a quick tackle. (Think Greg Camarillo on a slant.)
Why it doesn’t work for the Texans. I think you see where I am going with this. Basically, in this coverage, you are asking Will Demps to cover sideline to sideline, Brandon Harrison (or, prior, C.N. Brown) to lock up in man coverage, and Petey Faggins and Jacques Reeves to maintain tight man coverage until Richard Smith’s non-effective blitz package gets to the QB. It should come as no surprise that, in the aforementioned Immolation Of The Faggins looked to be in Cover-1. [EDIT: Triple347 says the Johnson completion was in quarter-quarter-half coverage. See comments for discussion.
Even worse, though, is that Smith bastardizes the hell out of his Cover-1. Far be it from him to send the SS on a blitz. No, he utilizes the SS almost entirely in pass coverage from the LB depth. Meaning that teams with even two games worth of film on the Texans' D quickly figure out that the SS is bluffing and, thus, they don't try to account for him in blitz pickup. Instead, they take advantage of the fact that our SSs don't backpedal all that well---most don't---and they abuse him in coverage or throw over the top of him if he is dropping back into a middle zone.
When Brown/Harrison aren't all the way up at LB depth, Smith sneaks the up toward the middle of the field and in behind DeMeco Ryans, almost as if they are playing some kind of non-commital run support. Behind our best tackler. Because he apparently needs the backup?
Cover-2/Cover-2 Man. "Cover-2" might be the most overused and misunderstood phrase in football defense today. Pretty much all teams will occasionally come out in something resembling a Cover-2, but most have a wrinkle of some sort because most lack the personnel to effectively run a true Cover-2.
Cover-2 is a 2-deep, 5-under zone system. In this coverage, both safeties are responsible for half of the deep part of the field. The CBs are in press coverage and are each responsible for 1/5th of the short/intermediate zone underneath the two safeties. The three linebackers are each responsible for another 1/5. Because the safeties will generally line up between their respective hashmark and the sideline and because they will work toward the sideline at the snap, the biggest hole in the Cover-2 coverage is in between them, behind the MLB.
[Quick side-note: The Tampa-2 variant drops the MLB into deeper coverage to address the hole in the straight Cover-2 and has the CBs/remaining LBs responsible for 1/4th of the field each.]
Whereas the Cover-1 attempts to be aggressive up front to prevent the big play, the Cover-2 typically uses just the four-man rush and attempts to take away the big play by going into a bend-don’t-break mode. There are holes in the coverage between the zones, so teams will tend to throw underneath the two safeties, which is just what the defense is encouraging.
In Cover-2 Man, the safeties still play the same way, but the coverage underneath is pure man. The safeties help with deep coverage into their zones, but the man coverage will stay with the receivers through those zones as well, effectively leading to double-coverage on deep routes.
Regardless of whether the team is in Cover-2 or Cover-2 Man, the one place they should never, ever get beat deep is on the sidelines. The CBs have the WRs through the intermediate zone and the safeties, who moved toward the sideline at the snap, pick them up as they get deeper. Assuming your safeties can do that (and that your CBs consider basic things like “turn your head” and “don’t get roasted off the line”), the Cover-2 allows you to force teams to throw short-to-intermediate passes toward the middle of the field (thereby giving you the added benefit of forcing the opposition to throw the ball past many more hands), with the safeties coming up to make quick tackles. Of course, that also requires that you have safeties that tackle well…
Why this doesn’t work for the Texans. Again, I think you see where this is headed. The corners that Smith insists on giving the most reps are incapable of defending balls thrown over the top of them. The safeties seem incapable of giving help in the intermediate zone or in picking up WRs as they come into the deep zone. Will Demps especially has the annoying habit of letting the WR coming into his zone get past him before he reacts.
It is telling that we are CONSISTENTLY beat along the sidelines at every depth. The basic tenets of this coverage require that you have safeties who can defend the go/corner routes, not let WRs get behind them, and, most importantly, don’t get so worried about the underneath stuff that you bite on double-move. Simply put, we don’t have that.
****
You see the most glaring common weakness through the whole discussion as it pertains to us? OUR SAFETIES ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO RUN ANY OF THE COVERAGES WE ARE ASKING THEM TO RUN. Oh, sure, our Faggins and Reeves are very bad and they deserve their fair share of the blame—blame I am more than happy to heap on Petey at every opportunity—but at least we have Dunta Robinson, Fred Bennett, and Antwaun Molden available. Cornerback could theoretically be fixed if the DC would use some common sense. But we are stuck with the safety corps that we currently feature.
So, how to fix it? By “hiding” the safeties in a Cover-3!
Cover-3 Theory. If you didn’t know it before, by now you’ve realized that the number in Cover-# refers to the numbers of players in the deep zone. It’s a handy shorthand, but it does tend to oversimplify things. Regardless, in the Cover-3, there are (shocking!) three guys in the deep zone, with each responsible for 1/3 of the field. But here’s the wrinkle: unlike the Cover-2, where the two deep players are safeties, the Cover-3 generally uses two corners and a safety in the deep zone.
in a standard 2-corner, 2-safety scheme, it works like this: On the snap, the FS moves toward the middle of the field. The two corners are playing up near the line and they break back, basically running with the WRs while working back to their deep thirds. The SS is freed to rotate into the flat, or blitz, or fill a LB zone if one of them blitzes, or any number of other things. Also, because he’s not responsible for a deep third, the SS does not have to be able to run with deep routes or backpedal all that well, so you make up for a lack of speed/cover skills at SS. The OLBs are responsible for the flats or hook zones, while the MLB is responsible for the intermediate middle (DeMeco would excel in this because of his sideline-to-sideline speed). In one fell swoop, you limited what you are asking each safety to do, you’ve created a situation where DeMeco is utilized to his full ability, you’ve maximized the value of the physical corners (Robinson, Bennett, possibly Molden) because you are allowing them to jam at the line and then run with the route so they can defend the short or intermediate stuff, AND you are putting your OLBs in a position to blitz or cover the hook zone rather than try to run man-to-man with a TE. And if you can teach him to turn his head, Reeves’ speed would be a huge asset in getting back to his deep third, so even he would be improved.
Sounds cool, no? But here’s where it gets even better. You can run all sorts of shapes and formations out of it. You can disguise it as man coverage by keeping the SS back in his normal spot with the CBs in press coverage. You can move the SS up into the box for run support or to blitz him. You can blitz one of the OLBs and abandon the hook zone, assuming you’ll get to him before the WR gets open in the hook/short zone, or have the SS fill that hook zone and hope the QB tries to throw behind the blitz. You can run a zone blitz in front of the Cover-3, something that would be near impossible in the Cover-2, with the DE dropping into the flat.
And there’s more—you can even change up your personnel within the scheme or the scheme within the personnel. Because the FS is playing deep center field and ball hawking, you could occasionally put Dunta in that role, with Molden and Bennett playing jam coverage, thereby getting your big physical corners on the field at the same time while also freeing up Dunta to try to knock people out. You could slide an athletic linebacker like Xavier Adibi into the SS role and have him up in the box doing the same thing your SS would be doing in the straight Cover-3. You can disguise the coverage and confuse the opponent by playing zone on one side while still letting Fred Bennett lock up in man coverage on the other side. Hell, you can run the Cover-3 with your nickel package, with one corner locking up in man, one dropping into a deep third, and both safeties staying back. (You’ll notice that ALL these iterations ask the safeties to do less than we are currently asking them to do, while attempting to create some confusion and pressure up front and maintain deep coverage across the entire deep zone.)
Now, of course, all defenses have holes and inherent weaknesses. Cover-3 is no different. It is particularly susceptible to short routes if the CBs are selling out to get back to their deep zones quickly. This can be overcome somewhat by cheating out just a little bit with the OLBs and getting them into the flats more quickly. Additionally, you can swap coverage zones every now and then—for example, have the SS retreat into the deep zone the CB rotate up into the hook/flat zone if you catch a QB trying to consistently throw underneath the retreating CB. Even with these drawbacks and flaws, I know I would feel a lot better asking Bennett to react to a quick hitch than asking Will Demps to make an open field tackle. (And I’m fairly confident that the 96-yarder to Calvin Johnson doesn’t happen if we are in Cover-3.)
***
Take just a second and think about this whole discussion. You have three basic coverage philosophies here. Your personnel is a bad fit for one, a horrible fit for one, and a pretty good fit for one. Why in the name of Durga would the bad one and the horrible one get used extensively while the pretty good fit gets left on the bench beside your best cover corner?
The answer, best I can tell, is because Richard Smith is trying to kill me.
Alex Brink is boring
Aug 12, 2008 2008 Draft, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Fluff, Frank Okam is an evil genius
At least judging by the answers he gave in the Houston Texans 2008 Official Yearbook, he is. All of the draftees were asked some get-to-know-you questions. Here are the answers:
If I were not a football player, I would be:
Duane Brown: A basketball player. I love basketball. I had a couple of offers from smaller schools coming out of high school. Every chance I get, I try to get out there and run around a little bit on the court.
Antwaun Molden: A motivational speaker. I love giving back to the community. When I grew up, I never had that figure, that role model in my life. So I know how important it is for kids to have that positive figure in their lives.
Steve Slaton: A chef. I like to cook.
Xavier Adibi: A basketball player. I played a lot as a kid.
Frank Okam: A chef. I really like to cook. I like to try different things in the kitchen. I started at a very early age, so I can say it’s probably one of my talents.
Dominique Barber: A hockey player. I grew up playing hockey since I was [a] little kid, two years old, just like football.
Alex Brink: Probably in school still, studying, trying to get my MBA.
When I’m not at work, I’m most often:
Brown: Playing video games — Madden or NBA 2k8. It’s just something me and my friends always get a kick out of — heated rivalries.
Molden: Reading on stocks. I read Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett. I’ve been doing it for a year-and-a-half [sic] now.
Slaton: Usually listening to music.
Adibi: Playing Xbox — NBA 2k8 and Madden.
Okam: Sleeping, especially on this level, I get a lot of rest. But if I’m doing something, I like to be around people. I’m a people person, and that’s important to me.
Barber: Watching hockey, trying to fish or trying to golf.
Favorite all-time song:
Brown: I’d say “The World Is Yours,” by Nas.
Slaton: I don’t know about all-time, but right now it’s Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z, “You’re Welcome.”
Adibi: Sam Cooke, “Long Time Coming (A Change Is Gonna Come).”
Barber: I would say “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Temptations. [Ed. note: I wonder if he actually means the original version by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell or the later cover done by the Supremes and Temptations? Because the former is MUCH better.]
Brink: I would probably have to say Eminem, “Lose Yourself.”
Favorite non-football sports moment:
Molden: In 2003, we won a national championship in 2003 at NC State in the Adidas National Championship.
Slaton: I ran track in high school, and we did really well in the Penn Relays.
Adibi: My first dunk in a high school game. I was in the ninth grade. Everybody just went crazy.
Barber: Going to the state high school hockey tournament my senior year, just being at the Excel Energy Center where the Minnesota Wild play. It was a memorable moment for me.
Brink: My senior year of high school, I was all state in baseball. Baseball was my favorite sport, so it was awesome to get a little recognition there. I thought about playing in college but didn’t end up doing it because I was in a quarterback battle for like three springs in a row, so I didn’t have time.
Favorite cartoon as a kid:
Brown: “Scooby Doo.”
Molden: I would definitely have to say “Ninja Turtles.”
Slaton: “The Angry Beavers.”
Adibi: “X-Men.”
Okam: Probably sounds a little corny, but it was “Darkwing Duck.”
Barber: “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” Absolutely.
Brink: “Duck Tales.”
What actor would play you in a movie about your life?
Adibi: Will Smith. He just reminds me of myself, you know: tall, handsome…
Okam: Probably Michael Clarke Duncan. Everybody tells me I look like the guy from “The Green Mile,” so it’d have to be somebody pretty big.
Brink: I don’t know…Matthew McConaughey maybe. I think he’s a good actor.
Favorite guity pleasure:
Brown: Cheesecake. I love cheesecake.
Molden: I used to play a lot of video games in high school. I definitely grew out of that now, though. I haven’t picked up a controller in three or four years.
Slaton: Eating cake.
Adibi: I ate a lot of Snickers when I was growing up.
Barber: Cold Stone ice cream. When you can get the whole mixture of my favorite candy, Kit Kat, Snickers…it’s bad.
Brink: My mom’s chocolate chip cookies. No doubt.
Special talents:
Brown: I play the alto saxophone. I started playing that in sixth grade, so I went about eight years straight. I haven’t played in a while, though.
Slaton: Not many people know that I am a really good cook.
Brink: None. I’m very one-dimensional.
Ideal SportsCenter highlight:
Brown: I would just say become tackle eligible or something like that in the red zone, get the ball in my hands somehow and score a touchdown. That’d be my ultimate SportsCenter moment.
Molden: My perfect SportsCenter highlight would be after the Pro Bowl, on ESPN after a great Pro Bowl performance, one of the cast asking me, “What were you thinking on this play when you took an interception to the ouse in the Pro Bowl?” [Ed. note: The Pro Bowl? Weak.]
Slaton: The first time I touch the ball in the regular season, I take it all the way for a touchdown.
Adibi: Maybe just running through a quarterback’s back and him fumbling, me picking it up and going to the end zone with it.
Okam: You know, it’d probably be a game to clinch going to the playoffs against the Titans and being able to sack Vince Young and cause a fumble and return it for a touchdown. Playing with him at Texas, you never got to touch him because we’ve got that quarterback ruleor whaever,so if I ever get a chance to do that, I’l tell him, “This is what I would’ve been doing to you all those years in college.” [Ed. Note: I didn't think it was possible, but I love Big Frank's selection even more after this answer.]
Barber: I would say a pick to te house, an interception to the house vrsus the Cowboys with my brother (Cowboys RB Marion Barber III) chasing me.
Brink: I would be running for a touchdown and I’d probably be leaping over somebody at the pylonlike Reggie Bush. That would be my ultimate highlight.
Old Five And Dimers Like Me
Aug 11, 2008 2008 Season, 2008 Training Camp, Amobi Okoye is an adult, Big dudes doing the little things, Corky Johnson, Daddy's girl, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Morlon Greenwood, Okam's Razor, Preseason 2008, President Lyndon Veins Johnson, Super Mario
…aaaaand, we’re back!
Back from where, you ask? Well, for the first time since Sophia was born back in February, my wife and I were able to escape for a kidless vacation this past weekend. And how better to spend a romantic weekend than in Houston, eating Mexican food, listening to live music, and watching your Houston JUGGERNAUT in action?
Speaking of live music, if you’ve never seen Billy Joe Shaver in concert, do yourself a favor and make that happen. The man is a living legend (he wrote 90% of Waylon Jennings’ Honkytonk Heroes album as well as songs for the Allman Brothers, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Bobby Bare) and, even better, completely out of his mind. He spent two songs explaining how to throw a punch, one song trying to kick a woman in the head, and at least two songs flapping his arms like he was going to fly. But, regardless, the show was fantastic. And I defy you to show me another 69-year-old performer who comes on at 11PM and plays until well after 1AM.
Other thoughts about the game and the weekend in general:
- First off, huge thanks to Tim and his better half for taking us to the game and just generally showing us a good time around Houston. A+ effort as always.
- A separate thank you to Tim’s dad for giving us the tickets.
- He got close last year, but this is going to be the season that Mario Williams makes all the doubters feel silly. You wouldn’t think he could look appreciably better than he did last year, but you would be wrong. On one play, Mario shoved Ryan Clady (all 325 lbs of him) back about six feet and snared Selvin Young with one hand, bringing the RB down for a two-yard loss. The funny thing was Clady was in proper to position to block Mario—he had his butt low and was squared up correctly—yet Mario just flung him out of the way as if he was nothing.
- DeMeco Ryans is very, very good. This is not news. What is news, however, is that he seems to have found another gear as well, as he was disrupting plays in the backfield with surprising regularity during the first two series.
- Ninfa’s is really, really good. It’s so good, in fact, that every time I eat there, I refuse to eat Mexican food in Little Rock for months afterward.
- Is there some reason Jacques Reeves was giving a five- to seven-yard cushion to the slot WRs? Because I can’t figure out what it would be. I mean, his one asset is speed, right? So shouldn’t he play a little closer, knowing that he can keep up stride-for-stride? Someone needs to answer this.
- Will Demps looks very good in run support. He is one of five Texans who can claim that praise following Sunday’s game.
- Petey Faggins made one tackle where, before I realized it was him, I said “wow…great hit!” Then I felt dirty and started to question my own existence. Thankfully, Faggins then completely lost outside contain on Anthony Aldridge’s run, turning a 4-yard loss into a 19-yard gain. All was immediately right with the world.
- In other news, Petey tackles very well when he is hitting a stopped receiver from the side.
- Contrary to what some random ‘tards will tell you, there is no QB controversy, nor should there be one. Matt Schaub looked fantastic on his first four throws and the timing route he fired to Andre Davis was a throw that (a) Zoolander never could have made and (b) our offense has rarely, if ever, featured before. Schaub threw it to Davis’ back shoulder and the ball was halfway there before Davis ever made his turn. It is obviously something they’ve been working on, though, as Andre knew without a doubt where the ball would be when he broke. Impressive as hell. That throw is also why I think Matt forced the fifth throw into coverage—he’s apparently been working with Davis on a lot of short routes and precision throws and he’s comfortable throwing to Andre regardless of the situation. Was it a bad throw? Of course. It was into triple coverage and David Anderson was open to the left. But it was an understandable early-season mistake.
- Speaking of QBs, Sage Rosenfels did look good, especially on the throw to Anderson. But what apparently doesn’t come across on television (as I haven’t seen anyone talking about it) is that Sage has a serious case of happy feet back there. Oh, sure, he’s nails and he will stay in and keep his eyes downfield, but his footwork is pretty bad. He made that very nice throw to Jacoby Jones, but he was practically dancing in place before he launched it. And I can’t recall him stepping up into the pocket much at all.
- Good news! There was actually a pocket the QBs could have stepped into. I am already prepared to admit that I was wrong on Duane Brown; that kid looked fantastic Saturday night. His footwork was nearly flawless, his technique was solid, and he used his hands very well. Ephraim Salaam just got Wally Pipped, I do believe.
- I am going to tell myself that the injury to Louis Green and the ensuing five-minute delay took the steam out of our drive and that is why they had to settle for a field goal. I am telling myself this and you can’t convince me otherwise.
- Remember not that long ago when Chris pointed out that Ahman Green’s 2007 injury was hardly a fluke—it was a straight-on hit to the knee, which happens to all running backs multiple times per year? Well, you know, AT LEAST IT WAS A HIT!!!! Seriously, you are going to hurt yourself on the VERY FIRST PLAY OF THE YEAR without so much as the defense getting a hand on you? Really? Honestly? I don’t think I am alone in saying that I am fine with the team taking the cap hit and giving Green his walking limping papers.
- Cadillac Bar’s brunch buffet is fan-friggin’-tastic. It is doubly great when you have 5 or 6 mimosas. What’s that, you say? Mimosas are lame? Good sir, the fact that I am allowed to drink alcohol with breakfast without drawing scorn from others is far from lame. Plus, you know…vitamin C. No scurvy for me!
- Was it just me, or did it seem like Morlon Greenwood was trying to make me look like a jerk? I spend two friggin’ weeks defending the guy and arguing that he’s way better than we give him credit for being and…um…wow. He was horrid Saturday night. No one should get owned like that on a Jay Cutler run, yet Morlon did. And he was abused in the short passing game as well. NOT GOOD, MORLON.
- Thanks to Lee, stacy, and grungedave recommending breakfast spots. We tried to go to The Breakfast Klub on Saturday, but the line was around the block.
- The more I think about it, the less problem I have with Jacoby’s second punt return. Granted, he did everything wrong—he ran backward, he changed directions too many times, he waited too long to switch hands—but he also juked past at least five would-be tacklers and, at the moment he fumbled, was about six inches from beating the last guy and taking that punt to the house. No, I don’t want to see him doing that again, but I love that he is still that confident in the return game. That’s the swagger we saw last year until he was destroyed by Hunter Smith. Just hold on to the ball, son!
- Steve Slaton has ridiculous speed, but could get knocked over by a stiff breeze. There were three plays where if he had made a real move or ran with a little more power, he could have made something big happen. On both of the runs, he got arm-tackled by the last possible defender and, on the pass play, he thought he could juke an NFL lineman with nothing more than a head bob. This ain’t Rutgers, man.
- The interior line of the future, aka Amobi Okoye and Frank Okam, really impressed me. Amobi blew up a running play early and seemed to be playing with a better motor than at this point last season. Big Frank annihilated two blockers and blew up a running play of his own late in the game. Frank is still raw, no doubt about that, but he did nothing to lower my expectations of him.
- Why is food so much cheaper in Houston than in Little Rock? I don’t get it.
- Dear Travis Johnson, Please stop diving late into piles just to “prove” that you are playing with intensity. It’s stupid and it is going to cost us yards at some point. In fact, why don’t you do us all a favor and just leave? Love, Matt.
- David Anderson: Helluva game from the worst dancer in the history of the world. I agree with Tim’s assessment, however, that we might have the best receiving corps in the NFL top to bottom. We definitely have one of the fastest.
- I have no opinion on Chris Taylor getting the bulk of the carries. Whether it is to see just we he has to offer or simply to keep the other people healthy, I am fine with it. I would like it, however, if he could actually get 4 or 5 yards/carry in these games. Whatever.
- Zac Diles: A+.
- OH…I almost forgot to mention this, but Kevin Bentley looks…how can I say this…FAT. Not at all what I expected from ol’ LVJ. When he came out for special teams work, he was hopping up and down to loosen up, and you could see a gut jiggling. NOT COOL, Kevin. Do you want to lose the bet? Is that it?!?!
- Did anyone see Antwaun Molden? Because I didn’t notice him at all. Also, could we verify that Tim Bulman and Rosie Colvin were actually at the game?
- And, finally, though I already mentioned it once, it bears repeating that Mario Williams is an absolute man. Be afriad, AFC South. Be very afraid.
A little more on Duane Brown
Jul 27, 2008 2008 Training Camp, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Putting people on notice, Ranting
First, my intertubes connection sux tonight. I guess there are too many dump trucks out there. This post will be fairly link-free.
I know that some of you might think I was a little harsh on Duane Brown in my Kickoff post this morning. DSITE, I believe, was more than a little offended. And, you know what? That’s fine. I can sometimes, and freely admit, be an asshole. That said, I want to say a couple more things about the subject.
Why am I pissed that Brown came into camp out of shape? The subject is definitely arguable, but I believe that Matt Schaub is a playoff caliber quarterback and Rosy Rosenfels is not. Why do I believe this? Mostly, because Rosy’s track record really does say “Backup QB,” and, to me, Schaub hasn’t proven to be so easily type-cast. To me, Schaub has a bigger arm, more mobility, and seems to do those warm and fuzzy leadership things that excite egocentric journalists so much. Again, this is arguable, and it’s just my opinion.
For all intents and purposes, Brown was the starter at LT the day he was drafted. Alex Gibbs’ shelf-life is only another season or two, and Brown is his final high-profile pet project. Probably. Brown must’ve known this, or at least had some non-subtle clues. He was the one at OTAs and minicamp, after all.
This, to me, is why there was no excuse for Brown to come into camp out of shape in any way. Yeah, it’s just 10 pounds, but it’s irrelevant. Contract negotiations do not mean it’s OK to sit on your ass and eat your way through the Little Debbie line of products. You are the starter, you are new to the position anyway, and you have a mighty steep learning curve in front of you.
And your primary job is to protect our starting QB’s blind side. If Teh Schaub gets hurt, Rosy starts. If Rosy starts, we are phucked.
It’s really that simple.
Xavier Adibi and Steve Slaton and especially Antwaun Molden (h/t Steph) are getting some serious props in camp, but it’s the one on whom we are relying the most, Mr. Duane Brown, who is out of shape. That pisses me off.
Call me crazy (and I’ll ban your ass. heh.), but I am going into this season being a bit more demanding about my expectations for our team. We have a playoff caliber roster and staff, and mediocrity is no longer an option. Either get it together, or get off the team.
Kickoff
Jul 27, 2008 2008 Training Camp, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Kickoff
Another quick one as I have a busy morning.
Alex Gibbs is so mean that Keith Weiland soiled his drawers. Nice write-up by the latter on Satruday’s practice. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a workout, and I think this is the most I’ve missed it.
Camp quotes and news from HoustonTexans.com.
Only posting this for its comedic value. Frankly, I couldn’t make it far without becoming nasuseous.
I guess it’s best that Megan Manfull wrote this one as the rest of the chron staff has absolutely no credibility on the subject. And if Mario ain’t the best, he’s second best. Regardless, if we can get a consistent rush opposite Mario from ND Kalu or Rosy Colvin, and if we get what I think we can get from Chaun Thompson, we could have one helluva passrus.
This article by Tim is what makes me really worry about Duane Brown. You mean, you didn’t know that you had to be in shape to play football? I know this is the difference between a rookie and maturing, second-year player, but we’re talking about protecting Teh Schaub’s backside here. And Brown needs to be a chastity belt of epic proportions.
PUP Preseason: OK, here’s the deal. Pre-season PUP basically means that the player can’t participate in drills, etc. Regardless, Dunta is still talking about coming back and being productive mid-season (quotes link), so I think we need to keep our expectations for his return along those lines.
h/t to Eric for his usual help this morning. I hope to have some time to post later today. This whole “being a dad” thing is really cramping my style. 
Unindicted felons everywhere rejoice!
Jul 25, 2008 Babyeating-Sisterfuckers, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle
Albert “Puppy Po-Boy” Haynesworth and the BE-SF came to an agreement today as he signed a one-year tender. Haynesworth led the league in cheap shots and hair-pulling last year, two of his proudest accomplishments.
To celebrate, Haynesworth threw lawn darts at a Boy Scout troop and knocked an old lady across the street.
Here’s hoping our newly signed Mr. Brown teaches this asshole a little lesson in respect.
Houston, the Tackle has landed
Jul 25, 2008 Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle
Via Pancakes (via Eric):
After an all-night negotiating session, the Texans have avoided the second official holdout in franchise history.
Left tackle Duane Brown, the first-round draft choice, agreed to a five-year, $11.5 million contract early today. If he signs in time to make the morning practice, Brown won’t be an official holdout.
Let the Spartan-esque training begin!
Kickoff
Jul 23, 2008 BFD's Real Doll, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Fuck the Cowboys, Kickoff, Teams that aren't the Texans
Super-quick Kickoff this morning as Matt doesn’t have intertubez access and I have a super-busy day at my real job. Here goes:
Moves: So, yeah, lots of roster moves yesterday. But you already knew that didn’t you Mr(s). Smarty Pants?
No need to panic: “BornOrange” at texanstalk.com did some research and noticed a trend that the Texans have a tendency to sign their top pick, Mario excluded, right at the start of training camp. We’ve seen a couple more first round picks sign, Kenny Phillips being one of those, so I think we’re getting close. Kudos to BornOrange for some nice research. (h/t Eric)
Training Camp: And remember, it’s just around the corner! In other words, Duane? You have a couple of days to sign that contract. You can’t afford to miss a single snap in camp.
Wha?: Is it me? Or is sending Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans the wrong destination? Not like New York is Utah or anything, but such easy access to alcohol? And the ego battles with The Most Expensive Third Down Back in History? This might be fun!
Tuna Slam: I’ve never really had a fond place in my heart for Bill Parcells, but I do now after he said this about Jessica Simpson’s wife:
All you got to do is kick a field goal, the most elementary of plays, and then you just don’t do it. And so I don’t want to go through that process again. Too much blood.
Tony Romo = Epic fail.
I’m wearing pants! What are you wearing?
Vaya con dios, asqueroso grande
Jul 22, 2008 2006 Draft, 2008 Draft, 2008 Season, Barbaro is dead, Charles Spencer, Curious Coaching, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Roster, Tim Bulman
First, my Spanish sucks. Sorry if my translation is off.
Anyway, by now I’m sure you’ve heard that Charles “Big Nasty” Spencer was released today. I don’t think any of us expected him to be the LT of the future, especially after the arrival of Alex Gibbs and Duane Brown. Nor do I think anyone was shocked that a round of cuts came today considering that the team had to get down to 80 players by Friday and the easiest way to get there was to get rid of the guys least likely to make the team. (Which is also why DGDB&D fave Jon Abbate as well as DT Eric Powell and G Dan Stevenson were sent packing this afternoon.)
No, I guess the only surprise, to the extent that there is one, is that Spencer was listed among the guys least likely to make the team, ahead of (or behind, I guess) such notables as TE Ryan Krause and/or 5-10 WR Mark Simmons. Nothing against those guys, but you’d think that seeing what (if anything) Spencer had in the tank would be worth more than seeing what Mark Simmons brings to the table. (Editor’s guess: Not much.)
In other, slightly related news while we are talking about roster space, I am still baffled about our continued employment of Bryan Pittman when THREE other Texans (Dreessen, Bulman, and Zgonina) can do his job while simultaneously not being limited to ONLY doing his job. Dreessen would actually be the perfect dude to fill the dual role, as he is not asked to do much in the TE department on most days.
Kickoff
Jul 10, 2008 Babyeating-Sisterfuckers, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Kickoff, Training camp 2008
Finally, football is almost here!: Eric reminded Matt and I that the list of dates for open training camp is up and at the Texans’ website. July 26 is just 48 days away! (math h/t VY)
Fluffy analysis: Eh, Pete Prisco doesn’t make me overly nauseous, and here’s his take on the Ephraim Salaam/Duane Brown battle. I’ve never been one to downplay the role of rookies, but let’s see how Brown actually performs in training camp and the pre-season before anointing him the starter. I would love to see him start on Opening Day, but if it means sacrificing a procession of QBs - Teh Schaub, Rosy Rosenfels, Alex Brink, Brett Favre, Dan Pastorini, Commander Cody Carlson, and a surprisingly spry George Blanda - then not so much.
Speaking of fluffy analysis and unnecssary foresight: It’s really not a secret that I think Brooke Bentley has quickly become the best “beat reporter” for the Texans (really, the only difference between her and the Comicle is that 1. we *know* she is paid by the Texans, and 2. the whole grammar, style, intelligence thing). But this new series previewing 2008 matchups? I dunno.
The latest is a preview against our favoritist rivals, those cute and bubbly Babyeating-Sisterfuckers. The game is over two months away. Let’s, you know, wait til we get closer to the season until we actually start writing Week 3 previews. It’s not like we’re printing a magazine here. (h/t Eric)
Be-Sf analysis?: This is the right way to start.
Finally: Well, just because.
(Oops, wanted to add this: Trent Dilfer retired. The last of the great Fresno State QBs?)
Kickoff
Jun 10, 2008 2008 Season, Barbaro is dead, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, Inflamed body parts, Kickoff, Rick Smith, Super Mario, Travis Johnson explains things
Duane Brown: Matt and I have talked about linking and talking less to and about the Comicle. However, since Jerome Solomon wrote this one, I’ll make an exception.
“Never Satisfied”: No, this isn’t a story by my wife. It’s about Mario’s new attitude. Eric sent both of these in, and as he said, it’s funny that nobody can do a story about Mario without mentioning Eric Metcalf Jr. and VY. Still, it’s a national piece by an AP reporter, which must mean something positive, right? Right???
Some (slightly meaningful) OTA quotes this morning:
Rick Smith: (on what cutting Gray says about QB Shane Boyd) “You know what, it says that Shane is making progress. It’s saying that Alex Brink is making progress. We’ve got some young quarterbacks that we really like that are doing a decent job and we feel comfortable with those guys going into training camp.” Comment: Yawn. Boyd may make the active roster, but, after we cut Gray, I’m leaning toward that we have two quarterbacks active on game day, not three.
Rick Smith: (on what the team will do with T/G Charles Spencer) “Well, we don’t know. We’ve got a lot of conversations to have between now and training camp. His rehab process has gone slow, and we had hoped that it would have been a little bit better at this point and so from a lot of standpoints, that’s a little disappointing. But we’re going to continue to be patient with Charles and give him every opportunity that we can to make it back.” Comment: Hello, PUP.
Rick Smith: (on DT Travis Johnson) “Travis is going to be fine. He’s rehabbing and he’s responding well to the treatment and so we expect that he’s going to be ready to go.” Comment: Travis went to the Crystal Pistol and personally asked every fifth dancer to inspect his groin for damage.
Coach Kubiak: (on negotiations with LB Rosevelt Colvin) “We are still talking to him. I think we are still a part of his decision process. We will wait to see what happens.” Comment: This is essentially what Rick Smith said, too. That they are being coy is not surprising, and hopefully it’s a good sign.
Got a super busy real-job day today, so play nicely amongst yourselves. Leg hugs for everybody!
Edit: Oops, used Stacy’s link on the Mario story, not Eric’s. They both sent it. Carry on.
Like regular camp, only miniature
May 9, 2008 2008 Draft, 2008 Season, Barbaro is dead, Black Salaami, Charles Spencer, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, LT, Predictions Guaranteed To Go Wrong, Preseason 2008, Super Mario, The Schaub Experiment, Training camp 2008
Day 1 of minicamp is in the books. Which means that day one of the Alex Gibbs era, the return of Barbaro, the likely immolation of Jacques Reeves, and a whole host of other stuff. Mmm…tastes like chicken, err, football.
Anyway, most of the quotes coming out after today’s workouts were what you’d expect. The rookies were wide-eyed and thrilled to be there; the team looks good, but has to shake off some rust; everyone’s goal for minicamp is just to improve and get comfortable with the new pieces and plans; blah blah blah.
One thing jumped out, however–that BFD’s fear seems likely to come to fruition. At least if take Kubes at his word.
(on how T Duane Brown looked) “Well, I’ll have to go back and see but, you know, we’ve got to see how far we can bring this kid in the next month and so we put him right in there with the first group today. And I know it was very tough on Ephraim (Salaam), and y’all know I have a great deal of respect for Ephraim and I can understand why it was tough, but as I explained to him, I’ve got to see how far I can bring this young man. But I know Ephraim’s going to do his job and I’m expecting good things from him, but we felt like we had to put this kid to work right away.
(on if T Duane Brown is first on the depth chart) “Yes, he’ll be working with the first group, and that’s the only way we’re going to find out if this kid’s going to get to where we want him to go and how quick he can get there. You draft these kids in the first round to come in and play and that’s nothing against Ephraim (Salaam), as I said, and we’ve had this conversation. But I understand the difficulty in that, but we as coaches feel like we have to put this kid to work right away.”
Hmm…what to make of this? I’d say (a) Gibbs wants his guy to play and he wants it NOW, (b) Kubiak realizes that the better half of Black Salaami isn’t all that good, and (c) Duane Brown really is the archetype ZBS LT that we need. Plus, there is probably a little (d) “tell the fanbase the kid is a bona fide #1 just to keep the natives from becoming restless” in there as well. Lord knows no one wants restless Houstonians running around.
At this point, I am inclined to believe that Brown will be the opening day starter at LT. Now, I understand the fears of him being eaten alive by the various monster RDEs in the AFC South, but there are two things that make me think he’ll be okay if he is the starter from dia una (takes large swig of the Kool-Aid):
First, I am just telling myself (over and over and over) that, Gibbs’ pet or not, he will not be the starter until he can really be the starter. By which I mean, trial-by-fire only goes so far, especially when you are talking about the guy who is protecting the blindside of your franchise QB’s surgically repaired shoulder. So he is only going to get this LT gig if he can really do it. Will he struggle against KVB, et al? Possibly. But the question is not can he stop KVB on every single down; the question is can he stop KVB (or whomever) more consistently than Salaam can? If the answer is yes, then by all means, throw him in there and let him show me that I was wrong when I broke the TV remote after his selection.
Second, though, I am taking some comfort in this little snippet from BRB:
In his first game at right tackle he faced none other than Mario Williams. At his post-draft press conference, Duane was asked to comment about his encounter with Williams.
“I remember that night like it was yesterday. I was two weeks into the position; it was the opener and a night game at NC State. (Mario Williams) is a very intimidating figure. I held my own that night and it was the beginning of my transition. Being able to go against him in practice, he is one of the best defensive ends in the league. I think practicing against him will be great for me and will help me.”
He started at right tackle for two full seasons before moving over to left tackle in his senior year. In those three years, Brown racked up 42 consecutive starts.
In his senior season, Brown boasted an outstanding 89% blocking consistency average. By comparison, the overall first pick in the 2008 NFL draft, Jake Long, had an 88% blocking consistency rating in his final year at Michigan.
As we all remember, Mario was a bad motor scooter in college. If Brown really did hold his own against Super Mario in his first ever game as a tackle, then he has some serious natural-born talent hidden away in there. And, for all the effort he gave us last year, that is something that Ephraim Salaam just doesn’t really possess.
Of course, if I am wrong to optimistic now (and, conversely, right to have been pissed on Draft Day), I reserve the right to give him a horrible nickname and point out again and again that we already had a ZBS LT on the roster in Eric Winston. I’m a fickle mofo like that.
Only four QBs? Do we need more?
May 9, 2008 2008 Season, Alex Gibbs, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, I really dig my readers, Rosie Rosenfels, The Schaub Experiment
If there’s one thing on which we can rely on Pancakes (except for cleaning his plate with his tongue), it’s his ability to be the Texans’ stenographer. In his latest dictation, Pancakes is told that:
Even though (Duane) Brown played left tackle for only one season and offensive tackle for just three seasons at Virginia Tech, he’s going to get a baptismal by fire. In other words, assistant head coach Alex Gibbs and offensive line coach John Benton are going to put him in and let him learn on the run.
*gulp*
I’m not sure how much of this was strategized (heh) by the coaching staff in the off-season because it seems more like happy/life-threatening coincidence than anything else. However, if the coaches do expect Brown to start right off the bat, then that explains why we kept Rosie Rosenfels, signed Quinn Gray, and drafted Alex Brink. It could also explain why we’ve been trying to lure Commander Cody Carlson out of retirement {scours Internet for proof of rumor. Can’t find it.} Awww, fuck it, you read it here first!
I’m not saying Brown can’t handle LT…in two or three years, that is. There simply aren’t many college tackles whose names don’t rhyme with Darcus NcPeel who can start and play at a high level in the NFL their rookie season. That Brown has only been an OL for three years and a LT for one just magnifies the dysfunction of this decision.
Of course, the sense of urgency is driven by the fact that we’ll only get a year or two out of Alex Fucking Gibbs (h/t Steph). I can’t blame the man for wanting to get his pet into the starting lineup ASAFP, but I’m not looking forward to Brown matching up with Kyle “Baby Eating-Sister Fucker” Vanden Bosch, Dwight “Kitten Crusher” Freeney, and Derrick “Peaches” Harvey twice a year. Just scary, actually.
Brown is a project, and while I am normally for “trial by fire,” I think that we are taking our QB’s health a little too lightly with this decision.
——–
Echoing Matt, thanks to everybody who stops by to visit. Life’s been extremely stressful lately, which is why I haven’t been too talkative, but I sincerely appreciate y’all.
——–
Finally, is there a better hard reporter covering the Texans these days than SOLIS? His work simply embarrasses those who should be doing this kind of reporting for a living (aka, the entire staff of the Comicle). Well done, man.
BFD’s take on the Texans’ 2008 Draft - the first time, at least…
Apr 27, 2008 2008 Draft, 2008 Season, Alex Gibbs, BFD's Real Doll, Broken Record, Chaun, DRC, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, I really dig my readers, Jacoby Jones is unheralded, Morlon Greenwood, Posts that list too many players
Well, it’s all done but the crying. I gotta admit that I’m still disappointed that we lost out on DRC (note to self: do a better job discrediting who we want next year), and I will forever hate the Cards because of it. Or something. That said, I’m gonna throw up (sic) some grades for our draft this year, and I would love to hear your feedback. I’m not going to do any purposeful agitating a la Little Dickie Justice, age 12. I’m going to try and be as honest as possible with my subjectivity and objectivity.
1st Round (#26 overall): Duane Brown, LT, Virginia Tech. I originally wasn’t too excited, and then I slipped quickly into acceptance. Considering he was taken with the 26th pick of the 1st Round, it’s definitely an over-draft. That we traded back eight places and still got the guy we allegedly wanted the entire time earns some points, though. For now, it’s a bit of a wash on the good and bad, and I am still worried about his ability to have a short-term impact on the team, so I will go with a Grade B. No, not great. I think it’s average right now, and it’s a full grade higher because of the trade down and acquisition of additional picks. Mr. Brown and Smithiak are certainly welcome to make me eat that grade, however.
3rd Round #1 (#79 overall): Antwaun Molden, CB, Eastern Kentucky. curtisdisco had some good things to say about Molden at BRB, and if you check out the entire thread, the guy is definitely a work-out fiend. Seriously, the guy seems to be a slightly lesser version of DRC: small school and huge combine numbers. Considering what the guy has had to deal with as a human, and how *pissed* he was at his badass workouts, I am prepared to go JJ on him. Grade B+.
3rd Round #2 (#89 overall): Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia. I do worry he’ll be a Chris Perry at the highest level due to his size and seeming inability to run between the tackles, but he definitely has game-changing ability. Used in the proper role, I can see him excelling. Grade B+. I do think we need to set realistic expectations that he is not a true #1 RB, but I have no problem with that, either.
4th Round (#118 overall): Xavier Adibi, OLB, Virginia Tech. Here’s my take…so, we didn’t take a DE in this draft, yet I believe it to be a serious area of need. We signed Chaun Thompson, who could line-up at DE as a serious speed rusher. Yes, that’s where I am going with this. Chaun will see a lot of time opposite Mario at DE, and I have absolutely no problem with this. Chaun *is* 6′2″, 250lbs, so he’s not terribly undersized. But if he can become a demon off the outside, yeah, I’m liking this.
As for Adibi, as I said previously, I see a lot of Morlon Greenwood. Others in the Draft Thread said DeMeco, but that’s a little too far for me. And again with the b0ng hit of Adibi. He’ll definitely challenge Zach Diles and Kevin Bentley at SAM. An interesting pick with some seriously high upside. Grade A-. As stupid as this may sound, if any of our picks have a big impact in 2008, I think it’s most likely to be Adibi.
5th round (#151 overall): Frank Okam, DT, The University of Texas at Austin…bitchez. Yes, an alum from my beloved alma mater. And, yes, I am super-excited about this pick (though not as excited as Tim). He has a first-class body, a top-of-the-class mind, but he has the motor of a moped. He also needs some serious work on his technique. The worst thing about him is his ability to disappear for stretches, but when he’s on, he’s Shaun Rogers good (when his engine is running, of course).
Going into the 2007 season, I thought Okam would be a legit 1st round pick. That he slid is more of an indictment of the motor, technique, and (oh yeah!) conditioning than it is anything else. A motivated Okam would be an absolute steal and the acquisition of a 1st rounder in the 5th. Grade A-.
6th round (#173 overall): Dominique Barber, S, Minnesota. I just don’t understand this pick. We took Molden, we have enough DBs to hold up against Andre Ware, and we took the slowest S on the board? I mean, I think even I could hang with this guy in the 40 (20 years ago). Look, he may be Marion’s brother, but I hate that SOB. Grade D.
7th round (#223 overall): Alex Brink, QB, Washington State. I watched only about half of one WSU game this year, and I don’t have much of an image of Brink. He’s mobile but smallish, and he definitely has a “West Coast Offense” kinda arm, which means it ain’t the strongest. I will reiterate that I believe that Kubiak carries three QBs on the active roster, and Brink will be practice squad fodder. Grade who cares.
Overall Grade:
I think we are seeing a trend of sorts with Smithiak, which is taking safer picks in the earlier rounds and going for the homerun in later rounds. I’m OK with this. Brown, for all the smack, was a fairly safe pick. Mario and DeMeco were a fairly safe picks. In 2007, ManChild was an easy call and not a gamble, but they went Jacoby Jones in the 3rd, Fred Bennett in the 4th, and Brandon Frye in the 5th (looking forward to seeing him in the summer).
This draft just seems similar to me. A safer pick at the line early (Brown vs. Okoye), l33t skill position in the 3rd (Slaton vs. JJ [nod to JJ here, though]), a DB with upside (Bennett vs. Molden) in there, and another lineman with talent in the 5th (Okam vs. Frye).
Overall, I give this draft a very sold B+ with a greater possibility of upside than not. Molden and/or Okam could make this grade an “A” by themselves, much less Brown or Slaton. I’m excited.
Duane Brown: BFD’s Second Take: Coyote Ugly?
Apr 27, 2008 2008 Draft, 2008 Season, Alex Gibbs, BFD's Real Doll, Duane Brown as Eliza Doolittle, You remind me of ____, You'd like to think I was joking
I’ve had a bit of a cold over the past couple of days, and it’s been a bear to sleep. Top it off with a huge line of storms that hit at about 5:30, and I’m running on little sleep.
So, in that time, I’ve been thinking about Duane Brown, football, and sweaty men in tight pants in general. After looking at the other comments, I think a lot of us having been thinking about large men with big, manly hands…and have come to fairly similar conclusions. Here’s my take:
I woke up next to Duane this morning, and I didn’t have a case of coyote ugly. I looked over at Duane and thought to myself, “You know, he ain’t bad. He’s not a cheerleader, he’s not the hottie drill team chick….he’s kinda like the homely looking Debate Club girl, not at all as in Not Another Teen Movie, though.”
Now, we had a good time, but I’m not quite ready to meet his parents yet. Frankly, he’s going to have to work on a few things to win me over completely, such as creating holes, getting to attack points, getting stronger, and washing windows - you know, the usual stuff.
Now, the last time Alex Gibbs set somebody up in the first round with a LT, it was George Foster. Foster was also a “terrific athlete” who was supposed to be all that and a bag of Cheetos. Sure, we can’t control the fact that he ate all that, the bag of Cheetos, and the bag, but it still turned out to be a bust of a pick. Alex seems to be a bit better at the whole “My Fair Lady” thing, taking lumps of clay and molding them into gold. Matt Lepsis, who was signed as an UDFA by the Broncos, is a perfect example.
We did get 3rd and 6th round picks to make up for trading back. And, heck, I would be elated to take Jamaal-American Charles with one of 3rd rounders to bring in for the occasional menage-a-trois to spice up the marriage a bit.
One additional comment: Somebody mentioned (too lazy to look, sorry!) that this was like 2006 all over again. I respectfully disagree. I think there was consensus that we wanted a LT, just not one so damn early, especially considering we passed on Rashard Mendenhall, a bunch of DEs, and other schwag on the way through.
Don’t worry, Duane: I’ll call you in the morning. I know some people - and they apparent already really like you, as well - that can fix you up to make me proud to be in a long-term relationship with you. It’s a little more maintenance than I had hoped, but I’ll give it a chance to work.
{hugs and kisses},
bfd
