Chronicle: Antwaun Molden
 

Good article in the chron today about Antwaun Molden:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/5769146.html

I'm thinking Dunta could really help this guy make the transition to the pros...

Dunta did it for Fred Bennet, why not do it for Antwaun Molden? I'm sure that is what he will do.

We may have found another jem like Bennet. Sure would be nice.

because he doesn't want to learn how to play free safety? because if molden is good, and bennett continues that's exactly where he's going to play.

You really think Dunta rides that way? I seriously doubt it.

I know we'd like to think that way, and Dunta has always seemed like a team player to me......but he's got a contract coming up, and the difference between a CB franchise tag and a Safety is about 5 million. Even if he signs an extension he'll get more money as a corner. A guy who's coming off a major injury might have that thought in the back of his mind that his career could be over at any time and want to get as much as possible while he can. I really couldn't hold it against him either.

if daunte is 100% then he will be one of our starting safeties, no matter who else the texans have on the roster.

I just cant believe that this would happen.

I am not saying that if Bennet, Moulden, Reeves just happen to turn out to be shut down corners that I wouldnt mind seeing Dunta at S, but it just seems way out there. Dunta doesnt want to play S, and I cant help but think that he would find another team that would play him at the position he prefers once his contract is up. Would moving him to S for a year be worth losing that ammount of talent the next year?

not totally no, but i do think he takes care of himself like everyone else would.

i hate this thought because it's totally possible, but i have to say i think he would be willing to do whatever the coaches wanted as long as he felt that he was taken care of. which i also believe he deserves...maybe not a capbusting deal but rick smith can find a way to make him feel satisfied with any contract.

that's just silly

i haven't heard dunta saying anything like that, can you provide a link please?

to answer your question-no. if he really kicks and screams and threatens leaving over it and his talent is still...hell...if his talent is still 80% there he is still a positive on the field at corner or safety. he's not worth losing unless he just wants to go.

i don't have the link, but go to chron.com, McClain did a piece on it.

I think you meant to say Cornerback....not safety

you are correct, now i understand the silly comment, and i agree. that's what i get for not proofreading. thank you sir.

oooh....i'd rather not. if you say it's there i'll believe you but i'm....just not ever going to be interested in something enough to read his blabbering opinion about it.

that aside, maybe dunta is using this as motivation? like "i WILL comeback, and as a corner!" instead of "i hope i'll at least be able to play safety"

i'm fine with that, i'm fine with dunta as a corner. fact remains that he is not ever going to have the same mobility with his leg and that matters. especially if guys on your defense are playing as well/better than you. the good news is that dunta (to this point) has been the complete team player, a leader, a teacher, so on...and rick smith is a cap genius, so all of this will be figured out in a way that nobody has hurt feelings or wallets!

:D:D:D:D:D

I looked for it and cant find it. But I am almost positive that he was asked, during an interview, if he were to come back missing some of the ability he had what he thought about playing safety instead.

His response was something along the lines that he is a corner not a safety and was comming back a corner.

Yeah, that's the way I remember it too. Dunta has too much pride to just take a backseat to anyone. Having said that, I hope the Texans make darn sure that leg is OK. I don't want another fiasco like Dominick Davis (...errr Williams), who got a big contract, then never played another down.

Even though DRob has had no serious injury history and hasnt missed any games before this, I would like to think that this FO is beyond absurd offerings like that. Good thing is, if he does come back mid season like projected both sides will have a better feeling on where they stand when negotiations come up. I am pretty sure that had Dunta not gotten hurt last year his contract would have been extended already, especially given the insane ammounts of money and the rate of yearly increase for CB's.

i would exactly call it a backseat. in fact, it seems to make more sense than playing him at corner if our current roster develops like it should. if molden turns out we would have 3 big, fast corners with ball skills and probably some decent wood laying too. if dunta turns to safety (whatever he recovers of) his athleticism would be unleashed! he would be an interception/big hit waiting to happen on every play instead of whenever they pass to his man. you lose his coverage on the corner but gain much from the move. namely an oppurtunity to get a bright young kid experience while not changing the personnel foundation of your backfield of bennett/robinson/demps

agreed totally. and he would deserve it with that pro bowl selection!!! :D

You may be right, but I just don't see Dunta giving up on CB without a big fight. That was what I meant by "basckseat". Not that he wouldn't play FS if it was for the good of the team.

yea, i agree with you.

but if it comes to it and we have the wonderful problem of molden developing well, i sure would like to see him, bennett and dunta together flying around the backfield! i hope no egos would stand in the way of that!

maybe molden should play safety?

I just don't see any reason for any of these CB's to have to play FS. We've got Demps there now, the two Brandon's were supposedly taken with one of the safeties in mind, plus there are some others, so where exactly is the need? I just don't understand your harping on Dunta shifting to FS.

Just my two cents here but.....Demps is only average IMO. I have no problem with him back there, but Will Demps doesn't make me think that's a spot I can cross off of my upgrade list. I'm interested to see if either of the Brandons can get something done this year, but they haven't proved anything yet. You could say the same thing about Molden....but he at least appears to be in the mix to contribute this year, something that neither of the brandons did as a rookie.


At corner you have Dunta, Reeves, Bennet, Molden....and then guys like Fletcher and Faggins.

Reeves just got overpaid so he's here for a year or two and you would think they expect him to play. Bennet was one of the rookie sensations from last year and most would agree he will start at one of the 2 CB spots. Molden is expected to contribute, but is likely a year or two away from developing, but from all appearances the Texans look for him to be part of their long term plan (he's a rookie so that could change when camp starts).

When Dunta comes back that leaves you with four guys the Texans look at as potential starters. That's a good problem to have, but something has got to give. we play plenty of nickel so if Reeves get run out of town then that would make it easier to get all of them on the field, but even then someones not happy.Someone is likely to move to S to get our best DB's on the field.

With Dunta coming back from a major injury you have no idea what you are going to get. Even If he makes it back this year it is going to be highly unlikely that he is really back to his old self until 2009. Honestly Bennet or Molden probabl has better size to play S....but I think Dunta' reputation for knocking the crap out of people is one reason that his names get brought up so much.

I know this is blasphemy, but Dunta is probably a little over-rated at corner. He is still VERY good and our best by FAR before the injury, but he's not the super shut-down corner we like to think he is. Teams will throw at him on big 3rd downs...or with the game on the line. If he loses some of his burst and explosion from the injury then it might not be a bad idea. I would worry about him getting matched up on some of the big tall TE's.....but guys like Gates are a problem for everyone.

so mc3limbs and 2 guys who have only seen practice fields are who you are going to throw out at safety? demps is okay but the brandon's have a few guys to pass before they see playing time. although the possibility of run down/pass down safety rotation is quite feasable. demps/earl/brown cover the runs, maybe harrison/brown/molden on passes? i don't know but banking on demps and homedudes as reason to not look for change at S is silly because none of them are that caliber player.

look, if dunta comes back and he's able to play like he did pre-injury...then go dunta do what you do and i'll never mention dunta and S in the same sentence except for, "man how dumb was i to think dunta, this golden statue of a CB, should play S". but why should dunta move to S?! haven't you been paying attention?! he's been teetering on and off of a cliff called retirement with how badly he was injured. people say two years IF he ever recovers fully. maybe play S for one year? look at bob sanders and tell me dunta doesn't immediately take on his role. ballhawk, big hitter, cover guy, smart, leader...that's why. and because bennett-demps-robinson-molden sounds better, bigger and faster than bennett-demps-brown-robinson.

And they said he would have to wait to run, and he was running back in March. I am not saying he cannot still have a set back, but the man is way ahead of anyones projection.

Don't underestimate the power of a contract year.

true and good point but that isn't always necessarily a good thing. i'm sure doctors are smart enough to set a date that can be pushed, but pushing it is....pushing it hahaha....we'll keep hope alive though, and as long as dunta keeps on truckin' all we can get is the best outcome!

if dunta plans on laying out a little extra for his contract year i must say i'm at least a little bit disappointed. he's the one preaching heart and intensity and those words coming from someone giving 99% don't mean as much.