Quotes From Kubiak

[Bigtinylittle]

I am usually reluctant to give full credence to anything Kubiak says about his players. I don't mean that in a bad way, though. I think I would probably do the same as he does. I believe he often uses public comments as a way to increase competition and motivate his players.

That being said, here are some Kubiak comments about how a few of the players have progressed since the end of the season. Some of these comments I hadn't seen before, and some I had. I thought it would be nice to have them all in the same place here.

1. Mario is dominating
2. Adibi has been playing as well as anyone.
3. Glen Earl has been exceptional.
3. Dwayne Brown is smart and learns fast.
4. Most improved: Okoye, Studdard, Harrison, Anderson.
5. Molden is ahead of where Bennett was this time last year.

[kravix]

ahh you beat me to it..

Here are the links.

McClain Article

"Mario was as good as any player I've ever been around in the offseason, and I've been around this game for a long time," he said. "He was just so dominant. I can't wait to see what he's going to do this season."

On Duane Brown

"Yeah, it scares me, but there's no good time to throw someone to the wolves, is there?" coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's smart and he learns fast. He's an excellent athlete. He was on the ground only two times during the (offseason) program."

"Adibi was as good as anybody during the last 10 days of OTAs," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "We'll see if he picks up where he left off."

"Adibi could be the surprise of the team," Kubiak said. "He's fast, quick, very sharp, and he diagnoses (plays) very well."

"Molden is ahead of where Fred (Bennett) was at this time last year," coach Gary Kubiak said.

Based on everything they did during the offseason, the most improved players on the roster, according to Texans coach Gary Kubiak, are defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, guard Kasey Studdard, safety Brandon Harrison and receiver David Anderson.

Kubiak mentioned safety Glenn Earl, but because he's a former starter, he doesn't qualify as most improved. Earl suffered a foot injury in camp last year and missed the season.

"He's just been exceptional," Kubiak said.

Two more articles that are ok reading.
Justice Article

McClain article #2

I agree with you big.. Kubiak has good things to say about all his players. The only times I can remember him saying anything negative to the media were about Carr and his technique and confidence, TJ needing to show more motivation, and Taylor fumbling.

I dont think his comments about Mario were intended to spur competition. I think it is more of a testement of MW's improvement. I just hope he wasnt dominate because the majority of his reps were against Brown... I am sure there are alot of other factors that are comming into his evident performance increase though.

Kubiak was extremely high on Earl last year, DRob was to. I wouldnt be suprised to see him as the starter again.

If Adibi really is showing up like that Diles can probably kiss his starting spot goodbye and Greenwood will be lucky to ever see another 3rd and long. It was widely said that Adibi was a steal for us, here is to hoping that he fits the Demeco build. In fact, if Diles and Adibi were both to play very well this season that makes our LB scouting and evaluations kinda scary good.

I think he had to throw something in about Brown, everyone wants to know how he is doing and where the spot stands. Although the reports from OTA's and such about his improvement from practice to practice is very good. Going up against MW all the time should help him a ton.

It is exciting that Amobi has improved noticeably, a previous article somewhere talked about him losing the rest of his bad rookie habits. He is a very driven young man with the talent and desire and there is no reason we shouldnt expect huge things from him.

If Bennet really is as good as he appeared to be last year, and keeps it up; having a guy like Molden who is supposed to be just as good or better ready to play at that level sooner could mean a secondary to be feared rather than exploited.

[painekiller]

Adibi does not fit my profile for a SAM, if he starts it will be at the expense of Greenwood and I do not see that happening this season.

Again it is only my profile and him being moved to SAM would not be the 1st time the coaches have fool me.

(Injury is probably Adibi's best shot at starting)

[coloradodude]

McClain had some good articles today.

I liked the one about off season additions. 5 players for $7 million in guaranteed cap money.

We have reason to show some enthusiasm finally. Oh, and AJ is not the only playmaker on the team...we have competitve depth in just about every position...again, finally.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Adibi does not fit my profile for a SAM, if he starts it will be at the expense of Greenwood and I do not see that happening this season.

Again it is only my profile and him being moved to SAM would not be the 1st time the coaches have fool me.

(Injury is probably Adibi's best shot at starting)

I think the Texans treat their LB's a little like their safeties. In other words they are more or less interchangeable. I don't think Adibi fits the profile for SLB, but if the Texans just treat them as right and left then just get your two best LB's on the field no matter what side they play on....that's sort of how Demeco ended up in the middle; putting him there gave us our best LB corps even though many thought he was a little undersized there.

[NBT]

Adibi will backup Greenwood. Diles backs up Demeco and is #1 on the depth chart for SAM, so exactly where would Adibi be a threat to Diles losing his job?

As for the LB's being interchangable, other than Diles, who can play all the positions, the Will will always play weakside, while the Sam will always be over the TE on the strongside. Now if the TE goes in motion, that is a diferent set of circumstances, IMO.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by NBT

Adibi will backup Greenwood. Diles backs up Demeco and is #1 on the depth chart for SAM, so exactly where would Adibi be a threat to Diles losing his job?

Quote from McClain's article linked by Kravix:

Adibi (6-2, 224) was drafted in the fourth round out of Virginia Tech. He's listed behind Morlon Greenwood, but if he excels in camp, he could be moved to the other side to compete with Zac Diles, who enters his second camp as a starter for the first time.

Not saying that I'm advocating that or agree with it, but McClain mentioned it and that's what started the discussion. I remember a comment from Kubiak that he would like for the OLB's to be interchangeable....at least I think I do.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by papabear

I remember a comment from Kubiak that he would like for the OLB's to be interchangeable....at least I think I do.

Yes you are remembering correctly. Kubiak did say that.

A question for the coach might be: Is a hybrid OLB really better than having true top SAM and WILL? I mean, having an undersized guy like Adibi, who some scouts thought made a better SS, really the smart answer against a RT and a TE?

Disguising your coverages is one thing, but stopping the run is another, and this team has been weak against the run.

A little history lesson for some. Johnnie Holland was a HS QB and Safety, he went to TAMU as a DB. RC Slocum decided to go with a small lineup that could fly, and Holland went on to set a school record for tackles.

What is my point, Holland's background as a player has been the undersized player with a huge heart playing LB. And that appears to be the direction they are going with the defense.

[kravix]

Dont forget that Demeco doesnt size up as the prototypical LB either and look at him. It is one of the reasons we were able to steal him in the second.

[NBT]

If you are implying that "prototypical" is around 250, you are probably right (at least for the SAM, but DeMeco has proven that 232 is about right for MIKE. But Adibi is only about 220 to 224. I just don't see him at MIKE or SAM.

Yes PK, I remember Johhny holland played the Rover at A&M, but he played conventional OLB at GB. But whatever, I am not trying to start a revolution here, you know. JMHO

[coloradodude]

Originally Posted by kravix

Dont forget that Demeco doesnt size up as the prototypical LB either and look at him. It is one of the reasons we were able to steal him in the second.

Our coaching staff will covet speed and a nose for the ball over the "perfect" LB size/weight.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Yes you are remembering correctly. Kubiak did say that.

A question for the coach might be: Is a hybrid OLB really better than having true top SAM and WILL? I mean, having an undersized guy like Adibi, who some scouts thought made a better SS, really the smart answer against a RT and a TE?

Disguising your coverages is one thing, but stopping the run is another, and this team has been weak against the run.

Not that I necessarily agree with having a 220 guy at the SAM....but with the way the game is today I can see an argument for getting away with a lighter player there. Most TE's today are pass catchers first and blockers second. Sure there is the occasional guy like Bruener, and there are some TE's who block well....most teams don't draft TE's for their blocking anymore though. So a good deal of the time the SAM isn't going to have some massive blocking TE to deal with.

Throw in the amount of formations and shifts teams use and, depending on the team, it might not even be the majority of the time that the TE is even on the line. Tennessee will likely use a lot of two TE sets this year, which side do you put the SAM on then. Indy will have the TE in the slot....and then Peyton will do his little dance and who knows where they end up. In cases like this it might be better to just get your best football players on the field instead of worrying about getting a guy with prototype size on the strong side.

I think in today's NFL there is a need for those interchangeable parts...whether its at S, OLB, or even T. I would prefer that our SAM has a little more meat on his bones than Adibi, but if the D-Line is working like we hope it will having that speed and coverage ability might be more important.

If the size is that big of a factor, and Adibi beats out diles, then just put Greenwood back on the strongside. He's a film rat and shouldn't have any trouble making the switch. That's where he played at Miami, and the Texans have him listed at 253. They have Demeco at 250....that's bigger than I would have guessed for either of them.

[Dancerdog]

I agree with the philosophy of putting the most talented AND intense players on the field. Dunta Robinson really lays the wood when he hits. So does DeMeco. I've seen Will Demps pound opposing defensive players. Travis Johnson just doesn't seem to have the intensity of some of the others. Here's to a defense that plays with some ATTITUDE! I'd like to see a Ray Rhodes type of defense that swarms to the ball and hits with some conviction. I know health issues are a problem with Ray, but I'd sure like to see him as our defensive coordinator. ATTITUDE! That's the difference between a mediocre and a dominating defense. Just my two cents worth.