Trade Dunta?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by edo783

The issue with letting him come in at the start of the season and not attending TC and be in the pre-season games, is that we have installed a defense that has some new wrinkles to it. All the schemes will be set with the guys who are in camp. He will basically be a guy who doesn't know it and it will take several weeks for him to get up to speed, not to mention in game day condition and have the rapport with his team mates. I doubt he will reach effectiveness (which IMO is with greatly diminished skill set) before week 3, so in essence we are disrupting what we are building for a guy who wont be effective for 20% of the season and very likely wont be here next year for continuity and paying him 9.9 million for it. For some reason, that doesn't seem very sensible to me.

Even assuming everything goes as bad as you say, tell me what the alternatives at CB are.

Currently on the roster are Jaques Reeves, Fred Bennett (who played worse than the gimpy Dunta of last year), Molden (who never saw the field and was burried behind a terrible group of CBs), and low round rookies with no experience.

Even if Dunta is not the dunta of old, and even if he comes in late and does not play until week 3, he is still one of our two best CBs. This is all that matters. Playing him gives the Texans a better chance to win than not playing him. So use him for what he's worth next year.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by barrett

Currently on the roster are Jaques Reeves, Fred Bennett (who played worse than the gimpy Dunta of last year), Molden (who never saw the field and was burried behind a terrible group of CBs), and low round rookies with no experience.

Don't underestimate the value of Young Gibbs over our old D-Backs coach.

[edo783]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Don't underestimate the value of Young Gibbs over our old D-Backs coach.

Exactly, and Bennett isn't chopped liver and he is a better bet than Dunta to play well particularly in pass coverage, which if I'm not mistaken is the key role for a CB.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by edo783

Exactly, and Bennett isn't chopped liver and he is a better bet than Dunta to play well particularly in pass coverage, which if I'm not mistaken is the key role for a CB.

Bennett was worse than chopped liver last year. He took a GIANT step backwards and was benched even before Dunta came back. He made a small recovery towards the end of the season and attributed it to Dunta's return.

[jppaul]

Originally Posted by barrett

Bennett was worse than chopped liver last year. He took a GIANT step backwards and was benched even before Dunta came back. He made a small recovery towards the end of the season and attributed it to Dunta's return.

I hope that is hyperbole, because that statement, just like your stance that the Texans wouldn't draft a SLB, is a load of crap.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by jppaul

I hope that is hyperbole, because that statement, just like your stance that the Texans wouldn't draft a SLB, is a load of crap.

I never took a stance that the Texans wouldn't draft a SLB. Try to find one. Instead I took a stance that I wouldn't draft a SLB in round 1 because I don't think it's a valued position in the 4-3. Obviously (and luckily for all of us), Rick Smith currently runs the Texans while I sit and watch games on my couch. I still don't like the Cushing pick, but none of that applies to Fred Bennett.

Now do you think Bennett played well last year? Before you answer, remember that he was benched in favor of PETEY FAGGINS.

[jppaul]

Originally Posted by barrett

I never took a stance that the Texans wouldn't draft a SLB. Try to find one. Instead I took a stance that I wouldn't draft a SLB in round 1 because I don't think it's a valued position in the 4-3. Obviously (and luckily for all of us), Rick Smith currently runs the Texans while I sit and watch games on my couch. I still don't like the Cushing pick, but none of that applies to Fred Bennett.

Now do you think Bennett played well last year? Before you answer, remember that he was benched in favor of PETEY FAGGINS.

You are correct I misstated your position on SLB, but as you say it is lucky that professionals run the organization, because Bennett certainly was better than chopped liver, despite the fact that he was benched, and if you had your way he wouldn't be out there.

I think he played well at times, and not so well at times. His performance was not any worse than the rest of our CBs, and the performance of that unit, was largely a function of the lack of pressure.

Even the best CB looks like crap when a QB has all day to throw. Champ Bailey looked like crap last year too.

[Bigtinylittle]

I usually would think it was a mistake to take an SLB in the first, but in this case it makes more sense than usual. Traditional first round picks: LT, QB, WR, DE, CB, and MLB are pretty well represented on the Texans. I think we probably needed a SS and a DT more than an SLB, but SS is not normally a position you go for in the first, and I guess the Texans didn't see a DT they liked. Besides, we've already spent enough first rounders on DTs. The Texans took Cushing over Mathews not because his position is more important, but because they clearly think he's the better player. Time will tell whether he is or not. If both players turn out to be equally good, then Weakside should have been our pick IMO.