Okam seems ready to step up in year 2

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Are you serious with this post?

First, there is no need to convert to a 4-3 simply because we found a guy that can play NT in it. The Ravens championship team played a 4-3 and had two guys (Sam Adams and Siragusa) that fit that description. Barwin comes into the league bigger and stronger than Dwight Freeney did and Jason Taylor- among others, who were both excellent DEs in 4-3 Defenses. Clearly, Brian Cushing fits the profile of a SLB in a 4-3. Most disturbing about your post is that you think we should go ahead and "cut our losses now" with Okoye. You don't think it's a little premature to quit on a 1st round talent at DT who is just about to turn 22 years old and entering his 3rd season in the NFL? Finally, our best defensive player (Mario), would become a much less effective playmaker in a 3-4 because he would be moved into the line and play almost every snap as a 5 technique.

Maybe, just maybe we could get a second-round pick for Okoye, but I suspect it would be more like a third-rounder, especially with his contract.
I'm just not very optimistic about AO and I don't think he's that valuable to us or most other teams.
But AS is much more of a 3-4 DE than he is a 4-3 downlineman, either at
DE or inside at DT. And Mario would be a premier 3-4 DE. Of course he's also a
premier 4-3 DE, I wouldn't deny that. But this whole scenario is based on a hypothesis that Okam could be effective at nose, which would then also permit Barwin to realize his full potential as a 3-4 outside backer and not a downlineman in the 4-3.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

But AS is much more of a 3-4 DE than he is a 4-3 downlineman, either at
DE or inside at DT.

What are you basing that off of?

[NBT]

TJ, in my opinion ws the weak link on the DL last year. He has had time to grow into the guy we wanted, but he continues to underachieve. So when we got Okam in the 5th round last year, I was excited. If Okam can cash in on his potential, we will have a dominant DL, period. I don't want to hear the negativity on Okoye. The hi ankle sprain held him back last year, so give the kid a break for cryin out loud!

[kravix]

Originally Posted by NBT

TJ, in my opinion ws the weak link on the DL last year. He has had time to grow into the guy we wanted, but he continues to underachieve. So when we got Okam in the 5th round last year, I was excited. If Okam can cash in on his potential, we will have a dominant DL, period. I don't want to hear the negativity on Okoye. The hi ankle sprain held him back last year, so give the kid a break for cryin out loud!

I still dont understand the hate TJ gets. He may be listed as a NT, but in my mind he never was and never will be a real NT. The team says he did exactly what they wanted him to do, and TJ has been playing with a high motor sideline to sideline for the last two years.

He was playing out of position for sure, but it is possible that this year we see a def that suits both TJ and Amobi much more than it has in the past.

[HPF Bob]

I agree that switching to a 3-4 is a bad idea and part of my reason is that it is the defense so many teams are switching to - so the talent would be harder to come by on draft day.

The Steelers had success because 3-4 teams switched back to the 4-3 in the late 80s and early 90s to copy the 49ers and Cowboys. The Steelers didn't switch and lapped up all the 3-4 players in the draft who didn't fit the 4-3 mold. Now, teams are trying to copy the Steelers, Ravens and Patriots so they are all rushing back to the 3-4, meaning more 4-3 talent falls to us in the draft.

All that sad, I don't mind if the Texans want to develop a 3-4 look they can toss occasionally at opponents to confuse them - the same concept as the "Wildcat" on offense. You give them a look they aren't prepared for. In that sense, a 3-4 set might be good but, for base defense, we need to stick to the 4-3.

And I agree with the those who say the 3-4 wastes Mario Williams' best asset. In a 3-4, he'd have to line up further inside, take more body blows and find some new rush moves. On the outside, he just needs to beat the tackle who might get help from one extra blocker. Easier duty.

[NBT]

We started out in the 3-4 and didn't seem to be able to get all that many good players. I think it is much harder to draft for a 3-4 than it is for a 4-3. Of course we have a real good GM now that we didn't before!

[HPF Bob]

But (good point, NBT!), Rick Smith has no experience drafting for a 3-4 team.