[Chron.com] LB Colvin to visit Texans

[Bigtinylittle]

As happy as I am that we drafted Mario, I think at the time we drafted him he really wasn't a perfect fit fo us because we already had a player with a high priced long term contract who also played the position that Mario is in my opinion best suited for. I will stand corrected if the future shows me wrong, but I suspect that Mario is will probably always be most effective at STRONGSIDE end. Yes, he can play either end position effectively, but IMO strongside is where he will shine the most.
My feeling is that he doesn't have the speed off the snap to really dominate the best left tackles in the league, though he has the speed to beat the best right tackles. And at 290 pounds, he obviously can handle the strong side run duties. The tremendous thing about Mario is that he allows a team to have TWO great pass rushing ends. Up until now, we haven't had that. I think that with Colvin we may have it. As least if he can stay healthy.
Weaver is redundant if we get another speed rusher in the draft next year, which I expect will happen. I think this year will most likely be Weaver's last year as a Texan.

[KJ3]

i'm meh about the signing but like dave said, he won't play against us.

time will tell.

the contract matters a whole lot.

[dadmg]

Call me crazy, but I'm a bit more optimistic about the signing than most. I know the downside (injuries: missed five games last year and lost a season five years ago; and age: will be turning 31 early next season) but I think that Colvin still has the potential to be a good player, if not the really good player he was as recently as last season.

When healthy, Colvin was pretty much a guarantee for at seven sacks from the strong-side linebacker position, which is one of our biggest question marks right now. Between 2001 and 2006, Colvin played five complete seasons in six years. In those years, he averaged 8.3 sacks, and thats counting 2004 when he wasn't yet full speed after recovering from a hip injury that wiped out the previous season.

Last year he may have only had four sacks in his eleven games, but I've closely followed Colvin's career and I kept reading things (mostly on Football Outsiders) about how well Colvin was doing on that Pats defense and how he was one of the keys to their defense last season before he went down (and how much they declined after he did).

For any of those who forgot, Colvin also made his reputation in a 4-3 defense, the Bears excellent early 90's D, so he shouldn't have any trouble fitting in. And 30, turning 31, isn't ancient. Barring further injury, he's probably got a few more solid years left in him, and possibly a few more as a role player.

I'm not expecting the Colvin of 2001 to step on the field for us, but I think he's got a lot more potential to contribute than most and could really surprise. Worst case scenario, we've got an experienced player whose achieved a considerable amount that can mentor some of our younger linebackers.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by dadmg

When healthy, Colvin was pretty much a guarantee for at seven sacks from the strong-side linebacker position, which is one of our biggest question marks right now.

I think there is a good chance that he has an impact for us. It is my understanding though that he will be more of a situational DE than a LB here. His experience should allow the Texans to use him in multiple roles (as well as get creative with blitz packages....hint hint MR. Smith). Is there a chance that he plays as more of an every-down type SLB? Sure there is, that just wasn't what I thought the plan was....correct me if I'm wrong though.

[KJ3]

if anyone finds the contract terms please let everyone know! thanks!

[Dave]

Watching video highlights on the NFL site has revealed a critical issue that noone has yet raised...what number is he going to wear???

I'm guessing DeMeco's keeping "59".

[KJ3]

95? he'll be a situational DE right?


demeco ain't goin' nowhere!!!

[NBT]

Whatever! Mario got 14 sacks last year. That's what counts, none of that best on this side, no best on that side crap.

On to positives, Rosevelt Colvin signs. All good in my estimation, because it causes even more chaos when opposing coaches try to draw up an offensive gameplan against us. If Weaver plays downs 1 & 2 we have a good run defense. on 3rd down we can either have Colvin or thompson either rush the passer or drop into zone. This sets up the option of blitzing another LB, or even a safety.

What I like most about this signing is it at once makes both the DE and the LB's stronger. And it should ease the burden on the CB's by giving us a heck of a lot better passrush.

[kravix]

Originally Posted by NBT

Whatever! Mario got 14 sacks last year. That's what counts, none of that best on this side, no best on that side crap.

On to positives, Rosevelt Colvin signs. All good in my estimation, because it causes even more chaos when opposing coaches try to draw up an offensive gameplan against us. If Weaver plays downs 1 & 2 we have a good run defense. on 3rd down we can either have Colvin or thompson either rush the passer or drop into zone. This sets up the option of blitzing another LB, or even a safety.

What I like most about this signing is it at once makes both the DE and the LB's stronger. And it should ease the burden on the CB's by giving us a heck of a lot better passrush.

I wouldnt be suprised to see Weaver play inside with Amobi when Colvin comes in.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by kravix

I wouldnt be suprised to see Weaver play inside with Amobi when Colvin comes in.

I have a feeling we will see a our pass rush defense as Williams, Bulman, Okoye, Colvin. Very little of Weaver on 3rd and long.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I have a feeling we will see a our pass rush defense as Williams, Bulman, Okoye, Colvin. Very little of Weaver on 3rd and long.

I wouldn't count TJ out of the rotation in the middle on passing downs just yet.

[edo783]

Originally Posted by papabear

I wouldn't count TJ out of the rotation in the middle on passing downs just yet.

Bulman seems to be the flavor of the day to take over from TJ, but TJ was probably out best interior D-lineman last year. It looks to me that we are going to have a pretty good rotation available at DT and TJ will be an important cog in that rotation.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by edo783

Bulman seems to be the flavor of the day

Yes, and I hope he is ready to explode on the scene like some of the quotes about him suggest. John Abbate was also giving glowing reviews last year. He appears to be an afterthought now. Same thing can be said for a lot of late round/undrafted/young guys at the bottom of the depth chart players every year. There always seems to be a few lesser known players who make an apparently huge impression in the summer....only to get cut or barely scratch the active roster all season.

I'm not saying that's the case with Bullman, but I think a lot of the articles/quotes we see this time of year are one part marketing, one part motivation tool, and one part truth.

Over the course of the season last year TJ was our most consistent interior lineman. Okye was strong, but tailed off. I expect that to change this year. In pass rushing downs it might seem obvious to take out our NT, but remember that when TJ was drafted the big complaint was that he was more of a penetrating under-tackle than a 2-gap NT like we needed for the 3-4 we were running then.

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Bulman is like only 25 or 26 and still cheap so I hope they find a way to keep him ? Word is he has lost some weight in the offseason which has improved his quickness but he's still playing exclusive on the inside as a DT so far as I know

They have been playing him at DE some as well.

[Arky]

Well, I think he's (Colvin) a lock for the 53 man roster (barring injury) so it does crowd up the LB position - someone probably just got pushed out. Gonna be a lot of decent players getting cut this year.....

[TexicanMexican]

Originally Posted by Arky

Gonna be a lot of decent players getting cut this year.....

Yeah but it's a nice problem to have instead of scrambling for players.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by papabear

I wouldn't count TJ out of the rotation in the middle on passing downs just yet.

During OTAs and Mini Camp Bulman had won the pass rush DE job. He was working with the 1st team on passing downs in place of Weaver. He has made the move DE seamlessly it appeared. But now as is being pointed out we are heavy with DL guys. And we do not have the luxury of sitting one of the 4 best pass rusher on the team. Yes I said Bulman is one of the best 4 pass rusher on the team, why? Because, Kubiak and others have said so. This off season Bulman has risen his game to be one of our best stories.

DL that is kept? Williams, Okoye, TJ, Cochran, Bulman, Okam, Maddox? Kalu?, Weaver? Zgonina? Colvin LB/DE

Maddox maybe a numbers game, he plays solid, but is he still in the rotation that has improved. Kalu will be in a numbers game at DE. Weaver seems to have the coaches on his side, but he could be outshined by a younger/cheaper player. Zgonina is Rick Smith's college roommate and that will have some pull, but I hope the team goes with the younger player with upside over the older/backside of the career guys. .

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

During OTAs and Mini Camp Bulman had won the pass rush DE job. He was working with the 1st team on passing downs in place of Weaver. He has made the move DE seamlessly it appeared. But now as is being pointed out we are heavy with DL guys. And we do not have the luxury of sitting one of the 4 best pass rusher on the team. Yes I said Bulman is one of the best 4 pass rusher on the team, why? Because, Kubiak and others have said so. This off season Bulman has risen his game to be one of our best stories.

My understanding is that Weaver is a very expensive luxury for the Texans to carry on their roster, i.e., he's too expensive to cut this year because of the potentially onerous cap hit while at the same time he's really a redundant player because Mario is best as the full-time strongside DE where Weaver is playing ? Earlier posts have coverd topic this pretty well.
But Bulman is like only 25 or 26 and still cheap so I hope they find a way to keep him ? Word is he has lost some weight in the offseason which has improved his quickness but he's still playing exclusive on the inside as a DT so far as I know ?