Official Texans @ Cowboys Thread, 08/22/2008

[Rum Runner]

We've definitely invested picks on the defensive side of the ball. At this point, I'd seriously look at a new DC if things don't come around significantly this season.

If we don't improve this season then the other Smith will gain more cupability as well.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Rum Runner

We've definitely invested picks on the defensive side of the ball.

Any chance we've misfired with our pick of Okoye ? I heard the coachs saying he was having an outstanding TC, but not seeing much evidence of it in the preseason games ?

[southtexan]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Any chance we've misfired with our pick of Okoye ? I heard the coachs saying he was having an outstanding TC, but not seeing much evidence of it in the preseason games ?

I just posted this comment on the Chronicle blogs, Okoye is basically a kid playing against grown men, I think we should wait for his body to mature and then we can say for sure if he's a bust. Since I don't have another team to follow, I'll wait and see what happens.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Any chance we've misfired with our pick of Okoye ? I heard the coachs saying he was having an outstanding TC, but not seeing much evidence of it in the preseason games ?

I think all draft picks deserve three years before you can really give a fair assesment. Sure you can get a pretty good idea well before then in most cases, but I think DT is a position that any player is going to have to grow into....especially one who is 19. I don't know if he'll ever be a superstar, but not many DT's are it's just the nature of the position. I saw enough godd things last to think he will at the worst be a good player once he fully matures.

[Keith]

I posted a more in-depth post-game drive analysis than I normally write up, and I have to say that I say that I saw a lot of good things from Okoye Friday night. He abused Leonard Davis pretty good; it just doesn't show up in the stat sheet.

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2008/20080824.html

I am far more concerned with our defensive coordinator. He had the defense in a pretty lame zone a bunch, and the linebackers suffered. The coverages were way too soft, and the reads were way too slow. Smith needs to address this immediately.

[cadams]

Originally Posted by Keith

I posted a more in-depth post-game drive analysis than I normally write up, and I have to say that I say that I saw a lot of good things from Okoye Friday night. He abused Leonard Davis pretty good; it just doesn't show up in the stat sheet.

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2008/20080824.html

I am far more concerned with our defensive coordinator. He had the defense in a pretty lame zone a bunch, and the linebackers suffered. The coverages were way too soft, and the reads were way too slow. Smith needs to address this immediately.

I agree with you 100% about Rick Smith. I realize we may not have the best talent on defense, but they all aren't a bunch of slouches. I am hoping they are working on some things that we haven't seen yet and the defense will turn around once the regular season begins, but I started to wonder Friday night about how poorly the defense looked and maybe it was the scheme and planning by the coaches as much as anything the players were doing.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by cadams

I am hoping they are working on some things that we haven't seen yet and the defense will turn around once the regular season begins, but I started to wonder Friday night about how poorly the defense looked and maybe it was the scheme and planning by the coaches as much as anything the players were doing.

I am hoping that we are playing vanilla in the preseason to see who the players are. Scheme can make a player look better than he is, and the coaches are trying to figure out the best 25 guys for the defense.

I maybe wrong but I want to believe the coaches and players are better than we have seen in the preseason games.

[barrett]

I don't buy that it was just due to "vanilla preseason calls." I mean, he used enough wrinkles to drop Anthony Weaver into coverage repeatedly for some reason.

I just think our defensive play calling is bad.