Xavier Adibi - Strong Safety?

[jppaul]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Now that's premature, to say the least.
If he starts in the opener at Pittsburgh in September, its a very good pick. If he goes to Hawaii in a couple years, OK its "a brilliant pick".
On the other hand if he's studying Torts & Contract Law in Austin in September with a fistful of cash by way of a short NFL career, don't be
that surprised.

I really don't know how to weigh this particular piece of information. For me it is kind of a mixed bag. On one hand, it means he is intelligent, at least in some aspects, and on the other hand, he has an alternative.

Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but likely means that he is less vested in football because it is not his only opportunity. It could also mean that he appreciates his own intelligence and will not want to take too many shots to the noggin' as it is known to result in symptoms like Emmitt Smith's butchery of the english language.

From what I saw of Okam I have to wonder if having an alternative is really the best thing for his football potential, considering that he didn't always look motivated out there to begin with.

Kind of a selfish perspective from a person, I know, but it is consistent with a fan

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Now that's premature, to say the least.
If he starts in the opener at Pittsburgh in September, its a very good pick. If he goes to Hawaii in a couple years, OK its "a brilliant pick".
On the other hand if he's studying Torts & Contract Law in Austin in September with a fistful of cash by way of a short NFL career, don't be
that surprised.

hi everybody!

semantics aside, this was unquestionably a great pick. in my eyes the expectations on a 5th round pick are low, low, low and if okam reaches to any of his potential then the texans are that much better for it. i think there is a video of the d'line motoring through a coupling tackling dummies with jethro franklin giving them "inspiration" on the official site. mario looks god-like, amobi looks good, and okam is doing exactly the opposite of what jethro is yelling about. maybe it was the end of practice, maybe he just got filmed on one bad rep, but he looked as advertised: big and lazy. not that it really means much at this point, but i just thought i would throw it into the fire. and since most of his job is going to be make amobi and mario look better i'm not all that concerned with his perception.....that is, as long as amobi and mario look better.

on topic: between demeco, diles looking to start, and now x. adibi does anyone think that our defense just prefers smaller, coverage-capable linebackers?

[cadams]

Originally Posted by KJ3

on topic: between demeco, diles looking to start, and now x. adibi does anyone think that our defense just prefers smaller, coverage-capable linebackers?

I don't think there is any question about that. i think kubs has made it clear that they want speed on the field. now, if they could find an big lb that was quick and could cover i dont think they would have a problem with that either, obviously.

basically i think they are looking for guys that are ball players and those aren't necessarily the conventional picks in all cases. i like that. if a defensive guy always seems to be around the ball and makes plays i honestly don't care whether he is a litte undersized or not. especially on the linebacker poisition. that is why we have those big guys on the line in front of them.

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by cadams

I don't think there is any question about that. i think kubs has made it clear that they want speed on the field. now, if they could find an big lb that was quick and could cover i dont think they would have a problem with that either, obviously.

well the day they start passing on 6'6''-250, 4.6-40 linebackers that tackle like a freight train and cover like a blanket should be the day we all turn around and walk out of reliant stadium!!!

i should have just said they prefer LBs with better-than-average cover skills. it happens that we're looking at 3 quick, slightly undersized guys as a possible starting LB corps. maybe they value coverage skills over tackling, which i think they do because of how the safeties (are supposed to) play. no definition of strong or free (the traditional mini-linebacker/centerfielder duo) really just.....safeties. just extra help where extra help is needed, be it pass or run coverage. it helps to have guys like dunta who hit on the corners and bennett/molden bring some much needed size to the outside to counter the lack of size in the LB corps. it also helps to have a 6'8'' 290 monster playing every down next to what should amount to a d'line capable of putting on a hellacious pass rush and a brick wall of a run stopper.

man our defense has the possibility of being a monster this year, and for years to come!!

[cadams]

i don't know that they value coverage more than tackling from the LBs. i think they want both, our LBs have always been good tacklers. i think they may value coverage guys over guys that are going to be able to mix it up with o-linemen. also, it is well known that they want cbs that can cover both the run and pass and have passed on guys who were good coverage cbs but lacked run coverage skills. i get what you are saying though. and on average i think having a faster defense all around will pay dividends. as long as they swarm and are in position to make plays they will be effective. speed kills in the nfl.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by KJ3

well the day they start passing on 6'6''-250, 4.6-40 linebackers that tackle like a freight train and cover like a blanket should be the day we all turn around and walk out of reliant stadium!!!

I know what I'm looking for at the Combine in terms of measurables.

6’2”
240lbs
4.63 – Forty
4.20 – Shuttle
7.10 – Cone Drill
34” – Vertical
9’ 9” – Long Jump


Of course it's always nice to see production in college where the guy can play coverage and still be able to wrap up and drive a RB into the turf.

[papabear]

Smaller than average, but fast linebackers with coverage skills. A dominant pass rushers.A couple of DT's who can move a little(Manchild and yes TJ). Questions in the secondary. Dos anybody else think it's a possibility that we could be running a lot more Tampa style Cover 2 this year as opposed to our usual man schemes?

For the record I do like Okam, and he is athletic for it's size, but I still think TJ starts. I thought he had a damn good year last year. Okam will get plenty of reps IMO, and if the Texans are smart and they rotate the lineman to keep them fresh then TJ and Okam will both be able to play at a higher level.

All this talk about LB's who can cover and have some speed just got me thinking. TJ, Okoye, and Mario are all guys who are can penetrate as opposed to being more of the hold the line 2-gap style lineman (although Mario can do it all). Nothing the coaching staff has said has indicated that we will shift more to a Tampa 2 style defense this season. They brought in Reeves and said they think he fits better in our man scheme than the way he was used in Dallas. They drafted a "cover" corner in Molden. Rhodes, from what I can remember/have heard has been a man to man type of guy. Our front seven just seems to have a lot of the qualities of a Tampa 2 teams. Now if we can combine that style up front with great man to man coverage, while still being able to stop the run...we could have something very special.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by papabear

Smaller than average, but fast linebackers with coverage skills. A dominant pass rushers.A couple of DT's who can move a little(Manchild and yes TJ). Questions in the secondary. Dos anybody else think it's a possibility that we could be running a lot more Tampa style Cover 2 this year as opposed to our usual man schemes?

For the record I do like Okam, and he is athletic for it's size, but I still think TJ starts. I thought he had a damn good year last year. Okam will get plenty of reps IMO, and if the Texans are smart and they rotate the lineman to keep them fresh then TJ and Okam will both be able to play at a higher level.

All this talk about LB's who can cover and have some speed just got me thinking. TJ, Okoye, and Mario are all guys who are can penetrate as opposed to being more of the hold the line 2-gap style lineman (although Mario can do it all). Nothing the coaching staff has said has indicated that we will shift more to a Tampa 2 style defense this season. They brought in Reeves and said they think he fits better in our man scheme than the way he was used in Dallas. They drafted a "cover" corner in Molden. Rhodes, from what I can remember/have heard has been a man to man type of guy. Our front seven just seems to have a lot of the qualities of a Tampa 2 teams. Now if we can combine that style up front with great man to man coverage, while still being able to stop the run...we could have something very special.

No I do not think the Tampa 2 is the goal. It (the Tampa 2) is a whole defensive strategy, based around the concepts your trying to highlight.

I want to point out that all 2 Deep Safety Zone coverages are not the Tampa 2, but the Tampa 2 is a 2 Deep Zone coverage. None of our current coaching staff has a background in the Tampa defense, Ray Rhodes is from the old school bend but don't break zone coverage era, that is his back ground. He will be able to help our guys, coaches and players, in zone coverage. He is being brought in as an assistant position coach, not the DC, so his input should be felt but not a huge change.

Back to our defensive plan, which I admit I have no privy to, but I see us more the press coverage, now being more athletic at the corner. A 2 deep zone, with man under is probably a good guess.

Our trouble has been injuries creating lack of experience and therefore issues in disguising the coverage pre-snap. We should be better at that this year. And I am thinking the safety play will be an improved area of the team, at least both starters do not go down at the same time.

[papabear]

PK-I don't think the Tampa 2 is the goal either...and I'm aware that not all cover two zone coverages are a Tampa 2. I just feel like our front 7 has some of the same characteristics personnel wise as some of the Tampa 2 teams. One area where we are different is at corner....at least in terms of what we are looking for. Man to Man cover guys more along the line of a shutdown corner. Many Tampa 2 teams don't place as much emphasis on the "lockdown" corner...one of the reasons that scheme became so popular is because the corner position is hard, and expensive, to fill with the lockdown type guys. The Tampa 2 teams go after the guys a little less highly thought of, and have them jam at the line and then get into their zone.

From what the coaches have said, and what I have seen, we do want our corners to play lots of tight man coverage. Last year I thought we played a lot more zone coverage later in the year. I don't really think that is indicative of a change in philosophy. Like you mentioned with all the injuries I think that was done to protect certain personnel in our secondary, and not necessarily a good example of our defensive philosophy.

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by cadams

i don't know that they value coverage more than tackling from the LBs. i think they want both, our LBs have always been good tacklers. i think they may value coverage guys over guys that are going to be able to mix it up with o-linemen. also, it is well known that they want cbs that can cover both the run and pass and have passed on guys who were good coverage cbs but lacked run coverage skills. i get what you are saying though. and on average i think having a faster defense all around will pay dividends. as long as they swarm and are in position to make plays they will be effective. speed kills in the nfl.

i think it's pretty evident that they hold coverage above tackling. of course tackling is a part of a LB's job, what with running plays still being used , but the only LB we have who has tackling to match his coverage is demeco. greenwood is ok in coverage, but certainly isn't thought of as a run-stopping tackler. danny clark couldn't cover but could hit twice a year. i'm all for diles and adibi but a little proof would be nice, and since they haven't had their chance yet i'll bite my tongue on them.

to me it looks like they are trying to open up the safeties by giving a little more attention to run-stopping at the corners and more attention to coverage for LBs...giving the safeties (a.k.a. definitely the least talented of any group on our team) less responsibilities in the overall game. my opinions though

[NBT]

I think once Frank Okam gets the light turned on, maybe like Mario did last year, he will be a force to contend with, and we will realize we made a helluva choice.