Frank Okam Article

kravix · #1 05-22-2008, 10:13 AM

This was posted at TT.com but I will post it here to because it was a great read.

http://www.battleredblog.com/2008/5/...etting-the-rec

lebowski · #2 05-22-2008, 03:57 PM

Nice article. I guess Frank was a little more productive his senior year than I realized.

HPF Bob · #3 05-22-2008, 05:11 PM

I never understood why he fell so far except that I felt he didn't make the big plays the last two years that he did as a freshman and sophomore. I think part of that was double-teaming and a greater focus by opposing coordinators to control him.

I hope in a rotation system he returns to being the beast he was in his early years because that will make it easier for the others along the DL to excel.

painekiller · #4 05-22-2008, 05:15 PM

I think showing up at the combine at almost 350lbs hurt him the most.

kRocket · #5 05-22-2008, 11:35 PM

Yeh, good move Texans and whoever cooks for them.

painekiller · #6 05-23-2008, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kRocket

Yeh, good move Texans and whoever cooks for them.

By the time Okam came to Houston the week before the draft for his visit his weight was down to 328, so his creatine story may hold some weight, so to speak.

Today he is listed at 6-4 322. Not sure what weight he started his junior year at, but if he can maintain his ability to get off guys, yet require a double team then he will be a valuable addition to our DL.

KJ3 · #7 05-23-2008, 07:33 AM

all i know is that his size, power, and speed at DT is something we haven't had. 6'4'' 340ish with 32(?) reps and quick feet? yes please.

and with tj getting married and apparently having to "re-condition" to get back to the field (a penalty i assume was imposed by kubiak to RE-motivate tj) okam has a chance to set his mass right into a starter spot. he could be making a difference on this line for years.

it's got to be done every year travis johnson. one is not enough.

kravix · #8 05-23-2008, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJ3

all i know is that his size, power, and speed at DT is something we haven't had. 6'4'' 340ish with 32(?) reps and quick feet? yes please.

and with tj getting married and apparently having to "re-condition" to get back to the field (a penalty i assume was imposed by kubiak to RE-motivate tj) okam has a chance to set his mass right into a starter spot. he could be making a difference on this line for years.

it's got to be done every year travis johnson. one is not enough.

TJ is having to recondition because of a "pelvic inflamation" that he has been nursing since February which has kept him on the dl.

After reading that article I am even more excited about Okam.

edo783 · #9 05-23-2008, 01:17 PM

TJ & Omobie are basically the same type of player/position (NOT saying TJ=AO). Okam I think will be the boulder in the middle that we have needed. I see TJ splitting time with Omobie somewhat and then taking Okams spot alongside Omobie on the 3rd and long passing downs.

kravix · #10 05-23-2008, 01:26 PM

Not to derail my own thread...

Quote:

Johnson is entering his fourth season in the league, and second under the guidance of defensive line coach Jethro Franklin and senior defensive assistant Frank Bush. Last season was Johnson’s first playing strictly at the nose position; he had played primarily in the three-technique before the arrival of Franklin and Bush.

According to Franklin, Johnson gradually adapted to the difficult position change by improving his technique as the 2007 season progressed. As such, Franklin has high expectations of what lies ahead for the athletic former first-round pick.

“He did a good job for us last year,” Franklin said. “He played hard. He ran the way we needed him to run to the ball. He made plays, and there are still plays out there for him to make. So the sky is definitely the limit with him.

“We have to improve our pass-rush from that position, and he definitely has the tools to do that. There are still things that he needs to improve on as a nose guard to even have more success. We were real pleased with what he did, but at the same time it showed him and it showed us what he’s really capable of, and, in my opinion, we’re just scratching the surface.”

That’s precisely why Franklin wants to see his starting nose tackle back on the field as soon as possible.

“There are definitely things you can learn from watching practice, but you get better at football by playing football, not by watching,” he said. “There’s little things you can pick up, there’s little things you can do, but you’ve got to get your hand in the ground in the three-point stance and come off on that ball and see the blocking combinations and react to what you see and flexing your muscles and grunting and grinding and just being an old gritty nose guard.

“That makes you become a damn good nose guard.”

From http://houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=4333

KJ3 · #11 05-23-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kravix

TJ is having to recondition because of a "pelvic inflamation" that he has been nursing since February which has kept him on the dl.

oh right, you know i've read both things and just didn't put 2 and 2 together. 5 right? right. my fault. i just assumed that being tj, he was getting back to his original pre-kubiak state of mind.

this d'line is gonna hurt some people especially if weaver contributes to anything besides oxygen intake.

kravix · #12 05-23-2008, 02:28 PM

People give Weaver alot of crap, but I dont think he is that bad. He was never touted as a pass rushing DE, he was promised as a run stopper. This is one of the reasons he has played DE/DT.

He didnt play so well last year, due to injuries we are told, but 2006 wasnt a bad year. It doesnt help his image that he plays across from MW the beast. Although you would think it would help his production. This year the reports say he has slimed down to get faster. I still wouldnt expect more than 5-6 sacks out of him, he is just not that type of player however you cut it. I think improved inerior play will help him tremendously also.

Judging by the lack of interest the FO has shown in finding a replacement for Weaver I can only guess that he is playing how they want. And they would rather find a pure speed from the edge type of situational guy.

Not all DE's are MW. Look at Indy. Those guys are fast and make sacks, but Freeney is a huge liability in the run game.

papabear · #13 05-23-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edo783

TJ & Omobie are basically the same type of player/position (NOT saying TJ=AO). Okam I think will be the boulder in the middle that we have needed. I see TJ splitting time with Omobie somewhat and then taking Okams spot alongside Omobie on the 3rd and long passing downs.

I think they rotate those three and one other guy quite a bit. Short yardage...I would expect to see more Okam. 3rd and long....I would assume that it would be more TJ and Okoye's territory....at least for now. Just keep them fresh and they should be able to cause some havoc..

NBT · #14 05-24-2008, 01:31 PM

I like Okam a lot, and think the coaches will get the most out of him. As a matter of fact I think this 2008 Draft will come to be known as one of our best so far.

KJ3 · #15 05-27-2008, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kravix

People give Weaver alot of crap, but I dont think he is that bad. He was never touted as a pass rushing DE, he was promised as a run stopper. This is one of the reasons he has played DE/DT.

Judging by the lack of interest the FO has shown in finding a replacement for Weaver I can only guess that he is playing how they want. And they would rather find a pure speed from the edge type of situational guy.

i think weaver is terrible. all i ever saw him do was engage the lineman in front of him. occupying space is nice if you don't have a lot of choice in the matter (see Okam) but i would expect to see a swim or spin move or something out of a nfl pro like weaver.

but....i suppose you're right about weaver playing how they want him to.