Quotes From Kubiak
 

I am usually reluctant to give full credence to anything Kubiak says about his players. I don't mean that in a bad way, though. I think I would probably do the same as he does. I believe he often uses public comments as a way to increase competition and motivate his players.

That being said, here are some Kubiak comments about how a few of the players have progressed since the end of the season. Some of these comments I hadn't seen before, and some I had. I thought it would be nice to have them all in the same place here.

1. Mario is dominating
2. Adibi has been playing as well as anyone.
3. Glen Earl has been exceptional.
3. Dwayne Brown is smart and learns fast.
4. Most improved: Okoye, Studdard, Harrison, Anderson.
5. Molden is ahead of where Bennett was this time last year.

ahh you beat me to it..

Here are the links.

McClain Article

On Duane Brown
Two more articles that are ok reading.
Justice Article

McClain article #2

I agree with you big.. Kubiak has good things to say about all his players. The only times I can remember him saying anything negative to the media were about Carr and his technique and confidence, TJ needing to show more motivation, and Taylor fumbling.

I dont think his comments about Mario were intended to spur competition. I think it is more of a testement of MW's improvement. I just hope he wasnt dominate because the majority of his reps were against Brown... I am sure there are alot of other factors that are comming into his evident performance increase though.

Kubiak was extremely high on Earl last year, DRob was to. I wouldnt be suprised to see him as the starter again.

If Adibi really is showing up like that Diles can probably kiss his starting spot goodbye and Greenwood will be lucky to ever see another 3rd and long. It was widely said that Adibi was a steal for us, here is to hoping that he fits the Demeco build. In fact, if Diles and Adibi were both to play very well this season that makes our LB scouting and evaluations kinda scary good.

I think he had to throw something in about Brown, everyone wants to know how he is doing and where the spot stands. Although the reports from OTA's and such about his improvement from practice to practice is very good. Going up against MW all the time should help him a ton.

It is exciting that Amobi has improved noticeably, a previous article somewhere talked about him losing the rest of his bad rookie habits. He is a very driven young man with the talent and desire and there is no reason we shouldnt expect huge things from him.

If Bennet really is as good as he appeared to be last year, and keeps it up; having a guy like Molden who is supposed to be just as good or better ready to play at that level sooner could mean a secondary to be feared rather than exploited.

Adibi does not fit my profile for a SAM, if he starts it will be at the expense of Greenwood and I do not see that happening this season.

Again it is only my profile and him being moved to SAM would not be the 1st time the coaches have fool me.

(Injury is probably Adibi's best shot at starting)

McClain had some good articles today.

I liked the one about off season additions. 5 players for $7 million in guaranteed cap money.

We have reason to show some enthusiasm finally. Oh, and AJ is not the only playmaker on the team...we have competitve depth in just about every position...again, finally.

I think the Texans treat their LB's a little like their safeties. In other words they are more or less interchangeable. I don't think Adibi fits the profile for SLB, but if the Texans just treat them as right and left then just get your two best LB's on the field no matter what side they play on....that's sort of how Demeco ended up in the middle; putting him there gave us our best LB corps even though many thought he was a little undersized there.

Adibi will backup Greenwood. Diles backs up Demeco and is #1 on the depth chart for SAM, so exactly where would Adibi be a threat to Diles losing his job?

As for the LB's being interchangable, other than Diles, who can play all the positions, the Will will always play weakside, while the Sam will always be over the TE on the strongside. Now if the TE goes in motion, that is a diferent set of circumstances, IMO.

Quote from McClain's article linked by Kravix:
Not saying that I'm advocating that or agree with it, but McClain mentioned it and that's what started the discussion. I remember a comment from Kubiak that he would like for the OLB's to be interchangeable....at least I think I do.

Yes you are remembering correctly. Kubiak did say that.

A question for the coach might be: Is a hybrid OLB really better than having true top SAM and WILL? I mean, having an undersized guy like Adibi, who some scouts thought made a better SS, really the smart answer against a RT and a TE?

Disguising your coverages is one thing, but stopping the run is another, and this team has been weak against the run.

A little history lesson for some. Johnnie Holland was a HS QB and Safety, he went to TAMU as a DB. RC Slocum decided to go with a small lineup that could fly, and Holland went on to set a school record for tackles.

What is my point, Holland's background as a player has been the undersized player with a huge heart playing LB. And that appears to be the direction they are going with the defense.

Dont forget that Demeco doesnt size up as the prototypical LB either and look at him. It is one of the reasons we were able to steal him in the second.

If you are implying that "prototypical" is around 250, you are probably right (at least for the SAM, but DeMeco has proven that 232 is about right for MIKE. But Adibi is only about 220 to 224. I just don't see him at MIKE or SAM.

Yes PK, I remember Johhny holland played the Rover at A&M, but he played conventional OLB at GB. But whatever, I am not trying to start a revolution here, you know. JMHO

As for McLaine's opinion on things, he gets it right about as much as we do, which is not often. He just has a bigger forum.

Looks to me like they are thinking that the game is becoming more and more pass oriented and to do that you need guys that can run. Speed seems to be what they are moving towards on the defense. The key IMO, will be if the line can do the job stopping the run both up the middle and wide. If the RBs are consistently getting to the second level, then we will likely have issues getting teams off the field because our lighter guys will not be able to hold up at the point of attack.

Sorry to do this to you, I had to search long and hard, and if this correct Holland played RILB.

Our coaching staff will covet speed and a nose for the ball over the "perfect" LB size/weight.

Demeco is the exception though.

The LB's should always be able to cover. They will get matched up against TE's alot, and teams will send recievers across the middle.

The DL does need to hold the point of attack and the LB's need to fill the holes. Lighter LB's could have trouble plugging the gaps against bigger lineman. I think this is where Demeco shows that exeptional skill is better than the "right" size.

You are right. Our coaches have definately shown that they are willing to evaluate players past their measurables and look at their speed, skill, and intelligence. This is where I agree with McClain that Adibi could play SAM. His talent and the scheme could make him just as successful at any position.

I think that goes to the cruxes of my post. The game has/is changing. The old time TE is evolving into what amounts to a heavier WR and offenses are going to 4 & 5 receiver sets. While you bring in more DBs for the 4 & 5 receiver sets, you still keep a couple of LBs in to protect against the run. These guys need to be faster than LBs of say 10 years ago were.

The typical fan of the Texans is always berating the DBs. I'm not sticking up for them here, because I think as a group they are below average. But in pass coverage, so is the LB corps, yet they get almost none of the flack from the fans. And the typical fan doesn't realize how easy it is for most NFL starting QB's to pick apart pass coverage if they have pleanty of time to throw, so our poor pass rush is a big factor too. Pass defense is an 11 man job.

I wonder what would happen if Faggins was inserted into the Giants backfield. I think he would get more help from the other ten guys on the field and his suckiness would not be noticed nearly a much as it has been here in Houston.

Not that I necessarily agree with having a 220 guy at the SAM....but with the way the game is today I can see an argument for getting away with a lighter player there. Most TE's today are pass catchers first and blockers second. Sure there is the occasional guy like Bruener, and there are some TE's who block well....most teams don't draft TE's for their blocking anymore though. So a good deal of the time the SAM isn't going to have some massive blocking TE to deal with.

Throw in the amount of formations and shifts teams use and, depending on the team, it might not even be the majority of the time that the TE is even on the line. Tennessee will likely use a lot of two TE sets this year, which side do you put the SAM on then. Indy will have the TE in the slot....and then Peyton will do his little dance and who knows where they end up. In cases like this it might be better to just get your best football players on the field instead of worrying about getting a guy with prototype size on the strong side.

I think in today's NFL there is a need for those interchangeable parts...whether its at S, OLB, or even T. I would prefer that our SAM has a little more meat on his bones than Adibi, but if the D-Line is working like we hope it will having that speed and coverage ability might be more important.

If the size is that big of a factor, and Adibi beats out diles, then just put Greenwood back on the strongside. He's a film rat and shouldn't have any trouble making the switch. That's where he played at Miami, and the Texans have him listed at 253. They have Demeco at 250....that's bigger than I would have guessed for either of them.

Intensity
 

I agree with the philosophy of putting the most talented AND intense players on the field. Dunta Robinson really lays the wood when he hits. So does DeMeco. I've seen Will Demps pound opposing defensive players. Travis Johnson just doesn't seem to have the intensity of some of the others. Here's to a defense that plays with some ATTITUDE! I'd like to see a Ray Rhodes type of defense that swarms to the ball and hits with some conviction. I know health issues are a problem with Ray, but I'd sure like to see him as our defensive coordinator. ATTITUDE! That's the difference between a mediocre and a dominating defense. Just my two cents worth.

I am not sure that the "prototypes" will be the norm in the NFL. Everything goes in cycles and it is possible that speed might be in vogue, over size. Nice to see that barring injury, our 53 will be the most athletic group wearing the steel blue helmets.

In another thread, people were burying Richard Smith. I am anxious to see this 11 (again barring injury) and if this defense applies pressure like his reputation indicates.

What I am liking is this new eta of accountability and settling for mediocrity will not be tolerated. I think after 6 years, we have a football team. I want our guys to go into an opposing stadium and just suck the life out of a crowd and opponjent (like the Panther game last year) and the opposition will know that they cannot win.

I am so pumped. I am just hoping for a healthy camp.