the LBs?

[painekiller]

I was shocked this week when I read/saw the team is going to look at Diles as the WILL. From what I gathered they where looking at Cushing/Ryans/Diles.

Diles was a tackling machine, and moving him to WILL keeps a high motor guy on the field.

Also this does not place a lot of expectation on Adibi, who just could not stay on the field. He now has the guy to push him. Off season reports by Brooke Bentley have him gaining 15 lbs, which should help him take the pounding.

Wildcard is the FA former Pro Bowler Cato June.

Now add these parts together, could this be the year we have some specialist packages that actually work? I can see the Diles at WILL group being a strong against the run front.

A package that somehow utilizes Adibi and June together could be a pass coverage package that makes a difference.

Where do you this group heading?

[barrett]

I agree we have options and good depth, but LB is not a position you play a ton of guys barring injury. There are not many specialist LBs who only play on 3rd down. Most LBs who are that good in coverage and are that athletic are on the field all 3 downs. Otherwise you just go with a 5th or 6th DB who are better in coverage than even a coverage LB like June.

My guess is Demeco is on the field at all times if healthy. On 3rd down he will be paired with whoever the WLB is almost all the time. And if its a very obvious passing down, we go with Demeco and 6 DBs rather than Demeco and a replacement coverage LB.

So Demeco, Cushing (I would hope), and one of the other guys who wins the job in camp at WLB. The rest of them better be good special teamers.

[Bigtinylittle]

So Demeco, Cushing (I would hope), and one of the other guys who wins the job in camp at WLB. The rest of them better be good special teamers.[/QUOTE]

What I'm thinking is that, concerning SLB and WLB, who will play what on which downs is totally up in the air at this point. That's probably why Diles is being tried out at WLB. They want to see if he can play it.

Right now it looks like WLB and SLB will be two of the most interesting preseason battles. CB could be very interesting too. And possibly DT and SS. Everything else seems to me to be pretty much settled, barring injuries of course.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I was shocked this week when I read/saw the team is going to look at Diles as the WILL. From what I gathered they where looking at Cushing/Ryans/Diles.

Diles was a tackling machine, and moving him to WILL keeps a high motor guy on the field.

I dunno what you're saying here PK ? On the one hand you're "shocked", but on the other hand you seem to be pleased by the move of getting this "high motor guy on the field" ? Do you like it or not ?

[nero THE zero]

I've seen McClain mention this. I can't imagine Diles being athletic enough for the WILL. But, I also didn't agree with keeping Mario at RDE and adding another LDE. It seems there's an emphasis being put on size here versus speed/athleticism, which is contradictory to the Tampa-2 suspicions some have been holding.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I dunno what you're saying here PK ? On the one hand you're "shocked", but on the other hand you seem to be pleased by the move of getting this "high motor guy on the field" ? Do you like it or not ?

I'm shocked to the fact that Ryans is not fast enough to play the WILL but they now seem to think Diles is. If Diles is a canidate to play WILL now, why did we have to suffer one last year of Greenwood at the WILL?

At the same time I am asking those questions, which I believe are directed more towards the coaches, I like Diles the player. He is fun to watch, unlike dearly departed Greenwood.

So I guess I am confused by the actions of the coaches.

On another note: I see us carrying 6 guys Ryans, Cushing, Diles, Adibi, Bentley, June. One of these guys makes the PS Coley, Davis, Verdell.

Leaving Chaun Thompson on the outside.

[NBT]

I don't know who will play the WLL, but I am excited by the added athleticism and competitiveness of this whole LB group. As most of you know, I griped about Richard Smith's defenses for a couple of years. Now, I think the aggressiveness will be there that has been lacking. I am not worried in the least (except for injuries). I think the cream at WILL will rise to the top and whoever it is will be a vast improvement over the past.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I'm shocked to the fact that Ryans is not fast enough to play the WILL but they now seem to think Diles is. If Diles is a canidate to play WILL now, why did we have to suffer one last year of Greenwood at the WILL?

At the same time I am asking those questions, which I believe are directed more towards the coaches, I like Diles the player. He is fun to watch, unlike dearly departed Greenwood.

So I guess I am confused by the actions of the coaches.

On another note: I see us carrying 6 guys Ryans, Cushing, Diles, Adibi, Bentley, June. One of these guys makes the PS Coley, Davis, Verdell.

Leaving Chaun Thompson on the outside.

Who said Demeco isn't fast enough to play WLB? I may have heard it from posters on here in favor of keeping him at the MLB, but I have never heard anything from the team or any other team.

Besides, Diles situation is very different. Demeco is our best LB and will play where he has the most impact (MLB). Diles is not good enough to start over Demeco at MLB (his first position I believe), he probably (hopefully) isn't good enough to start over Cushing, so now the coaches are saying he will attempt to win a job at WLB. This is the obvious thing to do if you are his coach. You just drafted his replacement in round 1 and you are telling him to keep working and keep trying to find a spot on the field. Nothing confusing about that to me.

Now it just comes down to who wins the spot between Diles/Adibi/June.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by barrett

Who said Demeco isn't fast enough to play WLB? I may have heard it from posters on here in favor of keeping him at the MLB, but I have never heard anything from the team or any other team.

I hate quoting other BB, but Lance Zierlein post on the TT.com BB and he is quoted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brando
I like Rey Mealeuga also. Could we move Ryans to the outside? Ryans did play OLB in college right? Maybe we could move Rey to the outside?
LZ replies
That's the question. If they think he can play outside, Maualuge would be an awesome fit, but I've spoken with someone behind the scenes (not R. Smith) who doesn't believe he can run well enough in coverage to play outside.

So there is at least one person inside the Texans that believe Ryans is a MIKE only now.

just in case you want to read the entire thread here it is

[barrett]

Maybe someone thinks he can't play the WLB. Maybe they just like him where he is because he is a great MLB. Either way he is not going to play WLB.

But to your point, Demeco's speed has nothing to do with Diles trying to play there. Like I said, I am sure Diles is being tried there because he can't get on the field at MLB or SLB, so they'll see if he's better than Adibi, June, and anyone else we have in camp. He is not being tried there in relation to his speed compared to Demeco.