If you could change one thing about the draft.....

[HPF Bob]

I suppose I was relieved that we didn't use our first-rounder on a "situational" player like some wanted with Everette Brown. To me, Barwin is an acceptable risk *because* we waited until the second round to take him. I'm not sure I understand the logic of starting him out on the depth chart behind Mario though. Seems to me as if, on passing downs, you'd want both of them on the field.

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I'm not sure I understand the logic of starting him out on the depth chart behind Mario though. Seems to me as if, on passing downs, you'd want both of them on the field.

I think he is behind Mario because he isn't suited to be on the strongside on running downs. I think he'll see lots of action on passing downs, but I'm not sure if he'll line up strongside or weakside. Mario on the strongside on passing downs would help out if the opponent actually ran the ball on a passing, but putting Mario there would make it easier for him to be chipped.

I sometimes think Bush may start to move Mario around again on passing downs to make the Texans less predictable kind of like what the Texans originally tried with him his rookie season. I'm interested to see what the Texans plan to do on passing downs. I wouldn't be surprised to see Cushing put his hand down in the dirt every now and then as the DTs are off the field.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I suppose I was relieved that we didn't use our first-rounder on a "situational" player like some wanted with Everette Brown. To me, Barwin is an acceptable risk *because* we waited until the second round to take him. I'm not sure I understand the logic of starting him out on the depth chart behind Mario though. Seems to me as if, on passing downs, you'd want both of them on the field.

If you look at depth charts they are for base defenses, they do not have the situational packages in them. I see Barwin as part of the nickle packages, Mario will move to the LDE, Smith becomes LDT, Okoye stays at RDT, and Barwin become the RDE.

The article that dadmg posted last week , they talks about the perfect situation for a player to come into the league. I see this as how Barwin will be brought along. We are finally a team that is maturing and we should be glad that 2nd rounder with talent are no longer must starts. It has only taken us how long?

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

If you look at depth charts they are for base defenses, they do not have the situational packages in them. I see Barwin as part of the nickle packages, Mario will move to the LDE, Smith becomes LDT, Okoye stays at RDT, and Barwin become the RDE.

This is a very good read about how I forsee our defense becoming more aggressive and how we'll be using our new toys.


http://www.trojanfootballanalysis.co...z_schemes.html

The first blitz that I am going to show you is what we simply refer to as “Sam and Mike”. We are going to use the strong side linebacker and middle linebackers to rush the passer. We slant our strong side defensive end, nose guard, and 3 technique to the open side of their formation away from their normal rush gaps. The weak side defensive end is going to drop into pass coverage on this play. The alignment is the same as before. The Corners are line up in tight coverage but are going to bail out and play a three deep zone coverage with the Free Safety. The Corners will play outside leverage on this blitz and force everything inside. The Free Safety is playing a deep middle. The weak side Defense End and Strong Safety are the outside defenders to each side. They are playing seam coverage with the Will linebacker in the middle seam. The Strong Safety and weak side Defensive End play what we call the hot receivers to their side. Once the quarterback sees the blitz he’ll often throw to these short areas to his designated hot receiver. If the tight end comes down the middle seam the Strong Safety collapses on him. The Defensive End does the same thing with the back out of the backfield.

What's cool about having Barwin as the "situational" pass rusher is that on those occasions when we have the DE drop in coverage, it won't be a total waste of his talent. He is the DE that I want on the weak side of a formation when we are in passing situations.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I suppose I was relieved that we didn't use our first-rounder on a "situational" player like some wanted with Everette Brown. To me, Barwin is an acceptable risk *because* we waited until the second round to take him. I'm not sure I understand the logic of starting him out on the depth chart behind Mario though. Seems to me as if, on passing downs, you'd want both of them on the field.

1st - I'll say that I was one of those who wanted Everette Brown. I think he'll be more than a "situational" player, but that's an agrument not worth having now.

2nd - Mario starts at the RDE but moves to LDE quite often. So, Barwin would be the guy coming in at RDE when that happens and both of them will be on the field.