Remember...

[nero THE zero]

Have the Texans actually come out and said Smith was brought in to stop the run?

Because, according to Cardinal fans and according to LZ, Smith's asset is not his play against the run; rather, it's his inside rush ability. Granted, at LDE, he should not be a liability against the run (which I don't think he is,) but I think Mario's still our premiere run stopper.

I think it's moot anyway. Our run weakness is in the middle of the line (when DelJuan's not in,) at the LB position, and in the secondary (when Dunta's not in.) Fred Bennett was plain putrid against the Saints.

A defense with Dunta, DelJuan, and Cushing wouldn't have given up what we did Saturday night.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Have the Texans actually come out and said Smith was brought in to stop the run?

.

Honestly, I'm not sure they have...but traditionally the DE on that side of the line is more run stuffer than pass rusher. Smith's a little unique in that he's more effective on the inside as a pass rusher. I look at that as he is an undersized DT who plays end to help against the run until passing downs. Texans might have never said that specifically, but that's the way I viewed the signing from day one. There might even be a quote from Smithiak on it, but I'm way too lazy to look. I do hope he helps out against the run and it works out that way.

[painekiller]

I want to see Okam and DelJuan in the game at the same time. To see how they do. Just a thought. IIRC Okam has worked in practice in DT and NT positions, so maybe they are going to try it.

[NBT]

Kubiak's teams here have always seemed to have one or two games like that every year for some unfathomable reason. And how about that first game of the season last year when we looked like pudding when we played the Steelers. This concerns me a lot.

[Nconroe]

I agree, it was preseason. For sure Cushing and DR would help the tackling and run stopping. I think Okam will help, but needs to rest some, rotate with TJ and others to be effective, for now. I thought they were concentrating so much on pass rush they forgot or didn't for some reason protect against the run. Abd Brees and his receivers were pretty good. Turnovers did us in too to some degree, again.