Texans make Roster moves including releasing Okam

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

The team also added rookie defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard from the practice squad to the regular roster. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/7262705.html
Not sure if I left that last sentence off of the origional entry or John McClain
didn't get it into his origional entry into the Chron ?
No matter, it seems the roster moves also include a promotion for Arkansas rookie DT Malcolm Sheppard.

McClain missed it in his early version of the article. I found out about Shepard from a tweet by Scurlock.

They have really gone small at the DT, but Lewis looks like a solid pickup, he has good experience. The LB is another Purdue guy.

[NBT]

At least the Texans are trying to patch up the defensive holes. Only problem is, they should have forseen this back in training camp. After all Okam had been hanging around for almost 3 years without really contributing squat. Anyway the coaches will be occupied with getting these new guys up to snuff on the playbook instead of getting their position people ready to play a very important game.

[Arky]

I think many of us had Okam cut in the pre-season. IIRC, they gave him a lot of reps to show them something..

Like the Sheppard move - IMO, he's got a sky-high upside. I saw most of his games in college and he was always heard from - every single game. Don't see a reason why he can't continue this in the NFL... He has experience at both DT and DE so he has versatility..... He might have made a good backup/replacement for Barwin but I think they had him put on a few pounds so he is a little heavier now...

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Arky

He has experience at both DT and DE so he has versatility..... He might have made a good backup/replacement for Barwin but I think they had him put on a few pounds so he is a little heavier now...

You saying you think Sheppard, if trimmed down to a lighter weight, has the potential to play the edge as a 4-3 DE and be an effective NFL
pass-rusher ? I mean I hope he does because we sure need help in that area.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

You saying you think Sheppard, if trimmed down to a lighter weight, has the potential to play the edge as a 4-3 DE and be an effective NFL
pass-rusher ? I mean I hope he does because we sure need help in that area.

Yes, he was a DE for a time (I think a year, maybe two) at Arkansas. He's a tweener and his strong point is his quickness. I would venture to say he might have more upside than draft pick Mitchell but you'll never hear the coaches admit to that. Not saying this is the case here, but sometimes there's team politics involved that keep the best man from getting the job. He's undrafted so he's (Sheppard) got to pay his dues and work his way up.... Now that they've activated him, I'd like to see them give him some reps.. Perhaps (for his own good) they will work him in slowly...

[NBT]

They have looked for edge rushers for ad nauseum. It's about time they looked to an interior Dlineman, even if he is on the small side. I hope we can finally begin to generate some pressure against the QB. And it will have a beneficial effect on the LBs and secondary too.

[painekiller]

Being a DE in college is not the same as being a DE in the NFL. Shepard is quicker than the OGs he will face in the middle, but he is not fast enough to play against the OTs in the NFL, IMO.

DT is the correct position for him in the 4-3 we run.