Okam seems ready to step up in year 2

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

There was a time when I would have completely agreed with what your saying here, but the market value, the importance of 3-4 DEs is changing as quickly as teams in the NFL are converting to the 3-4 defense. The best example I can site for this is that former NE personnel man & new Chiefs GM Scott Pioli used his teams 3rd overall pick in this years draft to select dlineman Tyson Jackson to play in the Chiefs 3-4.

None of this has anything to do with how Mario Williams is used.

Even if 3-4 DEs are becoming more valuable, we would still be taking our best (only?) pass rusher and limiting his pass rush effectiveness and opportunities. That makes no sense.

[kravix]

Originally Posted by NBT

TJ, in my opinion ws the weak link on the DL last year. He has had time to grow into the guy we wanted, but he continues to underachieve. So when we got Okam in the 5th round last year, I was excited. If Okam can cash in on his potential, we will have a dominant DL, period. I don't want to hear the negativity on Okoye. The hi ankle sprain held him back last year, so give the kid a break for cryin out loud!

I still dont understand the hate TJ gets. He may be listed as a NT, but in my mind he never was and never will be a real NT. The team says he did exactly what they wanted him to do, and TJ has been playing with a high motor sideline to sideline for the last two years.

He was playing out of position for sure, but it is possible that this year we see a def that suits both TJ and Amobi much more than it has in the past.

[HPF Bob]

I agree that switching to a 3-4 is a bad idea and part of my reason is that it is the defense so many teams are switching to - so the talent would be harder to come by on draft day.

The Steelers had success because 3-4 teams switched back to the 4-3 in the late 80s and early 90s to copy the 49ers and Cowboys. The Steelers didn't switch and lapped up all the 3-4 players in the draft who didn't fit the 4-3 mold. Now, teams are trying to copy the Steelers, Ravens and Patriots so they are all rushing back to the 3-4, meaning more 4-3 talent falls to us in the draft.

All that sad, I don't mind if the Texans want to develop a 3-4 look they can toss occasionally at opponents to confuse them - the same concept as the "Wildcat" on offense. You give them a look they aren't prepared for. In that sense, a 3-4 set might be good but, for base defense, we need to stick to the 4-3.

And I agree with the those who say the 3-4 wastes Mario Williams' best asset. In a 3-4, he'd have to line up further inside, take more body blows and find some new rush moves. On the outside, he just needs to beat the tackle who might get help from one extra blocker. Easier duty.

[NBT]

We started out in the 3-4 and didn't seem to be able to get all that many good players. I think it is much harder to draft for a 3-4 than it is for a 4-3. Of course we have a real good GM now that we didn't before!

[HPF Bob]

But (good point, NBT!), Rick Smith has no experience drafting for a 3-4 team.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

But (good point, NBT!), Rick Smith has no experience drafting for a 3-4 team.

Casserly had no experience making rational decisions.