After watching the first couple of games of the "Wade Phillips Era" in Houston, I am seeing one glaring hole on their defense, they do not have the big body defensive tackle to occupy two blockers and free up the linebackers to make plays.With the first team defense on the field, Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell just did not cut it! Shonn Greene averaged 6.4 yards per carry and most of them were right up the gut, and I do not care how good your linebackers are, if the offensive linemen and lead blockers are getting to the second level consistenly to block there is no way your linebackers can make plays.
In the second game the Saints were able to consistently push the defensive tackles out of the way and open up huge holes for the running backs to blast into the secondary. Pierre Thomas was able to rush for 5.5 yards per carry against the first team defense, with a long of 13 that was straight up the gut up the Texans defense.
So where should the Texans look for help? Well there are a couple of guys out there still, mainly veteran (well into their 30's) who would play for the veteran minimum: Jamal Williams, Pat Williams, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, and some others.
-Jamal Williams is probably the most likely candidate, at 6'3" and 348lbs he has the prototypical size for a 2-down run stuffing 3-4 Nose Tackle. While he is on the other side of 35, he should have a couple of years left as his body did not take the wear and tear after suffering a torn triceps. What makes him the most likely option is his familiarity with Wade Phillips who had Williams anchoring his defensive line when he was the defensive coordinator in San Diego. As long as Williams has kept himself in shape since he was released by Denver before the lockout, the Texans should get him in a uniform as soon as possible!
-Pat Williams has spent his career as the run stuffer of the "Williams Wall" while he was with the Vikings. While he is closer to 40 and has been in Minnesota running a 4-3, he has the ability and the size (6'3" 317lbs) to anchor the Phillips 3-4. Teams have shied away from him in free agency seemingly due to the lingering Star Caps case which threatens to keep him out of the first 4 games of the season. Luckily for the Texans their schedule only has 1 proven "run oriented" team in their first 4 weeks (Steelers), their other 3 opponents, Colts (never much of a running game), Dolphins (Replacing their 2 leading rushers), Saints (have the abillity to be balanced but I won't believe it until I see it), so signing a run stuffing tackle should be a priority.
-Ma'ake Kemoeatu is the long shot of the group, his career has been derailed since he suffered major shoulder and Achilles injuries, but he has the size (6'5" 350lbs) and has show ability and potential in the past to be a situational run stuffer. The Texans should bring him in after Week 1 when his salary would not be guaranteed to see if he can pass a physical, if he passes give him a shot.
There are other options out there, but these guys seem to be the most likely. It was obvious to me that the Texans need some help in the middle of their defensive line, and they need it quick, or they will be watching the playoffs again and Coach Kubiak will be out of a job.
Quick Texans Notes: Texans star defensive player Mario Williams finally started looking more comfortable at OLB, the Texans will need him to be in BEAST MODE for this defense to work. Also Xavier Adibi looked like a natural in the Phillips 3-4 and could make someone like DeMeco Ryans expendable as he is not a natural fit as a 3-4 linebacker, but it will all rely on Xavier staying healthy which he has struggled with.
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Wade doesn't use a big NT like most 3-4's. He doesn't 2 gap and runs a one gap scheme so his NT are typically smaller. Look at how small Jay Ratliff was. The Texans might need DT help but they don't need a fat guy.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous says Anonymous is right and Mr. Bobby Shores, if he knew anything at all about the NFL, should have known that. Absent credentials much?
ReplyDeleteActually while Wade Phillips did use a smaller defensive tackle in Dallas, he used larger tackles before that. Wade is known for fitting his defense around his players, and since he has "non-typical" smaller inside linebackers my opinion is that he needs a space eating tackle to free up the linebackers.
ReplyDeleteWhen he was defensive coordinator in San Diego he used Jamal Williams a big guy
When he coached in Buffalo he used Ted Williams who was 400lbs.
The point is that he fits his defensive around his players and can make any kind work. I believe with the personnel he has, and since JJ Watt appears to be playing the "disruptive lineman in the backfield" similar to how Ratliff did in Dallas (and yes I know he is playing at End, he needs space eaters at the tackle and Left End position to free up the smaller linebackers (DeMeco Ryans) to be the tackling machines they need to be, so they can meet the backs in the gaps.
you can listen to the propaganda from Wade and the Texans but the proof is in the pudding....so far the Jets and the Saints have run all over the first team defense......you can have a small guy at the nose who is a player Ratliff, or you can have a small guy at the nose who isn't a player Cody/Mitchell and get entirely different results......
ReplyDelete@David, Agreed, regardless of space eater or disruptive guy in the middle, the Texans defense needs some major help on the interior of their line, and this late in camp I still feel the best bet is somebody like Jamal Williams, a guy who is familiar with the "Phillips 3-4" and should be able to make an immediate impact
ReplyDeleteNo running back should be able to average 6.0+ YPC against a defense, especially when it's up the gut. Greene isn't a burner, and how him and another North/South runner like Pierre Thomas did that well is beyond me...normally you see the big YPC racked up by guys that gain 12 yards, then lose 2 (Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson). Texans definitely need some physical big guys on that D-Line.
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