Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak expressed concern about the short window of time to install a new 3-4 scheme that's like a foreign language to most of the defense. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips won't have a lot of time to get the players up to speed. “Well it’s obviously a concern, but I think the great thing we have going for us is Wade," Kubiak told KILT Radio in Houston, per SportsRadioInterviews.com. "His defense to me is not very complicated and he’s also shown he can get this thing done very quickly in some places he’s been and just being around him everyday with his confidence once he gets his hands on these guys and having Reggie [Herring] with him from Dallas, bringing Bobby King, a young coach with him from Dallas. I think that these guys can make up a lot of ground very quickly, so that does give me a great deal of confidence.†It should be especially tough for the rookies like first-round draft pick J.J. Watt. Source: National Football Post
It's going to screw you. A guy like Peyton Manning is going to come at you with 15 different formations in 15 different plays and find what combination is working and you and your defense my friend will be cooked.
lets be real though, manning hasnt exactly been a world beater lately and now hes coming off neck surgery, i think hes in for a rough year the defense wont have trouble because of the lockout, its the personell no NT, okoye isnt built for that. Mario going to OLB, even though hes still just an edge rusher primarily hes still learning a new position coming off an injury a lot of pressure on JJ watt to be a DE in a 34, and brooks reed is going to learn how to play a new position too having never really played OLB. i do like the direction they are going on defense though....white guys cushing isnt really a 34 MLB, he was pretty much a 43 LB all the way through the draft process. kareem jackson has to come back strong from a poor rookie year they have crap as both safety spots, but i think brandon harris was a nice addition
The personnel and the lockout is a recipe for disaster. You can't change a defense and not practice it with new players at new positions and expect to succeed.
Earl Mitchell is going to be the NT last I heard; not sure how that's going to pan out. Personally I think they should move K-Jax to free safety. His biggest strength is his physicality/tackling and teams won't be able to exploit his lack of speed.
Honestly, all of this might even make for a more interesting season. Those guys who didn't stay in shape during the offseason will either wear down by midseason or get injured. Teams with the most continuity from last season, personnel-wise and scheme-wise, will have a HUGE advantage over the competition. FAs who can offer a 'plug-n-play' type of service where there will be little learning curve for their role should get a premium over the others.
Agree. The teams that have stable coaching and veteran players are going to have and advantage over the others. The lockout (depending on how long it goes) is going to affect every team...just some more than others IMO.
when I said simplify I meant not so much exotic blitzes. More base defense and shore up on the basics. Gonna take a few years to get the defense installed anyway not counting getting the right personnel
