How did the Texans fix their defense overnight?

[Betterthanmost]

I hope this thread is not categorized as knee jerk, but I am really curious to know how the Texans were able to fix their defense so quickly.
Can we to a turn around similar to them? How many pieces will it take? Who are the legit candidates that we should go after?
I am clueless and will want some answers from those who watch College football and are also in the know in regards to free agency.

 

[rivers983]

I hope this thread is not categorized as knee jerk, but I am really curious to know how the Texans were able to fix their defense so quickly.
Can we to a turn around similar to them? How many pieces will it take? Who are the legit candidates that we should go after?
I am clueless and will want some answers from those who watch College football and are also in the know in regards to free agency.

I am not sure how a team would "fixed their defense" overnight.

 

[reflexblue]

I hope this thread is not categorized as knee jerk, but I am really curious to know how the Texans were able to fix their defense so quickly.
Can we to a turn around similar to them? How many pieces will it take? Who are the legit candidates that we should go after?
I am clueless and will want some answers from those who watch College football and are also in the know in regards to free agency.

Good drafting... but they had to suck to get all those high draft picks. Do you want to suck that bad for a couple of years? One of the problems in always being on top is that you draft on the bottom.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Having one of the best and smartest defensive coordinators in the game in Wade Phillips helps a defense immediately.


Imagine if we had **** LeBeau as DC? ....

 

[oldskool138]

Having a solid drafting philosophy besides "value"? Not trading down and out of the draft? Not always looking for the perfect player who can play defense and special teams?

Am I close?

 

[MP-Logick]

They have a lot more talent, for one thing.

Last offseason they added a #1 shutdown corner and a supremely impressive rookie DE in J.J Watt, Brooks Reed, and Wade Phillips, who is a poor head coach but a very competent defensive coordinator. They already had DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, and, oh yeah, Mario Williams.

They were a very underachieving unit in 2010 and played up to their level and more this year.

 

[StevePatsFan]

Pretty sure they signed a good corner in free agency.

 

[BelichickFan]

Good drafting... but they had to suck to get all those high draft picks. Do you want to suck that bad for a couple of years? One of the problems in always being on top is that you draft on the bottom.

They had that as a core then added another high pick in JJ Watt and signed two starting CB in Manning and Joseph.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

The Pats need to start drafting first round talent rather than later guys and hoping they pan out because usually they seem not to.

 

[Ring 6]

Having a solid drafting philosophy besides "value"? Not trading down and out of the draft? Not always looking for the perfect player who can play defense and special teams?

Am I close?

Wait did you just say the Texans who made the playoffs for the first time ever are team building geniuses and the Patriots idiots?

 

[Ring 6]

The Pats need to start drafting first round talent rather than later guys and hoping they pan out because usually they seem not to.

How does 5 SBs in 11 years equal 'usually they seem not to pan out"

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

Simple: the Texans just read patsfans.com and then draft accordingly.

 

[coolguy]

bill's defensive philosophy and drafting are simply out dated.

bill defenses have always been bend but don't break, dating all the way back to his giant days. It's only now that the nfl has caught up due to rule changes and qb play.

Bill needs help on defense.

 

[everlong]

I don't think drafting in the top half of the draft for forever and finishing it off with Joseph in FA is overnight. Phillips certainly help expedite it this year as well.

 

[MP-Logick]

I'm pretty certain if Patriots fans had been offered, before the game, that their defense would give up exactly 19 points, they would have taken it in a heartbeat.

As for the draft...we could have used that Ingram first on a player who would not pan out, not had a free second last year and no extra first this year...fans just want immediate satisfaction. There are always good players available at the spots BB trades down to, it's just that in recent years he has had a harder time picking good defensive players in those spots.

I would certainly like to improve the front seven so a poor secondary would not be as detrimental, but I hope BB continues his draft philosophy.

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

How does 5 SBs in 11 years equal 'usually they seem not to pan out"

Many of the contributors to the wins the Patriots have had lately have come via free agency. The argument therefore is that the Patriots could have selected different players via the draft and not needed to rely on RFA's as much.

Despite the success, there's obviously room to improve.

 

[alvinnf]

JJ Watt is a white version of Richard Seymour. Beast.

 

[Betterthanmost]

I don't think drafting in the top half of the draft for forever and finishing it off with Joseph in FA is overnight. Phillips certainly help expedite it this year as well.

The reason I say overnight was because of how they finished the season before this, they were dead last in passing yds on defense. They gave up so many big plays after big plays and then, with a shorten off season work, they became so good.

 

[oldskool138]

How does 5 SBs in 11 years equal 'usually they seem not to pan out"

Maroney - Not on the team (or in the NFL)
Merriwether - Not on the team and barely plays on the team he's on now
Chung - solid but not spectacular
Mayo - see Chung, Patrick
Solder - pretty good but the jury's still out (still didn't fill a huge area of need)

 

[Bella*chick]

Wait did you just say the Texans who made the playoffs for the first time ever are team building geniuses and the Patriots idiots?

Seriously.

I always roll my eyes at the schmaltzy "no matter what happens, we are so lucky to root for this team" posts before a big playoff game. Because if a loss occurs, we are suddenlythe biggest stiffs ever around here.