Justin Houston

[Red Coater]

Where are you? What is going on? If he is not going to be on this team we need to finde another OLB.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Blick

I just watched all of Sheffield's snaps and he looked alright. He didn't do anything that was particularly impressive though.

His best play was a tackle on a running play where he fought off a block and made the tackle for around a 3 yard gain. It was an inside running play, so it wasn't his direct responsibility. It was a good play.

He had one play where I would say he showed decent pass rush ability. It was on the play where it was 3rd and 1 at the 4:44 mark. The RT got his hands on Sheffield, but Sheffield was in the process of fighting him off and ripping around him while running the arc. He still didn't disrupt Freeman though.

The only other play where he's near the QB is on a bootleg, where any OLB worth his salt in the 3-4 would be in the QB's face. Sheffield got chipped by Ernest Graham, who then went out for the pass on the bootleg. Sheffield was running towards Freeman because he was unblocked...and the pass was completed.

There was another play where it looked like Sheffield was running free. It was because he was chipped by the TE, who released into a route, the RT was occupied with another defender, and then Sheffield was thumped on his way to the QB by the RB. Again, no disruption to Freeman, and I would hope that any OLB on the team would have been able to run free unblocked.

On the diving catch by Sammie Stroughter, Sheffield got pushed around the edge, and maybe could have been able to run around to get to the QB, but he slipped.

Freeman snapped the ball and immediately threw a smoke route to the WR because he saw off coverage. The throw was to Sheffield's side, and he could have got his hands up in the passing lane to bat the ball down, but he didn't even get his hands up.

On the other plays, he didn't do anything, bad or good. He dropped into a zone a few times. There were running plays away from him. There was a time or 2 where he didn't get anywhere with his pass rush.

To say that he was BY FAR the better player over Houston is a stretch.

I'd say that maybe Sheffield is the more fundamentally sound, scheme sound OLB. But, Houston flashed his jump off the snap and his speed around the edge. His natural gifts are more noticeable.

Do the same kind of analysis on Houston. Just curious.

[Blick]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Do the same kind of analysis on Houston. Just curious.

SIR YES SIR

Play by Play

First play, looked unsure what to do. Got hit by the TE on his release into his route, then rushed, but hesitated. RB stayed in to block. He hesitated a moment when a flat route crossed his face...not sure what his responsibility was.

Running play away from him. Did a good job chasing the play.

Rushed, got chipped by the TE before his release, then the RT picked him up. Wasn't much he could do.

Dropped into zone. Probably did a good job. Josh Johnson was looking that way, held the ball too long, and was sacked.

Running play away from him. Tackle was made for a loss. Didn't need to chase.

3rd and 14 play that was gif'd up. Blew by the tackle, Josh Johnson stepped up in the pocket, but Houston was still able to run around and hit Johnson after he released the ball. Clean hit, not late. Johnson's throw was way off out of bounds.

Bootleg his way, did a good job fighting off blocks from the TE and then a back to help make the tackle on Josh Johnson, who kept the ball.

Passing play, TE stayed in to protect, so he hesitated getting into his drop. Got into a shallow drop. Completion to the other side of the field. Houston showed hustle getting over there and made the tackle.

Passing play, got into his drop fine. Pass completed on the other side of the field.

Passing play, looked like it was man coverage. Houston did a good job pressing the TE, using his hands to re-route the guy, and was on his hip on what looked like a route to the flat or what might have been a developing wheel route. Johnson threw incomplete deep down the other sideline.

Bootleg again. This is the play where Johnson scrambles and almost scores but gets Powend. Houston recognizes the bootleg and immediately takes the TE, Johnson's primary target, out of the play. Johnson saw that and took off running to the inside.

Running play up the middle. Houston got blocked by the tackle, but didn't get driven back. The play was held to a minimal gain.

Another running play up the gut. The RT and TE block down, leaving Houston unblocked. He does a nice job squeezing down the line fighting through trash, and the left guard is late pulling over to get him. Houston did a good job getting underneath the guard and making the tackle with his free shoulder.

Rushed the QB, but didn't have a chance to do anything because Johnson threw a quick slant to the other side.

Rushed the QB. This is the play where we blitz, so Johnson had to get rid of it, and Langford breaks up the pass in the back of the endzone. Houston had a good get off, and he just has good natural lean around the corner and uses his hands well. Houston tried a rip move to the outside, but the RT did a good job in pass protection.

I only watched first half snaps...watching the beginning of the 2nd half now and Sheffield is in at LOLB again, so my first post wasn't complete.

Sheffield did a good job getting into his pass drop and covered his area well. Justin Cole got his sack on this play.

On the next play, Sheffield got a nice rush on a rip move to the outside, but Johnson was able to scramble up the middle.

Sheffield did a decent job at the point of attack on a running play.

He did a nice job in coverage on a TE on a bootleg.

He got blocked on one running play.

On another running play, he kinda drifted into a zone, and then the RB cut back to his side, and he attacked the play, but got blocked. He looked tired.

Ran a blitz and had Sheffield rush inside. Didn't get anywhere.

Came unblocked on a bootleg and got in Johnson's face. Johnson completed the pass.

Sheffield got some pressure when he was unblocked, but Johnson threw that TD pass to the pylon where Washington looked lost.

[Hammock Parties]

Another running play up the gut. The RT and TE block down, leaving Houston unblocked. He does a nice job squeezing down the line fighting through trash, and the left guard is late pulling over to get him. Houston did a good job getting underneath the guard and making the tackle with his free shoulder.

I almost gif'd this up but it was hard to see the action. This was a good play at the LOS.

The best part of his game to me was that he looked completely comfortable playing LB. He was only a LB at Georgia for one year if memory serves.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

The best part of his game to me was that he looked completely comfortable playing LB. He was only a LB at Georgia for one year if memory serves.

Georgia runs a defense very similar to the Chiefs.

[the Talking Can]

georgia switched to a 3-4 last year, with a Dallas assistant DC as their new DC


Houston took to it much like Hali did here...which is to say, quickly


you can see the innate ability: speed off the line, lean around the corner....he's still raw in a lot of ways but so what...

[Saul Good]

Stealing Houston may have freed us up to take on a project like Bailey. Not sure if that's good or not, but I think we would have gone a different direction than a project pick there if we didn't have Houston.

[Blick]

More Houston...

Did a nice job stringing an outside running play out to the sideline. Kept contain. Turned the play back inside to the pursuit and a tackle for loss was made.

Decent pass rush.

Got blocked and the play went right by him to the inside. Let the guy get into his pads too much. Might have been held, but everybody holds in the NFL.

Draw play, Houston was in pass rush mode around the corner, taking himself out of the play. Run was up the middle though.

Decent pass rush. Got chipped by the TE, delayed his rush, then showed an inside move on the tackle, right before the ball got released. All of his moves had been to the outside until that point.

Did a good job in zone coverage taking over the TE in his area.

Did a good job again in zone as Carpenter got sacked.

Gabe Miller is in now. I think Sheffield and Houston are done.

[SuperChief]

I really have high hopes for Houston. He looked solid in his first NFL outing with limited football conditioning and rep work. It's easy to see the guy's pure athletic talents - hopefully those can continue to translate well at his OLB position.

[BossChief]

I said it during the game thread, but I think I saw a guy in Houston that if he keeps working at it could get 8-10 sacks as a rookie.

Remember who is playing on the other side of him.

I just hope Crennel tweaks his scheme to accommodate for the added pass rush ability this team has...otherwise, its all for not.

[Blick]

I think 8-10 is a little generous, but it wouldn't surprise me.

6-8 would be great too. What did Gilberry have last year? 7? That's about the number I would expect for Houston.

It's going to be hard to get near double digits as strictly a package player. I don't think Houston will start. He's probably only going to be a 3rd down guy in his rookie year.

[SuperChief]

Originally Posted by Blick

I think 8-10 is a little generous, but it wouldn't surprise me.

6-8 would be great too. What did Gilberry have last year? 7? That's about the number I would expect for Houston.

It's going to be hard to get near double digits as strictly a package player. I don't think Houston will start. He's probably only going to be a 3rd down guy in his rookie year.

I agree with this for the most part. I think he will start playing A LOT more in the second half of the season, though - not just in situational downs, either. This is all dependent upon, of course, him having the right attitude so as not to put him in unfavorable light with the coaches.

[RedThat]

Gotta love it that this team has passrush potential.

Hali, Gilberry, Houston, and I even think Bailey will be getting to the QB as well.