LB Cato June Signed by Houston Texans (1 Viewer)

[Fighting Noles]

Just wondering if everyone considers this a "depth only" pickup by the Texans or if he has a "shot" at starting over Diles or Adibi next year....

 

[Larry Thomas]

I think Adibi may be in trouble here, look for June to compete with him for the will.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

a 1yr deal for 1.5mill doesn't scream starter money

 

[coolnerd]

Everything that I am hearing is that June is to be in competition with Adibi. The best news for Adibi is that is a one year deal for 30ish LB. Long -term the team may still like Xaivar, but would rather have plan besides assuming that he will stay stay healthy and do more than flash potential. Mostly about 2009, imo.

 

[Tecmo]

June has been playing strong-side for 2 years now I think. Might be a depth signing because of Zach Diles (SLB) broken leg in 08

 

[coolnerd]

June has been playing strong-side for 2 years now I think. Might be a depth signing because of Zach Diles (SLB) broken leg in 08

I am pretty sure there has been a discussion in this forum on how miscast June was @ SLB in Tampa. Anyway, the persistent though is that the Texans will draft a SLB with more size pretty high to compete with Diles.

 

[Larry Thomas]

a 1yr deal for 1.5mill doesn't scream starter money

June may be nothing more than depth, he came cheap, but pretty much all free agents at this point will come cheap and with little risk. I think June starts over Adibi, based on what Adibi showed last year. Cato’s coverage skills could land him a nickel spot.

June has been playing strong-side for 2 years now I think. Might be a depth signing because of Zach Diles (SLB) broken leg in 08

June played SLB because Derrick Brooks was entrenched at will. Was an undersized sam, he’s better suited for will Is June the long term answer? If I was an Adibi owner, I’d be concerned.

Cato (29) turns 30 November 18th, so he’s not 30 something yet, should have few years left. He could turn out to be great bargain for the Texans and a sneaky IDP play. Let’s see what they do in the draft.

 

[corpcow]

Not sure if you guys noticed this, but Houston also signed Buster Davis. Both links made a point of saying "signed former Indianapolis Colt" - I wonder how much of that factored in.

I tell you waht though, I am glad I was able to sell Adibi earlier in the offseason in a deal for Lofton

 

[Benchwarmers]

I think the Texans are just covering themselves if Adibi can't handle the position full time. Getting June and Davis that cheap will provide much needed depth. I think Adibi gets first crack at the position and if he can't handle 3 downs, June gets the 3rd down duties. If this happens June and Adibi won't have much fantasy value. June could also play SLB. I think in the offseason players get picked up and there is alot of speculation that never pans out. There was alot of talk that the Texans were going to draft a LB early before these moves. Now they don't have to unless they really like the LB. If they draft a LB in the first two rounds that is they player to get.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Read this blurb today:

1. Who will emerge as the weakside linebacker?

Defensive coordinator Frank Bush plans to start first-round draft pick Brian Cushing at the strongside, and DeMeco Ryans has the MIKE spot locked down. Xavier Adibi, who is entering his second pro season, is the incumbent at the WILL. Adibi battled nagging injuries last year and had trouble keeping his weight up. He probably has gained 20 pounds this offseason, which will help him as he competes for starting duties. Zac Diles, who is coming back from a season-ending leg injury, will work out at the weakside. The Texans also signed Cato June, a Pro Bowler who has played both the SAM and the WILL positions.

“Zac is an integral part of what we want to do,” Bush said. “We loved the way he played football last year. Unfortunately, he got injured, but we were really excited about the progress he was making and we are excited about where he is right now. Of course, he is going to have to compete with Brian Cushing and Xavier Adibi. But we do see him in the plans and we do see him moving around and doing some different things with him. We are excited about where he is, and hopefully, he can come back and contribute big time.”

 

[Larry Thomas]

The other OLBs spot opposite of Cushing is up for grabs. It appears Diles, Adibi and June will battle it out. In a Texan's TV (Brooke Bentley) interview with DC Frank Bush, he called the weakside the "other side", stating there is no weakside. At first when I read this I took it as June would start, after reading it again later, think he just means he will start (work him) him out at WLB, or the OLB spot opposite of Cushing.

Brooke Bentley: Cato June is a player the Texans signed during free agency. Which side do you see him playing, or will you wait to see him play to make that decision?

Frank Bush: We are going to start him on the weakside, or “other side” - because there is no weakside. We are going to start him out there, and we are excited because he is a kid that’s played for a championship team (Indianapolis Colts). He’s been a Pro Bowler. He brings a certain veteran savvy, a certain veteran quality that will be good to couple him with DeMeco and help this team move forward as far as leadership is concerned. We are excited about him because he’s a playmaker. He’s a guy who can run around and hit people.

 

[yortstop]

With the knowledge of Ryans MLB and Cushing at SLB the rest would rank as Cato, Diles then Adibi. Cato comes with the veteran leadership and that goes along way as he can not only know where he should be but also those around him.

 

[coolnerd]

I don't have a link for this but per a radio report Adibi is up to 243 lbs and looks healthy, while Diles looks a step slow compard to last year. Apparently, a perfect outcome for the Texans is for one of them will win the job, and June will be a trusted reserve/4th LBer.

 

[jgb95]

main ? is who are the two nickle LB's

 

[coolnerd]

main ? is who are the two nickle LB's

Ryans is probably one of them. Outside of that until training camp/pre-season a detailed question like tht does not have a real answer.

 

[coolnerd]

main ? is who are the two nickle LB's

Here is the official kinda of answer

on who besides LB DeMeco Ryans he’ll put in on third down situations) “Well, obviously (LB Brian) Cushing has the ability to do that. All we did with him, initially he’s worked with the first group in base and we start him with the second group at nickel just to kind of not throw too much at him too quick, but he’s caught up. No doubt in my mind (LBs) Zac (Diles), Xavier (Adibi) can do it, Kevin (Bentley) can do it. In that situation, on third downs, you want your two best athletes out there being able to cover and possibly do some rushing of the passer, so we’ll see what happens. Right now, we’ll be working with DeMeco and Cushing, and Zac and X (Adibi) are doing it.”

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5317

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

main ? is who are the two nickle LB's

Here is the official kinda of answer

on who besides LB DeMeco Ryans he’ll put in on third down situations) “Well, obviously (LB Brian) Cushing has the ability to do that. All we did with him, initially he’s worked with the first group in base and we start him with the second group at nickel just to kind of not throw too much at him too quick, but he’s caught up. No doubt in my mind (LBs) Zac (Diles), Xavier (Adibi) can do it, Kevin (Bentley) can do it. In that situation, on third downs, you want your two best athletes out there being able to cover and possibly do some rushing of the passer, so we’ll see what happens. Right now, we’ll be working with DeMeco and Cushing, and Zac and X (Adibi) are doing it.”

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5317

the rest of that reports also says Diles/Adibi sharing 1st team reps on the weakside. Adibi being much rangier and better on coverage and Diles being much better in run support(sounds like platoon). Cato is firmly on the bench and has to show he can play/contribute on special teams just to make the roster(so much goes for him possibly starting).

 

[gregjcross]

main ? is who are the two nickle LB's

Here is the official kinda of answer

on who besides LB DeMeco Ryans he’ll put in on third down situations) “Well, obviously (LB Brian) Cushing has the ability to do that. All we did with him, initially he’s worked with the first group in base and we start him with the second group at nickel just to kind of not throw too much at him too quick, but he’s caught up. No doubt in my mind (LBs) Zac (Diles), Xavier (Adibi) can do it, Kevin (Bentley) can do it. In that situation, on third downs, you want your two best athletes out there being able to cover and possibly do some rushing of the passer, so we’ll see what happens. Right now, we’ll be working with DeMeco and Cushing, and Zac and X (Adibi) are doing it.”

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=5317

the rest of that reports also says Diles/Adibi sharing 1st team reps on the weakside. Adibi being much rangier and better on coverage and Diles being much better in run support(sounds like platoon). Cato is firmly on the bench and has to show he can play/contribute on special teams just to make the roster(so much goes for him possibly starting).

I dont think June will do much of anything here.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I think there's very little chance that Cushing doesn't play alongside Ryans in the long term. As will be the case with Aaron Curry, a team taking a linebacker in the first round, then immediately praising their versatility and talent isn't likely to bring that player off the field as much as 50% of the time.

It might be Diles and Adibi competing now, but it's not at all reassuring for either of those two that the team grabbed both Cato June and Cushing this offseason. I think Adibi will have to be very impressive to hold off Cushing for an every down role this year.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

I think there's very little chance that Cushing doesn't play alongside Ryans in the long term. As will be the case with Aaron Curry, a team taking a linebacker in the first round, then immediately praising their versatility and talent isn't likely to bring that player off the field as much as 50% of the time.It might be Diles and Adibi competing now, but it's not at all reassuring for either of those two that the team grabbed both Cato June and Cushing this offseason. I think Adibi will have to be very impressive to hold off Cushing for an every down role this year.

Cushing could play some DE when the texans try to get there best pass rushers on the field at times. i know they signed Antonio Smith and drafted Barwin to try to bring some heat opposite Mario, but Cushing exceeded at playing the elephant at USC. so even if Cushing shows better range/coverage skills Adibi would likely pickup some extra nickel snaps