Thomas Howard (1 Viewer)

[biggamer3]

He was very solid as a rookie last year and i see him exploding this year.

Anyone with me on this?

 

[lord_helmet]

I'm very much on this bandwagon, he will break out this year or next.

 

[RavensUNFL]

I would love to see him blitzing off the edge more, he has tremendous speed, I would just like to see it used more destructively. The Raiders had a very good defense last year, if we had any offensive help at all, it may have been the best in the league. I just hope Kiffin has a clue, obviously Porter is buying into what he is selling, so that a start I guess.

I am a diehard Raider fan, I have been since I was about 10, which gives me about 30 to 31 years of being a fan. I am not a "fan" either, I know all the players from the past, the history of the team and so on. So I amd really hoping this year we are at least respectible again.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I'll bite.

How much more production can you reliably expect from him? He was the second highest tackler at OLB in a traditional 4-3 scheme (behind Bulluck) with 88 solo tackles. But many of those tackles were made downfield as a result of a black hole at SLB and DTs allowing OL to get to Kirk Morrison regularly. He also had the opportunity to face the most rushing plays in the league (542 -- a full 1.5 more per game than the second worst team and over 5 more per game than the middle ranks of the league). Howard made next to zero plays in coverage (zero INT and only 2 passes defended) and had no impact plays (zero FF/FR or sacks).

In order to reliably project Howard to reach 85 solos again, much less a breakout season of more than 90, you have to assure yourself that he'll again face an inordinate number of rushing attempts, that Oakland won't improve their DT or SLB play much, and that Michael Huff won't improve enough in the box to steal some pursuit plays from him.

Since the Raiders have faced the highest number of rushing attempts in three of the past four seasons and haven't made any impact signings this off-season on defense, Howard has a good chance of repeating his 2006 statlines. But I won't be firmly on his bandwagon until he proves himself in other areas of the boxscore. He's clearly got the skill set to do it but, unlike a comp like Demorrio Williams, hasn't yet.

 

[lord_helmet]

He is a force in pursuit, productive written all over him. I think he'll get his and even progress in playing the position

 

[Rovers]

Jene makes some great points.... but he was a rookie. I think his big play production will improve, but I have a hard time thinking he can increase his tackles any. He was still pretty raw last year, so I think it's fair to expect him to improve at making reads, which hopefully enables him opportunities to make some INT's and start stripping ball carriers. He outperformed what most people's projections were for him last year. Some even thought he wouldn't start because he was so raw.

I think his overall scoring will go up a bit in 2007, but not because of his tackle numbers. I think they didn't ask a whole lot from him last year in terms of blitzing and going after the big play. I suspect they will turn him loose more often this year.

 

[Rozelle]

Jene makes some great points.... but he was a rookie. I think his big play production will improve, but I have a hard time thinking he can increase his tackles any. He was still pretty raw last year, so I think it's fair to expect him to improve at making reads, which hopefully enables him opportunities to make some INT's and start stripping ball carriers. He outperformed what most people's projections were for him last year. Some even thought he wouldn't start because he was so raw.

I think his overall scoring will go up a bit in 2007, but not because of his tackle numbers. I think they didn't ask a whole lot from him last year in terms of blitzing and going after the big play. I suspect they will turn him loose more often this year.

Yep ... I'm was one. I think he did very well, but like Jene said, he had alot going for him in terms of not only an inept D, but O as well. They kept it simple for him last year, which many scouts said needed to be done. I'm not ready to drink the kool-aid yet.

 

[-OZ-]

Jene makes some great points.... but he was a rookie. I think his big play production will improve, but I have a hard time thinking he can increase his tackles any. He was still pretty raw last year, so I think it's fair to expect him to improve at making reads, which hopefully enables him opportunities to make some INT's and start stripping ball carriers. He outperformed what most people's projections were for him last year. Some even thought he wouldn't start because he was so raw. I think his overall scoring will go up a bit in 2007, but not because of his tackle numbers. I think they didn't ask a whole lot from him last year in terms of blitzing and going after the big play. I suspect they will turn him loose more often this year.

I remember having a conversation similar to this via PM when I was about to trade Duckett for Howard and Landon Johnson. I liked his prospects due in large part to the horrible team he played for. That part worked ut. I don't have the breakdown, but it seems Oakland's D was on the field a lot last year. I think he'd do better in a 3-4 alignment. You don't get many sacks from a OLB in a 4-3, which could have been Howard's forte'. I have Howard as my #5 LB (on my team, not overall) right now, but I see an overall drop this year.