This article details some of the unrealistic expectations some have for James Houston. The article quotes AG acknowledging that Houston was trying to expand the one pass rush move he had in his rookie season and Campbell finding it tough to get him on the field. There is not any great pass rushers that I recall with Houston’s body type (6’, 240 lbs.) The lighter pass rushers (Saints Edge - Ricky Jackson: 6’2", 245lbs.) were taller and the shorter (Colts DE - Dwight Freeney, 6’1", 268 lbs) considerably heavier.
This season I imagine Campbell will win the MLB position and Barnes will be the Sam LB. Houston has a chance to be the #2 Sam and a pass rush specialist to try to get on the field more than 10-15 reps per game. The Special Teams unit is being rebuilt so he has a chance to get on the field more if he can take Anthony Pittman’s role. Although 2 inches shorter, Houston is a similar weight and speed to Pittman.
Let’s hope Houston can develop into one of the double digit sack artist that the Lions need opposite Hutch.
Article doesn’t tell us anything fans who follow Lions everyday didn’t know. Houston’s key is has the injury hurt his bend . He will be just if not stronger he had ability to bend so low with power that OTs couldn’t handle him. He doesn’t need to play every snap but if he is back he will be major part of pass rush. He will never be great in coverage an I really don’t care.
Elvis Dumervil had a really solid career at 6’ & 245.
I think that focusing on the pass rush specialist role is the key for Houston. Early last season there was too much trying to get him to be an all around player. If that comes then great, but he’s a specialist m
I agree. The pass rush specialist is where he can excel, it’s just hard getting him enough snaps in that role.
If that is his only role it’s hard to justify activating him on the 46 for game day if he is getting similar snaps to Jack Fox.
There are only so many “specialist” roles a coach wants to use with a limited roster.
Houston has to get better at Special Teams to be sure he is active every week. To get significant play time he will need to beat out Barnes at Sam LB.
What ever role he played that last 8 games of his rookie season is just fine with me.
Sounds like the author has no ideal what he’s talking about, talking about his size and just a bunch of BS. The only thing this guy needs to do is what he was doing the last 8 games in his rookie season. That is what we need over there.
The problem is the Lions. There are a lot of teams that would love a pass rusher as effective as James Houston. Jim Schwartz for one would love the guy.
If Houston can be a flame thrower off the edge on passing downs - he’ll find a way on the active game day roster. If he’s not that tho…. I’m not sure what the Lions are doing at Edge. Clearly Hutch is an animal but Paschal, Commish and Betts aren’t striking fear in anyone.
Edge rusher and safety look like weak spots on this roster in terms of depth currently.
Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone are starting LBers. Derrick Barnes will play a significant role again. Jalen Reeves Maybin deserves some snaps and we have Rodrigo. What a great group.
James Houston is a pass rush specialist we NEED. Period. 3rd and say 8. Who do you want rushing the passer? I want Hutch, Alim, Levi (or Commish/Paschal/Davenport flexing down) and Houston out there. No reason to be cuts. Line ‘em up and go after the QB. Don’t overthink it.
Houston dresses and Rodrigo sits until injuries start to hit.
And why wouldn’t they after his rookie season? Instead, the Lions were trying to turn him into something he’s not then he got injured and that was a wrap for his season.
He has special pass rushing skills and has a dynamic that not one Lion has. He’s not the next Von Miller but if the Lions don’t want to put him in a position to succeed, I’m sure some other team would love to reap the benefit. He’s never going to be a 3 down all.around player like Hutch. He’s an expert pass rusher, use him as a flamethrower on passing downs and you’ll get the most out of him.
And we’ll never know whether those expectations were justified or not since he played five healthy quarters.
Why are we just ignoring that the reason Houston didn’t contribute is bc he broke his ankle? He didn’t “disappoint “. AG didn’t mismanage. Not in the regular season at least. The kid just got hurt.
He was on the bubble for even making the team bc he’s a one trick pony. He had elite bend, that’s about it… Expecting him to duplicate 8 games of success over an entire season after there’s film out on you is foolish IMO. If you are unable to grow as a player, then you’re going to be a liability at some point. I’m pulling for the kid, but this staff, who everyone has to trust at this point, has consistently shown they don’t think he’s as valuable as posters think he is.
Why should we trust a defensive staff that has coached one of the worst pass defenses/pass rushes in the league?
Honestly, who cares if he’s a one trick pony? That one trick happens to be the most important trick that an EDGE/pass rusher player can have which is…rushing the passer and he showed a high level of doing exactly that in his rookie season. Why does he have to be an “edge setter”, why does he have to be a run defender? This guy has a special skill, why not use that to its full advantage and use him as a pass rushing specialist on pass rushing downs? Here’s the gameplan for James Houston on an obvious passing situation. “Go get the QB James”, not that complicated.
Except was he? Nobody knows that. There was some beat writer projection and some comments perhaps trying to motivate Da Problem to work harder at off ball stuff.
He had 21 snaps in our opener against KC. After his Buffalo breakout he averaged 20.5 snaps. That doesn’t seem to be conveying a situation in which a player was nearly cut.
I find the one trick pony point to be so lazy. He does so many nuanced things well in his pass rush IMO. The way he plays with tempo to set up his initial move is really unique. It’s almost LeVeon Bell like patience. There are several aspects of Houston’s pass rush package that make it a pain in the ass for pass protectors. He’s not Chop Robinson. He’s a natural IMO.
Robert Mathis was a shade under 6’2 and 235 at his pro day. That’s always my comp. He’s a shade taller, but Houston’s arms are longer (at 34.5 inches, freakishly long for his height).
