Film Room: Georgia DE/OLB Justin Houston
We’re going to share some highlight videos players who project to be drafted in the 20s and 30s. Today, Georgia DE/OLB Justin Houston.
7 Responses to Film Room: Georgia DE/OLB Justin Houston
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Not saying that Justin Houston is but imma stick to what I said last draft when people were so eager to draft a pass rusher, I want a guy who can play all downs not just on pass rush situations. I think the Jets feel the same way, ots a waste of a first round draft pick to draft a guy who can’t play all downs. That’s why I like Brooks Reed he gets to the QB and he can stop the run to.
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Justin Houston is nothing like VG. Houston is much more of a pure WILL, whereas VG played a lot with his hand on the ground and was a project WILL. Also, Houston has better football instincts…look at the play where he freezes the QB on the option and forces him to pitch early and far behind the LOS…he had perfect defensive position. Also, he has great closing speed and tackles with violence…something that VG never showed on film at OSU. My only question is whether he can only edge rush. Now, he has a great edge rush and knows how to set it up beautifully, but NFL LTs don’t last long if they can’t stop edge rushers. I still think as a situational pass rusher, he could get up to 10 sacks by just edge rushing. But, to be a true force, he has to have more moves. Brooks Reed has every move in the book, but he’s not as physically talented as Houston. To me, they’re a coin flip and I’d take either at 30. However, if Houston lasts until 30, I think he’ll be a Jet. I’m not as certain about Reed.
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Beat me to it. Houston is not very similar at all to VG. VG never played LB in college (he “played” it, but it almost always had him in a shallow zone), and Houston has shown he is capable of dropping into coverage and playing the run.
He’s not a one-trick pony. His issue is consistency. If he can consistently stand up a rushing attack, he’ll be elite in the NFL. If he can’t, he’ll be a guy who gets double-digit sacks playing 1/3 or 1/2 of the game. Either way, at the 30th pick, that’s the value you can expect.
And I was watching film last night (again) on Reed & Houston. SD hit the nail on the head in regards to these two guys.
Simply put, Reed is more polished (all-around), Houston is more of a physical specimen. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Reed could potentially be limited by what won’t be above-average athleticism in the NFL. Houston is as athletic a player as you will find playing the position. Houston can be limited by his lack of pass rushing moves and how he can sometimes get caught sleeping in the field. Reed has an array of moves and is a very “heady” player (by that I mean you can tell he’s constantly thinking about his assignment and responsibility).
The way I look at it: Rex would be able to work wonders with either. Both have double-digit sack potential. Houston has the potential to be a perennial 15-sack Pro-Bowl Destroyer of Passing Attacks. Reed has the chance to be a relentless pest who will play every play like he’s about to have his leg chopped off as soon as it’s over.
And for those who use the criticism that Houston doesn’t care or is unmotivated, go watch a tape of his game vs. Florida, South Carolina, or Georgia Tech. 3 games that meant enough to him that he played, well, like an NFL player stuck in the NCAA’s. Pumping up his teammates, and single-handedly giving his chance to win each game multiple times.
So, he cares. He cares a lot. The mental aspect of the game hasn’t caught up to his physical gifts, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not capable of doing so. Give Rex a guy who is a beast and just wants to play football, which Houston does (he’s a football player, not an athlete playing football), but doesn’t quite have the game figured out yet and Rex will make it work.
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So….pick a guy who has the same type of strengths & weaknesses, but wasn’t as good in a weaker conference? Ok. Got it.
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As insane as this is going to sound, after more film, I am convinced that Akeem Ayers can in fact be a solid pick. He not only is one of the better pass rushing OLBs but also has the ability to drop back into coverage. Bryan Thomas gave away too many free yards on screens because he cannot keep up with the RB. A guy like Ayers who is nothing like VG and can be put in for more than just pass rush would need some work, but thats nothing that our coaching staff cannot fix quickly…
Can you say Vernon Gholsten