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17 Oct 2010

DeMeco Ryans Done for Season

This week's come-from-behind Houston win is a silver cloud with a very dark and rainy lining, as middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans is done for the year with a torn Achilles. Zach Diles will move over from the outside, with rookie Darryl Sharpton probably taking over for Diles. If the Texans had a terrible defense because they couldn't fit enough average players around Ryans, Brian Cushing, and Mario Williams, what happens now that they are down to just Cushing and Williams?

Posted by: Aaron Schatz on 17 Oct 2010

10 comments, Last at 19 Oct 2010, 7:41am by Mr Shush

Comments

1
by QCIC (not verified) :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 12:16am

Very bad things.

2
by Snaps (not verified) :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 1:52am

"come-from-behind" needs an *. They were substantially aided by the zebras.

3
by Theo :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 4:32am

eh let me guess... no playoffs this year?

4
by Mr Shush :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 4:51am

To be honest, I'm not sure it makes much difference: how much worse can that defense really get? Ryans is a good player, but he's nothing special in coverage or as a blitzer. The one really indispensable player on that unit is Mario Williams, without whom any semblance of an ability to generate pressure would vanish utterly. God help the Texans if he ever goes down.

5
by bubqr :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 7:44am

I really liked D.Sharpton in Senior Bowl practices, even though he looks a bit awkward running, seemed to have good instincts, adept at shedding blocks and a solid tackler. What's Texans fans' take ?

10
by Mr Shush :: Tue, 10/19/2010 - 7:41am

Sharpton was definitely one of the guys who impressed in camp, as looking smart, fundamentally sound and pro-ready. He's probably not a huge step down from Diles on the weak side - but Diles is of course a big step down from Ryans in the middle.

6
by big_jgke :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 11:49am

Can we chill on the Brian Cushing is a premium player talk? The guy was on the juice and the team has been terrible defensively since he returned. He isn't anything but a popcorn-muscled mirage.

7
by chemical burn :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 1:44pm

Listen, we went over this in the Merriman thread: steroids have no benefit for the players using them.

8
by big_jgke :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 2:51pm

I refuse to consider any argument that isn't fully and ridiculously discussed in whatever current thread I'm participating in. The internet has prevented my ability to make any sort of causal reference that isn't Simpsons-based.

9
by Bobman :: Mon, 10/18/2010 - 5:22pm

That would explain Cushing's tattoos that read DIE, PEYTON, DIE. Which, we all know is German, for "the, Peyton, the."