Rico DE Idea

RustyBourneHorse

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Well, I'm sure a lot of you are probably tired of seeing constant Rico Gathers threads. However, this one that I'm posting is actually a slight departure from the normal Gathers threads. I've floated this idea around other threads, but is Rico's best position really TE? Yes, he's absolutely lethal in the red zone when healthy, but is that alone really reason enough to put him in at a roster spot? What if we could use him for more than just that? Here, let me show you what this fox has in mind.

I'm someone that doesn't exactly like the Texans very much. However, I don't think one can really question how good Watt was when healthy. Do you all recall when they'd get down near the goal line, and they'd put Watt in at TE? That's sort of what I have in mind for Gathers. I think he'd be better as a defensive end who comes in during red zone situations to play TE. That way, you are using him in a position of need while also having the luxury of using him in the red zone.

Why put him at DE? Well, let's look at what we know about him. He's a tall and hefty chap. I saw that he's working to get to 280 lb. That'd give him some sheer power to try and blast through offensive linemen. But, he's also a relatively quick boy. He'd have to be to be a basketball player, and he's shown his quickness last preseason. That quickness would make blocking him a sticky wicket. His size alone would make him very difficult to throw the ball around or over. Not to mention that he can jump like a gazelle. So, if you try to throw it over him, then you'll be lucky if he bats it down. Yet, with his hands, he might just come down with some INTs. So, now you've got a takeaway machine in him. Pair him up with DLaw and Taco, and I reckon that we'd have a really devastating set of DEs. Not saying that he'd be JJ Watt, but you get the general idea. If the coaches were to let him have a go at DE, I think they'd be relatively surprised at how good I think he can be there. I do hope that our coaches will give him a go there.

What say you? Think Rico Gathers would make a good DE?
 
Doubtful.

Opposing lineman would grab him and he would be stuck. Would be tough to learn any type of moves to rush the passer. Look at guys like Taco still trying to craft their art.

Tough position to learn at this point in time
 
Doubtful.

Opposing lineman would grab him and he would be stuck. Would be tough to learn any type of moves to rush the passer. Look at guys like Taco still trying to craft their art.

Tough position to learn at this point in time

I suppose that it would be a bit difficult, but I think his quickness would make him quite deadly there. We certainly have the offensive line to let him give it a go against. I mean, if he can get past our oline, I reckon that he'd have similar success. So, we DO have a way to find that out. So, there's that.
 
Let’s see if he can learn TE before we spend another couple years teaching him another position
Watt is totally different, he’s played football his whole life
Rico hasn’t played since he was a youngster
 
He's just starting to pick up TE and you want to switch him? I recommend patience. He's got the passing game down pretty well. Let's see how his work on blocking comes along.
 
Let’s see if he can learn TE before we spend another couple years teaching him another position
Watt is totally different, he’s played football his whole life
Rico hasn’t played since he was a youngster

Well, I do believe that I stated that Rico would be Watt, but I think he might grab the concept of being a DE a bit more quickly than he has as a TE. Just my take on the situation.
 
He's just starting to pick up TE and you want to switch him? I recommend patience. He's got the passing game down pretty well. Let's see how his work on blocking comes along.

See, here's the sticky wicket with that. My take is that he may be on the outside looking in at making the 53 as a TE. If that's the case, then why not see if he can be useful elsewhere? So, I just thought that I'd float this as an idea.
 
See, here's the sticky wicket with that. My take is that he may be on the outside looking in at making the 53 as a TE. If that's the case, then why not see if he can be useful elsewhere? So, I just thought that I'd float this as an idea.

And maybe he's not. And DE is stacked with Taco, DLaw, Irving, Crawford, and Armstrong. If Gregory comes back he wouldn't even get reps at practice.
 
And maybe he's not. And DE is stacked with Taco, DLaw, Irving, Crawford, and Armstrong. If Gregory comes back he wouldn't even get reps at practice.

Hmm, good point about that. What about a position right next to that? Could you see him getting a go at DT? Just trying to come up with ideas.
 
Doubtful.

Opposing lineman would grab him and he would be stuck. Would be tough to learn any type of moves to rush the passer. Look at guys like Taco still trying to craft their art.

Tough position to learn at this point in time

Exactly this. DE is a skill position. He’d be starting over from zero.

We know he kid has a great leap and good hands. He just needs to get the blocking down and at the very least he’s a viable red zone threat.
 
Hmm, good point about that. What about a position right next to that? Could you see him getting a go at DT? Just trying to come up with ideas.

If you are determined to move him then OT makes the most sense. That being said, let's see how he plays before we start counting him off the roster.
 
Exactly this. DE is a skill position. He’d be starting over from zero.

We know he kid has a great leap and good hands. He just needs to get the blocking down and at the very least he’s a viable red zone threat.

I suppose so with that. I just was looking at options if he isn't going to make it as a TE.
 
Lets try him at QB

Haha, I think we'll be fine there, dear boy. But I do get your point. I was simply trying to look at a creative way to solve two problems, but yes, I do see that it would take a lot of doing to pull off, wouldn't it?
 
Well, I do believe that I stated that Rico would be Watt, but I think he might grab the concept of being a DE a bit more quickly than he has as a TE. Just my take on the situation.
He has the build but having never played any real football, any position would be a tremendous learning curve
There are fans here who know more about football than Rico
He’s a tremendous athlete who has to learn the game before he can contribute at any position
If he can learn TE then in a few years after he developed he can learn something else
Right now the challenge is learning the game at TE
I’m not sure DE is all that less challenging to learn and be successful
 
Haha, I think we'll be fine there, dear boy. But I do get your point. I was simply trying to look at a creative way to solve two problems, but yes, I do see that it would take a lot of doing to pull off, wouldn't it?
To me the creative way to solve the problem is use him as a receiving TE and in the red zone
Let him learn while contributing some
Just not sure they want that
There is a place for pure receiving TE on many teams
 
He has the build but having never played any real football, any position would be a tremendous learning curve
There are fans here who know more about football than Rico
He’s a tremendous athlete who has to learn the game before he can contribute at any position
If he can learn TE then in a few years after he developed he can learn something else
Right now the challenge is learning the game at TE
I’m not sure DE is all that less challenging to learn and be successful

Yeah, I dunno much about Rico. I was just looking at his attributes, and I personally thought that he'd make a rather decent DE, if he were to have a go at it. Especially since he'd have all training camp to have a go at our oline. Though, I do understand now that it would be more than just that for him to be successful there.
 
To me the creative way to solve the problem is use him as a receiving TE and in the red zone
Let him learn while contributing some
Just not sure they want that
There is a place for pure receiving TE on many teams

Yes, I could see that.
 

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