Five Incoming Houston Texans Who May Start This Season
By Ethan Cohen
Sep 7, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Louis Nix III (1) warms up prior to the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
NT Louis Nix III
This is the pick I was most excited about. A few months ago, I suggested that the Texans should target Nix with their first pick of the second round. According to Rick Smith, that is exactly what the Texans wanted to do, however, they opted to take Su’a-Filo instead and witnessed Nix drop until he landed with the Texans in the third round. Nix’s plummet was partly due to league-wide concerns about his knees and his lack of production during his senior season.
Nonetheless, Nix was widely considered the top nose tackle in this year’s draft class. If Nix can stay healthy and find the success that he had during Notre Dame’s run to the national championship, then Nix will literally be a huge cog in Romeo Crennel’s defense. Although O’Brien has noted that the Texans will be in their nickel defense about 70% of the time, which would force Nix off the field, the 30% of time that Nix is on the field could be a lot of fun to watch.
Crennel is known for utilizing huge, man-eating nose tackles in his 3-4 scheme – such as Vince Wilfork and Dontari Poe – and “Irish Chocolate” certainly fits that mold.
Just imagine any combination of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Brian Cushing, Whitney Mercilus, Brooks Reed, and Louis Nix III stampeding towards opposing team’s quarterbacks. It makes me giddy to even think of that. Houston fans finally can celebrate the attainment of a massive nose tackle that they have dreamed about for several years.