… One of the assets that Houston brings to the Chiefs is the defensive coordinator he played for last season. Houston’s already undergone the transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker – a switch that most players don’t make until they reach the NFL level – and played a year in a pro-style defensive system.
In many ways, Houston has already played in the Chiefs defensive system.
Todd Grantham took over the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator job in 2010 and quickly switched to a pro-style 3-4 base. He’d spent the previous 11 seasons coaching defense in the NFL – much of it inside the 3-4 scheme…
… When off-field issues forced Houston’s slide down draft boards, the background with Grantham helped his risk/reward ratio become more tolerable to the Chiefs. Grantham has relationships with a handful of Chiefs staff members outside of Crennel, including General Manager Scot Pioli.
Had Houston remained at defensive end last season, and not played for Grantham, it’s fair to say that he probably wouldn’t have ended up in Kansas City.
I trust the staff is spreading copies of this story around to every defensive prospect on their board with dreams of playing on Sundays.
Get The Picture 
Oh yeah.
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Maybe the staff should give them all some weed, while they’re at it. Here, be like Justin and you’ll get drafted, too.
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I think Houston truly knows he F’ed up and will wind up being one of the steals of the draft. Good for KC.
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With 78%? of pro players going bust and wondering what happened to all that cash…..I think we will hear more of this soap opera about Houston.
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I highly doubt Grantham sticks his neck out to friends and possible future employers in the NFL for a kid he thinks is a future bust and a screw-up.
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I didn’t say he would be a bust. I said the saga about him wasn’t over. Albert Haynesworth wasn’t a bust ….but I believe he is broke and certainly in the news. That was the 78% of rich pro athletes going broke reference. As far as Houston being a screw up? I wish the kid well …. but he had his moments where I thought he would be off the team at Georgia. Smoking pot during before or during your NFL combine evaluations does kinda edge you towards that “screw up” qualifications. As far as CTG recommendation: I’m sure it went something like- “Yes! The kid can play linebacker at the NFL level and yes he can play it very well” Chiefs got a deal and Houston has already lost money and he ain’t even played yet.
just sayin’
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“But heading into the 2010 season, more than a dozen teams will use the 3-4 as their base defense, and a few more teams plan to sprinkle odd-man fronts into their game plans. Georgia, Georgia Tech, Houston, Notre Dame, Stanford, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are switching their base defense to a 3-4 this season, and Alabama, Air Force, Army, Navy, BYU, California and SMU will continue to have three down linemen and four linebackers on the field in 2010.” CTG and a few others are using thier D as a means of letting people know their team is the right stepping stone into the NFL. Still a lot of great wr and qb’s went to the college spread O teams regardless of the more dominant pro style employed in the NFL.
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Here is something to ponder: If we were to have another disastrous season, but the defense panned out well (I know that could be an oxymoron), would and should Todd Grantham be considered as a potential replacement for Richt? My answer is YES.
Here’s my thinking… championships start with defense and discipline. Grantham has the NFL pedigree, fire and knowledge (more articulate than Richt) to make a solid head coach. I hope we have an excellent season and don’t have to contemplate such a change in coaching, but it’s something interesting to think about if things go south.
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Wow! You and I have a totally different set of criteria for assessing qualifications for a HC. TG may improve our defense, but thus far his one season scorecard is as any I can remember at UGA. I don’t want to upset those who are in awe of him, I like him too, but so far it has mostly been strong soundbites. The choking gesture got overplayed by the media, but that certainly isn’t the way I want the HC of our program acting on the sideline.
This isn’t a put down of CTG, but it is a vote that elevating him to HC of a program at the level of UGA would be very premature at this point. I don’t think UGA needs a new HC, but Grantham wouldn’t even be on my list if we did. I do hope he proves to be a worthy candidate in the future.
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If you think Grantham is more articulate than Richt about football, you need to see video of Richt at the coaches’ clinics he speaks at.
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I would argue that if the defense comes through, we will not have to contemplate such a change. The offense will score points. Even though many consider Bobo to be some kind of idiot, we always score points. If the the D holds up their end of the bargain, an SEC East run is very possible.
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Well….you don’t always score points.
Sincerely,
UCF
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Sorry, the D has done most of the heavy lifting during CMR’s tenure.
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+1.
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Good stuff.
~~~
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Is it true that the guy at CES( the combine training place in Atlanta) is a Gerogia grad? I thought the rumor was that he said he would be willing to work with the strength and conditioning staff. If true, that would be dumb as not use that resourse. Obviously it would be a great recruiting tool as well. Sorry to break to the old school guys, but these kids to give a shit about ringing the chapel, they want to play on Sunday as soon as possible.
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