Xavier Adibi...drafted to convert to S?

[Matt_in_KW]

6' 1 236 Anyone else thinking we drafted to convert him to a S like the late Sean Taylor who had similar size?

I will say if thats the idea...he could be a beast. But may take 2yrs for him to get use to playing S.

[pswizz]

Did you read this somewhere or just make it up?

[bt304203]

he made it up...the only problem with your idea is adibi's speed. Taylor ran a 4.39 forty. Adibi runs a 4.58, which doesn't seem like much in theory but on the field it is the difference from making the catch and letting the guy go for a touchdown...

[aj.]

I'm pretty sure they drafted Adibi to play the Will, not SS. I'm thinking by midseason X > Ultimate.

[Lone Star]

6' 1 236 Anyone else thinking we drafted to convert him to a S like the late Sean Taylor who had similar size?

I will say if thats the idea...he could be a beast. But may take 2yrs for him to get use to playing S.

Well he's currently listed with the number 52. Thats usually not a number for a safety. Plus the guy is a true OLB, why try to make him something he's not and completely kill his game...X is gonna really turn some heads in training camp and its gonna be really hard for Kubes not to put him into a starting role early...This kid is another great product from the greater Tidewater area...

[ObsiWan]

Please, no mad scientist experiments

But he should be fast enough to keep up with the Ben Utecht type folks

[fdknuckles]

We've got a shortage of LB's and a glut of safeties...why convert him?

[aj.]

Not to mention the perfect timing of Morlon's last year under contract in '09 (with a base near 5 mill and a cap number near 6). Morlon could be a CC next March if X marks the spot.

[Dunta_23]

"IF" he was converted to S, it would be to SS, where we have the most players such as Demps, CC, Harrison, Earl, etc etc....He was drafted to most likely replace Greenwood once his contract is up or work his way into the rotation this season...They said they wanted athletes on the field...so you UPGRADE the athleticism at LB, not downgrade it at S...maybe Diles, Ryans, Adibi are the LB core of the future? although all seem to be undersizes they may make up for it in speed, instincts and heart.

[TransplantTexan1]

At 6'1", Adibi doesn't need to add too much weight to be an average size linebacker. Derrick Brooks came into the league at 6'0" 230 lbs and he had no problems converting from college backer to NFL (pro bowl) backer.

Also, at the WLB, weight isn't as much of a concern anyway.

I'm thinking X-manb will settle in at 6'1" 240-lbs by opening day. Certainly big enough to play outside linebacker in the NFL.

[HydrOshocK]

While it's an entertaining idea I don't see any position change in Adibi's future. I see him at OLB eventually replacing Greenwood. Let's see Dallas Clark try to get separation on X.

[NBT]

I don't think Xman is 236. He is more like 220. He will need to add weight without sacrificing speed, IMO.

[Hwood82]

Well he's currently listed with the number 52. Thats usually not a number for a safety. Plus the guy is a true OLB, why try to make him something he's not and completely kill his game...X is gonna really turn some heads in training camp and its gonna be really hard for Kubes not to put him into a starting role early...This kid is another great product from the greater Tidewater area...

Tidewater huh? Where are you LoneStar? I'm in Virginia Beach.

[Lone Star]

Tidewater huh? Where are you LoneStar? I'm in Virginia Beach.

I use to live in Norfolk....X is from Hampton and played at Phoebus High. I watched him play a few games in High School, and followed him while he was at VA Tech. This kid is a beast.

[Wolf123]

Someone interviewed his brother and his brother had suggested that he foresaw X's NFL position as a SS. I'm reporting this more as a devil's advocate move rather than what I believe will happen. I agree that he will be played at the WILL position where he will hopefully excel.

[NCSFS42]

Out of every position in football, size is least important to linebackers. It is all about explosiveness, vision, and just knowledge of the game. Yeah you have some great big linebackers, you also have some great linebackers who just aren't that big (zach thomas, demeco ryans, etc.). A lot of you may know who have played football, the difference between a running back falling foward or falling backward (the difference of sometimes 2-3 yards) is about who gets the lowest, the running back or the tackler. Therefor being shorter sometimes benefits players. I have always been a fan of undersized linebackers just because most hte time they are compact and a lot more explosive and mobile then the larger linebackers.

Anyways back to the subject... I can't say I am a huge fan of Adibi just because I didn't follow him much. I trust kubiak and smith with personel after their first two drafts, and its great to hear how athletic this kid is, i just hope it translates into that complement to demeco we have been looking for in the linebacking core

[CrisR]

I don't think Xman is 236. He is more like 220. He will need to add weight without sacrificing speed, IMO.

Actually when we first drafted him I figured we might try to convert him as was stated in this thread. Watching him on film he has all the instincts you would want in a S. Plus when I looked him up on NFL.com it had him listed at 220 and ran a 4.59..........that added fuel to the fire.......meaning if he played at 210-215 he should run @4.5

But upon some further searching he was at like 234 LBs for his pro day.


The guy is going to be a LB.

[outofhnd]

I feel he should be at linebacker and cover the TE. and possibly runners out in the flat. I feel Adibi give Demeco another body out there that can make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage and is a sure playmaker on the outside. He could be like Bart Scott to Demeco's Ray Lewis.

[robertcraft]

I think he could start out as a passing situation linebacker like Shawn Barber was last year.

[mamoo]

We asked Kubiak about X becoming a safety. He laughed and basically said no way. He is a linebacker and will remain one. He also really likes the kid. Kubes said he eats, sleeps and you know what football which is of course a coach's dream.

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Two years ago when DeMeco was drafted, I remember someone was stating how DeMeco was undersize and blah blah. We know how he turned out to be.
Now, we are talking about how Adibi is undersize and all. Just when are we going to learn about size?

Go Texans!!

[Towlie]

Start Adibi, Ryan, and Zac Diles... the most undersized LB core in the league!!!

[greedimidi]

this guy X is legit. undersized and all, he will play linebacker and special teams for the texans. here is a list of linebackers that were supposed to be too small to play in the nfl; ray lewis, takeo spikes, demeco ryans, al wilson, derrick brooks....these are all pro bowl linebackers. just add adibi to that list. here is what the x-man brings to the table; speed, agility, instincts, coverage, blitzing (with speed) and mad tackling. thats almost all you need to play the linebacker position. he is just as good a tackler as demeco was in college and is faster. against all odds, if adibi and ryans play together for 3 years or more, we would bolster a top ten linebacker corp of all time as seen on nfl network at the end of their carreers. MARK MY WORD!

[infantrycak]

Let's move:

Taylor to FB
DeMeco to WIL
Pitts to RT
Winston to LT
Spencer to LG
Adibi to SS
Dunta to FS
Frye to RG
Slayton to Slot receiver
Mario to DT
Weaver to DT
Thompson to DE

Superbowl baby.

[greedimidi]

Let's move:

Taylor to FB
DeMeco to WIL
Pitts to RT
Winston to LT
Spencer to LG
Adibi to SS
Dunta to FS
Frye to RG
Slayton to Slot receiver
Mario to DT
Weaver to DT
Thompson to DE

Superbowl baby.

u're kidding right?

[foozball]

why change adibi to S? he's a tackling machine who has great coverage ability for a LB. keep it that way.

[LSUtexan]

he made it up...the only problem with your idea is adibi's speed. Taylor ran a 4.39 forty. Adibi runs a 4.58, which doesn't seem like much in theory but on the field it is the difference from making the catch and letting the guy go for a touchdown...

Taylor didn't run 4.39, he ran 4.51 at his pro day in 04.

[HydrOshocK]

Let's move:

Taylor to FB
DeMeco to WIL
Pitts to RT
Winston to LT
Spencer to LG
Adibi to SS
Dunta to FS
Frye to RG
Slayton to Slot receiver
Mario to DT
Weaver to DT
Thompson to DE

Superbowl baby.

LMAO!!! Nice :D

[Matt_in_KW]

I was just curious what you guys thought.

As I said, his numbers are similar to Taylors. Never said someone said it just a thought as we do still need a presence at S. Taylor was a 6-6' 1 S at 236lbs and a 4.50ish 40...X is 6' 1 and around 225-230 and runs in the low 5's.

Thats the ONLY reason I asked.

[ubecool454]

I feel good about the linebacking core...Adibi, Diles, Bentley or Thompson could be the third linebacker.

[outofhnd]

this guy X is legit. undersized and all, he will play linebacker and special teams for the texans. here is a list of linebackers that were supposed to be too small to play in the nfl; ray lewis, takeo spikes, demeco ryans, al wilson, derrick brooks....these are all pro bowl linebackers. just add adibi to that list. here is what the x-man brings to the table; speed, agility, instincts, coverage, blitzing (with speed) and mad tackling. thats almost all you need to play the linebacker position. he is just as good a tackler as demeco was in college and is faster. against all odds, if adibi and ryans play together for 3 years or more, we would bolster a top ten linebacker corp of all time as seen on nfl network at the end of their carreers. MARK MY WORD!

You forgot the most famous of all undersized Linebackers. Sam Mills

Also Zach Thomas, is another notable name not mentioned.