Re: 2010 DE Houston Bates Well, he seems to have good instincts from watching his videos and if you factor in his 4.65-forty time, at 6-2, 218 lbs., that should be enough for me to go on a limb and say he should be fine in coverage. After all, he'll likely have 2 years (counting redshirt season) to polish up before beginning to log playing time.
Re: 2010 DE Houston Bates yeah agree I just didnt see any film of him dropping in coverage so his stats say he will but you never know.
Re: 2010 DE Houston Bates I think that with some good coaching from Chavis and Co., Bates does have the physical gifts to become a great LB for us. My only concern is that, if you watch the video clip, he never really comes up and lays a hit on somebody and drives his legs through the ball carrier. In most of his tackles he runs up and grabs the player in a bear hug and then simply lets his legs collapse so that his weight and loss of balance take the player down. Certainly this is something that can be corrected with coaching. He's quick and aggressive getting to the ball. I just want to see him follow through. He'll have a lot more difficulty taking down SEC backs, at least without allowing them to gain an additional 5-7 yards, with his current tackling style. Thats my only concern, though. Otherwise, he seems to have great instincts, a good eye for the ball, and sheds blocks fairly well. No doubt he'll be an asset to the Tigers in a couple of years.
Here's a nice write-up on him from the Times Picayune making it sound like he is an animal: The story goes that a college coach came to see St. Paul's senior defensive end Houston Bates in practice. The coach saw what everyone sees. On each snap, Bates blew out of his stance like someone had set his pants on fire. Every time. Never was there a breath taken. Never was there a play that he didn't give everything he had. In practice. Against any and everyone St. Paul's coaches lined up in front of him. That night the coach called Bates on the phone. "Houston?" the coach said. "What are you doing."' "I'm working out." "Working out? Didn't you just have a practice?" "Yeah, but I know that somewhere there's someone who is working hard, and I don't want that guy to be working harder than me." That's the story. There's another story that needs telling. Bates throws up before most games. He just gets so worked up that, well, it works its way up. If you've ever seen Houston Bates play (or practice) you know all the stories are true. Ask District 7-5A coaches. Last season Mandeville's Guy LeCompte said Bates is the guy teams have to gameplan for. Finding Bates is a priority every time the ball is snapped. Blocking him is paramount. You don't want Bates loose on the backside of your quarterback. Ask his head coach, Kenny Sears. "As coaches you try to motivate your players. We don't have to do that with Houston. Day in and day out he gives you effort. At some point you would think he would take a play off, but that just doesn't happen," Sears said. "You never want to say stop to a player, but sometimes we wonder if we should throw some cold water on him. He's just one of those special kids who raises the level of intensity on your entire team. The guys who have to block him in practice every day know they have to come ready to play, cause he sure is. The good thing is Houston is rubbing off on some players you need him to rub off on. We just try to make sure no one is injured in these drills." The Wolves, by midseason of last year, had begun to react to the way teams reacted to Bates by moving him all over: At one end, or the other, or even at a quasi-linebacker position. "We did what we could to make things a little different," Sears said. But ultimately it was Bates rushing the quarterback or finding the ball carrier. He had 48 solo tackles, 32 assists, 14 sacks and two fumble recoveries last season. Bates even was among the first down on kickoffs, and he will be used even more in special teams play this season. Because he will go until he is knocked down or he gets to whomever has the ball. That's just the way the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Bates is made. So, you ask offensive tackles who have the ultimate challenge of blocking him daily in practice. It goes something like this: the ball is snapped and like a ball of iron in a cannon, Bates is launched, arms wailing, legs churning. "Man, it's hard," said Wolves tackle Paul Jaguillard. "Every play he's going to give you 100 percent, so you have to be ready. He works his butt off and he makes you a better player. "He comes off the ball so quick. You have to set off the line a bit and kick him out as fast as you can. He can beat you in so many ways." "It's pretty difficult to block Houston," said Casey D'Angelo. "He shoots his hands inside very quickly and his speed is unbelievable. He has the ability to go around you, over you, inside you. Usually I try to kick him out and let the quarterback go up in the pocket." ...it's not even certain where he will play at the next level. "Some said defensive end, some say tight end, some even say fullback," Sears said. "I'm just excited to be able to play at the next level," Bates said. "I don't care where they play me." ... St. Paul's defensive end Houston Bates 'the guy teams have to gameplan for' | New Orleans and Louisiana Sports - - NOLA.com
I think that is the absolute most important thing from Bates. The guy gives 120% every snap of practice, and it rubs off on other players. Eventually everybody works their a$$es off, and the intensity level increases. He's a guy that will set a team straight and make sure everybody is working as hard as he is. Think Bill Romanowski in college.
Dandy Don said he is hearing potential for Houston Bates to go to ULL. That would be unfortunate in my opinion. I think between him and Marsh you have two really good motors in there.
