Hebron "Loni" Fangupo (BYU) is on the local radio show right now. How did this kid go undrafted? He seems to have a real shot to make the Texans roster. He's saying the Texans are a perfect fit for him and he's excited to play for Wade Phillips. He sees himself as a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense that can stuff the run and rush the passer, but he'll play anywhere Wade wants him to. He says he had a choice of where to sign between a handful of teams but he picked Houston because he believes they have the best defense in the NFL.
Thinking long term, the Texans future starting defensive line could be: J.J. Watt, Hebron Fangupo and Jared Crick? These guys are all blue-collar, high-energy players. The starters right now are Watt, Shaun Cody and Antonio Smith but I'm thinking about the next 7 to 8 years. The Texans have a lot of talented young players on defense that Wade Phillips can build around for a long time (Watt, Mercilus, Barwin, Reed, Cushing, Sharpton, Crick and Fangupo to name a few), especially in that front seven where Houston is stacked.
The Texans may soon become the new Steelers and Ravens. A team built on great defense year after year. They've only done it for one season so it's still a little premature to say, but if you are a believer in Wade Phillips and the talent they have it's not a far-fetched thought.
An article in Pro Football Weekly that I forgot to post yesterday...
May 06, 2012 2:11 p.m. - by Brandon Williams
Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki on DT Hebron Fangupo, signed last week as an undrafted free agent: "He'll be a great fit in (defensive coordinator) Wade Phillips' defense. I think he'll be a plugger in the middle and can really hold the point of attack well....he's got the talent to be a solid player in the pros."