Some **banter** on the HT.com message boards and **a thoughtful write-up** by Chris at HoustonDieHards (an excellent Texans blog) prompted me to follow up on my recent article for which I talked to coach Gary Kubiak about a few injured players on the mend.
Not only does Kubiak feel that Zac Diles was one of the Texans' best defensive players when healthy last season, he sounds confident in what he'll have in the strongside linebacker next season.
"Well, obviously, I think he was an excellent player when he was going last year," Kubiak said. "Usually, players make their biggest jump from year one to two, and Zac had made a huge jump. So, that tells you what he's capable of, but now he's got something else to overcome. So, it will be about his work ethic and how far he can go."
Diles was a seventh-round draft pick in 2007 who has been **told for years that he's too small to be successful.** That should tell you something about his drive to succeed.
Also, cornerback Antwaun Molden was in the Texans cafeteria for lunch on Monday. He's off crutches and in a walking boot and said he had just started to rehab his fractured left ankle. Molden is in great spirits and doesn't plan to take any big vacations this offseason because he's focused on getting ready to play. He seems determined to crack the cornerback rotation next season.
