Sam

Montgomery

Montgomery strained his back on the first day of camp, but Williams was a better 3-4 outside linebacker prospect to begin with. Williams has a real chance to be Houston’s No. 3 rush ‘backer as a rookie, behind Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus. “Tremendous speed,” Kubiak said of Williams. “He can really run.” An explosive if undersized pass rusher, Williams ran 4.57 at the Combine.

Montgomery (6-foot-3, 262) is a questionable fit at outside linebacker in the Texans’ 3-4 defense, but that’s where the team currently plans to play him. He and fourth-rounder Trevardo Williams could be competing for the starting job opposite Whitney Mercilus. Williams reportedly has looked better so far.

College coaches -- especially assistants -- are typically brutally honest with NFL clubs, and it was no secret that Montgomery wasn’t beloved by LSU’s staff. A projected second-day draft pick, Montgomery is a base 4-3 end. His Tigers bookend, Barkevious Mingo, is expected to be a 3-4 outside ‘backer in the pros.

Montgomery should know that telling the media things like this is not smart. At all. “Some weeks when we didn’t have to play the harder teams, there were some times when effort was not needed,” Montgomery said. “But when we had the big boys coming in, the ‘Bamas or the South Carolinas, I grabbed close to those guys and went all out.” Montgomery detailed “hundreds of dollars” in bets with teammate Barkevious Mingo, including one for $5,000 on which LSU defensive end will be drafted higher. We’d wager -- heavily -- that it won’t be Montgomery. Draft insider Tony Pauline reported late Saturday that LSU’s coaching staff has been “slamming” Montgomery to NFL teams.

The coaches said he’s “definitely not a fit” because they don’t think Montgomery is athletic enough to play in space. Reliable Texans writer Lance Zierlein believes fourth-round pick Trevardo Williams has a better chance to play early than third-rounder Montgomery. Montgomery was a value pick at No. 95 overall, but he’s not an explosive edge rusher and may be a schematic misfit.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock had a second-round grade on Montgomery physically, but his interview process was a disaster. He admitted to betting in college and taking games off against lesser opponents. Montgomery (6-foot-3 1/4, 262) was a 26-game starter for the Tigers, playing mostly right end. He tallied 32.5 career tackles for loss, 19 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Montgomery runs 4.81 with a 1.64 ten-yard split. Besides the fact that he isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed -- and we’re being kind -- Montgomery’s biggest red flag is his lackadaisical first step. Lacking explosion and edge-bending ability, he is more of an undersized power end, and those don’t always translate well to the NFL. He’ll now have to learn to play outside linebacker in Houston’s 3-4.

Montgomery (6-foot-3, 262) played 4-3 end in college at LSU. His fit for the Texans’ 3-4 scheme at outside ‘backer was immediately questioned upon his selection. He lacks explosion off the edge and has a slow first step. Montgomery’s been inactive the first three weeks and will likely remain that way.

Montgomery started camp on the active/NFI list after reporting way out of shape, then he injured his ankle the day he was activated. “He’s way behind the team,” Kubiak said. “Way behind. He’s behind conditioning wise and, now, he’s got an ankle that he can do nothing about. Got to get back out here.” It’s hard to see Montgomery making much of a year-one impact at this point.

Montgomery, a third-round rookie, was waived by the Texans in October after reportedly getting busted smoking pot in a hotel room the night before a game. He denied that, but character issues are nothing new. Montgomery also showed up to camp out of shape and admitted he didn’t always come with great effort at LSU. Still, the Raiders are going to have to take some gambles if they’re going to upgrade the talent level on their roster. Montgomery is a worthwhile flier and will spend the offseason with the Raiders in hopes of making the 2014 team.

Montgomery was clocked doing 89 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. He received a $355 fine and was released shortly after. Montgomery won’t face any league discipline, but he’s already on his third team in 14 months and was cut by the Texans last season after allegedly getting busted for smoking pot in his hotel room.