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Earl Mitchell | Defensive Lineman

Team: Houston Texans
Age / DOB:  (25) / 9/25/1987
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 308
College: Arizona
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Texans NT Earl Mitchell will get his first career start in place of Shaun Cody (ribs) against the Bears on Sunday night.
Cody suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in Week 9. Mitchell, a third-year player out of Arizona, bulked up from 287 pounds to 308 in the offseason. Rookie Jared Crick and newly signed Terrell McClain will rotate in behind Mitchell. Sat, Nov 10, 2012 01:43:00 PM

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Date:

Texans NT Earl Mitchell has bulked up to 308 pounds after playing last season at 287.

Mitchell has been even bigger than this before, weighing in at 315 at the 2010 Combine. So it's not completely new. At 6-foot-2, 308, Mitchell at least looks more like an NFL nose tackle. He rotated with Shaun Cody last year, coming in off the bench, and figures to emerge as a starter in his third pro season.
Fri, May 11, 2012 01:20:00 PM

Texans coach Gary Kubiak indicated at the Combine that the team is satisfied with continuing to rotate Earl Mitchell and Shaun Cody at nose tackle.

They don't seem to view nose tackle as a need. "A lot of people think you need a big nose," Kubiak said. "Those two guys aren’t very big but they’re very active ... and we think the world of 'em." Cody started all 16 games in 2011, but split time with Mitchell right down the middle. Mitchell finished with 27 tackles and a sack, and had another sack in the playoffs.
Mon, Feb 27, 2012 07:21:00 PM

Texans DL coach Bill Kollar confirmed that Earl Mitchell will be an up-field, one-gap nose tackle in the team's new defense.

"When everybody talks about the big nose man and stuff, those are the teams that play two-gap where they play the nose man head-up on the center," explained Kollar of Mitchell, who's only 6'2/295. "... We don’t need a guy that’s 350 pounds and can’t move." Mitchell will share time with Shaun Cody, who was re-signed before the lockout. Cody is the bigger lineman of the two.
Sat, Jun 11, 2011 03:12:00 PM

New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips says he likes the idea of Earl Mitchell being the Texans' primary nose tackle.

Mitchell is 6'2/295, so he's really small for a traditional 3-4 nose tackle. We doubt that the 2010 third-round pick would hold up very long in that spot, meaning Shaun Cody will rotate in often.
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 09:38:00 AM

Texans GM Rick Smith expressed confidence at the Combine that Earl Mitchell can be a full-time 3-4 nose tackle.

At 6'2/295, he'd be the smallest 3-4 nose in the NFL. "I think Earl Mitchell’s a guy that can play the nose for us," said Smith, adding that he expects a "big jump" in the 2010 third-round pick's second season. If Mitchell wins the NT job, Houston will field a defense to target for running back fantasy matchups.
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 10:18:00 AM

New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips believes Earl Mitchell and Shaun Cody can both play nose tackle in his version of the 3-4 scheme.

Mitchell, in particular, is undersized for an NFL nose, but he has a strong motor and off-the-snap burst. Those are qualities shared by Phillips' most recent undersized nose, Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff. The Texans will likely draft or sign a bigger nose tackle to go with Mitchell and Cody.
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 09:48:00 AM

Texans DT Earl Mitchell played 25 snaps in the team's season opener against the Colts.

Starter Amobi Okoye hurt his ankle in practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Redskins, and Mitchell would see the bulk of the snaps at DT in Okoye's absence.
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 10:20:00 AM

Texans signed rookie DT Earl Mitchell, the No. 81 overall pick, to a four-year contract.

Mitchell makes up for smallish size with a John Randle-like motor and terrific off-the-snap burst. The Texans project him as a third-down pass rusher in year one, replacing disappointing DT Amobi Okoye in passing situations.
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 05:14:00 PM

The Texans expect third-round DT Earl Mitchell to make a "significant contribution" as as a first-year player.

They see Mitchell as a defensive tackle with the speed and quickness to get off the ball and be disruptive. Houston's interior line group improved last year, but they needed more youth and depth.
Sat, Apr 24, 2010 11:08:00 PM

Texans selected Arizona DT Earl Mitchell with the No. 81 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

A high-motor and explosive, if undersized (6'1/290) one-gap penetrator, Mitchell led the Wildcats in tackles for loss (12.5) last season and chipped in 6.5 sacks. He's a solid fit for Houston's aggressive scheme, although the mid-third round was a bit early for our tastes. Mitchell doesn't have a whole lot of upside and lacks the skill set to be more than a rotational tackle.
Fri, Apr 23, 2010 09:25:00 PM

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