Saturday Ain't Even Here, And The Pool Of Available Left Tackles Is Shrinking

by Tim on Apr 22, 2008 4:46 PM CDT in News Comment 18 comments

Jake Long is a Dolphin, which has to bring a smile to the faces of the agents for Ryan Clady, Brandon Albert, Chris Williams, and Jeff Otah. At Reliant Park, the news might be greeted with more of a gnashing of teeth, if John McClain's article today is on the money. Speaking of McClain, I've got to give credit where it's due--his NFL Notebook this past Sunday actually had some very interesting nuggets about what the Texans may do this weekend (bold is mine):

If the Texans don't take a left tackle or a cornerback in the first round of Saturday's draft, it's going to be a big surprise unless a pass-rushing defensive end falls into their laps.

Based on many projections, the top prospects at the Texans' need positions will be gone. That's why they need a team or two picking above them to do something no one anticipates -- make a shocking selection.

Left tackles Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Chris Williams and Branden Albert are supposed to be gone because so many teams are desperate for that position.

Cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are also expected to be taken before the Texans make their pick.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins is rated highly, but he doesn't play the run well. The Texans want their corners to play the run like Dunta Robinson, but the only cornerback who plays the run with that kind of tenacity is Brandon Flowers. He should be available at 18, but most scouts believe that would be picking him too high because he lacks the kind of speed scouts covet at that position.

Aqib Talib is a top prospect at corner, and he's been spending the last few weeks trying to explain to teams why he flunked so many tests for smoking marijuana.

And this too:

We asked scouts we trust from seven teams to pick a left tackle who fits well with what new Texans assistant head coach Alex Gibbs is doing with the running game. In his zone scheme -- the one the Broncos use -- the offensive linemen have to be quick, agile, smart and nasty.

All seven scouts said Chris Williams and Branden Albert. When asked for a third considering there's a good chance both will be gone, five of the seven recommended Duane Brown of Virginia Tech.

Few mock drafts have Brown going in the first round. He's a 6-4, 315-pound former tight end who ran a 5-flat 40. But he played only one season at left tackle, and he might be better on the right side, which wouldn't help the Texans.

You'll recall that BRB's own marroncito has backed D. Brown as a possibility after Round One. The question, as I see it, is this: If Chris Williams (likely first option for the Texans at LT, as the others should be gone) is already off the board, do you reach for a guy like Brown in Round One? My initial reaction would be no; there are still too many other deficiencies on the Houston roster. But as it stands now, can you live with waiting until Round Three and hoping someone's there? Man...I think you have to, but I hate it. Not having that second-rounder this year really smarts.

C'mon, Minnesota! Pick up the damn phone!

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Draft the best available player, period. Teams make so many mistakes reaching on need. NO REACHES!

That said, if we are going to reach, I would reach for Flowers. Ever since I read that he has the same work ethic and habits as Demeco, I was sold. He studies film all the time to learn about who he is going to cover and their tendencies. Per PFW, Flowers is rated as the 48th best player. Based on that, 18th would certainly be too high but if we are going to reach, I would certainly rather have a player that gets the most of his ability and is almost certainly going to succeed.

Now Duane Brown is rated no. 92 and if we took him in the first, I would be sick.

I have changed my mind about J Stewart, and if he is available, snatch him up. The mocks I am seeing have a run on backs going in the second and they may all be gone by the time we pick in the third and forget the 4th. Stewart will rock the Texans world...I think.

Minnesota is going to trade their first and second to KC, it looks like, as part of the Jared Allen trade...unless Tampa Bay comes in better.

Do you know what "winner" VY's career record is? 17-11 Do you know what "loser" Rex Grossman's career record is? 19-11

by danger man on Apr 22, 2008 7:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not To Worry

The Texans will have impact players available to them at 18. They have enough holes that they can draft almost anywhere but QB, WR, MLB, and TE. Of those impact players, it seems like RB provides the least improvement in talent.

Flowers, and Talib for that matter, hang with the wrong crowd. I wouldn't look for them to be drafted by the Texans

by kozanack on Apr 22, 2008 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't reach

Move up..or take what you get. It just depends what is important to you. Schaub need protection and the RB's need someone to blow open a hole. If we don't move up, we'll probably have to take what we get, unless someone falls which is what I hope (second choice). It would be nice to have someone who could get to a LB'r after his first assigned contact. But everyone needs a L/H OT. We'll see if we stay on the porch with the puppies or run with the big dogs. If we don't go there, I'd say a defesive end...oh well...we might as well have one side playing well. If we don't go LOT, expect everyone to know our limited abilities on offense. We need a game changer...it isn't the end of the world if we don't get him, it's just that much harder to win. I hope I quit waking up in the middle of the night thinking about it! We support the new Texans etc etc.

by 1Texan on Apr 22, 2008 8:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree: don't reach

Why reach for a pick when we can trade and get one at a more normal spot? If one of our faves isn't available, let's trade our first rounder in exchange for a later first rounder (and an additional third or fourth) rounder or second and third rounders. That way we can draft Flowers or Brown where they should be drafted AND add another pick.

by BigTexBD on Apr 22, 2008 10:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Affirmative

Within the next couple of days, I'm going to draft a post advising Smithiak exactly what to do. Here's a preview: Trade back.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Apr 22, 2008 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But What Is A "Reach"

Just because some self-anointed draft guru with a website says a guy is reach at 18 doesn't make it so. Remember that Mario was a "reach," with Reggie was the supposed best player. Mario was supposedly somewhere between #2 - #6.

The Texans need players with certain skill sets. I'm happy if they are clearly better when the smoke clears.

by kozanack on Apr 22, 2008 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

The problem with just saying "trade back" is finding a willing trading partner with whom we can make a relatively fair deal.

by knave64 on Apr 22, 2008 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Right

Exactly. My whole position is predicated upon a team panicking that Brian Brohm (or Chad Henne) won't be there in the 20s and deciding they have to get him earlier (at 18).

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Apr 23, 2008 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vikes and Sage

Ya No way this deal happens after this:
VIKES GIVE UP THREE 2008 PICKS FOR ALLEN
Posted by Mike Florio on April 22, 2008, 11:17 p.m.

Holy crap.

The Vikings, according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, surrendered their first-round pick in the 2008 draft and both third-round selections for Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen.

The Chiefs will now add the No. 17, No. 73, and No. 82 overall selections to the No. 5, No. 35, and No. 66 picks, giving them six selections among the first 100 picks.

Guess we keep him for at least another year unless Atl or Bal decide they want him

by Dragon on Apr 22, 2008 10:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Son Of A...

Yup, no way Minnesota sends their second-round pick our way now. There still should be a handful of teams who should be interested in Sage. Let us pray.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Apr 22, 2008 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Packin' the mack in the back of the Ack

Another team I saw that was batted around a bit in the Sage talks was Green Bay. They run a similar system and have big question marks surrounding Aaron Rodgers.

While they may be willing to part with a pick for Sage, but I don't think the Packers will pay the original asking price. - BUT - you never know come draft day... Smithiak just may get desperate enough to trade for a player that's still available when the Pack (or insert other team interested in Sage) picks in the third.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Apr 23, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this just in...

Packers met with Daunte Culpepper wednesday. I don't know how cheap he would go for, but would you feel comfortable if your QB depth chart heading into training camp consisted of the names Aaron Rodgers, Culpepper, Craig Nall, Dalton Bell, and Jerry Babb?

I hope that they take a good long look at Sage. They have two picks in the last quarter of the 2nd round (#s 56 and 60); maybe they'd be willing to part ways with one of them.

by BigTexBD on Apr 24, 2008 1:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the way your thinkin'

Hows about we trade our 1st & Sage for Green Bay's 1st & both 2nds?

We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.

by Shake on Apr 24, 2008 6:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like a plan

I would stand on my head and walk on my hands if that went through.

To DE or not to DE... that is the question.

by SOLIS on Apr 24, 2008 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overpaid

Allen is a great player, but has 3 DUIs. The dude evidently still owns a bar. Assuming decent luck in the draft, you probably traded 2 or 3 starters for a single player who may be one strike from suspension. Plus it's not like the Vikes are one player away from the Super Bowl. They've got a big hole at QB.

by kozanack on Apr 22, 2008 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs