What positions should the Texans focus on in the draft?

by MFriday on Nov 18, 2009 5:34 PM CST Comment 26 comments

After watching our team so far this season, I feel that the Texans have three areas that could really use some improvement...

#1) Mammoth DT - someone who draws double teams and can collapse the pocket

#2) Interior Offensive Linemen - someone who fits our scheme and is ready to play (need two picks here)

#3) Power RB - an explosive, between the tackles, verticle runner who can run through defenders

Solid players at any of these positions have the potential to be starters next season, especially a first-round DT.

Poll

In your opinion, what is the Texans most glaring need?

QB

0 votes

RB

6 votes

WR/TE

0 votes

OL

13 votes

DE

0 votes

DT

27 votes

LB

1 votes

CB

13 votes

S

11 votes

71 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 26 comments

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Comments

To me it's one of two things

A ball-hawking safety (like Eric Barry or Taylor Mays) or a big run-stopping DT (Suh or Cody). Granted, those guys are going to go much higher than when the Texans pick.

So if they wanna trade up to get those guys or trade back to (if they addressed the OL in the Free Agency), I’d be fine. I’d actually really consider moving up for Barry or Suh/Cody.

by TexansDC on Nov 18, 2009 5:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Here was something interesting...

Everyone seems to think we’ll go for a RB in the first round, but I very much doubt that we will.

And why would we let Taylor Mays slip to the Ravens, that is just CRAZY!!

On a positive note, Draft Dog has us picking at 20, which means we should be a Wildcard team this year.

by distant_texans_fan on Nov 22, 2009 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

None

I say take the best player available. Don’t draft b/c you need a position, but take a talented guy and find a spot for him. Just like they did with casey this year.

Miss-placed Houstonian living and going to school in the wilderness of Wyoming.

by BigNate7 on Nov 18, 2009 6:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree in taking the best player available (or picking conservatively) in the first round because the team cannot afford to draft a dud. However, all other rounds should place a heavy emphasis on the needs of the team.

Just as the salaries of players drop off rapidly throughout the draft, so too does the probability that the pick is going to be a solid NFL player. Unless the team is well established at each position, it is wise to draft players at positions of need. After all, it is unlikely that there will be a large gap between the most talented player on the board and the player at the need position in later rounds.

Mario > VY > Bush
Schaub > Romo

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by MFriday on Nov 18, 2009 6:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

DT, DB, OL

by cubic on Nov 18, 2009 7:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

probably in that order.

by cubic on Nov 18, 2009 7:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My vote is for a monster DT in first round.

I would feel ok with Wilson and Pollard starting next year. Interior offensive lineman in 2nd round and I would feel pretty good about draft.

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by CFHTim on Nov 18, 2009 7:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's hard to find monster DTs in the draft

Some of the most highly decorated draft prospects fizzle once they get to the NFL. I think this is largely because the position is drafted largely based on height/weight and combine numbers but the freakish athleticism that gets them drafted early on the first day of the draft really goes unnoticed when surrounded by 300lbers on all sides who are at least slightly compareable athletically. In college they’re bigger/faster/quicker than everyone they face to a severe degree, in the NFL not so much. So you see alot of mid/low round DTs who were picked over because they’re 2-3" too short or a tenth of a second too slow running a 40 yard dash, yet come to find out they’re pretty damned good DTs. I just think it’s a little risky to go DT in the first round, OL on the other hand very rarely “miss”. The same things that make an O-lineman good in college will translate to the NFL, especially on the interior. But again, you can usually find quality linemen later in the draft as well. I guess if you really stop to think about it, it’s risky to pick anyone in the first round heh. You’re paying them alot of money, yet they’re still unproven rookies who haven’t done squat in their professional careers yet. If you draft a guy in the 5th round and he doesn’t pan out no one notices, but if you draft a guy in the 1st round and he’s out of the league in 3 years, you’ll never live it down.

by Bryan72076 on Nov 18, 2009 10:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

S, OL, DT, RB, OL

Would be my order of priority, though of course you let the draft dictate value. Before the season, I would have undoubtedly said DT first. But if our run d continues at it has, I’d have to give them a pass and say they can stop the run without it. What we haven’t been able to do is stop the pass and run the ball inside. I think Pollard could be that much better with a coverage stud behind him rather than a league average (at best) guy.

by JMay on Nov 18, 2009 7:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

TE of course

are you a Texan fan?

If he used to play TE, that works too.

Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.

by texanphil on Nov 18, 2009 9:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

In A Perfect World...

I’d want DT, FS, CB, and OL addressed first, not necessarily in that order. While the Texans have more talent than they ever have, I still don’t think we’ve reached a point where they can draft strictly for need over best player available.

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

by Tim on Nov 18, 2009 9:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

#1, #2, #3

Here are your answers MFfriday………..

1st round – Terrance Cody – DT – Alabama – 6’6 365, Mammoth beast

2nd round – Charles Scott – RB – LSU – 5’11 235, smashmouth RB

3rd round – Joe Thomas – OG – Pittsburg – 6’5 305, mobile gaurd.

I say re-sign Dunta to a resonible price in this case, its not like he’s having a career year.
re-sign Daniels, let walter walk, and give casey and jacoby more oppurtunities. Steve Slaton’s extension will definetly wait until he learns to hold on to the ball. RE-SIGN DEMECO AT ALL COSTS, and if possible re-sign pollard, love the guy. here is the lineups.

QB – Shaub

RB – Slaton/Scott

WR – Johnson/Davis

WR – Jones/Anderson

TE – Daniels/Casey

LT – Brown

LG – Studdard

C – Caldwell

RG – Thomas

RT – Winston

Defense:

RE – Williams

RT – Okoye

LT – Cody

LE – Smith/Barwin

SLB – Cushing

MLB – Ryans

WLB – Diles

SS – Pollard

FS – Wilson

CB – Robinson

CB – Quin

Nickel CB – Reeves

I love this lineup.

Rumplestiltskin

by jahunter221 on Nov 18, 2009 10:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

OR...................

Here is my other options. Let Dunta and Walter walk so you can resign Demeco, sign Casey Hampton, and resign Owen Daniels. Resign benard pollard. and of course tell chris myers to take a hike.

This is what my draft and new lineups would look like for next year.

1st rd. – Mike Iupati, Idaho, OG, 6’5 330
2nd rd. – Chad Jones, LSU, SS, 6’3 230
3rd rd. – Ben Tate, Auburn, RB – 5’11 218
4th rd. – Walter Thurmond, Oregon, CB, 6’0 175
5th rd. – Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan, WR, 6’5 215
6th rd. – Barry Humphries, Clemson, OG – 6’3 295
7th rd. – Jamar Chaney, Mississippi St., ILB, 6’1 240

OFFENSE:

QB – Shaub,Orlowski

RB – Slaton, Tate, Moats

WR – Johnson, Davis

WR – Jones, D. Anderson, B. Anderson

TE – Daniels, Casey, Hill

FB – Leach, Casey

LT – Brown, Butler

LG – Studdard, Humphries

C – Caldwell, White

RG – Iupati, Brisel

RT – Winston, Butler

DEFENSE:

RE – Williams, Bulman

RT – Okoye, Cody

LT – Hampton, Okam

LE – Smith, Barwin

SLB – Cushing, Bentley

MLB – Ryans, Chaney

WLB – Diles, Adibi

SS – Jones, Pollard

FS – Wilson, Pollard

CB – Quin, McCain

CB – Reeves, Thurmond

Nickel CB – Bennett, Molden

Disregard my last entry. I like this one much better. LOL.

Rumplestiltskin

by jahunter221 on Nov 18, 2009 11:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's really hard to project draft picks at this point

Heck it’s almost impossible to do accurately a week before the draft even, but as of now Mike Iupati is considered a 2nd or 3rd round prospect by most “experts” at this point and guards in general aren’t rated particularly high this year. And with Pollard playing as well as he is for us this year at SS and being that he’s a young player still himself, it doesn’t make alot of sense to me to draft his replacement in the 2nd round unless Pollard isn’t on next year’s Texans.

At this point, based on where I think players will be drafted, i’d go with.

Joe Haden CB Florida Probably will be the best CB in a weak draft at the position, but will probably be picked in the mid to late first round. He has decent speed and agility and while he doesn’t have great height he’s uber strong for his size and tends to bully recievers in college.

Nate Allen FS South Florida Would probably be a 1st rounder in most years, but with the strength in the safety position he’ll probably slide well into the 2nd round unless he has a lights out combine.

Boo Robinson NT Wake Forest At 6’2 340lbs, he’s probably the 2nd best pure NT in the draft there are some other good DTs but most will be pass rushing DTs as opposed to run stuffing NTs.

Jeff Byers OG USC He’ll slide in the draft due to his size (6’3 290lbs), but with his athleticism he’d be an almost perfect fit for our zone blocking scheme.

Charles Scott RB LSU He doesn’t have great speed but at about 5’10 and 230lbs he might finally be the hammer we need inside.

by Bryan72076 on Nov 21, 2009 8:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wierd

that was supposed to be 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 but somehow it came out all 1s.

by Bryan72076 on Nov 21, 2009 8:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Scott would be a steal in the 5th round.

Plus you have already filled most crucial needs with the first four picks. I like it Bryan.

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by CFHTim on Nov 21, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

if we could afford 5 1's

I’d take em all!

Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.

by texanphil on Nov 21, 2009 2:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take O-line.

If they wind up drafting in the mid-20s like they aught to be, it’s a pretty good time to grab a versatile interior lineman. We don’t know if Pitts is coming back and we don’t know if Studdard or Caldwell can play. The only thing we know about our O-line between the tackles is that Myers and Brisiel aren’t really cutting it.

Even if they get a free-agent offensive lineman, I say you still take one on the first day. Other than that, grab a speedy linebacker to compete with Diles at WLB and a RB with the other two picks.

On day two, get more secondary and O-line depth. Oh, and tight ends. We’re gonna want some more of those.

by Nashmeister on Nov 19, 2009 3:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The problem is

we need guards, and the top rated OG is rated as a early to mid 2nd round pick atm.

by Bryan72076 on Nov 21, 2009 8:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is just bit

like deja vu

If the Treasury Secretary doesn't have to pay taxes, then why do I?

by Shake on Nov 19, 2009 7:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

There's a senior CB for Boise St...

…Kyle Wilson who I wouldn’t mind seeing drafted 2nd – 4th round. I’ve seen him play a few times this season and he seems like he’d be a good pick.

by TexansDC on Nov 21, 2009 11:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What they do depends on what happens with Dunta

They’ll go with a CB early if they don’t resign him, & DT, FS, and/or inside OL if they do resign him

I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.

by The Night Owl on Nov 22, 2009 4:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

as usual, I will probably want out of the 1st round (unless there is an absolute steal at a position of need)

i think i am obsessed with this trade-out-of-the-first idea, especially for teams with high 1st round picks. It just seems like the talent dips so little going to the 2nd generally, while the risk & cost dip significantly…making it the truest value-based draft strategy generally speaking.

I loved the versatility angle Smithiak used last year to provide additional depth for multiple positions with a few picks. Versitile O-linemen, a CB/S, & an all-around LB (who can rush the passer & still drop into coverage well) all would be welcome additions with the next draft.

of course the DT who can command two blockers would be HUGE as well

by Smittybaby on Nov 23, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs