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It's March 11, 2009--Who Do You Want Your Houston Texans To Take At No. 15?

We're going to debut a new feature here at BRB that will run every Wednesday from now until the 2009 NFL Draft. It's not creative. It's speculative. It will have no bearing on what your Houston Texans actually do on April 25, 2009 when they go on the clock. But sweet Mariah...it should provide fodder for plenty of debate, and that's where it gets fun.

Here's how it goes: You tell us who you want your Houston Texans to take with the fifteenth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Make your feelings known by voting in the poll or sounding off in the Comments below. Truth be told, we hope you do both--tell us who you like at No. 15 via the poll and then tell us why in the Comments.

As you can see from the choices in the poll, we're beginning the exercise with a few assumptions in mind. First and foremost, assume the Texans cannot trade the pick; assume they have to make a pick at No. 15. Second, we're operating under the assumption that several players you might love having in the steel blue, battle red, and liberty white are off the board. For example, I might give a limb to see B.J. Raji as a Texan; unfortunately, there's only an infinitesimal chance he drops out of the Top Ten, so it doesn't make much sense to vote for him to be the choice at No. 15. Obviously, he'd be close to a no-brainer if he was there; if we take a deep breath and look at things objectively, however, we know he won't be there. As such, don't vote for anyone you truly do not think will be there when the Texans go on the clock.  The listed players are intended to be guys who have a legitimate shot at being available at No. 15.  If you think one or more of them have little to no chance of actually being there, let us know why you think that.  Finally, everyone who votes for Mark Sanchez must disclose their mailing address so hired goons can show up at your home at dinnertime to kick you square in the pills.

Those are BRB's terms. Simple, and I'm anxious to see where the collective head of the Texans fan base is at approximately six (6) weeks before the big day. We'll churn out a new poll/post each week so we can track how opinions change, which should prove even more intriguing as we approach the witching hour. And if we have enough interaction, we'll expand the feature to the second and third round picks.

That's it. Have at it.

Poll
Who Do You Want Your Houston Texans To Take Fifteenth Overall In The 2009 NFL Draft?
Peria Jerry
33 votes
Brian Cushing
56 votes
Clay Matthews, Jr.
165 votes
Michael Johnson
9 votes
Robert Ayers
9 votes
Rey Maualuga
66 votes
Mark Sanchez
11 votes
Malcolm Jenkins
76 votes
Vontae Davis
25 votes
Other
27 votes

477 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 33 comments |

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Comments

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I wonder who voted for Jenkins....

Ok, you got me. I did it. I have a man-crush. At leastI’m not the only one though, I think Tim made Michael Johnson a mix-tape last week.

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Mar 11, 2009 9:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: MJ

So I’ve made the guy no less than eight mix tapes. I didn’t vote for him to be the pick at No. 15. I’m banking on him being there at No. 46. I realize I have my work cut out for me; hence, my dead-hooker-in-Michael-Johnson’s-trunk plan. I call it “Operation Dead Hooker In Michael Johnson’s Trunk So The Texans Get Him At No. 46 And We Live Happily Ever After,” or ODHIMJTSTTGHAN46AWLHEA" for short.

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

by Tim on Mar 11, 2009 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ODHIMJTSTTGHAN46AWLHEA

That’s funny.

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Mar 11, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Draft Jenkins and move him to FS.

by Texas Pete on Mar 11, 2009 9:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Million Dollar Question, Pete

Will Jenkins be there to take at No. 15?

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

by Tim on Mar 11, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't answer that Pete!

I was forced to go down tht road and I’m telling you there’s only heartbreak at the end…

Let's get the Texans a better fight song.

by Jake on Mar 11, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ditto

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

by Tim on Mar 11, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If Jenkins isn't there...

…then I’d be fine with any of the 3 USC LB’s.

If we go Maualuga, then just move Demeco to the outside spot.

by Texas Pete on Mar 11, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Please.

Can we never have this discussion again? Moving your 2nd best defensive player to a new position because of the potential of some kid from USC – who scouts don’t think is an every down player (DeMeco is) – is borderline criminal.

(Citation: Campbell, Matt)

by DisplacedTexan on Mar 12, 2009 5:50 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

^^

exactly. Demeco needs to get PAID too. Lock him up!

- tyler

by bullpen116 on Mar 12, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think there's any way Jenkins is still on the board

because New Orleans picks right before us, and they need a safety and/or a CB even worse than we do.

If he manages to get past New Orleans, I’d love to see him in steel blue. I know we just re-signed Eugene Wilson, and I’m probably as high on E. Wilson as anyone, but I think Jenkins would be an immediate upgrade, and he would be a fixture in our secondary for years.

I’m pretty sure Jenkins won’t be there on draft day, but he’s on the list so I voted for him. If he’s not there on draft day I’d draft Clay Matthews at OLB.

by Tailgate Andy on Mar 11, 2009 10:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I will bet money that Jenkins will still be a CB… at least until later in his career.

by HoustonDiehards on Mar 11, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

if jenkins is still there

NO doubt u go Jenkins if hes there…

if hes gone (likely, but u never know)…i like matthews

by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Mar 11, 2009 10:46 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

In spite of this evidence,

I voted for Clay Mathews Jr. because right now he looks like the best player available we can take who we don’t have to change their (or a current starters ) position, with the most character, coachability, work ethic, and a lot of talent to go with it. He might not go to Canton, but he’ll be consistently good.

I want a linebacker with my first pick, so here are the other two.

Maualuga, while exciting, is a liability in coverage and I don’t want to displace a top 5 MLB for the hope that a rookie can effectively replace him. He also has some injury issues.

Cushing scares me. He is a possible pick, but I don’t like the big question marks that come with him, and especially the lower leg issues. This is Cushing in 2004, as he is being recruited out of high school.

In this picture, the picture on the left is apparently from the summer of 2007 and the one on the right is during 2008.

From someone who has seen it happen before, the picture on the left looks like the onset of gynecomastia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is typically induced by stopping steroid/prohormone use without a proper post cycle therapy, which includes aromatase inhibitors (substances that prevent the now massively in-excess testosterone in the blood from converting into estrogen), and natural testosterone boosters, to try and assist the testes in resuming their normal testosterone production. Stopping steroid/PH use without a PCT and without continuing to lift very hard and eat a lot, will also result in massive mass loss, due to the body trying to get back to where it feels “normal”. You have to essentially finish your ~one month of post cycle therapy while lifting just as hard as you were on cycle, to “permanently” retain the mass you’ve built.

He suffered a torn shoulder labrum and had ankle surgery due to floating cartilage (two tissue injuries which are relatively common during/after steroid/PH use, as the connective tissues have not developed nearly as much strength as the surrounding muscle. He also a seperated shoulder in 2005 and had arthroscopic knee surgery in 2007.

I understand that in no way is this empirical evidence, but the combination of these three pictures, plus the known injury issues that send up red flags. They could all possibly be explained away with work ethic, perfect diet, and extensive knowledge of the weight room, with many reports saying he is a high character kid. But what wins out, character, or Pete Carrol’s urging that you really have to recover from that injury over the summer, or you’ll never go to the NFL?

by Riott on Mar 12, 2009 6:05 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Those Pictures

Are very troubling (if they are in fact Cushing, taken a year apart). Yikes.

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

by Tim on Mar 12, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm

My picture of him coming out of high school disappeared – oh well here it is again.

He looks very powerful and very defined, but nothing ridiculous.

by Riott on Mar 12, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We don't need an OLB with moobs

In his next picture he looks like he needs to be wearing a sports bra, a mansierre or a bro (A cup). Steroid users ruin their bodies, and looks to me that Cushing is a disaster waiting to happen. Please let it be someone else’s headache.

by oiler-texan diehard on Mar 12, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I voted for Jenkins, but...

I really don’t like these choices for the Texans in general. I hope we’re able to trade out of this spot and pick up an extra pick later on. This was a toss up for me between Ayers and Jenkins.

by buffalospeeddealer on Mar 11, 2009 11:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

ditto...

Jenkins is the only one on the choices that IMO is not a reach at 15. Having said that, I’d rather they trade down and pick Ayers or Matthews.

by b0wse on Mar 11, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I Don't Disagree

I think trading down is what every single Texans fan would prefer. But it takes another team that wants to move up, which is something we have no way of predicting until Smithiak goes on the clock. Thus, in this exercise, I’m assuming the worst—that there are no trade opportunities and that we’re stuck at 15.

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

by Tim on Mar 12, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Same Here. I Voted Jenkins.

I don’t like any of the LB choices you have, at least not at the 15th pick. I think some of these guys will be on the board when we make our #2 pick. I think Jenkins improves his position, CB/FS/SS, better than the LB choices improve theirs. I think we can get a good, improvable, future DE in the later rounds. I also would rather see the Texans trade. Trade up to the top 3 picks, unlikely, and take Curry or trade our 1st round for Detroits 2nd and both 3rds and maybe their 5th too. That would give Detroit the 1st, 15th, and 20th picks in the 1st round ( their NFC, so that’s OK) Heck, they might even throw in that 4th of theirs. Can’t hurt to ask. But I daydream alot too! Where was I? OH yea, I think Jenkins is the only one on that list that is worth 1st round money and I think the really good players in this draft are the solid ones in the middle rounds. I don’t think there is a full class of 32 1st rounders this year. Do I have to give out my address to vote for Graham Harrell at 15?

by Football Friek on Mar 11, 2009 11:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes,

Yes you do.

by Riott on Mar 12, 2009 5:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

Make with the address, Friek.

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

by Tim on Mar 12, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

OK

it’s 14350 Wallisville Rd.

by Football Friek on Mar 13, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well Played

Good response, Friek.

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

by Tim on Mar 13, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tim

You do realize how much I hate you for making us assume that we won’t/can’t trade down?

/leaves to plot revenge…

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go TexanHornStros!

by Shake on Mar 12, 2009 7:57 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I Know, I Know...

Trading down is a Shake-trademarked maneuver. I apologize for the likely aneurysm this post caused you.

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

by Tim on Mar 12, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Need I remind everyone...

Shake’s double-patented and trademarked TDWFRP-Bandwagon netted us Scuba Steve/Stevie Wonder/Stevie Nicks/whatever nickname sounds least gay last year.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go TexanHornStros!

by Shake on Mar 12, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I went with the majority and picked Matthews

He may not be the greatest “value” at 15, but he is certain to be off the board at 46. Within the paradigm that we will not trade down, and if he fills a need better than anyone else on the board, that makes his value at 15 a moot point. As several others have pointed out, Jenkins will not be available at 15. There is some chance that either MJ or Ayers will be available at 46, and if they are not we can go in several other directions; C, RG or Safety.

by oiler-texan diehard on Mar 12, 2009 11:07 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

imo if Front Seven is upgraded...

there’s less pressure on the secondary..so I went Matthews.
MJ is intriguing though..plus having a player we could refer to as ‘MJ’ just seems cool…yeah i loved Jordan back in the day..not as much as The Dream though.

- tyler

by bullpen116 on Mar 12, 2009 1:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If our dude is available at 15

and won’t be at 46, and we can’t trade down, then whether its a reach or not is moot, its the right thing to do.

Matthews.

Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.

by texanphil on Mar 13, 2009 11:43 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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