RiverSide Chat: DraftCountdown.com's Scott Wright

by riversmccown on Mar 18, 2010 8:00 AM CDT in News Comment 22 comments

One of the first draft websites I ever stumbled across as a Texans fan, back when I was excited about the prospect of drafting Willis McGahee near the top of the second round, was NFL Draft Countdown. I enjoyed the site's thorough scouting reports and still find them much more readable and common sense than what any other draft site on the web is doing.

Fast forward seven years later, and I've gotten the kindly Mr. Scott Wright of the re-branded DraftCountdown.com to sit down and answer a few questions for us BRB'ers. You can also follow him on Twitter, if you have one, at @DraftCountdown for quick hits and tidbits. Onwards with the questions, where you will find the super duper sleeper pick for the Texans! ...Maybe.

RM: Running an independent draft site, what do you feel is the biggest advantage that NFL teams have and get to look at that you don't when you're creating your rankings?

SW: This is an easy one. It's the ability to do medical and background checks. When a player goes considerably lower than I have him ranked 9 times out of 10 it's due to an injury or character issue that I am not aware of. Last year there was a perfect example in Florida TE Cornelius Ingram, who everyone thought was a 2nd or 3rd Round talent. Little did I know that his surgically repaired ACL was deemed by doctors to be on the verge of tearing again and he wound up falling to the 5th Round. If I had that information I obviously would have dropped Ingram on my board considerably just like the actual teams did. However, at the same time I think teams can fall victim to having too much information and overanalyzing things in regards to character as well.

RM: Interior offensive lineman has been a source of concern for Texans fans for some time now. Obviously this involves some dreams about players like Mike Iupati and Maurkice Pouncey, but do you see any guys that should go from the third round and down that fit the zone blocking scheme and could start right away?

SW: The guy who really stands out is Jon Asamoah of Illinois, who could potentially play guard, tackle or center. In addition to being super versatile Asamoah is a great athlete and reminds me of Jeremy Zuttah from a couple of years ago. As an added bonus Asamoah could probably be had at a bargain point in the draft because he suffered a shoulder injury at the Senior Bowl which will likely push him down a bit.

RM: You've often said that the golden rule of the NFL draft is to not pass on a potential franchise quarterback if you don't already have one. What other positions would you put a strong emphasis on having settled if you were running a team?

SW: I think once you have that franchise quarterback in place the next step is to protect him so I'd say left tackle. I'd probably go with a stud defensive end next.

RM: Of the glob of corners that look to be coming off the board in the second or third round, which of them seem like the best fits to you in a system that runs a little more zone than usual but isn't married to it?

SW: In Round 2 I really like Alabama's Kareem Jackson, who looks great on tape and ran much better than expected in workouts. In Round 3 perhaps a guy like Amari Spievey of Iowa.

RM: Obviously I'm estimating because you're not done with the scouting reports yet, but you seem to have about 23-25 guys with a first round grade or higher on your site. How does that compare to other years? How strong is this draft?

SW: This is definitely one of the better drafts in recent years, especially in terms of depth. I'd estimate that there will be about 27 guys who receive my 1st Round grade this year, which is up from an average that is usually in the low-20's. The real value of this draft is going to be in Round 2 and Round 3 though.

RM: A plurality of Battle Red Blog's "braintrust" (I use this term loosely) is and has been enamored with drafting a nose tackle that demands 2 blockers to free up Mario Williams and Antonio Smith to get to the quarterback. Lots of draft sites, including your 2/11 update, have instead projected Brian Price to the Texans. Is this a case where Amobi Okoye is raked for being unproductive despite his relative youth to other third year players, or is Price too talented to leave on the board?

SW: Well, Texans fans might want that and I can see where they are coming from but that isn't the type of player Frank Bush wants. If they did go for a nose tackle type then Dan Williams of Tennessee would be a great fit in Round 1, but my guess is they will be more interested in a guy like Lamarr Houston of Texas in Round 2 or 3.

RM: As you may know, the Texans have had a rough go against Peyton Manning and the Colts since the beginning of their existence. Last year, Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush opted to counter their constant 3 wide sets by playing almost exclusively out of the nickel. Given a choice between a defensive tackle or a free safety, which do you think improving is more of a priority against that match up?

SW: I think if Texas S Earl Thomas is available at #20 that should be the Texans pick. He is a great marriage of value and need. Also, I really don't see a defensive tackle being available at #20 who fits their scheme and deserves to go that high. If not Thomas my money is on Fresno St. RB Ryan Mathews going to Houston.

RM: If you had to stake your name to one player you project to go after the first three rounds one day becoming an All-Pro, who would it be and why?

SW: Great question! Wow, an All-Pro... That is a pretty lofty accomplishment. Of course a lot depends on the situation a prospect goes into but I am going to say Washington LB Donald Butler. I just fell in love with that guy at the Senior Bowl and people just didn't see much of him because he played for such a bad team. He is athletic, fast and explosive and could play either inside or outside at the next level.

***

My first thoughts? Frank Bush sure is going to be the lightning rod around here next season. Let's start the Donald Butler bandwagon? Lets all get mentally prepared for Ryan Mathews? What say you BRB?

I'd like to thank Scott again for taking the time out of his extremely busy draft scouting schedule to answer these questions. Please show him some love in the comments even if the Frank Bush not wanting a NT thing made your skin rankle a little bit. (Raises hand.)

4 recs | Comment 22 comments |

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Comments

Beating dead horse time

Please no RB in the 1st UNLESS we trade down substantially.

I’m more on board with taking a pure CB (Wilson) or definitely a NT (Williams, Cody). Because of his strength, I could live with Price. Thomas would be OK, but I don’t think FS is our highest need.

I’ll give the horse a short respite now.

Nicely done, Rivers.

A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com

by bigfatdrunk on Mar 18, 2010 8:41 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

I'm becoming

More and more convinced it’s going to happen, and I think our annual dreams of monster NTs are in vain.

I think taking a RB in the first is a horrible idea. What makes it particularly frustrating is that we passed on so many backs last year in the later rounds, any of whom could have helped us. Instead we drafted two TEs. However, much like Cushing last year, I can only hope that if it does happen I turn out to be wrong again and he goes on to be a pro bowler.

by JimboTexan on Mar 18, 2010 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions

I am pretty resigned at this point as well.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Mar 23, 2010 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I love this post and i love scott wright

Great post rivers.. keep ’em coming!

It’s an interesting thought about the DT’s, Frank Bush etc.. it’s actually kinda the same topic that pancake wrote in his chat replay the other day:

Nick V.
John, Can you talk about the different types of DT (nose takle v.s. a regular DT) and what the Texans may be looking for in this year’s draft.

John McClain:
In Bill Kollar’s first season as DL coach and Frank Bush’s first season as DT, they had the D line use a nose. Frank Okam was the nose. He couldn’t handle it. The defense was terrible for a number of reasons. Then they made changes after three games, and the defense improved steadily and dramatically. They started Shaun Cody with Amobi Okoye. Both are run stoppers and not pass rushers. Kollar taught them how to grab and hold to free up the LBs to make tackles. They’d rather have a pass rusher, a pcoket collapser than a true nose who ties up two blockers. Those are hard to find.

I would absolutely love Kareem Jackson but i think he’s got more value on a lot of boards than you should think.. i think he’s a late 1st early second round pick along with McCourty.

I see maybe 3 scenarios all containing DT, CB and RB

1 Round: RB, Ryan Mathews
2 Round: DT, Lamarr Houston/Cam Thomas
3 Round: CB, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah/Jerome Murphy/Donovan Warren/Amari Spievey

1 Round: DT, Brian Price/Dan Williams
2 Round: CB, Kareem Jackson/Brandon Ghee/Dominique Franks/Patrick Robinson
3 Round: RB, Montario Hardesty/Ben Tate

1 Round: CB, Kyle Wilson/Devin McCourty/Kareem Jackson
2 Round: DT, Lamarr Houston/Cam Thomas
3 Round: RB, Montario Hardesty/Ben Tate

Die hard Texan fan from the heart of Denmark!

by zala on Mar 18, 2010 8:47 AM CDT reply actions

grr..

stupid quotation!

Die hard Texan fan from the heart of Denmark!

by zala on Mar 18, 2010 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Okoye as a runstopper?

That makes even less sense than what Pancakes usually says.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Mar 23, 2010 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for taking the time Scott.

If I take care of Mel Kiper Jr, would you be willing to take his place?

Anyways, good shit Rivers, im definitely on board with the Donald Butler Bandwagon.
Im just a little worried because he reminds me a lot of Adibi. /shrugs

by Jordann on Mar 18, 2010 9:33 AM CDT reply actions

Shhh

No way is Adibi cost-productive enough to play on the Texans defense.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Mar 23, 2010 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

There will be a lot of rage if we take a RB in round 1...

Wilson/McCourty/Williams…that has to be the 1st round pick.

A 1st round running back who is going to split time just doesn’t have any value. Mathews won’t be anywhere near the best available player. Hardesty or Tate are better fits for the scheme and, in the 3rd, offer a ton more value.

by TexansDC on Mar 18, 2010 9:55 AM CDT reply actions

Disagree on CB having to be the first pick

Agree that there will be rage here if Mathews joins up.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Mar 23, 2010 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

GET MATHEWS NOW !!!!

I am diffenitly on board with getting mathews. I’ve watched him during his time @ FRESNO STATE. He is something special. I remember during the boise game the coach grabed him put his hands on mathews shoulders and said : The team needs you they are counting on you to take put the game on your shoulders and then BAM! He did so with one of his biggest games of the season with 3 TD and 250 + yds against a solid team. No body else was able to run on boise the way he did. You tube the highlights. One word sums it up. AWSOME !!!!!! GO TEXANS GO BULLDOGS

by inhisimage559 on Mar 18, 2010 9:56 AM CDT reply actions

I would pass on him every single time.

I just don’t view him as worth it. I think he’s a bit overrated as it is.

A guy who can’t play on third down (he has bad hands and isn’t a good pass blocker) and must split time as it is has no business being a 1st round pick.

by TexansDC on Mar 18, 2010 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions

where’s the proof that he can’t block or catch passes? All I read around the web is that he’s actually good at that.

Die hard Texan fan from the heart of Denmark!

by zala on Mar 18, 2010 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

no real proof

but there are reasons he was not considered a first rounder until after the combine. anyone remember jason babin???

i just think with slaton, moats, foster, johnson, and a tate or hardesty or even gerhart since some of yall like him….we would be fine.

how much better is matthews than tate or hardesty or any of these guys…. we just dont know, and he is for sure not an adrian peterson type prospect, so why spend the first on him..

id much rather have a CB, FS, DT, or even more OLINE than a RB…..and anyone who cant see this has blinders on.

ITS A PASS FIRST LEAGUE NOW FOLKS!!! third round RBs are MORE THAN capable of doing what we need, unless there is a REAL SPECIAL talent like an earl campbell, AP, or possibly a cj spiller

"Its like a silk bag filled with puppy ears"

by Allen-OU on Mar 18, 2010 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

no joking about fumblitis, its old news

"Its like a silk bag filled with puppy ears"

by Allen-OU on Mar 18, 2010 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

but i don’t see why Mathews would be ranked higher than both Tate and Hardesty if he was a bad blocker or pass catcher..

And it can’t be because of the combine.. Hardesty had if not better then the same kind of numbers than Mathews at the combine.

Die hard Texan fan from the heart of Denmark!

by zala on Mar 18, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Babin Is A Bad Example

There were probably two people in the world who rated Babin as a first round talent. Unfortunately, they comprised the Texans brain trust.

by kozanack on Mar 18, 2010 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs

Goo'ed

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Mar 23, 2010 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Really depends on if you see Mathews as a special back.

I don’t see it. But I can understand why they’d pick him there if they thought he was.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Mar 23, 2010 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Big Time DraftCountdown Fan Here

Scott Wright has big time sources and makes big time evaluations. I visit regularly.

by kozanack on Mar 18, 2010 8:26 PM CDT reply actions

1st Round RB?

I’m usually right at the front of the line shooting down people who claim we need a “stud running back”. In this case, I think it might be a good idea.

There are still holes on defense. Defense is clearly the biggest need.

But the flipside of that is that Offense is clearly better on this team. There is one glaring hole on the offensive side right now and that is at RB. I love Steve Slaton and I hope that he a) gets healthy again after his surgery and b) gets back to his rookie form rather than his sophomore slump. But we can’t count on that. In addition, it takes more than one good RB in this league.

So in previous years, I really didn’t want a 1st or 2nd round RB…but I would be fine with it this year if the management thinks it is the best value. It is the best position on the field to plug right in and get production from immediately and is quite likely to give this team its biggest impact improving its actual strength (offense).

That said, I’m also ok if they find a way to trade down for additional value or if they take another position in the first round. Honestly, nothing would shock me or annoy me other than trading up to draft a QB.

by dk240t on Mar 22, 2010 8:40 PM CDT reply actions

In the end

I’m pretty trusting of the Texans management when it comes to player evaluation at this point. I won’t belabor the pick too much, whether I think it’s right or wrong.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Mar 23, 2010 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions