Analyzing the 2010 Draft and Which OL the Texans Will Take in Round 1

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OR, HOW TO FIX A REVOLVING DOOR....

I have previously laid out my thoughts on why the Texans need to draft OL in the 1st round. There was very little disagreement. Perhaps my reputation preceded me and detractors stayed at bay in lieu of getting a bite taken out of their asses. Having seemingly settled the question as to why the Texans need to draft OL, let's tackle how they go about doing that.

Here are the top OL draft prospects: OT Russel Okung, Okla St; OT Bruce Campbell, Maryland; OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa; OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma; OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers; OT Charles Brown, USC; OG Mike Iupati, Idaho; C/OG Maurkice Pouncey, Florida; OT Rodger Safford, Indiana; C J.D. Walton, Baylor; OG Jon Asamoah, Illinois; and OT/G Vladimire Ducasse, Massachusetts.That's 12 prospects and all of them have 1st round potential. All 12 will not be going in the 1st round, though. One or two of them may be available when the Texans pick in the 2nd round, and I am hoping that is more likely than unlikely because the only thing better than one blue-chip OL is two blue-chip OL. Feel free to add anyone to this list who I may have omitted...or subtract...it is a matter of opinion.

Okay, who needs OL help?  Maybe the better question is, "Who doesn't?"! Anyways, here's my thoughts on who the competition is:  

(4)  (36) Washington Redskins - This year, the Redskins have new direction in the coaching combo of Shanahan and Shanahan. OL happens to be a need for the Redskins but their current QB Jason Campbell doesn't fit the S&S mold. And, their splashy owner Daniel Snyder has never backed down from a cannonball challenge. I think the Redskins make that leap and snag one of the top two QBs in either Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen. It seems to be a popular opinion as most mock drafters say the Skins are going in that direction. If they do, I see an OL in the Redskins 2nd round which gives the Texans all the more reason to snag their guy in the 1st round.

(5) (36) KC Chiefs - What do you expect the Chiefs to do with the 5th pick of the draft and having the NFL's worst OL last season? They will take the best OL available and that guy will probably be Russell Okung from Oklahoma State and the first OL off the board.

(6) (14) (40) Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks are the only team with two 1st rounders this year. They have a new coach in Pete Carroll, via USC. I have openly wondered if he will be looking to reach for S Taylor Mays, that is, if Al Davis doesn't snag him first. They have a strong need at LT. Walter Jones is aging and oft-injured. His fill-in Sean Locklear is not sufficient. They need to turn that door and bring in a new LT. I say they do that with pick (6) or (14). They also need a newer, younger QB. I think there is a high probability that they take one with whichever pick they don't select that LT with. If Bradford and Clausen are both off the board at (6), they may wait for (40) on a QB. In that case, look for them to take Mays, or perhaps CJ Spiller. The Seahawks have a lot of needs, including a new coach....ZING! Glad I'm not a Seahawk fan... Anyways, that's one more OL off the board in the 1st round.

(7) (38) Cleveland Browns - There has been a lot of talk about the Browns making a move to change their QB situation. However, I think that will be tough to do because of the money they have tied up there and perhaps unnecessary. They have a strong need to replace RT John St. Clair who was not effective last year. They could also improve their WR situation, which will improve their QB situation. The WR draft depth is suspect, so I am banking on them getting while the getting is good and selecting what is perhaps the best WR in the draft, Dez Bryant. Because of the weak WR draft depth and the good draft depth at OL, I think the Browns will be content to find that quality OL in the 2nd round.

(8) (39) Oakland Raiders - The Raiders, run by football master-in-his-own-mind Al Davis demonstrate draft ineptness every...single...year. Why should this year be any different? Maybe they will get lucky? Maybe. Looking at the Raiders, I see a team that can no longer go with former 1st rounder JaMarcus Russell at QB. But, I don't see anyone coming in to rescue that situation. There is a consensus  opinion that Al Davis can't pass up an NFL Combine workout warrior. In the OL category, this year, LT Bruce Campbell leaps out at me. And, he's probably leaping out at Al Davis, too. I say Campbell is Oakland-bound and off the board.

(9) (51) Buffalo Bills -  The Bills OL allowed 44 sacks last year, which was 2nd only to Green Bay. But, the Bills need help everywhere! They need a new QB. They need a #1 WR, with Terrel Owens' departure. They were ranked last in the NFL in rush defense. So, I am betting on the Bills not picking up an OL in the 1st round. Because there is depth in this draft, I think there is a strong possibility they will find an OL in the 2nd round. That puts added pressure on the Texans to take that guy in the 1st round before the Bills do in the 2nd.

(13) (49) San Francisco 49ers - With talk about the Niners switching to the 4-3 defense, that leaves lots of possibilities on draft day, because that means they have to fill certain personnel needs. Either way, the consensus seems to be that they need an edge pass rusher with whatever defense they go with be it a DE for the 4-3 or an OLB with the 3-4. Perhaps, they need that more than they need OL help, because that is one of their needs, too. I am up in the air on which way they will go. Ha! There is even talk that they will take Spiller at (13) just to spite division rival Seattle at (14). Anyways, I have to make a call, so I say they will take an OL in the later rounds and go with a defensive pick in the 1st round.

(18) (52) Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers struggled last year with injuries and quality across the board on their OL. I don't think there is any question that they will go OL in the 1st round. They need to improve their run game and Big Ben takes too many shots. This is a big area of need. Steelers take one off the board before the Texans!

(20) (51) Houston Texans - O-line! O-line! O-line! Okay, seriously, I have projected 4 blue-chip OL coming off the board before the Texans get their 1st round pick. That means, my wishlist is looking good! The Texans will have a good selection of OL to choose from. Depending on how they have them rated, they can probably go in several different directions. They can take one of the Tackle prospects and plug him in at Guard in his rookie season as he learns the system; with the intent that he may move to Tackle in a later season. The benefit to the team is, they have a hoss at Guard and they could sure use that guy right now. Another option is, if he can be that LT right now, Duane Brown (sorry, Duane) moves to Guard as he schools the new guy to be the LT of the future. Another possibility is that a player like Mike Iupati is available at (20) who is a natural Guard who has Tackle abilities. But, sorry Kasey Studdard...take your place on the bench and wait for someone to have an injury.

(21) Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals added Andre Smith to their OL last season, but the OL remains one of their top needs going into this draft. They may need to find an OG to replace aging Bobbie Williams. They may also be happy, at (21), to see the Texans pass up a Safety such as Taylor Mays or Earl Thomas, because this is also a need area for the Bengals. If a quality Safety drops to the Bengals, I think they will snap him up. If not, I can see them snagging a Mike Iupati or maybe even a Vladimir Ducasse. WR is also a need for the Bengals. They will have some hard choices at (21). So, with the chance that they take an OL here, the Texans need to target their guy and get him in the 1st round.

(26) (58) Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals are an interesting team, whose 1st round pick may hinge on what happens in free agency. As they stand right now, they NEED a Left Tackle. But, if they lose Karlos Dansby in free agency, replacing him at Inside LB becomes the highest of priorities. This will effect the Texans big-time if they do not pick an OL in the 1st round. What am I saying? Of course, the Texans pick an OL in the 1st round! Anyways, I need to check the rumor mongering thread to see what is happening with Dansby. Okay, I just checked and Dansby looks like he is Miami-bound. That means the Cardials are probably replacing him in the 1st round of the draft.

(27) (59) Dallas Cowboys - First let me say.....I hate the Cowboys! That's a lifetime hate that we're talking about. That being said, the Cowboys need an OT. Whoever trickles down to the Cowboys, they're taking him. So, that makes it all the more important that the Texans get their guy in the 1st round.

In conclusion, I don't expect everyone to agree that the Texans need to bolster their OL more than any other position and/or need to make that 1st round pick an OL. There are always other thoughts and other options. At (20) in the 2010 draft there will be a number of options available to the Texans that will benefit them next season. They would like to hit a home run as they did last season with what's his name....uh, oh yeah, Brian Cushing. Some would like to see that guy on defense as the Texans continue to build on their draft success. That wouldn't hurt the team, I agree. What I think would hurt the team the most, though, is having Matt Schaub go down with injury. The entire offense revolves around his outstanding play....and I think that play was in spite of the awful offensive line play last season. The offensive line was 2nd worst in the NFL in allowing the QB to get hit. Yes, they improved on sacks, but I believe most of the credit for that goes to the good coaching and the improved timing that Schaub and the receivers achieved. The fact that Schuab only  missed part of one game due to a dislocated shoulder, which he returned from to play in that same game, is a testament to his durability, which was doubted by nearly everyone before last season. The Texans are rolling the dice on that happening two seasons in a row if they don't take major steps to improve their OL. That is the core of my point and the impetus for my saying that the Texans have to improve their OL. I haven't even touched on their lack of a running game because of their OL...Doh! There, I said it!

With four OL coming off the board ahead of the Texans' pick, my thinking is that those four will be Okung, Campbell, Williams and Davis. That will leave Iupati, Brown, and Bulaga in the Texans' sights. Out of those three, I think Iupati fills the immediate need at OG. He will step in and start on day one. Bulaga and Brown are right there, too. Brown has been discussed as being an ideal OL in the ZBS which the Texans employ. If four OL are off the board, that is a good selection to choose from. Either way, the Texans have to pick their OL at (20), because as I have shown, there will be a run on that position in the latter part of the 1st round and the early 2nd round.

Okay, have at it. My fingers are bleeding!!!