Ryan Kerrigan is your newest Houston Texan

by JMay on Apr 22, 2011 2:23 AM CDT

I'm not even going to pull the Purdue angle.

Listen to how the scouts and experts all around the league talk about him.

Great motor, high football character, never quits, a football player etc, etc, many things on which I don't want to actually look up quotes. But trust me. Watch or read something about him.

It's over, it's over, it's over!

Barring Quinn (if they love him) or someone else unexpected falling, I think this will be the pick. I'm not saying I agree with it.*

*Joe Posnaskiesque sidebar: If Quinn and Quintorris are gone, I honestly don't know who I would want. In fact, I wouldn't be thrilled OR disgusted with a handful. A. Smith--I would like to see a OLB taken even if I don't think it's a slam dunk necessity, but I'm not sold on him and the project tag concerns me. Prince--I don't really want a CB until FA but could see the logic, though I am terrified of some of the evaluations like John Harris's that say he is a second round talent who can't cover one on one (see matchup vs Julio Jones). Watt/Jordan--not thrilled about taking a rotational backup, though I understand BPA argument. Still, how would this be more of a need if JJ were available? Other OLBs--eh.

With all of that sidebar, I lost my train of thought. Except to say, I don't think this pick would kill me as it would some of you because after one or two who will probably be gone anyway, I see a bunch of solid but meh players. Definitely wouldn't be thrilled with Kerrigan. But if Quinn and Quintorris are gone, I don't know who I would be thrilled with. And I won't say trade down because I think it's too big of a situational opportunity that us fans have no right demanding when it might not be available.

But, like it or not or if you're as lukewarm/semi negative as I am on it, I think the descriptions by those in the know of this "kid" are right up the Texans' alley. His picture's already in our playbook.

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I don't think there's any interest in Kerrigan

simply because of how lost he looked at the Senior Bowl as a 3-4 OLB

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Apr 22, 2011 7:37 AM CDT reply actions

but he DID come from Purdue.. which is about 100% of what matters.

I'm looking forward to bigger and better things from the Texans this year... I've decided to start fresh and refocus on the things that matter... thats right... I speak of SKIN BLEACH! no need to burn your throat.. it can't feel it anymore anyways! apply directly to the skin or eyes and let the mind blowing pain steal your focus from the disaster on the field!

by BattleRedHusker on Apr 22, 2011 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions

In that logic....

Rick Smith has never drafted a player from Purdue….and he has only ever drafted two from the Big 10 (McMannis and Barber).

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Apr 22, 2011 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

All of our players come from the Big 10. ALL OF THEM.

If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual.
-Frank Herbert, The Dosadi Experiment

by peytonsurdaddy on Apr 23, 2011 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions

At least it makes it easy for mock drafts

/rimshot

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Apr 23, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Brooks Reed has a much better chance of being drafted by the Texans

He used to play TE after all

Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid

by The Night Owl on Apr 22, 2011 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Doesn't he have a quick first ten yards, too?

I would think he’d be flying up draft boards

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 22, 2011 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I believe his 10-yard time was the fastest of them all

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Apr 22, 2011 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

JJ Watt

Started out as a TE as well… Just sayin….

by Bryan72076 on Apr 24, 2011 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Beat me too it

/walks away

Houston Texans:
1st Round: J.J. Watt (NT)
2nd Round: Ras-I Dowling/Brandon Harris (CB)
3rd Round: Quinton Carter (S)
4th Round: Shiloh Keo (S)
5th Round: Chris Carter (OLB)
6th Round: Alex Henery (P/K)
7th Round: Stephen Burton (WR)

by CCBach on Apr 24, 2011 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions

This is a joke.

Aldon Smith is the pick if Quinn’s gone.

"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.

by bone31crusher on Apr 22, 2011 3:26 PM CDT reply actions

That's what I think too.

Maybe Prince Amukamara though.

by RamblinWreck7 on Apr 22, 2011 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

I’ve been calling that the pick would be Aldon Smith for over a month now. But I still haven’t accepted it.

Battle Red Blog - The Dream Shake - Twitter - Gunaxin

by Mike Kerns on Apr 22, 2011 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions

J.J Watt kids....

It’s gonna be J.J Watt.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Apr 22, 2011 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd be pleased.

He’ll triple our total team PDs by passes batted down at the line alone.

On another note, I just watched some Ras-I Dowling highlights for the first time… Pretty damn certain he’s the second best CB in this draft, now. Bit of a gamble because of the injury issues, but he might be the guy in the second…

by Nashmeister on Apr 22, 2011 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Second best?

That’s bold.

"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.

by bone31crusher on Apr 22, 2011 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe he just played against shit competition...

But watch him on tape. He can jam at the line, he makes coverage look effortless (like he’s not even running full speed, yet still makes plays on the ball), and opposing RBs go nowhere once he connects with them, even if they have momentum and he’s disengaging a blocker.

He’s big, fast, and undervalued because injuries pretty much took away his senior season. He’s a riskier pick than Prince or Brandon Harris, but I think his ceiling is higher.

by Nashmeister on Apr 22, 2011 8:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Well...

I agree that he’s undervalued because of injuries, but honestly I can’t see him staying healthy in the NFL… It’s not like he’s taken hits to the knee like Schaub and missed time, anyone would get injured if a 270lb dude slams into your knee full speed…, his injuries have mostly been strains and pulls and such, which to me is a sign that maybe his body just can’t absorb the punishment the game demands of it.

“If” Dowling stays healthy he’d probably end up being one of hte better CBs in this draft, if not THE best, but I think it’s a longshot that happens. Sadly I see his career going more in the Molden direction.

by Bryan72076 on Apr 24, 2011 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

That's the worry, of course.

You wonder though if maybe it was just one of those years… You rush back from one injury too soon, then tweak something else trying to compensate for it. He missed just three games in the three seasons prior to that (not even sure if they were injury-related), so maybe last year was an anomaly. It would be a drag to wind up with another Molden, though… The more I think about it, the more he becomes my prime candidate for “biggest bust of the Rick Smith era”.

by Nashmeister on Apr 24, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I liked dowling too

but what round is he being projected? if he falls to 3rd i would think about getting him.

by southpaw70 on Apr 24, 2011 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

2nd, from what I hear.

Much like Amukamara, the knock on him was that he didn’t have the top-line speed to hang with speed receivers. Yet, he ran a 4.40 at the combine in his only attempt, despite tweaking his hamstring on the attempt. The injuries will bump him down, but he’s one of the more instinctual DBs in the draft, and he’s excellent against the run. No real holes in his game… He’d be an excellent nickel immediately; I can’t imagine him slipping to our third.

by Nashmeister on Apr 24, 2011 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

yea you right

won’t make it to our 3rd. i sure hope we trade down if need be. but if peterson makes it to 6th pick we need to trade up and get him.

by southpaw70 on Apr 24, 2011 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Dowling or Harris > Amukamara

Amukamara doesn’t look to do so well against top competition. Against Texas he was owned. Against Oklahoma State he was owned. He hangs on to players but doesn’t seem to have great leverage to take them down.

Dowling looks REALLY good. The guy seems to have speed from what I’ve seen on the tape and never gets burnt like I’ve seen from Amukamara and he seems to get his hands on the ball quite a bit and looks Ed Reed like once he has the ball. I think he would be a first rounder if it wasn’t for injury issues.

Brandon Harris looks good to me he just doesn;t have much height. He definitely has speed and knows how to track the ball but looks very very short.

by JohnBinATX on Apr 25, 2011 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

I've seen Dowling get burned before

That’s not really a nock against him though. ALL cornerbacks get burned, it comes with the position. He doesn’t get burned often, but neither does Amukamara.

I think Patterson will eventually get so big he has to play safety, I think Amukamara will be a better safety than corner, Dowling will be injured constantly and out of the league altogether within 5 years, Aaron Williams projects better as a safety….

Honestly, I think 3-4 years from now the best CBs in the class will be Jimmy Smith and Brandon Harris… Smith has “character issues” and Harris is a little small and inconsistent in general…

I do think that Amukamara is a good pick at #11 though, even if he doesn’t work out as CB, I do think he can be an elite FS in the NFL… He’s definitely not a bad prospect, I just think he’s better at safety even if he could make a good NFL CB he’d be an even better safety.

by Bryan72076 on Apr 25, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Saw the tape, and somethings Impressed me but

The big hit on the RB, he was feeling that afterwords, that worries me as to his durrability
he did not take on the block on the TE screen(yes its hard to ask for a CB to take on an OL but atleast show an effort instead of backing up).
He seemed lazy on pass plays, yes he wasn’t running full speed but he almost gave up a big play on the HB pass.
He doesn’t seem excited, that’s my notch against him though, we need a vocal leader.

I will stand by what I have said and that Brandon Harris is the better player, Brandon Harris will have a better year and a better career.
But in all, if Brandon Harris is gone in the second then I say we take Ras-I, or if we have to second rounders take both of them if can(I am assuming other aspects say Rahim Moore, and Stephen Peau are gone, and that both are there).

by CCBach on Apr 24, 2011 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I just hope amongst hope...

…that they don’t waste the 2nd round pick on Aaron WIlliams unless they convert him to safety.

by JohnBinATX on Apr 25, 2011 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

If it is,

I’ll be bashing Smithiak 24/7.

"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.

by bone31crusher on Apr 24, 2011 1:16 AM CDT up reply actions

I think Watt would be a good pick

Everyone assumes we’d be drafting a backup with Watt, and perhaps for the first year he would be a reserve.., but in the long run Watt I think would be an awesome 3-4 end. With Watt and Williams at DE, we’d be 1 NT away from a frightening front 3, and with 1-2 blitzers coming from anyone of the 4 LB positions… we’d have a dangerous front 7.

I would go Amukamara first though if he’s available just because secondary is such a huge need for us this year. OLB, while definitely a big need, would be fairly easy to fill in the 2nd or 3rd round. I think if there’s no secondary player worth a top 11 pick we should take the best player available that fits our schemes regardless of position and Watt would be in the running for that i’d imagine.

by Bryan72076 on Apr 24, 2011 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I would be ok with watt

pretty much same size as ratliff. i think he could play NT if need be, he has the strength and speed.

by southpaw70 on Apr 24, 2011 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Id rather Cam Jordan

He is far more versatile than Watt IMO. Cam could play 5tech DE, Stand up as a OLB at times and even play NT on passing downs.

"////let it pan out before you kick da plan out\"
-mitmil22

by theSpaceCityKid on Apr 25, 2011 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Versatility is overated sometimes

Would you rather have someone who projects to be passable at 2-3 different positions or one who projects to be excellent at just one position? Jordan would not play OLB in our system, he wouldn’t play NT…. Chances are if Cam Jordan were drafted by the Texans he’d play 3-4 DE, the same position Watt would play… Look at the two players and tell me who you think projects better in that role, I think Watt is the top 3-4 DE prospect in this draft by a comfortable margin.

by Bryan72076 on Apr 25, 2011 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

I will disagree with you on the basis that your FOS

Your opinion is based on what? Reading other people’s opinions? The pro scouts have opinions which you are not privy to and even they can be wrong because their opinions are all over the place. You don’t know.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 25, 2011 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually

I like Adrian Clayborn….While he may not have the speed (ran a 4.78 40) to play OLB, He definetely could play DE….There is a chance he could fall into the 2nd round(though most mocks I have seen have him late first), He would be a nice “side kick” to Mario at the DE position.

40 Yrd Dash: 4.78
20 Yrd Dash: 2.69
10 Yrd Dash: 1.61
225 Lb. Bench Reps:17
Vertical Jump: 35.5"
Broad Jump: 09’06"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.13
3-Cone Drill: 7.08

Von Miller+Demarcus Ware+Jay Ratliff+Rob Ryan=Nightmare for Opposing OC's

by I am Ironman!!! on Apr 25, 2011 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions