Houston Texans NFL Team Column
 | By Mark Stein 2008 NFL Draft Report |
| 31 August 2008 |
Preseason Recap & Roster Cuts
Time for some real games, boys & girls! The preseason is in the books, and the Texans look primed to make that jump to a winning record in 2008.
Other than Ahman Green, who got a three week vacation from practice, the running backs that played looked average to just above average. The rookie, Steve Slaton, was the most impressive. At times, it seemed like the offensive line was not blocking very well, but then Slaton entered the game, and suddenly there were holes. Slaton just hits the holes quicker than Chris Taylor. Chris Brown, a free agent signee, has been hampered by injuries, and was placed on injured reserve. He is lost for the year.
Quarterbacks 1 and 1A, Schaub and Rosenfels, looked very good in the preseason. Except for the 1st quarter of the
The wide receivers and tight ends are the strength of the offense, and even though Pro Bowler Andre Johnson had to fight through a nagging leg injury, the other receivers all had their moments. Kevin Walter has been playing with a swagger, and David Anderson seems to be a solid fourth wide out. Andre Davis still flashes great speed, and surprisingly good hands. Last year’s rookie, Jacoby Jones does some very impressive things after the catch, but is fighting a fumbling problem.
All through preseason, the defense has been a concern. Both the Saints and Cowboys had little trouble putting together lengthy scoring drives against the Texan’s D. Coach Kubiak has always hoped to generate a good pass rush with just his four defensive linemen, but this is not happening. The coaches had hoped that free agent signee Roosevelt Colvin could be the edge rusher they had lacked on passing downs, but he did not perform, and was waived recently. Unless a D-lineman suddenly steps up production during the regular season, it seems the coaches will have to send five or six rushers to get to the opposing quarterback. This will put a lot of pressure on a suspect Texans’ secondary.
Generally, look for the Texans to score a lot, but give up a lot of points. This may change as the year progresses, and the schedule lightens up a bit. Dunta Robinson is scheduled to come back around the seventh week of the season, and this will deepen the cornerback ranks. Coach Kubiak would like to be a running team first, but the strength is obviously in the passing game. He has stated that they will do whatever works best, so Matt Schaub could be airing it out quite a bit this year.
ROSTER CUTS:
The Texans got down to the 53 man limit on August 30th, by releasing 21 players, and putting Chris Brown on the I.R. list. Six out of the seven drafted rookies made the squad, with QB Alex Brink being the exception. Brink has a great chance to be added to the team’s practice squad. Cliff Washburn, an offensive tackle, was the only undrafted rookie free agent to make the team. Keeping Washburn seems a highly questionable move, leaving the Texans with six offensive tackles. The Texans cut capable cornerback, Jamar Fletcher, and then stated they would be on the lookout for secondary help. Possibly the Texans have a trade in the works for defensive help. Other notable cuts include DT Anthony Maddox, SS Glenn Earl, RB Darious Walker, and DB Dexter Wynn.
Coming soon: Texans at Steelers!
| 28 July 2008 |
Training Camp, Texan Style: Hope Runs Rampant
“Man, its hot here, isn’t it? It’s like
With the first preseason game rapidly approaching, the Houston Texans have had almost two full weeks of training camp. With only 80 players to work with, Coach Kubiak has limited the contact in drills. Even with the
Although not blessed with superior talent at the running back slot,
The hot sun has shown brightly on the receiving corps. When Andre Johnson did practice, the report was that he caught everything, and showed no signs of last year’s injury. Kevin Walter is practicing with a vet’s swagger after leading the team in receptions last year. Rookie Darnell Jenkins from
Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels both appear sharp and accurate, secure in their roles as quarterbacks 1, and 1A. Schaub looks 100% healthy.
The O-line is getting used to their new coach, Alex Gibbs, and things are going good for now. Gibbs is a stickler for detail, and he keeps the men motivated. Eric Winston, the right tackle, was singled out by Kubes recently for his work ethic and professionalism. Can this version of the line pass block as well as last year, and run block much better? Let’s hope so.
“I’d keep playing, I don’t think the heavy stuff’s gonna come down for quite a while.” – Carl Spackler, Caddyshack.
Even though
Ray Rhodes was brought on to help with the secondary, and the players seem to like his confident style. Fred Bennett has continued to impress after a very solid rookie year, with Jaques Reeves learning the style of coverage the Texans want him to play. Jamar Fletcher has been pointed out by Kubiak as the “surprise of the camp.” This is good to hear since Dunta Robinson won’t be back until at least game seven of the regular season. Rookie Antwaun Molden continued to impress the coaching staff until a minor injury set him back a few days. The competition at safety might be the highlight of this year’s camp. Will Demps and C.C. Brown get reps with the starters, but Glenn Earl wants the starting job back, and looks good. The rookie Dominique Barber and 2nd year man Brandon Harrison are the fastest safeties, and make plays, but lack experience.
The linebackers look to be the strength of the Texan’s defense in ’08. Demeco Ryans makes plays all over the field, and Zach Diles is so fast, the coaches may blitz him more than they thought. The rookie, Xavier Adibi continues to make an impression after a very strong round of OTA’s. This group of starting ‘backers is a little light in the buttocks, but man, are they fast. Fast enough to make up for their size? Let’s hope so.
Earning constant mentions from the coaches on the D-line are Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye, and Tim Bulman. Williams seems to get to the quarterback whenever he chooses to do so. Coach Kubes has previously stated that Okoye could be “the most improved player from last year.” Bulman, a 4th year man from B.C., is getting noticed in practice. Soon, the staff will see if he can do it in a game.
So, even dealing with the severe Texans heat and uncertain weather from the
In this year’s training camp, the team is not just talking playoffs, they seem to really think they will make the playoffs. Will they do it? Let’s hope so.
| 28 July 2008 |
Texan’s Past Drafts, Part III: ’05, ’06, & ‘07
(Quick note first: All 2008 rookies are signed and in camp on time.)
2005: Coming off a seven win year.
2004 was a very good year for Texans. Seven victories, including two over the Tennessee Titans had fans were talking about a possible playoff appearance in ’05. David Carr was coming off his best year, Andre Johnson made the Pro Bowl, and Dominick Davis rushed for over 1,000 yards. The defense was below average with some aging stars.
Round One: Travis Johnson, DT – The knock on Travis coming out of college was that his motor didn’t run full speed on every play. This reputation seems deserved. Until last season, Johnson floated between a backup and starter. Not what was hoped for a first rounder.
Round Two: The Team had traded it’s 2nd round pick, and a 3rd rounder to
Round Three: Vernand Morency, RB – A curious pick in round three with Dominick Davis on the roster, and Jonathon Wells a capable backup. Morency did not play much, and was traded after two seasons.
Round Four: Jerome Mathis, WR – A dynamite kick returner, Mathis became the Texans’ first All-Pro, and of course, made the Pro Bowl. Due to a lingering knee injury, and perceived attitude problems, he didn’t play much after the ’05 season.
Round Five: Drew Hodgden, C – Hodgden made the squad, and played two years as a backup offensive lineman, and waived in his third year. Not too bad for a fifth rounder.
Round Six: C.C. Brown, SS – Quite a success story for a sixth rounder, Brown has played three seasons for the Texans, starting most games. A solid starter, but not Pro Bowl material.
Round Seven: Kenneth Pettway, LB – Pettway never played for the Texans.
Not a good draft. Travis Johnson may have been a good pick in the third or fourth rounds, but as a first rounder, this was not a good choice. Rounds two and three were whiffs. Mathis was a one year wonder. This was not the team’s fault, but it happened. Johnson started in ’07, and C.C. Brown is a very good sixth round pick. This keeps the draft from being an “F”. Still a solid “D” as an overall draft.
2006: The wheels came off!
2005 was a disaster. Only two wins. Dom Capers had been fired, and Gary Kubiak had been brought in as the Texans second head coach. Charlie Casserly was still around just to assist with the draft, (a strange move), and then Rick Smith would come in as the new general manager.
Round One: Mario Williams, DE – What the…? The Texans surprised most everyone by taking Williams over Bush or Young. Fighting through an injury plagued first year, Mario still had 47 tackles, and 4.5 sacks. Last year, Mario broke out with 14 sacks, 59 tackles, and made 2nd team AP All NFL.
Round Two: Demeco Ryans, LB – A starter from day one, Ryans is the defensive leader. Ryans made the Pro Bowl last year after just missing out the year prior. He made most published all-rookie teams in 2006, including Stein’s.
Round Three: Charles Spencer, OL & Eric Winston, OL – Spencer was also tabbed as a starter as a rookie, but a freak accident broke his leg in game two. He never played for the team again, and was recently waived. Winston broke into the starting lineup midway through his rookie season, and received some mentions for the Pro Bowl in his 2nd season.
Round Four: Owen Daniels, TE – A bit of a surprise pick to start out day two of the draft, Daniels quickly became a starter his rookie year, and blossomed in year two with nearly 800 yards receiving. Named to some all rookie teams in ’06.
Round Five: Eric Moulds, WR – I know, this is not really a pick, but the Texans traded their fifth rounder for Moulds, who was a very solid #2 receiving option. Although he only played for
Round Six: Wali Lundy, RB – A solid runner, Lundy took over as the starting running back late in 2006. Did not make the squad in 2007.
Round Seven: David Anderson, WR, - A possession receiver, Anderson made the squad in 2006, playing in 9 games. Cut the next year,
Clearly the best draft yet for the Texans. Every player contributed in their first seasons. It would not shock if Williams, Ryans, Winston, and Daniels all make the Pro Bowl in 2008. Spencer may have been the best of them all, if not for the broken leg. Stein says “A“.
2007: Starting over slowly.
In Kubiak’s first season as head coach, the Texans improved to six wins. They won three of their last five, including their first win over the Colts. Kubiak also was busy turning over much of the roster. Rookies were given many chances to play, and Dom Capers players were being weeded out. In the off-season, David Carr was released, and the team gave up two 2nd round picks for Matt Schaub, the new QB.
Round One: Amobi Okoye, DT – The Texans had Okoye rated as the number one defensive player in the draft. Amobi started fourteen games, played solidly and racked up 5.5 sacks. The youngest player in the draft, Okoye showed enough for fans to get excited.
Round Three: Jacoby Jones, WR - Jones showed well in the preseason, but with an early injury, and the emergence of Kevin Walter and Andre Davis, his playing time was cut back. Jacoby showed enough for fans to have high hopes, and he was very good with punt returns.
Round Four: Fred Bennett, CB – A very nice 4th round pick. Fred was progressing well, then when Dunta Robinson was hurt, he was pressed into a starting role, where he excelled.
Round Five: Brandon Harrison, DB & Brandon Frye, OL –
Round Six: Kasey Studdard, OL – Played in three games as a rookie. Definitely in the mix to make the big team this year.
Round Seven: Zac Diles, LB – Possibly the biggest steal of the 7th round. Diles contributed on special teams, and at linebacker late in the year. This year in OTA’s, Diles was running first team.
Kubiak’s second full draft and Rick Smith’s first looks like a winner so far. Every player from this draft could make the 53 man roster, with three or four starting. I’ll give it a “B” for now, but if Harrison and Frye make the team, it will change to an “A”.
Soon: Training Camp reports with emphasis on this year’s rookies.
| 12 July 2008 |
Texan’s Past Drafts Part II: ’03 & ‘04
2003: Honeymoon with Team Still Going Strong
After winning four games in their inaugural season, the Texans picked 3rd in the first round of the ’03 draft. Houston ended up with 10 total choices in the draft. Believing they had their franchise QB on the team, the Texans’ front office was looking to protect Carr, and give him some help on offense. The defense was solid in 2002, and not considered a pressing need. (Remember the 19-10 whalloping of the Cowboys in the first game? That was awesome.)
Round One: Andre Johnson, WR – Andre is the best player to ever play for the Texans. He is a two time Pro Bowler, and 2nd team All Pro in 2006. Casserly had struck gold. He had the 2nd piece for his version of “triplets”. (QB, WR, RB)
Round Two: Bennie Joppru, TE – Universally considered a reach in the 2nd round, Joppru sustained season ending injuries each preseason for his first three years. Seriously. A wasted pick.
Round Three: Antwan Peek, LB, Seth Wand, OL, & Dave Ragone, QB – Peek played four years for the Texans, but only started one year. He had raw talent, but didn’t seem to have football smarts. The lineman, Wand, was considered a reach by most accounts, and very raw. He never developed. Ragone was a surprise pick in the 3rd considering Houston had Carr and solid backup, Tony Banks. Ragone was a bust.
Round Four: Dominick Williams, RB – Drafted as Dominick Davis, Williams became an immediate starter, and produced over 1300 total yards his first season, and over 1700 total yards in his 2nd year. A bad knee injury limited him in 2005, and he was out of the league in ’06.
Round Six: Drew Henson, QB & Keith Wright, DL – Henson was a calculated risk to see what they could get for him later.
Round Seven: Curry Burns, SS & Chance Pearce, LS – Neither made contributions to the team.
Ten picks, and only Johnson, Williams, and Peek played any real amount. Joppru’s freak injuries could not have been foreseen, but whatever happened, he never amounted to anything in
--This just in: Bennie Joppru is still hurt.
2004: Fans Happy with Upward Trends
The Texans improved to five wins in 2003 with two very close losses to Indy and
Round One: Dunta Robinson, CB & Jason Babin, LB/DL – Robinson has been the Texans best cornerback almost from day one. A smart, aggressive player, Dunta is a four year starter, and a fan favorite. Babin was not as good. The Texans surprised everyone by trading three draft picks, and swapping back in the fifth round to move up just 13 spots for Babin. Most draft commentators felt Babin would have been there if the Texans had just stood pat, but even in the 2nd round, he was a reach. He played for
Round Four: Glenn Earl, FS – The hard hitting safety has played for three seasons, finally starting in 2006. Injured for all of 2007. Expected back this year.
Round Six: Vontez Duff, CB, Jamaal Lord, QB/FS, & Charlie Anderson, LB –
Round Seven: Raheem Orr, LB, Sloan Thomas, WR, & B.J. Symons, QB – None contributed for the Texans.
Wow. Hard to re-live this one. The Babin trade crippled this draft. If a team trades a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round pick for one player, that player better be a sure thing. Babin was not. With six picks in the 6th and 7th rounds,
Next Week: The Drafts of 2005 and 2006
| 1 July 2008 |
Texan’s Past Drafts Part I: 2002
Hot news: The Texans sign 7th round pick Alex Brink! Great things are going to start happening for
Oops, lost my mind.
Wow, these truly are the canine days of summer, eh? After Texans OTA’s, but before training camp. At least the Texans signed Rosevelt Colvin to spice things up. Colvin should help
Let’s kill some time by looking over past Texans’ drafts starting with 2002, shall we?
2002: It’s Football Time Again in Houston, Baby!
In ‘02, the Texans had twelve total picks over seven rounds, including the first overall selection. Although a good percentage of fans wanted Charlie Casserly and staff to trade back and build the two lines, (including me), the team went another way. I’ve recently seen owner Bob McNair interviewed, and he stated the team “needed its franchise quarterback”, so I’m going to assume he put pressure on Casserly to take a quarterback with the first choice.
Round One, Pick One: David Carr, QB – Carr started for the Texans for five years, so he was no Ryan Leaf type bust. Really. His 2004 season even showed promise. However, when his pass protection and coaching got better, he did not improve. Not a good overall number one choice.
Round Two: Jabar Gaffney WR, & Chester Pitts, OL – Gaffney started for four years, and was serviceable, but not spectacular. Pitts, although many thought he was a reach in the second round, has started every game in the history of the Texans, and now plays for one of the better pass blocking lines in the league. Pitts also makes funny Super Bowl commercials, and his name is
Round Three: Fred Weary, OL & Charles Hill, DL – Still with the Texans, Weary is more appreciated by the Kubiak staff than he was by the coaches that drafted him. He now starts again after being a backup for Dom Capers. Charles Hill defines the word bust. A terrible pick that never played in a regular season game for the Texans.
Round Four: Jonathan Wells, RB – Wells started most games of his rookie year, splitting time with James Allen. (James Allen, there’s a name from the past.) The next year, the Texans drafted the clearly superior Domanick Davis, and Wells became a backup who played just three more seasons.
Round Five: Jarrod Baxter, FB & Ramon Walker, SS – Baxter started at FB his rookie season, but injuries limited him to just two more shortened seasons.
Round Six: Demarcus Faggins, CB & Howard Green, DL – Demarcus “Petey” Faggins is still with
Round Seven: Greg White, DL & Ahmad Miller, DL – Both busts. Both never played for the Texans.
Looking back, it seems
Next week: The ’03 & ’04 Drafts
| 3 June 2008 |
2008 Rookies on the Depth Chart
OTA’s are well under way for the Texans, and from all reports, some of this year’s rookies are showing well. Duane Brown was already named the starter at left tackle by Coach Kubiak. This could change, of course, but Kubes wants to see how Brown fares against the 1st team D. (This means Mario Williams.) Wide receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen has been hampered by a minor injury, but should be good to go by minicamp. R.G.M. was an undrafted rookie signed by Houston, and is one of my picks to make the 53 man roster for game one. Big Frank Okam is holding his own at D tackle by most accounts, and Steve Slaton is getting plenty of reps at RB due to Ahman Green’s “food poisoning.” Methinks Ahman Green is getting some veteran consideration by the coaches who want to check out the plethora of RB’s in the stable. (This could be good or bad for Green.)
Before showing off my first 53 man depth chart, here’s some other things of interest out of Texan’s OTA’s:
Tim Bulman’s name keeps popping up as a defensive tackle to watch. The fourth year pro from Boston College seems to have impressed Coach Kubiak, and Zgonina can’t play forever. Can he? Defensive end Anthony Weaver is playing noticeably better than the end of last year after some rest. Cornerback Jaques Reeves is as fast as advertised, but isn’t exactly locking down the receivers in camp. Linebacker Chaun Thompson, who the Texan’s signed away from the Browns has been taking reps at defensive end, giving Weaver some competition as an edge rusher
I know it’s still quite awhile until the squad lines up for it’s first exhibition game, let alone the first real game, but Stein just does not play by the rules.
Here’s my first projected Depth Chart / 53 Man Roster:
(Starters on left, backups to the right, natch.)
Offense:
QB: M. Schaub, S. Rosenfels, Q. Gray
RB: C. Brown, C. Taylor, S. Slaton*
FB: V. Leach, J. Abbate
WR: A. Johnson, K. Walter, A. Davis, J. Jones, R. Grice-Mullen*
TE: O. Daniels, J. Dreessen, M. Bruener
LT: D. Brown*, E. Salaam
LG: C. Pitts, K. Studdard
C: C. Myers,
RG: M. Briesel, F. Weary
RT: E. Winston, R. Butler
Defense:
DE: M. Williams, N.D. Kalu
DT: A. Okoye, F. Okam*
DT: T. Bulman, A. Maddox
DE: A. Weaver, E. Cochran
LB: M. Greenwood, C. Thompson
LB: D. Ryans, K. Bentley
LB: Z. Diles, X. Adibi*
CB: F. Bennett, J. Fletcher
CB: A. Reeves, A. Molden*, J. Williams
SS: W. Demps, G. Earl, N. Ferguson
FS: C.C. Brown, B. Harrison, C. Cox
Special Teams:
K: K. Brown
P: M. Turk
LS: B. Pittman
Yes, you’ll notice no Travis Johnson on the team. The former 1st round pick at defensive tackle gets waived or traded this year, I predict. Also, Ahman Green is either traded or waived after severely disappointing the coaching staff last year. As of June, 2008, I’m looking at six rookies making the Texan’s squad. I do however, reserve the right to change my mind. It’s only OTA’s after all.
Coming Soon: Rating past Texan’s drafts.
| 14 May 2008 |
2008 NFL Draft: The 8th Round
Some people think the NFL draft is only seven rounds. Oh, no, my friends, not even close! When the St. Louis Rams chose linebacker David Vobora with the last pick of the 7th round, the televised portion of the draft was over, but the real action had just started for the players whose names were not called. Rick Smith, the Texan’s General Manager, had good luck last year signing undrafted rookies, as four of his choices are still on the Texan’s roster in some fashion. This year, Smith quickly recruited seven more players that were not chosen in rounds 1 through 7. On this page, it’s called the 8th Round.
LB Ben Moffitt (
WR Ryan Grice-Mullins (
LB Marcus Richardson (
WR Darnell Jenkins (
TE Cole Bennett (
DE Jesse Nading (
DT Gabe Long (
Undrafted rookie free agents make NFL squads every year, and a couple of these players probably will hang on to at least the practice squad. The Texans, however, have never been as deep at every position as they stand today. The competition will be fierce, and
| 29 April 2008 |
Houston
Round 1, #26: Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech. 6-4, 308Round 3, #79: Antwaun Molden, CB,
Round 3, #89: Steve Slaton, RB,
Round 4, #118: Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech. 6-1, 236
Round 5, #151: Frank Okam, DT,
Round 6, #173: Dominique Barber, S,
Round 6, #183: Chris Myers, C,
Round 7, #223: Alex Brink, QB,
Stein rates the Texan’s ’08 Draft:
Above average. A solid “B”.
Duane Brown may have been a reach in the 1st round, but with no 2nd round pick, the Texans went for the “need” pick. If Kubiak & Smith are right, and Brown is a perfect fit in their scheme as a left tackle, then it’s not sexy, but it’s a functional pick. So, they got their man, and picked up Slaton and Barber by trading back. By all accounts, Slaton is a very solid 3rd round pickup. Molden may have been a reach in the 3rd, but Adibi was a steal in the 4th, so that evens out. Okam in the 5th could be a steal if his heart’s in the game. Myers is a LARGE steal in the 6th as we know he will start, and Barber may be quality depth. Any 7th round pick has a hard time sticking to an NFL roster, but Brink gives them another arm for OTA’s and mini-camp.
Coming Soon: Undrafted Free Agents & How the Draft Affects the Depth Chart.
| 24 April 2008 |
Texans Draft Preview 2008
It’s now two days before the 2008 NFL Draft, and big things are happening!
As Texan’s General Manager Rick Smith so often states, good players will unexpectedly slip down draft boards, so they are not locked into drafting any one position. This is what happened last year, when the Texans never envisioned a scenario in which Amobi Okoye dropped to them at the 10th pick. Smith quickly grabbed the young
The Texans do not currently have a 2nd round pick, which went to Atlanta to complete the Matt Schaub deal, and they gave up their 6th rounder to Denver for probable starting center Chris Myers. This leaves
Stein rates the Texans’ needs:
Red Level Needs (Highest): Cornerback, Offensive Tackle, Safety, Defensive End, Running Back.
Blue Level Needs (Medium): Punter, Tight End, Linebacker, Defensive Tackle, Guard.
White Level Needs (Low): Placekicker, Quarterback, Fullback, Wide Receiver, Center.
While it’s improbable the Texans would draft another D-lineman in the 1st round, stranger things have happened. More likely, a cornerback or offensive lineman that Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith have rated highly will drop to them. Smith has also recently stated that he would entertain the idea of trading back, which just adds to the draft day drama. NFL draft picks are certainly hard to predict, but that’s what makes it fun! One thing’s for sure; Texans fans have never had to wait so late in round one for their pick, and that’s a good thing.
| 15 April 2008 |
Texan’s Draft History: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
Well, draft day is rapidly approaching, and if you’re like me, you’re getting more excited each day. Will your team grab a great late round pick like Marques Colston or will they take a total loser like Ryan Leaf? Who knows? But it’s fun, ain’t it?
The Texan’s last two drafts have rated right up there among the tops in the league, and Texan’s fans are anxiously awaiting Rick Smith & Gary Kubiak’s second draft together. Here’s a look at Texan’s past drafts (in no particular order) with a Clint Eastwood slant:
THE GOOD:
3rd Pick of the 2003 Draft: Andre Johnson – The two time Pro Bowler is clearly the best player ever on a Texans’ roster.
10th pick of the 2004 Draft: Dunta Robinson – Although not a Pro Bowler yet, Robinson is a clear fan favorite for his hustle and hard hitting style.
1st pick, 2nd Round of the 2006 Draft: DeMeco Ryans – Ryans made the Pro Bowl last year after leading the NFL in tackles in 2006 as a rookie.
6th Round, 2002 Draft: Demarcus Faggins – Although a reserve for most of his career, Faggins has played many snaps, and contributes every year, even though he was only a sixth round pick.
2nd Round, 2002 Draft:
THE BAD:
Round 1, 2004 Draft: Jason Babin - The Texans traded three picks and swapped back in the 5th round to the Titans for Babin in 2004. To put it kindly, this trade did not work out.
Round 3, 2002 Draft: Charles Hill – The D-Tackle from
Round 3, 2003 Draft: Seth Wand & Dave Ragone – The offensive tackle and quarterback never did much for the Texans, and are long gone.
THE UGLY:
Round One, Pick One, 2002 Draft: David Carr – Although he started for five seasons, Carr never developed the intangibles to go with his physical skills.
Round 2, 2003 Draft: Bennie Joppru – The tight end from
Round 1, 2005 Draft: Travis Johnson – The Texans traded back, which cost them Jammal Brown, and then took Johnson over Marcus Spears. Johnson barely made the team last year as a backup.
Oh, in case you thought I forgot; Mario Williams fits in the “Good” category. Though the organization, (not Mario), was booed for taking Williams by many fans on draft day ’06, Mario is a very good player. Williams clearly had a better second season than either Reggie Bush or Vince Young. If Mr. Williams continues to play at his 2007 level, he will be in quite a few Pro Bowls, and will never be considered “Bad”, or “Ugly”.
| 8 April 2008 |
Updated Texans 2008 NFL Draft Needs and Mock Draft
Before listing the Texans’ needs in the 2008 NFL Draft, I will first tell you what they will not choose with their first three picks. (Did that sound confident?) The Texans will not be using their 1st, 3rd, or 4th round selections on a quarterback, wide receiver, defensive tackle, fullback, tight end, punter or kicker. Okay, so the punter and kicker were easy ones. Can’t I have a couple of gimme’s? It says right here that they will also not use their 1st or 3rd rounder on a running back as predicted by so many fans and experts.
Gary Kubiak loves Chris Taylor. Who is Chris Taylor? He’s an undrafted rookie out of
So, what are the Texans looking for in the ‘08 Draft? They want to improve the run game, cover better, and improve the pass rush. (Also score more points, and give up less points.) The thinking in
The Texan’s needs in the draft are:
A) Offensive Tackle: Kubiak was very disappointed with only 99.1 yards per game on the ground, and a 3.8 per carry average. Since he has the running backs he wants, and now has Alex Gibbs as his line coach, look for the team to bring in competition for the O-line.
B) Cornerback: Fred Bennett did very well at corner as a rookie in ‘07, but with fan favorite Dunta Robinson’s leg injury, and the non-stellar performances of the backups, cornerback is a need pick.
C) Free Safety: C.C. Brown, Will Demps, and Glenn Earl are
D) Defensive End: The Texans picked up free agent Chaun Thompson from
E) Offensive Guard: Fred Weary was injured last year, and Coach Kubiak has repeatedly said he won’t count on injured players to come back and contribute. A lesson learned from Dominick Davis/Willliams. Yes, I know I said Coach Kubiak likes Chris Taylor to come back this year, but he was hurt very early last year, and with Green, Brown, and Walker to share reps, they don’t have to rush
A Mock Texans Draft may look something like this:
Round One: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
Round Three: Tracy Porter, CB, Indianna
Round Four: Shawn Crable, DE,
Round Five: Simeon Castille, FS/CB,
Round Six: Eric Tunney, OG,
Round Seven: David Vobora, LB,
Unless the Texans make a trade, or sign another free agent or two, this is how I see the Texan’s 2008 draft. I’ll be back before the draft with more info, and educated guesses.
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