2011?
 

What are our needs?
FS - never been addressed
NT - also never addressed
OL- Time to start stock piling some talent.
WILL - Depth and future upgrade
CB - you never have enough CBs
QB- back up / future?
RB - You never have enough RBs

Walters has us taking
DraftSite.com has us taking

I am starting the watch list:
Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina
Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA
Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida
Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson
Casey Matthews, LB ,Oregon
Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina
Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
Stefen Wisniewski, C/G, Penn State
Will Hill, FS, Florida
Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech
Blake Gideon, FS, Texas
Nate Potter, OT, Boise State
Kris O'Dowd, C, USC
Chris Culliver, FS/KR, South Carolina
Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State

Here is an early mock from DraftSite.com

15 Allen Bailey DT Miami 6' 4" 288
47 Kendric Burney CB UNC 5' 9" 180
79 Jerrod Johnson QB Texas A&M 6' 5" 243
111 Jonathan Freeny DE Rutgers 6' 3" 250
143 Leonard Hankerson WR Miami 6' 3" 215
175 Harvey Unga RB BYU 6' 0" 239 (is going to be in the Supplemental draft in July)
207 Jeff Wills OT Minnesota 6' 7" 355


Cherry picking cuz I just don't see most of these guys as the types Kubiak drafts.

15 Mike Pouncey OG Florida 6' 5" 320
47 Kristofer O'Dowd OC USC 6' 5" 300
79 Jerrod Johnson QB Texas A&M 6' 5" 243 (I'm a little biased here but I like this kid, and coming here would give him time to be groomed)
111 Butch Lewis OT USC 6' 5" 290
143 Jermale Hines S Ohio State 6' 2" 210
175 Thomas Weber K Arizona State 6' 1" 207
207 Ryan Donahue PT Iowa 6' 3" 180

I admit I do not know most of the guys yet, but you can see a pattern in my thinking, OL OL OL, then special teams. I think Brown is gone, and I think Rackers will be gone before this time next season.

A new mock is up from Draftsite.com

22 Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska 6' 1" 205
54 Chimdi Chekwa CB Ohio State 6' 0" 190
86 Jabaal Sheard DE Pittsburgh 6' 4" 260
118 Markus White DE Florida State 6' 4" 260
150 Marcus Gilbert OT Florida 6' 5" 320
182 Kyle Adams TE Purdue 6' 4" 252
214 Aaron Corp QB USC 6' 3" 200

That is one of the worse mocks ever.

I currently think the team is going to need to draft OG/OC, S, OT, DE, MLB, WR, QB .

Outside the OG/OC and S all the guys are to upgrade the depth/rotational guys. This team is finally at a point where the 1st rounder should not be handed the spot to play.

I am assuming that the CB, RB and DT position are full for now with young guys that should mature.

Any thoughts from you guys?

Draftsite.com has a new mock up:

20 Michael Floyd* WR Notre Dame 6' 3" 220
52 Chykie Brown CB Texas 6' 0" 190
84 Mason Foster ILB Washington 6' 2" 244
116 Ted Laurent DT Mississippi 6' 0" 305
148 Kevin Riley QB Cal 6' 2" 221
180 Devin Newsome S San Jose State 5' 10" 185
212 Chris Carter OLB Fresno State 6' 2" 230

A much better mock based on position then the last one. WR in the 1st is unlikely unless something unforeseen happens, trying not to jinx anyone here, but I am getting real close. And you never have enough CBs.

1st round guys I am watching:
Mike Pouncey OG Florida 6' 5" 320
Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska 6' 1" 205
Von Miller OLB Texas A&M 6' 3" 240
Anthony Castonzo OT Boston College 6' 7" 295
Demarcus Love OT Arkansas 6' 5" 305
Dont'a Hightower* ILB Alabama 6' 4" 250
2nd rounders to watch:
Deunta Williams S UNC 6' 2" 205
Kristofer O'Dowd OC USC 6' 5" 300
Stefen Wisniewski OC Penn State 6' 3" 297
Jerrod Johnson QB Texas A&M 6' 5" 243

Should a new CBA be agreed to--and I hate to say it out loud after all the resources this team has poured into the DL with middling results--but I think it will be time for Bob to pull out the purse for the highest rated FA DT available. 2011 should see a boon to the FA market after so many (~200) were signed as RFA's due to the rules for 2010.

If that's the case then I agree that the BAP from FS, C, G, DT (to groom) should be at the top of the Texans board.

Aug 30th 2010
 

I put the date in my title simply to allow the flexibility to change my mind. :)
These are the guys I'll be watching. I don't know what Butch Davis is doing, but he's getting some very talented recruits to play football at a 'basketball' school. Yes, I'll be watching UNC whenever I can this season. Here's my list of players at positions I would be interested in drafting....

OLB Travis Lewis Oklahoma 6'2" 232
OLB Bruce Carter North Carolina 6'3" 230
OLB Dontay Moch Nevada 6'1" 240
OLB Chris Walker Tennessee 6'1" 240
OG Justin Boren Ohio St 6'3" 320
OG Ben Ijalana Villanova 6'4" 320
OG John Moffitt Wisconsin 6'4" 325
S DeAndre McDaniel Clemson 6'0" 212
S Deunta Williams North Carolina 6'1" 210
S Rahim Moore UCLA 6'1" 195
DT Jerrell Powe Mississippi 6'2" 330
DT Jarvis Jenkins Clemson 6'3" 310
DE Greg Romeus Pittsburgh 6'5" 270
DE Robert Quinn North Carolina 6'5" 270
DE Da'Quan Bowers Clemson 6'4" 285
DE Ryan Kerrigan Purdue 6'4" 265
CB Ras-I-Dowling Virginia 6'2" 200
CB Kendric Burney North Carolina 5'9" 190
CB Brandon Harris Miami 5'11" 195
OT Clint Boling Georgia 6'5" 310
OT Jason Pinkston Pittsburgh 6'4" 310
OT Demarcus Love Arkansas 6'5" 315

Not even one guy from any of the Texas schools? anyways, always lots of fun to see how the needs and draft rankings develop. thanks for the update.

Pre-Season Watch List

QB Jake Locker, 6-3, 225, Washington
QB Andrew Luck, 6-4, 235, Stanford
QB Ryan Mallett, 6-7, 250, Arkansas
QB Jerrod Johnson, 6-5, 245, Texas A&M
QB Case Keenum, 6-1, 210, Houston

RB Mark Ingram Alabama
RB John Clay, 6-2, 247, Wisconsin
RB Jacquizz Rodgers, 5-7, 195, Oregon State

WR Julio Jones, 6-4, 215, Alabama
WR A. J. Green, 6-3, 210, Georgia
WR Jon Baldwin, 6-5, 220, Pittsburgh
WR DeAndre Brown, 6-5, 230, Southern Mississippi (X)

OT Gabe Carimi, 6-6, 325, Wisconsin
OT Clint Boling, 6-5, 305, Georgia
OT Nate Solder, 6-8, 310, Colorado
OT Jason Pinkston, 6-4, 300, Pittsburgh
OT Derek Sherrod, 6-5, 305, Mississippi State
OT DeMarcus Love, 6-5, 315, Arkansas
OT Lee Ziemba, 6-7, 320, Auburn (XK)
OT Marcus Gilbert, 6-5, 325, Florida
OT Orlando Franklin, 6-6, 320, Miami
OT Chris Hairston, 6-6, 325, Clemson
OT *Josh Oglesby, 6-6, 330, Wisconsin (X)
OT Anthony Castonzo, 6-6, 295, Boston Colle
OT Nate Potter, OT, Boise State

OG Mike Pouncey, 6-4, 320, Florida (C)
OG Justin Boren, 6-3, 320, Ohio State
OG John Moffitt, 6-3, 325, Wisconsin
OG Rodney Hudson, 6-2, 290, Florida State
OG Alan Pelc, 6-5, 325, North Carolina
OG *James Wilson, 6-3, 320, Florida
OG Mike Berry, 6-3, 325, Auburn (XK)
OG Ben Lamaak, 6-4, 320, Iowa State
OG Dom Alford, 6-3, 335, Minnesota (OT)
OG Thomas Claiborne, 6-3, 325, Boston College
OG Steve Schilling, 6-4, 305, Michigan
OG David arkin, 6-5, 300, Missouri State

OC Kris O'Dowd, 6-4, 300, Southern California (X)
OC Stefen Wisniewski, 6-2, 305, Penn State (OG)
OC Alex Linnenkohl, 6-2, 305, Oregon State
OC Ben Lamaak, 6-3, 320, Iowa State
OC Zane Taylor, 6-2, 305, Utah
OC Colin Baxter, 6-3, 295, Arizona
OC Kevin Kowalski, 6-2, 300, Toledo
OC Dan Wenger, 6-3, 305, Notre Dame

DT Marvin Austin, 6-2, 305, North Carolina
DT *Jared Crick, 6-5, 285, Nebraska
DT *Marcus Fortson, 6-2 310, Miami
DT Stephen Paea, 6-1, 295, Oregon State
DT Jarvis Jenkins, 6-3, 305, Clemson
DT Adrian Taylor, 6-4, 295, Oklahoma

ILB Casey Matthews, 6-2, 235, Oregon
OLB Von Miller, 6-2, 240, Texas A&M
OLB Akeem Ayers, 6-4, 255, UCLA
OLB Bruce Carter, 6-3, 230, North Carolina

CB Patrick Peterson, 6-1, 210, LSU
CB Ras-I Dowling, 6-1, 200, Virginia
CB Prince Amukamara, 6-0, 200, Nebraska
CB DeAndre Morgan, 5-9, 170, North Carolina State
CB Kendric Burnley, 5-9, 185, North Carolina
CB Aaron Williams, 6-0, 190, Texas
CB Rashad Carmichael, 5-9, 195, Virginia Tech
CB Curtis Brown, 6-0, 185, Texas
CB Daven House, 5-11, 180, New Mexico State
CB Brandon Harris, 5-10, 195, Miami
CB Trevin Wade, 5-10, 185, Arizona
CB Jimmy Smith, 6-1, 210, Colorado
CB Chris L. Rucker, 6-1, 195, Michgan State

FS Rahim Moore, 6-0, 195, UCLA
FS Deunta Williams, 6-1, 210, North Carolina
FS Chris Culliver, 6-0, 190, South Carolina
FS Jermale Hines, 6-1, 215, Ohio State
FS Will Hill, 6-1, 205, Florida
FS Jeron Johnson, 5-10, 195, Boise State
FS Jaiqwaun Jarrett, 6-1, 195, Temple
FS Robert Sands, 6-4, 220, West Virginia

SS DeAndre McDaniel, 6-0, 210, Clemson
SS Mark Barron, 6-1, 210, Alabama
SS Tyler Sash, 6-0, 210, Iowa

P Drew Butler, 6-2, 205, Georgia

August 31, 2010
 

Draftsite.com has a new one. They have us missing the playoffs

15 Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska 6' 1" 205
47 Orlando Franklin OG Miami 6' 7" 318
79 Sam Acho DE Texas 6' 3" 258
111 James Cleveland WR Houston 6' 1" 205
143 Spencer Paysinger ILB Oregon 6' 3" 266
175 Chris Culliver S South Carolina 6' 0" 190
206 Cameron Higgins QB Weber State 6' 2" 195


MY cherry pick, I know it's early but the 1st pick is a no brainer
15 Mark Ingram* RB Alabama 5' 10" 215
47 Kristofer O'Dowd OC USC 6' 5" 300
79 Jerrod Johnson QB Texas A&M 6' 5" 243
111 Kyle Hix OT Texas 6' 7" 320

I'm wondering where we'd play a 266lbs LB. Would we move Cushing to the WILL? That's the interesting pick to me that I don't see the Texans ever making.

When Bush was in Arizona, they had Pace who weighed in at 270. In 2007 Pace was an OLB and had a 107 tackles. Dansby was listed as 255, He also had over 100 tackles in 2007. So big LBs seem to be in Bush's background.

Johnny Holland on the other hand has a history of small quick LBs.

BTW IMO draftsite never has our picks right. They do not seem to care about the teams preferences.

With that in mind, I'd be curious about moving Connor Barwin to the SLB (6'4" 257lbs) compared to Calvin Pace (6'4" 265lbs) and sliding Cushing to WLB (6'3" 259) compared to Dansby (6'4" 250lbs).

Just a thought.

I have always thought Connor Barwin should be a SAM. And that would mean moving Cushing to WILL, oh my. That should make us better against the run but hurt us in the passing game.

What If we went 3-4, then we could have Barwin, Cushing, Ryans and Diles all on the field at one time.

It might hurt having Barwin on the field in the passing game on 1st or 2nd down, unless he's blitzing. :) On 3rd down, I'd put his hand on the ground and play him like a DE, just like now in our Nickle packages.

For what it's worth, we aren't built for a 3-4 because we don't have a NT. Okam doesn't have what it takes mentally to play the 2-Gap NT. Now, if we had drafted B.J. Raji or Dan Williams or somebody of that ilk, then what you are suggesting might be easier to implement. Not really sure there is a NT going to be available in the upcoming draft (Phil Taylor - Baylor??). The following draft either for that matter (D'Angelo McCray - Eastern Illinois??). So, do you feel like the team is better by removing Okoye and inserting Diles leaving Cody to play NT?

Care to check who led the team in interceptions as a rookie in 2009?

:p

I get what you're sayin', but I'm just sayin'.

And I get what you are saying. Cushing is our best pass cover LB, he needs to be in our nickle, I am almost thinking that our nickle should be Cushing and Diles over Ryans, they are both better in pass coverage than Ryans.

As to my oh my comment, you don't see many 260 lb WILLs in the NFL. That would be some brute force coming off the free side.

3 Sept Ranking
 

DE Greg Romeus Pittsburgh 6'5" 270
CB Patrick Peterson* LSU 6'1" 211
DE Robert Quinn* North Carolina 6'5" 270
OLB Travis Lewis* Oklahoma 6'2" 232
OLB Bruce Carter North Carolina 6'3" 230
DE Da'Quan Bowers* Clemson 6'4" 285
OT Demarcus Love Arkansas 6'5" 315
S Rahim Moore* UCLA 6'1" 195
DT Jarvis Jenkins Clemson 6'3" 310
OT Jason Pinkston Pittsburgh 6'4" 310
S DeAndre McDaniel Clemson 6'0" 212
DT Jerrell Powe Mississippi 6'2" 330
CB Davon House New Mexico St 6'0" 190
OLB Greg Jones Michigan St 6'1" 235
CB Ras-I-Dowling Virginia 6'2" 200
OLB Dontay Moch Nevada 6'1" 240
CB Brandon Harris* Miami 5'11" 195
OG John Moffitt Wisconsin 6'4" 325
OG Ben Ijalana Villanova 6'4" 320
S Deunta Williams North Carolina 6'1" 210
DE Ryan Kerrigan Purdue 6'4" 265
CB Kendric Burney North Carolina 5'9" 190
CB Rashad Carmichael Va Tech 5'10" 182
WR Ronald Johnson USC 5'11" 190
OG Justin Boren Ohio St 6'3" 320
OT Clint Boling Georgia 6'5" 310
WR Titus Young Boise State 6'0" 170
OLB Chris Walker Tennessee 6'1" 240
WR Matt Szczur Villanova 5'11" 200
TE Virgil Green Nevada 6'4" 242

There are some Juniors on my watch list who I think could come out in this draft. If I were to handicap a 'mock' draft from this list it would look something like this:

DE Greg Romeus
DT Jarvis Jenkins
OG John Moffitt
CB Rashad Carmichael
OLB Chris Walker
WR Matt Szczur
TE Virgil Green

1. Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska 6-6 295 ***or*** Bruce Carter, OLB, N. Carolina, 6-3 235
2. Curtis Brown, CB, Texas 6-0 190
3. Broderick Green, RB/FB, Arkansas 6-2 250
4. Clint Boling, OT, Georgia 6-5 315
5. Mark LeGree, FS, App. St., 6-0 200

Season Watch List

QB Jake Locker, 6-3, 225, Washington
QB Andrew Luck, 6-4, 235, Stanford
QB Ryan Mallett, 6-7, 250, Arkansas
QB Jerrod Johnson, 6-5, 245, Texas A&M *** I like this kid, would be a nice project
QB Case Keenum, 6-1, 210, Houston *** I like this kid, would be a nice project

RB Mark Ingram Alabama
RB John Clay, 6-2, 247, Wisconsin
RB Jacquizz Rodgers, 5-7, 195, Oregon State

WR Julio Jones, 6-4, 215, Alabama
WR A. J. Green, 6-3, 210, Georgia
WR Jon Baldwin, 6-5, 220, Pittsburgh
WR DeAndre Brown, 6-5, 230, Southern Mississippi (X)

OT Gabe Carimi, 6-6, 325, Wisconsin
OT Clint Boling, 6-5, 305, Georgia
OT Nate Solder, 6-8, 310, Colorado
OT Jason Pinkston, 6-4, 300, Pittsburgh
OT Derek Sherrod, 6-5, 305, Mississippi State
OT DeMarcus Love, 6-5, 315, Arkansas
OT Lee Ziemba, 6-7, 320, Auburn (XK)
OT Marcus Gilbert, 6-5, 325, Florida
OT Orlando Franklin, 6-6, 320, Miami
OT Chris Hairston, 6-6, 325, Clemson
OT *Josh Oglesby, 6-6, 330, Wisconsin (X)
OT Anthony Castonzo, 6-6, 295, Boston Colle
OT Nate Potter, OT, Boise State

OG Mike Pouncey, 6-4, 320, Florida (C)
OG Justin Boren, 6-3, 320, Ohio State
OG John Moffitt, 6-3, 325, Wisconsin
OG Rodney Hudson, 6-2, 290, Florida State
OG Alan Pelc, 6-5, 325, North Carolina
OG *James Wilson, 6-3, 320, Florida
OG Mike Berry, 6-3, 325, Auburn (XK)
OG Ben Lamaak, 6-4, 320, Iowa State
OG Dom Alford, 6-3, 335, Minnesota (OT)
OG Thomas Claiborne, 6-3, 325, Boston College
OG Steve Schilling, 6-4, 305, Michigan
OG David arkin, 6-5, 300, Missouri State

OC Kris O'Dowd, 6-4, 300, Southern California (X)
OC Stefen Wisniewski, 6-2, 305, Penn State (OG)
OC Alex Linnenkohl, 6-2, 305, Oregon State
OC Ben Lamaak, 6-3, 320, Iowa State
OC Zane Taylor, 6-2, 305, Utah
OC Colin Baxter, 6-3, 295, Arizona
OC Kevin Kowalski, 6-2, 300, Toledo
OC Dan Wenger, 6-3, 305, Notre Dame

DT Marvin Austin, 6-2, 305, North Carolina
DT *Jared Crick, 6-5, 285, Nebraska
DT *Marcus Fortson, 6-2 310, Miami
DT Stephen Paea, 6-1, 295, Oregon State
DT Jarvis Jenkins, 6-3, 305, Clemson
DT Adrian Taylor, 6-4, 295, Oklahoma

ILB Casey Matthews, 6-2, 235, Oregon
OLB Von Miller, 6-2, 240, Texas A&M
OLB Akeem Ayers, 6-4, 255, UCLA
OLB Bruce Carter, 6-3, 230, North Carolina

CB Patrick Peterson, 6-1, 210, LSU
CB Ras-I Dowling, 6-1, 200, Virginia
CB Prince Amukamara, 6-0, 200, Nebraska
CB DeAndre Morgan, 5-9, 170, North Carolina State
CB Kendric Burnley, 5-9, 185, North Carolina
CB Aaron Williams, 6-0, 190, Texas
CB Rashad Carmichael, 5-9, 195, Virginia Tech
CB Curtis Brown, 6-0, 185, Texas
CB Daven House, 5-11, 180, New Mexico State
CB Brandon Harris, 5-10, 195, Miami
CB Trevin Wade, 5-10, 185, Arizona
CB Jimmy Smith, 6-1, 210, Colorado
CB Chris L. Rucker, 6-1, 195, Michgan State

FS Rahim Moore, 6-0, 195, UCLA
FS Deunta Williams, 6-1, 210, North Carolina
FS Chris Culliver, 6-0, 190, South Carolina
FS Jermale Hines, 6-1, 215, Ohio State
FS Will Hill, 6-1, 205, Florida
FS Jeron Johnson, 5-10, 195, Boise State
FS Jaiqwaun Jarrett, 6-1, 195, Temple
FS Robert Sands, 6-4, 220, West Virginia

SS DeAndre McDaniel, 6-0, 210, Clemson
SS Mark Barron, 6-1, 210, Alabama
SS Tyler Sash, 6-0, 210, Iowa

P Drew Butler, 6-2, 205, Georgia

If Matt Leinart is renting, then we might want a new QB to grooom. Greg McElroy from Alabama is playing tonight against Penn St. Watch and learn. He's 31-0 since high school. Smart guy.

You beat me to it, my update is going to have him at top of my developmental type QB.

Luck is my top QB, he is as NFL ready as any QB I've seen coming out of college. And he still has another year of eligibility after this year.

I watched Stanford play UCLA last night. Luck definitely looks like the real deal. He as the measurables and he also has 'it' when it comes to commanding the huddle. Yet, I'd still place that Locker kid from Washington at the top of the list.

PK I'm thinking that Luck is just a soph redshirt this year, so he's got 2 more year of eligibility after 2010. Since he's a junior in terms of his education, he'll probably gradute in 2012 which means he may enter the 2012 Draft (and leave a year of eligilbity on the table, but of course I'm only speculating).
BTW, big game for QB Locker - those rough, tuff Cornhuskers are visiting Seattle Saturday and it's on national TV (2:30 PM CST, ABC). Should be fun.

Watched NC State vs. Cinci tonight and was impressed with a big WR for the Wolf Pack.

WR Jarvis Williams NC State 6'4" 218

I'm also looking at the LBs this season who have size & speed. Everyone knows the 'usual suspects':
OLB Travis Lewis* Oklahoma 6'2" 232
OLB Bruce Carter North Carolina 6'3" 230
OLB Greg Jones Michigan St 6'1" 235
OLB Dontay Moch Nevada 6'1" 240
OLB Von Miller Texas A&M 6'2" 240
OLB Quan Sturdivant North Carolina 6'2" 235

So, I thought I'd keep an eye on guys under the radar....
OLB Kelvin Sheppard LSU 6'2" 245
OLB Kendall Smith Florida St. 6'0" 235
OLB Stephen Franklin S. Illinois 6'0" 235
OLB Mario Addison Troy 6'2" 238
OLB Nate Williams N'Western 6'2" 235
OLB Kylan Robinson Miami 6'1" 235
OLB Jared Detrick Virginia 6'1" 235
OLB Sean Fobbs Akron 6'1" 240
OLB Dean DeLeone Arizona St. 6'2" 250
OLB Derrick Odom Memphis 6'3" 235
OLB Jeff Tarpinian Iowa 6'3" 235

WOW ! Did the young Mr Locker flunk that test or what ? That was embarrassing. I'd guess that pretty much ends any talk of him being the top pick in the 2011 Draft. Is he still even a first rounder ?
And BTW how bad will the Huskers embarrass UT in Lincoln later this fall ?
The Huskers were very impressive.

Well, It is about time Nebraska beat UT in Lincoln considering all the Nebraska doesn't lose in Lincoln smack talk when UT joined the Big 12. It has been 77 years since Nebraska protected their house from the Horns. I still will go with my Horns being able to win this game with their defense.

Yes, he did flunk that test. It became apparent that he's more of a Vince Young/Tim Tebow type QB who is better suited to run the ball. Wait a minute, both of those guys were drafted in the first round, weren't they?

Seriously, I believe that Ryan Mallett made himself the top QB prospect in this draft last weekend. Now all he has to do is keep it up for the rest of the season.

And Mallett appears to me to be 3rd round type. He has horrible footwork and he is slow on his decision, add the long frame and I do not have any desire to track Mallett as the top QB, Luck is my #1 QB period.

Since we're on the subject of QB's, I might get beat up on this board for saying this but I've been very impressed with Kellen Moore JR. from Boise St. The guy has a pistol release, makes fast decisions, and is impressing with his accuracy, not to mention knows how to avoid getting sacked. The biggest(and only) knock from what I've seen is his height being in the range of 6-0 to 6-1. But that sure didn't deter Drew Brees last year. He'd be a great 3rd rounder if he came out this year.

Is it too early to start looking at TEs? I wish I was joking. OD is not back. Dressen is okay, but isn't nearly the weapon OD was. Casey is small. Graham can't get off the milk carton. Anthony Hill is Joppru 2.0.

I expect TE to be a money position when AJ demands respect and LBs and safeties should start biting on play fakes to Foster.

I'm just a little frustrated. Probably should give OD time to recover and Graham a chance to get on the field.

I think I disagree on need to draft more TE's soon, but I'd like to see a few more plays to TE as well.

I think Kubiak more or less follows seniority on the team first, so until Dreesen is hurt or fails to perform, we won't see much of Casey or Graham.

We are 3-1 so not too frstrated right now. Some big passes to TE have worked.

Depends on play calling I think, not skill of TE's.

Casey and Graham both looked real good in preseason.

till we see some 3 and 4 TE sets, likely will continue as is.

Sure, OD, will be coming back a little more slowly than we expected as well.

I guess draft best player available and hopefully not a TE for a couple years is my thinking for the moment.

Right now, I'd probably go OL and then all defense, perhaps a great punter or kicker in late rounds.

O.D. just needs to get his playing legs and he will be fine.

I think he has lost a step, and that he will be allowed to go as a FA after the season. We have enough depth to offset his leaving after the season.

Well, as usual we agree to dissagree. Daniels needs time to regain his timing and tempo with Matt that they had last year before he was hurt. Dreeson will be the one gone in my estimation, if anyone does.

October 9 2010 draftsite.com mock
 

I think this has been up for a while, but I have not posted it here.

20 Julio Jones* WR Alabama 6' 4" 210
52 Jeron Johnson S Boise State 5' 11" 194
84 Deunta Williams S UNC 6' 2" 205
116 Greg Romeus DE Pittsburgh 6' 6" 270
148 Mario Harvey ILB Marshall 6' 0" 245
180 Jonathan Nelson CB Oklahoma 5' 11" 180
211 Dan Dierking FB Purdue 5' 10" 186


Not sure I agree with a WR in the 1st, but if they let Jacoby leave via FA, then this is possible.

Grabbing two young safeties is a possibility, but it means Wilson and Barber are gone.

Then adding another young late round CB seems unlikely. And what is up with a 186 lbs FB?

My Cherry Pick with us keeping Jones:

20 traded to NE for two 2nd round picks

38 Curtis Brown CB Texas 6' 1" 185
52 Ras-I Dowling CB/S Virginia 6' 2" 200
54 Sam Acho DE Texas 6' 3" 258
84 Mike Pouncey OG Florida 6' 5" 320
116 Colin McCarthy OLB Miami 6' 3" 240
148 Roy Helu Jr. RB Nebraska 6' 0" 215
180 Greg McElroy QB Alabama 6' 3" 220
211 Kai Forbath, PK, UCLA 6'0" 191

Three guys in the 2nd round, Brown is the new nickle, Dowling is moved to Safety, Acho is Barwin insurance. Pouncey is proving he is not an OC and he is a solid value at 84. Another young LB for ST and backup duty, a RB because you never have to many, a QB that just wins ever where he goes, and lastly our 1st drafted kicker.

Draftsite.com October 12, 2010
 

20 DeAndre McDaniel S Clemson 6' 1" 190
52 Kristofer O'Dowd OC USC 6' 5" 300
84 Titus Young WR Boise State 5' 11" 170
116 Johnny Patrick CB Louisville 5' 11" 190
148 Brandon Bair DT Oregon 6' 7" 266
180 Josh Bynes ILB Auburn 6' 2" 239
211 D.J. Young OT Michigan State 6' 5" 310

Interesting mock.

My cherry pick

20 Derek Sherrod OT Mississippi State 6' 6" 305
52 Kristofer O'Dowd OC USC 6' 5" 300
84 Charles Brown CB UNC 5' 10" 205
116 Jermale Hines S Ohio State 6' 2" 210
148 Derrick Locke RB Kentucky 5' 9" 190
180 Scott Tolzien QB Wisconsin 6' 3" 205
211 Kai Forbath, Kicker UCLA 6-0, 200

Sherrod is an elite OT, Time to go with a bigger OL, LT Sherrod, LG Caldwell, OC ODowd, RG Winston, RT Brown.

That's interesting, defensible and maybe even a great idea. No fing way the team does anything like it, though.

If after the season they decide to hire a new HC then this is a possibility.

Quite true. I guess I'm stuck in the mindset that even if the team misses the playoffs again the same staff will be back for more next year or whenever they resume play.