11 Aldon Smith Missouri OLB34 6-5 260
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Aldon Smith has been moving up the Big Board and the athletic pass-rusher from Mizzou has to prove he can make the conversion to an all-around OLB in Wade Phillips 3-4 alignment. He did play on two feet for the Tigers, most often rushing the passer. Training in coverage responsibilities will be the next step in his progression. At 6'5" and 260 lbs, he immediately adds a presence to the flanks. If a team doesn't have OLB's, there is no point in running a 3-4! - Long Ball
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42 Christian Ballard Iowa DE34 6-4 288
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The front 7 conversion project of Wade's 3-4 continues - Ballard was the 2nd best pass-rusher in the Senior Bowl to Cameron Jordan and plays the game with a tenacity and passion not often seen today. After Smith (OLB34) in the 1st round, this is the next building block in Houston's conversion to a 3-4 defense. The Texans' current roster only has 2 candidates to play DE in a 3-4: Mario Williams and Antonio Smith. Ballard compliments this duo nicely and provides an excellent rotation pattern for the 3-man line. - Long Ball
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73 Robert Sands West Virginia FS
104 Cliff Matthews South Carolina OLB34
141 Will Rackley Lehigh OG
172 Justin Rogers Richmond CB
202 Harold Ayodele Emporia State DT34
I don't see this as a Texans draft, especially towards the end.